kmrusk Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 Hey, gang. I'm sure there is a straightforward solution to what I'm trying to achieve with my Helix... I'm playing in a Classic / 80's rock garage band with basically 4 tones: Clean with some glitz, Crunch, Hair Metal, and Lead with some boost, delay, verb and a little chorus. Easy to do and I'm satisfied with my snaps using a Friedman model and all the "stuff". As we are rehearsing and playing along with the recordings, though, they vary across standard, 1/2 down, and full step down. I've tried to do this with 3 different presets, each with no or different poly pitch settings, and it works fine. I would like it to be even more elegant, however, and only use a stomp for the pitch shift, and have the snaps control the 4 tones. I can't have more than one poly pitch in series (to add 1/2 step down blocks in series) due to memory issues... just wondering if anyone else has solved this. FWIW, playing direct out to a board and PA, varying brands and it all sounds fine. We are a ways away from re-honing our chops from 20 years ago and playing live, but we are going for it! Cheers, Kevan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 If you want all 4 tones in one preset, each with 3 possible tunings, that's 12. Since you only have 8 snapshots, and using a Stomp FS only gets you 2 settings (min/max), it's a tricky math problem. Using MIDI I was able to get this to work. If you assign a MIDI CC# to the Interval parameter, sending a Value of 64 = Standard; 62 = -1; 60 = -2. My controller can send either a single message per FS or Toggling messages. Using Toggling messages I used two footswitches, one set to Values of 64/62 to go between Standard and 1/2 step; the other set to send 64/60 for Standard/full step. I THINK the Morningstar controllers can send 3 messages from a single FS using Tap, Double Tap and PRESS&HOLD. Not sure about that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waymda Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 Interesting - I read the OP as saying they have one patch with 4 tones controlled via snapshots, that they've replicated across presets to set the different tuning. If thats the case using 3 more snaphots to control the detuning of the poly pitch might be the answer - as the question infers the need for a ppoly pitch for each step - which isn't really required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 4 hours ago, kmrusk said: As we are rehearsing and playing along with the recordings, though, they vary across standard, 1/2 down, and full step down. I've tried to do this with 3 different presets, each with no or different poly pitch settings, and it works fine. I would like it to be even more elegant, however, and only use a stomp for the pitch shift, and have the snaps control the 4 tones. I can't have more than one poly pitch in series (to add 1/2 step down blocks in series) due to memory issues... just wondering if anyone else has solved this. In addition to what I posted above: You can use two Stomp footswitches to do this on Helix without a separate MIDI box. Disable MIDI THRU. Loop a MIDI cable from MIDI Out to MIDI In. Assign the MIDI commands mentioned to two footswitches. Works a treat, but you MUST disable MIDI THRU or you get a MIDI feedback loop that locks up the Helix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 47 minutes ago, waymda said: Interesting - I read the OP as saying they have one patch with 4 tones controlled via snapshots, that they've replicated across presets to set the different tuning. If thats the case using 3 more snaphots to control the detuning of the poly pitch might be the answer - as the question infers the need for a ppoly pitch for each step - which isn't really required. I read it as his having the snapshots/pitch shifting working, but wanting to put the pitch shifting duties onto a stomp. Yeah, not really very clear, but I had fun figuring out how to do it with MIDI. Hope it works for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrusk Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 Fantastic, rd2rk and waymda! You've both given me a few things to think about. waymda, you read my OP correctly, but I guess I closed the door to your suggestion the way I worded it. I actually don't care if any of this is controlled via stomp or snap... Waymda, So, as I get more familiar with snapshots... It is possible to use a snap (or 3, as you suggested) to ONLY change the tuning of the poly tune, without disrupting the amp and effect settings which I am currently controlling using the existing 4 snaps? If so, then I'm set! rd2rk, you've really opened a can of worms for me, because I've never used MIDI (for some reason it's intimidated me for 30 years, ever since I got a MidiVerb III to add some effects to my JCM 900 and only controlled it via the buttons on the front! :-p ). I may try the trick you suggested... warning heeded about the MIDI Thru setting. Thank you both for your input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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