HX Effects direct with Orange Micro Dark as preamp

[el_duberino]

I recently bought some used, powered PA speaker (EV ZLX-12p). These are mainly for acoustic gigs, but I wanted to play around with various HX Effects shenanigans, as well. I normally use the HX in front of an AC15, but I'm always curious about DI options. Yesterday I downloaded the Line 6 Allure IR pack and loaded it up. I then ran the FX Loop 1 send from the HX into the guitar input of my Orange Micro Dark, and connected the FX loop send from the Orange back to the FX Loop 1 return on the HX. I put some compressor and drive blocks before the loop block, and some delay and reverb blocks after. I then connected the mono output to my mixing board via a passive DI box, and ran the board into one of the EV speakers. For the IR I chose the 90's V30 mode.

 

Wow! It sounds awesome. The Micro Dark has a solid state power section, so I'm essentially cutting that out and using the 12AX7-driven preamp section in a loop on the HX. The three knobs on the Orange are all still in the circuit (Vol, Tone, Gain). It sounded massive! It's much nicer than the crap headphone output on the Orange.

 

Anyway, figured I'd share in case anyone else wanted to have a go. Next I'll try setting up a preset with this IR but without the amp in the loop, to see if I can make a reasonable emergency tone in case my main amp craps out.

[joeuikim]

thanks for the posting. this is the exact setup i was trying to do. have you used the amp modelings of either helix or hx stomp? and if you have, which is better? cheap real amp like micro dark or expensive helix amp models? also have you tried the same setting without the do box? will hx effects work well as a di too?

[mlimbolimbo]

I have essentially done the opposite. I run the main out from the Helix to the FX return on the MicroDark routed out to a 4x12 cab, and control the level with the Helix Volume. I now have all the amps in the Helix at MicroDark full power level. I'm using a real cab, so I don't use a cab block in the Helix. Sounds freaking awesome and with a 1x12" cab makes for a fantastic lightweight backup if FOH gets weird.

The MicroDark has a clean power amp. It is loud, so please start with the Helix volume down and work your way up.

[joeuikim]

Just to update, for anyone who might be interested, with Micro Stamp (which is essentially Micro Dark in a pedal casing) and HX Effects, I have set up a new pedalboard.

using the power amp section, I can run it through an actual speaker cab(through the power amp of Orange), as well as a FOH(directly from HXFX).

I haven't brought it to a venue yet as I'm just using it at home for now and it sounds amazing and so organic through a 1x12 cab.

also with the recent Tonex One product, I can literally use thousands of digital amp captures through an actual cab.

 

I wish it had a few more blocks other than just 8 blocks, but if I really wanted them, there are so many different options available, such as HX Stomp, Tonex, Kemper Player, analogue pedals within the fx loop, etc.