DecanBlu Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 I have the Helix LT and I want to use it with my Marshall DSL20HR using the 4 cable method. I want to be able to use the preamps in the Helix and basically use the Marshall head as a poweramp. I have it setup and it works BUT my question is, when I bypass the fx loop that goes to the front of the head and activate a preamp in the Helix I have no way of controlling the volume. I have bypassed the preamp of the head and now the volume knobs on the head are useless. There has to be a way to do this. Any ideas, thoughts or corrections to what I have done wrong are greatly appreciated. DecanBlu I set this up using several different methods basically following along step for step with some YT Helix presenters, Jason Sadites and am now using the method described by Richie Castellano. Signal path = Guitar > Helix Coming out of the SEND 1 on the Helix to the INPUT on front of Marshall head. (FX Loop 1 is set to INSTRUMENT level) - Coming out of the Effects SEND on the back of the head and coming into RETURN 1 on the Helix - Coming out of the 1/4" output on the Helix and going to the Effects RETURN on the head. I have a Send/Return Block in the preset. When it is on I get the Marshall and all of the effects perfectly. When I turn the Send/Return block off and turn on a preamp from within the Helix it and the effects work perfectly EXCEPT I have no way to adjust the volume coming out of the speaker cabinet except with the out volume on the preset or the volumes in the preamp module. This just will not work in a live or practical purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zappazapper Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 It sounds like the FX loop on your amp comes after the volume controls. In that case the Helix Volume control would control the overall level of your amp. It's just the way some amps are designed vs. others. I have a Mesa Boogie .50 Caliber+ and my master volume still functions when the FX Loop block is off on my Helix, so I have my Helix Volume at full and use the master volume on my amp to set the overall level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecanBlu Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 Thank You Zappazapper. I will see how that goes when i get home. I just told my wife that I feel like I am missing something very simple and that would fit the bill. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 As zappazapper said, your Master on the amp comes before the loop. Assign the switch that you use to bypass the amp pre to control the Level on the Helix Output block. Then set the Min/Max settings of the switch to lower the output to an appropriate level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 See the attached sample preset for how to do it. Set the MIN/MAX levels appropriately to your situation. DecanBlu.hlx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecanBlu Posted November 8, 2020 Author Share Posted November 8, 2020 Thank you rd2rk. I will definitely give this a try. This has been a frustrating day. cool name! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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