rd2rk

Simple ABY box.

The list represents the lowest tier which I personally care to experience. You can find used POD beans for $50, and I heard a youtube comparison which showed them to still have plenty of bang for the buck. I'd draw the line at the Behringer VGuitar though. I had one. YUCK!!!

Press MODE and TAP together to toggle between 10 stomp and 8 stomp w/bank up/down.

GT-100/HD500X - $499.99 GT-1000//Headrush/Helix LT - $999.99 AX8 - $1088 - IF you want to get on the waiting list... Helix Floor/??? - $1499.99 KPA and pedalboard - $2268.00 Seems to me that the market "tiers" are pretty well defined, and L6 is right on the money.

FYI - Don't know what interface you're using, I'm using a 2nd gen Focusrite USB 18i20. Regardless of the DAW I'm using, I get consistently better latency than with the Helix, not to mention the convenience of all those extra inputs and level meters. Just sayin'.....

You can do it all "in the box", but it's a waste of Helix resources, and will need to be configured separately in every preset. Using the ABY box is a better solution IMO, as it also allows you to use stereo presets. Maybe not so important for LIVE use (if you only have one speaker), but handy for recording. If you do it "in the box", you'll need to hard pan the outputs Left/Right, or use a SEND block before any effects (less wasteful, but still adds to the number of AD/DA conversions [i think]).

I use an ABY box to split the guitar signal before the Helix. I send the dry signal to a separate input on my interface. Ex: Path A goes to the Helix input/ Helix OUT (Left/Mono XLR) to Interface input 1 (set to LINE), path B goes to Interface input B (set to INSTRUMENT). That allows you to get the processed Helix signal to DAW from Input 1 and the clean guitar from Input 2. You could also set up a split in Helix - Path 1A with effects, Path 1B clean (or some variation, you get the idea), sent to separate interface inputs, but that limits what you can do in the Helix. If I remember right, the HD500 allowed you to specify (in Globals) sending a clean signal via S/PDIF, but the Helix doesn't work that way.

I go thru the Focusrite. It's a better studio mixer, more inputs to my DAW. If you're concerned about the additional AD/DA conversions, you could use the S/PDIF. Unfortunately, I've found that using S/PDIF the audio randomly drops completely for several seconds at a time. I don't know if the problem is with the Helix or the Focusrite, but comparing recordings done both that way and thru the Focusrite analog inputs, I can't tell the difference (other than the random audio drops). If you're going thru the Focusrite analog inputs you don't need to use the instrument inputs, as the Helix is sending a line level signal. I split the guitar signal before the Helix input, sending the split to the guitar in on the Focusrite. That way I get the Helix effected signal thru XLR and a clean signal thru the guitar in for reamping, which is the main functionality that you lose by not going USB from the Helix.

Nothing personal, cgar, but he managed to make BOTH the PS170 AND HELIX sound like crap! Based on that video, I wouldn't buy either! Fortunately, I already own a HELIX, so I know that it sounds WAY better than that, and I'm looking forward to someone making a decent video of the HELIX with the PS170. If you see one, post it up for all of us! Meanwhile, the video I linked to is at least a decent representation of what the PS170 sounds like. If Sam gives me any money back this year, I might buy one as a backup for my tube head!

One of the WORST YouTube product demo videos I've ever heard. SD should sue that guy for defamation! Here's a better one:

Where's my free pony?

Have fun!

In your DAW, set the HELIX TRACK input to ASIO Helix Input 1-2. Set your HELIX TRACK "Monitor" switch OFF, RECORD to ON. <---This is the trick! Set the MASTER OUT in your DAW to ASIO HELIX Output 1-2. Send all your tracks to MASTER. Set HELIX USB In 1/2 Destination (Globals) to XLR. Set your HELIX output block (Preset) to MULTI. You can then RECORD your guitar while HEARING both the playback from the DAW and the guitar DIRECT thru the XLR on the HELIX, and when you stop recording and enter playback, you'll hear it all together!

What it is....

Baffled me, too. Thought it was the Helix. Went out and got a PitchFork. Same! Everybody kept telling me I was hearing (even FEELING) the sound of the naked guitar. Finally, I ran it through closed-back headphones, volume UP. Sure enough, when I couldn't hear the actual string, I realized they were right! On stage, with stage volume levels, probably wouldn't have been able to hear it, but at home studio levels it made using a pitch shifter simply annoying. Even with the headphones, at reasonable levels, I can FEEL the original tone vibrating in the guitar's body!

Replace "H9" with "Strymon" If you want the H9 to RECEIVE on the Helix Base Channel (default CH1), go into GLOBAL/MIDI and set MIDI PC SEND to OFF. That prevents Helix from sending the default PC# for that Helix Preset, and sends ONLY the PC# you set in Command Center as an Instant Message (don't forget to save the preset!). OR Set the H9 to receive on a different channel than the Helix Base Channel, and set the Instant Message PC# to send on that channel. ex: if Helix Base Channel = CH1, then set H9 to receive on CH2 and Instant message to send on CH2.

Actually, unbalanced cables are TS (tip/sleeve). BALANCED cables are TRS. I don't think it matters, TRS would work, but they generally cost more.

The Helix 1/4" outs aren't balanced (owners manual, page 7, back panel). That only matters with really long (20'+) cable runs. Under 20' you can use either.

"I have made a few tests in my home just now, with the following basic setup: A fresh, empty preset in Helix, all outputs set to instrument level, and a volume pedal block added before the output of path 1A." Signal chain for 4cm: Guitar->Helix Guitar Input Helix Send 1->Amp Input Amp Send->Helix Return 1 Helix 1/4" Left(mono) Output->Amp Return Helix Preset needs a "FX Loop 1" Block (in this example). IF this is how it's set up AND you've swapped out cables (all should be shielded/instrument cables) AND the amp and Helix are being powered from the same source THEN maybe you should open a support ticket?

Read the file "READ ME FIRST!!!" that's included with the Big Pack. "To make things simpler for most Helix users, I didn't put my user IRs at the beginning of the cab bank, but from 074 to 098." That means that you need to load the IRs (which are always WAV files) in those numbered locations.

As a test, try sending your MSB/LSB/PC directly from the Helix to your Beat Buddy. Use a MIDI monitor on your PC to be sure the Helix is sending correctly. If the BankChange/PC works that way, then you may be right about the Helix not passing the full message, and you'll need to open a support ticket. If it doesn't work, but Helix is sending the correct messages, then it could be a timing problem. I found that sending MSB/LSB/PC TO the Helix from a FCB1010 had the problem you described, PC works but no Bank Change, but sending the same messages to a SoftSynth worked fine.

"OK, got it working. The patches won't change if the USB is plugged in...for some reason. You were a big help, thanks." De nada!

It's worked for Campbell's for over 100 years....

Glad I could help. Do check back and let us know if it worked as well as the description claimed it would.....it sounds like a sort of digital BBE sonic maximizer.

The question has already been answered. To clarify - the soundcard in the HD500 is the Line6 HD500. The closest comparison is the Line6 HD500. Only Line6 knows what chips are in it, and they're not talking! Alternatives have been recommended. Links have been provided. Google "AD/DA" for more.