rvroberts

Surround sound isn't such a great idea. The Helix only outputs stereo, so your system is likely going to be doing something to create surround from the stereo which is not likely to be good! But you got it so why not give it a try? Studio monitors are a good choice, and the Headrush will also be good. They are both FRFR essentially, so it's stereo Vs mono,. The real question is how loud you want to play at home? The Headrush will be louder, and could be used if you were ever to play with others, the studio monitors don't do that. But if you just want to play at home with backing tracks, see if you can get your surround system to work in simple stereo, obviously doing a lot of EQing probably using global EQ first. Then you have to decide if that's "good enough". Probably not going to make most of us happy, but I'd need to experiment with your system, it's totally possible you can get a decent sound if you know what you are doing. You would connect the Helix by USB and use it as your sound card, so you can output to the stereo from your computer. (Including any backing track or YouTube video) If all that is confusing to you, just get the Headrush unit and play guitar through that and music through your current system. As I said, you will need to really know what you are doing if you want to make it work with the surround system.

Oh, I notice it uses an IR too - you might need to change that to a cab or an IR you have........

And your volume pedal. Depending on how you have your globals set, you might need to give it a wiggle! Can't remember the details, but it needs to be set to Global so it behaves the same every patch - otherwise some start at zero and you need to move it to get a value from it. (doesn't matter where it sits physically - it doesn't read it till you move it). That's a setting everyone probably wants to change!

To your first question - "Does anyone agree/disagree with this?" Not totally. Jason created a sound - he used some video creation software (premiere?) to make the video. He uploaded that to YouTube - YouTube also does stuff to the audio. So firstly you'd have to ask Jason, how reasonably the YouTube video represents the sound he heard. I'd think the answer would be "close enough" - but almost certainly not exactly. So you already won't get exactly the same sound out of the same settings even if all the other variables were exactly the same. And that's a big list of variables - there are what you listen through. There are any global settings he or you might use - there are things like the levels of input (from your guitar and into your amp or headphones) and outputs. (Driving the amp just right will have a substantial effect - a reason why metering on the Helix would make this kind of matching a bit more realistic). There is the Fletcher Munsen stuff. There is the guitar cable, the guitar and the thing that seems to be concerning you the most, the pickups. And when it comes to pickups - there are volume pot values, caps, pickup height and angle - it goes on and on. I'm playing with the same variables right now trying to decide to change pickups or not in a PRS - overall it's a bit muddy (what sin!) - but I come from Strats, and I'm finding Humbuckers overall great for classic rock but not clean enough for me sometimes - (but I digress!) The point is that it's very hard to compare these things - yep - Pickups might be it - but be careful of opinions - what is one person's warm and vintage is someone else's mud!

While I totally agree with everyone above that a Helix anything is not for your stage of playing, I think that the next question is - where are you likely to play? If it will only be at home, you need to look at the best practice amps. If there is some chance you might play with a drummer or a small group of friends somewhere where you can make a bit more noise, you choices will be a little different. The Yamaha THR series are a very good solution for home playing and the new THR30 would even do for small group practice (not a gig!) - THR10 would be more than enough if you won't be playing with anyone. These have lots of advantages like being able to be a great general music player and a play along system. Portable - sound great not too many options but more to explore with a computer connected when you want to start to explore the brainspace that modellers like the Helix represent. Also in the same territory is the Boss Katana - the range covers smaller versions that compete with the THRs all the way to real gigging amps all built on the same basic concept. The beauty of all these is they are designed for someone like you with great sounds at the push of a button and at the same time don't act as a dead end, but let you dive deeper as you learn. Check some YouTube videos on best practice amps and the amps I mention.

Any FRFR Will need both bass and treble cuts. Typically 100Hz and 5.5KHz. You can do it in the speaker or IR - that's why they have cuts. Also you can do it globally with Global EQ. I prefer Global. It means all patches start in the ballpark. Many disagree, and if you want to be absolutely correct, they are right, but I get great results very quickly doing it globally. Up to you, but FRFR needs cuts!

I think it should be totally possible to have an effect you could just apply - it would be a curve that you could adjust to simulate different levels. It would not be 100% reliable though - so many factors like distance from source and the Flatness of that source at different levels. Then there are other decisions you might make differently at level. I find you change drive level as the guitar starts to respond to the speaker and some natural feedback starts to happen. So it would not be a total solution, but you might find a setting that helped you set up sounds at home that needed a lot less tweaking at volume. I've been trying to get that happening with Native and an external (DAW based) EQ. Not having huge success so far, but I think it's potentially possible.

Yes!

I use MainStage. I thought mainstage came with Logic? I'm sure that's where I got it. It's very useful because you have other tools like EQ to replace the Helix global EQ which you are going to need to get a good sound through your speakers. And you could use a midi pedal board through MainStage

Typically, most people place a few mono effects before the amp, then the IR also mono (your amp is mono afterall) straight after the amp, then add effects like chorus, delay and reverb as stereo effects after the IR. So they are not going stereo until after the speakers and mic (which is how it mostly happens with real amps.) Now, it's not likely that you are going to get very interesting stereo from an amp only rig unless you use 2 amps. (you can get great panning delay after a mono amp for sure). If you have 2 amps you would have an IR after each amp - again mirroring some bigger stereo rigs in the real world. But as your IR is normally straight after your amp, and guitar amps are mono - it does not make a lot of sense to run 2 IRs in stereo. I can see it like 2 very different cabs - but that would clearly need 2 IRs. Oh, I see you have just mentioned that you are running out of space - well yes, any complex stereo rig that isn't simply stereo FX after the cab (IR) as I describe above - is well out of the scope of the stomp - it is a cut down Helix - and 6 modules is the limit! I hope I'm being clear that most stereo rigs are post effects only (post the amp and cab) - that is something you can do with the stomp.

I've been using my Helix for a good 2 years, and never had an issue with him that the ground lift hasn't fixed. No DI - ever. So - what's different for you? First, I'm in Australia, and our power is generally better. Earth concerns are much better. But I doubt that the real issue. First thing to check is Phantom power on the mixer. Helix hates that. Next is cables. I'm betting you have done all that? I assume you understand earth loops and try to keep your power clean? Short of that, it's your Helix that we have to suspect. If you can try yours against another, that might help find the issue.

Not common. But it is a computer. Sometimes - not often, maybe twice in 2 years, I've had a hiccup. Restart has always fixed it, And it's never stopped - just a display glitch. Hopefully that's the last one you will have for the next 2 years!

The above is correct. Good news is it's probably that way by default. USB works fine for audio. Most annoying thing is you have to control the playback level from the Mac. You will soon discover the wide range of level variation of YouTube video! Works for all audio on your Mac. You will see the Helix will just come up in the audio settings for both input and output. Very plug and play.

Well, obviously your aim is unique. As someone said, if the feeling of a huge system vibrating your body is part of that experience, you need to be able to reproduce those sound levels - so the Helix will only be part of that mix. Regarding all this, there is a lot of technical stuff you will need to deal with as you are wanting to synthesize a rig that is not common. I'm willing to bet given a suitable playback system, someone who really knew the Helix could work with you to give you a good match to your rig. And extend it's possibilities! But there are basic concepts. Every time I hear stuff about how Helix distortion sounds bad, I know the writer doesn't get basic principles. Run any Valve amp into a hi-fi system (rather than a guitar cab) and it will sound bad soon as it starts to distort. Plug a guitar into a fuzz and plug that into your stereo - again it sounds really bad! You have to realise that the Helix as it starts is also a Hi Fi system. That's good in the long run because it's necessary to be able to produce the sound of lots of amps and effects. If it sounded like a guitar amp by default, then it would always sound like that particular amp no matter what you did - it needs that full range to be able to create the variety. So let's start with a guitar amp. It has a "sound". You hear it through speakers - they also have a "sound". Guitar amps have specific frequency response and harmonic content. Speakers the same. What we call a good guitar sound (your too even if it's different) is the result of all this. When you use a Helix, you might find an amp that is a reproduction of one you use. That will cover the amp side of the equation. The speakers are a bit more complicated in the Helix because it models the sound of the speaker with a mic in front of it. That's not how you hear it in the room. This is why there is a whole expertise in just micing a guitar amp in the recording studio to get a good guitar sound. A mic sitting an inch from the cone is going to get a pretty harsh sound - that's a real world experience. Then the mic also has a "sound". So the long and short of that is you will always get more of a "recorded" sound out of that process even after some tweaks - I'll get to them soon!! The big one is that all the speakers we use in instrument amplification are tuned to make a very nasty sound (a distorted guitar amp) sound nice. Back in the day, speakers did well to give you much fidelity above about 5Khz. In the history of guitar sounds we like to think of as nice, those sounds came from speakers like that. If you were to go to the web site of your favourite speaker and look up it's frequency response, you will find its frequency range is not Hi-Fi, but very limited (or tailored if you like). So the mic in front of the cab also needs to be tailored. The obvious thing to do is adjust the frequency range to match. generally the simulation basically just needs the highs and lows adjusted, and the simulation will do the rest, but I'm sure I'm not alone in also hunting for the mid zone of the sound I'm after and tweaking that too. The starting point for typical guitar tones is high cut at say 5Khz and low cut at 100Hz. Now for you, that low might be too high - but you can bet you want it somewhere even if its 60Hz. So try some low and high cuts to start with. (the above is for a HiFi FRFR playback system - which I can discuss - if you use a amp into a speaker cab, it will all depend on that combo) Now you might say, but it's the distortions I don't like - listen to them through a tuned speaker and suddenly they aren't harsh any more. If you have a power cab, I can't guarantee that you will get a big bass sound like from a few 15's out of that, I suspect it's not up to being a bass rig - so what you play it through might be the other part of the puzzle, But you'd think some of the bigger 15+ horn type PA boxes like say a JBL EON 615 would be able to move enough air in the right range to start to get you excited. The point is, you need to think through your sound to reproduce it - you will need to do that even more if it's very different to most "normal" guitar sounds. Don't be so cocky as to think you have nothing to learn from all the YouTube videos on getting great sounds from your Helix - just because your sound is different, does not mean there won't be a hell of a lot to learn there - and expect to have to learn some stuff - the Helix is a big blank canvas. You need to learn a bit of painting skills before you can produce your particular art.

Great info! Be keen to hear more regarding the 8's - very keen to reduce the bulk of gear! A little OT here, but - I have my Helix floor in a road case that also has my folded guitar stands and all cables and spares - it keeps everything together, but it's way too heavy. So I'm thinking to split it to Helix and seperate cables case. Still looking for something strong but light for the Helix - can't see a suitable size in pelican cases - open to suggestions

I don't have that problem. One of the nicest cleans I have is the litigator running very low on the gain but high on the channel down to just under 2 with a Strat, - you'd need to drop a tad more with humbuckers. Also I get good cleans from the simpler Marshalls,(J45) and the Hiwatt ( whowhatt). I also use the twin for cleans, which is what you'd expect, but if I run the gain right up at 10, I get a nice aggressive edge that is not very distorted, but definitely getting edgy. You don't tell us how you are amplifying the Helix, which may be a concern. If you find not only a lot of distortion, but it's very harsh, then are you going full range? If so set speaker high and low cuts 100hz and 5Khz as a starting point to see how that helps?

I'd agree that trying it is a good way to go. I can't say it causes me any problem, and I rarely connect my Helix floor as it's "good enough". Now, just so you have the full picture - you do need to run it through a DAW or at least something like Mainstage. It is almost exactly the same as the Helix Editor. You also need to treat it like FRFR - so you will need to do high and low cuts - I use the EQ in Mainstage, and it's fine. I've never tried to get exact matches to my floor sound - I do use a lot of the same patches though. I listen mostly through Headphones, and as I say, it's good enough to stop me getting out the Floor unit. At $99 (assume it's still $99 for registered Helix owners) it's worth a try - I think you can even audition it for free? You just got to have a decent computer and a small degree of computer skill. Can't say the latency has ever caused me any concern. (Focusrite Scarlett and iMac i7 - 2014 model) Don't use the internal speakers!!

Simply, you are running tones designed for an amp into FRFR. You need amp and speaker simulation on your FRFR feed and suitable EQ as FRFR systems also need high and low cuts to bring the range into typical speaker range. There are lots of of ways you can go about this - but my advice is to look at YouTube videos on getting a good FRFR sound. Then I'd build some good FRFR presets (not using your amp) - when you can do that, I suspect you will understand what you need to know and will be able to solve your specific problems with this rig.

OK - I'm going to disagree - with qualification! It sounds to me like you don't play loud? Most live systems need to move a certain amount of air before they start to do what they are designed to do. If you want to get great sound at a level where you can talk over it and be heard - go with the studio monitors - the whole amp in a room thing doesn't really mean much at that level - and most speakers designed to kick out live levels that keep up with a drummer don't sound anywhere near as nice as well EQ'd sound that's sitting in reasonable balance with a backing track - playing along with songs in your case. If on the other hand you are getting loud........well it's all going to depend on how loud! The kick in the bum of a loud amp only works loud.

Must say my experiences have been similar. It always works in the end, but it's always a bumpy ride. I'm sure the Helix is not good at USB. Which is a worry. And I do very few updates as a result. 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, and still holding off 2.81! I'd really love to feel a bit more confidence about it! I got good gear, and nothing else has ever shown this degree of uncertainty. I wish Line 6 would show some indication that they care, rather than just acting like it's OK. And for those of you who never had a problem with this, I'm finding that hard to believe! Some people have all the luck!

Despite the humour in this post, I think Line 6 needs to be looking at some move in this direction. Helix is sold on the best, most user friendly interface. Sounds - great - but so do a few of the others - maybe even possibly better sometimes? Features - well same - great - but not on their own there either. User friendly is the standout - next to bang for the buck - which only applies compared to Kemper and Fractal. When a lot of people have user related problems with a unit that's winning point is it's user friendliness, that's a problem! And I personally find the instructions as they try harder to stop people making mistakes - look more and more intimidating. No normal "Human" shown the update instructions is going to say that makes them feel confident - try it on your family. So lets get real. It's a PR exercise - and the exercise is keep and grow your user base. Don't try to excuse a poor experience on the DUH factor.

You are aware it's the bass doubling the guitar (or guitar doubling the bass probably more correctly) that's mostly making it fat? The rest is just a nice clean (but you still got to have the amp working - so just short of breakup) guitar line - can get close on a Fender Twin or a clean anything else. An EQ boost round 750hz will increase the click/clunk on the note (the CaliQ is good for that) - but you probably want to turn it off for the other parts. Hope that is helpful.

Well, not trying to put down the small hard working team at Line 6 working on this - but isn't that part of the concern? If the team is struggling - then they need a bigger team! When I got my Helix, it was new technology and there were only rack and floor. By now, I believe this product has significant market penetration. It's not bleeding edge any more. And there is a lot of competition. Making the thing easy to use (including updates) is part of it's selling power. When friends ask me should they get a Helix, I have to check out their ability to deal with technology including computer literacy before I can answer. And I got to say, I can't recommend Helix to more than half of them! It would give them a great solution to their musical needs, but they'd brick the thing and never get decent tones either - or I'd become the local unpaid Line 6 support person - no way! This is where selling the thing is failing. Seems techno-fear is not being addressed - maybe it's easier to sell them a spider (I don't think that works by the way). I don't buy the "it's hard" conversation. I'd come right back with "it's the job". So I think Line 6 could sell a significant amount more Helix products if this type of conversation was not happening. So I'd address that if I was them.

I’d have to agree with this. I’m not sure about the presentation, and I got a giggle from the name, but the point is valid. Updates are a very messy and dangerous experience. I bet most of you agree. A lot of do this and absolutely don’t do that instructions are things software can do. From checking the validity of the download, to asking you to do something and checking you did it before letting you progress with the install, it’s all done all the time by good software design. As I said in an earlier post, I’d rather reliability over cool. Naturally, I’d prefer both. There’s a lot of Helix product out there, making new people feel comfortable, might be the best update Line 6 could make to improve it’s market share.

Couldn't resist!