Hey everyone , First off this is my first forum post so if it is wrong or incomplete please be understanding .
My Gear - Randall RD 100 Head with Randall 2 x 12 V 30 Cabinet , Helix, I use a mini amp gizmo for Midi channel switching on my amp head from clean , crunch, and high gain channels. I am using the 4 cable method to utilize my amps High gain channel for my rhythms and lead channel. My guitars are ESP/ltd WITH EMG 81/85 Combo .
My vision is to utilize amp modeling for some of the clean tones, plus some heavy tones for different songs but also rely on my amps distortion for all my heavy rhythms so from what I have researched the 4 cable method is best . I also could not use the amp switching on the helix because of only one input on the helix and this would only allow me 2 channels of switching so I have went to the mini amp gizmo which is switching my channels on my amp via midi . Everything is working great except when using my amps high gain channel it has a huge loss in gain and over all aggressive tone. I can apply a distortion through the helix and get a ok sound, but the whole point was to be able to use the distortion of the amp as I love the sound. What could possibly be sucking all my sound out ? I am unclear how the sends and returns should be set level wise or if the send and return box on the helix can be next to each other or do they need to be on either end of the chain? I would like to add eq and also maybe a overdrive to just get a little more bite out of the rhythm bank.
I am gigging musician and play out about twice a month , writing original material in the vein of sevendust or a more doom style of metal . I record professionally and need all this stuff to work together and I am banging my head against the wall wondering where all my gain and tone has gone. any suggestions?