PapaTongue

My typical signal path would be "guitar > Morley wah > helix input > helix loop 1 > Nova drive > helix loop 2 > amp input > amp fx loop send > helix fx > amp fx loop return". So I wouldn't be using any amp modelling or gain/dynamics on the helix. But I do use a lot of various modulation and delay effects sometimes all within the one song. To give you an example one of my songs I use 5 different presets... 1. Clean ambient pick slides with mod/delay/reverb. 2. Clean verse with different delay/reverb settings. 3. Clean bridge with reverb and pushed to breakup with Nova drive. 4. Heavy distortion with amp only. 5. Heavy lead with different mod/delay/reverb. Because of the variation of amp channels, fx and their settings I can only imagine achieving this using presets otherwise I would still have to do the footswitch tap dance each time the song changes section. Is there another way this could be achieved with the helix and it's multiple paths and multiple blocks per button? If so would the lag time be better? Note as well I would like to use the mic in for processing vocals along with my guitar signal.

It doesn't even need to be as technical as that. Some sections might have clean ringouts or whatever and then you need to kick in a big distortion sound. It is audible and annoying if you press the footswitch on the beat but the change in sound doesn't happen until sometime afterwards. Trying to predict when to press a footswitch in advance is equally annoying and not reliable either if different presets take different times to load. All this can easily lead to lost mojo on stage.

I typically do the same thing as many of my songs switch between clean, distortion, lead, etc all in the one song with many different effects and therefore I would plan to have the bottom row of buttons as presets and the top row of buttons as stomps. I can't imagine doing it any other way in an effective manner. Having quick changing presets is particularly important when going between clean and distortion sounds and vice versa in one song. Since I would be switching channels on my amp with the helix via midi would this be instantaneous even if the fx haven't loaded yet?

This sounds better. Is a complex time including amp modelling and if so would it improve without modelling?

wow this is both surprising and disappointing. i was hoping and perhaps even expecting that with all that new horsepower under the hood that patch changes would be almost instantaneous. for the cost of the unit how can you use it in a live situation with that type of lag? i wonder if it would improve if none of the patches have any amp/cab modelling? since i would be using 4CM and therefore my external amp and perhaps a couple of inbuilt distortion/overdrive effects prior to amp and modulation/delay/reverb effects post amp maybe the patch change lag would be better. has anyone been able to verify if patch change speed improves without modelling?

Hi All, I'm currently using a TC Nova System for effects only and midi control center. One of the biggest problems with the Nova is that it is so slow to change patches (you have to hold the button down, wait for the new patch to load, then it engages on button release) which makes it a nightmare for live use. I would like to switch to Helix but am interested to know the following... 1. How fast are the patch/stomp changes when a footswitch is pressed and is activated on button press or release? 2. I love my Morley wah which auto engages and would want to keep it in the rig and use the helix expression pedal for volume/whammy only. I always have my wah pedal first in the chain but what would be the best placement fur use with the helix (ie before the helix input or in one of the helix loops)? 3. In 4CM since the signal always goes through the AD/DA conversion process is there any point in using analog pedals in the loop (ie OD etc) or would it better to just to use the inbuilt digital distortion/dynamic effects instead? I guess what i'm asking here is will your favourite analog pedals still sounds as they should once they've gone through the AD/DA processing? Thanks.