stumblinman

Man, I would LOVE AI auto-volume leveling between patches, or even within the same one with different guitars or even just coil splitting pickups. Some sort of algorithm that can set a minimum volume for when you back off pick attack but still is full volume (up to your predetermined maximum) when you dig in a little more or strum hard but without the squash of a compressor. Would make it much easer for multiple guitar gigs. Sign me up! Or even something as simple as how Kempers profile.. just put a bunch of noise through and set output volumes on all your patches accordingly. That would be sweet! Probably much less CPU intensive as well.

This is where my midi ignorance shows. I didn’t catch the difference when I read it in the manual. Tunnel vision for what I wanted to accomplish rather than what was possible with the amp. That’s why I’m confused I think. I can’t assign a program change back and forth with a single switch can I? I’d have to use snapshots or two switches to go back and forth which won’t work for what I’m trying to do. Dang.

Hey guys, I am a complete newbie when it comes to midi commands and programs, etc. I am trying to figure out how to use a CC toggle to change between two channels on my Soldano Astro. I just want to go from a clean channel to a dirty channel and then back when I press the foot switch again. In the Soldano manual, it says the Astro uses Omni for the channel and uses programs 0, 1, 2, and 3 for the four different foot switches on the Soldano foot switch, but I can’t seem to figure out how to make that correlate to a command on the Helix. I just want to use 0 and 1-like a clean and dirty 2 channel amp. The Soldano uses a 7 pin midi but that only supplies power to light up the LEDs on the switch. I just can’t figure out what to set the command center values to to toggle between the first two amp channels. I’ve watched videos and seem to understand the Helix side, but I still can’t seem to make it change. The only time I hear the relays in the amp change is if I switch to a different patch, then the amp clicks like it’s receiving a command. Help! Thank you.

My difference was simple. Finally got a chance to look last night. Stomp had Outputs at Inst, and LT was at Line. Easy fix, just never looked before.

C'mon now, I think you are being facetious and are aware that the question is: why are products based on the same architecture notably different in volume levels at the same (alleged! I haven't verified my settings yet) volume settings with a patch simply shared between the devices. It's not a "problem" per se, merely an odd characteristic. Could simply be an input/output setting change, or it could be because the Helix/LT is twice as POWERFUL, so it must be twice as LOUD. I dunno. I'll update with my findings when I'm home.

I have the same issue, but coming from the other direction. I've used a Stomp and a Stomp XL for the last few years, and just bought the LT to allow me to move pedals off of one board and onto another to complete three pedalboards for three different locations. Plugging the LT into my Soldano Astro was markedly louder than my Stomp or XL. I thought it was just my imagination but now I'll go dig through the global settings and compare. Thanks for posting this.

Is it engaging the boost or doing nothing? Here's a quick vid to show how to make the changes to (hopefully) make it work. Looks to me like you can assign both the boost and the channel if you use two Helix footswitches and a TRS cable. Good luck! The only other issue might be it uses those Boss type switches that are momentary or whatever. Like the FS-6. Don't own this particular amp so I can't verify.

In the past 4 years, I've bought a Stomp for my son, then a Stomp XL a year or two later to integrate into my Mesa Mark V rig, and then last week bought the Helix LT because the Stomps were underpowered for what I needed these days with my Soldano Astro 20 gigging rig, which is the poly capo and other effects. I've had multiple L6 Pods, DT amps, Variaxes, and now multiple HX products. Oh yeah, I had HXFX for a while as well. In all that time, I've used the amp models less than 10 times. I use it for the multi fx capabilities and routing options. I also have a Kemper which stays at my practice pad and I haul the Stomp XL there just to use the Poly Capo for the songs that require it, and other fx come from Kemper. I WISH the Kemper had the fx capabilities of the HX series. The amps as a whole are great, and once you find a basic amp you're happy with, you should be able to achieve any sound you seek between the amp parameters, dual cabs, IR's, Eq's.. your tones are in there man! I feel like you're kinda getting dogpiled on here, but it's true that your request is fairly niche for the average plank spanker. Head to ideascale and submit or vote up other folks' similar requests and your wish may be granted. In any case, welcome to the forums!

Yeah it has a decent enough speaker. Just really hoped they would fix the shortcomings at some point. It works well as a pedal platform too. I guess it’s my own fault for expecting more. For the money it gets loud enough though, so that’s a positive

Hey all, been a while. Got tired of lugging other more expensive (and heavy) amps around for practices with multiple bands and so I picked up a Catalyst 100 about 6 months ago or more to use as a disposable practice amp. Almost immediately I realized it's unusable live due to the consistently poor channel switch latency, so I've been using pedals ever since to make up for this deficiency. Also, the trim around the knobs immediately came loose and I had to super glue it multiple times to get it to stay. Anyone know why they haven't tried to update this to address the latency issue? After seeing it on sale all over the place, I'm beginning to think they've already abandoned this series. The forums don't seem too active either, which doesn't bode well for the future. Zero firmware updates plus sale prices equal bad news. It's a shame because it has some decent tones. Anyone got the skinny on any GOOD news about the Catalyst? Edit: Went back to look at when I bought it, it was April of last year. Almost a year in now. Time flies!

I have extra speaker cabs, so it’s going into my 2x12 with a Scumback BM75 and a Vintage 30. Bought the Powerhead version. I’m trying to simplify my setup and keep options for tones. I’ll keep my Relay G50 and just use a Wah and Volume Pedal but I’ll be able to do everything else I need with it. I don’t run complex tones and I don’t record at home. I play live and practice for live play, doing covers from 50’s to 2000’s in the rock/alternative vein, so it’ll get me where I need to go. I like the HX effects, but trying to integrate it with a stomp just became too much hassle and too many cables. I’ll just profile my Friedman and be good to go.

Thanks for the reply. I just bought a Kemper instead. But at least the info is here if someone else wants to make spaghetti to try and get tones they want. Kemper made it easy.

Ok, I think I may have sussed it out myself. Let me know if this seems reasonable. 8 blocks to route in the HX Effects, and it's the brain, so this should work. HX Stomp will be in FX Loop 2 on HX Effects. Guitar-->HXFX In-->Dirt Block (#1)-->Tremolo Block (#2)-->Chorus Block(#3)-->FX Loop 1 Send Block(#4)-->FX Loop 2 Containing HX Stomp(#5)-->FX Loop 1 Return(#6)-->Delay Block (#7)--> Solo Boost Block(#8)-->Output When I'm using the Friedman's preamp, FX Loop 1 send and return are active, and FX Loop 2 is inactive. When I press a footswitch on HXFX, it turns Loop 1 send and return off, and turns Loop 2 on, using HX Stomp preamp model, which then feeds thru Loop 2 back into signal chain to hit post amp effects and feed into effects return on amp. Sound right? My brain hurts...

I’m trying to be able to use either my amp distortion or have the option to bypass the preamp and put the hx stomp model into the power amp and keep using the hx effects in proper position pre and post. That’s where I’m struggling. Thanks for the reply.

Edit: I should have specified I’m using my amp as well. Trying to make HXFX, Stomp, and my amp work in harmony, not just HXFX and Stomp. Thanks guys. Been trying to draw this out on paper to figure out how to use HX effects pre and post amp using the effects loop as well as using the stomp for strictly amp models. 8 cable method? I dunno. Can’t seem to wrap my brain around how I would make it work. Hoping to justify simply adding a stomp to my hxfx instead of buying a Kemper so I can do it all. Been using a Kemper and setting up patches for my singer/second guitarist and I really love the sounds I’m getting, but it’s more frugal to add a stomp so that’s my current experiment. I love my Friedman, but I wouldn’t mind having options for Fender and Vox dirt. Anyone else currently running this setup? Thanks.

Be careful with the M5. They have a weird grounding issue with the screws in the feet. If you have issues with it not changing correctly or effing up, google it. I sold mine as soon as I found out what the issue was because it wasn't reliable when you stepped on it to change states.

Return it and get HX Effects if you're happy with your amp but just want more options. HXFX is a pretty solid piece of kit. Other than the hardware issues that require sending it in for IC replacement at your expense, of course. I wish you luck!

Keep your amp, even if you buy a Helix. You will miss real tubes. I promise. Helix is a great studio tool and good live if you are used to playing at home a lot, but it will take time to get used to playing live without a real amp behind you. Helix is neat, but a real amp is invaluable. Keep the amp, but feel free to play with Helix too. I'm sure you'll be happy with both eventually. There is a caveat: some guys can't tell the difference between tubes and digital, so they will sell the Helix like it's the second coming of Christ. It's not. I still hear the digital artifacts with my HX Effects but I've decided to live with it because I like getting rid of 6 other pedals to simplify my board. Buy it from a dealer you can return it to if it bothers you if you hear that digital "plink" on the lead edge of your notes. No matter what though, have fun playing. It's a good product for the price.

Be sure to ask this on the fractal forums as well for opposing views. They may have some useful advice as well. Good luck on your search!

You know what gives you zero latency? A good tube amp and some quality pedals. It's worth trying, I promise. Computers will always have some lag/latency issues.. It's the nature of having to load data. Folks will tell you it's about timing your taps, or building everything into a single patch to prevent it, but in the end, a couple good pedals and a quality amp will get you there without the issues. If you need to go between epic soundscapes with the single press of a button, then by all means, stick with the Helix or the HD500. If you don't like latency, avoid modelers without "scenes" built in. Or spend way too much money and cross your fingers they add it later. Good luck!

Hello all. Been a while. Sold all my L6 gear except my Relay G50, but I still keep tabs now and then to see what's up, and I just had to comment on this. Let's put this in car terms, similar to the Dodge analogy stated by spikey earlier: If you paid full retail price for a Dodge Viper, then had to tweak it for more than 2 weeks to get it to drive in the manner it was advertised "off the showroom floor" so to speak, and were still unsatisfied, would you keep it and keep tweaking? Or would you move on to something else to see if you got results that satisfied you with less effort and only minor tweaking? Regardless of his "skill level" as a mechanic or tone tweaker, if you invest that much time in anything, you should at least see some positive results. He didn't. So he moved on, and decided to make an account to explicitly try to communicate what was missing (to him) and maybe help L6 see some new potential options. He didn't know about ideascale, as he didn't have an account already. To that effect, wouldn't you continue to drive your old car that's reliable and does what you need it to do? I totally get where he's coming from. Been good to see you all. Take care!

All the HD's have this issue and always have.. it's a weird artifact on top of the notes. If you search the forums, there are threads all about it. It won't go away. You won't notice it in a mix, but it stands out like a sore thumb when playing alone. Either live with it, or buy a better device. Sounds harsh, but that's the long and short of it after years of hearing the same complaints with no resolution. Good luck!

I'm sorry you are having this issue as many of us have. I hope you are given an opportunity to exchange the guitar for something more reliable and of higher quality.

It says volumes that they have this many issues with quality control. I've bought and returned at least 5 different JTV's over two different attempts to bond with one. I finally gave up and sold mine again. Luckily I broke even since I got it on sale + 15% off plus $150 rebate. Long story short: they are Chinese-quality guitars with electronics that WILL fail and leave you with an overpriced Chinese guitar. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but take that money and buy a quality American guitar that will still be worth something should you ever tire of it. Good luck!

Buy mine. Everything works perfectly and it has all the amp packs :) Seriously though. Spin every knob and push every button. Check all the input and output jacks at least visually to see if anything is broken. USB port has been shoddily made on several batches, so that's a big one to check. Mine works perfectly though, in case you're interested. :)