loydall

Just for clarity - my idea was Guitar > Helix In > Overdrive block(s) > Helix Loop out to tube amp input > FX loop out on amp back to Helix > Power amp block (I know they don't exist but something acting as a poweramp block eg neutral amp block) > Ambient effect blocks > Cab block (only on right channel) > left channel back to amp fx loop in and right channel off to front of house... something like that. Sounds like a bit of a faff to be honest.

Fair enough - I guess I could actually try this easily enough by running a preamp block into an amp block (which does sound like a strange idea) but that would give a similar set up I guess. Basically I'm trying to justify buying a new tube amp but still use my helix going direct to FOH which I really like as it's so easy and reliable to set up.

I'm not talking about running the power-stage out of my tube amp into the Helix of course - I just wondered if anyone had tried running FX loop out from a tube amp into the Helix and then running through an amp block with everything on the block set as neutral/clean as possible (in terms of gain and EQ) but made use of the amp block power stage things like sag etc to enhance the preamp signal coming from the tube amp?

Hello - I'm sure this has been asked many times before but I'm specifically interested in the fact that, if I run my tube preamp stage into the Helix and then on to a cab sim and out to FOH/PA, that preamp stage isn't actually going through anything that emulates a powerstage before it goes to the cab block. Are there ways to use a Helix amp block sos that it just acts as a powerstage to give my tube preamp signal the power-stage feel/boost?

Hi - back in the Helix game after a few years out. Couldn't resits the Stomp XL. At the moment I'm using the stomp into my Vox AC30 so not using the amps/cabs. Previously when I was using going straight to frfr/PA I would set the global EQ to cut a little high end off to remove any harshness but I haven't done that going into my amp as it seems to me any overdrive pedal block I use in the stomp should have a "normal" overdrive output and, because I'm going into a real, physical amp and cab, I shouldn't need to touch the global EQ. But - it seems the the stomp still adds more high end than is in the original signal (analog through VS digital through with no blocks) so I still need to add a little high cut on the global EQ to get the output similar to real overdrives or just with the stomp bypassed in analog through. It's not really an issue as once I take a bit of high end off on global EQ I'm pretty much where I started but it seems the stomp does add something else. I have played around with impedance as well by the way, I know it can be set auto to the first (active) block but if I'm looking for accurate sound through the stomp with less impact on the original sound I find lowering the impedance a touch and also rolling off some high end on the global eq gets me there. Anyone else have experience with this? Cheers.

Thanks - yes, checked all of the above and Input Z isn't set to auto. It's odd, it can actually change switching between preset (volume ok), analog bypass (volume ok) and then back to preset where the volume drops. Like - the process of switching between preset and analog bypass somehow changes the volume of the preset.

Hi - I'm getting weird inconsistencies when switching analog bypass on and off. I can have a preset (even with all blocks turned off) which seems to be outputting at an ok volume, I switch to analog bypass and then come out of bypass, back to the patch and the volume can drop considerably. There doesn't seem to be any consistency to this behaviour either. I've also noticed that I can have presets I created that seem to be a bit quiet. I go to create a new, empty preset and the volume straight out of that is higher than the already-created preset. Even when I disable all the blocks and the In-Z is the same. Any idea why this might happen? Thanks

Yeah - certainly the attenuator option is the way to go long term but short term this is my fix. I actually compared mic-ing up my cab and going straight to PA vs taking the preamp signal through an IR and going to the PA. The mic signal was much brighter so I found an eq block before the IR worked wonders (I tried loads of IRs and none were as bright as the actual mic-ed amp). Neither were a bad sound, just quite different.

Thanks. That's got it sorted. Independent volume control (or rather consistent volume on the signal going to PA). That's great. Another question I have is that I'm using 4CM so the preamp signal of my real amp is coming back into the HXStomp, maybe a bit of reverb and then back out to the FX Return/Powerstage of the amp. That part of it is great. When I split the signal off to go to the PA I'm effectively taking the preamp signal splitting it, running that through an IR and then out to a PA. But, that means the signal never goes though a Power Amp stage. (Well, it does, it goes through a PA power amp but not a guitar amp power stage). The difference is like comparing the helix preamps to the helix amps. The amps always sounds a bit brighter/fuller than just the preamps because they model the power stage as well. Is there anything I could do to emulate just a power-amp stage for that preamp signal coming from my amp? I guess an EQ before the IR would do something similar.

Thanks - yes, I think I was heading in that direction. Only slight issue is that I am using the Left FX channel as part of my 4CM. I would (I think) need an additional Right FX block send later in the chain to do what you're saying (which does make sense). That means I need a cable splitter on the FX Send from the Stomp. I do have one but only a very short one. By "Stick a direct box" on the FX send, do you mean a DI Box? I think I have a crappy old one somewhere which I could stick on my board and then run an XLR cable from there.

Hi - I'm using my HX Stomp in the FX Loop of a non master volume amp head. I use the main volume on the helix to act as a volume control for the amp itself (otherwise the amp just runs at full volume). This is fine and it allows me control for bedroom/home use and then gig levels. But - I also want to send a signal from the HX Stomp straight to PA (with an IR Patch on it as well) but I don't want the main volume on the HX Stomp to effect that level. If I'm playing a gig I might want to turn up the volume on the HX Stomp a bit just to get a bit more from my amp but I wouldn't want it to impact the level going to the PA/Mixing desk. Is this possible? Cheers

That's exactly what I'm talking about. That's brilliant. Surprised you can't just buy something like that.

Yeah - that's why I said it would be 3 cables.

Just a thought but.... one of the things I really dislike about 4CM is all those cables. They look messy, get tangled and are a pain to deal with. Is there such a thing as a cable that contains (it would actually be 3 because 1 of the 4 is the guitar cable itself) a bunch of 1/4 inch ended cables separated enough at the ends to connect to input/fx loop etc... ? They would need to be colour coded each end (obviously) but effectively a cable with 3 cables inside it. Obviously you could just tape 3 cables together but that's scruffy. Just a thought...

Update on my search for the best (for me) amp model to run drives into... I've really got into the Matchstick Ch1. Just as a clean(ish) platform it sounds incredible and, for my tastes, takes pedals better than other amp models I've tried. I'm running my helix into a Pedal Baby and it's probably the best sound I've had from any amp I've owned (and I've owned a few valve amps in my time). Can't believe I've skipped right past the Matchstick Ch1 all this time and not bothered playing with it. Running a Teemah! set very low gain but just boosting things a touch sounds incredible. Then I run my Lightspeed and Protein in the fx loop. For now, this is perfect for me.

I think there are 2 approaches . Either run your amps at the edge of breakup and then drive them further with overdrives enhancing the amp's own overdriven characteristics with those of the pedal. Or - you run your amp very clean and you get the pure sound of the pedal overdrive on its own. Both are valid and I'm not saying one is better than the other. There's definitely a difference between the 2.

For some reason I'd always skipped past the helix WhoWatt but after you mentioned it I gave it a go and absolutely love it. Too many good options with the Helix. I think I need to force myself to sit down every weekend with a different amp block and treat it like I just went out and spent £££ on it (as in, give it plenty of time and attention). Just as a clean amp it's got a really great feel to it and does take pedals really well. Thanks for the suggestion.

In terms of cabs I'm running the HX Stomp into a power amp and then into 2 1x12 orange amps. So no cab patches. Thanks for your input.

Hi - I have a couple of overdrive pedals I'll be running into my hx stomp. Any recommendations for an amp block that would act as a good clean platform for overdrives? Cheers

Well - the power stage 700 is probably more than powerful enough for my needs. I'd be looking to hook it up to 2 1x12's. I like running amps/preamps in my helix into the fx return of amps I've had to the point that I rarely use the real amp's preamp stage. I'm looking for stuff that's easy to carry (I have a bad hip) so anything that could sit on my pedalboard would be great but I'm not against a small unit/head that could sit on one of the 1x12s.

Hi, do any of you have recommendations for a stereo power amp I can run my hx stomp through? The only one I've found that looks suitable is the Powerstage 700. I was thinking of running 2 separate pedalboard power amps for stereo but I think 1 single uint would be easier. Any suggestions? Cheers.

Thanks but that's not the issue. The issue is simply having 2 amps attached to the helix. If we forget about the FX loop for a moment and just take a simple setup with the main output L/R of the helix running into 2 amps (one being FRFR). As soon as one of my amps is turned on (the terror stamp) it introduces a pulsing/flutter into the signal. Some sort of ground/interference issue I would guess.

Update on this one, there's definitely some sort of electric interference going on. I thought I might get hum attaching 2 amps but the fluttering sound was really unexpected. I just tried it again but without the FX loop so - guitar > HX Stomp > Left main out to terror stamp, Right main out to FRFR and I get the same thing. But - I noticed that even when I switch the FRFR off I still get that issue so there's something going on with the electric circuit. Is there anything I can do about this?

Hi - I run my HX stomp in 4CM into an orange terror stamp. My aim is to get a second amp (maybe another terror stamp) and run that in 4CM as well, splitting the output of the FX Send and then running 2 chains through stereo effects out to the 2 amps giving me potential for stereo setup and wet/dry set up. I haven't yet purchased the second amp but I thought, just out of interest, I'd try hooking the Right output of the Stomp directly to a FRFR speaker I have, just to get an idea of stereo sound etc. But - when I attached the speaker to the right output of the HX Stomp it just created a fluttering sort of sound in both the terror stamp/cab and also the FRFR. At first I thought it might be the FRFR as there was no guitar sound at all coming out of it, just the fluttering sound so I tried another FRFR and got the same issue. After a bit of messing around I found that if I switched the terror stamp off the FRFR stopped fluttering and the sound of the guitar came through nice and clear. This wasn't just a slight hum but a proper pulsing created by adding the FRFR to the right output of the HX Stomp. Now I'm concerned this issue will be the same if I buy a second amp. Is it a realistic expectation to be able to run 2 amps out of HX Stomp both in 4CM? I would have thought it was given there is a right/left fx loop and output from the Stomp. Any thoughts what the fluttering was? Like I say, there was no guitar sound from the FRFR (right output) when the terror stamp was turned on, just the fluttering sound. But, when I turned off the terror stamp, the fluttering stopped and the FRFR produced the guitar sound, nice and clear.

I know it's been discussed to death many times over but I've tried FRFR many times/systems and it just doesn't sit with me. Maybe at home it's ok but at practice/live you can't beat your own cabinet. It's a totally different playing experience interacting with a real cabinet. Anyway - the helix amps/preamps sound great through the Terror Stamp.