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MayPRS

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Posts posted by MayPRS

  1. So... yes... I just gave up on my Helix. I tried a lot to make it work for me and my setup but I always got back to the old tested and thru G-Major 2 for delays and specially harmonies. Not Helix fault as its an incredible product, with lots and lots of flexibility but my entire fault to not be able to get the most out of it.

     

    I couldn't go before saying THANK YOU to all. I specially have to mention @theElevators, @codamedia, @PierM, @rd2rk which always reply to my doubts with videos, opinions, etc. But, of course, to all this extraordinary community, one of the best!

     

    I will keep an eye on the evolution of the Helix and one day.. one knows... maybe I'm ready for such an amazing piece of gear. I just realized that I'd spent lots and lots of hours to get the same sound as I had, instead of concentrating in improving my playing :) As I said, not blaming the unit but my poor lack of skills to master it.

     

    Enjoy playing and see you around!!

     

     

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  2. On 5/12/2023 at 2:45 PM, theElevators said:

    OK, so let's try a few things.  Don't rush to buy anything new before you try what I've outlined below :)

     

    1. OK, so first, try to get my signal chain going with an internal Helix amp.  See: https://youtu.be/ueDcqkpzNAsr where I show all my settings.  For my sound I use classic distortion and Mail Order Twin--nothing remotely similar to what Brian May used.  Use headphones/monitors/computer speakers, or even a powered speaker (like one of those Bluetooth boomboxes).  Does it sound good that way?  No distortion of the harmonized notes? 

     

    Now, run the same exact thing, but connect Helix to the "return" jack of your Vox AC30.  Does it sound good at all volumes?  If your Vox AC30 adds distortion, then that's unfortunately something you cannot control with the gear you currently have.  Ideally, a power amp should not color your sound at all.  Some amps like Marshalls unfortunately do! 

     

    2. It doesn't appear you can disconnect the speakers easily to tap into the speakers on your amp, you need to open up the amp, and disconnect things, possibly un-solder wires, unless yours is different.  On most modern amps, that is possible.  For example on most Fender amps, there's a jack in the back that says "speakers".  There's a 1/4" cable from the speakers that plugs into it. 

    8180000000_amp_dtl_001_nr.jpg

     

     

    My stage setup is to send XLR left/right to FOH, while the 1/4" jack is only used as a monitor mix.  I run Helix 1/4" into Mooer Baby Bomb power amp that is connected to the speaker of a Fender Deluxe amp.  Fender Deluxe is not powered!, as I only use it as a standalone speaker cabinet.  So I simply connect that little 1/4" cable from the speaker to the output of Mooer Baby Bomb. 

     

    I also have an Orange 112 speaker cab.  When I can bring my own stuff to a gig, I do the same thing: Helix -> Mooer Baby Bomb -> Orange 112 for stage volume. 

     

    BTW.  Soon after I acquired the Helix and I bought Baby Bomb, I actually sold my tube amp, since I no longer needed it.  I'm very happy with the setup I described above.  A speaker cab is always cheaper/lighter than a whole amp.  And Mooer Baby Bomb is absurdly small and compact. 

     

    I did a quick search, and there are Vox speaker cabinets that are available.  So if it's important for you for the visual aspects to have a Vox amp-looking thing on stage, you can just purchase it.... it's also something like 20 lbs lighter than an AC30 https://voxamps.com/product/v212c-extension-cabinet/ 

     

    Video about Mooer Baby Bomb:

     

     

     

    Thanks for the detailed explanation. I will try it definitely and let you know!

  3. On 5/12/2023 at 1:45 PM, theElevators said:

    Just for fun, forget about 4 cable method.  Can you make it work with Helix's own amp, as I show it? 

     

    Maybe your power amp is very very distorted, is there a way to clean it up?  Try changing the output level of the "send" blocks (instrument/line/mic) in Global Settings, it can be too hot for your power amp and you may be getting unwanted tube distortion!  or the speakers are "nicely broken in", so they distort the signal.   Just out of curiosity, what amp/cab are you using? 

     

    IMO, as I've said before, 4-cable method was a nice thing to do in the olden days.  In 2023 it makes little sense to use a real amp in conjunction with a processor.  Too many factors to consider, too much inconsistency. 

     

    Take it from a former cork-sniffer.  Just use the Helix, it has all the amps you could possibly ever need.  Your amp is not special, and can easily be substituted for what's available in the Helix.  Besides, when you run a digital processor with an amp using 4-cable method, you are effectively losing fidelity, when you convert digital to analog, then analog to digital, then again digital to analog.  There's an additional conversion step where you are no longer benefiting from using a tube amp, as you would have been in the olden days :)

     

    Run your Helix -> clean power amp -> speaker cab for stage volume/air movement.  the end.  I tour regularly, and play a BMG guitar, as you can see.  lol

     

     

    Using a VOX AC30 - quick question: can I use the Fawn model and use just the AC30 cab as a cabinet? I guess connecting the Helix to the Return of the FX Loop, thus bypassing the AC30 preamp completely? In this case - I can "simulate" 4CM just by putting wha/ods before Fawn block and the rest after?

     

    Oh and I too use a Red Special!!! 

  4. On 5/12/2023 at 12:03 PM, theElevators said:

    If your amp doesn’t have a send and a return, you cannot do 4 cable method. 
     

    https://blog.andertons.co.uk/learn/what-is-4-cable-method

     

    If you are using the 4 cable method,  you are adding effects to the preamp signal of your amp, and sending it to the power amp. 
     

     

    Your blocks should be in this order. 

     

    Guitar ,

    wah, distortion, send1 block -> physical amp’s input, physical amp’s send jack -> return1, harmonizer, reverb/delay 

    -> finally into your physical amp’s return jack. 


    So in your setup, put harmonizer after your send / return blocks, not before. 
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    yes that's exactly what I do. I use 4 CM and my amp haves FX Loop. I connect exactly that way, still can't make the Dual Pitch sound anywhere as good as the Twin Harmony.

  5. On 5/12/2023 at 11:23 AM, theElevators said:

    When I use any harmonizer, I put it after the amp/cab: at the end of the chain. 
     

    If you run the harmonizer into the amp, it will result in sounding like you are plying double stops—it’ll be distorted. 
     

    Take a look at my video about the placement of the harmonizer:

     

     

     

     

    How can I put it at "end of chain" if I use a physical amp? Meaning how can I avoid that "distortion"? That's exactly what I hear, like I'm playing some detuned double stops...

     

    Many thanks!

  6. I have a preset where I use the Twin Harmony and it sounds great in the mix - present, clear, no artifacts, etc. This a specific preset where I need an harmony setting the keys.

     

    On all other presets that use harmony, I'm using the Dual Pitch block where I set +3 for Interval 1 and +7 for Interval2. These are the harmony intervals I need - but this block doesn't sound ANYWHERE near the quality, clearness and overall presence in the mix (and also add some artifacts!) as the Twin Harmony.

     

    I use 4 CM with a physical amp. Pitch blocks are on amp effects loops, on Path 1B with 100% Mix. I tried the 50% mix but the harmonies become almost inaudible (I practically only hear the guitar notes).

     

    Can I use the Twin Harmony block for the same purpose (fixed intervals) not depending on a specific key? Or any other alternatives? I cannot make the Dual Pitch sound good no matter how I try. I also tried it on Path 1A, etc to no avail.

     

    Many thanks in advance!

     

    EDIT: I'm using a LT.

  7. I think this is called 3 CM. When I used a G-System I connected like this because the G System input was buffered and I my Treble Booster thru it sounded awful.

     

    So I used the G-System in the amp loops only...

     

    • Guitar -> TB -> Amp Input
    • G-System Input -> Amp FX Loop Send
    • G-System Output -> Amp FX Loop Return
  8. To add that the "only" unit that's 100% compatible is the Floor IF you have any presets depending on inputs that the LT doesn't have (for instance the "Mic" input).

     

    If its Guitar In, Send1/Return1, etc, yes you can use the LT as it's more portable and lighter.

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  9. Many thanks @brue58ski Lots of great info. Yes, unfortunately I don't have the chance of creating patches using full gig volumes. But I might have to rental a rehearsal room and take my amp as well, so I can drive it at gig levels and don't have any surprise when playing live. On gigs its hard to take time at soundcheck to do these adjustments...

  10. I connect my LT in 4 CM thru my physical amp.

     

    On a preset that I have a Dual Delay (on path 1A) using 50% Mix so I get same level of guitar tone and same level for repeats, I noticed that, on lower volumes (as I program the Helix at home) the repeats are noticeable lower than the guitar played note. On gig levels I didn't noticed this but this makes it hard to program the Helix at home when I cannot be sure the output at gig levels would be the same. Also, on gig levels, if I overlay a lot of notes (thus repeating themselves) I clearly hear a unpleasant distortion on the repeats.

     

    Also (and I think it might be related): using Twin Harmony block at home levels - If i put the block on path 1B at 50% mix, it sound's great and I hear the same amount of guitar note and harmonies. At gig levels I can barely hear the harmonies.

     

    Surely my fault as I'm missing something. The signal path is quite basic. FX Send/Block first in chain and all effects after this (as it just delays, harmonies and reverbs - I don't use Helix OD/DS).

     

    Many thanks!

  11. On 5/1/2023 at 4:28 PM, lasabroso said:

    ¿ Es posible utillizar una de las entrada del Helix LT para un micrófono?

     

    Hola! Welcome to the forum ;) I understood your question but others might not :) This is mainly a english language forum so you have better chances of getting a reply if you write in English ;)

     

    To answer your question: LT does not have the Mic input the Floor haves but, in theory, you can connect a mic using a jack cable (XLR from mic->jack to LT) on one of the return loops (assuming you are using the Guitar In for guitar) but this will be unbalanced. In theory it could work but I don't think the sound would be satisfactory.

  12. On 4/27/2023 at 3:02 PM, meramhall said:

    First of I'm not sure this is quite the right forum för this question - if no it'd mu bad.

    Since updating my HX Stomp to 3.6 - I can still create new Presets & save them.

    However I can't name them - when create a new preset & name it - DIR-R66-4Bell -

    and press save on the computer keyboars - or the 2 bottuns on the stomp & press rotary sav -

    or with the mouse choose "Save preset" in the HX File menu - the given preset reverts the default "New Preset".

     

    My computer is a Mac Minin M1 (Apple Silicon) running Mac OS Ventura 13.3.1

     

    Did you performed a factory reset after the update as recommended?

  13. On 4/26/2023 at 4:54 AM, wayneconnor said:

     drats! I was searching to see if there was a way to dim or change the colour of the tap tempo LED!!!

    The bright flashing red light is distracting on the stage.

     

    Plus 1 for this as a feature request.

     

     

    if it's distracting, you can switch off the led on TAP TEMPO (pag 68 of the manual -> Global Settings > Displays)

     

    https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a3f18374611d5dffd3a45/application/pdf/Helix LT 3.0 Owner's Manual - Rev D - English .pdf

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  14. On 4/27/2023 at 5:10 AM, Gabeson86 said:

    wouldn’t it be wonderful if HXFX could offer some amps and cabs?

     

    Hello and welcome to the forum. 

     

    Commercially speaking, I don't think that your suggestion is viable. In the range of the Helix family, the HX was specifically created for those who want to use their traditional amp and just take advantage of effects - if they put amps and cabs on the HX, then the HX stomp or even an LT would be almost redundant. I'm a former HX Effects user and loved its form factor but there's many more things going on between the HX and the LT (which I now use) besides the lack of amp + cabs:

    • LT has dual DSP, HX Effects just one DSP;
    • Expression pedal on the LT;
    • Variable impedance selection on the LT (which makes a HUGE difference for me), the HX is fixed an 1M and always sounded bright/tighter to me;
    • Editing is a breeze on the LT, for the HX I always needed a computer to change/create patches, it's not that you can't directly on the unit but it's cluttered and difficult.

    I actually use the LT just for effects, as I use in 4CM with a traditional amp and, at the moment, I don't use any of the amps+cabs but I like to know that they are there just in case!

     

    On the HX - you can use one of the drive pedals as preamp and put an IR on the signal chain to play direct. I think others did this way with good results. But I do recommend that, if you want amp+cabs, to make the jump for the LT. I also had the doubt of "it's heavy and big", but actually its not a big deal. Of course, in the past, I used a G-System which was extremely heavy and big - for me the LT size/weight are actually nice!

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  15. On 4/26/2023 at 4:44 PM, rd2rk said:

     

    Not that Helix was DESIGNED to work that way, just that, from the inception of stereo, summing to mono never sounded "right".

    There's no doubt a technical explanation involving phasing and whatnot, but THAT'S the reason there's both mono and stereo versions of the FX.

     

    Thanks for the info. By the way - how can I replace the Dual Delay for two blocks of mono delays, without any of them affect each other? I tested putting them on different paths (Path 1A and Path 1B) but I cannot make the volume for both to sound exactly the same. I want the two single repeats to come out at the same volume as my played note/chord. Any ideas? I tested different paths, etc. I need two repeats (one at 800 ms and one at 1600 ms).

  16. Did you perform a factory reset as advised (make sure you have a full backup of your Helix before doing so in order to restore your presets)?

  17. On the same subject but slightly different issue/discovery I made: I ran my Helix in 4CM with one amp. I setup'd the Helix using the stereo versions of all effects when needed, thinking that they would just sound like the mono versions, since I'm using the L output only. I was totally wrong. When I start changing the blocks for the mono versions (I did this with all blocks except one where I need a Dual Delay and that's only offered in stereo version), the sound is much more dynamic and present, more defined.

     

    I don't know if the Helix was designed to work like this, but I always thought that using stereo blocks panned to center, would sound the same as the mono blocks, but they don't. 

  18. Context: for gigs I use 4 CM with my amp (as it haves an FX Loop) and it works great (Helix LT).

     

    On the rehearsal room (rented) I use whatever amp is available and usually none of them haves an FX Loop. What I did - I created a copy of the setlist I use live and removed the FX LOOP block so I can use as traditional pedalboard (directly to amp input).

     

    As I use a very specific DS pedal on the Helix input (I cannot reproduce this particular sound on the Helix), specially the harmonies come out with an unpleasant distortion and very harsh/ugly sound. Sure must be a problem with my signal path, I must be clipping the Twin Harmony block. Maybe putting it in a parallel path? This happened yesterday (first rehearsal with the Helix) so I didn't have the time to test alternatives - just asking here to check if someone faces/faced the same issue that can guide me in the right direction.

     

    Many thanks in advance.

  19. Just my two cents: I had a HX Effects and couldn't make the HX sound good on 4 CM. I then bought an LT and it sounds amazing on 4 CM (same guitar, same amp, same cables, even same patch cables!). Don't know why, I guess the HX should sound at least near, but no, the LT is night and day, on my personal experience, on 4 CM. Maybe I had one of those units with mismatched components? Although I don't think so, since mine was bought in 2021 and it was a relatively new stock unit.

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