rd2rk

With exception of fat lazy(?), I have some from each. All good with some amp or other, all bad with something. In other words, cruisinon nailed it. Have fun, spend money! Find the ones YOU like, you're bound to think that MY favorites suck!

Just assign a button to both the amp model and the FX loop, save with the desired default ON, and you're good to go.

If you want to OVERDRIVE something, put the gain pedal before it. If you want to BOOST THE OUTPUT LEVEL of the whole rig, put it last. Some folks like their wah after their overdrives. I've never heard of anyone putting it after the amp. For me, it sounds best first in the signal chain. So, you have a dilemma. The wah sounds best early in the chain, and, as a level boost, you need to put the Pig last. I would put the wah between the guitar and the Helix, and the Pig between the Helix and the amp.

Not offended guys - thanks for the help. Rocco - I took your suggestion to try and record the phenom, recording into Sonar via USB 1/2 from the Helix. IT DOES NOT RECORD! The recorded sound is perfect! Yet, direct monitoring (Helix to Rokits OR DAW to Rokits - the levels are different so I know which I'm hearing from the Rokits - while I'm playing/recording is wonky! Here's the setup: Guitar into Guitar input, bass into AUX. 1/4" out to Alto speaker, XLR to KRK Rokits. I took a split off the end of Path 2 (Input AUX/BASS - same results if I run the test with Guitar from Path 1), sending the 1/4" Out on 2A to the Alto and 2B Out to USB 1/2. Sonar input channel set to 1/2 Stereo (HELIX USB Out Centered, makes no difference Right or Left). Globals - "USB In 1/2 Destination" set to XLR (default?), all else at defaults (I think - don't remember changing anything). This is interesting since, as I mentioned (and I tried it again just to be sure I'm not crazy), using a EHX Pitch Fork set up Bass to Pitch Fork to regular guitar amp (or direct to the Alto) no Helix, same problem, using Guitar or bass. So, it seems that, regardless of which Pitch device I use into what system, Audio reproduction is weird, but digital recording (Helix as interface, don't have another to test simple guitar/PF/DAW) is perfect! In all of these tests I've listened VERY carefully for the acoustic string sound, the third sound I mentioned, which, at low volume, is distinctly audible. At higher volumes, the shifted sound drowns out both the string sound (with or without headphones) and the unshifted sound, but the unshifted sound is still there, just not amplified as is the shifted sound. I realize that the experiments with the Pitch Fork direct to amp takes this out of the realm of a strictly Helix problem, so I guess that what I'm really looking for are any ideas as to why it should be an Audio vs Digital thing. I know, it makes no sense. And yet, it is. I'm still entertaining the parallel universe theory......

Gonna BUMP this in hopes that one of the Line6 guys will give it a shot....

I agree, it doesn't really sound like "the real deal" in every case, though, if you spend enough time tweaking it, on YOUR system, you MIGHT be able to get close. But, unless you actually OWN the real deal, how can you know? And, unless you know what post processing was done on the recordings you're comparing it to, how can you expect any other result? You're right, the Helix sounds better, that's why I sold my HD. But the fact is, the Helix only sounds like the real deal after you spend a bunch of time tweaking on YOUR system, to sound like what YOU THINK the real deal sounds like. However, since you can't afford a Helix, you certainly can't afford the other competitors, so the POD HD is the best bang for the buck you can get. The bottom line: can you make sounds that are pleasing to YOU, never mind the real deal. Unless you're a recording engineer trying to mimic a specific sound EXACTLY, who cares. Even if you're in a cover band trying to sound just like Joe Superstar, 1 - consider that LOTS of people have been using the POD for just that, and 2 - the audience won't notice, as long as you get "close enough for Rock'n'Roll". If it sounds good, ROCK IT!

Duncan Hot Rod set on the Ibanez, the stock Steinbergers (EMG HSH copies) on the Steinie, and my Strat is a Hiway 1. Yep, happens with headphones, just harder to hear the "third" sound (the strings).

DavidB7170: Thanks, but like I said, it's not the guitar itself that I'm hearing, that's a THIRD sound. What's driving me nuts is that it happens with Helix, HD Pro X, AND the Pitch Fork, and it's always the shifted (+ or -) signal that's dominant at higher volume. Also, it can't be a parallel path because I even tried putting the EHX directly in front of my (real) Engl amp. Same thing. I'm hoping that someone will take a minute to try this, to actually HEAR what I'm talking about. If someone comes up with a solution for one, it'll probably be the same solution for all, but several hours of trying everything I can think of, I'm at a loss!

WickedFinger said: "EQ is relative to volume level and frequencies change in perspective. Low end takes and requires wattage so the more wattage, the lower end is more powerful and pronounced, at lower volumes using far less wattage is being generated to push the low end." Sounded like a good explanation, so I tested by changing from -1 to +1. Nope. It's still the SHIFTED note (which is now HIGHER) that comes to the fore.

For simple E to Eb downtuning, using either the Simple Pitch or Pitch Wham. At higher volumes it sounds fine. But at low volumes (apartment level), higher notes seem to be a combination of the natural guitar pitch (E tuning) and the downtuned pitch (Eb tuning). I discovered this when I tried using a EHX Pitch Fork between the 1/4" out and my Alto TS210. I thought it was the EHX, and couldn't understand why, if both pitches are coming from the EHX, why would the downtuned pitch overpower the straight pitch at higher volumes? Then I started playing around with the Helix shifters and got the same results. This is true regardless of where I use a volume control in the signal chain - channel, effect, main volume knob, Alto volume control, doesn't matter. And, no, it's not the guitar itself that I'm hearing, that's a THIRD sound. I even tried putting the EHX directly in front of my (real) Engl amp. Same thing. Then I tried the pitch shifter in my HD Pro X (haven't sold it yet..), SAME THING! In all cases the blend/mix is set at 100% wet. So, to summarize, all of the pitch shifters I've tried, at low volume, seem to be outputting a little of the straight guitar tone, which is overpowered at higher volumes. EHX can't explain it, L6 support (to whom I demoed the phenomenon over the phone) can't explain it either. I've pursued this on the usual slew of gear forums, those few who've noticed it with the Pitch Fork have referred to it as a "reverby" artifact. Would someone else try this and see if maybe my location in space and time hasn't shifted into a parallel universe?

That's as good a definition of a "bug" as I've ever heard! Apparently, though, not the only cause, as I don't have an external exp pedal.

"I'm pretty interested in this Alto TS210 ($299). THis is a FRFR? Do you play with it in a group setting?" I just got this rig, and I'm not currently in a band. I can only tell you that based on previous experience, in bands and with tube amps, the Alto is going to sound GREAT. It WILL be replacing my Engl AND my Warwick Bass amp (I may need to get the TS215 for that if I get into a LOUD band). As for FRFR, there's no such thing, it's a myth. If it sounds good, use it! That said, the Alto doesn't seem to color the sound, it's very clear and clean. For more $ you could get something with DSP, EV or the Line6 L2m or L3m come to mind, I haven't tried either, the EV is $500 and the L6 is outrageous. Maybe they're better, but I'm totally happy with the Alto.

DunedinDragon said: I would say there are far more that have gone the route of the Helix either direct into a PA or into a FRFR rig and direct into a PA. If you examine the outputs that come with the Helix it's obvious it was designed with that in mind. ------------------------------------- This is the way to go - Helix to FRFR to FOH. I'm running into an Alto TS210 ($299), and it's scary how good it sounds! I haven't sold my Engl yet - I still can't see it as a nail :) , but it's time is coming.

What model Marshall are you using? Which Helix distortions?

That all assumes that the Helix Ins/Outs are set to MULTI.

Try this, it's called the 4cm (4 cable method): Using shielded (instrument) cables, plug your guitar into the Helix. Take Helix Send 1 to the amp's Input. Take the amp's FX LOOP SEND to the Helix Return 1. Take the Helix LEFT(MONO) 1/4" OUT to the amp's FX LOOP Return. Go to a new preset on the Helix. Insert an FX LOOP BLOCK set to FX LOOP 1. Put compressors, distortions, wah, BEFORE the FX LOOP BLOCK. Put your delay, reverb and other time based effects AFTER the FX LOOP BLOCK. If you want to try some Helix amps, put the amp/cab block after the FX LOOP BLOCK (before works too). With the FX LOOP set ON and the AMP BLOCK set OFF, assign both to one button. Now you have a choice of FX(distortion, wah)=>Marshall Preamp=>Helix delay/reverb=>Marshall Power Amp OR a straight Helix signal path thru FX(distortion, wah)=> Helix Amp=>Delay/Reverb=>Marshall Power Amp - at the touch of a button! Don't expect it to sound perfect out of the gate. Even with identical Presets on the Helix, your Marshall is going to sound different than my Engl, but this is the right way to WIRE it for what you're doing. NOTE: There's no right way to order effects. What a said above is the order most commonly recommended and the one I use (sometimes - more or less).

Never mind...don't know why I thought that the looper volume would be ON by default..... there's probably LOTS of people want to record silent loops.....just wish I hadn't undone all the silent loops I recorded while I was figuring this out, there was some great stuff there!

BUMP before I try Tech Support?

About 15 minutes later I did just that, everything imported just fine, it just didn't feel like telling me it was done!

Imported 36 Impulses, Helix screen says Transferring Data. Over 30 minutes now, I'm thinking there's a problem, not sure how to proceed....?

Well, it seems I had it all figured out without the manual, BUT....while the looper screen seems to be responding as expected, the buttons on the FBV (RECORD/PLAY) aren't lighting up as they should, and when I hit PLAY or PLAY ONCE nothing plays. PLAY ONCE and UNDO light up as expected, but no sound. I must be missing something.

Unlike the HD500, the FBV buttons aren't labelled for looper use. Which button does what? How to get it into looper mode? If there's a section of either device's manual that details this, I couldn't find it (DOH!?).

How do I get this to work?

The people who'll claim to notice it the most will be the unemployed guitar players at the back of the hall, and they'll most likely say how much better it would sound if you had a REAL tube amp like a Marshall, Fender, etc. I thought that the biggest difference was in the cleans, and that, through the clean channel, the POD ODs and distortions sounded much better than through the POD amps. That said, I thought that the ht5c distortion channel sounded awful. I now have an Engl Gigmaster head with a closed back vht112. An all around major improvement with the el84s and closed back cab. Even the POD amps, run into the Engl fx return w/o fx loop, sound much better. Likewise, the Engl distortion channel sounds great. However, this rig is neither small nor cheap. If you're happy with your sound thru the Behringers, see if you can't borrow someone's tube amp to try it out first.

Stealing is bad. A diet of sour grapes will make you ill. I paid for mine when it came out. I didn't HAVE to - I WANTED it. NOW! So I paid for it. Now Line6 is giving it away as incentive to spur sales. SO WHAT? Companies do it all the time. Though, it would be nice if the next upgrade were more than wishful thinking, and FREE......