codamedia

^^^ this ^^^ (even for MAC) Although it should be obvious, don't forget to connect the Helix to the computer via USB cable for this to work.

A basic setup would be as follows.... and would work with both the HX Effects or the Stomp. Guitar > HX Input > "Some Effects" > Loop Send on HX to Amp Input > Amp Send to Loop Return on HX > IR > Output to PA (note: it can get a lot more complex than this... and there are more options. I'm just trying to keep it simple for this example) STOMP PRO's (HX Effects Cons) You have an Audio Interface should you ever need it You have amp modelling in case you decide to stop using an amp in the future.... or to provide more options immediately The amp modelling can be used for headphone practice STOMP CONS (HX Effects Pros) You will have a limited number of effects to work with. With a mandatory loop and IR (for your setup) you are already down to 4 effects. If you add an amp you drop down to 3, etc... You have less foot control over your effects... but since they are limited in number that won't matter so much The bottom line.... If you have your heart set on amp modelling, whether now or later. go with a Stomp If you intend to use your amp live... the HX Effects provides better options in regards to "number of effects" within a preset. Only you can decide which is better for you.

Yes, the stomp can also do this but keep in mind you have less blocks to work with. You will need a LOOP and an IR... so immediately you are cut back to 4 effects. Using an amp on stage seems to be an important factor.... that's perfectly fine.... what make/model is it?

A lot of people use IR's to FOH for consistency. They don't have another live mic on the stage, mic position is not an issue, there is no room influence to the guitar mic, etc... etc... Better, or best is not really a part of it, it's consistent and easy. My needs are different than yours.... EG: I bought a Helix, that doesn't mean you should :) What is important to you? Audio Interface? Going direct to FOH? Using a physical amp on stage? Ditching a physical amp on stage? Integration into an existing pedal board? Replacing an existing pedal board? Having a lot of options at the control of your feet? Not needing a lot of options at the control of your feet? Headphone practice (no physical amp)? Having a few effects, or having a lot of effects? etc... etc.... Once you determine what you needs are, choose the HX product that satisfies those needs.

The HX Effects is not an audio interface, and does not have any amps.... but yes, it does IR's. With an IR loaded you can do the following... Using 4 cable method you can split the path and load an IR in (let's say) Path B. Path A goes back to the amp without an IR, path B goes directly to the console (recording or live) without the need to mic the physical amp. If you have an "amp in the box" pedal you can place it in one of the loops and put an IR after it. Now you have a full "direct" setup with no need for a physical amp at all. IR's are also very useful for things beyond cabinets... so they still come in handy in that way. The HX Stomp is an audio interface and has the amps modeling, as well as IR's. It also has the same effects available but the trade off is that you get less effect blocks (6 on a HX Stomp, 9 on an HX Effects) ... and a lot less switches to work with.

You shouldn't make an assumption here... there are far too many options. If you have a multi meter, just test the switch to see what is happening when you click the buttons. OR... open the switch and take a look. If there is just a couple of wires connected to the jack... it's likely a shorting switch. If there are resistors and/or caps & diodes it's more complicated. Keep in mind the EXT AMP output on the Rack is TRS. You should use what is called an INSERT cable (TRS end to two 1/4 TS ends) to make the connections. That provides two discreet controls, one to each TS end. However... none of that matters if your amp isn't basic shorting jacks.

OK... his reasoning I don't agree with, but please read on :) You voted down a clock? Maybe it's the RUM talking (staying on topic - LOL), but I wouldn't mind a clock on the Helix :) Seriously... when you are in charge of set times on a stage, having a clock handy doesn't hurt. I have one in my Helix gig bag but would love it if I didn't have to carry it around. As for the original topic.... I'm holding out for HX BEER ... but I like your way of thinking :)

The LT has 6 USB outputs.... plus a dry out for the guitar input, and the variax input. (8 total) The trick is learning how to route the INPUTS (guitar, variax, return one, return 2)... to the different paths, and therefore various outputs within the LT. In all practical purposes.... unless you have a variax guitar, you can route 3 inputs to three outputs... with a variax, you can route 4 inputs to 4 outputs. Things get more complicated if you want something in "stereo". You always require 2 outputs (1/2, 3/4, or 4/5) to create stereo. It doesn't record anything.... it just provides the USB outputs for a DAW. It's up to the DAW to record from multiple inputs... which most (if not all) do.

^^^ this ^^^ Don't worry about it. Upload the IR's and let the Helix sort it out. When you load an IR in a preset, keep in mind the 1,024 sample uses less resources than the 2,048 sample. If DSP is ever an issue, load the smaller one. It is possible, but unlikely you will actually notice a difference in the quality. FWIW... I always load 1,024's on my Helix, but "who am I" - LOL!

Ultimately... Line 6 Devices want an expression pedal with a TS connection... the M-Audio is a TRS. However, I use that same expression pedal.... but I have an LT so YMMV. I see the STOMP uses a single jack for multiple purposes (EXP 1/2 and FS 4/5) so I don't know how it will process the TRS compared to how the LT does. Here is what works for me... set the switch on the bottom of the expression pedal to M-Audio. Make sure the "MIN Volume" (on the side of the pedal) is all the way off. (optional)... Open the expression and remove the resistor on the tiny PCB that holds the pot. You can also just "clip" one side of the resistor connection and lift it. NOTE: BOTH of these options will void any warranty you have! As I said... it works great on my LT, but I have no idea if it works on a Stomp.

Randy used an MXR Distortion + ... which is a cousin to the DOD 250. While there isn't a Distortion + in the HX, it does have a model of the DOD 250 called the "TOP SECRET OD". That would be a good place to start in regards to putting some "icing" on the Marshall. Randy also triple tracked everything... that thickened all of his tones on the recordings. For this I would try a tight delay (under 50ms) with a single repeat. If you use a delay with some light modulation it will sound more like a double track than just a straight up delay will.

Almost anything.... Yes.... and Yes....

That is very different from how your first post in this thread sounded.... you made it seem like it was failing you all the time in a live setting. If I now read you correctly.... the issue is that you are not catching the problems until you are live. Why you don't notice until you are live is a different discussion, but it is interesting that you appear to be having a similar problem with HX Edit. That's the first time I've encountered it, but I also don't use HX Edit very often.

Maybe it's just me... but if I had a piece of gear that was malfunctioning 100% of the time I wouldn't have it centering anything. THE END! It sounds to me like your Helix is faulty. I'd be identifying and fixing the problem before going any further with it. As I stated in my opening post... my Helix is stable. The only time I had any issue with it (besides my own case of user error) was when I had it connected to HX Edit which is why I am here :)

You already got your answer... but I just want to add that before I picked up my LT I was running an HD500 and HX Effects side by side for about 6 months. The HD500 is a really decent midi controller and it tied the two together quite nicely. If you are new to MIDI... prepare for a bit of a learning curve. It's a great old standard that is fairly easy to grasp, but when you first dive in the terminology might sound more complicated than it really is.

I don't have my Helix with me today so I can't check, but I don't believe any of the compressors in the Helix have the sidechain ability.

I'm a firm believer of this... especially with anything regarding cars or computers :) I certainly save all the time, especially since I "discard" snapshots. If I don't save things from snap to snap they get lost. That said... I only hit "save" in HX Edit when I am working there. Maybe I should be using the "save button" on the unit instead when using HX Edit.

I have an LT... most of the time I just edit on the device itself and I never have any issues. Yesterday I opened up HX Edit and encountered a problem. After 5 - 10 minutes of editing. one of my presets lost all of it's snapshot settings and any changes to snapshot controllers were sticking across ALL snapshots, not just the ones I was editing. I couldn't do anything to regain control of the patch. Thankfully, I always have a safety copy of everything I am working on (plus backups) so I copied the safety over, started over, and had no issues completing what I needed to do. But what happened? Has anyone else encountered something like this? Does HX Edit act up on occasion potentially corrupting a preset or was my use of HX Edit pure coincidence? The Helix has been rock solid and stable, last nights gig was no different. I'm not implying any "stability issues" at all with this post - I'm just hoping to find out what caused this glitch while editing. EDIT TO ADD: I know this question will come up so I'll address it now... both the LT and HX Edit are running the same versions... 2.80 (.......................... just kidding,.. 2.71)

Take a look at the two "bolded" sections above... I don't know if you intended to or left something out but you are contradicting yourself, the upper statement is correct. Make sure that everything after the "join" is a stereo effect as "Verne-Bunsen" says above. If it isn't, it will sum back to mono. Pan the output block hard left/right Run two XLR cables (L/R) to two separate channels on the PA as "Phil_m" says above. Hard pan those channels Left/Right on the PA NOTE: A assumption is made on my part that you have a PA setup to run in stereo.

I have no idea what effect was used as the inspiration for this one... but I'll try to address the stereo issue. If you insert the stereo version (and don't put a mono effect after it) it is definitely stereo. I would assume the "spread" is a key control here, but to be honest it's not an effect I use so I'm not certain how to set it up.

Thanks Phil_m... that is good info to be aware of. Indeed that would be very difficult to clip with a guitar.

Keep in mind the Helix does "simple amp switching"... it shorts plugs. This was common on many amps, but there are many amps that use relays, resistor/cap/diode values, etc... to switch channels. You cannot change those with the Helix. You need to know how your amp handles channel switching in order to know whether or not the Helix will support it. @rwinking... What amp make/model do you have?

That's why @amsdenj said "use a blank preset". (no effects, no amps) The pad come before the AD conversion so it is extremely important not to clip at that stage.

Yes I did... several times :) I thought this thread might be a discussion... I see you really just want to know if were interested so I'll leave it with this. I'm all for having more control of the Variax from within the Helix... go ahead and post a request to Ideascale, I'll upvote it.

To play devils advocate... that's debatable. It would take human resources to program all of the functionality into the Helix, and every hour adds up in dollars and cents. That latest change coming in 2.8 indicates they are trickling in more and more so your dream may become a reality in time, but the vast majority of users would be more interested in amps and effects and there are only so many resources for development to go around. How long does it take to load a guitar from Workbench HD into a JTV or newer model? I use an old Variax and that takes about 10 seconds.... if that hasn't been improved on then I can't see "full functionality" being very practical from the Helix... not in terms of "hot loading" the models as you mention here.