tjbassoon Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I'm going to be running two instruments simultaneously through the Helix for a group I'm in, and I figured out I can run the second instrument into one of the Return jacks and it sounds right, but the Aux jack is considerably quieter. About -12dB from the guitar input jack. Is there anywhere in the settings that input jack can be set to be the same as the guitar? I know the guitar in has a pad option in the globals, but I found nothing for the Aux. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I would insert a GAIN block at the beginning of the chain, then activate it (via switch or snapshot) whenever you pickup that instrument. Just set the gain level so the two guitars match. If you don't want to give up a footswitch for the duty, just duplicate the patch and activate the GAIN BLOCK (always on) in the new patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicLaw Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 My first thought would be to adjust the Level Parameter of the Input Block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjbassoon Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 1 hour ago, MusicLaw said: My first thought would be to adjust the Level Parameter of the Input Block. I thought that was a thing, but I can't find it, either in HX Edit or on the unit itself. There is a parameter for the input GATE, but not an level parameter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilrahi Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I think using the fx returns are usually far better choices. Are they unavailable in your setup? It looks like you mentioned them in your first post but then brought up the aux in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicLaw Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 4 hours ago, tjbassoon said: I thought that was a thing, but I can't find it, either in HX Edit or on the unit itself. There is a parameter for the input GATE, but not an level parameter. Not at my Helix at the moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjbassoon Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 16 hours ago, Kilrahi said: I think using the fx returns are usually far better choices. Are they unavailable in your setup? It looks like you mentioned them in your first post but then brought up the aux in. Yeah, I guess I'll be using the FX return for now, since it's the right input gain level. It's just weird that the Aux isn't somewhat configurable without taking up a block to boost the gain 12dB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilrahi Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 1 minute ago, tjbassoon said: Yeah, I guess I'll be using the FX return for now, since it's the right input gain level. It's just weird that the Aux isn't somewhat configurable without taking up a block to boost the gain 12dB. It does seem like a strange oversight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHamm Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 The aux input is going to work badly for this. Every time. Gain block or no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjbassoon Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 OK, so what exactly is the point of the Aux input jack then? What specific device would work well in it? I have a bass with active pickups and it sound like garbage (very low volume) through it. Much better through a guitar or return jack. Likewise my other instrument has an active preamp and it doesn't like the Aux in. This is all compared to a strat with standard pickups and no battery, which of course works best through the Guitar In. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilrahi Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 hours ago, tjbassoon said: OK, so what exactly is the point of the Aux input jack then? What specific device would work well in it? I have a bass with active pickups and it sound like garbage (very low volume) through it. Much better through a guitar or return jack. Likewise my other instrument has an active preamp and it doesn't like the Aux in. This is all compared to a strat with standard pickups and no battery, which of course works best through the Guitar In. I think it's largely to play music through it so you can practice to it. You could maybe use it as a monitor for other band mates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 4 hours ago, tjbassoon said: OK, so what exactly is the point of the Aux input jack then? What specific device would work well in it? I'm pretty sure the AUX is just a Line Level input. I agree with everyone here.. it's odd that you cannot choose instrument/line on the Aux... but that doesn't make it useless. It's easy to forget, but the Helix wasn't designed "just" for guitar players. Any line level device would thrive in that input. Amps FX Loops the send "LINE" Level Rack Effects Load boxes Keyboards Any sends and/or outputs from mixers (it would be extremely useful in a studio environment) It would also work well with CD Players, MP3 Players etc... except it's only mono. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilottes Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 If it was stereo maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHamm Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 The aux jack is specifically for instruments with a built-in preamp, or instruments that plug into a preamp, then into helix. plain and simple. Some of those do NOT work well with the Guitar in, so I'm glad they put it there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjbassoon Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 On 2/11/2019 at 9:03 AM, PeterHamm said: The aux jack is specifically for instruments with a built-in preamp, or instruments that plug into a preamp, then into helix. plain and simple. Some of those do NOT work well with the Guitar in, so I'm glad they put it there. 2 out of 3 instruments I use with the Helix have or are used with a preamp. They sound weak through the Aux input. It would make sense if that input had an ability to be more flexible. The Guitar In has a pad function for instruments with too high output already. Maybe some keyboards or something work better with that much of a pad, but even my keyboards don't output that hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHamm Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 3 hours ago, tjbassoon said: 2 out of 3 instruments I use with the Helix have or are used with a preamp. They sound weak through the Aux input. It would make sense if that input had an ability to be more flexible. The Guitar In has a pad function for instruments with too high output already. Maybe some keyboards or something work better with that much of a pad, but even my keyboards don't output that hot. similar experience. I run my acoustics through either Guitar in or Return 1. My Ibanez fretless bass, tho, sounds fantastic through the Aux, so it's a case-by-case basis, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ka5par Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Maybe an active DI box will work for this? I've been meaning to try it, but haven't yet bothered. For now I also use the returns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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