welshboyohelix

Set your Master Volume Knob (from Global Settings) to something else other than the 1/4"" outs (I set it to USB as I never use it)

 

This will set the 1/4's to Unity Gain

Bug for 2.50

 

Ext Amp switching does not work in snapshots (i.e if you are switching amp channels within a snapshot)

 

Works OK if you manually select the assigned footswitch for the ext amp control but looks like snapshots are not observing the light status of the switch on a per snapshot basis.

Yep, I'd like to 2nd this - tried resetting the tip/rings designations from Command Center, no joy

I tend to use the gain block with snapshots controlling the amount of gain - set the amp sort of midway gain (so the gain "loss" has some sort of chance to make a difference!!) and then have that gain block adding or subtracting gain as I need.

 

I also tend to use the Kinky Boost with a very very low amount of gain on it after the gain block to keep the signal nice and full sounding.

So..

 

The whole EXP2/EXT AMP gig - is that something the full fat Helix will be able to do with a firmware upgrade or is it different hardware?

 

Or can it be retro-fitted??

Has the requirement to assign a button to snapshot changed for amp channel switching? Would be lovely to reclaim 2 of my 10 switches within a preset for other things and leave the snapshot itself sorry about the actual amp switching...

While this might be unpopular, how about lowering the overall stage volume and let the FOH carry the loud stuff? This way you can actually hear your sound on stage along with everyone else's.

 

Couldn't help thinking this as well - most of the venues we play at are now quite hot on volumes etc and we as a band have had to reign in the volumes quite a bit and leave FOH carry a lot - not easy with acoustic drums, but then we are lucky in that we have a drummer who understands and just doesn't sit there hitting things as hard as he can!!!

60w SS is not very loud compared to 85 watts of Twin (which is valve/tube powered)..

 

I run my Bogner Shiva as my on stage monitor in 4CM and then using a parallel path on the Helix I run an IR'd Shiva Preamp signal (the real one, not the one modelled in the Helix) from the XLR's straight to FOH.

 

As a live band you are always going to be competing with an acoustic drum kit and in my opinion 60 watts of Keyboard amp is never going to cut it, its just not enough.

Lol hey there, your cunning disguise didn't fool me!

 

I had always planned to add a Fryette Power Station to my rig. Mainly to attenuate my amp back into Helix for FOH. Also for an ever present back up and possible stereo shennanigans

 

However, after seeing what results can be achieved by simply running my preamp into an IR I'm not so sure. They have gotten considerably more expensive and I'm not sure what I will get in added benefit will be a worthy return for my money

 

However I do need a back up and not sure if there's anything more suitable and portable. Could probably get a really fun amp for that sort of money. V30 or something.

 

Ahh first world problems

 

Surely Helix into FOH is the backup? It is for me anyway.

 

I've done circa 20 gigs using the preamp to IR thing and I can't see me needing anything else

Hi JohnOG,

 

You can probably guess who I am and I also use that method mentioned on the "other" forum by Ross..

 

It works great and the FOH has a constant level from me for every gig - no messing about with mic placement, worrying about knocking said mic, bleed etc etc - it's been a total revelation for me and soundman!!!

 

I now have the freedom to control my own on stage volume for my personal monitoring through the master volume of my amp without affecting FOH - have to be careful obviously that my on stage isn't drowning the FOH but no complaints so far - in fact, the rest of the band have asked if I can turn up a bit on stage - win, win!!!!

 

It also means that I can still run the modelled preamps for the times when I don't want the "real" preamp for different tones (Vox sounds mainly).

 

This feature alone IMO sets the Helix apart from the Fr@ct@l units and just shows how much thought went into this product!!

Wait ten minutes. They'll yet again complain about how we don't listen.  ;)

 

Ten Minutes!! - that's wishful thinking Mr I... :P

OK,

 

Possible Bug here, but could also be my misunderstanding or indeed the way my Bogner behaves with Channel Switching from the EXT AMP socket.

 

So..

 

I have presets set up with snapshots - usual thing - Clean/Crunch/Dirty/Lead switching the amp channel respectively

 

In "Stomp Mode" I have access to all of the effects I have assigned to the buttons, also the furthest 2 right buttons are set to the Amp switching (Channel and Boost as per amp footswitch) and I sometimes use these to change amp channels within a snapshot.

 

All is good if I am just changing between scenes, however, if I am in a Snapshot and then change amp channel from within a snapshot and then change to a different snapshot ( i.e going from the Crunch Snapshot where I have been changing amp channels within that snapshot as well and then switch to the Lead snapshot) the amp or at least the amp channel will just default to the amp's clean channel (as if there is no footswitch plugged in) regardless of how I have the "lights" set for the amp channels within other snapshots.

 

Example is Hotel California - using the Crunch snapshot for the whole song switching the amp's O/D channel in and out for the various bits of the song and then at the end hitting the Lead snapshot for my lead sound - should come out with a meaty Lead sound but as I have been changing the state of the actual amp channels within the Crunch snapshot it just defaults back to clean sound (even though the snapshot is selecting the o/d and boost options on the amp)

 

Help!!

 

 

Did you set global settings headphone monitor to xlr? If set to All you will be adding in the 1/4" out with no cab sim.

 

Smashed it in 1 - thanks RRMark

OK,

 

I have set a few patches up where I am feeding a real amp in 4CM (Bogner Shiva) on one signal path (2A )(set to 1/4"") and then have a parallel line with an IR, EQ and reverb set up to XLR only (2B) where I plan to have the preamp of the Shiva feed this IR and go FOH (saves micing cabs up)

 

When I play around with this in the house using the phones jack into my Bose Soundlink (which actually gets me a really good sound which was interpreting well into big PA) it sounds very buzzy - much like running a o/d pedal into a desk - I've even attempted to EQ it out, even added an amp in to the line to as I figured I may also need a poweramp sim to iron out the preamp only fizz...

 

All attempts have failed unfortunately :mellow:

 

So, before I take this to the rehearsal rooms with the full band, am I not "listening" to the actual output of that 2B line through the phones or is there something I'm missing?

 

I'll take a pic of the patch so you can see what I'm doing.

 

Or is there an amp model on here that I can use purely as a poweramp so I can get rid of the fizziness??

Surely just use a different set list/preset list?

 

That's what I have - one for the FOH direct stuff and one for the 4CM stuff without amp sims.

Check higher up on this thread for answer.

 

Similar to question from Rocco_Crocco 23rd Sept, asks:

"Fremen, I searched this thread and others and can't seem to find the answer... how do you set your global EQ in Helix for live with a band applications?"

 

See subsequent replies.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, seen that - however, not sure where the Hi/Lo cuts are applied - Global, at cab/IR level, existing EQ blocks or in an additional EQ block at the end of path to address the cuts?

Quick Question for all of you who are you using this pack in a live direct situation - how are you addressing Lo/Hi cuts - Global? (Not Ideal) or by adding a block somewhere?

 

Or, do you really need to add anything..!!!!!

Minotaur by far is the most transparent IMO

Bought the Big Pack yesterday.

 

That's all I can say is THANKS!!

 

You have made my transistion from a real amp in 4CM to a Direct Solution a quick, easy and painless move - I have everything I need in the pack, a few tweaks to effects etc (which is what its all about yeah!!?) and thats it.

 

For the 1st time in 25+ years I will be gigging this weekend without a real amp behind me - we as a band have a rehearsal with full PA some time this week to finalise EQ tweaks etc but I'm there...and I couldn't have done it in such a short time frame without this pack.

I'm not talking clipping the daw input or outputwise. Internal clipping in the helix signal path is what i meant. Lowering the Level in helix internal signal chain helped with my own Patches, might help with others too.

 ^ This!!!

 

Internal Clipping is happening, I'm almost sure of it, thats what it sounds like to me...

Some form of metering - doesn't need to be on the main screen at all times, just somewhere in Global (possibly) to get a visual on incoming and outgoing levels to outputs.

There is something fundamentally odd about these issues.  Its been said many times in this and the TGP forum that when setting up amp and drive blocks you should simply check that the overall volume is the same as with the amp block bypassed (by the same I mean near enough - +/- 3dB.)  Once this is done its very unlikely that you would get anywhere close to clipping .   Adding  a drive that is permanently on means you might have to check that the volume remains the same with both on/off.  If the drive is adding gain to push the front of the amp then you reduce the channel volume.  If you add a drive , EQ or compressor  that is switched in for solo boost then its going to be between 6 and 10dB...still no way that will clip.  None of this needs a meter.

 

....and, if you have tube amp and half a dozen boutique pedals there are no meters!

 

If you have rhythm patches separate from solos then the rhythm patches should be quieter than the Lead (by which I mean that bypassing the amp is louder than when activated).Common sense!

 

Its possible to imagine having a drive stomp post the amp and adding +30dB of level....but why would you. :rolleyes:

 

and signal to noise is just not an issue as the helix has less noise than any tube amp in history....

 

Oh yeah...and people moaning about having no way to set levels between patches!   There is volume control on every block including the outputs...

 

Just dont understand what the problem is.

 

Comparing overloading an analogue signal (or tube) to overloading a digital signal is just wrong and perhaps its you that doesn't understand the problem...

 

In Analogue/Tube Amp world - an overload of signal will result in a clip or as we all know it - Overdrive/Distortion

 

In Digital world, it is purely an overload and a nasty one at that..

 

Signal to Noise -  whilst I agree is relevant in both disciplines, comparing a clean digital signal/path to an old tube amp signal/patch for noise is just wrong.

 

IMO, its important to have some of metering on a digital audio device other than your ears to just keep an eye on that signal (in and out) to make sure no overloading is happening.

Thanks guys for all of your advice.

 

The gain block and Pad ON seems to be the way that works for me.

 

I've also worked out (bit of a DUH moment) that I've been running my amp channel volumes a little high and with the addition of me running the loop as Line level I think I've probably been overloading things a bit.

 

Coming from FX8 that had visual meters it's a toughy using my ears again LOL

Leave PAD turned on, and when you want to effectively turn it off, turn on a gain block set to +6dB as the first in the chain. I'm not certain if 6dB is the amount pad takes away when turned on, but it's probably around that amount.

 cheers @duncann

 

Gain block being a drive? or is there another block you suggest?

OK,

 

Seem to having a little issue with the Guitar Pad and its effect on things..

 

I play a few different guitars, none of them are active (except the L3 which has a switchable 20db boost on it) - R7 LP, a 76 LP Custom, EBMM L3 and an old JV Strat.

 

Switched the Pad In at the weekend as I was getting a little digital "hair" on my clean tones using the R7 - now that guitar is known animal in the volume stakes - its one of those guitars that gives sound engineers nightmares as it can really punch out when I swap to it from one of the other guitars. 

 

Pad in, all good, nice clean tones returned..

 

Strapped on the Custom and all of my good sounding gain was gone - amp seemed lifeless (running 4CM into Shiva) and struggled all night to get a good tone. 

 

Custom + Pad OFF - good tones returned....

 

What do I do? or more importantly, is there anyone else struggling in a similar way and what do you do to get over it?

 

I am currently toying with leaving the Pad ON and running a Teemah! early in the signal chain to bring back the gainy sounds a bit - but its just an extra slot and some more DSP used up...

 

Don;t want to go down the pad OFF for Custom route as it means to much faffing around at gigs and usually "due to tunings etc" its a change over of guitars between songs - can't be spending a few moments extra going into global and turning ON/OFF...

 

Thoughts please.