codamedia

I wish.... Sadly, here in Canada the Helix LT is $600 more than the HX Effects and the full Helix is $1300 more. Sorry to the OP... I don't mean to take this off topic.

The HX Effects will support 2 independent EXP pedals which can be assigned to anything you want in any given patch. But yes, they have to be purchased separately.

My own opinion is that the HX Effects is a perfect option. The effects are outstanding and you can set it up as simple, or as complicated as you want. You also get to experiment with effects you may never consider.... whether you use any or not is your choice :) Take a look at this video.... Ritchie Castallano is the guitar player for Blue Oyster Cult and is an avid Helix supporter. In this video he switches his father over to the HX effects from just a couple of pedals.... it's a nice little "simple" insight into the HX Effects that you may find interesting.

This is a very practical approach... and is what I started with. However (and this is strictly opinion) the Bandit is just an SS power amp with little to no characteristics of it's own. I found that using the full amp model (which includes output tube/transformer modeling) with the cabinet turned off gives me the richest tones.

I often use a Bandit ... great workhorse amps! Which version of the 112 do you have, there are many. The suggestion above will certainly work... but I approach it a little differently. Connect a 1/4 out to the Bandit Effect Return if it has one. If not, connect to the Power amp in. (I prefer the effect return because it gives you access to the presence, resonance and reverb on the bandit - depending on the version) Leave the HD in Studio Direct Mode... any other mode uses a "live cab" simulation that I do not like! (that's just my opinion) Choose any amp model... but TURN OFF the cabinet (choose no cab). That gives you a full features amp model, with no cab/mic simulation at all. The bandit itself becomes the cabinet. NOTE: 4 cable method is not needed when connecting directly to the effect return or power amp on the Bandit.

Until this gets fixed.... if you are on Windows try "CTRL > F5" to do a complete reload of the page. I find this works almost every time.

I was actually asking if "HX Edit" (on the computer) is up to date... it should be 2.52. If it's an older version it may not be able to understand the code from the latest firmware on the machine. Try a different USB port. The general rule is to not use a USB Hub, and stay away from any "front ports" as they are often just hubs themselves. In other words, try to plug in to a primary USB port on the back of the computer.

The VDI port allows audio and will provide power and Variax patch change but I believe that is where it ends. As far as I know the older Variax guitars will not control the Helix, and you can't use the Helix to connect to Workbench. I did a lot of research on this as I own a 300 and an HD500... I ended up getting an HX Effects to extend my HD, partially because of the lack of compatibility with Workbench...

Others may disagree... but in my opinion, LIVE should be a mono signal. The room itself will create a stereo image naturally. Keep in mind, that unless an audience member is sitting precisely in the middle of the two speakers about 10' or more back (depending on room size)... not only will they not hear your glorious tone, they will actually be missing half of it. Here is food for thought... The vast majority of touring acts use mono systems. They want everyone to hear everything... not just the people with the optimum seating.

Ahh, the joys of a good multi effects. Buy the latest model because it has everything you need and you don't have to carry extras pedals around any longer. Then you realize it can't do "abc" well enough so you begin hooking up the provides "loops" with added gear. Soon you begin to look like "The Edge" Repeat 1 through 3 in an infinite loop! In fairness, that is why there are loops. If you need something the unit is not capable of (to your satisfaction) there is nothing stopping you from adding it.

If you are new to modelers, just prepare yourself for a learning curve... they take a while to figure out when you are new to them.

I'll suggest a few things... I'm not saying I'm right, they are just suggestions to see if they may apply to you. 1: How are you monitoring the playback? If it is not the same (eg: headphones) then it should be, make sure you compare apples to apples. 2: IMO, the mind can play a lot of tricks on you... In the studio my recorded parts never sound the way they did when I played them, regardless of how they were recorded or monitored. I have learned that I listen differently when I am playing compared to when I am just listening. This is not just with a modeler like a Helix... this has been happening to me for 35 years - LOL! It's like listening to your own voice played back... "that's not me"! THAT sounds like latency to me. Latency will effect timing, but shouldn't effect tone in any way. If the part is a little "off" on it's timing, I can see it manifesting as a tone issue.

I saw that, I was just trying to provide another thing to try :) I just hooked up my HD500 with a midi controller (keyboard) and ran some tests. I can confirm the exact behavior the OP has noticed... as soon as midi establishes a connection, the unit defaults to the MAX value when the patch is recalled. Without a midi controller you can set any "recall" level regardless of the min-max values that are set - that's why this confused me. In a further test I did swap the MIN/MAX value on the HD (as you earlier suggested) and it worked the way the op wanted... but of course you also need to reverse the "min/max" values on the controller, and many controllers (not all) will not allow a min to be lower than a max settings. On the bright side, some controllers have a simple "invert" option which would make it a lot easier. So - there is a messy way to accomplish it that may work, but it would be much easier if a "default setting" could be recalled regardless of the min/max settings.

An amp paramater (any parameter) should load from the exact position it was stored... those paramaters cannot read MIDI until a midi message is sent. Try this... 1: Setup the amp... and turn the output volume to the location you want to use as a default.... let's say 70%. 2: Now setup your min/max volumes and save. 3: Now change patches.... the paramater should load to 70% 4: To really test this.... turn the output volume to 0 and save the patch. It should always load completed off, and will not respond to the "min 70 - max 100" until that midi pedal moves. I don't own an HD Pro (I realize it may be different), but that is how it works on my HD500. Regardless of MIN/MAX values, the paramater always loads to the position I have explicitly set it to. (I don't think adjusting by midi and saving it will work... set it by the knobs on the unit)

That is exactly what you can do with a 4 cable setup. When you turn off the loop in the Helix the sound will go directly to the power amp input and bypass your amps preamp. You can either program a snapshot to turn off the loop while turning on a preamp in the Helix, or assign both the loop and preamp to a single footswitch to accomplish a seamless changeover.

There are many uses for a cabinet IR in the HX. Just because the HX is marketed as a "pedal board in front of an amp" does not mean it is limited to just that. The routing options make it very versatile. Just a couple IR cabinet uses.... 4cm setup.... split path after return from the amp. Use a cabinet IR in one path to send directly to a recording device, console, etc... etc... while sending the other path back to your amp for stage use. Any "amp in the box" pedal can be placed in an effects loop... (eg: Mesa V-Twin, Catalinbread RAH or DLS, etc... etc...) then insert an IR and send the signal directly to recording or console. As for other IR uses.... I use them on my acoustic, dobro, classical, mandolin, banjo, etc... etc... Finding a nice IR (or creating your own) can add a lot of depth to some acoustic instruments. They are not intended to make an electric guitar sound like another instrument... but you can certainly experiment to varying degrees of success.

Is your Helix up to date? I'm pretty sure there is a "voice box" effect under "filters > legacy" which was added in the 2.5 update. That might get you close.

Actually... it sounds like you bought the HX on the "ASSUMPTION" that the unit would offer all of the benefits of editing that the Helix had. L6 has it in clear print on their HX FAQ page... you really can't blame them for this misunderstanding. Do you consider it "half completed" just because it doesn't have an online editor? I can understand that for some it may improve the programming experience... but I highly doubt it's going to unleash a rash of new features not yet available from the unit itself.

Is your HX Edit completely up to date? Does the preset in question have snapshots?

Trying changing the global setting for the FX Loop in the HX you are using.... It is likely defaulted to instrument, try changing it to LINE.

The HD400 was designed and build using technology available in 2010. Processors double in capability every 18 months.... what we have now simply wasn't invented 8 years ago. For recording maybe... but it is not practical for the average gigging musician. There are also a lot of "new problems" associated with that type of setup.

You are over thinking this.... They are merged by default, but you can hard pan the inputs and outputs to keep them separate. You have full control of this. 1: Stay away from Stereo Effects... 2: In the Input "Y", hard pan the left input to Path A, and the right input to Path B. 3: In the Output "Y", hard pan Path A to the left, and Path B to the right. 4: The paths are now independent and will accomplish what you want to do. The LEFT In/Out is one set of effects, the RIGHT In/Out is another set of effects. *** Keep in mind you will need at least 1 effect block in each path before the Y options become available to edit. I run my HX with separate paths in some situations.... it works 100% as long as you get the routing (panning) correct and stay away from stereo effects.

Phil_m's method above will work fine, but it does prevent you from using any parallel effects or stereo effects. If neither of those matter, it's a perfect solution. The ES-8 is an effect loop monster... really a completely different beast with a different purpose. IMO... if L6 dedicated a send/return for this purpose I think it would start a flood of posts saying "I don't need that, why can't I re-assign it". Having two loops in a small footprint such as this already allows a lot of flexibility not normally found in in this size and price point. Again, just my opinion - not necessarily the right opinion :)

What Phil_m said.... If you don't have immediate access to update the firmware, at least do a factory reset including the restore of all patches.

Presets are not there for practical purposes, they are there to try and show everything the unit can do with as little clicking as possible. Everything is extreme. I have never met a factory preset that I have liked - I don't waste any time with them. The first thing I do when I get a new multi effects is a factory reset (just to make sure something critical hasn't been changed deep inside) then I create a blank patch and save it EVERYWHERE. I'll create the sounds I want/need from there with my hands, my guitars, my amps and/or monitors, my ears. Just my 2 cents...