rvroberts

Well, from my experience, the guitar quality is excellent. But it is different. Well for me. I no longer use any effects or amp models in software. Some people still love certain plugins. They won't change. But I'm generally recording fully processed sounds. That is processed by the Helix. That was not possible before. As just dry sound that you reamp, I don't do that.

This is definitely not a common problem. Take it back to the shop and demand a new one! (obviously backup first)

Oh, here - http://line6.com/helix/detail.html you will see that "single cable provides data and power" Yes, you need your own expression pedal(s)

The FBV3 is not listed as compatible with the Helix - I don't think that is an option. The Controller is the way to go if you have to have a rack unit. I personally don't understand why you would want the rack unit - even if you spend all your time in the studio, with the editor on a PC/Mac, I don't see the attraction - there must be one.........??? Rack people???

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What everyone else says. The point is every patch must exist even if it is blank. Remember, blank is not blank. It is a batch of ins and outs waiting for you to do something in between! That's how the Helix works. There can be no "delete". The most you can do is remove the stuff between in and out. The easiest way to do that is to copy an "empty" patch. That has analog to digital converters and a description of all the stuff that makes a patch in it. That's as deleted as you can have on Helix.

You didn't actually do the test. No amp. Just a send. Nothing else. Is there the noise problem?

So if you take a brand new patch and place a return in the path and have nothing else you have a lot of noise? No cable plugged into any send or return? Unplug your guitar? Still there? If that is the case - then you have a technical problem. Submit a support ticket. If what I described does not produce noise, then its something else in your chain.

I think there are some really good reasons for you not to get a Helix. If all the amp sounds you want already come form equipment you already have, what you really need is something to control your effects and switch you amp at the same time. There are lots of midi enabled switchers like those from The Gig Rig, and there is the FX8 from fractal. The Helix is a fantastic amp + cab + Mic simulator. It's a good FX box, but I don't think if that's all you need it's the best answer. If you want the Helix for recording or some other use as well as an FX unit with midi capability, then, naturally it's going to be a great purchase - but not what I'd suggest if you only want FX and switching.

Are you getting the same result through the 1/4in outputs or the XLRs?

I also just used the Script Mod Phase in stereo after the speaker and the spread control at 50% - that swirls around in stereo really well

OK - that thing makes a range of sounds - but the one I think you are looking for is pretty much on and off with nasty fuzz. I had a quick play with the mono tremolo set to square wave - intensity on 10 - that does the on/off thing. Try the duty cycle pretty low for more chop. You can use any nasty fuzz you like - EQ it if you want it more edgy. So that's basically fuzz into Tremolo. The Chopper can also Autopan - the stereo tremolo offers Autopan (you would have to use it after your amp/cab), but you might like the Pan (Volume/Pan) on a pedal - that sounds cool. Using the Gray Flanger after the distortion but before the Tremolo takes the thing into wild territory. You could use a chorus or Phaser too for other variations So I think you can duplicate all those sounds with that combo of bits and extend the idea beyond the original pedal.

As a marketing move it's going to be a deal breaker/maker for those thinking maybe Fractal or maybe Helix - this extra flexibility - especially if owning a Helix will always give you the plugin at $99 - will make up a lot of minds. And the expanded market has to lead to more development for us all.

I agree with Hideout. And yes, you could simply go direct into the PA and have the sound guy send you back a mix with your Helix through a foldback wedge and not have any stage system. The reason many of us don't rely on that is that then you need very good monitoring and a good soundie. I use a self powered PA style speaker - actually 2 but that's just because I get off on the stereo! - and it works extremely well. It's just keeping more control of my sound for my own playing pleasure - it's not 100% necessary.

If you bought your Helix for stage, it is good news. If you bought your Helix for studio and don't play on stage, you now have a very expensive foot controller! Well latency issues might not be as good........ Seems that there are more amps???

OK - if you come from the HD500, you might be well across what I'm going to say - also I find that some people are guitar amp purists - they just want it to sound like some amp they love and no more. For me the big thing is that the Helix is a studio in a box. So when guitarists go into the studio, the sound tweaking doesn't stop at the amp. The mic is really important. Then, I've never been in a studio where extra EQ was not needed to make the guitar sit in the mix. Then to sit in an audio space there is reverb - there is always some reverb in a studio mix. That reverb is after the amp and the mic - in stereo. So what I think is a really big thing is the ability to treat the guitar, pedals and amp like in a studio with reverb and delay and maybe other effects like stereo flanging applied after the mic. I've found the Harmonic Flanger used as a post production effect just subtly, gives a really wide spread to your sound. Some people call all that type of stuff "too produced". for me its the biggest win. I've been getting compliments from traditional guitarists on my sound and they go "you're going direct aren't you?" What they aren't realising is it's all that extra studio thinking they hear live that's really why they hear a "good" sound.

Well, I know you have been around the Helix for a bit, so you have probably thought your way through most of the options. But, I'm wondering if the ID is really a modeller? So that its speaker and amp are kind of a FRFR system? Maybe not quiet as full range as it's a 1x12, but say FRFR in essence. The fact that the presence etc is all part of the modeller and not the power amp points to that possibility. Why not try it with your amps and cabs in the patch and see what you get? If you are using global EQ or per patch EQ to tame the highs and lows in your FRFR setup,that might need adjusting (or turning off) - but I'm thinking treat it like FRFR with maybe some EQ adjustment. Be interesting to know - blackstar might be more Helix/modeller that we think?? Just because it looks more like a conventional amp............

You know, as another person on the wrong side of the pond, I'm feeling mixed emotions about all that. I'm finding an almost bottomless pit here already. Every time I leave the thing "as is" for a bit, I discover more stuff when I dive in again. I'm not arguing against new stuff - I'm extremely happy with the Litigator, so that was a relatively new addition that has made me very happy - what next? On the other hand, I'm not wanting everything to change too much too quickly or I might start playing Helix rather than guitar and get lost down that rabbit hole that I suspect some of the people here are. It's cool to explore tone - but that used to be a new amp once every few years and a pedal or 2 every year................now that could well become so much so fast that no one can really keep up and still make making music their first love. I'm swimming right on top of this wave right now - but nervous if the surf gets any bigger I'm going to start drowning!! Just a personal view.

I can't see anything to indicate that your effects send/return is at line level. It's more likely its instrument level as it is designed to take normal delay and reverb pedals. I'd start with that assumption and see how it sounds. Very few guitar amps have line level loops as that means only studio rack units are compatible.

Yep - you can use it like 2 mono amps - but who really wants 2 totally discrete amps? Who only wants 2 sounds in this modern world - especially when the thing has 5 killer sounds? And I personally would run it in stereo. I know a few guys who use it - they run the Cleanish channel on both channels and run a pedal board into it splitting into stereo on the board - like stereo chorus, stereo delay etc. They therefore don't use the crunch or lead sounds but get that from their pedals. My point was if they only gave you a remote that effectively was that knob for switching sounds, the thing would be way more attractive. You don't have to agree. But I bought the Helix because I thought that omission was stupid. Yep its 2 mono amps - the foot switch lets you change amps - wow - that's so cool (not) - it could be 5 killer stereo amps with a tiny bit more thought! (a good tech can probably do that as a mod.)

There are 3 things to get - one is the updater. It allows you to do the second - which is update the firmware. But you also need the Editor. It does not necessarily install with the firmware. Depending what you put into the "free software download" window, depends what you see! No wonder people are confused! If you see the firmware upload, scroll down - you will probably find the editor next page down. http://line6.com/software/ I've successfully updated 3 times, and I still find this confusing - try Helix, Helix, MacOSX or whatever you use - right now the first thing I see is the editor - install that - V2.11 (assuming you are using firmware 2.11??) Your problems should go away. It must be the same version as your firmware! if you are not running 2.11 - scroll down, you will eventually find your version.

It predates the Helix. They sound great - but suffer from having 5 great sounds, but no real remote control for switching from clean to crunch to drive - the kind of thing you really need. If they just gave you that simple switching (while keeping the stereo capability) it would have been a total winner.

Well I use the Helix with my computer all the time (when I'm not using it live). But it works the other way, I have the Helix connected to the computer with USB. (you need to enable the editor on the computer) I use the Helix set as the computer output. If I use headphones or powered speakers I connect them to the Helix and the computer plays through the Helix out to the speakers or phones. From what I know of the THR10x it can be used as a hifi. I'd use it that way - Do it the way I do, but instead of powered speakers, you have the THR. Don't plug into the guitar input of the THR. Use it like a Stereo system. (mind you that might not sound any better than the THR does - but it will let you experiment with the Helix and hear anything coming from your computer. Other notes - Update to the latest firmware and editor immediately - and follow the instructions to the letter! Generally when going out to a full range system you need to set global EQ. Normally that's a 100Hz rolloff and a 5-6KHz rolloff - in your case, that might or might not give you your best sound - just depends on how full range that Yamaha really is............Take an amp and speaker model you know and adjust using your ears treating what I said as a starting point - use some serious gain and you will soon find out what you need to do to tame it. Expect to need to do similar when you get your new FRFR.

I think you don't have the IRs installed?

As you sound like a non-expert user - do not go down this path - not only do you need a power amp, but you just removed half the cool capabilities of the Helix. For one you can't change you speaker for each patch. 2. You will have to mic your cab - no direct into the PA - and that really make a huge difference. 3. You can't get a cool studio sound by running effects after your cab - because now its the last thing in your chain. All wrong. Go FRFR. If you are a rich guitar hero with a road crew and a guitar tech - ignore what I just said. You just use half a dozen amps and your tech switches the outboard gear as required.........