mkornell

No, there is no way to directly do an auto volume swell. Best way to accomplish that would be to put the volume control near the start of your chain (before the delays) or use the volume knob on the guitar to roll the volume off and on. Or can use an external pedal - perhaps your GT100 if you've still got it - in an FX loop near the front of the chain.

Jim, here is the link to your tone: http://line6.com/customtone/tone/2140828/ Simply go to the CustomTone page for your tone and copy the link in the address bar. Paste it here.

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden :-)

Yeah, makes sense. But I will suggest that you try building tones on the Helix without using the DT25. The Helix does a really good job with its amp modelling and chances are you can dial in something really good without using external gear. Thus, less gear to haul around. And if you are set on having the DT25 in the loop, I'd suggest placing it as one of the effect loops on the Helix. That way you can bring the DT25 tone in when you want to use it (as a send/return in place of using one of the Helix's amp models) but also be able to create tones that don't use it. And you also have more flexibility in where you use it in the signal chain. Once you've dialed in tones using good headphones, take a listen through your IEM. Unless you've sprung for really top-end IEMs, there will be a noticeable loss in fidelity. If the tone still sounds decent through the IEM, it will sound good in the PA.

Not entirely sure what you're asking? You're thinking of using the headphone out jack to go into a DT25? Why not use the 1/4" out (or outs if you want stereo) instead? Will a DT25 sound exactly like a PA? Best case is "pretty close". Depends on how closely the response characteristics of the DT25 match the PA. But with some judicious EQ you can probably get it close enough that only you could tell the difference. FWIW, I do all my tone creation and practice using good headphones. I play live with 3 different groups, each with a different PA and monitor setup. And every venue is different, too. Does each audience hear exactly the same tone I hear in my cans? Not likely. But when I've wandered out in front of the mains during sound checks (wireless rocks!) it sounds pretty close if the sound guy is doing his job.

Count me as another who is interested...

I don't use the EXP pedal much, but it is useful for volume swells. But I recognise that it is far more versatile than just that. Also, if you want to remove it, no need for the angle grinder. You're going to void your warranty anyways, so open up the Helix by taking the bottom off. The pedal can be unbolted from the side and the extraneous pieces removed easily before putting the bottom back on.

I don't have an H9 or Big Sky, but I do have a HOG. It is very easy to set up the Helix to send MIDI commands to load presets on the HOG. I've scanned the H9 manual (considering adding it to my rig) and it looks similarly easy to set up.

Go to the Line 6 downloads page (http://line6.com/software/), choose Helix under the -All Products- menu, and check the Beta box.

I'm guessing he's trying to back up his presets _before_ doing the firmware upgrade. The solution will be to install the version of the Helix application that corresponds to the installed firmware, then make a backup. After that, upgrade to 1.12 per the instructions.

#5 - don't use anything before a pitch FX except a noise gate or compressor. It has a hard time as it is, try not to confuse it. #11 - After you are 15 songs and 3 beer into a set at a bar on your road circuit, scribble strips with the names of songs on them make a lot of sense. Particularly if they are in order. #13 - It will take you 3 months of tweaking to get that perfect sound for that most critical song. You know, the kind of sound that can make a career because it is so awesome. So take 6 seconds and make a backup. Now. Because your rock-steady Helix will crash and require a factory reset 3 minutes after the guitar gods grant their blessings upon you. #14 - Experiment. There are 32 processing slots on each preset. You don't need to use them all. But no reason not to consider the possibilities.

Just to clarify - you have programmed a footswitch to send off the MIDI command. Now when you use the footswitch, the display shifts to the command centre (instead of staying on the home screen)? That seems odd. I've got a few presets set up to use footswitches to send off MIDI CCs, and have not experienced that behaviour. Are you on the latest firmware? (That's a wild guess. I got nothing else,)

If you are looking to have the H9 and A2 presets loaded when the Helix patch is loaded, you can do that easily by using the Instant Commands. In the Command Center, assign the relevant MIDI CC or PC commands to two of the lightning bolts. When the Helix preset is loaded, those commands will fire off and load up the presets in the H9 and A2. However, if you want to do that from a footswitch, there is no way to fire off two commands at once - you'd have to use two footswitches.

Yes, very interested in the patches. I have a HOG2 connected to the Helix, but always nice to have options or plan Bs. I've done some experimenting to get organ-like sounds, but the pitch tracking in the Helix is nowhere near as good as the HOG - things get funky if I play more than two notes at a time. I have found that using the Helix to put in some detuning post-HOG (or in parallel with it) adds a nice dimension.

Still need to add a looper and the HOG footswitch. With the Helix's MIDI capability, I have control over loading presets on the HOG, but it will be nice to have the freeze capability and preset # display. The handles and wheels are very useful, but the hard plastic wheels are a rough go on uneven surfaces - or even asphalt. Will be replacing them with inline skate wheels.

A 2x12 cab (or any cab, for that matter) direct would not work. The Helix does not have a power amp built in, only outputting signal at line level. It is suitable for running into pretty much any type of amp/speaker combo, though. It really depends on the sound system you have in your rehearsal or live system. Direct into the PA works really well. But you can also run into an amp on or off stage and mic that to the PA. What is your situation?

Could you raise the back of the Helix, tilting the whole thing toward you? That would effectively raise the back row of switches in relation to the front.

I switched to ampless as soon as I got the Helix. Didn't seem to make sense to spend a bunch of time dialling a sound, only to run it through an amp. Fooled two sound guys, to boot. A big advantage is the versatility in tone choice. I'd typically run through a Mesa Lonestar mic'd with 57s. Even with the amp set clean with a neutral EQ, the sound getting to the board was always coloured by that combination of amp, speaker and mic. Not a bad combination, by any means, but inescapable. With the Helix direct to board, I can get that sound if I want. Or pretty much anything else. And no amp to lug around.

... or a compressor

Scott, love the tone. Request emailed.

Yeah, that's the way to do it. Helix doesn't have MIDI command to address effect blocks directly. You have to set up a footswitch to do what you want and then use a MIDI command to trigger the footswitch.

Industrial strength Velcro is only as strong as the backing tape it uses.

I've never had a guitar rig with MIDI capability before the Helix. Now that I have that capability (literally, under my feet), I'm starting to experiment and I can see many possibilities. The Helix may be opening the MIDI door for others, too.

They must have been stretching to find something to fault the Helix on - you'd have to have really, really clumsy feet to hit the joystick instead of a stomp button. And if you do have such feet, Rack & Control would be the choice.

Or ensure the last effect in your chain is mono. Even if that's just volume control. The Helix will collapse a stereo signal when going through a mono effect.