codamedia

All amps/channels have their own distinct characteristics, however they also follow the same general principle for usage. Preamp up / Master Down for overdrive tones Preamp down / Master Up for clean tones On the Helix, the preamp volume is referred to as "Drive"... that is where your overdrive comes from. The higher this is, the dirtier the amp will be. You adjust the overall volume of the model with the "channel volume" once you get the desired breakup from the "drive" level. For the cleanest tone possible, turn the "channel volume" up full then turn up the drive to achieve your desired volume. There are a few amps (such as the Twin) that will stay clean for a long time, but in general, most amp models will begin to break up when the "drive" is pushed past 4. This happens with the REAL AMPS as well... it's the nature of the beast! One more consideration, the hotter your guitar or the louder the effects in front of the amp are, the lower the "drive" has to be on the amp for it to begin breaking up. Since you play a Les Paul Studio don't be surprised if you have to keep the DRIVE down to 2 or 3 to keep an amp models clean... that's normal. There are also some amp models that WILL NOT clean up at all... that's because the model is sometimes the high gain channel of a specific amp. EG: SOLO LEAD OD will never clean up... while SOLO LEAD CLEAN will. That is exactly how a SOLDANO SLO Amp operates.

I am not saying this is your problem, but please double check to make sure you have done the following.... and don't make any assumptions, double/triple check! Disconnect the Helix from the computer Download and Install the latest version of HX Edit (2.81 as of this reply) During install.... DO NOT uncheck any of the options. Just install the entire package.... DO NOT open HX Edit..... The updater will run into problems if HX Edit is open! When that is complete.... Connect the Helix, Start the Helix and run the UPDATER again. If the updater still cannot see the Helix, restart the HELIX with FS6 & FS12 pressed then restart the updater.

I'm a creature of habit... my favorite amp for cleans in the real world was the normal channel of a Blackface Deluxe... so that's what I lean to in the Helix, without disappointment.

The Helix will not function as an interface between your 1st gen Variax and Workbench on a computer. There are some basic functions that do work between the Helix and Variax such as power & model select, but that's it. I have a Variax 300 & I'd love to unload my old HD500... but can't because it the Variax umbilical cord to the computer.

You can easily assign ONE alternate tuning per preset through the controller section with a single button.... but I don't see an easy way to assign 4 separate tunings on 4 buttons. You might be able to do this via midi but it will require some experimenting and my Variax is an original model so I cannot test my theory. Connect a MIDI jumper between the OUT and IN (make sure midi thru is turned off in the global settings) Assign the tuning parameter controller to a MIDI CC # Use Command Center to send the correct values to the appropriate CC # for each footswitch.

I also run my XLR out at MIC level and have it disengaged from the volume control... yet every now and then during soundcheck a tech will yell across the room "can you pad the DI on the guitar?" For those occasions I have re-purposed my global EQ since I never use it as an EQ. I set it to XLR outputs only, leave all EQ settings flat and turn down the level about 6db - 10db. It's really easy to engage/disengage as required and makes a great variable pad. Of course, that is not an option if you use the Global EQ for it's intended purposes.

True.... in addition to my response above I should state that I only used HD Edit as a sketchpad, I rarely did any tone editing on it. I preferred to do all of that on the HD itself... You may be on to something with this... although I have encountered a few inconsistencies and problems with HX Edit and the Helix in the past. But it's been rare enough that I do not know if it was the pairing or human error :)

Although i never finalized patches without being connected.... I found "offline mode" in HD Edit to be quite handy. For me conceptualizing a patch/preset is the beginning stage.... just like a flow chart in business or a storyboard for a film producer. Sure, I couldn't finalize anything but I know my gear - so I could get things into the ballpark rather quickly... without having my HD500 by my side. I own Helix Native so that has become my "offline" visualization with the Helix. I don't need a guitar in hand to conceptualize or prepare the routing for a preset. Just my take on it....

This is what I would do.... then I could insert it anywhere I want in any particular chain rather than be tied to the front of the Helix.

There is about 5 - 6 repeats, each one substantially quieter than the previous. The Helix can easily do this on most delay choices. If you set the feedback too high it is going to get in your way.... the very first repeat should be equal value (or quite close) to the actual note you played. Any basic delay will accomplish this... heck, I use to do this with a boss DD-3. Dotted 8th subdivision Tap in the tempo via quarter notes... (eg, 1, 2, 3, 4) Play the PART on the QUARTER NOTES... do not try to play it like you hear it! The part you play is extremely simple... the delay does the magic.

The latest version of Helix Native has an option to disengage hardware compatibility... this means you will not run out of resources, providing your computer can handle it. Total # of Blocks = 32 This is split into 4 paths of 8 blocks each There are two primary paths.... and each primary has a parallel path. If you don't need any parallel effects you can create a larger serial chain... which is how you can ultimately end up with 32 effects.

Well... it all depends on how you monitor. This will not work well if you are listening through headphones, studio monitors, PA cabinet, etc... etc.... This WILL work well if you are listening through the power amp input on a guitar amp or any power amp into a standard guitar cabinet. The above scenario's are not equal, and need to be approached differently.

As a programmer by trade.... the reported error usually suggests a line that has no issues at all, what is directly before that line is the problem. In other words... if the last three presets are scrambled, look closely at the 4th last preset. This is what I would try.... Reload the original setlist from 2.6 Let the Helix rebuild the presets export the last 5 presets separately... while they appear to be in working order. Remove the 4th last one from the Helix (or copy a blank preset over it) NOW try and export / import the setlist and see what happens. You now have the last 5 presets (individually wrapped) that you can load individually which may help you isolate the problem.

Please take a picture of that and post it :) (photoshop not allowed) Until then, it did not happen - LOL!

Keep in mind that the stock tones were not created with your guitar, in your listening environment. At best, they will only get you in the ballpark. Be prepared to tweak them to your liking... don't expect it out of the box or you will be disappointed.

Two options.... 1: Don't choose an amp model (leave it blank) 2: Disable the amp model With my HD500 there were times I would use it in my home studio... but play through an amp live. In the Studio I had an amp model applied and it sounded great. When I played live I would use the same presets but with the amp model disabled.... leaving that duty to my stage amp. Of course... my live amp was always quite similar if not the same as the model I chose to use in the HD. If you are using the HD models for something you CANNOT do with your live amp this scenario is not ideal.

FIRST: I fully agree with the comments above from pianoguyy.... IMO.... don't bother with the output setting of the HD. Just leave it set to Studio Direct then follow these two general rules. When plugging into the front end of an amp, turn off the amp modelling in the HD. When plugging into a power amp input (or effect return) of an amp, you can leave the amp modelling on but turn off the speaker simulation. OR - alternatively, use a pre-amp version of the amp model. Yes you can break those rules if you want, but it is best to learn the rules before breaking them.

That has NEVER been the default for the Helix. It's always been WAH = EXP1 and VOL = EXP2. This practice of Line 6 goes back to the HD Line as well... maybe even back to the X3 and XT. I am pretty sure it was done that way for people that use an external exp pedal in addition to the build in one. The BUILT IN stays as EXP1 and the external becomes EXP2. This makes a WAH sit naturally under EXP 1 in conjunction with the TOE switch.

Unless Line 6 officially states that Edit 2.8 (2.81) is backward compatible I would think you are tempting fate. Maybe it connects and appears to work... but the two are following different roadmaps.

If you plan on using it with your Helix... the Powercab is the perfect compliment in terms of options/features. The Firehawk 1500 is a modeling amp (HD modeling).... and with a Helix you wouldn't have any use for those models and will just bypass them to reach the power & speakers. As for speaker compliment.... that depends on your preference. I tend to like 10's or 12's with my guitar on a stage... not a 2.1 stereo setup with smaller mid focus speakers. YMMV.

For presets that tie the output block to snapshots your method seems like a reasonable solution to me. For consistency among all of your presets I don't see any harm in using it all the time. I think you are right, I guess it goes with the territory of buying/downloading third party presets.

I set my Helix the same as @DunedinDragon and set my XLR Outs to MIC. Since I don't use my Global EQ for any room correction, I re-purpose it as a PAD on the XLR Outs... very useful if you have to work with many different techs and systems. This is accomplished by assigning the Global EQ to XLR only, leaving all EQ settings flat, and only adjusting the output level of the EQ. Normally I leave it set to -10 and it provides enough reduction to make most techs happy when/if they request a PAD.

Do you use the LA Studio Comp on any of your patches? If so, this is a known issue that is noted appropriately with the update. When I read the update notes for 2.81 and realized this problem existed I decided to delay my update since I am in the middle of a busy schedule.

The HX line always starts with the previously loaded preset. (ie: the preset loaded when it was turned off) Does the freeze always happen with the same preset... or with any preset? If it is consistent to a certain preset, that preset may be corrupted. I would expect it to ALWAYS freeze in that case, but that would be an assumption that is best avoided :)

Yes... I kind of went off topic with gain staging...it was only meant as a suggestion/method to solving snapshots that were out of balance. To adjust the balances of presets... as I already suggested the quickest and easiest way to do it is in the output block. If that block is tied to snapshots, then the author of the preset intended it that way and you may have to adjust it on each snapshot rather than once per preset. That's not how I would do it, but I am not the author of those presets :) I guess it all comes back to when you asked for an "easy way" to balance. IMO, the output block is the easy way... there is nothing "automated" in the Helix like Apple does with it's "sound check" feature in iTunes