HX effects with PA system

[DBFX225]

Hello! 

I am looking forward to buying HX effects, but I wonder if I can use it with a PA system without any amplifier. Is that possible using HX’s IR? Would love to see a video of how it would sound.

[rvroberts]

There are no amp sims in the HX Effects - the other versions of the Helix are intended to be able to feed to a PA not the HX Effects. 

[DBFX225]

32 minutes ago, rvroberts said:

There are no amp sims in the HX Effects - the other versions of the Helix are intended to be able to feed to a PA not the HX Effects. 

Thank you for the reply, but doesn't it have IR? Doesn't that make you able to put a cabinet simulator in the end of the chain and be able to send the sound to the mixer?

 

[rvroberts]

A cab is not an amp - the sound you think of as a typical guitar tone is a combination of the amp and the speakers. The idea of the IR is so you can use your amp through some load box and back into the Helix (at line or instrument level - not speaker voltage), then apply say reverb or delay and go out to a DAW - or in fact potentially a PA.  But the amp is the missing link.  The real idea here is for recording.

Otherwise why would you pay for the full Helix - even the LT?  I would say that you could get a few interesting sounds direct from the HX Effects, but it would not be replacing your amp rig.

Assuming you are looking to get classic electric guitar sounds...................could work as you describe as an acoustic rig - but you probably wouldn't use IRs then unless they were acoustic IRs - have read that you can do significant enhancement to acoustic sounds from inbuilt piezo/mic systems with suitable IRs.

 

[DBFX225]

1 hour ago, rvroberts said:

A cab is not an amp - the sound you think of as a typical guitar tone is a combination of the amp and the speakers. The idea of the IR is so you can use your amp through some load box and back into the Helix (at line or instrument level - not speaker voltage), then apply say reverb or delay and go out to a DAW - or in fact potentially a PA.  But the amp is the missing link.  The real idea here is for recording.

Otherwise why would you pay for the full Helix - even the LT?  I would say that you could get a few interesting sounds direct from the HX Effects, but it would not be replacing your amp rig.

Assuming you are looking to get classic electric guitar sounds...................could work as you describe as an acoustic rig - but you probably wouldn't use IRs then unless they were acoustic IRs - have read that you can do significant enhancement to acoustic sounds from inbuilt piezo/mic systems with suitable IRs.

 

Thank you very much! Helped me out a lot;)

[codamedia]

3 hours ago, rvroberts said:

There are no amp sims in the HX Effects - the other versions of the Helix are intended to be able to feed to a PA not the HX Effects. 

 

^^^ This ^^^  along with "rvroberts" other post is absolutely correct... the HX is not intended as a direct solution. 

But to play devils advocate... it is possible and it does sound really nice :) I play my HX direct in my home studio for practicing so I do know it sounds great with an IR.

 

The preamp of an amplifier is nothing more than a gain and EQ section, how they shape these is what makes an amp different from another. The HX has a lot of gain and EQ to choose from... so although you may not copy an exact amp tone, you can still get a great sound.

 

Here is a recipe that will certainly setup a decent "amp like" tone even if it isn't a particular amp model. 

 

1. A nice light compressor (3 band or studio comp will work good)... This is purely optional, but I find either of these will add a softer attack, much the way a tube amp responds.
2. A very light overdrive, or boost..... or both. This will simulate your gain structure in an amp. Use the Teemah for a gritty amp, or the Kinky Boost for a cleaner tone. Experiment with other boosts and drives as you wish. 
3. The Cali EQ... this helps shape the tone similar to a amps EQ. The other EQ's will work as well but this one may be the easiest. 
4. If you don't have a nice selection of IRs yet, download the free L6 ALLURE IR pack to get you started... I find them quite usable. 

 

NOTE: The order of your gain blocks and EQ block make a big difference... just as in real amp design. Different amps insert their EQ into different areas. 

Example: Comp > Teemah! > EQ > IR will sound/respond very different than Comp > EQ > Teemah! > IR

 

Another route you can go is an "amp in the box" pedal. There are many great offerings from Wampler, Catalinbread, etc... etc... Put one of these these in a loop and then into an IR... voila! 

[HonestOpinion]

There are some nice "amp in a pedal" options which include both amp and/or cab simulations. One of them along with an HX Effects would make for a nice compact gigging/practicing option. Placed a couple of links below but their are many others on the market now to choose from. The HX Effects with an amp-only simulator pedal along with a PowerCab+ would be an enticing option as well. At some point though you start leaning towards a Helix or LT which has amp and cab simulation built in. The HX Effects was definitely primarily targeted towards the pedalboard into a guitar amp crowd. No reason it can't be used in any fashion you prefer though.

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BinaryAmp--hotone-binary-amp-simulator-pedal

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SansAmpGT2--tech-21-sansamp-gt2-tube-amp-emulator-pedal