bjnette

I recently pulled out of storage my old Korg D3200 multitrack recorder while PC was being serviced.

Last time I used it was for recording drums in a live room about 4years ago and transferred the files to PC. Owned it since the Pentium days.

But going over the manual with it's 52 bit internal processing decided to try it in the HD FX loop.

And right away noticed a little more lushness with reverbs, it has a 4 band EQ on every channel and one on the master out.

Track insert FX on each channel and two send FX and two aux sends. I forgot how good the FX sounded but the PC migration was easier at the  time of Dual CPUs to navigate. Just better etc..With Amplitude, Revalver II etc until I demoed the HD500.

Anyway thought I'd mention this for the EQs, compressors, limiters, pitch shift, vocoder usual time based FX etc which really improves the HD tonal options. It's Amp models are alright for clean spacey stuff High gain no.

Not a new thing and some likely already doing similar but if you have an old recorder you might like it on the HD FX loop if the FX processing is good. 

Having two master FX you can load similar time based FX and pan these before it goes back to the HD. So two of the same slightly different on each side would be twice as good.

I went overboard  on this rediscovery but it is like getting a new device.  

If you don't have an old all -in-one, don't forget the Global EQ on the HD for recording as a tone control.

It would be worth purchasing a Helix LT over purchasing an old recorder unless you get it for real cheap or already have one already.

You might be glad you never sold it and always good to repurpose. 

When I trialed the Helix Native the FX stood out noticeably as better more so than the amps models compared to the HD to my ears and really I am not a heavy FX user but having a couple of EQs

and pretty good compressor for bass is not bad.

Still loving the POD HD!

Let me know if you have an FX module of some kind in your HD FX Loop?

Try them all assigned to the foot controller of course and you'll soon find one you prefer and after a while you can make most work, some work best if you limit the controller travel and use sparingly.

Yes it is annoying and many use a dedicated interface.

What you could do is record the track(s) in your DAW and lower the fader on that channel(s) until it is bearable or nil, in most DAWs you can just not activate the listen button just the record. You monitor befor it hits the PC along with any other tracks or metronome from the PC. Set as low a buffer as possible.

Or just send the channels output to a dummy not used output that is not going to the master bus and back into the HD. 

NAMM announcement of new Helix update to incorporate all the ins and outs including the L6 Link so it appears the Helix will be able to do the DreamRig setup.

I was very close to pulling the trigger on the LT but would prefer to keep on with the HD500.

There are so many variables to changing the levels it can become so mindboggling, many just give up on the HDs.,

A level meter on the unit would of been good but there are other ways.

This one turns up your ears.

Shield your instruments pickups as best as can be. Anti feedback cover over sound hole etc.

Plug HD into a PA mixer with monitors attached and has metering ideally but best an external Interface to computer to check level into a Audio program and follow below. Set interface levels to +4db.

Ensure on the HD the output is set to line and use the pad for active pickups . These toggles are next to the expression pedal.

Turn the PA output down to accommodate the HD Master volume knob to the max. (Do not use the headphones on the HD itself)

The noise level will be heightened but for now put up with it and turn down the output on the mixer but don't adjust it, leave all faders, EQ etc. flat. Unity gain, and just enough input gain to register about -12 db or -14dbFS on peak meters. Still in the green. but keep it below clip. Let the ears listen.

The theory behind this method is you set up the HD at max and run the line outs into a mixer (ideally with metering) and turn it's output down to for listen/ tracking.

Now when it comes to setting levels within the HD itself you have ruled out one variable. Your ears will be attuned to what your unit is doing at max output. 
Adjust all FX, amps and both paths via the mixer block with this stable maximum.

Solve levels between FX etc this way within the HD and keep from going into the red and clipping your input level on your PA mixer. Always trust your ears over visual meters.

In reality, at a Gig or normal use you can turn the HD output level down to minimize noise but most importantly if you need to turn it up you are not turning up internal distortion not previously heard  Shielded electric guitars should be fine with little noise.

Resist the urge to lower the Master volume, even for noise and then making tweaks on the unit .  Make all tweaks at maximum HD output. If you need to change or tweak at a gig use the global EQ only unless you made a booboo.

Mostly in normal use you will back off the volume knob a quarter or so and a half or more for headphones directly plugged into the unit but not ideal for making patches that will be good for live work.

Hopefully, you can sketch this out and think with it.  Turn down your external monitoring; max out the HD volume knob, listen from there; Check the levels into an audio interface and adjust at the HD to keep from clipping. Before making huge changes make sure the output toggle is set to line level and the active pickups have a pad activated next to the expression pedal; make all level decisions between FX within the HD and only at max output knob volume.

If you are going into an amp or some other setup and need to make changes it is best to save these as a preset in a setlist under the name of the different monitoring method and naming it as such.

The best way is to save current bundle and pick a setlist bank and save it.

Find a blank patch "newtone" or make one deleting everything and save this patch. Copy paste into another patch of the bank and  save. 

Continue copy and pasting a number of blank "new tones in the setlist untill it is all only "new tones" and save this setlist. You can use this to blank a whole setlist another day. so worth saving.

You can also save the setlists and blank patches with titles you prefer if you wish

Yes switching the amp controls off is the way to do it as otherwise any cables touching the knobs will switch it to the amp controls. Cheers

It is quite a marvel, to create a compact Helix,

The Black sparkle magic seems like a marketing term for super fragile microscopic components like the ilk of mobile phones.Please expound!

Amazing nonetheless!

Capacitors are somewhat like batteries. They hold a charge.

Check for any scorch burns or more likely discoloration. If you are lucky it might be that simple but usually 

requires equipment for electrical troubleshooting past a close magnification of the components and circuit.

Well Done and thanks for sharing!

When two instruments are playing the same instrument thru the same speakers you get cancellations of frequencies. 

The bottom end disappearing is a symptom of this washing out of frequencies.

If it is happening to you it is probably also happening to the other guitarist.

It can also be the speaker failing to being able to reproduce the lows for both guitars especially if the bass is in there too.

The handling is to play the parts in different positions on the neck then the other, less distortion and different frequencies boosted on one cut on the other

to create sonic space.

Also try putting one of the speakers on the floor for more bass reproduction.

Turn down the amp. Make sure your combo is not adding lots of gain.

Lower the gain in the HD.

Use a noisegate. .Sounds like your pickups are polyphonic.

Shielding the guitar is worthwhile and will minimize the squeel.

Turn it down. Move away from in front of the amp speaker.

Been unable to post for a while till now. Good to know sorted now!

Awesome endorsement from a true master talent!

Awesome talent! And looks like he has stepped to the full Helix with his loved Pearce Pre!

You can use Reaper and for only $60 sticks it to the man on a just as good DAW, probably better then PTs8. But if you are dead set on learning PTs then a compatible one is needed for that version. I think PTs gets more relaxed in later versions. There is PTs free of the latest version but it will cost ya in added extras.

M-audio cards are probably the cheapest for it but there are others depending on your Mac. So look at what your Mac will accept too!

Yeah, still finding the HD500 can hold it's own when compared to a few amp sims I have tried since the HxNative demo ran out. Too expensive.

I not long ago bought a whole DAW with a ton of effects and instruments 70 gig sample library and instruments plus a great amp sim especially on bass. Vandal from that crazy $149 Samplitude ProX 3 Suite sweet deal with SoundForge 11 and Spectral Layers integration.

Heaps better bang for the buck.

I was on Sonar X3 before that with TH2 and I upgraded to the Pro version for the same a week before the announcement. They kindy gave me a refund.

Anyway I use the HD as a clock source for s/pdif and record either on amp sims of from the HD right into Samplitude.

The HD is still got it though. Perfectly adequate

From the Editor when send the patch to the device to save you have to really make sure you have that patch selected and highlighted before sending especially when saving the name of the patch. It is easy to make a patch but not have it send correctly.

Does the crate amp have an FX loop?

Just with the headphones lower tunings will make things flubby use the Amp Cab cutoff near or about 120hz.

For metal you want to decrease the gain a bit and use EQ FX before and after the Amps. Around 300 hz and a fairly wide Q will handle some tubby whilst keeping the low end punchy.

A high shelf roll off will emulate the  cabinet response better and make it less brittle as digital can go much higher than a tradition amp and cab in it's response.

Give us some more details.

Does the HD500 boot up okay?

Is it is the USB not recognized and can not connect to PC?

Either too long a delay with feedback or because of google translation

the LOOPER function. It has a record, play, undo function.

Awesome, Good on you and well Done! Cheers !

Yes they are great features and I can see why they are necessary but alas, not available for whatever reason. Seems the Helix routing is the advancement you need.

You mention using an ext mixer for some of your workflow; you do have a DI out which can be used this way to give you an analogue dry out.

And as you mention you do have both s/pdif and AES digital outs which seems to be about the only solution (another interface) apart from the Helix.

You also have the two stereo TRS FX sends on the HD as well.

Not sure if using the X3Live (if you still have it) can be configured with the HDPRO for routing options. Cheers

As owners of both have testified, "it sounds the same"

The LT is also a controller and interface so there are advantages to heaving it

especially if you plan to gig.