strabes

Are you saying you met a soundguy with weird power/control issues? Gee, never encountered that before... <_<

Have not changed my rig in over 4 months since getting the helix. It's great to just be content because the helix already has everything I want (except amazing reverbs!). I was really happy with it initially, then after the honeymoon phase wore off I saw some issues, but last week I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and now I'm happier than ever. This thing changed my gigging/gear life and I'll never go back to lugging amps and cabs around.

Back on topic, I wouldn't worry about that. Even on my old tube amps I never had mains fuses blow, only the high voltage fuses that protect against damage if a power tube goes out (and as a result draws a ton of current). Keeping a few spares in my bag has saved me several times over the years, even though I'm still a relatively young guy. Plus, I would not want to unscrew all the screws on the back of the helix and try to do "open heart surgery" on the helix during/before a gig. I just keep a backup flyrig 5 handy at all times.

I have been using an NYC pedalboards pedalhead to hold my Helix, Shure GLX-D wireless receiver, Boss RV-6, and Digitech Polara. Had it for 4+ months now playing out 3-4 nights per week, it's great. Set the board down, lid lifts off, 2 XLRs to FOH, done. Coiled up 1/4" is just the backup to my wireless, lives in the case permanently. Gigrig power integrates nicely with the helix because the Generator takes IEC power as well so I just bought a 1 to 2 IEC splitter thing.

@willjrockTo download, right click the download preset link and then click “Save File Asâ€, “Save Link Asâ€, etc.

I totally agree. I meant that plenty of real amps have fizz that needs to be removed, so it's not a problem unique to modelers as is often claimed. Thanks for the comment about my video. Using the stock amp, cab, and mic settings with no eq or anything. 87 condenser, cab high cut off.

Thanks for the tips. I ended up just grabbing the default AC30 Fawn Normal factory preset and increasing the gain a bit. Came up with this: https://youtu.be/8aRJNHI6EkM?t=43 I think it sounds freaking awesome.

Made this video using the stock AC30 Fawn Normal preset and turned up the gain. All other amp/cab/mic settings are factory. Zero fizz. Also plenty of real amps are fizzy. You just can't hear it in a mix or a mastered record. https://youtu.be/8aRJNHI6EkM?t=43

I'm having trouble with the AC30 tones I'm getting on the helix. I'm having trouble balancing between being bright enough and becoming way too thin. Any advice? Here's what I'm going for: Preferably keeping the amp clean with one drive pedal for the rhythm tone and a different one or stacking them for the lead. https://youtu.be/jyXy4AHAqF0?t=145 This is what I've come up with so far but it's sounding really thin. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2238260/Helix%20Presets/AC30%20Clean.hlx

I run stereo out of the helix when I can, but only because it really helps the feel in IEMs. If I'm using a wedge I just run mono.

Yes, this will affect the sound of the reverb when it's in a loop. When the reverb is in a loop, do you notice a change in the reverb sound when you bypass the global eq? Been using the helix fx loops for months now with reverb pedals and there is no detectable change in the dry tone when toggling the loop on and off. AD/DA converters are so high quality these days.

Been running IEMs for years, I think I'm wearing them in my avatar. Once you get used to it they're great. Definitely recommend a digital rack mixer and split snake you can bring with you to shows so you have control of your mix and can hear everyone else in your mix.

I don't understand the question. How are you going to get a feel for what an FRFR in a room with you sounds like through YouTube? The helix sounds like a guitar amp and cab mic'd up in a studio. If you're not used to that sound then you won't like it unless you run it into a power amp and guitar cab...but you still have to mic the cab to get it to FOH anyway...

I am an older millennial and the difference between the units is night and day. This comparison is wack. People hear what they want to hear.

Agreed. I only recommended these in case you were just playing at home. They are a great product, particularly for the money. They get louder than I'd use with family or roommates in the same house, but they never leave my home. I have a loud FRFR cab for when I rarely need a cab when I'm playing out (99% of the time I'm on IEMs). Here's the frequency response graph. As you can see it's really flat.

Is this for playing out at high volumes? Or monitoring yourself at home? Because GC is having a sale right now on JBL LSR305 monitors for $99 each. Cannot beat this clarity and flat response for many times this price. http://www.guitarcenter.com/JBL/5-Inch-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Limited-Edition-Matte-Red-1500000021639.gc

Thanks. By "dry" I just mean "no reverb". Running direct into PA with XLRs, monitoring with IEMs. At home I just plug my IEMs into the headphone jack.

Anyone?

I like to run the master volume pretty hot and my channel volume around 5-7 depending on the amp's gain level which also affects volume. That way I have some wiggle room for making all my presets have a consistent level. Is the noise a hiss or more like a low pitched hum? Most smaller churches I've played in, especially those that meet in older buildings, have bad power.

Hello everyone. I'd like to use a boss RV-6 with the helix. I replaced the reverb block on my preset with the "Send/Return FX Loop 1/2" block and that works fine. However I'd like to run the boss reverb in parallel as I'd like to avoid as many rounds of AD/DA conversion (for my dry tone) as possible. Thankfully the boss unit does have analog dry through but just sending my dry signal out and returning it is another AD/DA conversion that I'd like to avoid, plus it prevents complete loss of signal if one of the four cables I'm currently using fails. The boss unit can do killdry but that requires plugging into the B input only. See the boss manual, "Outputting only the reverb sound." Can I do this using this method?: keep using the "Send/Return FX Loop 1/2" block in serial remove the cable going from helix Send 1 to input "A" input on the boss return stereo from the boss into returns 1 & 2 turn the mix on the helix "Send/Return FX Loop 1/2" block down to 50%. Footswitch turns on and off the send/return loop block This method appears to be working but I'm not sure if it's the best way to do it as I might be losing half of the stereo information from stereo effects before it due to only sending mono to the boss. But I do have the fx loop mix at 50% so that stereo information is still being kept with my dry signal, just one half of it won't be reverberated by the boss unit. Is my thinking here correct? The other idea I had is: split the helix signal into a parallel path on the parallel path mono send block into the "B" input on the boss unit on the parallel path Stereo return block (reverb signal only) Footswitch turns on and off both the send and return blocks Disadvantage of this method is it takes 2 blocks instead of 1. Please help, thank you!

When I need some spank with my tele, the red squeeze gets it done. Personally not a fan of that sound/feel but when there's some chickin' pickin' to do it gets it done.

Agreed

I wouldn't bother. You use IEMs live so why lug a cab?

For me when I hit "quote" it jumps to the reply box and puts the message in there automatically. When I hit "multi quote" a box pops up on the bottom right, then I can quote a bunch of messages at once. Anyway, there are literally hundreds of variables here that could be the culprit. It's impossible to get a perfect tone with a modeler or traditional tube amp and mic rig that will sound exactly like you want in any room. When I make patches from scratch I alternate between my IEMs that I use live, an FRFR I have at home, and a venue I play a lot whose PA and engineer I trust. My tones sound awesome in that venue's PA and other well-tuned venues. Two weeks ago I played a not-so-great 3-400 person venue and it sounded like absolute mud through the PA. IEMs sounded normal though. It's a bummer but I just kinda get through it when the venue is less than optimal. Always a good feeling when you walk into a room and see a midas pro console... you know they care and that the room is going to be good.

If you can't get good tones from the helix you won't be able to get them from any modeler. I have a hard time believing you got a perfect score on the helix challenge but can't figure out what's wrong with the tones you posted. First clip was a lot better than the second but try using an EQ to shelve off some of the high end fizz that's coming through with that much distortion. You can also try using one of the stock 4x12 cabs and changing the mics. Some mics sound a lot more fizzy and some have a lot better bass response, or will help shelve off some of that harsh fizziness. For more meat you can try boosting 200-300hz. Also we can help you more effectively if you post an example of the tone you're going for.