rwinking

I have a rudimentary knowledge of TRS jacks but I am kind of losing it over using my HX FX for channel switching. I can get my HX FX to change the 2 channels in my amp, which is a Randall RM50 using a normal cable between the HX FX and the amp. There is a ground loop issue going on which is nothing new as I seem to have that everytime I plug a Line 6 product into it(it is an issue with the amp as it did it with other Digitech stuff.) So I run the HX FX into an Ebtech Hum Eliminator and the ground loop goes away but now the channels will not switch. According to the Ebtech manual it is "smart" and can recognize balanced or unbalanced jacks. I am thinking that there is some weird thing happening with how the Command Center on the HX FX is set with Tip vs ring vs tip + ring, etc. Also (I hope this doesn't confuse the issue) I found that if I use a friends ART CoolSwitch Pro it gets rid of the ground loop, and if I switch the transformer-isolate switch it will then switch the channels. I guess I am wanting to know if I can use the Ebtech to get rid of the hum and also switch channels and if so, how? Does this sound like some kind of TRS issue?

As the HX Effects is now a few years old, I was wondering if anyone had any new solutions for a gig bag for it? I looked at an older thread and was hoping that there were some new things out there. thanks rw

Doesn't look like anyone else had this issue but in case you d, I found a solution. I think that for what ever reason, my Helix has an issue with my amp, which is a randall/Egnater RM50. I run 4CM and it hummed there so I put a CoolSwitchPro between the HX and the amp and the hum stopped. The same thing happened when I tried to use the HX FX to switch amp channels and the same solution occurred with the Coo;Switch Pro. Not sure why, but it lifted the ground. I had tried lifting the ground every other way possible and nothing worked. I ordered an Ebtech Hum Eliminator and hopefully will get the same results. I think it is just something with this amp as I have two of them and the same thing happens in each. Please let me know if anyone has had this ground loop experience.

It is like a gas stove vs wood burning. Both will warm you, and they have those fake logs that look pretty good, but the wood fire is warmer.

No kidding about the versatility of the Helix + Synergy! I use mine with an Egnater M50, so I have the possibility of 8 channels, which is overkill. I have been using the Vai module and the Dirty Shirley in the Synergy and then in the M50 I swap out a lot of the old Randall modules that have been modified into just about everything. The Helix rack is amazing for controlling the whole thing. The Line6 stuff is really good but there is still something about tubes.....

I plugged into XP1 to do some channel switching and after set up, it works great. The only problem is a ground loop kind of hum. I tried using a TRS and a TS cable and it did not matter. I read about problems with a Mesa Rectifier but this seems different as this is not a Mesa. It is an Egnater. I use my Helix rack with the amp and have used the channel switching on it with no problem. For some reason it is not liking the HX Effects. Am I missing some internal switch somewhere? thanks in advance rick

Unless I am way off base here, it seems that if I plug an Xpression pedal into XP2 it automatically defaults to and sets up the volume pedal! Either that or some of the stock presets already have it set up, which is great! I can just start with a stock preset and start editing out the other blocks. Thanks for your help here. I have learned how to set up the volume/wah but after learning it, it seems that it has been done for me. Come to think of it, the helix rack had XP2 defaulting to the volume pedal if memory serves.

Thanks Datacommando! However, in looking at these videos, I am going to have to sift through what may be relevant. I have an HX Effects and the videos are for the HX Stomp. There seems to be some differences in menus and such. I did find out something important on the FX Stomp....by pugging the Xpression pedal into XP2, my issue with the pedal cutting out is gone. I am thinking that XP2 is set for volume and XP1 is for other parameters maybe?

I have a Helix Rack and now have an HX FX for smaller stuff. I hooked up a Mission pedal and wanted to use it in the HX FX as both volume and wah. I had a hell of a time getting it to do both and couldn't find a video specifically for the volume side of things. Anyway, I like having a footswitch that toggles btw the volume and wah and finally got it set up. Don't ask me how as I am not sure if I could do it again. The problem is that when the volume pedal is engaged, it goes from zero, starts swelling and then about a third of the way up, it cuts out and then starts swelling again and works fine the rest of the way to 100%. It's not the pedal as when I use it as a wah, it is very smooth. It does it on either log or linear. I also just noticed that it does it on the way down....full volume, then it tapers, cuts out and then continues the taper. Any hints?

Much as I like the amp/cab models, I never use them live as I like my own tube amps too much. I think I would be using the HX FX for the time based DSP using FX so that would mean after the loop? I noticed on the HX FX that I can use it to switch channels on my amp, which would be a cool thing to have when using the GO.

So I really like the POD Go and the simplicity of it. However, there are some gigs (perhaps some day after covid) that I would like more FX blocks. One solution would be to put the HX FX in the loop of the Go or vice versa. I do the 4CM and am having trouble conceptualizing how I could put both together and still do 4CM. Any thoughts? rick

4CM rules with the Pod Go. I don't have any pronlem leveling or tweaking. Maybe I am used to it. I have it set up as an FX unit but at a moments notice, I can flip to using it for the amp models. It is really pretty simple and as someone said, with the FX loop it goes back and forth with ease.

Same with me...I use the Helix rack for my main rig and this is a great small gig/rehearsal rig, I would love it if I could swap that eq out for something else. I don't think it would be that big of an issue for them to pull this off.

I went ahead and picked one up and really like it. The annoying thing about it and hopefully they may change it is even though you can use up to four FX blocks (which I use for FX, 4CM with an external amp) there is a fifth one, the parametric EQ, that you can turn on or off but would be nice if it were optional as I rarely use it. For anyone new to this, as an example, I bypass the amp/speaker cab and just use the FX. I can use a distortion, tremolo, delay and verb and that's itI can change any one of those to something else but always four. Then there is the parametric EQ, which you can't swap out for any other FX. You get a choice of eqs but you can't swap it out for say, a chorus or compressor. It would be nice if they change it at some point. rick

I have a HELIX Rack and floorboard and love it of course. Sometimes it is overkill for certain gigs, rehearsals. I use only the FX on it and then have the amp models as a backup, which I have never needed. I was looking at the POD Go and saw something about it always having an amp model in every preset which is something I probably would never use. Is it worth while to get one just to use for FX? I generally love Line 6 FX (the reverbs are somewhat "meh") and I sold all of my pedals except a couple that I can integrate with any Helix stuff and it looks like the Go has an FX loop too. What do you think as far as using it just for FX or is there another unit that would be better for that like the Stomp or HX FX? thanks in advance, rick

Oh Yeah,,,,,computer version means Native. And my interface, the Antelope zen is a really good one. Thanks QWERTY42. I downloaded your clean strat tone and at first it had the same issue.....it sounded kind of overdriven and again, not in the clipping sense. Anyway, I backed off the gain and it was clean. The odd thing was I boosted the gain on the sample and it stayed clean. Not sure what this means but at least I have a clean tone now to work with. Muchos Gracias!/ I really appreciate your help on this! rick

I'm using a Zen Studio by Antelope. I thought of the input being too high but it sounds more like tube "warmth/Distorion" rather than clipping. It is hard to get enough level into protools without the gain on the Helix amp model turned up to at least 11:00. The two cleanest models I am guessing are the Jazz Chorus and the Twin and I am very familiar with both of those amps. I just can't get the Helix to sound like them. Even the deluxe model sounds great when it is doing the down and dirty but I have not been able to do the cclean that I am familiar with. I am pretty sure it must be me as I can't imagine Helix not being able to pull it off as they do everything else so damn well.

I have a Helix rack that I use live but for FX only as I like my tube preamps. The issue is on my computer when I try to record with the Helix computer version. I can't seem to get a clean tone. I have a real twin and have owned Deluxes, Vox's etc. over the years and with most amps you have to really have them up pretty loud to get them to break up....like up to five on the deluxe and the twin? Sometimes it just won't break up. Now i like distorted warm sounds so don't get me wrong. But with the Helix and the clean sounds, there is still a little bit of grit even at low gain settings. I am using an old vintage tele and the pickups are not that hot. Same with my Les Paul or Epiphone Casino. I was trying to do a jazz tone on a 335 and same deal. It is not an unpleasant tone at all but I would love to clean it up. Am I mssing something or has Helix not pulled this one off? And yes, I have tried different speaker emulations...

Worked like a charm! Thanks a lot.... rick

Found it! Thanks. I will be trying it soon....

Where do I find 2.91? When I go to downloads it only has 2.9.

I have a HELIX Rack and since the update to 2.90 the tuner has been weird. I turn it on and the tuner will not work as though nothing is coming into it. I also notice that if a block is on, the footswitch on my control will turn it off on the screen but it is still on sound-wise. I can also use the bypass button on the rack and I can see the block go off but it is still on. If I turn the unit off a few times it eventually starts working. Both the tuner and the FX block issue. Is this something that I can fix by re-updating or do I need to send it bakc. Since i lost all of my gigs from covid, if I have to send it back, now is the time to do without the Helix! thanks rick

Thanks everybody. You guys are great. I totally forgot that the update changes the globals, I looked and yep, I needed to not do a global restore but just change the loop setting on FX 1. You all saved me hours of frustration and swapping out tubes, cables, etc. rick

Not sure how to do that and didn’t know I needed to. Would something in the global settings create the clipping? That would be great if the solution is so simple!

Anybody experiencing any clipping with the new firmware? I run a Synergy 2 preamp out of my Helix Rack and maybe it is coincidence butall of a sudden when I am in really high gain territory I am hearing an electronic clipping. Since I am using it in FX Loop I, I can now see the clipping in the icon as it is red almpst all of the time. thanks rick