rvroberts

Well, any power amp! You got 1/4in and XLRs out - and at instrument or mic or line level - something for any occasion! I'm assuming your 2x12 is a guitar cab? Then you won't be able to use IRs or Helix cabs - so you start to limit your sound a fair bit - speakers make a lot of the sound you hear. Then it's all an argument with 100 answers - solid state - with a ton of headroom vs Valve (tube) with less............ Do yourself a favour - if you are willing to explore what the Helix can really do for you - and learn to tailor your sound using FRFR. Then you can send what you hear to the front of house in pristine quality - with a 2x12 guitar cab - you might as well mic it - and waste half of what makes the Helix so great. If you want to feel old fashioned kick in the guts power - and you actually play places where you can be that loud - then get a valve power amp........a big one!

You connected the Helix to a speaker cabinet? It's an amplifier simulator - but it's not an amp! You need to have an amplifier to power the helix - generally they are built in to a FRFR box - or you use the effects return on a guitar amp. But it needs amplification.

You are in the Netherlands? Interesting - I would have thought you would have legal protection. I'm in Australia, and do worry that if I have a problem, the turn around time for repair could be a big problem. Any technology can fail - nothing is perfect - I've had a reasonably new Mac laptop die too. Getting a replacement for a device 60 days old will always be a problem, but legally in Australia it would be considered not fit for purpose, and would need replacing - the responsibility would be firstly with the Retailer. But that legal position doesn't solve all problems - the retailer can only say that a replacement isn't available. Also, Line 6 may have a different view on who is responsible - which is the retailer's problem, but if I'm the retailer, I want to try really hard to pass that problem to you! I can see that having a supply of replacement Helixes at convenient locations all over the world is probably unlikely, so those of us in smaller markets are always taking a bigger chance on technology! What do Line 6 have to say? We need a solution - and 2 Helixes is an expensive solution!!

Is the Helix the winner for those who know both well - of cause it is! Why would anyone upgrade if that were not the case? But everything that's said above is also true - it's all about how well you take advantage of it. This particular reviewer at about the time of that video went out of his way to trash the Helix in a variety of reviews where he compared it to other units like the Fractal. I love his body language...........do you get anything from that?? But simply what I said at the top is the truth - you can make any unit look good or bad - just depends on how you go about it. So is the Helix better than the Fractal AX8? or the Kemper? Very hard to say - they all can sound great! Which either makes it a great time to be alive, or a massive dilemma that's going to bug you for ever! If that's how you see your glass half empty!

When you hear stuff like this or that amp is "fizzy" you are hearing an inexperienced user who hasn't figured out the EQ yet. (personal opinion!) Full range speakers (FRFR) need to have the non-guitar amp highs pulled out - those comments are by people who haven't figured that out. The Amps are great - when you know what you are doing - and you expect to hear them treated as they are when you put a mic on a cab and sit in the control room. It's a "recorded sound" which most of us think is better than an loud amp with directional speakers hitting us in the head! It is the sound you hear from guitarists you love when you hear them recorded or produced through a decent PA and a sound guy who knows what he/she is doing......... I used to use a lot of upmarket pedals - and I don't any more.......so the internal effects are good. I'm not keen on outboard gain boxes though - but between the internal gain boxes and the subtle drive possibilities of the range of amps, I've not found myself missing my Lovepedal Eternity. Having said that, if you own a Strymon Delay/reverb or similar - you might want to keep that. The big difference is you might put it after the amp and cab - to give you a wider sound - especially for cleaner sounds - exactly like you would in the studio. So there will be a bit of learning curve and some need to rethink what you are doing (think studio) - but you should love it! If you are playing through an amp at the moment, you might have one killer clean sound and a few variations due to modulation and delay - now the core clean sound is open to lots of variation too.........try a lot of the amps that overdrive nicely - but run them at the clean end - or just on the edge - add a little compression.......mix it out through 2 totally different cabs - with slightly different reverb on each....... a hint of modulation.......heaven!

Try the Litigator Amp model - add a Tube screamer if you run it cleanish.

Hi, I got straight into the Helix with very little problem. I think that is because I've used a wide range of amps and pedal in my playing career. The Helix just simulates them - it is pretty much that simple! Now, I think I'm hearing 2 types of problems from new users - those with a live amp and pedalboard background and just don't get that the Helix is that in a recording studio, and people who don't have the real world analogue experience and therefore don't know how to put amps and pedals together. Sounds like you are from the second group? I think the presets are a great place to start. I also think there are some great presets to download from people like Glenn DeLaune - at a price - be cautious of some of the freebies, they can be more trouble than they are worth - some are great - but you are not yet ready for figuring that out! That gets you up and running. Then, I think you should go look at "That Pedal Show" on YouTube - (start at their early shows) you will learn tons of stuff about pedals and amps in the real world - and it almost all translates 100% to the Helix. There are also plenty of videos on building patches etc - take your time and enjoy!

The Helix Control is not able to be connected to the Helix Floor unit or the LT. It is designed to give the rack unit a similar control to the Floor unit. You have almost the same control on the LT except for scribble strips.......which are cool, but maybe not all that better in practice to the display you get on the LT. (I'd be interested to see what others who have both think after a little familiarity......... I hope the scribble strips still win out, because, as I don't connect a lot of outboard gear, there might be no reason why the LT couldn't do the job totally for me - which would make me the expensive early adopter I seem to be!) I don't see how you could use the Floor unit, although, an extension set of pedals might well be useful if the Helix API can use more controllers. Anyhow, the Floor Control is not that! I do believe that you can use another midi pedal for extra control if you need it...........

Well, it would be normal in a high gain situation to only use reverb in a studio situation following the rule - more gain is less reverb. I personally love reverb with a gained sound, but you use it like a studio recording does - after the amp, cab and Mic. Try it as the last thing in your chain - you should have great sounding reverb.

Kind of like renaming any folder on a computer??.................

Not sure what you are saying - if you mean that when you change a snapshot or turn off a delay in stomp mode you don't have delay trails continue naturally.......yes you do if you turn on trails. Is that what you are talking about?

I use 2 B112s in stereo as my FRFR and it works great! Simply set your global EQ so that you have a big cut below 100hz (maybe even 120hz) and another drastic cut above about 5.5Khz. I also put a slight kick at around 2K for extra presence and cut - just a little. I'm getting great sound. You will need to do something similar with any FRFR (you can do it per patch and different IRs need it more or less) but that global setting does the trick for me and I still get plenty of variation from patch to patch, IR to IR. Now how much better one of the best FRFR boxes - the Mission or the CLR seeming to be the top choices - I'd be keen to quantify - there and none available in my part of the world to test. But I'm going to be controversial and say that well EQ'd it's not that big of a deal! Atomic, you are welcome to send me one to prove otherwise!!!

I can't answer all your problems. I can explain some things though. I also think that the Helix is probably not the world's best effects switcher in fact as I will describe later it is not really a switcher at all! But that is not what you are asking......... The way something like a Tube Screamer reacts with your amp is based on a batch of stuff - firstly, it has a specific mid hump which is what gives the fat sound with cut. Then it generally is also pushing the front end of your amp and those 2 things together are more important than the drive level. Now you don't say what you are doing inside the Helix chain - if you wanted the same effect, you would start with absolutely nothing else in that chain - only the Tube Screamer patched into the in and out. Then you would need to send the screamer about the same level as your guitar output. You would know that when the distortion sounded the same as you are used to. Then you would need to send exactly the same level that the screamer outputs to your amp. Again you would have to adjust output level until you were getting the same level of drive into the front of your amp. All that is possible, but tricky to set up as you have nothing to measure each part of the chain with and the Helix is not a simple switcher - it is doing an analogue to digital conversion on the way in and the reverse on the way out - again complicating the matching of levels. I does that because it is intended that you will combine the outboard effect with internal effects. - that does not sound like what you are trying to do? It can be very hard to have a drive pedal behave exactly the same as it did not connected to the Helix. Delay and Chorus etc are better at playing in that environment. I'm also wondering why you aren't using the screamer built into the Helix - you would at least have a little more control? And don't think it can't do the job - give it a good try first. I'm actually wondering what you use the Helix for? (I'm assuming it is not just as an effects switcher? - if so you probably bought the wrong device...) You do realise that as you describe the way you have things set up running into the front of an AC30 (which doesn't have any effects send and return unless it's a version I've not seen - see 4 cable method) you can not get a lot from the Helix? You can't just put a Marshall model into your AC30 and get a Marshall really........let alone a Blackface Fender! It's always going to sound a lot like an AC30! Probably an amp model in the front will sound like a drive pedal actually...............

Who told you your machine can't run Sierra? Your model is - Model: MacBookPro9,2 See here for supported mac - http://www.everymac.com/mac-answers/macos-sierra-faq/macos-sierra-1012-compatible-macs-system-requirements.html Yours is supported. Not that I'm sure that is your problem - seemed from a quick look it could not find a component while starting - which would mean it is not correctly installed or your operating system is damaged. I would update to a more recent OS anyhow - not Sierra if you have a lot of old software, and you should then reinstall the updater without a problem. Take it to the Genius bar if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

As the LT is exactly the same processors as the Helix Rack and floor just in a different box without a few I/Os and knobs, I assume it comes with exactly the same 2.20 firmware and presets as the Helix - so there should be no difference to hear!

I personally would not get the Helix as a replacement for the M13. If you want all the extra capability from I/O to amp switching or more importantly, you want to replace your amp and go FRFR. then go Helix - but if you just want an effects unit to stick in front of your amp - stay with the M13. If you buy the Helix though, you can keep the M13 and still use any sound you like from it - patch it into the one of the send/return loops - no reason to ditch it if it makes some sounds you love. The Helix does a huge range of sounds, and it will do a lot more organic stuff than the M13 - like real amp distortion rather than overdrive - but it is not the most comprehensive range of effects on the planet!

This is an example of something I'm seeing a fair bit of on the forum. There is a sense that a poster deserves to have their problem attended to - almost like they are paying someone for support rather than asking a favour........ There are real and complex problems - there are things that are not well explained in the Heix-verse and there are ideas and concepts that might be worth discussing/debating. I think that's what this forum should encourage. I equally think it is unacceptable for a new user to expect to get full attention without any attempt to learn about the piece of technology they have just bought. I think most of us solve the majority of our problems with the manual, google and Youtube. I think that's as it should be. Then what you get on the forum should be the stuff that isn't really easy to get on the above. Line 6 could help by directing all new users to a batch of YouTube videos that get them up and running. Being abusive should be an offence that can have you removed. I have been on other technical forums where well documented questions just get RTFM. People here are a lot more patient than that - but there is a danger that a place where there is too much noise is somewhere experienced users start to drift away from.

Seems those who don't like the editor on a computer don't like the delay. Well, if you get everything you want from the Helix controls - you don't need the editor. But I suspect that is many people not using the computer for its strength as a computer. You can use folders in the interface to keep multiple slight variations of a patch as you tweak away - so it's never hard to go back (nothing to do with using the Helix - its to do with managing files on a computer). You can load 10 variations into some empty slots on your Helix and flick through them to see what really works. You can have the same patch with a batch of different IRs. Let me explain - I have a folder that is just for tests - copy patch_v1, then make a change, then copy patch_v2 etc - none of it is taking up any space on the Helix until I decide to run some side by side comparisons. You need to know that you might want to do that before you start if you are editing on the Helix itself. And it is definitely more time consuming to do file management on the Helix. I also find I feel that I am able to get a finer control - even if I have to resort to numbers sometimes. There are problems that are computer/Helix related.....USB connectivity of the Helix seems a bit flaky - it works 100% perfect with my Laptop (Macbook Pro) but often won't even connect with my iMac - so you obviously need a good solid USB experience - and maybe - I'm not using your gear so I can't compare - your experience regarding delay is different to mine...... But I love the editor!

I can see your point and at the start of my Helix exploration, I had some similar pain. That is why I embraced the editor as soon as it was useful! I just can't imagine going back to editing on the controls! I fact I've pretty much forgotten how! You can make changes and do saves - you can keep a folder of backups so at any stage of the process so you can go back easily - you got to use the editor to back up and update anyhow - just get used to it - it has a slight update visually thing some people get frustrated with, but the actual changes are almost instantaneous - and I love it! You still can't access all your globals......which I think is a bit of a cop out - but day to day that's little concern. Seriously, I know they sell the Helix on how fantastic it is to edit your patches on the "user friendly" device- but you sound like you don't find editing on it a joy - and neither did I - use the Editor!

You do have the cabs on different paths?

Have you set up output EQ? Many will argue as to where you should do this and how much........ but if you go to Global EQ and put a big fall off at 100hz and another at 5.5Khz cutting the real lows and the highs that don't come out of a guitar speaker, you will probably be much happier?

Surely they cannot be totally compatible? If you set up a patch with 3 external loops, then it could not possibly be compatible? What happens - do the send and returns still show up on the path but not connect to anything? Or doers that patch crash the Helix LT?

Check the alignment of your pins. If they are a little out (can be the result of having a slightly bent plug inserted before), generally a gentle push does no damage. It is all mechanical - so generally - within sensible range, you should be able to get it to lock again.

Was it a big Marshall? Those things move a lot of air - 4x12 cab? It's the kick in the guts those things can do in a limited space that some old timers find hard to give up - but it is also that kick that makes you too loud in most environments - they were originally designed for a time when sound direct from the stage was the way we did it! That's not latency or lack of - that's huge transients! By time a 100w Marshall stack is up and singing, its excruciatingly loud. Spilling into all the mics but a great experience, but really a dinosaur even in many big shows (excluding something like AC/DC!)

I'm suspecting you don't have sensible EQ on your output. You don't need top end gear to get a good sound - it might help, but it is diminishing returns as you go up the dollar scale! The Helix will output full range signal. Guitar amps don't. Neither do mics - and normally the mic'd signal needs EQing anyhow. Either in Global EQ or in the IR or cab - (up to you where) start with a solid roll off at 100hz cutting everything below 100Hz dramatically. Then at say 5.5K cut everything above dramatically. If a nice new patch is now sounding much better..........that's normal! Some insist on doing that sort of thing per patch (tweaked to taste) - you could argue that it should be different on every amp/cab combo. I actually do that in globals and still find I can get all the fine adjustment per patch I want - glassy highs and solid lows - per patch but am always "in the ball park" from the get go. I also add a little upper mid to assist cut through - but you'll only notice that in a band. At low volume you might want a little less cut.......our ears are volume dependant.