codamedia

When I think about this further... if you don't want to give up a footswitch in stomp mode you can also make the change using snapshots, or with a controller attached to EXP 1 or EXP 2.

I don't think it is a "rare number of units" I think it is a "rare number of users that use the unit in a way that exposes the problem"... and I believe Line 6 is handling these on a 1 by 1 case. I live in Canada so I cannot ship my unit back to Line 6 for a replacement with a "working" model. I need to go through my distributor, who tells me I have to go through my store! The store has brought in 3 units for me since I first brought this up with them... the three units have increasingly higher firmware on boots. EVERY UNIT HAS EXHIBITED THIS BEHAVIOR. After the last attempt I was convinced that I can't have the same problem so I opened another ticket with Line 6 and sent them a test patch and an audio clip of my problem.... they continue to confirm that yes indeed, that IS the same problem.... followed by "please contact your distributor for a replacement". (insert SCREAM here) Even if they don't share the serial numbers with the general public, I do expect them to hand those numbers out to all service depots and the distributors that are out of country so they can deal with the problem accordingly. So far, I have encountered 100% failure rate with the units shipping to my area! What are the odds of that with an extremely rare problem?

You can create a 2nd path and that will automatically create two Y junctions.... one at the front and one at the end. That is where you can set the pan and level of each paths output. However, in your case, I think there is a better route... Setup a "SEND" as the last effect block in your chain and assign it to a button. Set the blend/balance of the send so it does not pass any dry signal through and connect a cable from "send 1 or send 2" (whichever one you set up) to the other input on the Vox. When you engage the send it goes to the alternate channel, when it isn't engaged the output goes to the primary channel.

If it's an external pedal, just insert it into the amps loop as always. If you are talking about inserting a time based effect from the HX Effects in the loop of the amp you can always insert 2 separate loop blocks on the HX. 1: Guitar into HX 2: On the HX insert the effects you want before the amp. 3: HX Loop 1 send to Amp input 4: Amp Loop Send to HX Loop 1 return 5: On the HX insert the effects you want in the loop of your amp 6: HX Loop 2 send to Amp loop return 7: Amp to Load box... 8: Line out from Load box to HX Loop 2 return 9: On the HX Insert an IR block 10: Output from HX Effects to mixer Keep in mind... two FX loops and 1 IR will leave you with just 6 effects to work with on the HX Effects.

Use a loop on the HX Effects... send to the input of the amp, and return from the line out of your load box. You are correct, there is no XLR on the HX Effects. The output can be set to instrument or line level, but it is 1/4" unbalanced. When I use an IR I send that output to a direct box when I'm live, and directly to a high imp input on my mixer when I am in my home studio.

Just an FYI.....https://www.guitarworld.com/features/interview-tom-scholz-recalls-making-boston-and-don-t-look-back In that interview Tom says those early albums were tracked with a prototype of the power soak at low volume, close-miked. His studio was a tiny basement room in an apartment house.... volume would have been an issue. If you glance at the same article I link to above you will see that Tom has a serious hatred for anything & everything digital.... abnormally so :)

Yes - there is a lot of truth to that statement.... Tom was copying the gear he had, Line 6 does not have THAT gear! So with that in mind I can understand why a modeled Rockman could have it's advantages.

I believe you are talking about the 4 cable method... and yes it is possible. The overdrives from the HX Effects can be before the amp, and the modulation/delays/reverbs, etc.... can be in the loop of the amp. The HX provides enough ins/outs for this to be possible.

The Rockman just emulates a recorded chain (ie: it's a modeler itself) and all the ingredients for that chain are already in the Helix. Yes, the Rockman has a warmth/creaminess to it but so do most of the amps that were modeled for the Helix. If you don't believe the Helix can do it already, I'm not convinced a modeled version would fair much better.

Keep in mind the Rockman came after the first two albums, those were just an attenuated Marshall Super Lead. The tone is easy to replicate with something like a Helix.... Choose the Marshall Super Lead (1959).... crank it in every manner possible then turn down the overall volume. For added reality, throw a 10 band EQ and a chorus in the mix. Be sure to supplement the lead tone with a half cocked wah. The recipe of the Marshall tone stack and 10 band EQ is the trick and sort of like the 11 herbs and spices.... there is a lot of internet folklore about it, but nothing definitive. Spend some time with that setup and you'll get really close.

Have you tried taking it back to the store you bought it from? At 10 days old, they should have a policy to take care of you.

IMO - Setlists don't make sense to the majority of bands that don't strictly follow a setlist from start to finish. I'd be doomed in any one of the bands I played with :) (just sayin') That said - your setup looks similar to mine. I use one primary patch for my tele, one primary patch for my strat, one primary patch for my acoustic, etc... etc... I just label them as "Tele", "Strat", "Acoustic", etc... and choose the right patch to match the instrument I grabbed. There are always exceptions and I may need a special patch for something special, but for basic setups that is my approach.

Yes - that would indicate that the loop itself is fine, it is the items in the loop (cords, pedals, etc...) that are likely creating the problem. It can still be a combination of items, but that short test shows the loop itself functions as it should... no loss of highs or signal! What kind of A/B test did you do to come to the conclusion the problem didn't exist in this situation as well? You may have setup a tone that sounds good, but did you actually A/B it with a raw signal to see if the signal was altered in any way?

In my case.... if I place the loop or a return before certain drives (Teemah, Valve Driver, Compulsive, etc...) in the HX it becomes very noisy (white noise.... hiss) even if there is nothing in that loop or return. Not all drives invoke it... but there is no correlation between high gain and low gain either. Line 6 told me that was the problem they have addressed.... but I am in Canada and cannot deal with them directly. I tried a different unit at the store I bought it from.... but it was an old unit (old firmware) and had that problem as well. They are bringing in a new unit for me from the distributor and my fingers are crossed that it is a newer pre-screened version. If not, I will continue to live with it for a little longer. Some have suggested a loop or return always creates added noise.. I call absolute BS on that. I have never seen a properly designed loop or added input (return) create this level of noise before. My HD500 loop is also dead quiet... this is not normal. To get around this problem, I don't put any loops or returns before certain drive blocks in the unit. It's a work around, not a solution.

Ahhh... you are right, he is asking about the Helix... Sorry about that!

I run my HD 500 with an HX Effects, and yes I use IR's on the HX and turn off my cab/mic models on the HD. IMO - it has really extended the life of my HD500... a nice IR sounds a lot better than any of the cab/mic models in the HD itself (again, just my opinion). I run my HD500 in one of the loops of my HX Effects, and use the HD500 as a midi controller for the HX. I find that is the easiest way to get the most out of both units.

I've done this several times. It works great as a pedal board in front of an amp, just don't turn on any amp modeling. Use it strictly as a pedal board.

The loops and returns are not suppose to be noisy - anywhere in the chain. You should check out the "sticky" at the top of these Helix forums regarding noisy HX Effects - you likely have one of those units. https://line6.com/support/topic/32964-hx-effects-audio-artifacts/ Almost the opposite of the above problem. Under normal circumstances I would blame bad cables or the device in the loop for this. As I mention above, the first thing to do is elminate the loop or the loop settings as the problem. Grab a really short cable (pedal to pedal) and connect a loops in/out with that and try it (no devices, just a cable). If it sounds right like that (which it should) then it is the device you are connecting, or the longer cables that are the problem.

I usually go direct to FOH / Monitors but that only works when you get your own monitor mix, and the gear meets a certain standard. For those times when I need a full range setup that blasts from the stage... I've loaded up my old Peavey Bandit with an Eminence Beta 12LTA coax speaker and I plug into the "Effects Loop Input" to bypass the pre-amp of the Peavey. The nice thing about a coax speaker is that the lows/highs blend better at shorter distance than a traditional PA style so it sounds very natural on stage. The downside is that a coax does not project the highs as good as a horn loaded cabinet - so it may get muddy at longer distances. That is not an issue with the size of rooms I use that rig in... but it may be an issue for you. Isn't that the truth! I've been thinking about my tones in this way for many, many years so it is very natural for me. But for those that are used to the traditional "amp in the room sound" it can be a very big adjustment.

The only reason it is getting clearer when you turn the mix down is because you are now "bypassing" the loop to a certain degree. That doesn't solve the problem you are having... it is just providing a detour for the signal to get around the problem.

Just turn delay trails off.... nothing more should need to be done. When you want messy delay.... turn on the delay. When you want it to crash to a halt, turn it off. If you want all this done on more than one effect (ie: more than one delay, reverb and delay, etc...) you may need to get into something more intricate with an expression pedal and parameters... but for general "full on / full off" you just need to turn off delay trails.

Line 6 had a product called an AM-4 which was on the road to what you are asking about, but it is old technology (POD 2 sounds). https://line6.com/legacy/am4 It was ahead of it's time, wasn't very popular and was discontinued quickly, but I do wish something like that existed with the Helix amp models (amps/cabs/mics/IR's). More and more people are starting to integrate some amp modelling with their existing pedal boards and don't want all the extra effects. As stated above, the Amplifire Box would do the trick... and there are a few others. I wish Line 6 would take a serious look at this market once again but they may be snakebit by the AM-4.

There are two ways to control volume within the unit. 1: Insert your favorite volume pedal in one of the loops and place the loop block anywhere in the chain you want. 2: Insert an expression pedal into one of the exp inputs, and insert a volume pedal block in the unit Placing a volume pedal between the HX effects and the amp is a solution I would avoid. If you use any delays or reverb on the HX you generally do not want the volume pedal after those.

The loop itself should not be the problem... it is likely items (or cables) placed in the loop. Simply run a cable between the send/return and see if there is any signal loss or loss of high end. If it sounds pristine, add an effect to see what happens. When you add something and your sound degrades, you have found the culprit. If it degrades with just a cable make sure you try a few other cables as well. If they all fail the test, I guess there is a possibility something is wrong with the loop, or the settings in the loop.

Internally, snapshots are instant... I never notice any lag. That said - I cannot vouch for any outside changes that may be done through midi or amp control. I've never attempted that.