codamedia

Are you 100% sure that you don't have a snapshot that is doing something you're not expecting? Every now and then my Helix does something I'm not expecting, and when I look into it further it's just something I've inadvertently set... or adjusted on the fly with snapshots set to "recall". (EG: If you have a snapshot that you can control gain with and you back it off... the next time you load that snapshot the gain will be in that reduced state) if you are still on the same patch) Not saying that is the problem... just suggesting you double check everything :)

An FRFR allows you to get the absolute MOST out of the Helix, but that doesn't mean you can't use it with an existing amp. If you run the Helix in 4 cable method with an amp you are open to many options... including the use of the Helix PRE-AMP's (marshalls, vox, matchless, etc... etc...) when you aren't running the pre-amp from the Boogie. The one thing you will want to avoid (generally speaking) are the cab/mic simulations in the Helix... although experimenting to see what happens is not against the law :) Check out this demo of the Helix by Pete Thorn.... in this track he uses the Helix is almost every conceivable manner, then breaks down each track with how he does it. Some of the tracks use amps, some are direct, etc... etc... (NOTE: it goes into more depth for recording with load boxes, and IR's... but you don't need that part when playing live) At 14:20 he is demonstrating the 4 cable method I mention above....

These are standard cables... nothing special. Quality guitar cables for the 1/4"... (keep the distance as short as possible... 15' max would be my suggestion) Any decent mic cables for the XLR's.... length is not an issue with these. Don't mix the outputs... use both 1/4" outs or both XLR outs to the monitors IMO.... I'd run XLR cables to the monitors so length becomes a non-issue, then you can use the 1/4" out guitar amps or other devices should you choose to do so. BTW... the HS-7's are great monitors... if you get those you won't be disappointed. They won't have stage level volume, but they are perfect for home and studio use.

Glenn... I picked up your Banjo preset (and a few others) a week or so back... The Banjo preset certainly gives me a usable tone with my tele (when needed), but the IR you provide with that preset also brings the Variax banjo to life... it's added the shine that was always missing. Great work!

You could walk before you run... the free Allure Pack offered by Line 6 can get you some decent IR's to get your feet wet. Yes the package deals are good... If you want a package that has options for all, I would recommend the "core tone bundle" under their multi cabinet libraries on the Ownhammer site. You will get a Fender, Vox, Marshall and Mesa cabinet which will cover a lot of ground. Once you get your feet wet you can decide which style you want to expand if you still think you need more options. There are a few Ownhammer options in the Line 6 Marketplace as well... but I think each bundle narrows in on one style of cabinet so you would like want more than one bundle to experiment. On a final note... if you have zero experience with IR's beware the rabbit hole that's already been mentioned. There can be hundreds of IR's in each pack... it can be very daunting if you don't know where to start. Rather than just experiment with each one looking for something you might like, take the time to learn (at least a little) how speakers, mics and mic position can effect the tones. The better you understand this, the easier it is to identify an IR for your purpose much quicker.

There is no "global effects"... you will have to load it in each preset. It will consume a block. No you don't.... there are 9 effects blocks in an HX Effects, that means 3 or more can be left off the screen (eg: no buttons). This is great for things like a volume pedal block, or an always on - such as the compressor. If you are not familiar with the signal flow view, get acquainted with it... it gives you more control over things like footswitch assignments than the stomp mode does.

Any midi controller would be able to do this... it's a very basic duty... However.... when you have your HD500 setup as a pedal board (all 8 footswitches controlling stomps) you do realize that you can temporarily go into PRESET mode by hitting one of the bank buttons... as soon as you choose a preset it returns to stomp mode. At most, a midi controller might save one extra press of a pedal.

That is my approach in the studio as well. A simple core tone (in mono) is my main goal. I don't track ambient delays or reverb... although some effects may get tracked if there is a strong commitment to those parts (ie: tremolo guitar, syncopated delays, etc...) Generally speaking, my studio presets would only be a small handful of blocks... at most.

Great video... my studio approach is similar to yours... but my live approach is very different. Live I setup my Helix as a Mega Chain.... 32 blocks in a serial path. That doesn't mean I use all the blocks, and it most certainly doesn't mean I use them all at once. My tones are natural... but I like to have everything I need available to me within a preset when playing live. The HELIX is the first multi fx with enough horse power to allow me to do this. My "Live" presets are all the same, just adjusted to optimize each guitar. EG: When I pick up my tele I open my Telecaster preset. When I grab my Strat I open my Stratocaster preset, etc... etc... . I open the appropriate preset for the guitar I have grabbed... I don't change presets again unless I change the guitar. My snapshots lead me to my fundamental tones... eg: clean slap, ambient tap, overdrive slap, more drive tap, big lead, dotted 8th, etc... etc... My stomps are setup to give me access to all my modulations (tremolo, chorus, phase) as well as a touch wah, octave effect, boost, and the option to toggle between slapback and tap delay regardless of my snapshot choice. I have an external exp pedal connected to a volume block... and my internal exp is actually set to control delay levels - it is setup as such for all my delays. My TOE switch is actually setup for the reverb on/off. Some rooms I play don't need it so rather than dive into menus I just have to turn it off with the toe switch and save the patch and it's gone for the night. So in short... it's a complicated patch but only for versatility.

I just setup my LT to see if that parameter can be changed via snapshot... and sadly, no it cannot. Maybe the HX Effects is different, but I don't think it will be. (EDIT to ADD: I just noticed this next option was already mentioned above by @rzumwalt)... You should be able to set the effect "BLEND or MIX" via snapshot. If you set the blend level so no effect gets blended in on the snapshots you don't want it, even it the pedal engages it you shouldn't hear it. The OP uses an HX Effects.... no toe switch. The HX Effects generally auto engages these when an expression is engaged past a certain threshold.

Check out this thread... it explains how the "threshold" is set so you should be able to find it and see if it can be assigned to a snapshot value or not. https://line6.com/support/topic/32006-hx-effects-auto-engage-wah-not-workingnot-finding-how-to-set/

I have the older HD500... and although I don't use it to control anything within the computer, I have used the MIDI outs to control other devices... in particular an HX Effects. It worked great... everything I told it to do (PC & CC) was passed on to the other device as expected... The HD500 is a wonderful midi controller with a lot of features... there is no reason it won't do what you want it to. I suspect you may be right about that midi interface... you do get what you pay for.

I am having a hard time following this.... can you explain it a little clearer for me. What did you buy for a midi controller? What is the make/model? Are you connecting to that via MIDI OUT (DIN) from the HD500, or the USB out? I am pretty certain the HD500 cannot send MIDI via USB... that's reserved for audio and proprietary communications with HD EDIT.

I really wish this wasn't the case... I could seriously cut down on the number of delay blocks I need if I could just bounce between "note value" and "ms value" in snapshots. But - it is what it is, there must be a reason they can't implement it... I can work around it easy enough thanks to the number of blocks I have in the LT.

I am assuming then that you have the wah or whammy to "auto engage" when the pedal reaches a certain threshold. Simply using the on/off status of the effect will not work between snapshots while that is engaged, as you are likely finding out. I don't have a unit beside me to test at this time, but have you checked to see if you can adjust the "auto engage threshold" per snapshot? If it is set to 5% on the snapshot you use it on... maybe try setting it to 100% on the snapshots you don't want it to engage on. If that's possible, then the pedal would have to be fully engaged (rather than bumped) before it would engage at all. I don't know if that setting is adjustable "per snapshot"... but if it is, that may be the trick.

You can't morph between snapshots with an expression pedal, but there is nothing stopping you from assigning multiple parameters to the expression rather than snapshots on this particular preset. If you assign the drive parameters (and a few others as well if you want) to the expression pedal with min/max values it will morph between the two sounds - sort of like having two snapshots to work with - with gradual "in between" stages.

Just to add... in order to see which HX Edit version you are actually using, you can open it and choose "Help > About HX Edit"... the version is listed there.

The above post is 100% if you truly have a MONO signal. Send one side to FOH, send the other side to your cabinet. The other option is how I used to do it with my HD500.... a direct box. Left out to the DI, continue that signal 1/4" to your FRFR cabinet, and send the XLR from the DI to the FOH. I actually prefer this method over the first as the left will collapse to mono in the event you actually do have something stereo in your path. It's more of a guarantee the FOH is getting the exact same signal.

It's too bad HX Edit doesn't work in OFFLINE MODE like HD Edit could. If that were possible, then conceivably you could load a Helix block, strip it down to a chain that works with an HX Effects or HX Stomp and save it as such. It might not have been an "automatic" solution, but IMO it would give you full control over what to keep and what to discard within the parameters of your device.

Just to be clear... this solution does require two blocks. I'm pretty sure given the subject of this thread the desire was to make the amp change within one block via snapshot.

Those are presets.... I know that may sound like a condescending answer... but I don't mean it to. The problem is - it's the unloading and loading of amp/fx models that causes the audio gap during a preset change... snapshots get around the audio gap by only allowing on/off status and parameter changes - the models don't need to reload.

May I play devils advocate :) With the hundreds of options already available with snapshots, coupled with "discard/recall" in the global settings... it is already capable of confusing people, and does confuse people! A user can choose any parameter they want and assign it to be controlled by a snapshot.... except the on/off state. You get no choice with that one. I find that in itself to be confusing. IMO, the Helix already has a learning curve and I can't see this adding much to it. L6 can always choose to make it another option in the Global menu just like "recall/discard". Have the feature turned off by default so snapshots works exactly as they already do... but allow users that know what they are getting into the opportunity to turn it on.

Snapshots are a great feature... and very well done. I am 99% satisfied with it's implementation. Give me the option to choose which on/off states I want controlled by snapshots (as I can with any parameters) and I would be at 100% satisfaction! I think I've already been counted :)

Your Kemper SEND is in Mono.... there is no reason to setup a stereo return on the HX Effects. Just insert a MONO LOOP on the HX Effects and leave the other loop open for something else. The benefit of setting up a LOOP is that is does a send/return using one block rather than a separate SEND/RETURN that requires two blocks. After setting up your stereo time based effects in the HX Effects run your LEFT/RIGHT output to your "RETURN and ALTERNATE IN" on the Kemper. In the KEMPER... in the FX Section... hold the X button then choose "Loop Stereo Default". The X button will then toggle the stereo loop on/off. Any stereo effect placed before the Kemper loop will be summed to MONO because the Kemper FX Send is only MONO. Make sure your KEMPER stereo effects are placed AFTER the KEMPER Stereo Loop.

Yes you can place pedals between your guitar and the Kemper input... don't waste the Kemper loop before the profiler section. If you place the Kemper loop after the preamp it will work just like any other loop on an amp and you can wire it with the 4 cable method (or 7 cable for stereo)... Use the instructions from @tommasoferrarese above... they are correct. As I read this thread, it makes me wonder if you are remembering to insert the HX Effects LOOP block? You have been asked, but you have not confirmed. Connecting the cables is not enough.