kenmac1

Is there a way to switch in snapshots, between the models in the Variax, (Tele, Strat...) and back to the standard Magnetic pickups? The reason I ask, I I find on solos I need to switch from Bridge to neck pickups... and until now I literally copy the same patch / snapshot but with a different pickup, which to me seems like a waste of a patch. If I can simply have one or two of those snapshots with the standard magnetic pickups, without having to create an entirely new path, (Magnetics on one path, and Models on another), due to the restrictions within the machine itself, it would be great. At present, my top path is purely for a couple of acoustic / 12 string models, and I have a second path purely using amp models, and magnetics, but I run out of processing power because the acoustic patches need compression, delays, reverb, Eq... to sound as I want them, and that means that i am very limited in what I can do on the second path, because I have already used to much processing power to create those two tracks. My second issue, I find when I switch between from any clean (Acoustic / JC120) style patch, to my gain patch (Engl Fireball) I get a very short sharp pop through the system. I can't seem to eradicate it, has anyone encountered this, and how do you get around it, because it is much louder than the patches themselves? A;; these issues relate to the same snapshot set, so eight preset sounds, which I would like to be able to run as a single path, switching between modeled guitars, and magnetics... I've also found it impossible to use the L6 Links to change internal models inside the Power Cab Plus boxes, so I am just setting it to flat, and setting speaker sounds as part of the patches / snapshots, rather than having the cab model the speakers for me.

Finally seems to be installing. Had to go via a backdoor route to make the software install. Lots of screwing around, multiple failed attempts but red line on mac screen counting through, , and update message on the Floor unit. Cheers Groovers, and Gurus.

I have just attempted this, and the computer is telling me that the updater software needs to be updated, so it will not install on my Mac. Without the updater install, this thing is dead in the water, again / still.

I would have hoped so, but obviously not for me.

G'day Lou, I am running Catalina 10.15.7, but the updater thing below may work, so I will give that a shot in the morning. Cheers

My system refuses to let me download 3.80, or skip over to 3.82. I've now wasted hours trying over and over to download / install these files, but it fails to download. I've rebooted the internet, which is working fine anyhow. Swapped the USB lead, to try and eliminate the possibility of these links being faulty, but it still refuses to play the game. Is there a way to download the files to my computer without connecting the Helix, then attach the Helix to transfer the files once they are on my system?

Thank you. I'll give I'll give all this a go. I have a feeling I am gonna love using the rig in this manner far more than amp modelling through the Helix, into a desk / flat monitor.

Hey guys n girls, has anyone used the Helix / DT / JTV combination like the old school Dream Rig concept yet within 2.8 / 2.81? can you please explain in simple step by step terms how to do this, or better still link a video showing how this is achieved, and what exactly can or can't be done? It would be great to see for example how to not only make the Helix control the DT, but also send some of the fx within a snapshot to the front of the DT, and others into the fx loop, which I assume is pretty simple, I can't find any videos on how to do this, no tutorials of any kind, no information on how to make the Helix act purely as an FX unit, channel switcher / controller, allowing me to bypass all the internal amp modelling, by using the DT to give me actual valve amp sounds. The online manual does not go into using the Helix with the DT (JTV) like the older Pod Dream rig system, as this is a new feature, but this can apparently now be done with 2.8. How in depth do the Helix control capabilities of the DT actually go? Can I for example make it so that when I switch a snapshot or patch, as well as changing amp channels on my DT, it can also alter the tonal settings, and Gain levels accordingly, (i.e., if I use the Marshall or Bogner for example for both lead and rhythm, but need the gain levels or tones changed for solos, can the Helix do this within a snapshot without adding any external / helix distortion pedal to achieve the extra kick? Output differentials and reverbs can obviously be controlled by using a modelled reverb in the Helix and setting the final stage of the Helix to appropriate volume levels as we have been doing up til now.

I specifically want 12 string acoustic split, so once again I have a suggestion that the Line 6 gurus should maybe consider, especially since the Nashville tuning is so prominent on modern acoustic recordings, so this would be something I'm sure many of us would utilise. I'm actually surprised there is no way to do this, since the system is emulating the 12 string tones anyhow, and the acoustic tones, so to me taking it that one step further and allowing those sounds to be split into stereo tracks doesn't seem to impossible. Having said that, I know nothing about programming, only what I want / need to achieve. They can emulate a hundred different bodies, pickups and even some more obscure instruments inside the JTV / Helix gear, but they can't stereo split one of those creations. That to me seems much easier than all the other stuff they have done combined.

Finally got around to re-reading these responses, yes it has been a while since I logged in. The idea about being able to pick and choose between models, and swap them in and out to me seems like the most logical /workable solution, but I am still at the mercy of Line 6 really, because unless their geniuses provide the core sound of a nylon string to begin with, someone like me who is still very much an old school player with less than zero programming skills at all, would never be able to create that sound myself. I had someone else program all my sounds as I have neither the patience or understanding when it comes to the Helix. Yep I took my main old valve amp along, an A/B box and kept changing back and forth from my favourite amp, to the Helix rig, and he dialled in pretty well perfectly the tones I was getting from the amp. (My main amp is not one that is modelled, but he was able to use the PRS clean and get very close to my clean, and a couple pedals to get very close to my crunch / gain tones). I am impatient at the best of times, i want to be able to just plug in and play, not scroll through a hundred menus to create then balance out the sounds. It was always so easy with old pedals and amps. As rewolf stated, I'd also be happy to dump out some of the sounds I will never use, in order to get others in that I will use, and there are several I would happily remove to get a nylon string sound. At the end of the day we all have certain sound we use in the studio, certain key tones we rely on live, and in my case as someone who writes and records, I need to be able to faithfully replicate the tones I recorded with, without having to change back and forth between instruments. And Yes Barkerm, I'm not against the idea of mixing gear to get the sounds I need, so if the only way to achieve the perfect blend of sounds I require on stage were to combine various items, then... as long as it does not mean changing instruments mid song. I used to have a stand on stage that held my acoustic at playing height, and would swing my electric behind my back, before the Variax gear became available, (I grew up watching videos of bands like Bon Jovi, Vandenberg..., as soon as I saw those acoustic stands I ordered one) However there are definite limitations to that sort of thing, especially if you are self mixing the band from on stage. I'm still not impressed that L6 decided not to keep the Dream Rig happening with the Helix. The Bogner series valve amps are brilliant, the JTV guitars (in spite of lacking a Nylon string sound), are fantastic for 95% of the stuff I write / play, and the Helix itself, is great, but to me since you ideally need to drag a FRFR monitor system to a gig anyhow, why not just make it work with the Bogners again? It is not like we are really carrying any less if we are now dragging an FRFR system along to monitor our sounds.

I'm not sure if it is better to put this in the JTV or Helix section, so I will post it to both. I'm recording at the moment and want to know if anyone has a way to use the JTV / Helix set up for a Nashville Tuning type idea? Ok so what I mean by that is... Ordinarily to do Nashville tuning we grab two acoustic (or even electric guitars) and split a set of 12 strings over the pair of guitars. So the normal tuned strings go on one instrument, and the higher set go onto the other. Then you play the same passages twice, (One on each instrument), and pan each track left / right to give the effect of a 12 string guitar with a very wide stereo field, because the coinciding pairs of strings appear on opposite sides of the stereo field. This is great for simplistic strummed rhythms, or if you play a song one way every time, but if like myself you humanise a song each time you play it, (on some songs I like to free time the feel), it is not ideal at all. So what I want to achieve is, using one of the 12 string sounds available inside the JTV / Helix rig, I want to record the sound into stereo, so I will run each of the output leads of the Helix into separate tracks, and pan them hard left and right, but I do not know if the Helix and JTV set up can be set to give this effect? I'm pretty sure there must be a way to achieve it, and I am guessing someone has probably already done this in the past, since Nashville tuning, particularly on acoustic recordings is becoming more and more common. If anyone has a patch set up to do this, please attach a link, as I am terrified of the entire programming side of these things. (Yes I still prefer plugging pedals into an amp and going old school, because I know what I am doing that way).

I'm not sure if it is better to put this in the JTV or Helix section, so I will post it to both. I'm recording at the moment and want to know if anyone has a way to use the JTV / Helix set up for a Nashville Tuning type idea? Ok so what I mean by that is... Ordinarily to do Nashville tuning we grab two acoustic (or even electric guitars) and split a set of 12 strings over the pair of guitars. So the normal tuned strings go on one instrument, and the higher set go onto the other. Then you play the same passages twice, (One on each instrument), and pan each track left / right to give the effect of a 12 string guitar with a very wide stereo field, because the coinciding pairs of strings appear on opposite sides of the stereo field. This is great for simplistic strummed rhythms, or if you play a song one way every time, but if like myself you humanise a song each time you play it, (on some songs I like to free time the feel), it is not ideal at all. So what I want to achieve is, using one of the 12 string sounds available inside the JTV / Helix rig, I want to record the sound into stereo, so I will run each of the output leads of the Helix into separate tracks, and pan them hard left and right, but I do not know if the Helix and JTV set up can be set to give this effect? I'm pretty sure there must be a way to achieve it, and I am guessing someone has probably already done this in the past, since Nashville tuning, particularly on acoustic recordings is becoming more and more common. If anyone has a patch set up to do this, please attach a link, as I am terrified of the entire programming side of these things. (Yes I still prefer plugging pedals into an amp and going old school, because I know what I am doing that way).

If you have already assessed the sound as not quite being there, then I will trust your judgement. I was hoping someone would say, "Man this one is exactly what you are looking for..." If it is close but not quite on the podium, well nobody ever remembers, or cares who came second.

I also have an 89F in blood red and a 69, (Helix, DT50, an old XT Live Bass Pod and other Line 6 toys) and I have songs where i go into Sitar mode, as well as six and 12 string acoustic sounds, then crossover back and forth to harder driven electric sounds, or split guitar sounds (Harmony mags on one side, and a different guitar on the other with different amp settings inside of the Helix). The possibilities are almost endless, but the distinct lack of a decent nylon sound is in my view an oversight of mammoth proportions, because that sound as an added texture on recordings is invaluable. It is like adding a layer of acoustic under a hard rock recording, most people never do it, and just layer in the high gain, but a nice lunch acoustic in the mix adds so much harmonic richness to the tapestry.. Mind you, the fact that Line 6 dropped the integrating abilities previously afforded to the Dream Rig HD series with the JTV and DT amps, when they brought in the Helix is also a poorly conceived move, because for old schoolers like myself, regardless of how convincing a digital sound into an FRFR rig might be, I still like having a valve rig behind me pushing out air. We might be somewhat placated by the fact that we have a million sounds at our disposal, and some of them are impressive as hell, but even a true convert still relishes plugging into our valve rigs with old school stomp boxes because as close as the sounds may be, I guess there is something primal about valves creating "that sound" the way we have always used them. As for how Fender got ahead of Line 6, I think it was possibly more the work of Roland in this case. Fender as far as their digital amps go are terrible at best, but the Roland models seem very convincing. If Fender / Roland had made it so you could integrate their rigs with a good floor pod type idea and amp, I may have gone down that path, purely for the convenience of a nylon string sound, but sadly they did not take their designs in that direction, so Line 6 still have the edge.

Ok, I know for some reason Line 6 have not been able to produce a decent nylon string sound for the JTV guitars as yet, (Fender and Roland did), so I am curious if anyone has written or discovered a decent IR for a nylon string guitar that can be either programmed into the JTV or maybe into either the Helix / HD500X systems. The sort of tone I am looking for is similar to the one used by Steve Stevens on the Vince Neil disc when he was strumming the nylon string, so I am not so much chasing a good nylon string sound for individual notes / leads parts, more the chunky, but not to bright attack of the nylon string for playing a fairly percussive latin style of rhythm parts live. In the studio I used an actual nylon string, layered with a steel string acoustic on opposite sides of the track.. Obviously live I would rather not have to change instruments when the JTV is capable of doing just about anything. What is out there groovers? Cheers.