WickedFinger

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.

MY discussions with L6 have shown that the cabinet IR high and lo cuts shift the speaker cabs natural roll off slope to the new settings. They said they are not hard cut offs but follow the modeled speakers natural roll off slope. I might cut at a much lower freq than most for sub sonic cut below that point but I almost never cut the high end as the guitar speaker natural roll off should be just fine, anything that needs EQ I adjust via EQ blocks or amp settings.

Some great tips going on here which is what I had hoped. To add a couple things I have been using, change the Global switch option from 8 to 10 mode and you get more possible assigns. Also Helix does not have a built in sub sonic low filter to good idea to cut that super low end as it just robs wattage and gets too unmusical. Many I think make cuts too high as I have effects that boost the low end at 80hz and sound great so if you cut at 100hz that moots that entire spectrum. IRs I have to say puzzle me, the entire sound can be just altered to squat changing mic and what not. Someone said they thought all the Helix cabs were the same sort of IR with just different mic filtering. Seems you load a supposed good one in there and presto there goes your DSP. Just to report FYI, I had been using the Mic Studio Tube Preamp model in front of my amps for a slight tube enhancement without gain or any sense of clipping and that sounds better for sure on just about any amp model. I have a GSP1101 modeler I was attempting to sell and since I am not giving it away as it is brand new basically. I love several of the Clean Tube models in that puppy which are not Fenders. I loop out to the GSP 1101 pull in that clean tube model with no cab and wow how much thicker, vibrant and tube-ish that adds to the preset tone (before the Helix amp model). \ Proud to report on everything I have been doing with loops and sends the Helix is working really well. Zero noise issues on my GSP. I use a send block to send my first in signal out to my Mel9 and my Trio unit which does not return to the Helix. I have my select drives and some high gains in another effect loop and everything is sounding great. If you have not tried the Harmonic Tremolo or Harmonic Flanger those are two very good sounding effects with a little tweaking to taste.

Well my routing out to other stuff is really what makes my sound. The preset with everything off is OK but rather bland. I have been busy taking advantage of the routing ability to completely change my premise in using the Helix. I had been using the Mic Studio Tube Preamp set on line impedance and clean for just a little tube enhance (as I mentioned in my programming tips thread). I was selling my previous GSP 1101 modeler and since I am not giving it away it looks like I will be keeping it. I love several of the Clean Tube models in that puppy so I replaced my Helix Mic Tube Preamp thing with a loop out to the GSP 1101 to bring in that clean tube amp model with the cab set on direct (no cab) and man what a difference in the tube emulation(this is before the Helix amp model. Gives it a real tube sounding treatment without gaining anything up or clipping it digitally. Marvelous really. I also now send a signal out to my Mel9 and Trio on my first block, that does not return to to the Helix but goes off to the FRFR rig. I have my select pedals on another loop for my fav drives and higher gains. So if you muted out those three loop/sends it gets pretty basic plus I have a array of different reverbs and delays w the Phase 90 and a Chorus here and there. Anyway learning to use the Helix better all the time. Just have to work on this IR thing what a bugger if your load in a really nice one it sucks up your DSP so you have to cut a bunch of effect options out. I may upload some but right now I am working on some new ones with my routing. The 1101 also affords the ability to use any of its arsenal of effects if I need anything when the DSP is running short. Anyway just bugged by all the IR stuff, I get all the recording DAW yada but it is not the way i approach the guitar as more of a player. Sometimes you go into a studio and the engineer on deck will just completely change everything and have you playing on stuff that does not work for you. I want my tones captured not completely altered which is what all the IR and mic stuff does.

I get what is being said. The problem I have with L6 is the whole POD thing, time came and went and I truly hate that thing and you could not give me one. I left L6 from my POD experience and thought I never would return, the Helix seemed a different animal; and HX seemed to be getting close to Fractal and Kemper, for the money difference anyway. The Helix is an exciting new course change for L6 but if they continue to think in POD terms I will end up getting tired of the unit and move on, once again. I was really disappointed with the HD POD Reverbs being in the Helix and the continual ridiculous premise of using state of the art modeling technology to copy a bunch of outdated cheese pedals I never liked to begin with. So now that the newness is wearing off and gee I only have 10 more payments maybe I am expecting too much and I fell for it again? Now I have to buy 3rd party IRs. I do not like the whole IR thing myself, I am not recording these days I and have no use for mics and if I wanted the sound of my amps for PA and whatnot I like the Radial JDX speaker line tap DIs. Funny thing my one Eminence loaded 4x12 sounded amazing with different amps, I needed no mic and I did not want low wattage, low efficient speaker distortion tones, All this cab stuff with mics serving as massive EQ filter blocks and what is supposed to be the sound of an amp into a cabinet, mystifies me at times. Can I just have what my amp(s) sound like coming out of my speakers without all the added yada? How about just model me a Radial JDX DI after the amp and I am fine, I can EQ from there without all this mic cab stuff which merely alters the tones so much what does it matter what amp you are trying to use or sound like, it is apparently all what the speaker IR and mic sound like. I mean seriously go from a Dynamic to a Ribbon and the sound completely changes how is that even recognizable as the same amp??? Much less the param of moving the mic across the grill position is not there and that makes a difference as well. Since I have used higher end guitar speakers for years why would I want my great amp running through that low end low wattage speaker yada now with a choice of mics to screw the sound all up so nothing really matters at all. I think we are being "Trump'ed" probably just the same basic IR EQ'ed with different "mic" EQ blocks. The day I can get payments on a Fractal, L6 is going to miss me.

EQ is relative to volume level and frequencies change in perspective. Low end takes and requires wattage so the more wattage, the lower end is more powerful and pronounced, at lower volumes using far less wattage is being generated to push the low end. That's all I can think of regarding the issue if I am understanding it correctly. (That is the very reason I hate low wattage amps, they have tired to market younger players that wattage is loudness when in fact wattage is needed for headroom, clarity and most important LOW end. The rule of physics is for every doubling of watts there is only a +3db increase in loudness potential. ) Biggest "female dog" on the Helix, is the copy of monophonic tracking octaves and pitch shifters, "glitchmasters", as I call them. There are so many relatively lower priced octave units using polyphonic tracking like the EHX TuningFork, tc Sub N Up, all the tuner pedals that detune fret steps, all polyphonic tuners like tc now under $100. For the love of whatever, if you are going to copy a Whammy pedal why would you copy the early models with the bad buffer and monophonic glitchout tracking?? The new Whammy V is true bypass and polyphonic tracking and the dual unit has the new drop tuning circuit as well! Stop the copy mimic of cheese low end effects using the state of the art modeling technology and give us some polyphonic tracking effects, who cares if they are a copy mimic of anything, just that they work!

The Helix Reverbs are all from the HD POD and a reason why not up to the potential and top shelf of the Helix, yet. If the POD can do it seems the Helix would be the same as they are the POD reverbs. If the full mix is not 100& wet I am at a loss until they HX the Reverb section.

Has anyone discovered any of these to be useful? Of the many I gone through the trouble of downloading and loading up not a one survived my initial attempts at using. Notions of editing them to work for me usually just has me taking one of my own as a Template and making one myself. Many of them were just so terrible one wonders if it was not a joke. I do believe the two chaps that sell presets know what they are doing wondering if they have put anything in the public Custom Tone area. I gave up even looking in there, thought of loading some of mine but I use external pedals and adding more routing things in mine that are only good for my rig.

FYI: L6 has informed me that the delays are indeed HX component modeled but the reverbs are pass downs from the HD POD. It is really hard for most players who have been ingrained using guitar amps for ages to get used to using a good modeler but it can and does work really well. I am sure there will be those who can never make the leap of change about like they cannot escape vintage nostalgia. Unless L6 performs a major HX redo of the effects I just may convert to using the Helix just for the amps and routing and farm out to quality pedals. Hate to build them back up again from the expense and what the Helix costs but I do dig the hell out of Strymon, Eventide, SA Nemesis, so forth. I cannot see the Helix ever really getting to that level as there is just so much adieu about the copy and mimic of vintage stuff which I never really liked when I had it. I am that way with amp models as well, I could care less about the name and copy of various amps just want what sounds good. Several of my fav tube amp models are on the GSP1101 that are not copies of any amps just optimized killer glass tube amp tones. They kill any Fender type thing to be sure. I get the hame brand thing, but really like my Tech21 PSA 1.1 I used for years was really an optimized preamp not really made to copy anything but could manifest amazing tone structures no particular amp couid do. I miss that puppy a lot. I guess what I am saying is, are we doomed to the past by the mere aspect of "modeling" which indicates we have to copy something or do we? I appreciate L6's efforts to create their own amp models and I wish they would expand on that even more.