d0stenning

Yo Freman ..... are you still planning to do a Variax pack someday (Variax + Helix patches? If so, that would be great!

 

 

totally

Nobody got any love for the DivByZero DivBy13  JRT 9/15 model ? 

HELIX Editor: Show Snapshots as 8 separate buttons not dropdown

haven't reamped yet in my Ableton - but definitely possible.

 

Check you have changed the input configuration via the buttons in Preferences - since by default Ableton only enables the first stereo inputs 1/2 and

the dry outputs from the HELIX are - i recall on 3/4 or higher up.

 

 

http://abletonlife.com/setting-up-audio-preferences-in-ableton-live

[ Maybe just the Studio Preamp as a gain stage? ] 

 

​yes some ppl have opted for that and like it.  Its still a tube device though. And adds coloration - pleasant "warmth" or not. 

 

simply adding pure gain - whether by block or simply adjusting the gain of any stage in the chain ( speakers/EQ/output etc ) gives 100% clean gain.

 

​I find the the Studio Preamp colours the JTV acoustic models. - and most HELIX users would say that one should avoid any amp model for the acoustics. just use EQ and effects.

 

​Having said what I did about valve preamps etc adding coloration I've been playing a bit ( only a bit ) with the Mesa IV parametric EQ - which I am guessing has tubes in its circuit modelling 

 

haven't settled on a final archtop preset  solution yet.   partly cos I'm enjoying playing with the Tele and other solid body models these days :)

[I don't particularly like the Jazz Chorus]

 

me neither

try omitting the amp stage - using EQ and just cabs and mics and IRs.

Group the Loop 1.3.1 has just been  released now. 

What's new? Mainly bug fixes and optimisations, but also some important additions such as 48kHz support. I'd recommend this update for all users.

Full change list:
• 48kHz sample rate support.
• More time signature options.
• Virtual MIDI support.
• Updated Ableton Link library.
• Optimisations and bug fixes.

 

 

 

 

http://forum.grouptheloop.com/index.php?p=%2Fdiscussion%2F73%2Fgroup-the-loop-1-3-1-update-is-here#latest

The size of an IR is 9KB after you export from the Helix which is post processing into Helix's native format. I have presets over 40kb so I assume you can have an entire setlist of presets all of which are over 40kb. So from what I can see the IRs/wavs are actually smaller than the presets and would take up less room then the presets.

 

Good point. 

 

But here's the thing.  An IR is basically a WAV that internally is most likely stored as uncompressed PCM because otherwise there are CPU performance hits just to decompress the data. So the size you see for your Its as files is roughly what they will be when stored in flash in the helix. 

 

However if you look at the contents of each HLX preset file you will see something like what is shown below.  The data is in what is known as JSON format.

 

Notice that the amount of characters used for the labels and delimiters etc far exceeds the actual characters needed for the data itself. 

 

Now INTERNALLY - I REALLY doubt this is how the data for each preset is stored. For example there need be no label for each parameter, comas, delimiters, nothing like that. There are far more efficient ways of storing and more importantly - accessing info for access internally such as one of the many database formats.

 

So the space then used internally will be much smaller.

 

 I speak as a programmer here but in any case L6 could confirm this easy without giving away anything proprietary. 

 

Heres what a typical HXL JSON file looks like" 

 

{

Intriguing suggestion!

 

As Helix's Operating System is proprietary to Line 6, and 4 years effort went into designing Helix, it would not be inconvceivable to discover that Line 6 may have planned for reapportioning Helix's memory resources. The current Eight Setlist banks of 128 entires each (8x128=1024 total) dramatically contrasts the much smaller IR capacity of 128 total slots. Perhaps a forthcoming firmware release may offer restructured possibilities for users requiring avgreater IR capacity option in lieu of 8 Setlists.

 

 

the setlists take up very very little data compared to the IR slots.  This is because the setlists ( preset collections ) are merely metadata for all the settings available within a patch. This is tiny. You can see just how tiny by downloading 1024 presets from Customtone (or just exporting from the helix setlists to a directory and then seeing how many megabytes this takes up. Or alternately - look at how big the BUNDLE HELIX backup files are.

 

Then put - duplicating if necessary - copies of all your impulse response files - all 128 of them - into another directory.  Since the impulse response files are actually small audio files you will find this takes up much more data. 

 

I just did this with my 128 IRs  - it comes to around 1MB. 

 

If you look at a bundle - which is ALL the data in ALL the setlists - it takes up under 250KB.  Not even quarter of 1MB. 

 

So even if they reassigned some of the space to IRs it would be a tiny amount extra. Not wirth it. Its possible that the exported files are being compressed - so the space taken up in the HELIX itself for each preset could be bigger but i doubt that much bigger.

 

Having said that 1MB is not a lot of flash storage and i'm surprised there isnt more space inside the HELIX. But personally i think 128 IRs are enough !

Its high time this FR was implemented -  the ability to use CUT to remove a block from somewhere  and then PASTE it somewhere else.

 

Currently we only have COPY.  Give us CUT too ! 

 

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Helix-block-movement-UI-improvement-add-CUT/789848-23508

are they going into the updated 175 pack ?  

 

if so - can you poss include a snapshot for the Mesa IV , DivBy13  and Dr Z like you did for the others ?

Good info - thanks. 

 

Quick question - how many Helix audio channels does the iPhone/iPad see when connected? 

 

 

Its a little unclear and I believe - on my experience it depend on the individual iOS app itself.    

 

Here's a suggestion to take seriously though -  buy the following middleware apps:  AUM -  AudioBus and AudioBus Remote.   Just buy them.

 

And When AudioBus 3 comes out - just buy that too. 

 

AUM helps because once you connect apps such as Loopy HD to the HELIX the global volume controls in the iPad or iPhone become disabled. And to avoid having to go into the global settings on the HELIX and tweak USB1/2 trim   its easier to use the AUM mixer. 

Thanks! does this just send all audio from the phone? can you send audio to the phone as well?

 

 

YES !  its what makes an iPhone or iPad into a versatile add-on effects box for the HELIX -  with the fewest possible number of cables  - where the entire audio path is pristine DIGITAL - In and OUT over USB.   :)

 

And if you use a powered USB2 hub - and plug the camera connection kit cable from your iPhone/iPad  into the USB hub so the iPhone is acting as the HOST - you can then plug in any USB MIDI controllers, pedals and such - to control over MIDI and USB whatever apps you're using in the iPhone. 

 

So for example you can plug in a behringer pedal board, and have control over Loopy HD etc.   Or in my case - Group The Loop. 

yes- definitely get the USB3 Camera Connection kit. IE the latest one.

 

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MK0W2ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter

 

Then get a good quality USB 2 hub with one or more built-in 2.5 or 3A USB charger sockets. That way - as you add your MIDI control devices etc

( pedals/ Morningstar MC6 etc )  you have just the one extra box to handle all your USB needs for attaching to the iPad and HELIX - instead of using a separate  charger for the iPad. 

 

Also handy if you plan to alternate between using an iPad with your HELIX and a PC or Mac is a USB switcher. That way you can - at the push of a button select between your PC as USB Host and iOS device as USB Host. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CU4QD1I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can get metronom/drum machine on your smartphone so just need a simple cable to connect it to Helix. Absolutely not worth occupying Line 6 guys' time IMHO. I agree with 2 - HX reverbs would be definitely appreciated by me.

 

 

An iPad or iOS device connected via USB to the HELIX is the ultimate add-on to the HELIX.  Loopy HD, tons of metronomes, effects, etc.

 

The only thing is  -   as above - we need much more straightforward and immediate access to the USB 1/2 trim option currently hidden layers deep under Global Settings. 

 

Why ? because once you connect an iDevice to the HELIX over USB - the global volume control on the iOS device becomes disabled and not all iOS audio apps have a separate master volume control. And often if they do it isn't easy to access in a I've situation. 

 

So - support the FR right above this one -

 

ONE -   PRESETS FOR EVERY EFFECT TYPE !!!!      AND  GLOBAL EQ  !

 

TWO -   OPTION TO ASSIGN ONE OF THE 6 KNOBS BELOW THE SCREEN TO  USB 1/2 TRIM .....  ALL THE TIME

 

( and yes - i chose capitals deliberately - this stuff needs shouting about ) 

 

An iPad or iOS device connected via USB to the HELIX is the ultimate add-on to the HELIX.  Loopy HD, tons of metronomes, effects, etc.

 

The only thing is  -   as above - we need much more straightforward and immediate access to the USB 1/2 trim option currently hidden layers deep under Global Settings. 

 

Why ? because once you connect an iDevice to the HELIX over USB - the global volume control on the iOS device becomes disabled and not all iOS audio apps have a separate master volume control. And often if they do it isn't easy to access in a I've situation. 

 

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Option-to-use-rightmost-knob-below-screen-for-USB-1-2-Trim/861859-23508?submitted=1

Is there an IR to work with the JTV59 Magnetics ? ( hum buckers ) 

Something tells me that the cable in your link is still a balanced cable. 

 

It can't be.  The jack end is just a normal stereo type jack. Which is of course unbalanced.  So even though the XLRs at the other end have wiring for balanced - eventually they feed an unbalanced stereo jack connector

 

The other idea ( using 1/4" stereo to two 1/4" mono "Y" cable )  is one i am considering. 

i'm considering buying a stereo 1/4 jack to twin XLR female splitter cable and plug the XLRs into the two outputs on my HELIX and plugging the stereo 1/4 at the other end into a passive stereo mixer. There will be a similar stereo jack splitter cable going from the output for the mixer and split into two male XLRs going to my studio monitors. 

 

Clearly this makes the balanced XLR output from my HELIX go unbalanced from hence on.The passive mixer I own ( which takes up very little room and needs no PSU wall wart ) only has 1/4" stereo jack sockets on it. All unbalanced of course. 

 

Is there any danger or problem with doing this - other than the fact that obviously this means i'm then going unbalanced into my monitors ?

 

the splitter cable:  https://www.studiospares.com/Cables-Leads/Leads-Splitter/Pro-Neutrik-Stereo-Jack--2x-Unbalanced-XLR-Female-Splitter-1m_594890.htm

 

and at the mixer output into monitors: https://www.studiospares.com/Cables-Leads/Leads-Splitter/Pro-Neutrik-Stereo-Jack--2x-Unbalanced-XLR-Male-Splitter-1m_594850.htm

 

 

the mixer: http://artproaudio.com/mixers/product/splitmix4/

I'm waiting on my Helix, and wondering if any of you have used it much as an audio interface - not just recording guitars, but for other sources as well?

 

BTW, what is the lowest latency?

 

 

You can set the latency higher than normal than when one might using an amp-sim plugin because you can monitor straight thru the HELIX direct when playing electric guitar thru the helix amp models - even 512. One of the major advantages of buying a HELIX ( or Pod HD for that matter )

 

If you're recording other instruments or using a mic and need to monitor  - or a synth plugin with MIDIyou might need a smaller setting - 256 or less.

 

The HELIX is a high quality interface.

99 little bugs in the code

99 little bugs in the code

Take one down

Patch it around

117 little bugs in the code

Did a bit of digging into what causes this problem.

 

Seems that individual .hlx presets are stored as plain text scripts.

 

There is an entry for each snapshot designating which pedal is selected which i guess must not have been there before as shown below.

 

"snapshot3" : {

"@ledcolor" : 5,

"@name" : "Lead",

"@pedalstate" : 2,

"@tempo" : 120.0,

 

My guess is that for whatever reason this entry is not added in the import or rebuild process for old presets and Helix doesn't enjoy it when it can't find that entry.

 

Because these files are plain text it would be mega easy to make a standalone translation app to translate .hlx from older firmware to work straight away but it seems that the .hlb and .hls files are compressed so it's not as simple to conform them from older firmwares to the new 2.10 syntax.

 

Anyone know anything about zlib compression and wanna throw me some hints on how to extract and recompress them?

 

 

Looks like JSON format to me  ( one for the coder geeks - but useful to know. there are JSON editors out there ) 

 I don't think I'm a fraudster...

 

 Er no ...   Crowdster - maybe 

Theres no reason to start a new Facebook group -  the current one is fine - 100% free. With Plenty of advice from all manner of people. There's a wealth of expertise from a huge array of members. 

 

Sure - theres the odd hint or post to join the premium group - big deal.  Chad has to make a living and he'd prefer if it had something to do with the HELIX or line 6 products. There's also others making a bit from presets. They charge. So what ? 

 

Even if Chad decided to put ALL his effort and time into his Premium group there would still be all the remaining HELIX users who've been using HELIX and are well knowledged in it and guitar matters. 

 

Starting a new group is pointless and splits the community.