duncann

I can get some decent sounding swells from this block, but these decent settings (with a very low decay), once dialed in, are linked to a specific pickup. Change the pickup, say from a single coil to double coil, or neck to bridge, and the same settings don't work anymore. These good settings can also depend on how hard or soft you strike the string. Another problem is a note can be suddenly cut off. So if you want to sustain a note (multiple seconds), you'll have to increase the decay time. But alas, doing that destroys the swell. So no note sustaining while using this block. This limits what you can do musically. It's seems the implementation of this effect could be better, unless I'm completely misunderstanding what this effect is.

In my brief try of this effect, my impression is basically the same as yours. I was hoping for something more along lines of the auto-volume delay from the HD, or the Boss Slow Gear. I think the problem might be the use of a threshold, instead of the effect being trigger by an actual note being plucked. I don't know, maybe I just haven't found the right settings yet, but right now it has limited use, and depends too much on what's being played musically. The new delay swells are pretty much the same way.

Sorry to hear about your problems, rccampeon. I always worry about exactly what you experienced. It's good to know that even in the event of a power failure, Helix can be revived. Hopefully a future attempt at 2.20 goes smoothly for you.

I got the same screen garbage during the update. Freaked out a little. No problems with the update though.

WD40 can be a corrosive substance. Bad over time. Since I applied the Chapstick once, it's still fine after about a year. Although I don't use the pedal an extravagant amount. It's still much better than when I first got my Helix.

Never heard of industrial metal before. Lol. Metal sure has a lot of genres. Like the tones going on. I can tell you had fun with this. The fluttering sound throughout is interesting. It brings to mind a self-aware swarm of insects come to perniciously eat your brain.

Perhaps I'm missing some concept, but it seems to me both sound samples should sound basically the same to the human ear. On the second sample, you're compensating for turning the pad on by inserting a gain block. Without that gain block and pad turned on, the amp would be driven not as hard and likely less distorted sounding. I always thought the pad was there for hotter pickups so as not to clip the input signal?

For the volume block, if that is where you want to place it, then it is correct. :) To change what controller the onboard pedal controls, you'll have to toggle the toe-switch, located underneath the pedal. On new devices, possibly even older ones, this switch can be difficult to engage, so press on the pedal quite hard. Might not be able switch it if you're using your hand. The default controller for volume is EXP2, so try assigning the delays' mix parameters to EXP1. You note above you can't assign anything to EXP1. Not sure why that would be. Using the editor, you should be able to do this easily on the controllers tab. On the device, I believe a double press of Move gets you there.

Assign both delays to a single switch, disable one of them, and save the preset at some point with the delays in this state. When you hit the assigned switch, it will alternate between the two delays. To then have both delays off, you could assign the mix parameter of each delay to the same expression controller, with the min being zero. Of course, you'll have to remember to have the pedal controlling the expression controller in the max position (likely the toe position) to utilize the delays.

1. I'm pretty sure it's before the conversion. 2. Yes. 3. It might be better to keep the pad turned on all the time, and when you don't want to use it for some presets, put a 6dB gain block first in the chain.

Wow. How in the world do you do harmonics with that thing?

I think you're right. Most people probably just leave it turned off. I eventually found I needed to turn it on with evolution pickups.

That is correct. 8mm.

It should be around -6dB when turned on. You could leave the PAD turned on all the time, and when you want to use your strat, perhaps with the same preset as you use with your Les Paul?, turn a gain block on that's placed at the very beginning on the chain, with 6dB of gain. I suppose it might be convenient for Line 6 to move this global to the input block of a preset, kind of like they did with input impedance.

Assuming all the buttons on the Guitar Wing are customizable, the information displayed above is what you'll be able to control on the HD500 with it. You mention wanting to be able to change all effects, like filter. Not exactly sure what you have in mind, but you'd be able to toggle a filter effect, or change one or more effect parameters if they are tied to an expression controller. But explicitly being able to control any effect parameters is a no go.

If your using Helix in a studio setting, using midi to change the expression controller provides for much more accurate, customized, and repeatable volume control.

I would consider the Mystery Filter an autowah also. Take a look at the Deluxe Flanger too, I think that's the one or maybe it's the Dynamix, which has an envelope filter, which can create a wah effect with a flangerish flavor.

When using snapshots, it's probably a good idea to disregard using the toe switch entirely. Rather, if you want snapshot 1 to have wah: while you're on snapshot 1 enable the wah and make sure whatever expression controller (exp1 or exp2) is assigned to the wah is selected for the onboard pedal, and then disable the volume block. Now activate snapshot 2, disable the wah block, enable the volume block, and make sure whatever expression controller is assigned to the volume block is selected for the onboard pedal. All this assumes the global setting for snapshots to recall or discard is set to the default of recall. That should be it unless I'm missing something.

I can see you've learned a new perspective about running. I'm sympathetic to losing something you've gotten enjoyment from because of conditions beyond your control. Hopefully I won't have to learn what you have. Although my mom has gone through two hip and two knee replacements. If I have any of her genes that inflicted that upon here, I won't be a happy camper. So far so good.

I don't think this is the case, but are you talking about an actual wah, and not a wah block inside Helix? But I see no reason you can't do what you want. There are no volume pedals or wah pedals. There are expression controllers, and in the case of volume or wah you typically assign the volume parameter from a volume block or the position parameter from a wah block to an expression controller. The physical onboard pedal can control either EXP1 or EXP2 at one time, depending on if you have a physical expression pedal plugged into EXP2. But you indicate you have an external expression pedal, so plug that into EXP2 and assign the wah to EXP1 (maybe even use the auto activate feature) and the volume to EXP2. Or vice-versa.

I came from the HD series around October 2015. At first, I was a bit underwhelmed with the sounds Helix produced. Over time, as I untrained myself from the HD, is how the magic happened for me. There was no sudden moment of wowness (well, maybe when snapshots came along). A year and a half later, I can say that there is significant difference between the two on all levels and if I had to go back the HD, I'd have a very hard time of it. Your story and outlook is greatly inspiring. Also, people that do not run don't know what they're missing. I can hope I'm able to continue running every day at age 70, and beyond.

I think you may have run into a bug. I just tried what I think it is you want to do. I sent CC59 (value doesn't matter) from Reaper through a cheap usb-to-midi device to the HD500X. I get no response from the HD500X. Both the LEDs do eventually light up though, so something happens. The midi activity log in ReaControlMIDI shows the message was sent (B0 3B 7F [CC59] chan 1 val 127). To confirm the midi communication works, toggling the footswitches works fine, and controlling EXP1 (CC1) and EXP2 (CC2) works fine, although don't look at the HD500X's screen as it doesn't seem to update in real time. Both EXP1 and EXP2 can even be controlled at the same time. I'm assuming you want to just toggle the onboard expression pedal so that you can use it manually with your foot? Otherwise, you can automate whatever is assigned to EXP1 and EXP2 via midi.

I think you may have run into a bug. I just tried what I think it is you want to do. I sent CC59 (value doesn't matter) from Reaper through a cheap usb-to-midi device to the HD500X. I get no response from the HD500X. Both the LEDs do eventually light up though, so something happens. The midi activity log in ReaControlMIDI shows the message was sent (B0 3B 7F [CC59] chan 1 val 127). To confirm the midi communication works, toggling the footswitches works fine, and controlling EXP1 (CC1) and EXP2 (CC2) works fine, although don't look at the HD500X's screen as it doesn't seem to update in real time. Both EXP1 and EXP2 can even be controlled at the same time. I'm assuming you want to just toggle the onboard expression pedal so that you can use it manually with your foot? Otherwise, you can automate whatever is assigned to EXP1 and EXP2 via midi.

Yes. Exactly. At the least, when saving a preset to a different slot, it shouldn't then make the saved preset active without also placing it in the last preset storage slot. Or, continue to make it active, but also put it in the last preset storage slot. Pretty minor thing, and probably easy to fix, and there's indeed better things to focus on. I've kind of it ignored also. It has caught me off guard more than once though.