jnnh73 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Hi guys, my HX Effects has been a game-changer for me. That said, I do find the manual lacking in just one area: explaining some of the not-so-obvious parameters (for example: "ramp"). I have a sense for what they control, but it's not entirely clear to me - either mentally or audibly. :) Is there a site or more in-depth manual/cheat sheet that might better explain all the parameters? The manual for the HX Effects is kind enough to state what Common FX Parameters control, but for the occasional oddball parameter I'm hoping to find some more knowledge. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 There isn't an official parameter guide that explains all of those idiosyncratic parameters. You can usually find discussion of them somewhere on the interwebs, though. Ramp, btw, on the Cosmos Echo model controls how quickly the tape speed changes when you go to a new delay time. Having it faster will tend to give you more high-pitched artifacts while having it slower where drag it out a bit more. Imagine what happens when you physically change the rate at which a tape is moving through a tape player. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvroberts Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Because the Helix (including the HXFX) is emulating something from the real world, generally you can find descriptions of and videos on these devices, and then the Helix emulation is simple to figure out. Where you might need to look a little harder is the few Line 6 units like some delays and reverbs. But even then, they are similar enough to other real world devices that you are still able to figure them. Phil_m’s info on the Cosmos echo is probably the more extreme example. I think someone has done a video on that somewhere on YouTube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnnh73 Posted July 3, 2019 Author Share Posted July 3, 2019 Thanks for the help! I do wish it was all laid out in a manual, and thankfully there are other outlets to get the information I'm after. Cheers, all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 3 minutes ago, jnnh73 said: Thanks for the help! I do wish it was all laid out in a manual, and thankfully there are other outlets to get the information I'm after. Cheers, all. I think there are a couple reasons the manual doesn't include those sorts of details. First, that's just a lot of information, and it could easily add like, I don't know, 10 or more pages to the manual. The longer the manual becomes, the more likely it becomes that people won't read it. The other issue is that many of the effects were added in updates, and Line 6 doesn't update the manual for incremental updates anyway. The translation issues make it time and cost prohibitive. Basically because Yamaha is a large, multi-national corporation, things like manuals have to made available in languages that are used in whatever countries the Helix is sold in. Right now, the Helix manual is available in 26 languages. So adding even more information makes that translation work even more daunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 1 hour ago, jnnh73 said: Is there a site or more in-depth manual/cheat sheet that might better explain all the parameters? ....I'm hoping to find some more knowledge. Hi jnnh73, This could be the place for some of the info you require - look under the section labelled "Tips" and find "Common Effect Settings" https://helixhelp.netlify.com Hope this useful/helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leond60 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 As an HX Effects for the last six months or so, I agree with the OP. While most parameters are intuitive, some are not. Even if there was an official Line 6 web page, that'd be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jude_GS Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 A description of the parameters would be most helpful. I know the M13 had detailed the parameters, so maybe one day we can get one. I love the HX Effects but I feel I’m spending a lot time on the dials trying to figure out how they effect the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshsch Posted January 2, 2023 Share Posted January 2, 2023 This link might help a bit: https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/common-fx-settings Its an unofficial site but has some useful information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 I'm almost positive that the HX Effects has all of the same effects as the Helix. If that's true, I'll bet Craig Anderton's Big Book Of Helix Tips & Tricks would have what you are looking for. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AndertonHX-e--sweetwater-publishing-the-big-book-of-helix-tips-and-tricks There's a whole section called DE-MYSTIFYING THE BLOCKS. Over 150 pages that goes through each effect and explains what the parameters do. I don't think you will find anything better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 On 1/2/2023 at 7:35 AM, joshsch said: This link might help a bit: https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/common-fx-settings Its an unofficial site but has some useful information. Hi, Did you realise that you have posted a response to a thread that went into a coma in 2019. In fact the thread is so old that my earlier July 2019 reply links to the previous incarnation of helixhelp.com which you mention. Hope this helps/makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absolute_Value Posted December 6 Share Posted December 6 On 1/4/2023 at 3:18 PM, datacommando said: Hi, Did you realise that you have posted a response to a thread that went into a coma in 2019. In fact the thread is so old that my earlier July 2019 reply links to the previous incarnation of helixhelp.com which you mention. Hope this helps/makes sense. it's not like it was really resolved. hello from 2024 *waves* 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted December 7 Share Posted December 7 On 12/6/2024 at 12:18 AM, Absolute_Value said: it's not like it was really resolved. hello from 2024 *waves* In that case, you should follow the link provided by @brue58skiin the post above. It should take you to the page for Craig Anderton's Big Book Of Helix Tips & Tricks - it contains some real in depth information which will provide insights into things that you may never have realised were possible with a Helix. Buy the book and gain some real knowledge. Hope this helps/makes sense *waves back* (waving - not drowning!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiganderton Posted December 9 Share Posted December 9 Thank you for mentioning the book! I'm working on an update that covers the 3.80 firmware. It will be free to anyone who owns a previous version of the book. There's no ETA yet. The backstory on the book was that I simply wanted to write something that explained what the parameters did for the various effects...but then the book took on a life of its own, and ended up having major scope creep :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebodyelse Posted December 9 Share Posted December 9 Jason Sadites channel on youtube (other channels are available). While he doesn't do 'HX FX specific' videos, the info relating to effects setting on any of his Helix/HX video are also relevant to the HX FX. This also applies to other Helix/HX leaning channels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.