Kilrahi

2 hours ago, Cubbyguy said:

I think I know the answer but I just don't like it.   I've created several presets and like the flexibilty of this device.  However, I hate that there always has to be 1 footswitch always active.  I understand you can bypass the device by pushing the upper and lower knobs together, but that bypassed signal sounds significantly LOUDER than 1 of the footswitches toggled on with no effects... unless I crank the volume knob.

 

I was hoping I could be in stomp mode with my 3 presets (1a, 1b, 1c) and use this like every other pedal on the market, including Line 6, where stomping 1a will turn that preset on and off.  So for now, I'm making all of my "c" banks clean with no effects.  It's a pain and a waste of available preset banks this way since I'm using 2 out of every 3. 

 

Are there any suggestions?

 

Cubbyguy

I'd also like to weigh in that I"m confused as hell as to what your concern is. 

Doesn't mean it isn't legit, just maybe we need it explained again? 

On 9/12/2019 at 1:48 AM, Duessenberg said:

Question 1: Turn off the FX-Tweak-Parameter Assignment

There are factory presets on the firehawk where there is an FX-Tweak-Paramter assigned (e.g. Ambient Delay => Assigned to Mix-Parameter). How can I turn off the assignment without assigning another parameter? Hence,  I do not want to reassign another parameter,  I want to delete the current assignment.

BTW: I'm not talking about the assignment of the pedal, but about the FX-Tweak-parameter Assignment itself

I don't think you can delete them. You can only reassign them. 

13 hours ago, tappistrt said:

My thought for an advantage of the HX Effects is that having the second loop would allow me to place either of the pedals inside the Helix chain vs. sticking them in the FX loop output on the way to amp’s effect loop.

 

Are the rack units really coming down in price that much on the used market?

The HX Stomp has two FX loops as well, but you are correct in that because the HX Effects has more blocks it's less of a blow to use two FX blocks. 

Again, to me it comes down to amp modelling. If you know you don't want it, HX Effects every time. Me, I couldn't live without it, so the HX Effects never tempted me for even 5 seconds. 

Well, it did tempt me to buy in ADDITION to my HX Stomp - but then I'd be beating myself up wondering why I didn't just buy a bloody LT. 

4 hours ago, glebb said:

 

What expression pedal do you use? I think that's a great advice, and I'm probably gonna go for it, just need to find a suitable pedal.

This is the one. It's pricey, but it's built like a tank, and the toe switch option is nice.

10 minutes ago, rd2rk said:

 

If you really can't decide, get an LT or a Floor or, heck, get a Rack and Controller, they're givin' em away!

Sadly if that were true, I'd have one. 

That's kind of an impossible question (i.e. is six blocks enough). 

It really depends on who you are. For me, yeah .... most of the time.

Personally, I think the Stomp is a better deal than the Effects unless the following two are true for you:

1. IF you are certain you'll NEVER want amp emulations, then get the HX Effects.

2. If a midi controller is important, and you don't need amp emulations, go effects.

On 9/22/2019 at 7:42 AM, firehawkkwah said:

Do you find better sounds using the Firehawk FX cabinet and speaker emulations running into the powercab set flat? (Or even Firehawk with cab and speakers, and the PC ALSO running a speaker model?!)

Personally, no. I think it sounds best with the Powercab's cabinet emulations, or if you have the Powercab with IR options, that. Still, the Firehawk's amps and cabs are solid and so it's worth experimenting with those. If you do that, set the Powercab to flat. 

I do not think it will ever sound anything but muddy if you layer a Firehawk cab on top of a Powercab cab, but hell, stranger things have worked. 

On 9/22/2019 at 7:42 AM, firehawkkwah said:

Also, for either recording or live, do you run the output of Firehawk (with cabinet and speaker models) to DAW/FOH? Or do you run Firehawk into power cab (see question 1) and then the output from the PC to the DAW/FOH?

Again, it kind of depends which route you chose to go. If you make use of the Powercab's cabinet emulations then it's better to go from the Powercab to the DAW/FOH.

However, if you decide to experiment with the Firehawk's amp/cabs with the Powercab in flat mode, then I'd say it's better to go from the Firehawk to the FOH/DAW. 

On 9/20/2019 at 9:16 PM, frankencat said:

I get that but how do you assign one path to get controlled bye the volume and other one not?

There are several ways to get there, but they revolve around the same idea. Most of the blocks in the Stomp have a level parameter, and then of course there are level parameters on the output section of choice too. From boost blocks, to a gain block, to level adjusts within blocks or output blocks, there are lots of choices. My favorite way to do it is through snapshots, but you can tie a FS function to level, or tie an expression pedal to it. 

7 hours ago, tforest said:

I would love to get a Stomp, however Im unclear how I can obtain a similar set up where I can change between banks without bending down in a live setting.

 

Im also toying with a Gigboard. I like it that it has 4 foot switches. The touch screen menu driven interface seems to be more intuitive then the Stomp.  Im not sure how it allows you to move between banks either though.

 

Your help is appreciated. Thanks  

I don't own a Gigboard, so it's pretty hard for me to comment on that. I did own the Pod HD 500x, and when I decided to go from that to either the Stomp or the Gigboard I reviewed both as best I could. 

In the end, I went with the Stomp because I personally feel that it has far better routing capabilities, and I like the sound more. Particularly coming from the 500x, while it is not a 1 to 1 setup in UI, it the HX line was an evolution of those ideas in the 500 to the next level, so I think it's easier for a Line 6 user to adapt to it. The big advantage of the Gigboard is it's just as powerful as its older brother. The Stomp is often compared to a baby Helix, and there's a lot of truth to that. It's six block limit is quite a bit less than the 32 conceivable blocks on its older brother. Despite those differences, for me, I've never doubted the decision. 

Looking back at the Stomp, while you can switch presets with just the main device, I would strongly advise anyone who gets the Stomp to drop another $20 on a dual foot switch or go all out for the $130 expression pedal with the toe switch (that's what I do). This is because it grants you two extra buttons which can do a lot for ease of use with the Stomp without ever bending down. In my setup, I have the dual expression pedal. I use expression pedal 1 as my control for all volume bocks, wah, etc. Then the toe switch is set to cycle through Stomp modes (preset mode, snapshot mode, stomp mode, etc.). 

This setup gives me a lot of versatility without ever bending over. 

1 hour ago, Higgie said:

Care to share with the class?

The below video is pretty informative. Connect it, and then go into the HX Stomp's global settings and designate that you want FS4 to be FS4, and not an expression pedal, and then designate that FS4 has the tuner function. 

6 hours ago, buji said:

I figured it out, I think, at least what I need for my specific use case. The A and B path and switching thing still confuses me but I'll read more and learn more. 

 

What I ended up doing: all block on B path, Split A/B, B100, and the merge 0% A path, and I was able to map the polarity variable to a FS with HX edit. Since I'm not messing with a bunch of effects for banjo, this worked great. Maybe there's a more economical way to do it without a split and B path, but I'm good (for now). 

 

Then I discovered that the FS's are capacitive and you can assign multiple triggers to ach FS, and cycle through them by touching, but it has to be touched by something else capacitive. How do you cycle FS modes without using bare feet or bending over to touch them? I'm off to find out. 

In global settings you can set them to be push button instead of capacitive.

7 minutes ago, Beamboom said:

Thank you so much for the reply, Kilrahi!

Since you ask, and since I am so new to the Helix, I do of course now become unsure and I will check again at first convenience, but I do feel that I did inspect the tools in that directory (filters) particularly carefully, since that's where a lopass filter should logically be found.

I'll have a look again, thanks.

Also, I've seen 3rd party amp packs, but no pedals? Else I could seek on that market too.

 

The third party "amp packs" are just existing amps, with specialized IRs, meant to emulate other amps. They don't actual give you a new amp choice.  All of the amps and effects in the HX line are proprietary and only come through Line 6. The only real 3rd party options are IRs. 

Also, to check out the "Asheville Pattrn", make sure you are using the latest firmware, as that was only just released with 2.8(1). 

Interesting. Yeah, if you're using HX Edit then you should see it all there. 

They are identical though. So if it was present there the only other option would be if they removed it from all of them.  

Are you sure you're using the exact same one he is? He's using the bright model. Are you using the normal one that is just above it? 

5 hours ago, Beamboom said:

Hi all!

As a new Helix owner I am in the process of trying to set up a board that to an as great extent as possible can reflect my set of physical pedals. At least in the same ballpark.

I realize some of the more exotic ones, like the Digitech Dirty Robot, is just plain unrealistic to recreate. But I've stumbled across one that I thought would be pretty straightforward: The Moog MF Drive. In essence it's just a lopass filter controllable via an expression pedal (and a drive on top but never mind that part, that's well covered). 
 

I have searched everywhere after a filter where the cutoff frequency is controlled with the expression pedal, but for one I've not really fond any plain lopass filters, and under "filters" I find only automated ones. A wah sounds very different even though the principle is similar. The lopass filter goes much deeper than a regular wah and sounds different.

Is there a trick/setting to make the automated filters manually controlled instead? Or are there other ways to create an effect of a traditional classic plain filter that is found on all synths (for example)?
 

I don't typically use filters, so for all I know this is the most asinine suggestion I could offer. 

However, while there is not a pedal that is a 1 to 1 copy of the Moog MF Drive pedal, they do offer the Asheville Pattrn which is based on the Moog Moogerfooger Murf Filter. Doesn't that one allow for some manual control?  Maybe you've already looked at it and it doesn't, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't since the original allowed for a great degree of control.

They're identical.

I don't have the HX Stomp with me so I can't check, but are you pressing the "page over" button to see ALL of the amp settings?  Most of the amps have quite a few more options than what you're mentioning above. You ought to be able to see cab settings too by paging over. 

Unlike the HX Stomp, I don't believe the HX Effects allows for this type of control. You can only use those for expression pedals or to change the channels of an amp. 

Your best bet would be to buy a small midi controller (like the DMC Micro for $130). 

You can double check my assumptions here, but I think I'm right on this one: https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a3d3f4a5a6a1897ecdf6/application/pdf/HX Effects 2.50 Owners Manual - English .pdf

11 hours ago, Hard333 said:

Hi, I'd like to know why on the HX Stomp, nobody talks or upload demos about the wha wha, I haven't been able to get a good wha sound.

 

I think you're thinking too narrow. The Stomp has the identical wha wha sounds as the Helix. The only difference is that the Helix has been around a lot longer, and so there are more videos about it. If you search for "wha wha" and "Helix" in youtube you get quite a few hits. Below is one of my fave demos. Now, I'm not much of a wha guy, but honestly, it always felt . . . IMO and to me . . . easy, so I'm not sure what the issues you're hitting are, but they should be in some of these videos:

Quote

 

Also, about the looper which according to my experience is not functional at all. If somebody can help I'm thinking you guys in advance.

Define nonfunctional? It's useful for what it is . . . a very simple looper. I would never recommend a hard core looper fan intend to use the Helix or Stomp's looper as their primary source. It would be useful for people who only need small loops on occasion, or for practicing a bit at home. 

The biggest problem is it's a one button looper, and so for a lot of us (myself included) it's easy to mess up with one button. With some practice it gets okay, but I would recommend getting a small midi controller like the DMC micro if you plan on using the looper in a live setting.  Plus, the controller is useful for numerous other scenarios too. 

There are tons of iterations of the Helix line that would be very valuable to some people, myself included. For example, if I could have grabbed a Stomp that was only slightly larger, but had a Variax input, for $750 I would have been all over that beastie. 

My personal opinion, though, is that with the Helix, LT, Rack, Effects, and now the Stomp, that they'd be crazy to iterate too much more on that product line, other than perhaps refresh the hardware itself. 

Who knows though. I don't work there. 

13 minutes ago, moehuh said:

 

I mainly use the Stomp as a dual amp setup with 2 amp models and separate IRs. That's 4 out of 6 blocks always on (or turned off when using real amps). The 2 remaining blocks would actually be sufficient if I could swap presets during a song.

Another interesting usage would be two or three different amp models for your clean, rhythm and lead sound (think of Eric Johnson). Currently you cannot use that potential (unless you have multiple units).

 

It's less about what the Stomp / Helix cannot do, it's more about sounds and pedals I love and I'm not interested in replacing (e.g. the POG has really good tracking with chords, fuzz pedals are always a bit different and if you like one just keep it, a real photocell vibe is hard to copy, Chase Bliss builds crazy analog stuff, Strymon has exceptional delay and reverb units, etc.). I think there are many guitarists out there, who feel the same way and are not willing to "give up" their favorite pedals for a big floor unit. The Stomp offers a great entry point into the digital simulation world.

 

I grew tired of carrying around heavy amps and the Stomp offers a great solution for that, but it could do so much more. I wouldn't mind spending more $ on a double DSP unit with perfect spill-over!

I certainly agree it could be MORE powerful - and cost more too. That wouldn't even necessarily be a bad thing. I might even buy it. 

I just have a hard time interpreting it as extremely limiting compared to what it's designed to compete up against (traditional pedals). It's great you'd rather use other fuzz pedals and I do that sometimes too (as well as sometimes other compressors, reverbs, etc.), but the Stomp is far more versatile than any fuzz pedal I know of . . . I'd call a pedal like that extremely limiting before I throw that label at the Stomp.

I can't think of another pedal options expansive as the Stomp. Just because I can think of more it could do doesn't make it an extremely limited pedal. 

3 hours ago, moehuh said:

Does anyone know if they are working on this and if it's even possible to have a spill-over?

Having to work with 6 blocks and 3 snapshots per preset is extremely limiting, while a smooth preset change would offer near endless possibilities (escpecially with a MIDI controller). Without this, I feel like the Stomp will never live up to its large potential...

Extremely limiting compared to what? You revealed you use a regular pedalboard, what do your other pedals do that it can't?

26 minutes ago, Wondo100 said:

Thanks. I still have a lot to learn with this. So, I could use one path and have everything in Stereo without creating a second path and this path would go to both amps?

Yes, you should be able to do it with one path. That doesn't mean you might not want to do dual paths, there are advantages there, but when you're just starting out I say keep it simple. The key is to make sure you use a stereo, and not a mono, FX send/return block. 

By the way, Line 6 created the below video on the 4 cable method a few years ago. It's a nice summary of how it works. It's still useful for your goal of the 7 cable method because the connects are still done EXACTLY the same. You simply use two FX/ Send/Return ports and two 1/4 outs instead of one, and a stereo FX send/return block instead of a mono. 

16 minutes ago, buji said:

 

Should I be concerned at all from a warranty / performance perspective running the stomp on a shared power config like that? (assuming I can find the plug converters that came with my 1spot or get another). I too, hate the included power supply.  What was the thought on that configuration?

 

If a problem resulted in the Stomp that was a direct result of the power supply, then yes, it could void the warranty. 

Now, to be clear, I use the Truetone CS12, so I've decided to take the risk and I'm glad I did so far, but yes, it is still something to think about. 

The HX Stomp does not have the necessary L6 Link in order for you to control the Powercab Plus remotely.  You could use Midi as an option, in which case you would need to connect a standard 5 pin midi cable into the PowerCab's midi in, and of course, have a midi controller.  The Stomp can send midi messages, so you could create a program that is passed from the midi controller, into the Stomp, and then from there into the Powercab so that as you cycle through presets it changes the settings on your Powercab.

As for what to use to connect your HX Stomp to the Powercab for the guitar signal, your easiest solution, and the one I would recommend, is to just connect a 1/4 TS cable (i.e. a standard guitar cable) from the HX Stomp's "Output - L/Mono" out to the Powercab's "Input 1."

Describing the cabling in a 7cm is a bit of a hairball, but it's largely just doubling up the four cable method approach. 

One thing I would suggest is downloading the HX Effects manual and looking at page 9. It's not a Helix, but the method is largely the same. It is a good place to get started. 

https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a3d3f4a5a6a1897ecdf6/application/pdf/HX Effects 2.50 Owners Manual - English .pdf

Getting stereo effects in this approach is easy. If at least your last block is a stereo block in your chain then it will send left and right stereo signals, left channel to one amp, right to the other. 

The signal chain isn't too bad either. It would essentially look like:

[Pre amp effects] + [Left/right send and return block] +

Anytime you turn off the send and return block then it will bypass your amp's preamp. So the setting would be to insert the pre amp block in your Helix chain that you want to use, and set it so that by pressing a switch it turns off the FX block and turns on the pre amp block. 

That, IMO, is the easiest way. 

They've crashed before. I doubt it's permanent.