WickedFinger

The Helix is a very low impedance headphone out level. Ideally audiophiles say that headphones up to 8x the impedance of the output are good. The Helix is like 12ohm. I too was always troubled by headphone sound and I use high end ByerDynamics. I found that tapping the headphone out off my little mixer I use offers a much better sound so you might try using a headphone amp off the Helix they are not much. My little Mackie Mixer I use to convert my other rigs unbalanced to balanced was like $60 I think. Anyway nothing I have ever used sounded good to me out of the headphone jack except for my GR-55 synth when I had that.

That has been my worst night mare wondering what the lifetime of that knob and contacts would be. I think I have a foot switch that is not working well. Only got 10 more payments, wweeeeeeeeeee...

Just looking for ones I have not really given a shot yet or maybe someone has good luck with the tones. Curious what ones users like the most. I guess my biggest thing is I need better IRs. Like buying presets I am leery what I will get, as truly all the free IRs I have collected are not great. Worried if I drop the bucks I'll wish I had not. I hear good things about Ownhammer but it's a grey area for me, I never messed w IRs before my GSP1101 or the Helix. I am trying to figure out the best models that respond well w pedals. I really cannot see the Helix as a do all stand alone unit for me and if they load in all those POD M things it is a waste of space for me. I would love to have just a modeler preamp with the loops and routing and just farm out for effects. Give me a cool Strymon or Eventide over all other stuff any day. I would have kept the Atomic Amp if it had all the loop and routing ability of the Helix but one loop ain't gonna do it.

I am finding the Hi Watt seems to play with external pedals very well and has a good clean sound, anyone have any other ideas? I am finding the option thing to be getting overwhelming and want to try and use just a few amps as standards. So far for cleans I like the Mesa cln channel, the Shiva w gain dwn, Plexi at times, Soldano cln channel anyone have any other ideas? High gains I like the Engl the best I think, 2204mod, and a few others but I am more interested in cleaner amps that sound good with external drive pedals.

I have that on my DVR. will check it out again. The only song that gets me on that album though is Reaper, I would love to have heard Don do Godzilla live. So really how tall is that chap? I think he is shorter than Peter Frampton but none the less he casts a long shadow, I like how Buck's solos depart from the std expected riffing a lot. I have to admit I never thought of rolling down the gain on the Engl maybe a lot of tones in other amps that we normally just goto for gain levels. I got a couple nice tips from the video. I've been using the Mesa Cali EQ a lot but I noticed he keeps boost on band two 220hz I think to flat. Would like to see the second page of the amp settings, got the first. The Global EQ I think he said was off but it was at flat 0.0 db with some q adjust not sure if that does anything. I just use it to cut the sub sonics and the ultra high end. I also rather use an EQ to trim the cab if needed as I like the response to be close to what the speaker is rated. Personally I have fallen in love with the Shiva with the gain down, marvelous tones you can get in that one. Have to mess with the Engl. It has come to me over not liking the on board gain stuff much that it was intended to sound right driving the amp and not so much by itself.

I find it useful to create some starter template blanks I can copy and have a clean slate to work with. That way you have some basic things you use without starting over every time. Clearing all blocks is easy enough but many times I want to keep certain effects I use and their settings. What I would like is a way to change the default settings on effects and amps etc to what the user would set them rather than the factory defaults many if which are OK but the amps in particular I have to really mess with. Be nice to be able to store your own defaults for various amps.

Probably done this, but have you completely reloaded 2.01 firmware again and reset globals? Be sure to back up everything beforehand of course. Did that to mine the other day as really computers need a redo now and then. I get distorted clipping on cleans using my EMG LP if I do not roll it back but on high gains no issues. I do find some cabs have weird response and noise so the reload seems to have helped me. I did hear of someone getting crappy sounds and reset everything and it fixed it. Just resetting what is in the unit will not fix it. You have to redo the firmware install completely. First thing L6 is going to say is reload 2.01 if that doesn't fix it you have some eternal component failure. I assume as well you have the outputs 1/4 and XLR set to correct impedance. Also look for bad cable run, sometimes a cable can do weird stuff even if it looks OK externally.

So was he in that recent live rendering of Agents of Fortune?? I do not recall seeing him. Only one I know is Dharma who is a first rate guitarist. I was wondering who the cat is that sings some and holds a guitar and seems like he cannot play or is it they want Don/Buck to handle the main tones?? Love that guys lead tone and technique. Jetter Purple Drive and Amptweaker Tight Drive, plus the amps of course. The song writing talent on Don't Fear the Reaper is just amazing, the stops, the dynamic return to refrain, hugely effective song writing. "Love of two is one, here but now they're gone The door was opened and the wind appeared The candles blew and then disappeared The curtains flew and he appeared...." That's been stuck in my head for ages.

Sooo, is there any real clue as to when we might see another update for the Helix????

I get your anxiety and I too get the fever when I think one of my switches might be on the crap out. And yes indeed computers die bad deaths. I also worry over the spinning knob wearing out contacts. To me its more of a pain to hook up the PC editor and I just do it when I want to do a backup or the other day I redid my 2.01 load and reset the Globals as computers need a complete reset once in a while. That being said, I too made the mistake at least three times selling off my pedals for the latest greatest multi unit. And I regretted it every single time and ended up redoing my board and leaving the multi unit behind. I thought the Helix would be different and I kept several of my pedals and only wished I would have kept all of them. Like my Whammy V as I mistakenly though the Helix would have that covered, not. I find several monophonic tracking copy mimics of pedals I would never use to begin with. The tuner is dreadful but I kept my Gold Korg Pitchblacks. Don't get me wrong, I love the Helix but not for the effects. Let's face it there is NO Strymon level reverb or delay in there. And I appreciate the effort to HX component model pedals but really that is no Klon and that is no Timmy. The TS is pretty good but really I have not desired to have a TS OD in years. I see more and more wants and requests to load up the Helix with all the POD and M series crap yada effects which again makes me regret I went in this direction. I try to forget the Helix really has effects except for a few I find workable but more and more copy mimics of crap fest pedals of old school tech I have no use. The notion of using the most advanced HX component modeling to match and duplicate some 3rd rate two decade out of tech pedal makes me wonder if the Engineers have any sense as clearly most guitarists do not. I would love to have a Helix version that just had expanded modeling and IR with all the routing and loops and no effects at all. Making this unit another POD version for those who want a self contained master unit just makes it obvious many do not know just how bad the POD and M stuff really is. Just no way anything ever done will be better than having Strymon pedals, nice high end overdrives like PettyJohn and so on. I left Boss pedals behind years and years back so far gone I cannot recall the last time I used Boss. Just so many better lines, better circuits and so forth. Using some of the stuff in the Helix is like having that glitch-master Whammy I version or that crappy Boss octaver, why? This is the most advanced modeler at @$1500 I could have had an array of the best effects possible. Sure I went for the modeling but I am building back my board piece by piece as I do not imagine the effect level is ever going to come to par. As I redo many pedals I will just phase out the effects one by one. Makes we wonder if I sent the Atomic Amp back too soon as its effects were even worse and few of them. When I heard an annoying digital click tick on the delays it went back. Now I wish I would have just used it for the models, but the Helix does have vastly superior routing switching and loop ability. But that is where I am, I want a Strymon or a Nemesis Delays and reverbs. and the drives I have are light years better. As long as this continual nostalgia exists to just use the most advanced modeling technology to perform like half century old tech. modeling will never reach its potential which is the future of the guitar. Old vintage is dinosaur it is on its way to extinction. in a few years with idiots ruining the planet there will be no wood to make guitars so other methods and materials must be developed and that was not in 1959. This is going on 2017 the future is not behind us.

Has a good time playing to be sure.

Think its been covered, but yeah wahs sound better as a filter upfront, a gain clean boost will drive the amp more into distortion in front without raising the level, gain or boost after the amp raises the level for a solo lift, Easy to just turn up the amp ch vol or add an EQ block after the amp than farm out to a pedal for that need. I use the Helix wahs then a loop out to my fav drives and high gains return before the amp. I use Cali EQ blocks for any level change or you can snapshot the amp ch vol and raise it up a little.

I gave up on the "Custom Tone" section weeks ago. Never found anything that was usable or that really sounded all that good to mess with modifying it. Quite frankly scares me about buying preset packages. I know the two chaps on here that sell presets are genius at programming and light years ahead of the Custom Tone area but still makes me a little leery. I would like to have them for some ideas and if they have any cool things I have not figured out but playing through others presets on any unit I ever owned never worked out very well for me.

Some really nice playing, impressive, and some inherent skills in programming right out of box. Shows when you're a pro and an experienced player.

Pull the trigger just make sure the gun is pointed at the POD.

I was so lost when I got mine I did not know it even had a switch under the pedal, I had been turning mine on and off using an assigned switch. I had not been using a wah in some time so I missed that in the manual. Nothing like being lost on a new unit, seems impossible but after about a month your programming improves so much listening to the custom tone stuff makes you cringe. Been using a lot of the routing loop ability in the Helix, this is worth the price of admission to have quality sounding loops with even added volume/level control, marvelous. I have pretty much resolved to using outside pedals for the front end stuff as really digital just has not gotten there for me in duplicating drives and high gains. I do appreciate the effect to model a Klon and such but really that does not sound like a Klon set clean which is how I use mine. The TS is dead on but that is a simple circuit. The Timmy does not sound the same to me either but I understand they are to push the amp models and probably not meant to sound great as stand alones like the real deal. Digital really shines in delay and reverbs (hopefully being updated to HX), and the modulation digital wise has really come along in the last years, used to be terrible. The Helix has some marvelous modulation effects in there, the Vibe,Trems, some of the phaser and flanges. Something about analog with drives and whatnot that are just different. I really wish they would stop trying to load up the Helix with the POD and M thing in effects, so many of them are just terrible. If you were for the love of god going to model a Whammy pedal or a pitch/harmonizer why on earth model an old version monophonic tracking pedal circuit? I mean seriously I can just get a new polyphonic tracking Digitech Ricochet for like $130 and it wipes the floor with all that glitchout mimic copy of bad pedals. Sure I can just not use the stuff and farm out to pedals but it seems the Helix potential is being pushed into turning it into another POD version. I hope not but that is their puppy. I hate PODs, been there done that, from here its on to Fractal or Kemper but the Helix is so cool and love the other features. Hoping they do not listen to the bad tastes in pedal effect wants. Concentrate on the amp modeling section, improve the reverbs, we do not need another POD version and for those who love that thing get one. Leave the Helix alone.

I recently really started getting into the routing and loop abilities of the Helix, marvelous features and a million options not sure Fractal or Kemper offer all the loops and routing blocks. I do not need channel switching but that is in there as well. You can also change the split and merge blocks to different types once you create them. I just came to the notion that I missed where you do not have to have just one start single feed from the guitar and then split it but two different path lines from the same one guitar input feed on the unit. I had been splitting the signal creating two paths and you do not need to do this.

So it was the church. Sound demons no doubt,

Can't you adjust the mix of the processed and dry signals to compensate, hard to fathom how everything is so uncontrollable. What is the "third" tone? The combined tone is always going to be louder and volume or mix does not help? I cannot really understand the problem so I will let others venture.

I asked them (Technical Support) if the hi and low cuts were hard cuts or sloped EQ roll off like the intended speaker range. This is what they told me. "The high and low cut do what they say, they add additional equalization to the characteristics of the cab being modeled. They move the speaker IR's normal roll off frequencies just as you said. The Helix does not have an active built in sub sonic filter on the low end. I hope this clears things up for you." I do not see the point of narrowing the cabinets response range then run that into an FRFR the guitar is already a mid range instrument making that even more so is not something I have a need. I can see how recording mavens might need it but it seems artful use of EQ is better than reducing the efficiency of the speaker cab IR. I cut my ultra low below 50Hz on my Global and the ultra high end but hardly ever adjust the speaker cab IR. Also just reporting I integrated my GSP1101 modeler into the Helix loop and it is noise free and great sounding, opens up a whole range of new options I can use. Just love the 2101 Clean Tube model in that puppy, best sounding of anything I have tried. The 1101 also has some great acoustic guitar sim models that sound just like an acoustic with massive EQ range. I farm out to my fav pedals on drives just using the Helix for main amp model, delays and reverbs. Wah of course but now with the 1101 I have more wah options and what not. Not a fan of most of the monophonic tracking pitch and octave things in either unit but I use the Dual Pitch hear and there. I also run a send out to my Mel9 and Trio unit which does not return to the Helix. The loop routing on this puppy is amazing and zero noise issues. I do have a gate on my loop return with the drives just because I get a little noise from the pedals when on but with that NR the whole thing is dead quiet.

Personally I do not care what anyone uses. The brainwash of traditional amps and real tubes will continue for some time. Modelers are the future, be on the cutting edge or copy someone down the road after they break away from the pack. The Kemper, Fractal and Helix units can easily be used live. If you are too stoned or drugged out to program anything and create tones then you have to use easier plug in and play gear. Also the notion that anyone famous or rich is smart and has a clue is greatly misplaced.

Does one have to reset Globals after firmware update on the rack like you do on the floor unit? IF so I would do that before creating tones. I would advise anyone to copy the manual and the manual for the editor, I have both in sheet protectors so I can have front and back pages and reduce the wear. I would also advise anyone to watch as many programming and tip videos as you can find. There is a couple week learning curve just to understand how to do things so do not worry about making a bunch of presets right off. Your programming abilities will constantly improve and you'll find yourself having to modify your presets to what you just learned. Check out the "Templates" in the units factory settings they can help you understand how to make dual paths and switching. Do not be afraid to experiment in the virtual world of the Helix, you can do anything without hurting anything. Obeying typical flow and position rules on std gear need not apply. There are no impedance issues or compatibility issues to worry about. Just do not try and over punch the volume into other effects or the amps, digital clipping in the processor is not musical or desirable. If you had a POD you know this already and also know the Helix apart from the Reverbs is not a POD and the HX modeling is much better as well as the noise floor. No more Niagara Falls hiss fest and the effect loops are all good, no issues like the POD had with levels being low and there are easy loop levels adjusts as well. Helix is a very cool unit and a lot of fun to create ideas that would be impossible with all the std gear.

I have a pair of ElectroVoice ZLX 15"'s and I love them. You may have the ability to out volume the whole band but that is not really the point. I just like the depth and range of sound. I would not dig the Helix without making use of the stereo ability.

Newness wears off on anything at some point. I still like the Helix and I am waiting for the next upgrade to see what direction they take it, if it becomes more POD like with more cheese effects I am off the wagon. Thought occurred to me that one has to reset the globals when updating that might be some sense of the problem, or I would reload the software and reset the globals again per instruction update sheet. Personally I use BBE units on all my rigs including the Helix and its phase correction circuit lifts the blanket off the tones for me. Just a note EQ is an infinite thing for everyone. I noticed the one guy above boosts at 750hz when that is the fav Mesa notch frequency point on high gain. I have moments with the Helix where I get upset at the cost but I manage to find some things I can use and like and I started farming out to other effects especially front end drives and my high gain pedals I like with clean amps. I have a GSP1101 rig which is brand new, I thought to sell it but I was not going to give it away so when it did not sell I decided to try using it with the Helix. There are some models in that unit I just love that nothing else gets close to like the Clean Tube 2101 model which is the best sounding clean (Fender somewhat but much better) tube clean tone ever. Not even the Helix models get that tone. I had been using the Mic Studio Tube Preamp trick (impedance to line set at 10.0 and gain at 4.0 which is clean but adds a nice tube-ish enhancement) in front of my amps set clean and I replaced that with the GSP 1101 clean tube model and man what a difference. The 1101 also lets you run the amp using cab on direct which sounds great unlike the Helix which sounds terrible without the IR or the Preamps which are too thin.The whole IR thing on the Helix drives me batty at times all this fuss to get the sound of low tech low efficient speakers and these mic filter matrix things which completely alter the sound, why bother to have a great sounding amp when the, mic, cab or speaker IR just changes it completely? The 1101 also has some extremely good acoustic guitar simulator models that the Helix does not have. Anyway, I thought two modelers would be too much but the integration ability gave me a host of new options and more effects if I need them. I find artful use of external stuff and creative routing breathed new life in the Helix for me. I hope the next update does two things that I feel are grossly lacking: HX Reverb models, for god sakes model Strymon. Polyphonic tracking on the crappy Whammy model, pitch and octave models. Why on earth use state of the art modeling to mimic crappy cheese pedals? If you were going to model a Whammy you picked the early glitchmaster unit instead of the new [polyphonic Whammy V version with detune tuning ability?? That makes any sense to anyone but someone who likes the crappy POD M effects? Reminds me of someone playing chords in an older Whammy with it glitching all over the place from bad tracking thinking that is a part of the tone... This POD thing which L6 seems to not be able to get away from with copies of old tech pedals is such a waste of space in the Helix, I am just not using any of that crap I will just farm out to better pedals. So I have had to learn what I like about it and use it. The advantage it does have is all the loops and routing ability so I make use of it.

Seems like just a load of EQ matrix filters. I would be satisfied with an amp without a cab but the Helix does not do that. I was integrating my GSP1101 as there are some clean tube models on there I just love. Loop out to the GSP 1101 grab the clean tube amp model w NO cab set on "direct", sounds amazing coming back through the Helix in front of the Helix main amp model. Ever try to use a Helix amp without a cab or how thin the preamp models are? Why is there no "direct" option on the Helix instead of all this fuss about IRs and mics. They all change the sound drastically, I just do not get why we have to do this using the IR or whatever the Helix has. When I play an amp through my std guitar cab they all sound great and you EQ the particular amp to taste. My speakers do not color the hell out of the sound and there is no mic to completely alter the entire thing. I do not like the sound of cheap green low wattage speakers or the sound of hollow box cabs with no sense of dampening of standing waves. So why would I want an IR of such a cab? I have used speaker line taps like the Radial JBX instead of trying to mic amps to send to the PA or DAW. The Helix has great XLR but there is all that coloring matrix going on. Sorry but the whole IR "shmow" seems to be the wet dream of recording hobbyist who want the sounds of old cabs and low efficient speakers using all sorts of mics that completely change the entire sound. What difference does it make about the amp if it can be completely rendered a crap fest by merely using a IR/hybrid and a weird mic? I thought all this modeling was trying to attain the feel, sound and response of a real amp. As long as you have a great IR apparently it does not matter a rat's a s s about the amp model. Seems just all EQ and filtering to me. Someone asked if all the Helix cab things are not just the same filter block tweaking EQ with added mic filter blocks to change the tones thinking you are dealing with different cab IRs. To me the musical question of the day is: are recording hobbyists sending us down the wrong road focused on recording rather than if a modeler can replace a real amp playing live??? It seems very easy to get caught up in the virtual illusion of the Helix world, one I am using this amp wit this cab and this wonderful mic, no you really are not.