Is it normal first up to keep trying to design overly complex presets??

[WickedFinger]

Seems I keep doing dual amps and split path lines when I am not sure it is gaining all that much tone wise.

I did like the template which does a split amp A-B thing which seemed to be a better idea.

By the time I get done tweaking around my presets are loaded up and complex, wondering if backing off to a more "keep it simple stupid" approach might be better. I do love having options of different reverbs on the same preset but I thhnk I am getting carried away amp wise. What do you chaps think? 

[shanecgriffo]

most of my first presets were just- overdrive /amp and reverb . very simple .. i like to just hear the amp but my tastes are pretty simple

[Verne-Bunsen]

I can relate to this, it's like option overload! Everything has to have multiple amps and multiple cabs and parallel signal paths with different effects because... Because it can! I initially felt almost obligated to go full-tilt on absolutely everything. I'm currently swinging the pendulum back the other direction, going back to "Keep it simple, stupid!" To that end, I went and made a "straight into the amp" patch for every amp model, just guitar -> amp -> cab/IR. I've been digging it very much. I'm getting back into exploring what the amp has to offer with different guitars and figuring out how to get more out of everything. I'll add effects here and there, but I'm keeping things streamlined for now. For the record, I did this in my analog life too: my pedalboard would swell to bursting, then I'd ditch it all and go back to straight-into-the-amp. Some things never change I suppose...

[phil_m]

[DunedinDragon]

I think it's very normal for first timers on one of these more advanced modelers.  The truth is, you only need as much as is required and nothing more.  Probably 80% of my patches contain nothing more than an amp, cab, reverb/delay, possibly some modulation, and some type of boost/distortion pedal all contained in a single path.  The fact is, you can make your signal path so exotic that you lose the beautiful rich natural sound of the guitar and amp and your playing.

 

I suggest you start them off as simple as possible.  If there's really something that's missing after that, then and only then go further.

[Rocco_Crocco]

I am keeping mine very simple lately. I don't even use reverb much anymore.

 

Amp, IR, Eq and delay for solo boost only.

[WickedFinger]

I suppose its a stage you go through as there are just so many cool things to try, hard not taste all the goodies. I have run across some cool things messing around.

The path switching options are amazing on this thing rather hard not rig up something out of the norm. I mean sort of the point of having this thing, if you are just going to do an amp sound there is not much point to it. I would sooner go back to an amp and some pedals over not using the unit. I've never been a purist myself. Pedals are what always made the guitar fun and expanded its creativity. 

 

I do really enjoy switching in some cool reverb options over my default reverb and delay but I am trying to just move over to another preset with new ideas rather than just keep loading it up. The second half of the DSP is in the path B line so if you just stay on A you are not calling up hardly anything in the processing. The art to using one of these is to not over process and loose the tone of the guitar and you can adjust things to be more subtle and enhance rather than overwhelm.

One chap had an excellent idea to use the Harmonic Flange but dialed down to where it just enhanced and spread the tone, you could not really hear the flange much at all. 

 

USER PRESETS: ??

I was just going through some of the many user presets on the site and man, there needs to be some sort of quality control on this stuff. I just loaded what was supposed to be a Jimmy Page thing and it had two fully loaded paths that were almost identical BUT with no blocks left and no A/B, merge or blend into the other path, both had MIC inputs and separated. Just made no sense at all. Some really have some great ideas while others are an exercise in WTF. 

[Dshow]

I have always kept things pretty simple. Many of my patches have only an amp with a cab or IR a overdrive (mostly the minotaur used as a boost), distortion and a reverb.

That's it. Maybe a subtle delay if needed.

 

Of course some sounds need some more effects. I've created a patch for Pink Floyd's shine on and this is a dual amp patch with different Amps and IRs and other effects.

[Verne-Bunsen]

...I mean sort of the point of having this thing, if you are just going to do an amp sound there is not much point to it. I would sooner go back to an amp and some pedals over not using the unit... 

 

I don't know, I think that the definition of "using the unit" varies to some extent. For me Helix wasn't so much about the advanced signal routing options (although they are awesome), but was more about being able to plug my Tele into a Deluxe Reverb,my Strat into a Bassman, my Jazzmaster into an AC-30, my Les Paul into a JCM-800... and being able to record without the need for mics or additional interfaces. So even if I'm designing simple patches, I still feel like I'm putting the unit to work.

[DunedinDragon]

I don't know, I think that the definition of "using the unit" varies to some extent. For me Helix wasn't so much about the advanced signal routing options (although they are awesome), but was more about being able to plug my Tele into a Deluxe Reverb,my Strat into a Bassman, my Jazzmaster into an AC-30, my Les Paul into a JCM-800... and being able to record without the need for mics or additional interfaces. So even if I'm designing simple patches, I still feel like I'm putting the unit to work.

 

I think this just highlights the differences in how the Helix can appeal to different types of musicians.  For example, I end up somewhere in-between these two thoughts.  I make extensive use of various amp models using different guitars depending on the style and feel of a song, so the Helix is crucial to being able to do that in a live environment.  Although I'm not a sound experimenter probably as much as WickedFinger, I do make use of some of the more exotic effects if it benefits the song.  More importantly though, the Helix provides me the ability to achieve studio-level capabilities in signal chain routing if called for by a given song.

 

So I suppose the point for me is I'm able to achieve a range of capabilities in a live environment based on what each song might require.

[jpdennis]

Seems I keep doing dual amps and split path lines when I am not sure it is gaining all that much tone wise.

I did like the template which does a split amp A-B thing which seemed to be a better idea.

By the time I get done tweaking around my presets are loaded up and complex, wondering if backing off to a more "keep it simple stupid" approach might be better. I do love having options of different reverbs on the same preset but I thhnk I am getting carried away amp wise. What do you chaps think? 

 

For me it is the challenge of seeing how much I can learn in the Helix's use, how much I can create using either small single signal path tone creations, how full I can use the DSPs, and if I can recreate what I do consistently as opposed to "getting lucky" then forgetting how I got there. :wacko:

 

Currently I have several single signal path creations with various snapshots based upon song structure within a single song.  Then I also have a few guitar in with 2A & 2B to separate out puts using the switch to feature for a crystal clean tone on 2A while using crunch to brutal creamy tone on 2B .  Again I use the 8 snapshots for various adjustments to see if I can use one preset for a whole set; not yet. :blink:

 

Dennis

[WickedFinger]

One thing is for sure, this is a wonderful machine.

I love how something can exceed my capabilities and take some time to fully groc it out, rather than be limiting to your creative edge.

I have been having a lot of fun putting segregated amps on a path A and a path B and having the two channels be able to run either none or slightly different reverb or delays. Still learning some of the various switching options and split,merge things. It can really do a lot of stuff you do not really grasp right away. 

I've had and used several other amp modelers and this one has been really much better and more realistic sounding. The looping and path ability are superior by far.