codamedia

As a user that moved over from an HD500 to a Helix LT, I just thought I would share my 2 cents. IMO, there is no comparison between the two units. The Helix is well worth the investment in both money and time. It's easier, it's more flexible and it sounds better. The "legacy" effects included in the Helix are from the M/HD Series. If you really want to use those effect models most will still be available to you. I still use a few myself (the Dimension is one example), but for the most part I am using the Helix effect models. The additional AMP Packs for the HD500/500x were "mostly" HD Models derived from the Helix modeling. That would mean most of those amps will exist in the Helix, but are likely to be a higher quality. Don't expect any of the amp or effects to sound the SAME with the SAME settings. A little tweaking will be required but I digress - it's worth the time and effort.

I have to ask the obvious, because I don't see you mention it in any way.... Since your VDI port took a hit and the Variax stopped working.... are those presets set to VDI input only? Double check the input settings! Failing that, I'd do a factory reset as suggested above by @rd2rk

Find a store that specialized in travel accessories. Those are simple adapters, I have no problem finding them whenever I need them while traveling. Here in Canada I can walk into my local Walmart and buy an entire set of popular countries for about $20. I've often found myself needing one in a foreign country and can always find them in the tourist hot spots. (yes, I am aware tourism is non-existent at this time) I'm talking about the simple "Country A to Country B" adapters.... not an actual converter. Although most converters will also come with a complete set of adapters.

Welcome to how the majority of us use the Helix. 5% of the Helix still adds up to a lot of toys... if you actually owned that number of amps, cabs and pedals. The point is though, your 5% is likely very different from my 5%... there is something there for all of us. I don't believe there is a "new way of doing things" that needs to be learned, you just need to learn how the "traditional ways" are applied inside the Helix. Basic setups on a Helix... (followed by how it applies to an older setup) A few effects before an amp.... (typical pedal board into amp setup used by thousands of players) A few effects between the amp and cab ... (old school rack setup in the loop of an amp) A few effects after the cab... (studio style addition of effects, eq's and compressors) Parallel effects.... (just like some amps have parallel loops, and studios effects are often added in parallel) Combine any number of the above... I find that any old article on how a famous tone was achieved can usually be duplicated on a Helix quite easily... from the first pedal to the last studio effect added.

This happened to me at a show last summer. Fortunately I had seen the behavior before with my X3 Live so I was able to react quickly.... but if someone wasn't aware of the potential issue I could see this being a real nightmare to troubleshoot during a gig.

IMO.... Don't let the LT scare you.... yes the floor is more rugged, but the LT is not a toy. I've used the LT since late 2018 and it has not shown a hint of problems. YES, gigs have been lite due to the pandemic, but I have got close to 150 dates on the LT thus far. I'm not trying to disagree with @rd2rk... he has valid points. There is no question the floor is more robust/rugged/tank like - but as an LT user I can say with all honestly, it is not flimsy in any way - it's just not a TANK! As for the scribble strips... it's a matter of preferences, and only YOU can decide. I actually prefer the performance view that is included (only) on the LT. It's a visual outlay on the screen showing the FS assignments. I'm not saying it's better than the scribble strips.... I'm just saying I like it more :)

It was only common on some of the initial run of LT's. It was fixed in subsequent runs. EG: My LT was purchased in late 2018 and I have never had an issue with my expression pedal. If you have one of the original faulty units, just contact Line 6 support (open a ticket) and they will sort this out for you. From what I've heard, they solve the problem regardless of your warranty period. I've seen DIY fixes posted but that seems like a silly thing to do if Line 6 is willing to solve the problem.

On topic with the OP's needs and question... I think I should point out that although I carefully chose to buy an LT... it is because in my project studio I run a separate interface and mixer which handles the majority of all I/O. If I used the Helix for everything, I would have bought the floor model. My LT is primarily for live use, although of course I also use its sounds in the studio.

Yeah... I would never die on that hill either. I do go to battle on occasion but always in a very respectful manner. If they don't budge, I just take note of it. There are times I still bring a traditional setup (amp and pedal board) just to avoid the confrontation with grumpy techs. Locally I know who they are.. and although I won't bad mouth anyone, they would never be on my call list or my recommendation list.

I won't go into details, but he wouldn't last long around me... and I am also a sound tech, not just a musician. Techs are suppose to accommodate the musician, not the other way around. If he has problems with your presets (through one channel) then he should talk to you about the problems during/after sound check, not insist on them before hand. Simple! Just insert a send block prior to the output on acoustic presets only. Set the SEND MIX so nothing goes to the main outs. Connect the send to a DI and "Cross your fingers" the tech unmutes the acoustic in time when needed :) He won't mute the electric channel, but he WILL mute the acoustic channel out of habit!

It's personal requirements and personal tastes... it's great to have the options. Know the differences in the products, figure out your "needs", then buy the appropriate model. My sentiment exactly. I really like performance view on the LT. I owned an HX Effects for a few months prior to upgrading so I do have experience with the scribble strips... IMO, I don't miss them one bit.

You might want to look up John McFee... the outstanding multi-instrumentalist with the Doobie Brothers. He uses a Helix and I am pretty sure it is a hub for everything he plays, which would include his violin/fiddle.

There are a couple violin players in my area that use the HX Stomp.... As a multi instrumentalist I use my Helix LT for everything. Electrics, acoustics, mandolin, dobro, banjo, etc... etc... If I could play violin I'd most certainly feed it through the LT.

IMO, nothing beats the real instrument regardless of what it is... so yes, I'd say if you want "a real sounding bass"... you should get a bass. That said - I hide a lot of "fake instruments" in some of my mixes :) It doesn't have to be a real sound to be a good sound.

You are not alone.... I used to get great tones on my X3 and was really excited when I "upgraded" to an HD500 only to find myself in a continual struggle to get what I wanted. I found it very frustrating to dial in. As @silverhead says above, the Helix is back to normal in every regard, and sounds much, much better than any of the former units. It's also a lot more flexible and easier to use. I would go as far to say that in 40+ years as a gigging musician, the Helix has been the single best purchase I have ever made.

IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND: When you add a volume pedal block it automatically assigns it to EXP2. When you add a WAH block it automatically assigns it to EXP1. To make life easy for yourself... don't alter that pattern or you will have to do some deep editing every time you need to add a Volume pedal or Wah. I always suggest.. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Since you plan on using it for volume the majority of the time... do this. Go into Global Settings > EXP Pedals Set the position for EXP2 (and maybe even EXP1 as well) to GLOBAL. This will retain the position of the pedal when you change presets. Now.... Just add a volume pedal block to any preset you want it in, and it will automatically assign it to EXP2. You only have to add the volume pedal block. When the EXP is set to GLOBAL... then you do this when you start the Helix to initialize the pedal. If the EXP is set to "preset" or "snapshot" then the pedal position gets "recalled"... and it may be "recalled" in the off position. Again... keep it simple, set the EXP position to Global so the position is exactly where the pedal position is as you change presets & snapshots. Probably not.... If for any reason the EXP does not work as you expect... then that is likely because something is not set correctly in that preset. Maybe the preset is loading the EXP as EXP1 instead of 2. Simply depress the toe switch to make it EXP2 and save again. Maybe the volume pedal BLOCK is not assigned properly to EXP2. Just remove the block and add it again. It will automatically assign to EXP2. The moment you step on the volume pedal you are "editing" the preset (the volume) which is why the "E" Symbol appears. Don't worry about it :)

Just to be clear... the pedal on the Helix is not a "global volume pedal".... it is assignable to do anything you want within a each preset. If you are expecting it to be a volume pedal all the time, it won't be. It might be assigned on some presets, but not on others. That is very normal. That's an odd statement... because that is how expression/volume pedals work. If you don't move them, they won't do anything. If you mean something different, I think we need more details.

Hard to say for sure... but this is where I would start. On the Helix try the "Brit J45 Bright Model" to simulate the POD 2 "Brit Blues" amp with the bright switch engaged. For extra drive, put a simple "gain" block in front of the amp and turn it up a few notches. For the cabinet you will have to experiment. Don't forget that each mic choice and it's position also acts like an EQ for the cabinet. For the delay try a "simple delay"... start with 2ms 13% feedback and a 30% - 35% mix. The MIX on the Helix peaks 50/50 at 50%, not 100 like the older POD's did (IIRC)

That mixer appears to have clip lights beside each input gain/trim.... are any of those clip lights coming on? If they are... turn down the gain until that stops. There could also be gain staging issues later in the "mixing chain" (bus, master out, etc...) That statement is confusing, and would appear to make matters worse if it's taken at its word. Please set the STOMP OUTPUTS to Mic Level (or instrument level) in the global settings then adjust the gains accordingly on the mixer. You NEVER want to see the input clip light come on at the mixer channel. Gain staging is critical with PA's, and if you have "line level" feeding "mic inputs" without proper adjustments this is exactly the type of thing that will happen. The HX Stomp and Helix are the same thing... just different footprints and features. I use a Helix direct 90% of the time and I've played with several players that use HX Stomps direct. What you are describing is never an issue. This notion of "two Stomps don't play nice together" is a waste of time and it is leading you the wrong direction in trying to solve the problem.

Only within a vivid imagination :) Lets move on! No it does not rule out the PA. What is the PA/MIXER you are using? You mention earlier that the stomps are LINE LEVEL and that when you MIC AMPS the issue does not occur. That is a very big clue as to what is happening. MIC'ed AMPS feed the mixer at MIC level which is a lot quieter than line level. There are a few options to solve this problem If MIC Level is not an option on the STOMP, set the output to INSTRUMENT level. Use the input gain/trim on the mixing board to reduce the input level coming into the board. (on the Stomps channels) Place a direct box with a PAD engaged between the stomp and the mixer.

USB Midi requires a HOST which is what a computer is when you connect to that. Usually when you connect to other 3rd party midi gear it is done through standard midi ports (DIN). Disclaimer: I do not use, or know anything about the MioXL so I do not know if it can operate as a host or not. If it can... then it should work.

Great advice is already given by rd2rk... I just want to add an option. If you don't want to use two effect loop blocks.... you could very simply add it to your existing 4cm setup. You can choose to place it before or after the amp... but you will have to manually turn it on/off separate from the stomp. The only issue here is that some amps "send" at a line level, and the DD8 is not going to like that very much. That would force you to place the delay before the amp.

Regardless of it's architecture, the Pedal Baby is setup to simulate a tube power amp, therefore "in theory" you should only be using the PRE AMP model of the amp you choose in the Helix. What I've provided is the "rule of thumb" answer.... but let the ears be the ultimate judge of what you like better. There are no set rules, just suggestions. @rd2rk has answered your other questions already.

Yeah.... good point. Rather than "True/False?" I'd just call these "odd assumptions" :)

FALSE: Line 6 is known to add a new variant rather than overwrite the core tone of an amp/effect that already exists. They are well aware that some people depend on those staying consistent. Example: People have complained for years that the RAT had to be modelled from a "unhealthy" pedal because it didn't respond like a real RAT. Line 6 did not "fix" the existing RAT because some people were using it, instead they added a new RAT variant that was more authentic. The only time I know of a "core sound" changing was the REVERB depth increase in 2.6 or 2.7. Even then the sound didn't change, the amount of reverb you could attain did. Line 6 warned everyone that their presets would be wetter and require the blend to be turned down on each preset. I'd call "false" on this one as well. I find the gain structure on stock presets and default settings to be rather "hot".... as if they were prepared with low output pickups - but that's just most of the stuff I use... which is likely different from the stuff you use. In reality, the stock presets and default settings were likely set by different people at Line 6 over time - each using different instruments. Now they added some "artist presets" which expands the possibility of instruments used. IMO... this is why PRESETS SUCK! It's not because they actually do (well, sometimes - LOL)... it's because none were made with MY GUITARS! You need to roll your own if you truly want to be happy with the Helix. Just my 2 cents.