Kilrahi

It all kind of depends on budget. If you're just starting out, my favorite is the Line 6 Powercab. A cheaper but solid option is the Headrush models that just came out. If you want to get more crazy, check out the thread below:

Well, the BEST way ... according to my always right opinion, is to get a solid FRFR speaker and plug straight into it. Then you can design whatever chain you want and get it to come out as you designed it. For a traditional amp, if it has an FX loop, the best approach is the four cable method. Then you skip amps/cabs on the Stomp (because your traditional amp is filling that role and USUALLY doubling them up doesn't sound great) and effects you want before your amp work, as well as effects after. If you just plug straight in, some effects (often time effects) might not always work well.

I just have to say, in a way it's not really you a lot of my replies, and I think others, are really responding to. When you first posted, I was really worried you were like that guy or two in the thread I linked. In my opinion, their positions crossed over into shmuck territory. After hearing you out, I don't have any problem with your experience. If you'd tried IRs and still been like, "Cool, thanks for your help guys, Helix just isn't for me. Gonna check something else out." I would have nothing but respect. In the end, sounds like with IRs Helix totally works. Great! You clearly have a lot you can contribute if you stick around the group too, so I enjoy reading about your opinions and feedback.

When I got that either my cord was damaged, not inserting all the way, or the jack was damaged. Have you checked all of those?

Good IS always subjective. Take this. I hate Beethoven. Yeah. Nevertheless though, I'm wise enough to admit I'm the one full of lollipop on that issue. I think it's the same way today with modern modelers. I get if one isn't a person's style, but I don't get actually thinking they sound fake.

I think there's a 2.71. If you're not on the updated one it won't work. Try that first.

There is no way to do it without bending over with just the Stomp itself. If you want that functionality, the easiest way is to add a dual foot switch. You can then set it to move up one preset or down one preset in the global settings. My favorite way though is to have the dual switch swap through footswitch modes (stomp, snapshot, preset, and one other I can't remember the name of). Then you can move to preset mode with the switch, use the Stomp's main buttons to select your preset, and then hit the dual switch again to get back to snapshot or stomp mode.

Lots of 'em. I'll just leave you with this one though. Good luck. I'd be braver about swapping kidneys with my dog.

As far as I know, Line 6 uses a unique setup for their foot switches so it usually means cross compatibility is limited. Which, yes, is annoying. VERY. I'd double check to make sure you have the settings right for the toe switch, which should look like this: Global Settings > Preferences 1. EXP/FS Tip - Set to Expression pedal 1. 2. EXP/FS Ring - Set to FS5. Global Settings - Footswitches 1. FS4 Function - Set to "Exp. 1." 2. FS5 Function - Set to "ToglEXP[1/2]." If you have it setup like the above and, and if even after reversing the polarity it still doesn't work, then yes, I think you'll need the official pedal to do that.

No, it's not inferior at all. In fact, it's one of the Stomp's secret weapons. Have at it.

Agreed. I was betting it was after the 2.8, but BEFORE the 3.1. Those sneaky Line 6 bastards though. You never know.

The Stomp seems to sometimes choke on pedals that aren't the official one. As such, I don't know if any non official pedal can have the toe switch feature. For now, have you tried reversing the polarity of the pedal in the settings? That's helped a bunch of users with third party pedals.

Well . . . you kind of already said it. After that it's just kind of variations on a theme. You could put the looper after the Stomp to save blocks on those rare times kids aren't an issue (I have 5 kids - so I get those times are rare), put the Prince of Tone and OCD in another separate loop or after the Stomp - go pure Stomp (this is what I have found I do easily 90% of the time because I just don't need the existing pedals I have for most of my projects) . . . The possibilities are pretty dang near endless. I love my Stomp, glad you're digging yours.

Since this post is turning into a black hole of all things update, I might as well ask: 1. Any news on when 3.0 is going to be released? 2. What do we think it will have?

One of the advantages a full on Helix has over the HX Stomp is the VDI Input, which allows for more Variax Control. Now, the Firehawk 1500 has a VDI input that allows for a significant amount of Variax control (though still not quite Helix level), but if you buy an HX Stomp, there's a good chance you'll spend more of your time controlling everything with the Stomp, rather than the Firehawk, which means it becomes more difficult to retain that Variax benefit on the Firehawk. In comes the Midi Controller. Because the Stomp will pass on midi messages, it is entirely possible to connect your Midi Controller to the HX Stomp, and then the HX Stomp's midi out to the Firehawk's midi in. From there, you can create presets on your Firehawk that Line up with your HX Stomp's presets. In my case, I largely created neutral presets in the Firehawk (no amp/cab, no effects unless desired) with the Stomp doing most of the heavy lifting, but the Variax settings (guitar type, tuning) are saved to each Firehawk preset. Then, as you change presets on the Stomp it does a matching preset change on the Firehawk, and viola, the Variax changes with it! In fact, you can even take it one step further. If you need more effects than the Stomp provides for some sets, the preset on the Firehawk can provide this extra oomph. Granted this takes time because you'll need to do a fair amount of programming, but once the process is done once it's not too hard to do it over and over again quickly. Here's the general framework I did, and it is a powerful rig once done: 1. Variax into VDI input of Firehawk 1500. 2. HX Stomp placed in effects loop of Firehawk 1500 (1500 FX send to HX Stomp main ins, main Stomp outs to 1500's FX ins). 3. Midi cable from HX Stomp midi out to 1500's midi in. 4. Midi cable from midi controller to HX Stomp midi in. 5. Make sure all FX blocks in every Firehawk preset are turned on and saved to the Firehawk 1500 (not to the app or the cloud). You don't want to switch a preset and have your Stomp go quiet. 6. I prefer to have the mix on the Firehawk set to 100%, but it's up to you. 7. Make sure all Firehawk 1500 presets perfectly line up with your HX Stomp presets so they're 1 to 1. There you go. It's a simple setup that can allow you, with the press of a button, to change tunings, guitar styles, etc. on the fly. You can also turn on and off effects depending on how you program it. Pro Tip: This setup can work very well to save DSP usage on your Stomp. In other words, whenever possible forgo the use of EQs in the Stomp and instead use the Firehawk's EQ. If you are like me and find you use the legacy reverbs the most in the Stomp, instead rely on the solid reverbs of the Firehawk. Lean on the Stomp for the heavy lifting elements (Distortion/Compressor/Amps/Cabs/IRs/Modulations/Delays/Wah/Filters/Complex Reverbs).

I didn't see this earlier but I was looking up some midi stuff myself and ran into it. My apologies if you have already moved on. In terms of midi, as far as I know you can either send program changes (PC) or continuous controller changes (CC). I've never seen both at the same time. What this means is, switching, preset or amp channel changes are usually program, and the on/offs of delays, reverb, etc., are usually CC. The Stomp could switch presets, and have your amp switch channels, at the same time. It could also activate effects and have your amp have effects do so at the same time. And it's fast! To do a preset/channel change AND a effect on/off would require at least two stomps. In regards to the Boss ES8, I think that's an impressive device, but I actually think the Morningstar MC6 would be quite a bit more useful. Midi control is a pretty nice function, particularly with the Stomp. Edit: I know the Morningstar MC6 can send up to 16 messages per Stomp, so if it can mix and match PC and CC messages then yes, you'd be set.

Everybody's different. I initially resisted snapshots because I worried it was complicated, and I was kind of set in my ways. However, with the Stomp's minimal buttons, there was a natural desire to try to see how to do more with less. Once I did that . . . ummm . . . I don't know how a person could NOT be impressed with them. I mean holy lollipop what else out there offers so many control possibilities? Line 6's octopus analogy is spot on. Doesn't mean you have to like them or use them . . . but my hell the possibilities are insane.

Yeah, it was cancelled. Sorry man.

What do you want FS1 and FS4 to do instead?

Excellent points. I drank up a ton of his vids when I first bought the HX Stomp, and loved his interview on the day of the Stomp's debut. Very helpful stuff. Still catch it pretty regularly.

If you have the global preferences AND the global foot switches exactly as described above then I believe it should work. I can try to test it again myself tonight, but you might want to open a support ticket with a gig coming. Another possibility, are you using a TRS cable? If you use a standard TS cable then only one of the footswitches will work.

That is a very good reminder, thank you for pointing that out. I'd still like a blinking box though. Just sounds cool.

Yeah it wasn't really how I'd make an AC30 sound either, which I think illustrates a larger point about these kinds of debates too. Often when people debate modelers, they kind of act as if there is some uniform agreement on how a real amp should sound, but there really isn't. Real amps are tweakable too, and we do tweak them considerably. That's why if a person plugs in a Helix and on the default settings of the AC30 isn't satisfied with it, that's completely meaningless. It's like plugging into your buddy's AC30 and being shocked that it isn't how you prefer it. Nothing defaults to our personal preferences until we make it so.

I happened to stumble across this video today. I wasn't even looking for this kind of thing because I've seen numerous like it before, but it was one of the best ones I'd seen, and since we'd just spent several days arguing with people about this I thought I'd share it. You can test yourself against it before you see the big reveal, but if you want to see it it's at 22 minutes. I did this test myself because the Vox 30 is one of my all time fave amps. Just a side notes, I failed the test. I definitely can't make any tone sniffing claims to fame. I fully believe that you could do this test again and have a different winner chosen, because fact is as I and others have said throughout this whole post, there are TONS of high quality choices now.