Helix effects volume pedal placement

[HelixeffectsPip]

Hi, just purchased a Helix hx effects and new to guitar, based on you’re experience where in the signal flow would be the best place for the volume pedal effect. I note that many presets have it first, I thought last, or at least just before chorus/reverb ? Thanks

[phil_m]

It depends on how you want your sound to react to the volume pedal. If you put at the end of the chain, it will act like a master volume knob for the preset. When you bring the pedal down, everything will be muted. If you have it up front, it just mutes the signal coming from your guitar and all the tails from your effects will ring out. Personally, I always like having it in front as this is most useful for things like volume swells, imo. It's just a matter of personal preference.

[HelixeffectsPip]

12 minutes ago, phil_m said:

It depends on how you want your sound to react to the volume pedal. If you put at the end of the chain, it will act like a master volume knob for the preset. When you bring the pedal down, everything will be muted. If you have it up front, it just mutes the signal coming from your guitar and all the tails from your effects will ring out. Personally, I always like having it in front as this is most useful for things like volume swells, imo. It's just a matter of personal preference.

Thanks, I have tried it at the end of the chain in an attempt to get distorted sounds at bedroom level (I use an attenuated Vox mv50 clean). I thought at the front might be the same as having the guitar volume control too low and not effective/ not enough signal input for the pedals to work with(hope this makes sense), I’ll try a few    flows with the pedal at the front, in my initial attempts I didn’t notice any significant difference. 

[silverhead]

The VOL pedal at the front of the signal chain acts much like the Guitar Vol knob. Increasing the level impacts the amount of gain/distortion effect. The VOL pedal at the end of the signal chain acts like a master volume level, increasing the volume but not affecting the FX.

 

Keep in mind that the human ear is also responsive to volume level according to the Fletcher-Munson effect. At lower volume levels we hear effects such as gain/distortion quite differently; the louder the level the more we hear them. It's simple physics that you don't hear a 'satisfying'  crunch at low volume levels.

[HonestOpinion]

16 hours ago, HelixeffectsPip said:

Hi, just purchased a Helix hx effects and new to guitar, based on you’re experience where in the signal flow would be the best place for the volume pedal effect. I note that many presets have it first, I thought last, or at least just before chorus/reverb ? Thanks

 

For placement of a volume block connected to an expression pedal I like having it after all my other blocks but right before my delay and reverb which tend to be at the end of my signal chain. That way when I ratchet down the volume pedal it does not unnaturally stop the repeats from the delay/reverb and allows them to finish normally without cutting them off. This method though can alter the input level going into the reverb/delay blocks which may cause them to respond differently.  I have not found that to be an issue but if you do it would be a reason to put the volume block at the end of the signal chain. Don't have an HX Effects, so this may not be relevant, but there is also the option of using the output block for volume changes on the Helix if you prefer it at the very end of the chain. Could save you a block.

[SaschaFranck]

12 hours ago, HonestOpinion said:

 

For placement of a volume block connected to an expression pedal I like having it after all my other blocks but right before my reverb and delay which tend to be at the end of my signal chain.

 

Every bit this! I do input volume modifications to alter the gain of pedals and amps with my guitar voume whereas I use the volume pedal for swells or to simply turn the overall volume down in some situations. Don't want swells to affect my amp/pedal gain and also don't want them to cut off delay/reverb trails. IMO best of all worlds.

As far as affecting the sound of the delays/reverbs goes, I think that's only relevant for the ducking variations, everything else should stay just the same.

 

Having said that, I would as well use the volume pedal behind any amp loops of the HX FX.