billlorentzen

Nico, I knew somebody would bust me on that expression, "amp in the room" but I guess I forgot to mention that I live in an anechoic chamber.

That was a very nice sounding demo. Color me optimistic!

Nico, that's a nice mic, but it's colored. I'm looking for an option that would sound like the amp in the room, without the ambience. That's where I want to start from, just like I would with an actual amp.

I agree, the 87 is a pretty flat mic. I used to have one and have used them for decades in studio, but it's got that upper mid bump, which does color a bit. I also realize that an earthworks or other test mic is not going to be the most pleasing, but that's a good place to start. A 414 might even be a decent flat choice - it's definitely not a flatterer on guitar amps.

The mics used on the cabs change the amp sound so much, I sometimes don't know whether to start with the EQ on the amp or the mic selection when dialing in a sound. With a flat mic (no added or subtracted EQ or frequencies), you could start out with the sound of the amp in the room, so to speak, just the way you would with an actual amp and dial it in with the tone knobs how you like it, then put on your engineer hat and choose a mic that flatters the amp. Then if necessary add additional EQ. I'm afraid this idea doesn't get much traction because many people Haven't considered this concept, but I think they would really appreciate it if they could try it. There are lots of great ideas on ideascale, but this one is absolutely basic and could positively help every player and every choice you make when creating your sounds, so I really think it deserves attention! Vote it up! http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/643613-23508

I am waiting until Axe 8 and Helix (and whatever else might come along) are released, so I can try them for myself and then I will buy one. As of now, I want helix to sound best, for all the design benefits it offers, but sound is the sine qua non. Unfortunately Kemper doesn't fit my design specs because it can't emulate both clean and O/D settings in a single patch, controlled by a pedal, otherwise that might be my choice. I know I could use 2 kempers, but that's a bit rich for my blood and too bulky for the kinds of gigs I mainly do. Plus I really like using a floor board solution after years of carting around big old racks of Boogies and outboard fx!

Just imagine you have an actual amp. You would set the levels with your ears, right? It's not that complicated. I don't understand how people have difficulty with something as simple as that.

I'm relieved to see the divided and dr z. I couldn't live without those. Maybe with the new better modeling I will like other amps more too. Next I'd like to see some more boogies added. I think these were major oversights in the HDs.

I've always disliked the stickiness of a maple board, which has to be finished. Plus IMHO single coils are bright enough already (maple is reputed to be brighter). Sometimes it looks cool though.

Bump me up

I'm curious how well Helix works as an audio interface, besides its guitar use. With several analog and a digital I/O, plus a mic pre, I could see patching some pres into it. The questions would be, are the converters up to the quality of mid priced recording gear, and are the drivers optimized and robust enough for this type of use?

Sounds great! I noticed you were micing the cabinet. I use Yamaha powered cabs for stage monitoring, but run a signal direct to the house. You will get better fidelity that way.

Nico, when I think about it, you might be right about this. That's a smart suggestion!

I'm afraid it's probably a circuit board or other internal short. I play a lot of outdoor gigs and the humidity can be pretty high, which might exacerbate it, although I had the problem during the winter too. I carry it in a fight case, and it does flex when I push down hard for the wah. I took it apart and repaired the big data pot on the left one time. It's not too formidable inside compared to some of the things I've dealt with, but my chops are limited to fixing things I can see - I don't know how to find component level problems. But this would seem to be something I might be able to find and fix with a soldering iron. Wish me luck!

I've got a problem where if I push hard on the expression pedal it cuts out all output, even the mini plug input program material. When it first started, it was only happening when I engaged the wah. The hard push did it. I started using my old cry baby to get around that, but lately it's happened just pushing the pedal forward hard. The thing is, I use the pedal constantly. Every one of my patches uses it, so I can't play four sets lollipop footing the whole time. Oh, and it's intermittent. It doesn't happen all the time. I can't get it to happen at home! Any ideas?

Fantastic! Full of surprises, melodically and harmonically. I especially appreciate that you employ your excellent technique so tastefully and for the good of the piece. Very impressed.

Not to nitpick, but that's not really accurate. Many guitars' electronics also attenuate highs as the volume knob is decreased. It's more like turning down the input on the amp.

I've seen folks complain they can't get clean enough tones with many of the amps. Here's a trick. Use a compressor before the amp and back the output down until it doesn't overdrive the amp. You can make up the gain later in the chain.

I'd love a nice Mesa combo too. And a primo Dumble! You might dig the Divided by 13. It's really smooth and creamy.

Yes, please! It would seem simple enough to code it. There's no reason to stick with characteristics of the original modeled units that limit their use in a modeling device. For instance, there is no reason the chorus effect should give a volume boost (assuming the original did this). This sort of duplication does no one any good.

I'm curious which amps or cabs Arislaf and Nico apply these filters to? I haven't noticed a need on the amps I use (/13, Dr Z, SLO, Deluxe), with the mics I use.

Thanks for the reply. I understand about parallel paths - that's a trick I discovered a while back, but it would be so much easier if distortion fx could have an off setting below 0, or simply a mix parameter. From what I'm told, the former is available on the Fractal units. The problem I have with paths in the 500 is that the amp must be placed after the mixer, which SEEMS to have some effect on the sound, even after carefully setting a unity value, but maybe that's my imagination. Also, I asked about new compressors, especially something with over easy or soft knee compression a la the DBX 150 comps?

You may have missed my questions from a couple days ago: I'm pretty stoked. Really looking forward to hearing this baby! I've been extremely satisfied with my HD500, gigging several days a week for a few years with it, but better modeling is always welcome! Below are some features I'm interested in: 1) Have you included a mix or bypass control for fx such as distortion so we don't have to resort to PITA routing schemes to bypass them? I use the control pedal to dial from clean to distorted, and have to set up two paths in HD500 to accomplish this (one path holds the distortion pedal, the other doesn't). 2) Will L6 offer a new external control pedal? The current one is pretty weak. 3) Can you say if it will have a better auto wah? The Mutron was never very guitar friendly, and was IMHO the wrong piece to model. 4) Any new compressors, especially rack models? Can we get some DBX 160X overeasy or other soft knee in the house? 5) Obviously, hearing is the final answer, but could you go into a bit more detail about the new modeling itself and the improved capabilities of the unit to recreate natural amp feel and sound? Thanks!

You may have missed my questions from a couple days ago: I'm pretty stoked. Really looking forward to hearing this baby! I've been extremely satisfied with my HD500, gigging several days a week for a few years with it, but better modeling is always welcome! Below are some features I'm interested in: 1) Have you included a mix or bypass control for fx such as distortion so we don't have to resort to PITA routing schemes to bypass them? I use the control pedal to dial from clean to distorted, and have to set up two paths in HD500 to accomplish this (one path holds the pedal, the other doesn't). 2) Will L6 offer a new external control pedal? The current one is pretty weak. 3) Can you say if it will have a better auto wah? The Mutron was never very guitar friendly, and was IMHO the wrong piece to model. 4) Any new compressors, especially rack models? Can we get some DBX 160X overeasy or other soft knee in the house? 5) Obviously, hearing is the final answer, but could you go into a bit more detail about the new modeling itself and the improved capabilities of the unit to recreate natural amp feel and sound? Thanks!

Hey, if you guys need any pro beta testers, let me know!