phil_m

You can control the pitch of Variax strings with an expression pedal or any other controller in the Helix. The issue is that the Variax only controls pitch in discrete steps. It doesn't bend from one pitch to the other. I had recorded a clip a while back doing this with the B string. If you do it quickly, you can get some cool effects, but it doesn't really sound like a typical B or G bender.

Do you have an external expression pedal plugged into the EXP2 jack? Those lights just indicate whether the pedal is controlling EXP1 or EXP2. They don't have anything to do with whether or not you have a wah or volume block in your patch.

Try inverting the polarity of the switch in the Global Settings menu.

Well, that’s a momentary switch... So it should work. Do you have it in TRS Mode and are you using a TRS cable?

What type of footswitch are you using? It sounds like it’s a latching footswitch. Depending on the footswitch, there might be a way to change that, but most don’t have that option.

Technically, you're supposed to have owned the hardware for 180 days in order for the promotional pricing to remain valid. Although, I think they're worried more about people buying a unit and returning it than selling it. If you sell a unit once you've taken advantage of the promotional offer, the buyer won't be eligible for the Native discount.

Make sure you have the input for Path 2 set to None.

You'll want to use a TS cable.

If you're taking the HX's output into the Marshall's effects return, that will bypass its master volume control... So I can see how that would be problematic. If you create a parallel path, you can set the output level of each path independently. So maybe in your case you could just put a dummy Gain block in Path B to create the path. Then you could set the level of Path A and B in the Mixer block.

There is no master volume control as the HX Effects is essentially a unity gain device. Meaning that with everything bypassed there shouldn't be any gain or attenuation. You want to make sure you have the inputs and outputs set at the correct level, though. If you have it in front of an amp, you'd want them both set to instrument level. In a loop, you may want line level. It depends on the amp.

I merged the threads...

I've not used this controller, but Decibel Eleven is running a clearance sale on their Switch Dr. pedal right now. It seems to be a very capable controller and it has five audio loops... It's on sale for $139 right now - kind of a crazy low price. https://decibel11.com/products_switch_dr.aspx

Snapshots were a game changer for me as far as using the Helix and HX Effects live... I think they’re the most powerful feature on the Helix.

Hmm... By default, if you're in Stomp Mode, all six switches should be stomps. If you're saying they're not, go to Global Settings>Switches>Stomp Mode and set it to 6 Switches.

Comb filtering and/or phasing... You have dry paths running through each side of the parallel path, and the one going through the FX Loop is lagging behind the other one because of the latency associated with the D/A and A/D conversions. You could try setting the mix on the Reverb block to 100% and then controlling the level of the reverb with the Level parameter. That will kill the dry signal in that path.

The trick to getting the EV-30 to work with the Helix or any of the HX products is to turn the little MIN knob on the back for the side you're using all the way to right to its max position. Then set the switch to INV. Then in the Global Settings menu on the Helix, go to the EXP Pedals menu and reverse the polarity for the EXP jack you're using.

Well, the advantage of Native over hardware in the studio is you can have as many instances running simultaneously as you want (or as many as your system can support). So if you have multiple tracks of guitar and you want to change something in each of them, you just change it in the UI, and that's it. With hardware you'd have to re-process everything again in real-time - very time-consuming.

The Headrush is kind of an 11 Rack in pedalboard format... Back in 2012, inMusic, the parent company to the Headrush brand, acquired M-Audio from Avid. Along with that sale they got a lot of the Avid software. Included in that was the 11 Rack code. So they took the code and reworked it in some ways (they split out the amp and cabs as separate blocks, for instance). I've heard some people say the Headrush sounds the same as the 11 Rack, some people say worse, and some say better... So I guess it's a matter of taste. The development team behind the Headrush, though, doesn't include any of the original 11 Rack people. I think pretty much all the development that has taken place since the HR was released was models that were being worked on before the acquisition. How much more development there will be, I don't know. Though inMusic did acquire the software rights, they didn't acquire any of the hardware rights. The Headrush doesn't have the variable input Z circuitry that the 11 Rack had, for instance.

It seems to me that you did a very limited test if you only looked at Marshall-style amps... Not sure what all amps you're including in this, either. The Deluxe Reverb cab seems like an odd choice for that style of amp... There is a 1X15 cab in Native, but it's closed back (the Ampeg B15 model). I don't know, I don't think trying to make Native sound like your 11 Rack is a good way to go about things. You have to approach it with a blank slate and take the time to create tones you like.

You could control the second HX Effects via MIDI from the first HX Effects, but, no, they wouldn't bank up and down together. There is no MIDI command associated with that function. Honestly, you'd be better off selling your first HX Effects and getting a Helix or Helix LT for this sort of thing. It would be much less convoluted, and you'd have all the effects capability (and more!) of two HX Effects.

It makes me laugh a little when people talk about famous guitar players nowadays. Who are they? Apart from maybe James Hetfield or The Edge, most of these could walk down the street and no one would recognize them. They're "guitar player famous", I guess. Anyway, there's always inertia in play when you're talking about guys in touring bands. If you have a rig that works for you, what incentive is there to make major changes to it? Even when the Edge starts using something new, he doesn't get rid of his old stuff. He just gets another rack and brings more stuff along... In terms of sheer numbers, there are more Helix users than Fractal users... Line 6 has had a few tremendous years because of the Helix. It's only going to get better. The incentive in making the Helix was not really to beat Fractal at their game. It was to create something that would thrill and inspire Helix users.

Do you have the delay times in the Stomp set to a note value? Also, there are some delays in the HX Stomp that have a short maximum delay time. So if the tempo you're sending would put them beyond the max, they will be shortened so they're in sync at shorter note subdivision.

You mean you didn't see the release notice yesterday? ;-)

Are you sending MIDI Clock to the Stomp? Does the Stomp's tap tempo light turn blue?

It's a subjective claim... It can't be proven true or false.