PeterHamm

They have hinted that when Helix Native happens, at that same time this whole process will change and become easier for everyone.

The editor has no significant User Interface changes, but you MUST use the latest editor to use the latest firmware.

There is a new editor, and they've moved the Updater (you have to use v 1.11 I think it is) up near the top. All worked smoothly here on MacOS Sierra 10.12.4.

I have always believed in fully educating yourself on a product before starting to use it. I have always been the kind who read manuals from cover to cover before even turning stuff on. I think, by and large, it's the best approach, whether it's a piece of software, hardware, a camera, etc... But... ...that's not the way Helix needs to work. And that's good news. Stop worrying about IR and terminology and all that is my advice. For some of us, the built-in cabs are just fine, or even preferable, and for many (I'm not saying any of YOU guys of course) there is the confirmation bias of "well, I spent all this money on IRs from all these companies, so if I don't think they're better I'm making myself look foolish... or I'm not one of the cool kids..." For some people, the IRs that are out there are a must for getting your tone. Wait to see what the cabs have, especially dual cabs, before you plunk down any money (try the free samples, though, sure!) here's what you should do, imho. Get the unit, get it out, plug it in, get the cheat sheet out, and put the USB key with the manual aside for now (read it while you're watching TV at night or something, 80% or more of what you need to know is on the getting started sheet). Get a computer with the editor on it and Facebook and this forum open in a browser (join the Line 6 Helix Group ORIGINAL). go to a blank patch and dial in an amp that you like and tweak it. Ask questions on the fb forum and watch in awe and wonder how you get answers in less than 15 minutes! add a comp before or after the amp. add a delay if you like delay. add a dirt box if you like a dirt box. etc... ask questions when it sounds like crap and we'll help you out. Lather, rinse, repeat. imho, Helix is the simplest to use digital effects device ever made. It only LOOKS intimidating, and only for a few minutes. I was as comfortable with Helix after 3 days as I was with HD 500 after 3 or 4 weeks.

And yet very clever! :lol:

Just taking the amp and cab out and assuming a patch will work great with your amp, though, is not a great workflow, potentially.

Some clean (and even some dirty) sounds like that wide open sound. Remember, the IR or cab is already attenuating a bunch of those high frequencies. But some people like a pretty drastic hi cut down to 4 or 5K. I don't, generally, on most amps, but I do on some. Also, OP, it's possible that you have a problem that is NOT in your tone if it sounds good in IEMS or FRFR or at home but not at church. Check to make sure phantom isn't on on the board if you're hooking up XLR, check to make sure that they aren't jamming the input trim a bunch and keeping the fader really low. And check to make sure there isn't some god-awful EQ going on. I would NEVER use global EQ to "fix my patches". I use it to "fix the room", but I don't even do that if I have a decent sound guy. He does that.

Guys I suggest you go refresh your browser window in the updates section right now... Oh, naw, I'm just funnin' ya...

HA! Never been in one. Never will be.

She probably doesn't, but she does know that I ADORE her, and she totally gets my weird brand of humor anyway.

Well, it was a joke, from a guy who has been happily married for over 30 years... but... yeah...

That should work, but why do you need a digital output for the one path? I'm just curious.

It is not about what you hear. It's about what your audience does. If you are only playing by yourself in your bedroom and you are the only audience, then imho, a guitar speaker is always going to sound the best, at whatever ungodly volume your family allows you to play at. Of course, I think you should get out of the ****ing bedroom and get in a band, but that's another discussion. If you are playing for an audience where they are going to hear you in the PA, then an FRFR (or rough equivalent, or perhaps a wedge that actually sounds the most like your PA) will let you craft tones with regard to how they will sound best to your audience. Musicians who love their audiences in this manner are the ones who eventually get paid. For me, I run more than just electric guitar through my helix, so I have to have full-range reasonably flat response. Different courses... ...but, for anyone who says that you must have the amp in the room... get an amp and get a room and have fun. But that thinking will often lead to a poor stage sound and that's why you don't get paid and what rhymes with paid. (that was a joke...)

I think that guitar has NONE of the Aura image processing, so it should sound the same as the Aura version with the Aura stuff turned off. If that is the case, and I'm pretty sure it is, it if has the F1 Analog system, then it will probably work FANTASTIC with IRs.

Yup. This, too.

Pretty sure you can not. It's just a pass thru from the get input.

Might not be the point. Because user error is more of a factor in these scenarios than we want to admit, and also, imho, running 1/4" to a DI to XLR also avoids the possibility that level from Helix isn't just what the mixer wants, so I just use that. Every time. It sounds the same. XLR connections? I'd use them in the studio and in an entirely controlled environment. As soon as you have another person who can muck it up... give me the DI box every time.

I am thrilled that buying these patches from guys who know what they are doing works for some people, but I am with you. I've never met a patch that worked for me that I didn't create from scratch. I was (and am still) never like that with synth patches, though.

I'm not sure the full overhaul of the editor is coming with the 2.2 update. It's coming with Helix native.

A parametric eq in your patch can accomplish the same thing. Global EQ is really for "fixing a room" anyway.

Five minutes of your time... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cqzIapPUj88

That is different from what I've heard before. Glad that's cleared up.

A few more notes: The mixer features are rolled into the places in the signal chain that they make sense. You do need that functionality. It's better here, but I never minded it in HD 500. But in answer to your second query, you need to learn about snapshots. You don't want to switch presets during a song, because everything stops and starts again (delay and reverb trails most notably). But with snapshots, you can get a LOT of different sounds out of one patch. The best time you'll spend is making patches with the quick reference card in your hand and the manual on standby. Within a couple days or so, you'll know as much about Helix as you did about HD 500 after a month. It's THAT much easier to use.

There is one more thing you should know. Path 2 has a little more horsepower than path 1. Path 1 shares the CPU with OS housekeeping duties, so it will hit the CPU wall slightly earlier.

If the bass has active pickups, the solution is even simpler. Simply have the bass go in the Aux input, and the guitar go in the other. Simple. However, if you are not playing the bass and guitar at the same time, the far more elegant solution is separate patches imho.