SteveFrance

Your powercab is badly adjusted. You can/should have exactly the same level between the XLR and the L6 link. The method would be this one : - Helix out on multi - Volume knob on the position you have the habit to use. - link the Hx and the PC+ with L6 link - Play a preset and remember the dB level - Plug all in the XLR/Jack input and go in the main menu (house icon) on the Input 1/2 gain, decrease the value to obtain the same (low) volume as the L6 link (you can setup the input 2 lower if you want to play at home for example) - Select each model/FRFR speaker while turning the LED knob, press it and increase all the dB parameters. You can do so with a same preset (except for the FRFR) to have the same volume between speaker models (I know i have many dB of difference between the jarvis and the greenback). Increase it and play to see if the light don't blink in red. If that's the case decrease a little to prevent it. Play with the Helix/PC+ volume knob to obtain what you want following the conditions.... Enjoy !!!

I agree with you !!!!

The mic simulation for the inside model speakers are only active when you wire your PC+ to the FOH. All the speaker models are said to provide a typical guitar cab (jensen, greenback,etc....). The LF Solo is a flat speaker that works exactly like other active PA (but without the high frequencies). So, you can disabled your cab in the chain, it works, you can like it (you can do so with every kind of active speaker too) but i don't think it was the idea of the concept....(you don't have mic sim as it's the case for every one other configuration if you do so, rather strange, does it mean that the mic sim is unecessary ? ).

For me, it has an incidence..... I know the mic setups would only affect the XLR out but, like for high/low cut it's not the case.... Don't go too far for the high cut ! If you don't hear changing, no matter but for me it was an improvement. Check the dB level too.

I thought that the mic parameters has only an incidence between the PC+ and the FOH too but i've seen a note on a post on TGP and after a try, i was estonished but, it's true, it changes the rendering.... I recommand you to use the PC+ tilt back because, even it can be harsh at first, the PC+ is very directional and i feel you hear all the subtleties in the sound, just do your settings in this position to move towards the sound you're looking for and prevent from this harshness (and once more, this position reveals the sound that wil be out from the FOH). Tweak the volume level per speaker too .....

I'm not an expert and my answer is the result of a thought of a global logical chain. I wanna mean that a traditionnal emulation chain is composed of : Disto/comp/FX (sim) + Amp (sim) + FX (sim) + cab (sim) (it implies mic'ed emulation) --> FOH So, IMHO, the difference is that the natural speaker means that you have this chain on Helix : Disto/comp/FX (sim) + Amp (sim) + FX (sim) ; The cab sim is the natural one and when you plug your PC+ to the FOH the mic'ed sim is done by the PC+. On the other hand, i'd say that the LF raw is no more no less than an amputated FRFR, it would be called a HRFR (half range flat response). Indeed, if you only play electric guitar, you don't need high frequencies.....It means that you have to add an amp sim in the Helix chain and all the elements will be present to go the FOH..... This is the explanation i've found to distinguish those two "speakers"

I can understand your first impression. I wasn't neither blown away by the PC+ at first. But i haven't renounced, and tried many things. I agree with you that L6 could commercialized this device with the implement of the L6 link function. It arrives soon....And i had some fear at fisrt to use midi because i have never used it before but it's pretty easy even if we have to pass by the command center. It'll be easier with the same blocks ergonomics to command the sim changing with the 2.8 update, of course.... I had a DBR10 FRFR speaker before but i was missing the "amp in the room" feeling that this RIG couldn't bring me. I've had always this feeling of being far from my stuff when i was playing at home. Now, i only use the inside cab sims and it's really another world....I really think i'm closed to a real amp. I use it tilting back, because it can be harsh, at first, but it's what the public will hear if you do a gig. Among the things that improve my sound, there are all the parameters per cab sim i've worked on. The dB level per speaker emulation has to be increased. And, even if it wouldn't have any incidence on the sound, Try to change the Highcut/lowcut, the type of micro, its distance and you'll hear a difference on the rendering....

The non-plus powercab hasn't got the AES/EBU link, it only provides the XLR input/output. ;)

It only proves that he's not open-minded and he lives with his old prejudices..... He can be a good guitarist but to become a "star", it's something else.... It's not because you are the best technical one.... I think he's good at reproducing stuffs and as you say he is playing in a lot of bands so, he hasn't got his own band with his own sound.... He surely has got the best RIG to sound like..... I was talking about those prejudices on a french topic two days ago and said that for the price it was really courageous for a neophyte to go out from a music store with a modeling rig. All the guitar stores over there don't sell Helix. They sell very good guitars/tube amps/analog pedals and they really know that kind of equipment but they really don't know how to use modelers.....And they explain that there's nothing better and blablabla..... The only time i've been able to try the Helix in good conditions was in a sound system store rather than in an instrument store.... To respond to the first point, I've bought a powercab + to go with the Helix and i really think that i reach that amp feeling.

I think it'll depend on how you gonna use the Helix. If you use it for recording, all will be connected so it'll be as easy to use the two methods.... Personally, i've used the hardware for 90% of my settings. The rare cases i haven't done so were because i had to change all my presets and remove all the cab sim from combos because i've bought the Powercab and use the inside model speakers. This was a really plus to work on Helix Edit 'cause i've noticed that when you pass from one combo model to a simple amp model it doesn't change the setups you've done before. The other way i used the computer software, was when i plugged my variax and had to tweak the parameters.... So these are really specific stuffs. I think it can be a plus to work on HX Edit if you do a repetitive task too...

I'm not a studio guy and use a lot the snapshots. At rehearsal and gigs, i've got some presets that i only use the stomp mode to activate or not some blocks. But i've got a lot of presets i use on snapshots mode. I've seen some poeple configuring the pedal to tweak some parameters (gain increase and volume decrease) I have many presets in which there's an amp in the intro and i change for another one for the solo, etc... I really find snapshot awesome, you change your amp, you add your delay, modulation, reverb, comp just on one click. I'd liked to know how you do so with expression pedals (i laugh when i see the other guitarist in the band clapping and and switching everywhere !) I even find the snapshot mode more precise in some cases. we've got a song on wich i begin alone. I've done an intro (snapshot 1) with the volume at 80% and SNap2 ; vol 100%. I find it easier than trying to find the precise volume position to start the song when i'm alone with the voice.....

Does your band use a FOH (i think so....) ? The simplier would to go direct into the mixer from your Helix Rack. This is the way i used it. I had a Yamaha DBR10 at home to tweak my sounds and at rehearsals and gigs, i just had to come with a guitar and the Helix.... The main problem was that we have Berhingers speakers and there was a sound difference between what i've worked on at home and what i heared with the band (there's the room volume and the other instruments too...). THe best way, would be to choose the same model.... I don't think the 15" is a good choice only for a guitar (it'll be heavier too), except that, you'll find a huge choice of models that will correspond to your needs between 150€ and 400€....

I had the opposite at first. The input 1/2 was less loud then the L6 link. Have you changed the dB level in each speaker model ? I've wasted a little time to find a good compromise in volume..... my setups are : - On helix, the volume knob position between 12 and 2 o'clock (don't push the ouput too much because risk of clipping on the PC+, it happened to me...) - Input 1 (0 dB) , input 2 less (-10 dB) to play in my desk - Speakers model : by default, they were too low (-18dB), i've tweaked them between -11dB to -9dB following the speaker (The jarvis needs more dB) - Turn the PC+'s volume knob as you need.....

Hello, What a big dive in the modeling world !!! I've done the switch more slowly during the last two years. I've got a variax (that i use less), a fender, the Helix and a powercab 112+. Before the PC+, i had a Yamaha DBR10 as active speaker but wasn't entirely satisfied with that mic'd feeling.... The Powercab is closer to the "amp in the room" i was searching.... In fact, it can take time to move towards to what you are looking for. I only use the speakers modeling in the PC+ 'cause i think this is really the main add of this device and prefer this sound. At first, i thought i just had to suppress all the cabs modeling in the helix and it'll be ok. That wasn't the case....The sound wasn't the same, i had to tweak some of my preset. But at the end, it's easier to obtain a good sound (presets are less complex). To respond to some points (not in the same order) : - get help through this forum :- : Of course yes, the community is there for that !!!! You'll find precious advices, like i did (elsewhere too (TGP)) - try a tube combo amp instead of the powercab : really not the thing to do IMHO, you'll lost the flexibility of the modeling with the tube's render (and you gonna go back increasing the weight ;) ) - lower my expectations : i think this is not exactly the way you have to express that (it would state Helix/powercab is a low end rig). I felt something like that but i would say, i miss something else, i'm unsatisfied yet.... Actually, i have a fender cybertwin and when i've compared the two rigs, i felt that the sound was much better on the fender (at home). It fills more the room ! I've improved my results with the Powercab (see next point below) but i always feel that the fender is better (to my ears). Now, i explain that because the cab design is not the same. The fender is an open back with two speakers, the PC+ is a 1*12 closed back cabinet, it changes everything on the render in a room..... Last time i went to a retailer. There were customers trying an Orange tube amp into an Orange closed cabinet (modeling i like on the Helix too (you should try the greenback speaker modeling, it works geat)). They played loud, of course, i thought it works great, but i've never thought ; wow, i have to sell everything and buy that tube rig, there's nothing better. It was the opposite : i see that the closed back has a real impact on my feeling....And even prefered my Orange Helix preset..... - to keep tweaking till it's right (it must be me) : The things that have improved my sound : the PC+ is very directive, the sound is projected straight. So, tilt it back on its legs to have the "real" sound you gonna work on. Increase all the db parameters on the PC+ (imput 1/2 if you use these ones), and in the model speakers parameters too. Change the mic/position/highcut(10000/12000Hz not lower)/lowcut settings (60-110Hz), it wouldn't have an incidence on the sound because it would act only on the XLR output but it has a real impact and changes everything !!!! good luck and good work ! :)

I've never had the stagesource but i've used an active speaker with my Helix before (Yamaha DBR10). I wasn't satisfied at home with the feeling of mic'd amp.... The Powercab familly brings you closer to the "amp in the room" feeling. Nevertheless, some are not bothered with the speaker sound....Hard to tell what to prefer...

Yes, it's cool, the volume knob has no incidence on the line level output. At gigs, you can turn it as you want to hear you less or more and there's no impact on the sound guy's settings for the FOH.

Hi, I just want to pick up on this post to add some note. I've got a lot of presets wherein i've only got one kind of speaker model, so i've programmed my preset with a midi message just with the instant one. Everything works fine in those cases. Nevertheless, i've noticed tardily (cause i use my PC+ tilt back), that the model was not the one i was waiting for in presets i have many midi orders. I've gone back on your post to see how to configure that. Following your screen print, i've done the same. So for example, i've got a preset with three snapshots. An intro with a fender twin, a chorus with a marshall and a solo with a boosted marshall. So i wanted to have a Jensen® P12Q on snapshot 1 and the Celestion® Greenback 25 model for the following. Then, i was on SNAP1 and go on each lightning to program all those three phases. When i call the preset, i've discovered that on the SNAP1, the model jumps directly to the Greenback..... It took me time to understand that, in this configuration, when i switch on the preset, all the orders are send on the channel so, all the instants are read at the same time and it stops at the last one once the line is entirely read.... In fact, if you wanna have a changing per snapshot, to be correct, you have to go on Snapshot 1, go in the command center, on the instant one and select the model you want. You don't need to close the command center window (on the device itself, don't know with HX Edit), switch to Snapshot 2, select the instant ONE and choose the model. Same thing for the third one.... Now everything is OK and works as expected.

It only depends on how you use the plus today. I've programmed the midi on many presets to change the model speaker (i've got only one plus). With the futur helix's firmware update, we'll be able to put aside the midi cable and with L6 link to link both PC+ together (and command each model speaker). If you only use the FRFR mode, go on using XLR right/left modeler outputs (a "simple" PC will be enough)

It was my answer (not a question nor an allusion), i've looked at it on the web ;) You should buy it

When i see the specs (db and power), i assume it'll be allright !

Ho yes, i've read that but i've never met the problem.....

I don't understand all. You talk about L6 link and right/left channel..... You don't have to plug XLR output into L6 link input... If you use L6 link, you have to go from your helix L6 link output (the red one) to the first PC+, then the same output from this fisrt PC+ to the second one. The other method is to plug with XLR : XLR left/mono to the input (XLR 1 or 2 following your setups) of one PC+ and the right helix's XLR to the other PC+ (XLR 1 or 2)....

Congratulations and welcome !

How do you use your Firehawk ? Do you plug it into an electric guitar amp ? If yes, it won't work I've done that with this rig and the result is bad. With a clear amp, it can work for electric guitar modeling but not for acoustic. The reason is that the range of frequencies are not the same between an acoustic and an electric guitar. You need a (active) FRFR speaker to obtain the sounds you search...

I've got a powercab so i use the midi section to change my speaker modeling per preset or snapshot. What you tell is really strange, if you change preset without sending a midi order, nothing would happened....This is the case with the PC+, i stay on the same speaker.... Have you saved your preset after removing midi message in command center ? I don't understand why you have the same problem in an empty preset...