BoneToner Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Hey I recently switched to a rack system and have the helix rack, effects gizmo, alembic f2b, a power amp and a shelf powered by a pedal power 2+ These are all plugged into a furman M8dx. And plan to be adding a wireless system for guitar and in ears as well. I will be powering on the power amp seperately but would leaving the helix rack(and everything else except the power amp) in the on position and turning it on/off with the power conditioner damage the helix? I have been careful to power everything on individually but wanted to know if I could streamline the process Also I noticed when switching the helix rack off from the front power switch it makes a crackling sort of noise is this normal? It seems to be functioning properly but I don't want to damage it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_Igloo Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Totally normal. There should be no issue with leaving Helix Rack's (and Helix Control's) power switches on. As with any rig, however, always turn your speakers on last and off first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zooey Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Clearly DI is right in principle, but it's simpler in my basement "studio" to turn my FRFRs on first, then Helix, then grab my guitar off its stand, and get it plugged in by the time Helix boots. Speakers are on the floor, and it's awkward to reach down and behind them to power them on with a guitar around my neck. Yes, I could wait for Helix to boot, turn on the tuner to mute the guitar cable, turn on the cabs, then pick up my guitar, plug it and unmute it, but speakers first is simpler and quicker. And FWIW, I don't hear any bad news sounds from the speakers when Helix goes on with the cabs already live, or when I shut Helix down with cabs on. It's possible I'm doing some sort of damage, but not that I'm aware. Still, if I were you, I'd listen to DI though, not me :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Although zooey is correct about the Helix being well behaved and not sending a nasty surge when it turns on/off, I still have to agree with DI on this one. Even if you have to get a simple extra power strip with a switch it is still always a good idea to turn anything that feeds signal to a speaker on first and then turn on the speaker. When shutting down use the opposite order with the speakers going off first before anything else. You never know when something be it a mixer or an MFX could fail or surge and blow out or damage your speakers. There could also be cumulative damage from lots of smaller surges. Not expecting that to happen with the Helix just describing best practice for on/off order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoneToner Posted July 6, 2016 Author Share Posted July 6, 2016 Awesome! I figured it would all be okay I just wanted to double check with the source. Thanks DI! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
projecttenorb44 Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Curious Bone Toner, since you mentioned an Alembic F2B, are you using your Helix setup for bass and if so is it with an Alembic bass running in stereo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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