toddkc

Well of course now that I'm trying to help you I'm having my own issues. I was going to get a screenshot, but when I click "restore factory settings" in hx edit nothing happens now. You shouldn't need to empty and reload. If I remember correctly there was a specific option for "rebuild preset library" or something similar. Just make sure you create a backup before you start messing with stuff and nothing can go wrong. So followup question....in hx edit if you go to preferences and select "restore factory settings" does anything happen?

You can see my post right? Not sure why you responded to the other guy only...try my solution and report back if that doesn't work.

I'm pretty sure I had this same issue post-upgrade, but I may be misremembering the exact error message. I don't have my helix hooked up to be able to see the exact menu in hx edit, but what I had to do was rebuild the preset library. Also, I had to do it each time I tried to copy a preset in after turning hx edit/helix off. I haven't tried recently but I assume I would have to do the same thing now still. If you can't find the menu option for this post back and I'll try to get my helix hooked up and get a screenshot.

I randomly found a pretty cheap price for one of those Monotone 15w tube amps on my local marketplace, so naturally I had to buy it. I have no need for any amp as I play my helix through FRFR, and I have a Catalyst already for quickly plugging in to something if I need to. But....I'm a sucker for a deal, and toobz. Wasn't expecting much out of it honestly. Got it home, plugged in, set every knob to noon and....this thing sounds amazing! Next I made a 4CM helix patch with a screamer, minotaur, retro reel, and transistor tape. It sounds so good! I've never taken the time to dial in a good fuzz tone when going FRFR, just never sounds great to me, but I threw a triangle fuzz on the board and it sounds great too! Instant Albatross tone, or Pumpkins. My band covers Joker and the Thief and it nails that tone. My only complaint is that it's noisy, but that could be a ground loop or something from plugging in 4CM, I haven't done any troubleshooting yet. Anyways, just had to chime in, curious if anyone else has this amp (or any other low-watt tube amp) and has tried hooking their hx device up to it. I got this for just under half what it is new, if you happen to find one cheap don't sleep on it. Okay, shilling over.

This is mine. I have a duncan distortion sitting on my desk waiting for me to learn how to put it in my ibanez. Also, just to add to the OP, I would also recommend everyone learn how to do their own setups. The one caution being when you get to the truss rod only do one 1/4 turn per day until you feel comfortable that you understand what that is doing. Of all the things you can adjust doing a setup I think the truss rod is the only one that can potentially ruin the guitar.

I had this exact issue with my helix floor, and after lots of trial and error and even swapping it out I have realized that nothing is wrong, it's just how the helix is. It has a very "cold" input. It kinda blows my mind that anyone actually uses the input pad. I would first suggest trying some different guitars to make sure (as PierM suggested) it isn't a hardware/setup problem with your guitar. Then, if you can, try playing through something else to see how that compares. I have another multifx pedal, a catalyst amp, and also helix native (which I use via a mackie interface). None of which have the same problem. What I found was that plugged into the catalyst my tone was great, but going helix into catalyst it was not. Depending on if I had the helix output set to instrument or line I had to bump up the output level by quite a lot to get volume parity. This is with a blank preset. Originally I was just making all my presets with the first block being a gain block set to a fairly high db boost, but now I just keep this in mind and adjust the amp and any pedals before the amp block accordingly. I can also 100% tell a difference in the sustain and "feel" between the exact same preset on my helix floor vs helix native, and that also seems to back up my hunch that the issue (not that it's really an issue) is the difference in input gain. Last thing to note I just thought might be useful info, I have tried multiple guitars with various humbuckers: cheapo, seymour duncan, fishman fluence, and active EMGs. All have exactly the same behavior when played through the helix floor only, no issues with my catalyst or boss multifx.

I use some dirt cheap Getaria wireless and use the tuner to mute output to change guitars. Works great. I'm sure there is a benefit to spending more money but I haven't felt the need to yet.

I never would have thought to try that, thanks dude! MIDI Magic :) -random edit also: Am I the only one with no options for emojis?

I could be wrong here, and honestly I'm curious if I am, but I don't think even adding an extra midi controller would allow this to be done. I have an FCB1010 and have hooked it up to my floor but according to the midi section in the manual you still only get access to the same 8 snapshots and 10 stomps. AFAIK there is no way to add extra stomps even with the external midi pedal. I have my fcb1010 setup so that I can use it to change snapshots while keeping the floor in stomp mode and that definitely adds some novelty but nothing I would buy the extra pedal for if I hadn't already owned it. https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/midi

I gotcha, that is a good question. I haven't actually used an external drive pedal, and even then I wouldn't be sure I could say the helix and stomp would work the same. Hopefully someone with some actual experience can chime in.

That seems like a very personal preference thing to me. Depends on if you want the stop to be another "pedal" on your board, or the brain? With my helix floor I have external pedals in their own loops so I can toggle them with presets/snapshots and keep all my stepping on the helix itself. So that is what I would suggest. But if you have, for example, a boost that you always have on, that may as well just go before the stomp?

This may be the wisest thing I've ever read on a forum.

That is exactly what I did with my pod. I had an amp (usually the rockerverb) with a switch to go from low-gain to high-gain, and then a drive pedal (usually the minotaur). That gives 4 gain stage options and worked for me for everything from clean to metal. You could then even use snapshots to change an IR for each gain stage if you have some that sound better for clean vs distorted.

Another question, how are you connecting your guitar to Helix Native? I wonder if you have the same "issue" that I have, which is really just that I happen to have a bunch of low-output guitars. I tweaked your preset to add a gain block first thing, try it out and see if you think that sounds any better? I have the same results with VSTs. I use an interface to connect my guitar and so it gets a much hotter signal and then the VST sounds great to me. Then I plug into my Helix, which must have a very padded input even on the non-pad setting, and I don't love the sound. At first I was adding this gain block to everything, and I still have it in my preset and footswitchable, but also now that I know what is happening I can simply tweak my presets around my guitar a bit better. So yeah, load up my preset here and see if that sounds any better to you. Vai 4D Lov6_edit.hlx

That is not possible with the Pod Go. You either need to use a preset for each amp, or pick one that goes from clean to distorted and use snapshots to change it between gain settings.

Can you upload a preset that has this issue? Also make sure to check all the usual, input pad is off, global input pad is off, gate is off, global eq is off....

I definitely think that may be a factor. It would make sense that since I do all my own setups (and have no training for that beyond youtube) and I have this same issue with all my guitars on both my line 6 products...clearly that is a possible culprit. The ruler I use to do my setups is one of those business-card shaped dealies from amazon and was super cheap. Maybe I need to check it and all my strings are lower than what I think. They feel fine, but again, you do have a point. I may adjust one to be significantly higher and see if that solves it. I may even take one to a pro to get it setup and specify that I'd like to know what they change to see what I may be doing wrong.

I disagree, but whatever. I appreciate all the help. Not gonna debate semantics. Feedback and sustain are two different things, I'm well aware of the differences.

I appreciate yours and everybody else's replies. As I've said, no noise gate and no pad enabled. I have multiple cables and even a wireless I've tried. And yes, I am of course plugged into the correct input. I know there is no way to prove these things, but I've done all the basic checks. I bought new so it is easy to exchange, and I went ahead and bought a Digitech Freqout so when I get the new one it won't matter either way. Between the freqout, gain block, and compressor, I'll get my presets sounding the way I want! I also have enough cables now that I can 4CM the helix with my catalyst amp and see if that has different results. Thanks all!

This is super cool. I have the cat 60 with no midi so can't use it, but still. Very cool idea and implementation.

I have fought with all sorts of noise from my pod go and helix, not their fault of course. The obvious solution for a ground loop is a ground lift, which most DI boxes have. Unplug EVERYTHING from your outlet, and keep in mind there may also be other outlets on the same circuit. Start with plugging in just your HX device and use headphones. See if that solves it. Then plug in whatever you are using to monitor and try again. Keep going until you get the noise. Then try the ground lift. Ideally that will solve your issue. You can also skip the DI box and get a hum eliminator. I finally tracked my issue down to an LED light strip plugged in in a separate room. That was after buying a DI box, hum eliminator, fancy usb cables, power conditioner, and even a portable power station. LED lights is all it was....

I had no idea the spider v had that option, neat!

based on this sentence I don't think you want to use IRs or cabs. If you already have a speaker that you are playing through, adding any cabs or IRs will likely do what you are saying: sound bad and muffled and not that different between them. They are essentially being "doubled" by the speaker in your modeling amp.

I appreciate all the replies everyone. I think I'm gonna send it back and exchange and see if the next one does the same, and if so I'll troubleshoot more. Thanks!

I have not messed with the input impedance settings, I guess I should have....I just set it to auto and left it. For the Boss pedal I can actually do you one better, I bought a JHS Little Black Buffer to pair with my Pod Go after reading some of the stuff about it needing an input buffer. It does not make any difference with the Helix, but I would guess it's working with (or fighting with) the input impedance setting. I'll play around with both of those.