Problem when Controling amp channel with Helix

[pupi_87]

SO, here is what's happening: I have a Marshall DSL 20. I'm using the 4 Cable Method. In addition I want to control the amp's channel selection from the Helix, which I learned how to, using the Instant Controls from the Command Center. And I Mannaged to do that successfully, But When I hook up the cable going from the Ext Amp 1/4" out from the Helix to the F/S 1/4" jack on the amp I am able to switch the amp channels BUT every block after the "FX Loop block" ceases to work. The moment I disconnect that cable from de amp the effects after the "Fx Loop block" are recognised again...

I believe this happens because the amp's "footswitch-box" has 2 buttons: one for the channel selection and one that says FX Loop. And when I set everything up to control it from the Helix it seems to me that I'm only controling de channel selection but de FX Loop function gets disabled permanently by default... did I explained myself correctly? Please, I'd love to use the amp's dirty channel controlling it from the helix with the snapshots, but if I do that I lose every block after the FX Loop block... is there any way to fix this????

 

I uploaded a video on YouTube Showing this.... please watch to completely understand what's happening in case I wasn't clear in the description.

 

[rd2rk]

Is the green cable TRS, or TS? For a 2 button footswitch to work it needs to be TRS. Then determine which (tip or ring) controls what (Channel/FX Loop) and set up your commands accordingly.

[pupi_87]

Oh... I never knew/considered that. I'll go buy a TRS cable and check if that's what the problem was. Thanks a lot

[pupi_87]

Great. It Was the cable. I bought a TRS one and now works. One more thing, Now that I can select channel clean/lead and Activate/deactivate the amp's Fx Loop  independently I notice something. When the amp's Fx Loop is OFF I lose every block after the loop BUT the sound has much more attack. In contraposition, when the FX Loop is ON I can hear all the blocks after the Fx Loop (wich is what I want) but the sound sounds much more dull, it loses the "attack" so to speak. Is this a normal thing? if not: does anyone know how to NOT lose that quality of sound?

[rd2rk]

In 4cm, Your guitar goes to the Helix IN, The Helix FX Send goes to the Amp In, The Amp FX Send goes to the Helix FX Return (make sure you're using the same FX LOOP!), and the 1/4" Mono Out goes to the Amp's FX Return. The FX Loop Block goes between the front of amp fx and the fx you want in the Amp's FX Loop. The behavior you're describing indicates a fault in the wiring.

[pupi_87]

Everything is wired correctly, I just double-checked... there (image) is where I put de FX Loop Block: between the pre-amp pedals (wah, compressor, OD/dist) and the post-amp pedals (delay, reverb).

Could it be something I should configure differently in the Global Settings section?

 

 

                                                                                                                        going to the amp's "return"  /  from amp's "send"  /  to amp's "IN"  /  from the guitar / yellow one going from Ext Amp from Helix, to amp's F/S

                                                                                                                                          v                                                           v             v                             v                   v

[rd2rk]

First, make sure that the Loop Block Button isn't also turning off the Delay and Reverb. I know, but I've done sillier things than that!

 

If that doesn't fix it, try loading the attached preset. You might want to start with the BIG KNOB set very low. I built it on my 15 watt Egnater Tweaker set clean and Marshally and it was loud.

 

When the Loop Block is turned OFF it turns ON a Badonk Preamp, a Gain Block, and boosts the Output, all to accommodate the fact that the Egnater preamp is WAY louder (at 10 oclock on the pre and 2 oclock on the master!) than the Badonk pre with the Channel Volume dimed. With the BIG KNOB at about 1/3 that's 75db@6ft. More than that my neighbors get pi$$y!

 

Keep me updated.

Loop Example.hlx