Snapshots

[bshaw92]

So after reviewing the description of snapshots it seems that it is similar to the performance mode in Kemper. Can anyone provide anything further that might explain why you would use the snapshot version over the standard preset setup? I get the parameters, but you can change those for each preset. Keeping the last setting (effects on/off) when switching back and forth is the feature that sticks out most for me anyway. Is there any other feature that you've found in snapshot that you love over the standard preset setup?

[silverhead]

There is no noticeable lag time/dropout when switching snapshots within a preset. There is a short but noticeable lag when switching presets, which is audible when switching mid-song in some circumstances.

[DunedinDragon]

I'm probably one of the few folks around here that didn't get excited about snapshots when they were introduced.  That's because I tend to create presets specific to songs rather than have a preset that I use across multiple songs.  That appears to be the main difference.

 

Silverhead is correct in that there is a short lag time between switching presets which can cause problems within a song.  However, it doesn't really affect me because there are several ways to change the settings within a preset by assigning multiple effects/blocks/amps etc. to a single footswitch in order to toggle them, or use a controller assignment which is kind of like a macro button to tweak individual effect or block parameters.  I keep expecting to run into situations that require me to use a snapshot, but so far I haven't needed it since I've never run into a situation where I needed to switch patches in the middle of a song that I can't handle with these other facilities.

 

I think if you're more prone to want to use presets as a way of dealing with different types or genres that are used for multple songs, snapshots might be a more efficient way of doing it.

[bshaw92]

I think I'm more in your camp at this point. I could see either way at this stage. Maybe there will be some other thoughts/points brought to light now that everyone has had some time to utilize the feature since it came out.

[Digital_Igloo]

For guys who prefer the whole pedalboard/switcher paradigm to dozens of radically different presets, snapshots let you create a large switching matrix for all blocks, plus up to 64 parameters can be set to any value—per snapshot—and the whole shebang is recalled instantly. It's a different way of working.

[zooey]

If you don't want to change sounds during a song, presets are a fine way to go.

 

But if you do, then there are several things that make snapshots more powerful than individual stomp switches:

- Parameters can be (really, always are) controlled by all snapshots if they're controlled by snapshots at all, where they can only be controlled by one footswitch at a time. In some cases you can work around that by having different switches control different but kind-of-equivalent parameters, like mix vs bypass, but snapshots are a clean and direct, and not-a-special-case way to do that.

- Selecting one snapshot turns the others off, handy if you have more than two alternatives for something, like drive levels for instance

- Up to 64 controllable parameters, rather than 8 per switch

- As already mentioned, no audio dropout when you change snapshots

 

Also:

- You can still use stomps for ad hoc combinations of fx. I use 4 snaps/4 stomps mode, best of both worlds, and one switch-press away from access to all 10 stomps or all of the bank's presets.

- In terms of how many close-at-hand tone alternatives you have available, snapshots provide another degree of freedom -- you can change either to a different preset or a different snapshot

- I like the mental model of a preset as a cohesive bag of quickly accessible alternatives. Closest thing without snapshots is banks, which you still have with snaps, but IMO it's less likely you'll want to make entire banks into that kind of unit, among other reasons because it takes up a lot of preset "real estate".

 

When snapshots first appeared, I didn't think I could use them without losing flexibility I already had with stomps, because there just aren't enough footswitches to have the equivalent of 10 switches mode. In the end though, I've pretty much made the transition, and it's way easier to deal with IMO. If changing to highest gain mode should also change a bunch of other things, I don't have to worry that something else is already controlling any of them, I can just make the change directly, for that snapshot only.

[DunedinDragon]

For guys who prefer the whole pedalboard/switcher paradigm to dozens of radically different presets, snapshots let you create a large switching matrix for all blocks, plus up to 64 parameters can be set to any value—per snapshot—and the whole shebang is recalled instantly. It's a different way of working.

 

I'm not sure we're talking about "radically" different presets.  A lot of my presets are pretty similar but blocks and signal chain are fine-tuned to the sound of a specific song.  In fact, the complexity of the large switching matrix and parameters is something I prefer not to have to deal with during a performance, and I think that can be a factor as well.  The vast majority of my presets have one, and sometimes two pedals enabled for use because I only assign things I will be needing to change during that song.  Some of them have no pedals enabled as all the effects/amps/cabs are set perfectly for the entirety of the song and I won't be needing to engage/change anything during the song.

 

The way I look at it,  I'm there to play guitar, not play my pedalboard.

[jpdennis]

For guys who prefer the whole pedalboard/switcher paradigm to dozens of radically different presets, snapshots let you create a large switching matrix for all blocks, plus up to 64 parameters can be set to any value—per snapshot—and the whole shebang is recalled instantly. It's a different way of working.

 

When snapshots first arrived I was thinking presets are perfect and I would probably never use snapshots (DI may remember).  Then I used snapshots for Purple Rain one night going from the ethereal rhythm to searing solo and back using the path A and Path B split block concept with one in and two seemingly separate out.  I have found that I can setup snapshots for many things now.  And I still have presets that only stay on the Snapshot one with 10 stomp mode.  I don't do a lot of dancing on the Helix but when I need to I can.  So it can become a matter of one's personal needs. And I have been enlighten to the world of mastering slit block percentage of "offset balance".  But again this is a personal choice for me which fits my needs and playing style on demand.  Nor is it used with every preset.

 

Dennis

[phil_m]

I'm not sure we're talking about "radically" different presets.  A lot of my presets are pretty similar but blocks and signal chain are fine-tuned to the sound of a specific song.  In fact, the complexity of the large switching matrix and parameters is something I prefer not to have to deal with during a performance, and I think that can be a factor as well.  The vast majority of my presets have one, and sometimes two pedals enabled for use because I only assign things I will be needing to change during that song.  Some of them have no pedals enabled as all the effects/amps/cabs are set perfectly for the entirety of the song and I won't be needing to engage/change anything during the song.

 

The way I look at it,  I'm there to play guitar, not play my pedalboard.

 

I think if you are the type of player who has a lot of consistency from preset to preset, snapshots make a lot of sense. For example, if you have a number of presets built around the same core amp sound, having snapshots makes this a lot easier if you decide you want to change an amp setting. Rather than doing it every preset, you can just do it in the one, and that's it... It is a different mindset, really. If you truly "set it and forget it", than there might not be a huge benefit for snapshots...

 

For my acoustic presets, for example, I haven't even messed with snapshots because I don't really ever change anything in them. But for my typical electric playing which is more improvisational, snapshots have been a huge help.

[bshaw92]

I appreciate the responses. It helps me think outside of my box into options that I might not have considered.

[shatters]

I too love the snapshots, I prefer the 4 snapshots on bottom and 4 stomp on top (Stomp/Snap) and then (Stomp mode 10 switches)

Then have the option to go into stomp mode with one quick Mode stomp opening up a possible change for any of my 10 pedals, if I even have 10, usually not, I'm not big on effects.

 

My snaps are Clean, gain, crunch, lead.

or some labeled: Clean, Screamer, Mo Scream, Lead

 

Sometimes in clean or gain, I might like to add Chorus, delay, EQ, Different Distortion/OD pedal, etc...are in the top 4 pedalboard option.

But most my presets are setup for a particular song or songs. 4 presets covers all songs in 1 band I'm in. The other bands are more covers, so I like having all those amps to choose from, Thanks to freeman, I have been setting up my fav's to my liking.

 

What I love about this is that whole concept I been searching for forever, 1 stomp get me were I want to be, no dancing, getting to old to dance, lol

I have tried multi pedalboard loopers, this is the ultimate looper + amps!

[glideman]

I still use presets since I only use 4 snapshot/4 stomp mode.  However, there are a couple of presets that I could use for almost every

song I play during a given night.  The other handful of presets are rigged up for specific specialty songs.  For most of our stuff, I use

the two main presets depending on whether harder rock/rock or blues/rock/pop.  My most favorite preset I could probably use all night

and still not get any complaints.