decreebass

DEFINITELY need to make a standalone version; I don't wanna have to boot up Logic Pro and go through all the hassle to set up a track to record just to use this. Sometimes I just wanna jam out. Granted, I have Bias & Amplitube already - but I want Helix, too! Guys, this is a great idea and it's definitely a day-one buy (especially since I get it at the discounted rate as a Helix owner) - but it needs to have a standalone. It took Bias several months to make this happen, but I use it FAR more in standalone mode than I ever did as a plugin. hell, I just leave it on and open all the time. and plug in my guitar when I don't feel like waking the neighbors with my amp.

So let me get this straight. You're going: Guitar > Helix In > Helix loop send > HRD Input > HRD send > Helix loop return > HRD model in the Helix (switchable) > Helix output >HRD Power amp in And you're saying that you're basically trying to switch between them (which I'm sure you can turn one thing off and another on with one tap of the switch). So: which do you have very little volume? The Helix model or the HRD? As far as hum/noise goes, be sure you're plugged into the same power source. I think at this point it might just be use error and you'll figure it out and shake your head over how you could miss something so obvious lol but it sounds like to that there's something overlooked in your gain staging or how you have the various ins/outs assigned. I plan on doing this same exact setup with my Mark IV, so I have a vested interest in you figuring this out :)

Dumb question, but have you replaced the battery in your guitar yet? I had a similar problem with my JP13-7 into some other gear and it was wigging me out - but then I realized my battery was getting weak. Once I replaced it, the noise/distortion went away.

So let me get this straight - the amp still functions normally if there is a cable plugged into the amp return but no signal going through it? I guess I always though that if a cable were plugged in, then it would defeat the signal from the amp going into the power amp section... Maybe by plugging a cable into the amp's "send" jack, THAT cuts the signal to the power amp and routes it to the "send" - this makes sense and that's actually a brilliant way to do the 4CM. I get my Helix on Monday and can't wait to try this new way out. I'll try it on my Mark IV. I don't need the looper since I like my Trio+ and I don't plan on using many/any of the onboard amps. but we'll see. I think I'll use your method but then have a snapshot where I can internally re-route the amp input send signal to the Helix pre-amp, then use the delays and go into my amp's power amp in. This is a fascinating idea. Thanks, OP!

Hopefully quick question: I should be getting my helix on Monday. Is there an easy way to A/B a patch that has stuff in it to just the guitar going direct to the amp? What I'm trying to do is use my Mark IV and the Helix in a 4CM configuration - so the Helix will be mainly for effects. HOWEVER, I did notice the Helix has a Mark IV ch. 2 model! So I wanted to tweak the sound of the Helix to sound as close to my amp as possible which would require a lot of switching back and forth (or, in the old days, plugging and unplugging a bunch of cables). Essentially, what I think I'd be interested in doing is setting up a patch where one snapshot has the preamp model going and it goes direct to my amp's power amp input - THEN another snapshot bypasses the Helix altogether and true/buffered bypasses the guitar's signal directly to the front of my Mark IV (and then obviously routes the amp's preamp back to the Helix and right back out to the power amp section). In effect, with one tap I could change between the naked REAL Mark IV sound and the Helix's modeled naked Mark IV. Is this possible?

I use my 500 as my pedal board using the 4CM (4-cable method). It's awesome: basically, you plug your guitar into the Pod, use whatever stomp boxes you want in front of the amp, then create an "FX Loop" box, plug the Pod's FX Send into the front of your amp, plug your amp's FX Send into the Pod's FX Return, then plug your Pod's output into the amp's FX return. Works great with my Mesa Mark V; there is a noticeable amount of "tone suck" but it's not a deal-breaker. It's to be expected with any A/D/A conversion... I've got no idea about using the pod to change your amp's channels... it'd be nice the Mark V had that capability; then I'd have one of the foot switches change from my amp's OD channel to the clean channel and kick on a compressor and phaser (or something). That'd be great.

I had the same issue. Unfortunately, you can't make it louder than the original source, but you can at least make it as loud with the above instructions.