Schmalle

You can use FS5 like that! HX -> TRS -> cable splits into TRS -> ME expression and TS -> FS. Connections: HX T -> ME T HX R -> FS T HX S -> both ME and FS S ME T not connected T = tip, R = rIng, S = sleve, HX = HX Stomp, ME = Mission Engineering expression pedal, FS = footswitch You can also use a TRS to 2x TS split cable and isolate the first 5mm of the sleeve of one TS plug with some thin tape for the ME.

Sounds like the Helix's right channel XLR pin 3 (signal minus) is not connected / defective. To test this: engage ground lift - if I'm right the right channel doesn't produce signal when plugged into the interface alone while the left does.

Use a Y splitter (1x female -> 2x male) to connect both devices to the HX Stomp's standard power adapter.

Yes.

Interesting case... The Helix was only connected via USB? Were there monitors or any other device connected that were also connected to the laptop?

The difference between balanced and unbalanced signal transmission is noise susceptibility. If you're not bothered by hum/interference, you're good.

So your issue is a common one: a ground loop that is closed when you plug in USB. If the PC is a laptop unplug the AC-adapter and you're good. Otherwise you probably need a USB isolator /ground loop eliminator.

I think we are as we were - good - hopefully - and I probably read to much into your statement " THE BIG KNOB at MAX for best signal to noise ratio" to the point where I wouldn't mind being called pedantic. So I'm guilty of providing TMI on top of TMI which is THE WORST INFORMATION.

Use the right lineout (which is the right lineout to use in your case). Hopefully my answer is the right one to help you out here.

Does your noise level change significantly when you plug/unplug the USB connection? Would you call that your main problem? Or is that a minor contributor to noise levels?

You also don't really wanna proclamate false things, You state false things to a newbie. I correct those so that the newbie doesn't believe false things. I replied to you, not the OP. If SNR was irrelevant, why did you confuse the guy with it in the first place? Otherwise you did a fine job replying to the OP - I didn't feel obligated to add anything of significance - until SNR was mentioned.

Not really. You get the best SNR right before the DACs start to distort. That depends on the patch levels and is not what you'd really want, because that signal is usually too hot for the input stage of the next device. What you usually want in front of an amp is a signal of the same level that the instrument plugged straight into the amp provides - which (given an empty patch with the impedance set to match the amp's) is done when Outputs = INST and VOLUME maxed / disengaged. This provides good SNR, good headroom and a neutral level.

Fav. power source: wind park Fav. speaker: Jason Sadites

Amps make guitar signals louder from instrument level to the level you get at an amp's speaker out. The cab and IR blocks tame the hot signal again to what a microphone including a mic preamp would pick up from a speaker which is line level.

This HX DSP allocations table is frequently cited when it comes to calculating DSP usage.

1. On modern high gain amps make sure the master volume is low enough to not compress/distort high frequencies. 2. Try a treble boost / eq (tilt or high shelf) in front of old school amps. 3. Try the "preamp + speaker impedance eq" way of doing things as discussed in this TGP-thread.

It does make perfect sense if you consider DSP usage.

No, there is no independent headphones sink. Global Settings -> Phones Monitor gives you two options: Main L/R or Send. This relates to the HX Stomp. Other units may vary.

So it was a ground hum then.

Experiment! There are no magic settings that work in all circumstances. Use the LOOPER as the first block and record a short guitar bit, Then fiddle around with the reverb parameters - especially with PREDELAY which can change how the guitar sounds due to phase interaction in the 0-40ms range.

Muddy usually refers to too much emphasis somewhere 100-450Hz frequency spectrum. A guitar can produce muddy sounds when it sounds dull. This can have multiple reasons: old strings, closed tone knob, a too distant pickup, very long cable, some kind of electrical defect. Check your dry unprocessed guitar sound and make sure it is balanced. If that is not the cause of your problem please tell us how you use the Helix / what you're listening through and what your goal of a sound is that you want to achieve. Ideally you'd also provide a patch that sounds muddy to you and even a recorded clip with a dry guitar and processed sound.

Either Iridium in the loop Wiring: guitar -> InL: stomp L -> Amp left wet R -> Amp right wet SendL-> Amp dry Iridium-> ReturnR SendR-> Iridium Patch: o-----------LoopR------SendL----StereoFX-----o (guitar) (Iridium) (Dry) (wet) or mono mix out Wiring: guitar -> InL: stomp L -> Amp left wet R -> Amp right wet SendL-> Amp dry SendR-> Amp + FX mono Patch: o----------SendL----StereoFX------------o | (wet) ---SendR (guitar) (Dry) (mono mix)

Do you have a mandolin and a violin each with electric pickup? Then you would record both the pickup signal and a mic'ed signal at the same time. Then you would use a match eq plugin to match the pickup with the mic signal as source. If that then sounds good, you can use a deconvolver plugin to bake the eq into an ir.

The HXStomp can fulfill all your preamp needs. If you use an empty preset, crank the VOLUME knob, set INs/OUTs -> Input Level to Inst and Output Level to Line your piezo input signal is amplified by a factor of about 100. The standard OUTPUT L/R is the right choice. A piezo preamp converts the pickup signal to a signal that works with instrument inputs by amplifying and providing the proper impedance.