rd2rk

"Drag this up to re-merge the paths". Also what @silverheadsaid about panning and levels.

FWIW and future reference - if you right-click the message you get a menu with a translate option.

Snapshots are called using CC#69 with a Value of 0-7 (Snapshots 1-8). I don't Have the BS Live controller (very weak MIDI controller), but I would assume from the App I downloaded that you would create a template with each switch assigned to CC/Toggle/CC#69 and corresponding ON and OFF Values of 0-5 (switch 1-6). Since there are only 6 switches you'll be limited to 6 Snapshots You can't switch presets unless you're using a MAC based DAW which supports AU plugins or ProTools (AAX plugins). From the Native Pilot's Guide: NOTE - AU and AAX Plug-in Formats Only: At this time, remote MIDI control of setlist and preset changes is supported only with the AU (Mac) and Pro Tools AAX (Mac and Windows) Helix Native plug-in formats. It is not supported for the VST2 or VST3 Helix Native plug-in formats on Mac or Windows. Also note that Setlist and Preset changes performed via MIDI PC/CC messages are not supported by Undo, and will clear the current Undo history - please see “Undo and Redo” on page 27.

You know this because of your extensive insider knowledge of the HW and SW architecture of the Catalyst amps? You're using the amp in exactly the way it was intended to be used. It is not the everything for everybody amp solution, and never will be. Want more amps? I already gave you the solution - ToneX! Probably cheaper than the sum cost of your pedals and will likely provide much more variety of tones! However, you're welcome to post your personal wish list on Ideascale. Nobody from L6 hangs out here, :-( , but they do pay attention to that.

FWIW - neither the SPLIT nor the MIX block count against you 8 block limit.

Mine came with a wrench. IDK the size, it's not marked on the wrench. Contact support?

Now that I have a better idea of what you're trying to do I've been able to make some changes to eliminate (I hope) the unwanted behaviors. I've copied FS5 to SS5-7 and made certain (I think) that SS8 does nothing unexpected. Instant Commands send on preset and snapshot load. With Global Settings>MIDI/Tempo>DUPLICATE PC SEND = OFF that prevents PC#3 sending on every SS change, it only sends on Preset Load. I assume that you're using FS5 to toggle something on another device which requires a MOMENTARY message. Toggling CCs send the DIM Value on Preset and Snapshot load. That's the way it works, no way around it. BUT if the Value has already been sent on Preset Load, it won't send again on Snapshot Load until a DIFFERENT CC# or Value has been sent. Since 0 is the "reset" Value it SHOULD (fingers crossed) have no effect on whatever is happening on the unspecified external device. Since the RELEASE Value of FS5 is 0, it won't send again on Snapshot Load after pressing FS5. Try the attached mod of your preset and let me know. Rooster 1 Mod.hlx

As @Schmallesaid, but the LED Ring will remain DIM. This makes sense because the BRIGHTNESS of the LED Rings is binary - ON/OFF. With the number of possible command variations they can't be made to reflect all possibilities. I don't recall this being different in previous versions. If you set the color of the snapshots to different colors, the LED will indicate the color of the SS that it will go to when pressed. IOW - if SS1 is set to GREEN and SS2 is set to red, in SS1 the button will show RED and in SS2 the button will show GREEN. There's probably a way to do it on the HXS, but I just did it in HX Edit for the test.

Not to say that it'll never happen, but it will probably never happen. Catalyst is what it is, and it is not a top-of-the-line modeler. Updates will likely be minor - bug-fixes, different FX maybe - but I suspect that the amps are what they're ever going to be. One good solution might be to put a ToneX pedal in the loop. I've done that (in addition to running Helix/HXS into the Return) and it sounds pretty darn good, BUT... Metal amps sound best (to my ears) through a closed back cab. MAYBE they'll release a "CATALYST METAL" version with a closed back cab. You should post a request for that on Ideascale.

I just had a look at the G3S manual and AFAICT there is no way to use a FS to send Toggling CC messages. You MIGHT be able to fake it with the Exp Pedal Heel/Toe settings, but it is not a satisfactory solution. You'll need to use two buttons, one sending 0 and the other sending 127. The G3S is a brilliant analog switching device, but this is what happens when analog guys try to do MIDI. It's ALMOST good.

Welcome to crazyland! I'll try to address your questions in order. 1) "my brain sees the blocks like a traditional amp and pedal board". Good start. It's a MODELER. It MODELS all of the characteristics of the real deal. "Snapshots and multiple presets elude me". Imagine that you've filled your studio with all the gear you need to sound just like Jimi Hendrix. Now you want to sound just like EVH. Imagine that you could snap your fingers and all the Hendrix gear would be replaced by everything you need for EVH. That's what PRESETS are. Now, pick two EVH songs with different sounds. You know he didn't switch out all his gear while performing. How to get those different sounds? That's what Snapshots are for. By assigning amp and FX parameters to Snapshots you use the same gear to get different sounds with a single button press! How to learn how to use the HXS to do all of that? READ THE MANUAL!!! I cannot emphasize enough the importance of doing that. Google Jason Sadites. While I think he's one of the most boring sounding people in the world, he has excellent videos on most every aspect of using Helix, which the HXS is merely a less powerful/versatile (but with the same basic tonal features) version of. 2) VOLUME - The Volume knob on the face of the HXS is SUBTRACTIVE. Fully cranked is UNITY (0db - neither boosted nor cut). I find that the best way to deal with it is to leave it cranked or better yet, disable it by setting it to PHONES in Global Settings>Ins/Outs. That sets it to UNITY. In the Amp Block there's 3 Volume controls. GAIN - on NMV (Non Master Volume) amps like Fenders, this is the real world amp's VOLUME control. On MV amps it is the Preamp Gain control. MASTER - on NMV amps this defaults to 10. Leave that alone, it is as it should be. On MV amps it controls the Output Volume up to the point where the tubes start to compress and the amp doesn't get louder, just more distorted. That point is what some consider the "Sweet Spot". YMMV. CHANNEL VOLUME - doesn't exist ITRW. This controls the amp level output to the rest of the signal chain without having any effect on the amp's tone. Some people use it for levelling the volume between presets, but since it affects the level sent to the FX following the amp, it CAN affect the sound of those effects, some more than others. Some people use it when creating a preset as follows: Starting with a blank preset, play a chord and note the volume. Now add an amp and play a chord. Set the Channel Volume to equalize those levels. I just ignore it on the assumption that L6 set it at the optimum level to feed the rest of the signal chain. I may be wrong, but it works for me! Levelling the presets and getting optimum Output Levels is complicated and everybody does it differently. Here's how I do it: I run the Helix/HXS (I have both) into a track on the Reaper DAW which has the JS Loudness Meter in the track's FX Slot. Most DAWs have an equivalent. I hit a big "A" chord (any loud chord will do) REALLY HARD - harder than I normally play. I want the RMS PEAK level to be around -18db to -12db. That leaves lots of headroom for mixing/post processing in the DAW and should eliminate the need for even the most inept FOH person to tell you to turn down since that level will not overload the mixer's channel input. I adjust that level using the LEVEL parameter of the preset's Output Block. 3) Monitoring - yes, you CAN use the Return of your quilter. Every preset will sound like the Quilter. If it SOUNDS good, it IS good. I use my Catalyst100 and it sounds quite good. BUT... no stereo (stereo is FUN!). Decent sounding desktop "FRFR" Studio monitors have become quite inexpensive. Presonus, Yamaha, EV and many others make them in 3.5" and up depending on the size of your room. I use the KRK Rokit6. Obviously, these are not for gigging. The Headrush FRFR108 speakers are quite inexpensive and although the "Golden Ears" crowd will badmouth them they're really not that bad and LOTS of people gig them. Put them on short speaker stands to eliminate the woofiness that some complain about when using them on the floor. I have the FRFR112 version. Of course, if you've got money to burn (doesn't sound that way) there's better sounding (?) more road-worthy FRFRs available from Yamaha, QSC and EV and dedicated-to-guitar speakers like L6's Powercabs, Atomic CLR, Fender FR10/12 and others. I have a Powercab PC212+. Tired of typing now. Hope this was helpful. Questions?

In Windows Reaper, in the plugin window, upper right corner, there's a button labeled UI. That should fix it. IDK about MAC, but from your SS I'd say it's next to the "2in+out" button where your SS cuts off.

I'm not a MAC person, but I believe that the MAC OS allows you to configure multiple AIs as an "aggregate device". Using that into a DAW with its Outputs set to USB1/2 of the Helix should allow you to do what you're asking.

Snapshots 1-7 have InstantCommand1 set to send PC#3 on MIDI CH1. That will happen when you load the preset. If it's happening on every SS change (and you don't WANT it to) then I'm guessing that in Global Settings>MIDI/Tempo you have "Duplicate PC Send" set to ON. Turning it OFF should stop PC#3 from sending on every SS change, just on Preset Load. Also, have a look at Global Settings>Preferences>Snapshot Reselect. If that's set to RELOAD then if you reselect a SS it will resend its assigned messages regardless of what has already been sent (see below IOW section). On SS1-4 you have FS5 configured to send a Toggling CC#80 on MIDI CH2. That will send on Preset Load but won't send again until you select SS5-7 where FS5 is configured to send CC#0 on your BASE channel (default is 1). After you select one of those Snapshots (5-7), when you select SS1-4 CC#80 will send again, then not again until you select SS5-7. IOW - the rule is that once a FS or IC sends it's assigned message it will not RE-send that SAME message until after another SS causes it to send a DIFFERENT message. Also, Toggling messages (CCs, Notes) send on EVERY SS change IF a previously called SS sends a different Value - 0/127. Normally you would not use a Toggling CC attached to a switch whose primary function is to switch Snapshots, though you might want to use a non-Toggling CC to send a Value specific to the needs of THAT SS. Keep in mind that once you start using Snapshots, ANYTHING you assign to ANY FS or IC affects EVERY SS! You need to edit each SS's FS and IC assignments independently to ensure that they ONLY do EXACTLY what you WANT them to do in EACH SS. A FS assigned in one SS but not SPECIFICALLY configured in another will present with the DEFAULTS for that message type in the called SS. ***** I suggest that in Global Settings>Preferences you set "Snapshot Edits" to RECALL so that you don't lose your settings between Snapshot edits and only have to SAVE the preset once when done. WARNING!!! DO NOT CHANGE PRESETS WITHOUT SAVING OR YOU LOSE ALL SNAPSHOT CHANGES!!! OR try to remember to SAVE each time BEFORE switching to another SS (GOOD LUCK with that!). I'm not going to give myself a headache trying to figure out all of the crazy interactions that occur when SS8 is selected. Remember that EVERY FS and IC in EVERY SS has to be configured. Accidentally selecting an unconfigured SS during a performance could have unpredictable results and could result in an embarrassing "WTF!?" moment! Some more advice: When using Stomp Mode switches to change Snapshots remember that when you get to the new SS that FS will revert to the defaults for the SS message. The Scribble Strip will display what the FS does on the NEXT press, so if you expect it to go to a specific SS but it displays SNAPSHOT^ (or anything other than what you want it to do next) that's a tipoff that it needs to be configured. Has your brain exploded yet? Questions?

Which hardware? Helix, HXS, ? Attach a sample preset which displays this behavior and I'll have a look at it.

What about the Powercab?

No, just connect one Output to the PC's Input and the other Output to the Cat's Return. When both 1/4" Outs are in use the signal path is automatically split L/R. Make sure that there are no MONO blocks in the signal chain following the first STEREO Block. Make sure that you're using the STEREO Looper. Make sure to disconnect the L6 Link cable. Set the 1/4" Outs to LINE level.

Without actually hearing it I can't be sure, but I recently eliminated a "ticking" sound by turning OFF the SSID broadcast feature of my wireless router. It seems to only occur on the 2.4ghz band. Since I almost always use cables with my guitars, I'm baffled by this, but it worked!

What's not normal is to plug a guitar directly into ANY poweramp. However, that should not cause the symptom you described. The combination of symptoms indicates a possible problem. When you use the amp NORMALLY, are you sure that you have the FX Loop Switch in the FX Loop position? Leaving it in Power Amp mode cuts, IIRC, 6db (or maybe 10db, not sure). If you're using the switch correctly and still not getting sufficient volume (assuming that your drummer is not possessed by the ghost of John Bonham), then you should contact support. My Cat 100 on the 50watt setting is HELLA loud.

You've confused the UPDATER itself with the CATALYST. The UPDATER installs FW updates to the HW. The latest Catalyst FW is v1.02.

Who told you there was a v1.28? Link please...

AFAICT after a quick look at the PX8 manual, the PX8 does not send MIDI. It responds to MIDI and will pass MIDI from one device to another, but I don't see any way to configure it to SEND MIDI. Unless it is an undocumented feature that when you select a pre-configured PX8 preset it automatically SENDS the corresponding PC# (Like MIDI PC Tx on the HXS). Where in the manual does it say that is possible? In order to change a Snapshot on the HXS via MIDI you need to send a CC#69 with a VALUE of 0-2, corresponding to Snapshots 1-3. Again, I see nothing in the manual which indicates that possibility.

I don't know of a dedicated MIDI Expression pedal, but any decent MIDI floor controller with an Exp input should work. Just create a preset that activates the Block you need and the Exp Pedal by sending CCs assigned to the block and parameters you need. I just tested this with my FCB1010 and it worked fine.

You have to assign the parameter to Snapshots, then save it where you want it in each.