New to Helix - Question

[jacobhilt]

Hey all! 

 

I just ordered my first helix. I'm excited and I cant wait to dig into it. I have 1 big question. I am coming from an analog peddle setup, with either a vox ac15, or a Marshall half stack where everything I did could be set up before I left the house. I am excited to use the helix direct and I am wondering what the best option will be to set my tones for playing live, before I show up to rehearsal. I don't have much time before rehearsals to play around with it, so I would like to get it pretty close to "plug and play" before I leave home. Obviously running it through either one of my amps will change the tone when compared to plugging into the house. Can I use a quality pair of headphones (or IEMS's) to set it up at home, or is there something else i might be able to do? I know i wont be able to get it perfect, but i want to minimize set up time before rehearsal. Forgive my "ignorance" I am new to the multi-effects proccessing/helix world. 

 

Thanks! 

[DunedinDragon]

I use a FRFR powered speaker at home to dial in my Helix tones as that's about the only way to really simulate the way the your presets will sound direct through a PA.  This, of course depends greatly on what type of PA you're going through.  If it's a reasonably modern PA with a non-powered mixer that uses it's own powered speakers this works fine.  On the other hand if it's an older style PA with a powered mixer and passive speakers it's going to be much tougher as the PA won't really have a predictably flat response like more modern non powered mixer PA's do, particularly in the mid-range frequencies.  So you may have to turn up the Mid range EQ on the PA channel that your Helix is plugged into to get the tone closer to what you dialed in at home.

 

The really important aspect of dialing in tones at home this way is to make sure you're checking the tones at some level that's reasonably close to performance level due to limitations in the way the human ear responds to different frequencies at different volume levels referred to as the "Fletcher Munson" effect.

[spikey]

Quote

I use a FRFR powered speaker at home to dial in my Helix tones as that's about the only way to really simulate the way the your presets will sound direct through a PA. 

Correct Dragon- Just to clarify again for others, that's because all PA's (and FRFR speakers) are not created equal. That said see below.

 

I would "not" use headphones to set up tones for FRFR or PA equip. Why? Because usually, they tend to be bass heavy (colored) tone wise and not "flat". You need something that mimic's what you will be playing thru live, and good FRFR' speakers will be the closest match to a PA system generally. Maybe even sound better than the PA itself.

[jacobhilt]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm gonna look into the FRFR speakers. 

[jbuhajla]

I bought a couple of JBL Eon 610s to set up my tones at home. Our system at church is a QSC based PA system, but my tones I create at home translate over very well. So, I am plug and play and I do not adjust my tones at church. 

[themetallikid]

I agree with all above comments....

 

I have a powered EV speaker that is about 85% accurate to our FOH so I can usually get pretty close to the tones I need/want when setting them up. 

 

However, as far as headphones, they are ok to use.......ALTHOUGH,  you need to consider the difference between your speaker setup and the headphones sound.  They are right that headphones will usually be more bassy, tighter feeling (like IEM's).  If you can avoid tweaking presets for them to sound good in headphones, but listen to the change in sound when making changes, then you are well on your way to saving time from tweakers-hell. 

 

For example, if you know on a preset on your speaker/FOH setup you need less bass or more mids....and your only tweaking time is late at night when the wife and 2 year old daughter are asleep (yes this is my situation, lol) then headphones are great.  As long I adjust the preset with my eyes and not my ears, I'll be fine.  If I adjust using my ears, I may end up with Bass 0 and mids 10 on every amp/eq setting to compensate.

 

I use headphones only for learning songs, and helping with volume/lead boost levels. or hearing audible changes to presets....any sort of tone shaping is done at a 'real' volume through 'real' speakers.

[Kingkid]

Check out Line 6 Power cab +!! You can set up the sounds you want at home, and take the Power cab + and Helix with you. Set it up and Bingo your all set up!!

[DunedinDragon]

6 hours ago, Kingkid said:

Check out Line 6 Power cab +!! You can set up the sounds you want at home, and take the Power cab + and Helix with you. Set it up and Bingo your all set up!!

 

Well...not exactly.  There's still going to be a difference between the sound you get from the Powercab and what comes out of the PA, but it will be much closer than a traditional cabinet.  In the OP's case he's not using any amp on stage.  Just going direct through the PA, so that's the sound he's trying to match.