DBCrocky Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 On a multifx unit with two rows of foot switches, it's kind of obvious that the switches on the bottom row are much easier to use than the top row. On the bottom row, you can position your foot over the switch with your heel on the ground, and then press the switch exactly when ready. For the top row, you have to balance on one foot and make a stab. That being said, it seems to me it would make sense to put the footswitches you would use DURING a song on the bottom row, and the switches you use BETWEEN songs to set a new song on the top row. Given this, it would make sense to put the Bank Up and Bank Dn switches on the top row. Not only does this give you an extra switch for use during songs, it eliminates the chance for the disastrous accidental hit of the Bank Dn button, which sends you into the embarrassing "Tap Dance of Shame". to recover. Just Food For Thought. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 What you say does make some sense but only as an option. I wouldn't mind trying it that way (although I am not sure about the "Tap Dance Of Shame" part). It does fly in the face of convention as it seems many pedalboards have been designed with vertical bank buttons. Nothing wrong with that though. The Helix does provide a great deal of flexibility in footswitch assignments, better than many pedalboards I have used in the past. However, I have been seeing a lot of posts lately requesting alternate footswitch arrangements such as being able to reassign the tap tempo/tuner, mode, or bank switches, or different combinations of preset, snapshot, and stomp . Perhaps eventually the trick (if certain switches are not "hardwired" to what they control) will be allowing the user to configure all of the switches on the Helix as they see fit. Different users have different requirements and no one setup is inherently "wrong" if it works for you, freaky and inane as it may seem to another user.I think part of the dilemma for the maker of a pedalboard in providing too much flexibility in footswitch assignments is that people start getting confused about switching operations and assuming (and posting) that their device has a glitch or is defective. We see a fair number of posts on the forum in that vein even with the footswitch options currently available. With that said though, I usually err on the side of maximum flexibility and would rather have extra options and educate myself on the device's operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicLaw Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 <Snip>I think part of the dilemma for the maker of a pedalboard in providing too much flexibility in footswitch assignments is that people start getting confused about switching operations and assuming (and posting) that their device has a glitch or is defective. We see a fair number of posts on the forum in that vein even with the footswitch options currently available. With that said though, I usually err on the side of maximum flexibility and would rather have extra options and educate myself on the device's operation.I too favor user options and maximizing features and flexibility. The problems are that many users do not thoroughly educate themselves nor read the User Manual and Release Notes to familiarize themselves with available options. The deeper the options become, the more likely users will never discover them. There's also the requsite programming resources to implement such optional features that may serve only a small portion of the user base. Absent a larger programming team, this may divert such resources from improving and working on more justified features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I too favor user options and maximizing features and flexibility. The problems are that many users do not thoroughly educate themselves nor read the User Manual and Release Notes to familiarize themselves with available options. The deeper the options become, the more likely users will never discover them. There's also the requsite programming resources to implement such optional features that may serve only a small portion of the user base. Absent a larger programming team, this may divert such resources from improving and working on more justified features. Agreed, development resources are finite and are often directed such that the most coveted, criticized, or critical features tend to get the lion's share of attention. Max flexibility for footswitch options seems like a relatively laudable goal and good use of resources. 'Course my opinion is totally relative and dependent on Line6 and other users' priorities... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksteruk Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I'd really like to be able to move the Bank buttons too. When I'm trying to sing, play and press a stomp at the same time I have on occasion accidentally pressed the bank down button - it's really hard to figure out what went wrong and get back to where you should be without having to start staring down at the floor and moving away from the vocal mic. The easiest button to successfully hit without looking is the bottom left - shame its a bank button :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specracer986 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Well, I've done the "Tap Dance of Shame" on stage, in front of people! The real problem is it took me a second to figure out what had happened. But, I also like keeping effects on the top row for turning on and off without changing snapshots. This often allows me to use one patch for two or more songs that have varying needs. So I'm not sure I'd want them to change anything. But me having the option to reassign that button might be helpful. I've learned to be extra careful at rehearsals, but at a gig, anything can happen and usually does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBCrocky Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 I am glad to hear others have issues with accidentally hitting the bank down button. It would be nice to have a feature to switch the bank down button with switch 2, this shouldn't be that difficult, and it might be nice to have a stomp on the bottom row with my snapshots. But really, I am just hoping maybe the folks at Line6 might think about this as they design future products. Besides there are solutions, at least for me since I use the bank buttons to switch presets. The first would be to get a Midi Foot controller with the bank buttons on top, like the Roland FC-300, and use it to control the Helix. Or, if you're really into Scribble Strips, the high end RJM controllers would foot the bill and allow you to put your bank up/bank down buttons wherever you like. Of course, this is expensive. I am going to try my other solution. The first part is to get some kind of cap to place over the Bank Down (or BankUp and Bank Down) switches so I cannot hit them. The second part is to get one of these: http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/effects/midimouse.html connect it to the Midi In, and use it to change presets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBCrocky Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Oh, and if you are doing banks, it looks like the Bank Switches on the LT are Sw 1 and Sw 7, which correspond to Midi CC# 49 and 54. So you could use these: http://www.midisolutions.com/proddfs.htm and https://www.boss.info/us/products/fs-6/ Kinda sucks to drop $260 on this, though, but if you need bank up and down on external switches... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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