Lone_Poor_Boy

Similar to wanting to test out running a bass into the Helix along with a guitar, totally separate, I want to test playing my harmonica through it as well in parallel to guitar. Instead of running the mic into a tube amp and then mic'ing into a PA I want to try Harp>Mic>Helix>PA. I like the idea of less gear while also having gain, reverb and delay available. Any tips? A good amp to try? EDIT: I'll be building off this preset of rd2rk's for having guitar left and another instrument right.

I have a JTV-69, Helix Floor and PC112+ and I've gotta say the Variax is the only weak link in the chain. I end up playing my main Strat unless I need to do an open tuning song. VDI sound is definitely digital while 1/4" out works well as a straight guitar (modeling off).

I would imagine part of it is to prevent accidentally killing your sound while in the middle of a song with a sloppy foot, for a function you rarely use, and typically only use in between songs. If it concerns you get a Boss TU-2 and leave it on all the time, with your guitar coming out the bypass port.

I assume you are coming out the Guitar 'Thru', correct, to the Helix? That shouldn't color the sound at all. That's how I run my Voicelive Harmony and my guitar sounds exactly as it does straight into the Helix. But as Dunedin noted you can come back to the Voicelive 2 from the Helix. EDIT: Note - if your Voicelive 2 acts like my Voicelive Harmony, then when you use the 'Thru' out it kills the guitar mix coming out the XLRs.

RD2RK, Thank you very much for the preset! I should have noted this would only be used to goof around with a bass player friend to try Helix FX. I got some ideas from a John Entwhistle video the other day. As you implied, I would not want to run a bass through this Fishman.

EDIT: this would only be used for goofing around with a bass player to try different FX. I plan to build my own but always like to see someone's framework first. I plan to setup for two people playing at the same time, totally separated, one electric guitar, one electric bass, both coming in 1/4" inputs. I'll likely be using both 1/4" and XLR outs for both instruments to feed amps (1/4") and PA (XLR). Related question: I planned to mainly power the bass by running Helix into a basic bass amp. Ampeg Rocket Bass B-100R, into the 1/4"; 0db or -15db. I was also going to split into the Fishman SA-330x PA w/sub. Would a bass sound ok through this PA, post Helix, since it has the sub? Would bass 'overwhelm' a PA of that type? Guitar will be split as I normally do: 60% Powercab 112+; 40% Fishman PA.

LMAO! Gotta go watch 'Spinal Tap' again!

LOL! Just noting your username is pretty funny!

Two? Why not four? 3D movies came back! When is Quadraphonic sound coming back?

Good luck! I'd love to hear how it does. Did you get it used? Seems out of stock in the US for the most part.

But exactly how it should be done, in the end. Experimenting, learning and tuning to your needs and gear.

I thought this thread from yesterday centered on the input pad had really great feedback throughout. Different approaches to skinning the cat.

I would think that would be normal practice. Touch sensitive for programming, off for live use.

Have you tried shutting other background apps off? Logitech apps, for example? I saw this; "I tried starting with all startup items disabled and tries disabling realtek process" but wanted to double-check. Because this sounds like a straight-up software conflict.

Years ago I bought longer stainless steel saddle screws from McMaster-Carr. You have to buy a box of 50 or 100 though but a box of 100 might only be $10 or less. https://www.mcmaster.com/ They have very specific cut sheets for most everything so click on a screw and hit 'Product Details'. For example; https://www.mcmaster.com/91772A266

I don't recall the install giving me a choice, but I could be wrong. Whether it did or not I know I decided to put all main installs on C: for HX Edit, Monkey, Workbench. This is from a guy who is pretty religious about keeping his OS drive clean (C:) and forcing everything to another drive. I also re-direct all my user folders to another drive. I do this to help keep C from becoming a mess but mainly because I am big into imaging my C: drive and this practice allows a bad install, driver, failure, virus etc. on C: to be easily wiped by re-imaging C: and being back up fully in 10 minutes because all main support files etc. were on other drives. All that gets lost is anything I installed since the last image. I did this with the HX Edit etc. installs because this PC is my main for Music, and I have run into problems with some installs that let you install to another drive, but things get funky because other programs looking for it, or even the program itself looks by default to C: and malfunctions because it can't find what it's looking for there. This is usually not with bigger name apps etc. but from more niche ones, which I consider Helix to be. Also, we want a lot of different things to collaborate with the Helix and this will give the best odds for things playing well together, in my opinion. Just passing along my thoughts on this, with two main points; 1) Imaging kicks butt for major headache reduction with computers 2) Some apps can glitch, or other apps looking for it, when not installed on C:, when we try to get clever, because the coding isn't quite as clever. Edit: I was curious why I saw 'lollipop' on this site and it was always oddly out of place. Was it some new hip term? No. As I just found out, it replaces the word 'a$$', spelled correctly.

I might be misunderstanding but... In HX Edit on the computer, it always says 1024 and 2048, and you select one or the other, and the IR's change as you slide the slider with the IR name shown to the right. In SashaFrank's example he has selected '1024' and the IR's name is 'Gen_01_bright', and it's in slot '2'. It confused me as well when I first loaded IR's. rd2rk and malhavok expand on what the 1024 and 2048 mean in a post of mine here:

Here's a 15' one I got to have one a bit shorter then the other Line 6 VDI I have, which is 25'. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0719F5P5G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Now is the time on sprockets when we dance!

Then what's the problem you're trying to solve? 1. Variax <= (VDI) => Helix <= (USB) => PC/MAC VDI provides power to Variax, no guitar cable plug and volume dial up needed because Variax is always on

You keep mentioning a USB dongle interchangeably while talking about VDI and getting the Variax through Helix to come up in workshop. It makes following the logic in your posts difficult. USB is what is used to connect the Helix to the PC, or Variax direct to PC to work with Workshop, as you know. VDI is solely used, CAT5 ethernet connectors at each end, into the VDI port on the Variax and VDI port on the Helix. No USB. As noted before, all that should be connected (nothing else) is; Variax->VDI->Helix->USB->Computer.

I didn't see 'VDI' listed in the original post which is why I asked. Like anything, the cables can malfunction so try it with a regular ethernet cable. Also, the standard question; is everything updated to the latest version? Helix; Variax; HX Edit?

You're not using the VDI cable between the Variax and Helix? https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VDI--line-6-variax-digital-interface-cable Being brand new to the Helix and Variax a few months back I just followed instructions and updated everything and my Variax has connected flawlessly to Workbench routed through the Helix using the VDI cable. Variax->VDI->Helix->USB->Computer. Also note; using the VDI eliminates the need for the battery. I'm pretty sure you can try a standard CAT5 cable if you don't have the VDI around. I will say I like the tone of my Variax better through the 1/4" than the VDI. Too processed and 'affected'.

I'm pretty sure using phone out would be fine for your speakers. Audio outs, in general, are pretty safe.

Sorry, just kidding. Referencing a very old Saturday Night Live skit.