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rwandering

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Everything posted by rwandering

  1. This is an element that confuses me about the capture offering. The ability to buy and trade captures seems a no-brainer. But the actual people who want to make captures seems like a very small set of people. I think 99% of buyers of gear want the stuff to (have the potential to) sound amazing and don't have the gear or interest to do captures.
  2. Yeah, it's a big maybe. A lot of times I hear "the personal item has to fit under the seat", and I don't think that backpack will. And if you've already taken a bunch of space out of the overhead for your guitar, they may be less amenable. I travel with a Traveler headless guitar and a small amp checked in my suitcase (and maybe an HX Stomp). There are no concerns about the guitar being checked. But then, I only do that for practice (and have done an open mic with it). It isn't what I'd really want to perform with.
  3. Sorry, I don't know why I thought you were talking about a Stomp . . . you should get the same result whichever out you are using, though consider that the XLR is balanced line out, and the others (I think) are unbalanced and switchable between instrument and line-out. I think the most important thing is that you have a physical -- analog -- volume dial. I say that b/c I used to have a MOTU Ultralight and would control my volume through its dial. But every once in a while it would decide on startup that volume was at maximum. I think my ears are still ringing from that. That's when I bought my monitor controller. That or an outboard mixer allows you to know -- with 100% certainty -- where the volume is before you play anything and nothing will change it on its own. Except maybe one of your pets.
  4. I imagine you could use one of the various HX Stomp inputs set to line-in and then route that through clean. But I think you would be much better off putting a monitor controller in front of your monitors. The HX Stomp won't improve anything in that signal chain, and may result in an extra thing to mess with to get the sound you want out of your Mac. I have a PreSonus Monitor Station v2. It has several inputs, setup like this: "ST1": Main outs from my interface (USB to my DAW) "ST2": A CUE (aux bus) from my interface that mixes live inputs and DAW output "AUX/analog": RCA cables from an external USB DAC from my other desktop computer. "AUX/SPDIF": S/PDIF routed through my interface's mixer from my Helix's main outs. For your use case, you would go HX Stomp in (perhaps as "ST1"), and then computer output (headphone jack) into the RCA inputs or 1/8" jack (as "Aux"). There are other -- simpler -- monitor controllers though.
  5. I use the Midi Baby 3 for additional switches on my HX Stomp. MIDI Baby 3 — Disaster Area Designs
  6. You can change the output to send everywhere (the default) to only send to a specific output. I think that would do what you want. But I solved a similar power switching problem by mounting a power strip to my cab stand; and in another case by having two different rack-mounted power conditioners, one dedicated to my powered monitors, the other to the rack gear. That is, a power strip might be the easiest solution.
  7. I have a different version of this: I record from analog outputs on my LT into my audio interface; I generally play through a PowerCab (PC). Assuming I'm using the PC's cabinet simulation, the situation is similar. The difference being that you have outboard amp/cab, and I have just the outboard cab. But basically, the answer is either: 1) create different paths, one of which includes an amp/cab (for recording) and the other that does not (for playing through your amp); or, 2) don't try to do this. I generally go with the latter: I have presets for playing, and presets for recording. If I want a similar sound, I work on that, noting that I will tend to be more particular about the way it records, and wouldn't want to limit the way it sounds live to most benefit the way it sounds recorded. Note I could also record off of my PC's out, though its "microphone on the speaker cab" modelling is well behind the Helix's current capabilities.
  8. I'm going to guess you found it by now -- but in case you haven't. Navigate here: https://line6.com/software/index.html Select the Powercab from the Choose Hardware dropdown. Select your OS Click "Go". Scroll down until you find it; it is there.
  9. I have never once had an issue with the Helix firmware updates; but then, I have always waited at least a few days before attempting it. That probably has more to do with my schedule than wisdom, to be honest, but it has worked out well for me.
  10. Yeah, what @datacommando said; but if you are only going to FOH, you don't need the Walrus at all: 1. Use a TRS cable to balanced XLR 2. Plug it into LEFT/Mono 3. Set the output on the HX Stomp to line out. That is what I do to connect my HX Stomp to my PowerCab (which can run as a PA of sorts).
  11. Sorry to be dense, but what is your goal in using this box? Getting a clean signal from your guitar into a recording console? Or sending your HX Stomp output to both a guitar amplifier and a PA? Regardless, you don't need a TRS cable, it doesn't look like the Canvas supports balanced 1/4" connections (and certainly not stereo).
  12. Not for me; and not really familiar with the competition in this space. I don't really get it though. Don't people think "I need a gain pedal" or "I need reverb". And then, flexibility in that need is great, but "I need a pedal that can only do one of those two things at a time" seems like a recipe for "no, I actually need that in two different pedals". I would understand this more if it cost $199 and came in varieties focused on a specific family. So you buy the gain one and the reverb one and put them on the same pedal board.
  13. I do like the idea that the Fender has physical EQ knobs . . .
  14. I use a PC 112+ almost exclusively and am pretty happy with it. I don't think it necessarily needs improvements, but there are bug(s) that rd2rk and others have been vocal about and it is beyond me why Line 6 hasn't addressed them. In terms of a "new and improved" future version, who knows? Due to the way Line 6 supports the PC, it can't be a money maker. I suspect they think of it as a useful or necessary piece of a complete modelling offering. I don't think it is going away, but -- barring bugs -- maybe they think it is good enough. I mean, most people are using guitar amps or a straight PA anyway. And with the latter case, does a "good" PA become dated? (that is not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer). And, is there even a big market for this niche?
  15. Edit: realized this was a "busking with a full helix" -- yikes. Yeah, you need a larger battery. I don't busk, but I did want something that was self powered. The drivers for the additional two pedals: 1) I wanted extra buttons (could have gotten an HX Stomp XL, but want to detach the stomp for travel) 2) wanted the tuner, because the HX Stomp tuner isn't good enough (while my Helix LT tuner is comparable to the StroboStomp HD, which I cannot fully rationalize). It all runs on CIOKS 4; and if I want I can plug the whole thing into a USB-C cable to the wall. edit: that's a Pedal Train Nano, and this lasts at least 5 hours on a full charge.
  16. If you need the room, then yeah, do what you say. But if you have room, I think it is helpful to have something that is clearly related to volume. For example, I sometimes use a volume block to change the volume between snapshots. The existence of the volume block reminds me that I have an adjustment at a glance. Not super important, but still helpful. From the perspective of a Helix (Floor/Rack/LT), there are many more available slots, so it is a bit easier to use my strategy universally.
  17. You seem to understand the issue completely, and it is most definitely an issue with the levels expected on your amp. Some amps do have a switch to select between line level and instrument level in their return loop, but I'm guessing yours does not. I think in your case you may be able to do this, though. Glancing at the Keeley, it looks like it supports external pedals to control it (hopefully for bypass). If that is the case, you may be able to: 1. Use both of the HX loops for your 4CM. 2. Put the Healy inline on your amp send or return. 3. Control its activation (through one of the Pedal jacks) from your preset. There are a lot of "maybes" in there, but if my assumption about the Keeley is right, I think it will work.
  18. Well yes, and for clarity (I hope), in 4CM you have this: 1. Guitar (cable 1). 2.(Potential for) effects before your physical amplifier's pre-amp. 3. The pre-amp of your physical amplifier (cable 2) 4. The send from your physical amplifier's effects loop (post pre-amp, before power amp) (cable 3) 5. (Potential for) effects before the physical amplifier's power amp. 5. The return to your physical amplifier's effects loop (cable 4). 6. Your physical amplifier's power-amp. So the amp's preamp is inside, but the power amp is not. So yes, you can do this, but you don't have a power amp on the XLR output. You may at least want to add a gain block before the cab or increase the volume on the output. And to be clear -- you can do a lot of things with the Helix and some might not seem "right", but may sound great! P.S. Hoping "may PRS" doesn't mean you may get a PRS.
  19. No, you can't have an amp on and off, but if I am understanding what the OP asks, it can be done. There are multiple ways, but what I think is the simplest: Dedicate Path 1 to your effects / and your send/return for 4CM. Path 1's output is Path 2 Path 2 splits into a/b 2a's output is your amplifier's return (note I think 2a needs some block, like a 100% volume at leaste). 2b has your selected amp (or amp/cab) and other effects you might want. It's output is XLR.
  20. I am definitely not having this problem.
  21. rwandering

    Changing amps

    I'm going through a similar issue where I have things sounding great in my home, but will likely have to use a different amp on a stage. And . . . I think that's just how it is. I don't think you can't expect that dialing in one amp means anything when you switch to another amp. If you intend to use that other amp, you'll have to spend the time making it sound good. Or bring your own amp in, which likely won't sound the same either due to room acoustics, but it may be a closer starting point.
  22. I don't have a Floor (or Rack) so I can't test this, but I'm not sure I would want to. The output of your mic-pre is line level, and shouldn't be put back into another mic-pre. Unless the Helix supports treating the XLR input as line-level, I would not think you would get good results. You *should* use a return (set to line level). For my own recording, I use my Helix LT into a mixer/interface, along with onboard/offboard mic pres. I find everything -- even reamping -- easier treating the Helix LT like an analog device. And the quality is great. BTW: my point about re-amping is that with analog inputs/outputs, unity is very easy to achieve versus when recording from USB where the Helix drops the volume level to create headroom.
  23. The answer is no, yes (if I interpret the question correctly), no, no, and yes. The Helix LT has more I/O, DSP, more blocks, more paths, more presets (storage), more snapshots per preset, but all of the same effects, amps, etc. A really helpful place to see the differences between them is in Line6's own comparison chart. Line_6_Processor_Comparison_Chart.pdf (line6.com) I have both (though I wish I had the floor, not the LT). The only reason that I have the HX Stomp is that it is more portable and can be battery operated. For example, I can bring it onstage for an Open Mic (easily). I can put it in a suitcase if travelling (noting I carry a travel guitar in those cases). I can bring it into a small practice room where the Helix LT may just seem to big.
  24. I have a Helix LT and am testing out a HX Stomp for portability. This isn't really specific to HX Stomp, and applies to Helix more broadly. I'm normally plugged into a Powercab 112+; sounds great. This is with the output being set to Line level. I went to an open mic last night with practically zero opportunity for sound check. Instead of a clean tone, it had a bit of distortion. The place is mostly an acoustic venue, and I don't think they were really familiar with amp modelers. But they are super cool, and we talked in advance about how to set it up. They had a Radial J48 on stage. I removed the J48 from the signal chain, going from the HX Stomp to the upstream cable (the female XLR that had been plugged into the J48). Again, still set at line-level. Now, I suspect that upstream from this (at the desk), they were really expecting an instrument level signal, not line-level. Would that be the cause? It seems obvious to me now, but I didn't have the chance to diagnose but I'd like to learn from it to avoid it in the future.
  25. I agree that you need a mixer to do it right, but a buffered split could work. You just want to make sure the device supports line-level (and pedals generally are expecting instrument-level).
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