soundog

I have an old L2T I'd like to rewire as a powered guitar cab. So, bypass the digital a/d d/a stuff and go hi-z git direct to the L2T amp and speaker. Has anyone tried this? Update: the power amp is a Hypex Electronics audio amp module, slightly customized for Line 6. After examining the ins/outs and finding a lack of reliable schematics, I've decided to not mess with it. Instead, I've simply bypassed the HF compression driver from the circuit (replaced with a wire wound resistor). I run the L2T flat (Reference/PA) for using it as a straight 1x10 guitar cab. This sounds much better to me than the "Electric Guitar" 2-12" emulation response, which I feel added too much high end and bass boost. I can switch in the tweeter when I use it for a PA. Yeah, the guitar still goes through a/d/a, but it's good enough for home use!

Well, this is an old thread! I just saw it. Open up the back of your cabinet (easy with cordless drill, phillips head) and look inside. You will see the wires going from the circuit board to the speakers. Are any of the connectors loose or disconnected? Does the speaker seem OK? You could send another audio signal to the speaker and see if its blown. If you're lucky, the speaker is disconnected. BTW, replacement speakers are very affordable if needed.

Rule of thumb: if AutoTune is bundled in a hardware guitar pedal, run away!

Well, I might still use my Helix Stomp for live performance (where it becomes more difficult to distinguish differences, and where the Stomp provides good effects in the same box). But for me, for studio recording, Tonex has completely replaced Helix and HX Native for amp and cab modeling. (FYI, I spend zero time in a model or IR "rabbit hole" because I have the handful of amp+cab tones I need.) That's my opinion this year. Pick your favorite and learn to use it...

Try this simple experiment. Try putting a simple Hi Cut, Low Cut EQ block at the end of your block chain (or after your amp and cab/IR), roll off the high end starting at 4K, and then adjust up to see if there is a sweet spot through your PA that gets rid of the fizz without cutting too much high end off your guitar.

@jpspoons - support for rotary encoders is hit and miss in DAWs and hardware devices. I tried building and programming encoders for months trying to get them to work with Helix Native in Logic Pro, and finally gave up. Be happy if you can get things working with simple rotary pots sending CC 0-127 messages. Then if you have (lots of) time and sanity on your side, you can start trying to get encoders to work. I'd reach out to the support folks for your controller and see if they can lend a hand....Helix will only understand the usual CC0-127, and there is no two way communication of the MIDI parameters.

I've been using Gig Performer (plug-in host) as a front-end to my DAW (Logic Pro). I split the guitar input using a Samson MDA1 passive DI so that one split output goes into my Apollo interface as a "clean" channel. The other split output gets routed through Gig Performer, hosting whatever plugins I want (TONEX and Helix Native are used in screen capture below). When I record tracks, I record 1 mono dry guitar, and 1 stereo wet guitar track (using a virtual stereo track from Gig Performer into Logic). I can reamp the dry track later if needed, or commit to the wet track. In my headphones or monitors, I hear the wet guitar mixed with my DAW recorded tracks. Yes, I could simply use live monitoring through my DAW, but when playing back lots of recorded audio or virtual instrument tracks, latency can become a problem unless you've got a computer with lots of horsepower (or if you freeze tracks). I'm running Gig Performer at 32 samples, so latency is a non-issue (only 6 ms). I simultaneously run Logic Pro with as large a buffer as needed when tracking. There are likely other plug-in hosts (free or $$) that would allow a similar workflow, but I prefer Gig Performer (and sometimes use it for live gigs via a laptop.)

@scotwilliams - If you want control over your DAW input levels from Helix, run an output from your Helix into your audio interface, and set the level there. Just make sure you provide yourself with enough headroom...

Did you actually buy one and spend time comparing? I did. When comparing just an amp + cab alone, I find the TONEX pedal to be superior (tone and response) in the studio, and I'm able to dial in optimum results much quicker. Live (with band and venue acoustics), the difference is not as significant. And, of course, Helix has pre and post effects out the wazoo!

This issue is discussed in other threads here. The old legacy Workbench is only reliable on older systems. I use Macs and tried using emulation software running Mountain Lion on a Catalina-based Mac, but that didn't work. I ended up using a very old Macbook (one of the white plastic ones) running Mountain Lion, and use it now for running older software for older equipment such as a Variax acoustic 700. Its a workaround for sure, but that's your best solution. If you don't have an old clunker Macbook, check Craigslist or Ebay. Macbook 2013 looks like thet're selling for around $120. This is the main drawback of Variax guitars. If you need to edit their sounds, you're sheet out of luck over time. A "real" guitar can be passed on for generations!

It won't hurt anything. The Voicelive recognizes chords a lot better if they are clean, with no distortion or effects. So why not use one of your sends, and use a send block before any other blocks and send that mono signal to the Voicelive?

Whoa! Those top two are pretty neat, and better than the one I mentioned IMHO.

But it might be useful for lonely people to have long pointless discussions that go nowhere. Like this one.

I'm not about to really try to write an editor. The problem is not big enough to create the solution. In the meantime, I found this nifty (but dated) hlx reader that lets you view blocks and parameters. It might come in handy for offline preset viewing. If nothing else, its a curious novelty!

That all makes perfect sense. Thanks, all, for clarifying "why". I gave up on using IdeaScale. I figure Line 6 gonna do what they want at this stage of the game. I own Native, so I sort of follow @codamedia's process. At least Native (or Stomp + Helix) owners have a workaround. Someone could perhaps write a utility to edit hlx files offline. Maybe I'll do that today. I know Line 6 doesn't monitor this forum, but sometimes I just feel like whining into the wind. I'm going to make some more coffee.

This has been bugging me for months. I have lost sleep and am irritable: If I have a Helix preset (using more than 8 blocks) and I want to edit it for use on my Stomp, I have to use silly workarounds. Otherwise, I get a "dsp block constraint exceeded" error in HX Edit when the Stomp is connected. One workaround I've used, for example, is to load the Helix sample into Helix Native, remove some blocks, save it, then load the slimmed-down preset in the Stomp. Or I can do cumbersome edits of the .hlx file. Painful. Is there no other easy workaround?? Some suggested future HX Edit behaviors: Allow the user to load in a big-lollipop Helix preset even when a Stomp is connected, edit it, and then don't spit out the error message unless the edited file still exceeds block constraints. Or, allow an offline mode for editing with no hardware attached. Or, there must be dozens of other elegant solutions.

Plenty of good suggestions here. Keep in mind that for studio speakers you usually pay more for accuracy. If you are focused on Helix guitar playing rather than critical DAW mixing, you can focus more on price and power/watts than spendy brand-name flat frequency response curves. Don't gotta be accurate, just loud and reliable.

OK, just bought a TONEX pedal. It includes the software/plug-in version of TONEX. Guess what? TONEX includes a standalone version of the software. Every guitar amp modeler/profiler that I have purchased in the past 5 years (Helix Native, several Neural DSP, S-Gear, and TONEX) includes a standalone software version except for Helix Native. I think that's just silly. And perhaps even inexcusable.

Zombies indeed! Yeah, provide some detail. What is the source of the MIDI notes, for example? How is your Stomp connected to your iPad?

Very interesting. I can even hear the improvement on my laptop speakers! (And fwiw, I ordered a TONEX pedal; I couldn't pass either.)

Literally!! Don't feel bad ... I had the same thing happen to me once; not sure if it was on one of my Variaxes or not. I now keep some longer allen wrenches handy. Happy that you go it sorted out. Enjoy that guitar!!!

More suggestions here:

Ha ha! That's what I do .... I've got an ancient plastic Macbook I'm using for old equipment updating, including Variax 700. Know that you also need one of the old Variax USB dongles that connects your Variax to the computer.

I don't have an off-the-shelf switch I recommend over others, although there are plenty out there. Maybe others will chime in. I've built and used Teensy-based controllers. If you've got the time to build and program one, I'd say go for it. However, the cost can run up quicker than you expect, especially if you use good switches + LEDs (LEDs, power, and DPDT switches are a requirement, I think, so you are aware of switch status), MIDI connectors and a good enclosure. It's easy to underestimate the amount of time it takes to drill enclosures, wire, solder, troubleshoot, program, trouble shoot some more, etc. The good part, though, is that you will end up with exactly what you want, save some money, and you will be proud of what you built. Re Hotone, you can add extra ones to get more switches, and mount them if you need more stability. I've used them with success with a MIDI-based live setup. Cheap, but no LEDs!

Very cool, thanks for sharing. I've used Hotone MIDI foot switches and found them to be well designed, versatile, and very affordable.