rd2rk

Hi APSRN! Welcome to the Wonderful World of Digital Music Madness! I haven't used Cakewalk in many years (prefer Reaper), so it took me a bit to get this configured properly. Hopefully I've properly documented the steps. Open Cakewalk. Go to FILE>NEW. The default should be BASIC. Name the project NATIVE and SAVE (click OK). Go to EDIT>PREFERENCES>AUDIO. In PLAYBACK AND RECORDING>DRIVER MODE select ASIO. In DRIVER SETTINGS click the ASIO PANEL. If it doesn't appear ALT-TAB until you find it. The SAMPLE RATE should auto-detect from your AI's Driver (probably 44.1k or 48k - don't worry about it). Set the BUFFER SIZE to 64. Later, when you're playing, if you get clicks/dropouts/other weird noises come back here and try 128. **The BUFFER SIZE determines the Latency. Round Trip Latency (RTL) is the amount of time between when you PICK a note and when you HEAR it. Lower is better, but how low you can go is dependent on your computer's power, mostly processor speed. You should also google Windows Audio Optimization for DAW and configure your computer accordingly. Go to DEVICE. Refer to the above screenshot. My Audio Interface is a Focusrite Scarlett. Select ALL of the Input and Output options for your AI (1-2). Click APPLY and then OK (3-4). Follow the numbered steps. 5-In the FX slot, right-click and select INSERT AUDIO FX>Uncategorized>Helix Native. 6-In the INPUT Box select whatever your AI calls USB 1 (or whichever input your guitar is plugged into). 7-Activate the TRACK RECORD button (won't record until you activate the TRANSPORT RECORD button at the top of the UI below the MENU BAR). 8-Activate the INPUT ECHO button. You should now be able to play and record if desired (by clicking the TRANSPORT RECORD button). Questions?

The BIG KNOB The BIG KNOB up full is 0db - neither boosted nor cut. That level control is in the digital realm BEFORE the DA converter. I researched this a bit and found some stuff on high-end stereo/audiophile sites. The answer has to do with a lot of mumbo jumbo tech speak that amounts to this - if you reduce the level from 0db in the digital realm it does something which might cause your dog to not approve of your tone, but you likely won't hear it. The real reason to lock your BIG KNOB - disabling it in Global Settings by assigning it to an unused output - has to do with preventing accidental output level changes in live performance. If you have it set low and FOH sets your levels based on that and somebody kicks it, or you drag your cable over it and it suddenly goes to 10 the FOH tech will NOT be happy. If it's controlling your STAGE level your bandmates will not be happy. In either case, if it goes to zero in the middle of your big solo, that's gonna suck. Calibrating your monitors My KRK Rokit6 manual says leave it on 10 and adjust your levels at the source. Works for me!

First, WELCOME and just FYI, this is a user-to-user support forum. Nobody from L6 hangs out here. You should post this (very good) suggestion here: https://line6.ideascale.com/c/ I'd vote for it! Now that the boilerplate is out of the way, Helix has a Global EQ which can be setup to accommodate the F-M curve. It is very manual and needs to be set for each situation/level change, but it's very easy to use.

I don't use a MAC so I can't help with the specifics of the programs that you use. All I can say is that my FCB is currently connected to my system via USB but what I'm about to describe also worked when I connected by DIN through a MIDI interface. I set up a track in Reaper to receive MIDI from my FCB (iConnectivity MIO DIN/USB), pass it to my Helix via USB with MIDI THRU enabled, and on to my Powercab via DIN. Works perfectly with bothe Program Changes and CCs. Do you have USB MIDI set to ON in Global Settings?

Default Preset Bank 3 Channel B. Preset NAME is ELMSLEY. AMP is CHIME Group 2. I changed the default Effect 2 REVERB to DELAY.

First thing you need to do is get the app connected to your computer. You didn't show the upper right corner, but "Default Preset" usually indicates that your USB connection is not happening, else you'd see the name of the preset (BANK/CHANNEL name) in that location. Is the GEAR ICON in the upper right corner flashing? if so, check your cables and make sure that you're properly connected.

If you're talking about the PRESET NAME at the very top of the screen, yes, that will remain the same as all you're doing by turning the Amp Selector Knob is changing the AMP in that PRESET. That PRESET NAME will only change when you change PRESETs by changing the BANK or CHANNEL. If I'm still not getting it, make a screen shot and SAVE it in PAINT with red arrows/numbers pointing to the specific areas of the UI that you are referring to in the text.

Define "not possible". Are you restoring them from the BACKUP you made BEFORE performing the update and the RESTORE procedure is failing? Any ERROR messages?

I'm not sure what you mean by "automatically map" a custom setting? Here's how it's done to accomplish what I think you're trying to do: After setting "MIDI PC Tx" to OFF in Global Settings>MIDI/Tempo, go to your Preset, open CommandCenter and set an InstantCommand (the lightning bolts) to send the desired PC# on the desired MIDI Channel (the channel your effect is set to RECEIVE on). Anything assigned to an "InstantCommand" (IC) is automatically sent when the preset loads. Thus, no extra switch involved. You can combine InstantCommands with Snapshots (SS#). For instance, suppose when you load the preset you want your effect's slot #3 to load (SS1). In SS1 you set IC1 to send PC#3. PC#3 is sent when the preset (SAVED on SS1) is loaded. In SS2 you want to load your effect's Slot #7. In SS2 you set IC1 to send PC#7. PC#7 is sent when you select SS2. NOTE: In Global Settings>Preferences there's a setting called "Snapshot Edits". When set to RECALL you do not have to save the preset between Snapshot Edits. For instance, you can change the IC setting in all snapshots and simply SAVE the preset when done. If set to DISCARD you have to SAVE the preset BEFORE editing the next Snapshot or your edits will be lost.

Amp Type will show as whatever amp is loded in that Channel (A/B). For instance, in the new Default Presets, Bank 3 Channel A is the CHIME, Channel B is the ELMSLEY. There's no Elmsley on the Selector Knob. Channel A shows Group 1 below the Selector Knob (CHIME). Channel B shows Group 2 (ELMSLEY). Refer to the Pilot's Guide for the respective Group1/Group2 amps.

The best procedure is to create the preset on the HXS, export it, then import it into Native. You now, IN THEORY, have the identical presets on the HXS and in Native. So, using the HXS as your AI, you record the HXS preset on Track 1 with the Input set to USB 1/2 (HXS Main Outs). At the same time you record the Native preset on Track 2 with the Input set to USB 5/6 (HXS Direct/Input). IN THEORY the tracks should be identical. Why does the DIRECT track (Native preset on Track 2) sound muffled compared to the HXS Preset on Track 1? It's not a difference in db levels (LOUDER is BETTER). That happens at your ears, and (of course) you've levelled the playback output. It's not pickup loading (In-Z). That happens at the HXS Input, not in Reaper or Native. IOW, it's not a problem at either end of the signal chain. I did this with the simplest preset possible - nothing but a bass amp/cab. I repeated it before posting this just to be certain that nothing had changed in the latest Native update (3.71) since the last time I tried this. Nothing has changed. What to make of this? Use the HXS for LIVE playing. Use Native for re-amping, where you actually WANT a different sound for recording. Or, waste valuable hours of your life trying to EQ Native to sound identical to the HXS.

The FW (firmware) update is done using the Line6Central Application. DL and install that first, then connect your Cat and turn it on. L6Central will detect the Cat, report the installed FW and ask if you want to update it. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY including the post-update Factory Reset (back-up your existing presets if you want to have them to re-install later). Then DL and install the Catalyst Editor apllication.

I'm not at all sure what all you're doing, more complicated than I've time to figure out, but here's a simple bottom-line reality for you to start with. If your FX SEND is connected to SOMETHING you need a SEND BLOCK in your signal chain. If you want the signal to return from that SOMETHING you need a SEND/RETURN Block or separate SEND and RETURN Blocks in your signal chain. If you use separate SEND and RETURN Blocks you probably want the DRY THRU parameter of the SEND Block set to -120db UNLESS you want a MIX of the DRY and EFFECTED signals. My HXS/ToneX signal chain is: Gtr>WAH>HXS Input>HXS FX> SEND/RETURN Block (Stereo if you're using 2 ToneX)> Send L (TRS to Dual Mono if 2 ToneX)>ToneX Input(s)> ToneX Output(s)> Return L(L+R if 2 ToneX)>HXS FX> HXS Main Out(s). Your SEND/RETURN Global Settings should be INSTRUMENT (ToneX In/Out are BOTH Instrument Level). Hope that helps.

Primarily, the new factory presets. That's why you back up first. However, on the Helix products, when things don't work right after an update, a Factory Reset usually fixes that. Maybe there's a reason why they include doing that in the update instructions?

Did you do the Factory Reset after the FW update? IDK if that would affect the editor, just thought I'd ask. There should be a switch below the Selector Knob that toggles Group 1 and Group 2. The "Bank" switch is above the Selector Knob next to the A/B/M switches. Are you sure that the editor actually updated? If you open the SAVE dialog and select ABOUT you should see v2.01 (iOS is v2.00). You now have two effects that can be anything you want and toggled separately by assigning the FS1/FS2 buttons to Effect1 Bypass/Effect2 Bypass. Just set each effect to whatever you want it to be. Reverb seems to be the default on Effect 2, but you can change that. You can't use effects from the same CATEGORY on both - for instance, two delays. I like having a MOD on Effect 1 and Delay on Effect 2 (instead of Reverb), so that's how I've set them up on the couple of presets I had time to mess around with today.

Update was a piece of cake, no problems at all, just be sure to back up your presets and perform a Factory Reset after the update, same as Helix/HX. They've fixed one of the biggest complaints - being stuck with Reverb vs being able to use any two FX! Still unable to disable cab sim, but at least they're working on it. The Pilot's Guide adds the relevant MIDI commands and includes the Audio Interface info (which channels do what). They've added some of my favorite amps and paired them nicely for different flavors of similar sounds. Very nice update!

That is correct.

And you've probably figured out by now that Amplitube is not much better. Significantly better: Get the FREE version of ToneX for iOS and AUM ($20.99). TBH - I think that the Catalyst's amps and built-in FX beat the p1$$ out of any of the iOS guitar plugins. Add a Sonicake WAH/VOL pedal ($60) and get FULL CONTROL with a decent MIDI Foot Controller (Hotone Ampero Control - $120). The MIDI controller is only really important if you need instant Bank changes, otherwise the stock 2 button switch is really all you need. Over time you'll spend more money on horrible sounding iOS plugins. If you REALLY need a boatload of concurrent FX save up for an HXFX or an HX Stomp (gets you all of the Helix Amps and MIDI). FWIW - I own every major player - AT5, BIAS FX, Guitar Rig, Native, S-Gear, ToneX, THU, and I've tried so many others over the years I can't even recall them all. I also own a Helix, a PC212+ and an HX Stomp. Most of the time my Catalyst is all I need. With so much less to think about I spend a LOT more time actually PLAYING my guitar! DO NOT SHORT-SELL YOUR CATALYST!

Exactly the setup I described in your other thread. AT apparently doesn't do stereo in, so you'll need either Ch3 or 4. I don't recall if I mentioned it over there, but unless you turn the Cat's CHANNEL VOLUME down (0), you'll hear the Cat's Preamp even when the recording channel is set to 3 or 4. Also, when I said to enable the MIC, I don't mean the RECORDING MIC (called "Built-In MIC Monitoring in AT). When you load the App (AT or GB) it asks if you want to use the MIC. Say yes, but within the app there's an option to use the RECORDING MIC or some such, DON'T use that. You also need to enable the MIC for each app in your iPad's SETTINGS>PRIVACY>MICROPHONE.

You're still using the wrong cable. Re-read my post: That's NOT Lightning to 1/4"!

I have a simple USB B to Lightning cable. Guitar to Cat Input, USB to iPad. On the iPad app, USB 1/2 are PROCESSED Cat signal (uses Cat amps); USB 3/4 are UNPROCESSED Cat signal (BYPASSES Cat's amps/PRE FX). Output from the iPad app is on USB 1/2. That should leave the Cat's POST FX in the chain. Output 3/4 should BYPASS those, direct to the MAIN/Master Outputs. I didn't actually test that last part, and it may or may not have anything to do with the position of the MODE switch. I really should test this more, but I personally never use this configuration (Cat's Audio Interface), so...

You need to maintain contact for around 2 seconds. Global Settings>Footswitches>Stomp Select = TOUCH or TOUCH + PRESS? Clean the FS surface?

You probably meant "early ADOPTER", but in truth, "early ADAPTER" is more accurate! And as far as VIP goes, as relates to Powercab issues, support probably considers me VAP - Very Annoying Person!

This was my first-time trying GarageBand, basic FREE version that came with my iPad. Plugged into Catalyst, opened GarageBand, told it to use the MIC, selected to record an Instrument, selected Channel 3 (or 3+4 - bypasses the Cat's preamp) as Input, selected "Producer Effects>Echo Tape" as the amp, turned Monitor switch ON, and it just worked. BUT - regardless of what Channel I selected as Input, it would not bypass the Cat's preamp. I futzed around with it, tried reading the GB manual re using an external AI (not very informative), exited out, ran AUM with ToneX to make sure the Cat was working right, went back and followed the above procedure and it worked. I think what changed was that when I exited the first time it automatically saved what I was doing as a song (My Song). When I re-started GB the second time it automatically re-loaded that song, and now when I selected Ch 3 or 3+4 it works properly, bypassing the Cat's preamp. Beats me! But that's my story.

Yes, that is very strange. You might try asking support what's up with that.