pott24

On 12/6/2018 at 6:17 AM, reyesfearofnone said:

Have any of you guys tried using the midi mouse by tech 21 to try to change preset on the HX stomp its my first time using midi any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Nothing to actually do. Plug it in, and that's exactly what the Midi Mouse does, and nothing else. Just preset scroll up/down, and you can use Active/Search modes.

The midi mouse doesn't do anything else, doesn't require any setups, has no available configuration to change. You do not need to know Midi either.

Just make sure its midi send Channel is set to your HX Stomp's (1 on both units by default).

I actually ended-up getting quite the Arsenal for the Stomp...

Boss FS7

MC6

MC6 additional switches

Tech 21 Midi Mouse

I did figure that I do not want the MC6 to control individual effects/blocks, as this requires a lot more programming.

Rather, I am using the HX Stomp in Stomp mode, and use the MC6 so that each bank can be:

* 4 x Presets

* Snapshot Up

* Snapshot Down (+ Tuner on Long Press)

The Tech 21 is just when I'm too lazy to wire everything. I've not used the MC6's additional switches yet. And the FS7 means I can control 5 stomps at once.

14 hours ago, Josephang264 said:

Able to check any dual foot switches to recommend for the hx stomp for fs4 and fs5?

Boss FS6 (battery) and FS7 (wall-wart) work a charm.

I've not tried it yet on a Midi controller, but on HX Edit you can assign a Bypass control to FS4/5 even without anything plugged into the external controller input.

This opens-up possibilities: I could plug my Boss FS7 into my MC6 to add a dedicated FS4/5 footswitch which would work on all Presets!

With the free external controller input, I can now also use an expression pedal.

Is anyone running their Helix Stomp this way? Am I correct in my assumptions?

EDIT: this does not appear to work as desired with a Boss FS7, which only gets recognized as an expression pedal. More digging is needed...

I THINK it may be because I only have a TRS->TRS cable for the FS7, while in this case I'd likely need two mono cables or a TRS->Mono x 2 cable.

EDIT2: yes, using two simple patch cables from FS7 to MC6 enables both of the Boss units' footswitches.

BUT... the MC6 still thinks they're expression pedals, and effects are only triggered momentarily; likely they're not the right type of switches to work with the MC6. Shame.

EDIT3: I got an auxiliary switch from AmericanLoopers: https://reverb.com/item/7006147-aux-switch-for-morningstar-mc6-side-jack-three-click-less-buttons.

This will be dedicated Tuner + FS4 + FS5, and I will also plug in the expression pedal (a Moog EP3) into the MC6.

I could still use the Boss FS7 into the HX to be fair, and the Expression pedal through the MC6. To try this weekend.

I've never run into any Blocks count blockers with 6 blocks, since I don't really use effects (Comp + OD + Vibe + Trem on cleans, and... that's it. No FX on OD tones).

However, I DO run into DSP constraints on the HX Stomp whenever using two amps (or 2 x (amp + cabs) or (2 x amps) + 1 cab etc...). HX CAN take it, but it ruins any capabilities for effects. on top of it.

In case someone runs into the same problem: the solution as given by Morningstar FX themselves is to do the Snapshot command at Release, vs. Press. I have yet to try it.

A Long Press will ALWAYS also trigger a Press. So having Main function = Release, Second function = Long Press, the two are decoupled.

Looking further into it: the main function could be triggered on Long Press Release (e.g. when timing is critical) and the second function on Press, which keeps them decoupled as well. On the 'to try' list!

10 hours ago, DarrellM5 said:

 

One option is to merge the 2 paths after the amps and share a cab or IR.  That frees up some room for a couple of effects.

That doesn't work either. If I have Timmah or kinky boost in front, I can do 2 x amp+cabs, or 2 amps + 1 cab, but either way I can't add anything else to the chain... not even a looper!

Same with two clean amps. Just room for an OD, and two amps, and that's it. So it's fairly limited if you wish to use effects.

For a good, dry tone however, it really opens up a lot of options.

13 hours ago, Tsachou said:

I been trying to control the Hx stomp with disasterarea design dpc , I'm able to change presets but can't turn on the turner 

via or bypass the HX stomp . anyone here have an idea ?

See https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a4010c935bb66a4c0c44f/application/pdf/HX Stomp Manual - English .pdf for the relevant tuner and bypass commands. Not sure of the disaster area can send fully-customized Midi PC/CC as the Morningstar can though...

5 hours ago, phil_m said:

 

No, the reserved CC messages on Page 49 are the messages you want to program into your controller and send to control those specific functions. To select snapshot #1, for instance, you always send CC69, value 0. That will be the same no matter what preset you have the Stomp set to. If you want to have a preset on the Morningstar be the looper controls, you could do that. From what I understand, the Morningstar lets you program the six switches in every preset with pretty much anything you want. The question really becomes how often you want to change presets on the Morningstar.

Thanks for clarifying! I think I applied the word 'learn' to something less specific than it really is.

I thought it meant that an external controller couldn't use these controls at all.

Re-reading the instructions and applying your clarifications, 'learn' here refers to attempting to assign a preset MIDI stomp through the Bypass assignment setup.

That's fantastic news! In particular, the ability to both assign Snapshot up/down AND 4 presets per bank on the Morningstar frees-up using the HX for stomps, in Stomp-mode, and brings a TON of flexibility (using multiple banks of presets instead of banking up/down using the HX).

On 10/15/2018 at 9:54 AM, pott24 said:

I'm not home and can't try it, so I'm sorry for being impatient and asking on here :)

 

Can the HX Stomp run 2 x amps in parallel?

I saw nothing prevent it from happening. DSP limitations will come into play, but that's not a huge deal for me.

 

I come from the AX8 where this isn't possible at all, hence my curiosity.

Just got some time and tried it. It works. Mixing Mardhalls and non-marshall models work pretty well! More to come.

The AX8 doesn't allow you to do that. The HX Stomp does. So much to explore just from that...

It does, however, seem to use a TON of CPU... I only managed to put an OD and 2 x amp + cabs on my preset. Not even a Reverb fits.

Yep... Even with a more dynamic controller, it seems we can't send the reserced CCs. I'm confused as to why... Maybe it's a MIDI limitation but then, can't another CC be allocated for external MIDI commands to the same control?

I'm still a little confused about the Reserved Midi CC sections (p49 in https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a4010c935bb66a4c0c44f/application/pdf/HX Stomp Manual - English .pdf).

Does it mean I cannot configure an external Midi controller (got a Morningstar MC6 on order) to, for example, always have the Looper controls on bank 1?

Or, for that matter, to change Play modes (Stomp/Snapshots)?

I am trying to decouple the Midi controller from Preset-specific messages as much as possible. I.e., have the controller control as much of the macro-actions (tuner, looper, presets, snapshots) and the HX itself control the micro-actions (blocks on/off). But even with a flexible unit such as the Morningstar, it seems there's limitations to that specifically...

You could, but you'd need to program the Morningstar for each Preset, the way I understand.

There is no way to calibrate a Midi controller to always turn on Blocks 2, 3, 4 etc... They can only toggle specific effects or parameters, within a Preset.

The way I was thinking of setting-up my Morningstar was (and I am not 100% sure I can do this just yet, but we'll see):

* Bank 1 = looper control

* Bank 2 = 6 presets

* Bank 3 = 6 presets

* Each Preset button takes me to a dedicated Bank, with blocks toggle buttons (i.e. I select a Preset, and the same action also changes to the Bank with the Preset's stomp or Snapshot settings)

* Leave the core Unit in Snapshot mode

Or, it may make more sense to leave the HX in Stomp mode, and toggle snapshots only. I got a Boss FS-7 to add two footswitches to the HX, which work as FS4/FS5 for ALL presets (I could, for example, ALWAYS map blocks 4 and 5 to be OD + Mod, and always mapped to FS4 and 5, though the process is roughly the same as if I were to do that via MIDI).

The extent of my Midi knowledge was gathered last night while pondering exactly what you're asking, so I may be wrong :)

I'm not home and can't try it, so I'm sorry for being impatient and asking on here :)

Can the HX Stomp run 2 x amps in parallel?

I saw nothing prevent it from happening. DSP limitations will come into play, but that's not a huge deal for me.

I come from the AX8 where this isn't possible at all, hence my curiosity.

13 hours ago, Emperor_Samoth said:

I'm hoping someone can answer a question I have about connecting the HX Stomp to studio monitors. I'm planning on buying a pair of M-Audio BX8 D3 8" studio monitors for use with the Stomp. Am I able to use Balanced 1/4" TRS to XLR cables to connect to the studio monitors? Sorry if this is a newbie question, I am trying to get as much info before I pull the trigger on this beautiful piece of gear

Yes.

XLR and TRS are just connectors. What goes in the cable is the same.

I use XLR to TRS balanced cables in my system too sometimes, depending on which monitors and cables I have handy at the time.

Those M-Audios also have TRS inputs, so you could also go TRS->TRS on the cable if you wish.

6 hours ago, DarrellM5 said:

 

FS1 & FS2 cannot currently be reassigned.

The tuner can't be decoupled from the tap button but tap/tuner can be reassigned to FS4 or FS5.  FS3 can be reassigned to do quite a few things too.

Thanks; that's indeed exactly what's in the manual and options. Guess there's no override then. Shame; here's hoping future updates allow us to do that! It'd be great to have FS3 always be Stomp 3 (or whichever) + Tuner on long press... or have the Tuner on any footswitches!

Interesting; the Morningstar MC6 and Disaster Area DMC-6 end-up costing the same after shipping.

The Disaster Area can also be found second-hand more locally...

Are they equivalent units?

I've done a bit of reading on it recently and there is a thing I can't figure out...

Can I keep some/any switches on the Midi unit to ALWAYS be assigned to trigger stompboxes, regardless of the Play mode selected on the Stomp?

44 minutes ago, PeterHamm said:

Google "Morningstar MC6". It is exactly what you want.

That is actually one of the contenders, which I saw you recommend quite a bit on these very forums :) Thanks!

I've read-up tons about Midi etc... and genuinely have no clue how to make it all work; I may just have to take the plunge and figure it out on the go.

Re: iPad. Thanks for the suggestions; I have never owned nor care one bit about Apple's ecosystem. I really need/want footswitches and physical hardware here.

This does sound like it'd be pretty cool onstage, to change presets between songs etc... though!

Hi! Before I start some more threads, a few high-level questions...

* Can FS1 + 2 be re-assigned, the way 3 (+ 4, 5) can? Right now, it seems not, but is it ever planned?

* Can the Tuner be decoupled from the Tap button?

   * I'd like for the Tuner to ALWAYS be available on a long-press of FS3, but I do not need the Tap button at all

   * I'd settle for re-assigning the Tuner to a long-press of FS4 or FS5 but that's not in the options

Cheers!

Currently I'm using a Boss FS6, but I need more than 5 switches overall.

I'm thinking I'd like this to be my ideal setup:

3 x footswitches for 3 x presets

2 for stomps

1 for another stomp, Tap/Tuner, or snapshot down, whatever

I could use the unit's switches to bank up/down and select presets in Play mode, but then I'd still want some control over stompboxes.

I feel that it'd be more flexible to keep the Bank up/down + preset selects on the HX, and use the external controller permanently mapped to blocks (for example), 1, 2, and 4 (with the amp in 3).

It looks as if Midi will do it however I am a COMPLETE noob there.

I'm looking at:

* Tech21 Midi Mouse (from my limited experience, it looks like it may store entire presets, but not individual change commands?)

* Disaster Area 3

* insert your suggestion here!

I genuinely have no idea how to program all of this. But I suspect that once Helix Edit supports PC, it will be much easier and be a perfect opportunity to learn.

Thanks for any insights!

Thanks! And I can confirm, it works just fine. I can use these buttons for any of the options available under Global Settings.

Weird thing is:

* I can't reassign FS1/FS2, those are always doing whatever the Play mode is

* I can't assign the Tuner to any other buttons' long press; it's stuck forever with the Tap tempo and hence takes up another extra switch

The last part is particularly jarring: with so little footswitches given the complexity of the unit, why sacrifice one for Tap tempo as condition to get the tuner? Not everyone uses that function while a tuner is much more universal (albeit many players have external units; but making the unit's tuner available on any switch's long press negates the need for an external tuner).

I just ordered an HX Stomp, and even though I have 0 experience with the Helix (I'm an AX8 user), I was thinking of using a spare Boss FS6 I have to get 5 footswitches rather than 3 (I think the math adds-up there...).

I know the unit isn't out yet :) And I DID read the manual, but I'm a little confused about it. For example, it mentions the footswitches can only be used to switch between a Min/Max value of a given parameter?

Hence I am assuming the way this works is similar to existing Helix units. If I'm wrong, may Zeus strike me down right now.

What I'm trying to achieve is:

* Unit's footwitches for 3 channels, i.e. any 3 preset per bank (1+2 and 2+3 together to change banks)

* Keep footswitch 3 on the unit for the tuner, when using a long press

* FS6 toggles 2 effects on/off for each preset (typically, mod + OD)

This brings the Stomp to how I setup the AX8, with a much simpler and smaller setup overall. I don't ever use many more sounds, and if I do they can be on at all times (e.g. Reverb, Comp).

Will this, or a similar variant, be a possibility?

Cheers for indulging my impatience! :D