How to use an external delay or reverb for "spillover" with Helix?

[ricksteruk]

Hi Folks,

 

I really want a Helix, the form factor looks so good and it would be nice to replace existing pedals / switcher / rack into one box which can be easily labelled to see what patch is what!

 

But I really do want some spillover sometimes..  BIG spillover....  yes I know there are ways round this "Two-Tones" in one patch and so on and this may work fine in some situations, but if not...

 

Is there a way to use an external delay as spillover?

 

Or to put it another way....

if I put a regular delay pedal in one of Helix's external FX loops and change presets will the master sound cut out while it's in the process of changing patches?

 

I really want no cut out of sound when patch changing.

 

An other possible thought for a work around would be to place a MIDI capable delay /reverb after the Helix's master/jack outs that could be turned on and off by the Helix's MIDI.  Not ideal I know.... but I think it would work for my purposes using it within a tube amps FX loop mainly.

[HonestOpinion]

Hi Folks,

 

I really want a Helix, the form factor looks so good and it would be nice to replace existing pedals / switcher / rack into one box which can be easily labelled to see what patch is what!

 

But I really do want some spillover sometimes..  BIG spillover....  yes I know there are ways round this "Two-Tones" in one patch and so on and this may work fine in some situations, but if not...

 

Is there a way to use an external delay as spillover?

 

Or to put it another way....

if I put a regular delay pedal in one of Helix's external FX loops and change presets will the master sound cut out while it's in the process of changing patches?

 

I really want no cut out of sound when patch changing.

 

An other possible thought for a work around would be to place a MIDI capable delay /reverb after the Helix's master/jack outs that could be turned on and off by the Helix's MIDI.  Not ideal I know.... but I think it would work for my purposes using it within a tube amps FX loop mainly.

 

A less than ideal as you say workaround but a great idea nonetheless. I would think as long as the decay on the reverb is long enough you should be able to somewhat mask the preset change gap with an external reverb unit as long as it is the reverb's output (not the Helix) which is connected directly to the guitar amp or PA. Otherwise, when the Helix switches it may momentarily mute the reverb.  You may not get the trails within a return loop although I would certainly give it a try. Please let us know how it goes.

[ricksteruk]

A less than ideal as you say workaround but a great idea nonetheless. I would think as long as the decay on the reverb is long enough you should be able to somewhat mask the preset change gap with an external reverb unit as long as it is the reverb's output (not the Helix) which is connected directly to the guitar amp or PA. Otherwise, when the Helix switches it may momentarily mute the reverb.  You may not get the trails within a return loop although I would certainly give it a try. Please let us know how it goes.

 

As I say I've not bought a Helix yet - I'm considering options at the moment - though in every other way it seems best unit for my needs.

[HonestOpinion]

As I say I've not bought a Helix yet - I'm considering options at the moment - though in every other way it seems best unit for my needs.

 

Perhaps some other intrepid Helix users will give it a test.  I am not quite ready to go down that road yet as my whole motivation for getting the Helix was to consolidate my rig but for some users this may be the ideal workaround while L6 works on latency and spillover. Thanks for the suggestion, I may avail myself of it yet.