PaulTBaker

Thanks all for the input! That helps.

Thanks for letting us know. That is really cool. Wouldn't it be great to wake up in the morning and know the main thing you had to do that day was something music related! Very nice.

First off, let me say this may have all been in my head. I use the helix floor connected to (using l6link) PC212+ with a PC 112+ stacked on top and connected to the PC212 with l6link. This is my main setup at home. When I play live, I take both cabinets or just one depending on the size of the stage and how much time I will have to setup/tear down. The PC settings are global, Flat, and LF Raw. I have loved this sound!!!! I played out a few weeks ago and just took the PC212. sounded great on stage. brought it home, hooked everything back up and it just sounded horrible. I can't put my finger on it (so it was probably in my head) but it just sounded limp. I tried other guitars, other presets, tweaking presets, etc. it still was lifeless. So I looked at the PC settings in the preset. I changed it from flat, to speaker and it came alive and got louder. Going back and forth between speaker and flat several times and eventually the PC112+ seemed to lose all gain with flat selected. I even had the volume knob on the PC maxed out and still there was very little sound. So I did what most people do next. I turned everything off. I then turned it on, set it back to flat and everything was back to being wonderful. Everything had been turned on and off several times since the sound went bad, so the reboot alone was not the fix. It must have been jiggling the PC settings and the Reboot that fixed it. Has anyone else had issues like this before? Thanks.

Hey. I'm not a music major and don't read music. I have been playing guitar for 50 some years :). My question is about what settings to use on the Twin Harmony if I want to mimic some of the Allman Bros. harmonies..... not sure if that is possible. For example, Memory of Elizabeth Reed. What settings would you use? Thanks for the help!

I agree about the cover band and different amp thing... and I appreciate skill (yes skill) to totally mimic a song! However, personally, I much rather see/hear a band give their version of a song rather than a jukebox rendition of it. I realize I am probably in minority, but that is just me. So using the one (or just a few) amps that lets you create YOUR signature sound is great! and it is interesting how that sound interprets the song.....

snapshots are great and easy, however, you can also use the stomp button to change amp assignments. One button can change multiple settings on a block or multiple blocks. I have one setting the changes the delay time, mix, and the reverb settings. It is a little wonky doing it this way (snapshots are easier), but it can be done. I normally have my amps settings tied to a button so I can have clean/dirty settings on the amp with stomp button. I use this with snapshots. My snapshots usually set delay and reverb settings, then in stomp mode I can get clean or dirty or crunch or coffee ( :) ) ... also agree about SMALL turns with the foot pedal key... took me awhile to get it right.

well.. guess I should read before I post. sorry, I see this is the hx effects section! sorry, good luck!

Sorry if I missed it but what unit are you using? The Helix Floor, XL, Stomp, Stomp XL? When you say it only has 4 snapshots, it sounds like you have it set to show 4 presets and 4 snapshots... or something like that, because if you have the floor or the xl, then you do have 8 snapshots..... and, sorry if I misread something.....but check your settings.

I think you will like the PC+112... I love mine... There is only one output for the PC+112. I'm not sure if that is a stereo out or not??? One thing you might try is using the headphones out of the Stomp to your studio speakers. that should be a stereo out. I've never done that, but maybe worth a try if nothing else works.

Depending on which cab I use, I get the same thing (or what could be called that). I have found that cutting the highs to between 4 to 8k gets rid of that noise. you can do that either on the cab itself (which has a slower dropoff curve) or by adding an eq at the end of the chain (steeper cut off).

what settings are you guys using for the Solo LD? Especially for the Gain, Master, Channel Volume. I have been going back and forth on high gain/vs low master and vice versa. I understand the difference between Gain (preamp distortion, smoother) and Master(poweramp distortion, more beef). I am using the master between 4 and 6 or 7 and the gain between .5 to 4 or 5. I have not had a chance to play loud (with a band) using these presets, so I'm curious if the lower master will cut through (I know eq matters, but not talking about that here). So, please post what you are using if you don't mind sharing. Thanks. or point me somewhere where this is already posted. thanks.

ok, lots of things: 1. I have never used the digital Output level, (didn't really know or think about it). What I use is on the Output block of the preset under the PowerCab tab. I have it set to global and adjust the level there for all presets. 2. most of my presets are set to hit a meter at -14 to 11-db so I don't believe the noise floor comes into play. 3. when playing, I don't really watch the PC lights unless something sounds off, so I don't really worry about green vs yellow... i will do something if it stays in the red. bumping the red every now and then has not caused much of a problem for me.

Except in his case, I believe it is about the Powercab because they say the light should be amber to get the best tone. I have the powercab and use the preset powercab settings to give it a boost. I have the PC settings so it is global and that works just fine for me. Most of my presets are close level wise so this works for me.... of course, your mileage may vary :)

I like the lessons learned approach of this thread.... First, let me say there really is no WRONG way to do things IF you like what you are getting. That said, there are a few things from the OP that I wanted to point out. And please forgive me if you know this already, not intending to throw shade on anything, just trying to help because a lot of you guys helped me! 1. Big volume knob: you are definitely correct that you need to give it more signal. I monitor my sound using powercabs through the l6link so I have the knob set to digital. this was a trick I read that really helped. It sends a constant full signal to the 1/4 and xlr outs, so if you use one of those to go to FOH, the sound guy is getting a strong signal that really doesn't vary (except for changes between presets, if some are really loud or soft). You can also set this to control the 1/4 or xlr depending on what you send to FOH. So you have a strong signal to FOH and you can use the knob to control your monitor level. 2. Gain staging (setting the output level of each block in your presets): Again, you are correct that you can easily cause digital clipping when over using the output of the individual blocks. Not only does more output from the blocks change the sound, (overdriving the blocks down the line) but it quickly causes digital clipping. I found that I only up some blocks like chorus or mod effects because they seem to get quieter when i turn them on. and I never add more than 2-3db. 3. EQ at the end of the chain: I do that as well. I use it to cut the lows (around 90 to 100) and the highs (4.5 - 8). this has helped me with the fizz (high cuts) and the flubbyness(low cuts). I've recently found that changing the mic, adding distance (2 to 3.5inch) also helps with the flubbyness (too much base mud when dirty). It's interesting that you cut everything from 500h down by 7db. I would think that that would kill to much of the guitar sound, but I will try it., maybe that will also help the flubbyness. on some amps, turning the master down will also help with the flubby problem. 4. Guitar/pup and amp/speaker/ir type: yes, very much! I play a tele and a les paul and found I have to make changes to the presets for each. I'm playing around with the best way to handle my setlists... do I separate the setlists by guitar (then I have to bend down to change set lists when I change guitars) or mix them all together (then I have more button mashing :))... oh the horror :) The different amps/speakers/ir's also (of course) make a difference. I have not messed with IR's cause I'm happy with the cabs... or I should say cab. the only cab I have found that sounds "natural" (?) is the ampeg 1x15. I use it on every preset. I have tried all of the cab's but they all have a digital, metal (not metal music, but metal) sound to me. But I am very happy with 1x15 for all amps. (now that I'm writing this, that is probably another reason for the flub) 5. Preset leveling: I found that for me, always using the channel volume to level between presets is the best. It is the only (that and a gain block at the end of the chain, or upping the output block in the preset) that does not change the tone. They say the Gain changes the preamp distortion and the Master changes the power amp distortion. It took me some time to play with that to see what that really means. it was time well worth it. the nice sweet preamp distortion at low levels get lost with a band. the master gives it more body and a smoother breakup at louder volumes. 6. Volume when creating/tweaking/leveling presets: this makes a huge difference. Thanks to you guys, I've learned about the Fletcher Munson principle where basically the bass and highs get much louder when the volume goes up. this means that a preset that may sound middie with not much bass or highs, could be perfect at live playing levels. So it is best, if possible to use playing level volumes when tweaking. That is not always possible, but if you do it for one preset, you can the sort of judge your other presets at lower levels to sound like the one you know sounds good later. I believe eventually your ear will adapt and this will not be that much of a problem. There are some people that have created an eq block that boosts the highs and lows to a point and they use that when creating presets at lower levels. then they turn it off or delete it playing live. 7. Tweaking/Reading/Experimenting: You guys have been great in helping me learn. Just keep tweaking and learning, oh yeah, and don't forget to play sometime as well!

Thanks Elvy! I will setup the slow ping and see how it goes.

I wonder if this problem is the reason my sound has been different lately. In one configuration of our band, I play a duo with the singer/guitar player. We play through the Bose (l1?). My presets are setup as stereo, though nothing flashy. I go from the 1/4 mono to the bose tonematch 1/4 mixer. The last few recordings (recorded using zoom recorder placed directly in front of the bose speaks), my guitar seems very dry. I wonder if this is happening to me. I have duplicated the presets and swapped the mono L2 comp for the stereo version. I have not played through the bose yet, so I'm not sure if that will make a difference or not. When playing at home and with the rest of the band, I use the Powercabs connected through the l6link for my monitor, so I would not hear any difference anyway. Am I correct is saying that your solution is to plug into the right 1/4, then unplug and plug into the left 1/4 and it should be summing? Do I have to cycle the power inbetween these plug and unplugs? Thanks for your help, and sorry you have been going through this for so long.

Thanks for the topic. It is very interesting reading everyone's background. I'm am old guy too and come from the "tone is in the fingers" group. At least I wish I was that good :). I started playing when I was 8 or 9. there was a small acoustic that had the E and A string. My sister says I drove her crazy playing smoke on the water on that little thing all the time. I graduated to a cheap TeleStar guitar with a little amp. Along that time, my uncle also gave me an ovation acoustic. That is what I used mostly. I had a few lessons at the Y, but not many. Mostly I learned from song books and playing with records. Neil Young was a big influence on me... then Santana. I can see the benefits of having a teacher show you the intricacies of playing techniques. I never had that, so I'm sure my playing now suffers some. I was very fortunate. On my 15th birthday, my mother bought me a Stratocaster (74). I still have it today (I usually don't trade guitars, I even still have the ovation). I have always kept the strat by the couch, even today. I would always play while watching tv, etc. What I learned, I learned from playing with the records and with books. I was in bands during high school and college. There was a time I wasn't playing that much, then the Bean came out and that got me back to playing... alot more. It began my journey towards tweaking and really listening and learning about sounds, and even how technique can affect the sounds. I went from the bean to the xt to the HD500x and now to the helix. I'll spend hours most every night playing, tweaking, researching stuff. You guys have been a great help in learning details about the effects I never knew. Getting to your question, it is an interesting one. I believe like the other poster, there are many ways to get to the same end, and all of them are ok if that's what suits you. In my case, I believe the technology helped me improve my playing as far as technique goes, because it made me more aware of it (or the lack of it). Since I believe most of the tone is in the fingers (technique), I believe chasing tones now are helping my playing. So, in my case, tech has helped me be a better player.

oh, and btw, during all of this I realized that all I really need is a way to boost my signal when in snapshot mode. It would be great if the command center would let you replace a snapshot with a stomp.... or some other way of just adding 3db when I want it.

this is confusing and well timed, as I just started playing with the command center. However, I'm using the floor, so there may be differences, but probably not many. I also have clean, crunch, and lead snapshots. This may be different than what you were thinking, but what if you set it up so that you could press one button and switch through the three snapshots? I recently did that and it frees up the other buttons for stomps or whatever. check out this post, he calls it stackable snapshots. He does a great job of explaining this and how to do it. snapshot 1 - button 1 : press = snapshot 2(Crunch), release = none snapshot 2 - button 1 = snapshot 3(Lead), release = none snapshot 3 - button 1 = snapshot 1(Clean), release = none this creates the circular reference that lets you cycle through your snapshots. I originally did this, however I changed to just cycle through Crunch and Lead snapshots on button 1. On button 3, I have the button assigned to the drive and volume controls of my amp. one click takes it to clean and clicking again beefs it up. this works best for me. I know this isn't quite what you were asking, but I hope it helps.... the video helped me greatly! Good luck and be sure to let us know how this ends! (or at least the next step, since helix tweaking never ends! :) )

I have the helix floor, so I don't know if this works with the pod go, but I assign the output block to a button and boost the gain by 3db. some do it more, this works for me. If the pod go doesn't have an output block, you could do what we used to do with the HD500x. Add an eq block at the end and just boost main output level, nothing else. Of course some people like to boost the mids as well to have it stand out more.

You may try leveling at -12 instead of 0. Mine are around -9 at the hottest and that is a little hot. I think they say that -12db is the digital equal to 0db. Apologies if that is wrong, but I believe it is close. Most things I've read people shot for -18 to -12db for level setting. Just something to try. I was going to say eq boost, but you are already doing that.

Thank you. I believe this also helps. He's calling it "stackable snapshots"....

Hey, Helix floor user with PC112+ and PC212+ stacked, connected using L6link. My presets are setup like a regular pedal board. I have effects, drives, delays, etc tied to stomp buttons in stomp mode and use the snapshot mode to change reverb, delay levels, combine some drives, and turn on or off certain effects (e.g. Rotary, etc.). I am in 10 stomp mode. My main presets are setup the same except with different amps. So each preset can do just about everything I want, clean to dirty to spacey just depending on which guitar or how much dirt I need. I just started playing with the command center. I found that in snapshot mode, I had a clean and dirty snapshots, but sometimes needed a boost for the lead. So in command center, I assign a button for clean and a button for dirty snapshots in the stomp mode. I already had a boost button in stomp mode. This works fine. So, for my question. Is it possible to have one button go between the clean and dirty snapshot. For example, I click it once and it goes to clean. the next time I click it, it goes to dirty snapshot. Is that possible. It seems like you can set it up to go to one snapshot "on press" and then another on "release"... however you have to keep it pressed down to stay in that snapshot. I also think you can make it go to a different preset, so I guess I could clone two presets and have one in clean and one in dirty, but that would jump to a preset and there would be a pause in sound. Another interesting thing I found was I had button 7 set in stomp mode to change the drive and the volume of the amp. I also had a snapshot for button 7. When I used command center to assign snapshot 7 to button 7, it's like it added the snapshot to the button. It showed "multiple (3)" on button 7 scribble strip. I could also press button 7 and switch between the stomp settings (amp values) and the snapshot. Has anyone else seen this behavior? Sorry for the long post, however thanks for your responses!

to Coda.. , yes I agree the first time you do it, it is probably easier to make the changes manually.... it's the second, third, fourth, etc. that makes the code work better. Especially if there was an interface where you picked the the preset and it did what you wanted... but that is even more development time.... :)

ok. So I believe I understand. you would like to be able to move to a different setlist using foot pedals. That is a very good thought. I would like to do that as well! However, it's not possible (unless somebody could figure it out with the control center or midi?). I changed what I'm putting in my set list because you can't change setlist without bending down :).... Down is not bad, getting back up is my problem :) For example, some of my presets (I call them patches) are the same, but have small tweaks based on my Les Paul or my Tele. I originally had a Les Paul set list and a tele set list. But I sometimes change guitars in the middle of a set, and I was having to lean over to change to that set list. did not work well.