codamedia

"HX Stomp in an Amps FX Loop = More Volume?" You don't say what amp you have. Find out what the LOOP level is on your amp, then match the ins/outs on the HX Stomp. A mismatch here can cause the problem you are experiencing. I don't think the OP is having issues with "pedals in the stomp loop"... I read it as having issues with the "stomp in the amps loop".

Yes, that is a big limitation in the 1st Gen Variax with a Helix... I actually forgot about this over time. The Helix cannot recall ANY custom presets unless they live in C1/C2 slots. When I realized this I loaded my guitar back to "factory" so there wouldn't be any surprises, then carefully populated my custom slots... it doesn't take long to fill 10. If you need to access custom guitars that are saved in their original locations, the only access to those is from the guitar itself. NOW I digress, NEVER press save on the Helix after you change the model on the guitar! it will bite you every time!

Yes, you can set the Helix to call a new model on the guitar "per preset". It can also be done "per snapshot" but you don't own a Helix yet so there is no need to run before you walk :) On a 1st gen Variax... if you change the model on the guitar, you cannot press SAVE on the Helix and expect it to remember this new guitar to recall it later. The old HD500 would save that new model location, the Helix will not. It's not a big problem, its just an annoyance to be aware of. Actually... you can change the MODELS on the guitar all you want. The problem above is different, and has to do with "recalling" a change made on the guitar.... but go ahead, change models all you want on the guitar, that works fine. In reality the 1st Gen Variax will work almost exactly like it does with the HD500. I'm still using my old 300 and have never had a single issue once I figured out the little things to watch for.

Global Settings > Switches / Pedals > EXP2 Position Set that setting to "Global" and it's position is remembered through ALL presets. FWIW... I also set EXP1 Position to global as well. IMO, it takes away all surprises.

In case you missed it, you are in the wrong forum. If you have a POD HD500x, you should be posting this this forum instead.... https://line6.com/support/forum/18-pod-hd/ You are currently in the POD GO forum, and the POD Go is very different form an HD 500. That said.... a Plexi style amp (Plexi, JTM45, Fender Bassman, etc... etc...) will get you in the ballpark of the "Blue on Black" tone. The lead requires an "Octavia" effect... does the HD500 have that? The Octavia is the magic of the lead tone... probably coupled with a tube screamer. I hear a touch of tremolo in the rhythm parts... Of course... playing like Kenny Wayne Sheppard is also required :)

@datacommando is right. You can manipulate this effect by attaching an expression pedal to the time/feedback. This will work best if you have the Cosmo's set to "millisecond time".... and you "decrease the time" while "increasing feedback" with the pedal. If you run the cosmos in "tempo time" (eg: 1/8, 1/4, etc...) then you need to "increase the tempo" while "increasing feedback"... and you also need to set "Global Settings > Preferences > Tap Tempo Pitch" to "authentic". This is a more difficult way to produce the effect than simply using "millisecond time". NOTE: In the videos I saw of the effect on the RE-20, the effect occurred while a lush reverb remained unchanged in the background. To do this on the helix, a 2nd reverb will need to be placed on a parallel path.

This is so true.... and it works against all logic for someone just looking to dial in a great tone. It's one reason why many of those "isolated guitar tracks" of famous recordings can often lead to confusion. Most of use wouldn't dare dial in a tone like that on purpose - LOL!

You "could" be on to something but I'm not a fan of assumptions... It would be easy to test the theory though. Create a simple preset with an amp on each path (no effects) Hard pan each path Left & Right Record the each output into a DAW... and go through the change of amps Zoom in on the waveform at the time of the change and see if they overlap in any way.

Have you asked them? They should be able to tell you what they didn't like about the tone you provided... and help you alter it. It's usually just a change of cabinets/IR's... that's a critical stage in recording. If they can't help you, then I suspect their interest in doing so is quite low. I use my Helix almost exclusively in the studio these days. Yet... there are times when I am entering the land of the closed minded... and in those situations I just take an amp, or plug into one of the studio amps. I have no issue doing that, and they prefer it. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

I agree with this statement 100%. All changes are dictated by the Helix. I never touch my Variax other than the volume/tone controls. Thanks for jumping in to help out. I was feeling a little out of place as a 1st Gen Variax user. The "force tuning" tip is something I will make note of in case I get the chance to upgrade to a newer Variax.

Try different USB ports, and/or different cables. This is not normal or we would all have the problem. Thanks for the update you provided.... glad it sorted out.

Bad translated German Globale Einstellungen > Fußschalter > Preset-Modus-Schalter Stellen Sie dies auf das ein, was Sie anzeigen möchten ... es können Voreinstellungen, Schnappschüsse, Stomps und fast jede Kombination der oben genannten sein. Der MODE-Schalter schaltet zwischen dieser Einstellung und dem Stomp-Modus um. or in English as I intended Global Settings > Footswitches > Preset Mode Switches Set this to what you want displayed... it can be presets, snapshots, stomps, and almost any combination of the above. The MODE switch toggles between this setting and stomp mode.

Not at all... the forum is full of people that work with the tools they bought into, not the tools they hope are coming down the road. I'm all for a "formant filter" in the Helix. But Line 6 doesn't owe me one. With that vision, have you considered buying a formant filter of your choice and inserting it in one of the Helix Loops? Then learning the midi implementation of each device so you can really get creative?

Thanks for the notes... I know the features of the 2nd Gen Variax guitars, but I don't have any experience with them. Hopefully someone with experience can jump in and help out. There is one thing that concerns me.... That suggests you are burning the candle from both ends.... How do you have the tuning control set on the guitar? Is it set to a half step down, or standard? What model is the Helix loading when you go to the preset? And what tuning is the HELIX telling the guitar to load?

First.... can I assume you are on an modern (2nd gen) Variax... and that you are using the Helix to manipulate the tuning? If so, I don't use a 2nd Gen Variax so I'm not going to be able to give you a definitive answer. Hopefully someone else can jump in. Are you just toggling the guitar for these sounds, or are you recalling them via snapshots? My outline was how to change guitar models via preset/snapshots.... not toggling on the guitar if that is what you are doing. I'd suggest taking the time to find out all the idiosyncrasies of the two approaches.... they may step on each other in ways you won't expect.

I actually thought your opening post was a joke....not because of the formant filter request (that's reasonable), but rather because of this line "I was trying to create a 3,275 voice choir with the synth engine". If you actually bought a Helix for it's "formant filter" and it's "synth engine".... you obviously didn't do any homework before laying out the money :)

This is certainly possible... I do it with my 1st Gen Variax (a Variax 300) while the 2nd Gen Variax Guitars (JTV, Standard, Shuriken) have even more capabilities. First step... You must connect the Variax to the Helix using a VDI Cable. It will not work with a simple 1/4" guitar cable. PROGRAMMING THROUGH HX EDIT Open your preset Go to the INPUT section of the preset... make sure it is set to Multi OR Variax (Variax = the VDI connection) Click on the VARIAX Tab (middle of page, right side) Set the Settings to "Per Preset" (this loads a new model each time the preset is clicked) Choose the model you want... and save the setting. Now each time you choose that preset, the model will load on the guitar NOTE: If you would like the ability to change models on each snapshot, that is also easy. Right click on the "model" and choose "Snapshots" Choose the model.... save the snapshot Change the snapshot... choose the model... save the snapshot repeat.... PROGRAMMING ON THE HELIX Open your preset Go to the INPUT section of the preset... make sure it is set to Multi OR Variax (Variax = the VDI connection) Click the "Page >" button to show the Variax Page Variax Settings should be set to "Per Preset" (this loads a new model each time the preset is clicked) Choose the model you want... and save the setting. Now each time you choose that preset, the model will load on the guitar NOTE: If you would like the ability to change models on each snapshot, that is also easy. PRESS and TURN the "Preset Variax Model". This puts it in Snapshot mode. Choose the model.... save the snapshot Change the snapshot... choose the model... save the snapshot repeat.... NOTE (warning): The first bullet of step 3 says "Variax Settings should be set to "Per Preset"". This control is actually a GLOBAL setting on the Helix and once it is changed on one preset, ALL presets will follow the rule. This ONE setting is Saved and Restored as part of Global Settings when a backup is done. The rest of the variax settings (models, tone, etc...) are actual preset settings. 1st Gen Variax Warnings (these only apply to the older Variax models such as the 500, 300, 600, 700) Alternate tuning controls on the Helix will not do anything on these models. Don't bother trying :) You must set the MODEL choice on the Helix. If you change it on the guitar then save on the Helix... the wrong model will be saved! You can always change the models on the guitar during use... just don't press SAVE on the helix after doing so. Do yourself a favor and set your "Snapshots Edits" to "Discard" in the Global Settings. If you don't.... bullet #2 is going to bite you hard at some point.

As already stated... no, this is not possible the way you hoped it would be. The best you can do here is set up your guitar tones using snapshots... then use your STOMP mode as midi control. For this to work using nothing more than the MODE button, set your preset screen to "8 Snapshot Mode". The MODE will toggle from Snapshots to Stomp and when you need a preset just step on the up/down arrows. Don't forget about "instant commands" in command center. Loading a preset or changing a snapshot can send it's own series of midi commands although in my experience this requires an extra level of planning. I do agree with @DunedinDragon... adding a full featured midi controller to your setup is likely the best option.

Is that you playing? Quite nice... I didn't take you as a country picker - that's well done! IMO, any single coil guitar works well for country twang... whether it's a Tele, Strat, any P-90 guitar, etc... etc.. Technique is a big part of "twang"... so it can be coaxed out of many different guitars. I'm not into "looks" so I can't comment there :) The TELE has fallen out of flavor in modern "country pop"... the players actually avoid them. Then again, modern "country pop" doesn't twang so that makes sense. The underground country scene still twangs... there are plenty of Teles, Strats and Jazzmasters floating around that scene.

On the unit itself.... when you highlight the compressor the gain reduction meter will appear in the top right of the the settings. From "right to left"... is shows 0, -7, -14, -21, etc..... you'll want the meter to bounce just over -7 when you are aggressive, but (IMO) if you hit -14 it's too much compression.

You are looking for unity... not a decreased volume. Usually this will sound a little louder on it's own, but will sit in the mix properly with a band or tracks. Pay attention to the gain reduction meters of your compressor. For country snap, you want this to register around -10 with some fairly heavy playing. If it is clamping down more than that, there is too much compression, and every compressor is different on how to lower that. IME... with humbuckers you cannot get a "stomp style" compressor low enough on it's own.... you need to insert a gain block ahead of the compressor and lower the level that is reaching the comp then make up the level at the compressor output. In this scenario, both the "gain and the comp" must be engaged/disengaged at the same time (as one pedal). The blend can certainly be your friend to avoid over compression... but you still need to get the "compressor" settings right before dialing that in. Squashing the signal then balancing with the blend is NOT the country sound you are after. Get that gain reduction around -10, then fine tune with the blend.

For classic country style cleans try the BF Fender models.... Deluxe or Princeton are both quite nice. For some light break up tones, another favorite of country players would be an AC30 variant, Dr Z or the Matchless. Keep in mind that the tone usually starts with single coils... P90's or a Tele Bridge pickup provide a lot of aggression and snap synonymous with the style. I've had some success with higher output pickups by rolling back the volume at the guitar to about 7 or 8. This "sometimes" (guitar dependent) will thin the tone a little yet still retain some high end.

Correct about the Auto-Z... I tend to forget about that because I don't use it :) As for tuning... Returns aren't included when "multi" is chosen but they can be assigned - which means they are connected. Inconvenience maybe (you do need to bend over), but it's still possible.

If all the "faves" midi pedal does is banks/presets.... it won't be very interesting. All you'll do is change a couple presets. If it can be programmed to do CC numbers/values, then it could be interesting.

It already exists, it's just not "labeled" as such. You can use any one of the RETURNS on a Helix as an input... each can be set as Instrument or Line level... along with a little fine tuning of each.