bobthedog

And the award for lollipop of the week goes to....

I'm interested in why you feel the AX8 puts the Helix into it's box? Not sticking up for the Helix here as I'm gonna get an AX8 as well, I also have a Kemper the Helix and Kemper are better at different things, neither of them is in it's box though so I am interested in how the AX8 is so much better than the Helix.

I recently got the RedWirez BigBox which also comes with their mixIR2 plugin, this allows you to mix Irs together to get the result you want, then it can export the mixed IR file for importing into the Helix. So the way I do it is get my patch with no IRs or Cabs and then stick the mixIR2 in a DAW on the audio from the Helix. You can then mess around trying combinations of cabs/mic positions till you get what you are after. Export to a wav file, send to helix and change the patch to include your IR. Job done. The big box collection with mixIR2 are well worth the cash.

Thats pretty impressive!

Good stuff :)

I just got the redwirez library that includes MixIR. It is very good, very useful for mixing cabs/mics and then saving a WAV file to load into the Helix. Highly recommended.

Also I need to say that everything you have said is of course true and shows the complexity of doing this sort of stuff. All I was trying to put forward to Line6 is that undo would be very useful to numpties like me who keep making stupid mistakes and implementing this in the editor should not be reliant on the hardware. So no reason for my caustic posts, sorry about that.

You are quite correct, direct access to data is frowned on nowadays. Ideally this sort of thing should be "designed in" from the start. Every method to alter data should have an opposite to alter it back and should register this opposite to revert that data at a future point. This should then be extended to the UI level as well if the change of data originates from a UI interaction. As we undo not only do we need to revert the data we also need to revert the users view of that data. If this has not been designed from the start but we decide it would be nice to have it after the point we need to look at ways of shoehorning it in.

I'm not sure what you are saying. Apart from justifying your unjustifiable position.

I already posted the fact that you can send hlx formatted text to the Helix via the editor. You can try it out, drag you current edit out of the helix application to you filing system. Change some thing In the editor. Now drag that hlx file back to the editor. Is that a "hook" to do undo?

Wow, talk about fighting a loosing battle. This is why I employ can do developers rather than look how complex it is developers.

Lets look at this in a simple way, if the user can change something in the editor and then change it back in the editor then it is possible for an undo system in the editor to do the same irrespective of the device and it's firmware. The editor can render the structure of the patch and the parameters for each block therefore it has access to this data. If the design of the Helix/computer interface is so bad that the only way to change something on the Helix is to emulate what a user would have to do on the hardware itself then the undo system would have to take this into account, no big deal. Nothing about it is hard, it is just grunt work. p.s. If the interface between the Helix/Computer is that bad you have to ask what they were thinking about when they designed it! p.p.s. I just did a little test. The helix patches .hlx are pretty small and are text based so you could implement the undo system using these. The undo could just work on this data, when you undo it sends the saved undo .hlx data to the helix. whenever there has been a grouped change then save away the .hlx representation. If you need to save space then just store away the changes between his files with a full index .hlx every so often. Of course as the data is text anyway I don't see why the editor isn't using this interface anyway! { "version" : 6, "data" : { "meta" : { "name" : "Stadium Rock", "application" : "Helix", "build_sha" : "69d8fa6", "modifieddate" : 1463155947, "appversion" : 17956864 }, "device" : 2162689, "tone" : { "dsp1" : { "join" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowJoin", "B Pan" : 1, "B Level" : -4, "A Level" : -4, "A Pan" : 0, "@position" : 4, "Level" : 0, "@enabled" : true, "B Polarity" : false }, "block3" : { "@model" : "HD2_DelayPingPong", "@position" : 4, "Feedback" : 0.4, "LowCut" : 100, "SyncSelect1" : 6, "Scale" : 0.5, "@enabled" : true, "TempoSync1" : false, "@path" : 0, "@trails" : false, "@type" : 7, "Mix" : 0.23, "Time" : 0.6, "Level" : 0, "Spread" : 1, "HighCut" : 8900 }, "block2" : { "@model" : "HD2_Looper", "Overdub" : 0, "Playback" : 0, "@path" : 0, "@stereo" : false, "@type" : 6, "highCut" : 20000, "lowCut" : 20, "@position" : 7, "@enabled" : false }, "inputB" : { "@input" : 0, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlow2Input", "noiseGate" : false, "decay" : 0.5, "threshold" : -48 }, "block1" : { "@model" : "HD2_Cab4x12Greenback25", "Level" : 0.0999999, "LowCut" : 20, "@path" : 1, "@mic" : 0, "@type" : 2, "@position" : 5, "Distance" : 4, "EarlyReflections" : 0.17, "@enabled" : true, "HighCut" : 20000 }, "outputB" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowOutput", "@output" : 0, "pan" : 0.5, "gain" : 0 }, "inputA" : { "@input" : 0, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlow1Input", "noiseGate" : false, "decay" : 0.5, "threshold" : -48 }, "split" : { "@position" : 0, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowSplitY", "@enabled" : true }, "block0" : { "Bias" : 0.74, "@model" : "HD2_AmpSoloLeadOD", "Master" : 0.62, "@position" : 4, "Drive" : 0.8299999, "Treble" : 0.5, "ChVol" : 0.6, "@enabled" : true, "Ripple" : 0.5, "@path" : 1, "@type" : 1, "Bass" : 0.75, "BiasX" : 0.5, "Hum" : 0.5, "Mid" : 0.45, "@bypassvolume" : 1, "Presence" : 0.46, "Sag" : 0.21 }, "block5" : { "@model" : "HD2_VolPanVol", "@path" : 0, "@stereo" : true, "@type" : 0, "Pedal" : 1, "@position" : 6, "@enabled" : true, "VolumeTaper" : false }, "outputA" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowOutput", "@output" : 1, "pan" : 0.5, "gain" : 0 }, "block4" : { "@model" : "HD2_ReverbChamber", "@position" : 5, "LowCut" : 143, "@enabled" : true, "@path" : 0, "@trails" : false, "@type" : 7, "Mix" : 0.39, "Level" : 0, "Decay" : 0.6600001, "HighCut" : 4700, "Predelay" : 0.1 } }, "global" : { "@variax_volumeknob" : -0.1, "@pedalstate" : 2, "@variax_customtuning" : true, "@variax_str1tuning" : 0, "@variax_str2tuning" : 0, "@variax_str4tuning" : 0, "@variax_str6tuning" : 0, "@variax_model" : 10, "@model" : "@global_params", "@topology0" : "SAB", "@cursor_dsp" : 0, "@cursor_path" : 0, "@tempo" : 120, "@topology1" : "ABJ", "@variax_magmode" : true, "@cursor_position" : 4, "@variax_lockctrls" : 0, "@variax_str3tuning" : 0, "@variax_str5tuning" : 0, "@variax_toneknob" : -0.1, "@cursor_group" : "block0" }, "footswitch" : { "dsp1" : { "block4" : { "@fs_label" : "Chamber", "@fs_enabled" : true, "@fs_index" : 11, "@fs_ledcolor" : 16723200, "@fs_momentary" : false }, "block5" : { "@fs_label" : "Volume Pedal", "@fs_enabled" : true, "@fs_index" : 13, "@fs_ledcolor" : 65408, "@fs_momentary" : false }, "block2" : { "@fs_label" : "Looper", "@fs_enabled" : false, "@fs_index" : 5, "@fs_ledcolor" : 462860, "@fs_momentary" : false }, "block3" : { "@fs_label" : "Ping Pong", "@fs_enabled" : true, "@fs_index" : 10, "@fs_ledcolor" : 458496, "@fs_momentary" : false } }, "dsp0" : { "block4" : { "@fs_label" : "Minotaur", "@fs_enabled" : false, "@fs_index" : 8, "@fs_ledcolor" : 525824, "@fs_momentary" : false }, "block6" : { "@fs_label" : "Tycoctavia Fuzz", "@fs_enabled" : false, "@fs_index" : 4, "@fs_ledcolor" : 525824, "@fs_momentary" : false }, "block5" : { "@fs_label" : "Gray Flanger", "@fs_enabled" : false, "@fs_index" : 9, "@fs_ledcolor" : 1037, "@fs_momentary" : false } } }, "dsp0" : { "join" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowJoin", "B Pan" : 0.5, "B Level" : 0, "A Level" : 0, "A Pan" : 0.5, "@position" : 8, "Level" : 0, "@enabled" : true, "B Polarity" : false }, "block3" : { "@model" : "HD2_GateHardGate", "Decay" : 0.01, "@path" : 0, "@stereo" : false, "@type" : 0, "HoldTime" : 0.01, "OpenThreshold" : -50, "@position" : 0, "CloseThreshold" : -60, "Level" : 0, "@enabled" : true }, "block2" : { "@model" : "HD2_VolPanVol", "@path" : 1, "@stereo" : false, "@type" : 0, "Pedal" : 1, "@position" : 7, "@enabled" : false, "VolumeTaper" : false }, "inputB" : { "@input" : 0, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlow2Input", "noiseGate" : false, "decay" : 0.5, "threshold" : -48 }, "block1" : { "@model" : "HD2_Cab4x12Greenback25", "Level" : 0, "LowCut" : 20, "@path" : 0, "@mic" : 2, "@type" : 2, "@position" : 5, "Distance" : 1, "EarlyReflections" : 0.3, "@enabled" : true, "HighCut" : 20000 }, "outputB" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowOutput", "@output" : 3, "pan" : 0.5, "gain" : 0 }, "inputA" : { "@input" : 1, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlow1Input", "noiseGate" : false, "decay" : 0.5, "threshold" : -48 }, "block6" : { "@model" : "HD2_DistTycoctaviaFuzz", "Fuzz" : 0.75, "@path" : 0, "@stereo" : false, "@type" : 0, "@position" : 3, "Level" : 0.6700001, "@enabled" : false }, "block0" : { "Bias" : 0.6, "@model" : "HD2_AmpCaliRectifire", "Master" : 0.45, "@position" : 4, "Drive" : 0.77, "Treble" : 0.6600001, "ChVol" : 0.5, "@enabled" : true, "Ripple" : 0.5, "@path" : 0, "@type" : 1, "Bass" : 0.34, "BiasX" : 0.48, "Hum" : 0.5, "Mid" : 0.34, "@bypassvolume" : 1, "Presence" : 0.5, "Sag" : 0.5 }, "split" : { "@position" : 4, "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowSplitY", "@enabled" : true }, "block5" : { "@model" : "HD2_FlangerGrayFlanger", "Rate" : 0.16, "@position" : 2, "Regen" : 0.5599999, "SyncSelect1" : 6, "TempoSync1" : false, "@enabled" : false, "@path" : 0, "@type" : 0, "Mix" : 0.5, "Headroom" : 0, "Width" : 0.78, "Level" : 0, "@stereo" : false, "Manual" : 0.78, "Spread" : 0.125 }, "outputA" : { "@model" : "HD2_AppDSPFlowOutput", "@output" : 2, "pan" : 0.5, "gain" : 0 }, "block4" : { "@model" : "HD2_DistMinotaur", "@path" : 0, "@stereo" : false, "@type" : 0, "Gain" : 0.42, "@position" : 1, "Level" : 0.35, "Tone" : 0.53, "@enabled" : false } }, "controller" : { "dsp1" : { "block5" : { "Pedal" : { "@min" : 0, "@controller" : 2, "@max" : 1 } } }, "dsp0" : { "block2" : { "Pedal" : { "@min" : 0, "@controller" : 2, "@max" : 1 } } } } }, "device_version" : 17956896 }, "schema" : "L6Preset" }

I oversimplified it to explain that you do not need changes to the Helix firmware in order to implement undo in the editor. Which was the point of my post.. Grouping undo changes is not hard, this can be done using a combination of timers and explicit grouping. As I said this isn't rocket science, it is basics.

I have done a little experiment and it looks like the IRs stored in the Helix are 32bit samples at 48K. so rounded up 2048 is aprox 43ms and 1024 is aprox 22ms

Hi Guys, Does anyone know what sample rate the Helix is using internally or the time in ms for the 1024 and 2048 IRs? I'm trying to set up my IR stuff on the computer to create IRs for the Helix and have the ability to set the IR Length in ms which should then match what I'm hearing when loaded onto the Helix. Cheers Andy

As a developer I will give you a hint of how to do it without implementing undo/redo on the helix hardware (not that I wouldn't like it on the hardware!): 1. Whenever a patch is changed clear the undo stack. 2. Whenever a parameter is changed in the editor (either directly by user or via the helix hardware) if the top item on the Undo Stack is a different parameter then push the details of the parameter and its old value onto the undo stack. 2. Whenever undo is pressed pop the data off the undo stack and set the parameter back to it's old value. It isn't rocket science!

The newest helix editor still doesn't support undo. Come on guys undo is a fairly standard thing nowadays, lets imagine using all our other applications without undo!

Ok I used an audio function generator inputing a sine wave to the helix. I altered the frequency to get the range that the Helix thought was in tune for a Low E and a High E. Low E - 82.269 hz to 82.551 hz High E - 329.042 hz to 330.186 hz here are these values in notes/cents: Low E 82.269 hz E2 -2.89 cents 82.551 hz E2 +3.02 cents High E 329.042 hz E4 -3.07 cents 330.186 hz E4 +2.93 cents So the helix has a range of about 6 cents where it thinks the signal is in tune. That is pretty inaccurate.

I am determining it doesn't work by tuning the guitar with it! It doesn't work, it is out, it is not in tune! I can tell by ear and I can tell by using another tuner, my helix can easily be 3-4 cents out! Of course I know how string bending works I have been playing the guitar for nearly 40 years but if i'm not passing a string with my left hand when I am tuning how can it possible have any effect on the tuner in the helix? So its nonsense! As I said before maybe some helixes do not tune well, I know this sounds impossible as it is a digital device and we are all running the same code but I can guarantee that the tuner on mine is well out. Offsets are off and ref is set to 440. Maybe there is a bug where offsets are turned off but somehow offsets are being used by the tuner who knows, all I know is that mine is well off in its tuning.

It seems that some people have a tuner that works perfectly, and some have one that doesn't. The tuner on my Helix is no good at all, it doesn't matter that some posters have a tuner that works and tell me therefore mine works because it doesn't; or that I'm pressing the strings too hard or any other such nonsense. So we either have different helixes acting different or people that can't tell when things are out of tune.

Yep no modifications at all. I will try with some higher output pups and report back...

Guitar on full gain, helix pad off, impedance auto. The pickups are on the low side.

Hi Guys, Maybe someone can help me out, it's a simple test. Create a new patch with the "Stone Age 185" amp+cab, just that nothing more and have a play. There is some quite nasty digital type distortion with this amp, here is a link: https://soundcloud.c...-3-audio-copy-2 This was played using a G&L Legacy (Strat Clone), bridge pickup. The pickups are low output. A few of the amps exhibit this sort of sound. I was just wondering is this was normal? Andy

Mine crashes quite a bit but usually only when editing (from the helix itself), probably more than 10 times so far. Only crashed once while not editing.

You are not the only one that thinks the tuner is no good. There are other threads about it. Line 6 say it is highly accurate!