Newbie - validate my preset/snapshot plan...

[Fireproof]

Hey folks,

 

I just picked up the Helix LT and have not yet created any custom presets or snapshots.  I've just been reading what I can and playing around with the internal presets so far.

 

I'm trying to map out my "plan" before I sit down and start creating stuff.  I wanted to see if I could get your feedback that what I'm thinking is reasonable.  OR - if you have an alternative that I should consider - please share it!!

 

My situation: Non-gigging hobbiest who gets together with friends or family to jam.  We'll do anything from just blues jamming to cover tunes spanning the 70s to 90s for the most part.

 

So since I'm not in a band - I have no need or interest in "per song" presets at this point.  I just want to create a handful of presets that I can easily call up to "get close" to whatever song or artist we are playing along with.  Doesn't have to be exact - but obviously something "metal-ish" for metallica, vs. marshall crunch.  Hope that makes sense.

 

So here's what I was THINKING (you tell me if this is a good idea or not):

1. Create several base presets that start with an amp and effects for different genres I may play.  Something like:
   1. Fender-based blues
   2. Marshall-based classic rock
   3. 80s hairband style
   4. Metal
2. Then for each preset, I would create 4 snapshots
   1. Clean (or clean-ish)
   2. Crunch
   3. Gain
   4. Lead
3. Also in each preset would be some commonly used effects enabled like reverb or overdrive, as needed.
4. And, I was thinking of dropping in some other effects I *may* want to enable for fun (something like delay or extra fuzz or wah)

And then I would play in Snapshot/Stomp mode so I can just start with the appropriate preset, but then enable/disable some of the snapshot options or extra effects as needed.

 

Does that sound like a reasonable approach?  Outside of the above, I could have some song-specific stuff like a dialed-in delay sound for U2 or Pink Floyd or something.

 

I'm currently a bit overwhelmed with all of the possibilities, so I'm trying to get in my head how I might organize some sounds.

 

Would appreciate if you could:

A) Tell me if you think I'm on the right track or not, and offer any tweaks or suggestions for improving my plan

B) If you are doing something similar - feel free to share your setup!!

[phil_m]

Sounds like you're on the right track to me.

 

I kind of do something similar. I do play in a few bands, and I have some song-specific presets. I also have some instrument-specific presets with snapshots. But beyond that, most of my presets are built around a core amp sound, and then I use snapshots to create different sounds with that amp and the effects in that preset. Like for one of my most used Deluxe Reverb presets, I have snapshot like Clean, Crunch, Clean Tremolo, Crunch Tremolo, Clean Delay, Crunch Delay, Clean Rotary, and one called Nimbus (which is using a preset in the Strymon BigSky pedal). I can go into stomp mode and turn individual effects on and off beyond that if I want to. But I find if I have a few basic presets where I have options set up, I don't often need to do that.

[Fireproof]

Sounds like you're on the right track to me.

 

I kind of do something similar. I do play in a few bands, and I have some song-specific presets. I also have some instrument-specific presets with snapshots. But beyond that, most of my presets are built around a core amp sound, and then I use snapshots to create different sounds with that amp and the effects in that preset. Like for one of my most used Deluxe Reverb presets, I have snapshot like Clean, Crunch, Clean Tremolo, Crunch Tremolo, Clean Delay, Crunch Delay, Clean Rotary, and one called Nimbus (which is using a preset in the Strymon BigSky pedal). I can go into stomp mode and turn individual effects on and off beyond that if I want to. But I find if I have a few basic presets where I have options set up, I don't often need to do that.

 

Ooh - thanks for the feedback!  Very helpful and great to know.  That brings up a question:  If I were to do 8 snapshots in a preset like that, I'm assuming I would play in "snapshot mode" where I can access all 8 easily.  How easy is it to get to stomp mode, from that mode, if I wanted to turn a specific effect on or off.   I'm not sure how likely that will be if I use all 8 snapshots, but just trying to think ahead so as to minimize tap-dancing.   

[vmoncebaiz]

That's a really good way to do it.  I highly recommend making patches with two amps for switching between cleaner and gain-ier sounds in the same patch (spillover, no switching lag, and more options, especially with snapshots)

 

 Once you've got it set up with some effects, you can use that as your template for other patches and just swap the amps and effects as you need.  Remember to set up snapshots last as those would be lost if you change the amp or effect block to another model.

[vmoncebaiz]

Ooh - thanks for the feedback!  Very helpful and great to know.  That brings up a question:  If I were to do 8 snapshots in a preset like that, I'm assuming I would play in "snapshot mode" where I can access all 8 easily.  How easy is it to get to stomp mode, from that mode, if I wanted to turn a specific effect on or off.   I'm not sure how likely that will be if I use all 8 snapshots, but just trying to think ahead so as to minimize tap-dancing.   

In the menu -> global settings -> foot switches.  Rotate it all the way clockwise for "8 snapshots".  The mode button will change between 8 snaps or 8 stomps.  Then the FS1 and FS7 will still work for changing presets.  as soon as you change a preset, it will return to the snapshots or stomps you were previously on.  That's how I have been running mine and I love it.

[phil_m]

In the menu -> global settings -> foot switches.  Rotate it all the way clockwise for "8 snapshots".  The mode button will change between 8 snaps or 8 stomps.  Then the FS1 and FS7 will still work for changing presets.  as soon as you change a preset, it will return to the snapshots or stomps you were previously on.  That's how I have been running mine and I love it.

 

Yep, this is what I do to... Technically, I guess I never truly go to snapshot mode because I'm always in preset mode masquerading as snapshot mode.

[PeterHamm]

That is a great plan imho.

[Fireproof]

Awesome - thanks for all the good feedback so far guys.

 

And @vmoncebaiz - thanks for the step-by-step.  That's very helpful.