regalpierot

Ha 'Enhance your playing experience with new AMPLIFi firmware' brought me to hear. Ambiguous line and super misleading if there's no firmware update.

Yeah, I felt sure 2.0 or 2.01 would resolve this. Griping moaning ungrateful user moment here and all but...awesome as snapshots etc are...this is something that really needs some dev focus and should have been some degree of priority. Connected to the Editor on a Mac, the freezes were just a regular (audio still processing through whatever tone was in place at time of crash, but you can't change any parameter without a reboot) Oddly though, while I've still had one or two of these, way more common since the update is the event where connected to the Editor (which I use all the time, who in their right mind would prefer scroll wheels and wear and tearing that joystick mechanism if you can offload the process to a mouse, to each their own) is the editor program just disconnects without warning. You have to restart it (Helix is still fully operational throughout). Was working on a preset last night and this happened six times in the space of 20 minutes. It's mental. Support have gotta be able to reproduce this without much fuss. Happens on two Macs for me, so not computer specific.

Thank you for taking the time to offer the tablet suggestion. It has crossed my mind, and may be the solution, but there's still a separation between tracks and whats on the screen. There is never a separation between the preset I call up and the track we are playing, so tethering a notes page to that would be a single solution. And to your point above, I agree entirely. My suggestion was not to have it included in the blocks\chain page as no way that wouldn't be a cluster. I more meant, just as when you click the 'Preset' button the chain disappears and is replaced by one formatted for list, the notes page would take over the whole display and just be a limited character notepad.

I doubt you'd ever see a Strymon Timeline, there's just so many parameters and delay types in that thing that building a block to mimic it would be a beyond massive undertaking. Now an El Capitan, that's a different matter. I know this seems like an odd request, and it will absolutely not be in the next release if ever as no doubt it's low on the scale, but I would love a text note page. I play in two covers bands and remembering all those chords and parts and changes we make to structures is a struggle. So I have a sort of short hand version of certain songs I bring on stage in a paper notebook. Hard to see though with bad light and when not easily placed, and when we change order of tracks I'm fumbling in between songs to prep the page. I'd love if per Preset you could write some notes (undoubtedly with the editor) then if needs be call that up as a separate page. God knows that I rarely if ever look at the screen\device chain when playing a song as at that point the scribble strips are my go to so would be a much better use of the real estate for me.

Oh man, since seeing someone post about this a while ago on the forum almost every time I switch on the Helix I'm inadvertently checking the strips for such a defect. I'd say it will be ubiquitous in time, unless there was just a period in the manufacture process where a batch of components were used that had issue. I mean, anyone who has ever owned a monitor knows it's part and parcel of LCD, pixels die but usually it's after many years. Worrying this early into the life cycle, and worrying that you could potentially go through all the hassle of return\repair only to see one of the other original scribble strips soon follow suit. DI, is this being discussed in the great tower.

I will say this, I once used a pretty heavy duty music notation stand like the one in a previous post for my Maschine Studio (bulky, but not as heavy as the Helix). Seemed really solid. Tightened the tilt control knob as much as I could and seemed stable. Over time the thing must have loosened because without warning one day the top of the stand just swiveled back ad the Maschine slid off, cracking one of the screens. Was one of those 'three days of not finding anything in life pleasing' moments. Will not take that chance with the Helix. I bought a laptop stand, fixed top and on wheels. Not as portable as some other options but 1000% stable. I use it mainly in my studio as I spend 50% of the time with the helix on the floor for use and 50% at an elevated state for editing (that damned Mac\Editor freeze is not fixed and makes it a non option for me).

Perfect, thanks all. Will check into that this eve, may indeed be a little of column A and a little of column B on both suggestions.

I may well be mis-remembering, to to speak, and Lord knows I did search before potentially posting nonsense or a repeat thread. But I just upgraded to 2.1 yesterday (zero problems thankfully, think that being pedantic in the steps and revisions helps) and in some odd way the general tones of my own presets that I re-imported, sorta sound high frequency heavy and a little different. New factory ones sound really good so just things I built in 1.12 that have a different...well...color. Thought I remembered some time ago someone posting the same and there being a response about the way Global EQ or the likes changed where it was applied, maybe on a preset basis. I dunno, someone had some reason and I thought there were a few people noticing the same thing Anyone else experience the same or have the same recollection.

As someone who uses looping a lot (used to do a lot of ambient stuff, now in covers band I'm doing exactly what you are trying to, have a background guitar part for some lead). I see the Helix's looper as a very utility thing, It's super handy for practicing but what might better suit your purpose is one of the following, 1 - Boss RC-30. It's big advantage is it can store 99 loops (each with two tracks). SO on occasion I have pre-recorded parts so I don't have to worry about goofing up the loop point when recording live (I am someone who can nail a perfect measured loop pretty much all the time in my studio, but put me in front of even one set of watching eyes and I end the loop too early or too late and then the drift sounds awful with a band). The only caveat is, the band have to be playing in the exact time you recorded the loop, humans never comply, and my drummer wont play with a click track on stage. 2 - TC Electronic Ditto X4. This can only store one loop (well, two I guess but just as separate tracks) so the Boss beats it there. As such you'd probably need to record the verse in realtime on a pass through, which will get you around the timing thing with the band. Advantage is though it has a dedicated stop button. It also has great effects that can be stacked. It can sync to midi if needs be. Has a really clever 'Decay' feature which fades out early passes in the loop as you overdub new ones (if you want). But oddly the thing that I absolutely love the most is it has a thing called 'serial mode', which allows you to record a loop on track 1 and a loop on track tw. So you engage one (verse part maybe which keeps things in time) then press the second footswitch anywhere during playback, in an Ableton Live like way the looper will wait until the end of the measure and switch to the second track (so maybe chorus) and vice versa. Really opened up some great workflows for me.

To be honest, trying to describe getting the tone someone is specifically looking for through a forum, is probably akin to trying to direct someone through performing a haircut they'll like over the phone. Minimal success. I, like most, found the factory presets as little uninspiring (I will say, I think some in the 2.0 upgrade seem way more quality). On the other hand, I downloaded maybe the top 50 most popular on Customtone and most are just utter quality to my ears. There's also the Glenn Delaune gems, and he does an amazing job at going through the building process. But ultimately, nobody but your own ears, guided by your own taste, in the same room as your own guitar and amp will probably ever hit the nail

Wayish off topic, but seeing you write about recalling setlists reminded me. I have searched the manual in vain, and am probably missing something super simple, but is there a way to change setlists using the footswitches. To date I've had to reach down, press 'Presets' and then use the joystick to navigate left and down\up through setlists. And yes, I typically get that the usual workflow would be to have a single setlist for a gig or session but I do have some setlists logically broken down (Variax, Delaune etc) and when we are writing music I like to navigate through different ones to look for a tone I might alter and use....so would be handy for me.

Only experienced the infamous 'lock up bit still processes audio on whatever preset was active' thing, always plugged into my Mac via USB with Editor open. The one thing I did like about my old pedal setup is they were all true bypass, if one died in the chain during a show, audio would still flow through and I'd just be without that specific effect, and having spare patch cables sitting just under my pedaltrain had me covered all round. Much as I absolutely love my Helix (the more I use it the more I know it's a permanent fixture) I am a little concerned about the 'all eggs in one basket' thing. I don't own a HD unit or another single processor to use as a backup, and even if I did I think the additional weight to lug around and goofyness of having to grab and swap out potentially mid song is not for me. I finally came up with my backup solution, bought a Pedaltrain Nano+ and threw small form factor pedals on it (mainly TC electronic mini pedals, but reverb, delay, chorus, overdrive, boost, tuner...all you'd really need in a bind). I have an A\B switch in front of each chain and run each one to a separate input on my amp. Any problem suddenly happens with one I'm only a small hiccup pause button click away from the second, and the footprint is tiny. Hope I never need to use it, but like house insurance when you need it...you need it.

Dave you are a gentleman and a scholar. Have the proper VDI on order and now that the last big gig is out of the way I'm taking the jump to 2.01 this week. Will either get snapshots or a fancy looking paperweight :) Thanks again

Thanks @silverhead. I can't seem to find anywhere on a Helix patch that I define the Variax tone to use, looking through the input block pages primarily. Must be somewhere that the Variax dial (e.g. Custom 1) and subsequent slot (akin to pickup switch position to specify model to use) are defined

Oh, and one other Q, if you'd be so kind So I run OS 1.12 (will do the upgrade when I get my hands on some anti anxiety medication :) . Assuming I had a proper VDI cable and routed into Helix, and have piezo engaged. Lets say the guitar's dial is physically on, I dunno, custom 1 which lets assume is a Martin 6 string. I'd like to be able to, mid song switch to a lead tone just using the Helix, so it would change the guitar to say s Strat neck pickup even though I havent touch the dial on the guitar so physically it remains static throughut

David, any chance you'd share those 6 and 12 string patches, would so sincerely appreciate it.

Good point Silverhead, I did forget that the VDI specific is limited to certain processor owners, so that's fair enough. Do you know if there's a way of charging the battery when in the guitar or do you always have to put it in that charger. And, duh, now I see what you mean. I'm guessing that I'm not hearing sound when I go to those presets I have that were Variax specific because that's the input configured for each, so if I change that it should resolve things. Was thinking certain ones only worked down VDI port for some reason.

Sorry, shoulda just googled it. OK, see what you mean. Kinda annoying to spend $1000 on a guitar and they don't include one of those cables in the box, bit nickle and dime. Was wondering how the hell people used these things on stage as it is awkward. Was going to grab one of the boxes that sent power up a TRS cable ($99) but as helix will power over this that might be the perfect solution. Certainly realized when playing I really don't want to be getting into the headache of having to keep checking the battery level and charging it before gigs, enough PITA dealing with my phone in that regard (not to mention, maybe it's just me but that battery insertion is just not hugely intuitive. Had to reseat it a number of times to get a proper signal). Right, $30 on a proper VDI cable I guess. Thanks again

Thanks for responses all. Hey @maxwell, when you say the cable that comes with the computer interface. So what I got with the Variax is a dingle that us USB on one end and the RJ-45 sized port on the other. Then there was separate RJ45 male to RJ45 male cable, which I assumed was the VDI one. There's just an extended black plastic clip over the normal clear clip (presumably to assist with releasing the thing around the hard to reach guitar input once the cover is open. Are you saying there's a different type of VDI cable?

Ok, clumsy title for sure. Basically last night I got the first chance to really sit down with my new JTV59. All I'd done to date with it (it just arrived last week) was played through the VDI cable into helix, which was nice for sure. Two gripes on that workflow is the VDI cable just doesn't have the weight\tension and length to be useful to be on stage. Fine for desktop use or in studio but its is in effect being tethered to a network cable that's quite rigid. Second is, that fricken connector that goes in on the guitar end is awkward, not super easy to maneuver in and out with that odd clip mechanism so swapping guitars quickly aint as...well 'plug and play'. So I want to switch to the phono input (losing the POE so need that battery unless I purchase that additional power injector thingy but so be it). So - helix related question - does anyone at all have a suggestion for a good Preset (factory or CUSTOMTONE) for any of the following. - Acoustic 6 string - Acoustic 12 string - Banjo - Resonator - Sitar Obviously cannot be Variax specific as they will only run through VDI. And I've found that while I love the Glenn Delaune Acoustic preset, it's obviously one that simulates an acoustic on an electric guitar so once you come out the piezo already dialing up a Martin or the likes from the Variax the combination is odd. Bonus: Just for the JTV59 owners. Has anyone adjusted, or had professionally adjusted, the action. Would like to take it down a notch as the neck is a chunker, but I've heard mixed things about moving it from factory because it can goof with the emulating of thing if even the slightest buzz is introduced. Would love to hear someone elses experience.

Jesus, ever week I say, ok today I will do the update from 1.12. I check the forums, and then go 'not yet. So aftraid of rendering myself without a working unit.

There's pedals I keep because they sound or do something I don't think the helix is capable of yet (e.g. Strymon Big Sky) and ones that stay in my studio because the only options are to post for sale and - Take a total hit on the price and cross fingers that it moves - Post it at a price you are happy with and watch your advert gather dust before you reach the 'western union payment' spam messages that seem to trigger on older adverts where they assume you are desperate. Case in point, TC Flashback Delay, a brilliant little device in my book. Street price for new, $170. Every now and again people will post for $120 to $130 for ones that look in perfect condition, and they never ever move. The average price that the things need to settle at is $70, demand just aint that high. I own a Flashback, and the Helix delays more than suffice for me, but I just couldn't sell the thing for $70. I'd rather have it sitting there on the off chance I wanna ever use it or build a tiny board for moving around easily. I may never use it again, and I couldn't counter the argument 'isn't it better to get the $70 rather than have a paperweight', but that's how it is.

The OP has the phrasing and air of trolling about it, add the the click bail subject line on a forum full of people who it's clear love the unit, and you have a hot topic in your midst. But on the off chance it was genuine, to each their own, nobody on here can defacto convince you the product is either everything you ever wanted or inversely nothing you ever wanted. My own history of gear is that if I am buying it at a price that I already consider is pretty expensive I am already somewhat predetermined that if it doesn't absolutely blow me away straight away I feel that sinking feeling of having made a mistake and wanting to call the retailer begging them to take it back, often completely unfounded.God knows how many times I've invested in a synth or sampler or amp etc, within a few days been sick that I bought it, couldn't return it (or got it second hand) and at a later date after seeing online what others were able to do with it given it a second chance only to fall in love with it. .

I do agree that this feature would only really be something select folks would care about, but I would certainly be one. Not just because of using Ableton as a master tempo (and just relying on a matched bpms is touch because I've never found kit that doesn't drift unless slaving to a master clock) but also for keeping any advanced time based stomps in the send\return loops in check. I currently have a timeline, h9 and big sky that for one reason or another I still keep in my rig with helix. As of now all those units can sync to a midi master and I use either Ableton or a Disaster Area Smartclock to keep all in check. If there ever comes a day that Helix can be included in that chain from a clock perspective, I may marry the thing.

Another potential option. I own one of these, only used it to date for controlling Ableton but midi assignable switches so can map to anything. http://www.disasterareaamps.com/shop/dmc-8d-midi-foot-controller