vigero Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 Hello everyone, I am really new here and with helix line 6. I just brought it home with me and I am already facing a problem. I cant get my signal out. I thought that I could connect the helix to the rear of my neoclassic dv mark cabinet, but the volume is way low. From the manual it seems that can only be connected using the xlr or 1/4" to a PA or the front jack of an amp (which obviously my cabinet dont have). Can I use my dv mark cab or not? Please help!! Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvroberts Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 You connected the Helix to a speaker cabinet? It's an amplifier simulator - but it's not an amp! You need to have an amplifier to power the helix - generally they are built in to a FRFR box - or you use the effects return on a guitar amp. But it needs amplification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 Helix does not provide an amplified signal. You need to run it into an amplifier then to speakers, either a guitar amp to a guitar cab, or to a powered PA speaker system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vigero Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 first of all thank you very much for your replies. Won't the amplifer/guitar amp affect the signal? what do you do to prepare your chain and make sure that the final result will be satisfying when connected to the PA? anyway so do you suggest me to connect my guitar to the helix, the helix to my micro head dv mark, and then go from the micro head to the cabinet? thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 Yes, you can go guitar>helix>DV Head. You don't have an effects loop, so you just have to go through the front end of the amp. You may find some good tones by using the clean channel of the DV and just using preamp models in the Helix. You are not going to hurt anything by using any other combinations of amp/preamp/cabinet models running into your DV, so you just need to experiment. The other alternative is running the Helix into PA. Then, you are building a complete guitar rig in the modeled world. Either way you do it, you can get some fantastic tones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 first of all thank you very much for your replies. Won't the amplifer/guitar amp affect the signal? what do you do to prepare your chain and make sure that the final result will be satisfying when connected to the PA? anyway so do you suggest me to connect my guitar to the helix, the helix to my micro head dv mark, and then go from the micro head to the cabinet? thanks a lot! People differ on this. First, if your amp has an effects loop in you can plug the 1/4 out into that input and use just the second stage of the your amp so that you're depending on drive, eq, etc. from the Helix and only on clean amplification from the amp. However, your sound will be colored by the amp's cabinet and further colored by the microphone and it's placement on the cabinet when it goes to the PA. Or you could do that and go to the PA via the XLR output, but the sound you hear on stage will not be the same as what's coming out of the PA. That's why many if not most of us opt to use FRFR speakers which stands for Full Range Flat Response. Those are nothing more than typical speakers that might be used on PA systems, but mostly smaller sizes that can just be used as stage monitors. That way we run our stage signal into them and our XLR signal to the board and the sounds will match and we can use all the facilities in the Helix without worrying about further coloration of the sound. However you need to be aware that this type of rig is entirely different than a typical guitar amp and is far more like working in a recording studio environment with studio monitors. You'll have much more response in the upper and lower frequency range than what you're used to and will have to adjust that either via hi/low cuts or parametric EQs. Sometimes you can adjust it pretty well just through the use and placement of the mic on Helix cabinets or IRs, but it requires a bit of knowledge about mics and how their placement on the speakers affects the overall sound. In short, there's a lot to learn. But the value to those of us that use this approach is we can achieve a production studio quality sound in a live environment pretty easily. If this sounds like a lot, well...it is. The Helix isn't just a simple effect board you plug in. It's a comprehensive professional environment that will produce the best results for you when you invest some time in learning how to use it's facilities. In short, it's a traveling recording studio with all sorts of amps, cabs, mics, mic adjustments, eq, and effects. So it's best if you take the time, read the manual thoroughly and keep up with forums like this to help you get your bearings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vigero Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 ! Thank you for your thoroughly reply! everything is clear now. I ll dig in and see what happens. The helix was given to me by a friend that's why I did not know about the need of an amplifier or monitor...I thought I could use the cabinet :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 ! Thank you for your thoroughly reply! everything is clear now. I ll dig in and see what happens. The helix was given to me by a friend that's why I did not know about the need of an amplifier or monitor...I thought I could use the cabinet :wacko: You have a very generous friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vigero Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 If I keep it I ll have to pay for it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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