belf Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Running Helix rack - home use only. I have updated to Helix Firmware 3.0 , then up to the recommended 3.01 , I'm also running HXEdit 3.01 Since the update I'm finding the helix to be rather Temperamental I run a simple set up with 2 main use cases Standalone mode with about 5 basic ish patches to cover off most of the styles i play . 4CM - linked to my valve head. I have a dedicated Patch for this via Send/Return 1 - which is also hooked up to an ebtech Hum Eliminator to eliminate ground loop. To describe Temperamental issues Using 4CM yesterday, getting terrible hiss and hum (needed an aggressive noise gate to silence but was crippling the tone) Switch unit off , leave for a while (prob 3 hrs) - switch back on - no hiss - (other than the expected hiss of an amp) nothing changed in terms of settings / cabling Use the device for a while, switch to standalone mode which sounds fine Return to the 4CM patch - the dreaded hum / buzz / noise is back Switch off and return today - back to normal In standalone mode - noticing intermittent issues Seeing drops in volume between amp models - noticing I'm having to turn up more and more for general use The quality of the models seem to be different in quality depending on the day of the week All in all a little frustrating, and I'm finding myself tweaking more than playing Wondering if anyone else is seeing similar problems ? Outside of a factory reset - unsure what else i can do - have disconnected the amp from 4cm - but issues prevail for standalone mode. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waymda Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 No, no similar issues. Whilst the timing may suggest firmware, the issues sound like hardware - unless the firmware was corrupted on install or installed poorly. I presume its possible to force a reinstall, in which case that would be my first go to, and resetting all global paramters from a known good back-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belf Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 57 minutes ago, waymda said: No, no similar issues. Whilst the timing may suggest firmware, the issues sound like hardware - unless the firmware was corrupted on install or installed poorly. I presume its possible to force a reinstall, in which case that would be my first go to, and resetting all global paramters from a known good back-up. Thanks Waymda If it turns out to be hardware im a bit concerned that a 2yo "tour grade" helix thats never left the house could have an issue... testing all equipment outside of helix is fine , its just the helix thats seems a bit of a diva Im the meantime ill reinstall the firmware and report back on thread with my findings. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waymda Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Hi - I know you've tested the other hardware, but on reflection the symptoms you're talking about sound like a valve failing in the head. Especially if when you turn the Helix off you turn everything else off for a period of time. A failing valve can be inconsistent in impact, introduce noise, lower volume, etc - but generally deteriorates over time and with ambient temps (day of the week etc). Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I've had my two Helix Floor units for 5 years now and they're used pretty much daily and used in shows every weekend. Although everything you cite "could" be related to the Helix, they also could just as easily be related to your 4CM setup and the particulars of how you've dialed in your specific presets and tones. The biggest difference between my setup and yours is I exclusively use FRFR powered speakers for my output and everything is dead silent in terms of hum or noise. This is consistent on both Helix units, on every upgrade and will all the different guitars I use (Les Paul, Strat, Tele, Gretsch hollow body, Gretsch resonator, banjo, and acoustic guitar). There are some amp models such as the Litigator that can produce a very minor hiss when dialed in certain ways, but hardly enough to be heard above the noise floor in a public setting. But I attribute that to the model accurately replicating the circuits of the Litigator. As far as volume differences, all amp models behave differently in terms of their volume because all the circuits of the real amps do as well, so they're just accurately representing the behaviors of the amps being modeled. My normal home setup for my live rig is to route my Helix output through a QSC TM30 mixer with a Yamaha DXR12 powered speaker and a QS KS112 sub. I do this for pre-gain staging all my presets for a consistent level. So I know without a shred of doubt there are no volume fluxuations on any of my presets because that would be indicated on the signal meters of the TM30 mixer channel. The only major flaw in volume consistency are my human ears which may be more or less sensitive depending on the time of day or the amount of use (ear fatigue). In order for you to definitively say your problems are all related to the Helix, you would need to isolate your Helix from any other possible sources of the problems either by a setup similar to mine, or at least through headphones. I understand there are problems people have encountered that were the result of a bad installation of firmware, although I've never experienced such a thing in my 5 years of use and upgrading, but I suppose it's a possibility. This is especially true in the case of 4CM setups which can be notoriously glitchy due to various integration issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belf Posted January 29, 2021 Author Share Posted January 29, 2021 OK been into troubleshooting central this last couple of days Troubleshooting steps Disconnected the 4cm from helix Helix now being run in standalone mode from XLR into a set of studio monitors and nothing else Valve amp assembled back into a traditional set up with cab and pedals Results Helix still sounded poor and required compensation in settings - ie , im a big fan of the Friedman model, i was having to tank the settings to get anything decent out of it, in terms of both gain and volume. All models seemed to sound the same regardless of model chosen / setting. All seemed to just flub into one another. Valve amp is still intermittently noisy connected direct to a traditional speaker cab Conclusion I have multiple issues in the rig - both with helix and my valve head I now hate technology Action taken Re-firmware'd the helix to 3.01 and the associated foot controller (using helix rack) Helix now connected exclusively to studio monitors Valve amp and associated cabling removed from the rig Valve amp tested in isolation of the helix - nothing connected to it other than guitar > amp > cab. Still bloody noisy --- and more frequently noisy, intermittence is disappearing Helix is off during these tests Results/conclusion Helix is now sounding sweet, back to the tones and aural pleasure i got use to, like a blanket has been lifted. Keeping track of time is a great thing, realised 4years passed since my amp was purchased - although does 2020 count as a year, could we agree on 3 ? Either way - valve head now removed until further notice and when I can locate and employ a working amp tech in the current UK lockdown situation. The good thing - i aint gigging atm. Either way - I'm now back to happy and liking helix again, were in love once again for now, thanks to all that assisted , stay safe....... Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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