zooey

Voted.

Thanks. Too bad, seems like a common desire. Even if it was just fixed level, it'd be useful.

Actually, according to this super handy reset options reference on Helix help, "7 & 8 Reset setlists to factory, Keep IRs". Separate question from what is and isn't contained in a bundle. Related though, because you'd probably want to back up "everything" before doing a factory reset. As I understand it, neither IRs nor any global settings are contained in a bundle. IRs you can export and import separately, global settings you have to redo completely manually, i.e., write 'em down or something. And just to say it, if you've already done the reset, depending on the option you used, your global settings and IRs may already be gone.

Think I know the answer to this too, but is there any way to set up a footswitch so it's active in all presets? Seems like no, you have to set it up in each preset separately. Thinking about a boost switch, etc.

I'd be interested your thoughts on the sound of the Ownhammer IR vs the built-in Mesa 4x12.

And as I understand it, bundles don't contain any IRs. Those are exported and imported separately.

Pretty sure I know the answer to this, but is there any way to set up an analog aux input that's active on all presets? You have to set up that routing in each one individually? Thinking about playing other music through Helix. I know you can do that w USB, but I'm looking for a physical jack for an iPod etc.

Re volume, of course Fletcher-Munson applies, plus there's something just plain cool about loud electric guitar. But you can turn speakers or phones up or down easily to check that out, and I do. There's also live vs recorded, by yourself vs in a mix, rock power trio vs 15-piece future jazz band, infinite varieties of different targets, I'm aware. So maybe that's just it, I have to live with phones and speakers being so different that they need different presets. But practically speaking, ideally I'd want those to environments to be as close as possible, to make it easier to make a version of some cool new patch for the other one. We'll see, I guess.

That's right. Some people rename their IRs to include the slot number in the name, to make it easier to load them back into the location they came from.

Did you try the built in Mesa 4x12 cab? Just curious.

Hah, you may be right, much as that goes against my instincts and wishes. I'd rather be able to work on sounds in either environment, and have them sound good in the other, but that may be a fantasy. The semi-good news is I played through the 112s again today, and didn't feel quite as much out to sea. Tweaked the global EQ, and some patches, definitely still have a lot of work to do, but it felt a little less like a lost cause. I think something happens to your playing and your brain when you work with the same rig for a while, no matter what it is. You get used to it on a subtle level, and make micro adjustments in picking etc. We'll see. Still thinking about changing headphones though too.

For me, only when editing, and not often. Helix was NOT connected to a computer.

Shimonma357, are you saying the Beyerdynamic phones match the sound of your speakers better than your AKGs did? IF so, that might be something I shoudl try. The real problem I'm having isn't the frequency response of the 112s as much as it is the difference between them and my phones. Changing headphones is clearly one way to try fixing that. I also don't understand what you're saying about volume. Why would volume difference between phones and speakers make you need to change individual presets? Is that because the frequency responses are different, so more bassy presets sound louder on the more bassy system (for instance)?

IF I understand the OP's question right, I've noticed this too. When I turn the Helix headphone volume up enough to be full and comfortable, and it's also plugged into my PC too, the computer sounds are way louder than the Helix. YouTube, system alerts, everything.

Understand what you're saying about using a guitar cab rather than simulating one, however... - You're limited to the cab(s) you want to buy and carry - You're leaving the sound the audience hears from the PA or recording of you in someone else's hands (if your cab is mic'd), or hearing something completely different (if you listen to a guitar cab and send Helix etc direct) - Suitable only for electric guitar

Thanks guys. I wasn't happy in phones at first either. There's enough sonic flexibility in the Helix to make a wide range of players happy, but the tradeoff is you have to find your own way a bit. So the first question is how to get the 112s to sound good, which, like phones, is probably a matter of working on it for a good long while. The second question is harder: How to build patches that sound good through phones AND the 112s. Phones are a big part of my playing life these days. Unless I push myself not to use them to avoid the whole speakers vs phones question, I'm there more than in than in speakers -- Helix on the couch next me, just grab a guitar whenever I feel like it, still hang with people, not hermit-ed away in the basement. But if I do want to get back to playing w other people, my patches have to work in speakers too. On that level, it's down to the global EQ, plus headphone and speaker choice. I've got the speakers I "can" afford, so that's pretty much locked in. (Unless someone has a radically better idea for short money, but I think I would have heard about it by now.) The 240s are pretty reasonable phones (that is what they are; found another pair w the model number still on them), and they're also what I already own, so I'm kinda decided there too. Maybe a bit open to other suggestions, since phones are cheaper than FRFRs, still not exactly pocket change for good ones though I'm not hearing overt clipping like in Radatat's older thread on the 112s, that's not the issue. (Think I have them up about half way, Helix 1/4" out into XLRs on the 112s, reserving the Helix XLRs for the PA.) Problem was more that everything sounded compressed and processed, artificial. small, POD-like. (Most of my patches have no compression, some do.) Dunedin is right that your direct sound is what matters in the room, so I kind of have to solve this, just have to spend the time in speakers I guess. But what global EQ do I use while I'm doing that? None? I could make versions of my fave patches that work for speakers running flat, see how they do in phones, maybe use the global EQ for the phones instead. Or I could listen to some albums on the 122s, set the global EQ for that if need be, then build patches that work in that environment, adjust the EQ when I'm in phones if needed Have to say, this was a letdown. I've been feeling so at home w Helix, excited to use those tones with other people, but as it stands, no. I would have felt like an idiot if I'd shown up at a jam thinking I had some great sounds, and what I heard yesterday came out. Not to mention telling my wife that I'm not (yet, hopefully) happy w the rig I spent so much on. Well talking about it changes nothing, onward :)

As I've posted before, I've been having big fun w Helix in headphones, but I do actually want to be able to play w other people (again after a million years), so I picked up a pair of Alesis Alpha 112 powered FRFRs on eBay a while ago. Back then I was thinking about an Amplitube rig, but only did that a little through the 112s before I got my Helix, and it's been Helix and headphones in the living room ever since. Today was my first try w Helix through the 112s, down in my basement "studio", still on my own. To be honest, it was pretty disappointing. I knew I'd probably want to EQ things differently, and I did. (I'm fine w that. Bless L6 for the global EQ, wish Amplitube had that.) The 112s were brighter in general than my AKG 240s (I think that's the model, had them for years, the chrome thingies w that info are long gone), so I added some warmth, pulled a little 600-ish and some 3.7k, best I could hear first go-round, not awful. But I didn't expect to be as unhappy with the overall feel as I was. It just felt processed, artificial, reminded me of why I didn't like L6 stuff in the past. And trust me, I'm not a 10,000 fx guy. Most of my patches have some overdrives, a chorus or two, delay, and verb, but everything except the verb is typically off by default. I rarely play with tons of distortion. I know the 112s are a budget solution, but they're pretty well respected, and certainly didn't sound overtly messed up or anything. And hey, this is reality, more or less. I'm not doing music professionally any more, buying the Helix was irresponsible enough, I'm certainly not springing for a pair of Atomics etc.to wank off with. I'm not totally bummed, because I sort of expected this, but it is a little disheartening. I'll work on the global EQ over time, like everything else about this, and it's possible the 112s will loosen up a bit with use. (Maybe I should play them loud-ish unattended for a few days to speed that up?) I still have a blast w Helix in phones, it's just frustrating that that didn't translate better right off to something I can jam or gig with. If anyone has any suggestions besides working on the global EQ, or how specifically to go about that other than just trying to make myself happy, by all means speak up.

A) Copy Block, Clear Block, Paste Block isn't that hard. B) What's different from Clear All Blocks about this? Or you can copy one of the New Presets and paste it in, If you're talking about added convenience, sure, but game changing? Don't think so. Or I'm missing something, which happens all the time.

Of course this. But also never going to happen, as in, even the optimist in me loves it but laughs it off. They'd have to implement the entire VST standard, GUI and all, on this DSP chip and their highly proprietary Helix OS. I wish someone would build a hot PC in the Helix form factor, like with all that i/o, a/d/a, display(s), etc. Closest thing I know of is the Orange OPC, which is expensive, not very buyable (in the US at least), and still needs a display and a mouse to use it. Outside of all that, I might well have bought one instead of Helix. But I'm here and doing fine :)

Re scribble strips, there is at least one generic scribble-enabled MIDI foot controller: http://www.famcmusic.com/store/liquid-foot/LF-PRO 24 switches, extremely capable, $1299 (for just the foot controller). There are smaller ones too. Could use it with Axe, Kemper, software sims, or to extend Helix.

My cat likes that touch feature. Unfortunately, so do I, don't want to disable it, so we share.

You don't need to ask, I'm sure there are others who are interested :) You could post it here on the thread, or on the Line 6 CustomTone patch sharing thing. Thanks in advance.

I ordered from SW when they were out of stock, and actually deferred delivery after the expected next arrival date, because I had to much going on then to give it a good test within the return period. They said they'd hold one, and at one point told me mine was sitting on a shelf waiting for me. When I didn't get a shipped notice around the agreed-on ship date, I pinged them, they told me they had had to give it to someone who got a defective unit, and I'd have to wait for the next batch. I suspect that was bs, they sold what they had in stock. That's the only time I've ever had anything even slightly funky happen with them, they're always great, and it's hard to blame them if they did just sell it, it's such a hot item. If you wait until they're just sitting on a shelf somewhere, you could be waiting a long time, FWIW.

Radatats, how do you like the Alpha 112s? I picked up a pair on ebay while ago for a good price, but haven't had a chance to try them much w Helix. My plan so far is just them, no amp. Why did you want both? You wanted the sub even for guitar? I'd really like to keep my rig to just Helix, the 112s, and instruments.

Is it my imagination, or are there a lot of professional software developers, project managers, etc. here? I'm a developer, have been for a long time, mostly web these days. Just for the halibut, speak up if that's you too. If so, I wonder why that is. One obvious reason is that you're less likely to be able to buy a Helix if you don't have some sort of "real" job. But I bet it's also that tech folks are less likely to be put off by this sort of relatively complex and non-organic solution, and more likely to be attracted by its possibilities. That has implications for how Helix is marketed, and its potential market penetration. At this price point, it's never going to be a real mass-market item anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter, just thinking out loud.