Using Helix as a MIDI controller

[mgerb88]

Hello everybody,

 

I'm a new Helix LT owner. Overall very happy with the purchase. I mainly use my Helix with headphones or I plug into my BOSS Katana and use the BOSS as a speaker cabinet for the Helix amp models. Before the Helix I was using Amplitube 5 into the BOSS Katana and using the Katana as a sort of FRFR speaker option for playing live and it works great! If you guys can't tell I like to maximize all the gear I play with to their fullest potential.

 

My question is how do I set up my Helix as a foot controller for Amplitube then run that sound to the BOSS Katana? I came across a video on Youtube pn how to quickly set up and no offense to the guy, but I can barely understand his accent. I also checked the manual and it gives you instructions on how to assign instructions to different controls, but I wondering what the signal chain would be after that when I want to play through the Katana. I have an IK Multimedia AXE I/O SOLO I originally used to connect my guitar to Amplitube then run out to the Katana. Do I still need the AXE I/O or do I use the Helix into the AXE I/O then out to the Katana? I'm not sure. Just looking for some help on how to connect the Helix to Amplitube to use as a foot controller then take that sound out of Amplitube and play it through the Katana. Thanks!

[rd2rk]

Using AXE I/O as AI:

 

This is the way I'd go. The features of the AXE I/O sound nice. It probably has better latency than Helix.

Your Z-tone feature won't work properly unless your guitar is connected directly to the AXE I/O.

You don't need to run your guitar into Helix if you just want to use it for MIDI. Just take the MIDI OUT DIN from Helix to the AXEI/O MIDI IN.

Take the Line Outs from the AXE I/O to the Katana RETURN jacks.

When you want to use Helix without Amplitube just connect either the L/MONO 1/4" or XLR to the AXE I/O Line IN and set the dial to DIRECT.

 

Using Helix as MIDI controller ONLY:

 

Wired as above.

Configure Amplitube to use AXE I/O as MIDI controller. Helix BASE channel is 1 by default. Check to be sure.

 

The attached example preset was created a long time ago, but works fine with AT5.

 

WARNING!

If you assign a Helix FS to be a Toggling CC, when you load the Helix preset for the first time it automatically sends all of the Toggling CC assignments. This would be a nice feature, IF you could turn it OFF. Since you can't turn it off, what happens is that if they're all set to send ON, all the assigned FX in the AT preset are turned ON and vice versa. It can be used to advantage if you set each FS to send the message you want. If an effect needs to be ON, set that FS to send ON. That way, the FS is ready to send OFF on first press. Otherwise, everything is ON or OFF, you'll need to manually reset the FX in the AT preset (like using a real pedalboard), or it can take two presses to get the result you want.

If you copy it (after your mods) to all of the presets in a Helix setlist, you can customize each preset to work with the specific AT5 Preset so that you get faux 2-way communication.

 

FWIW - the FCB1010 with the UNO chip allows all of this to be configured per preset. The messages are sent on preset load ONLY if you want that.

Using the UNO chip has certain limitations (5 Stomps, 95 presets). Using the UNO2 Chip removes those limitations, but requires actual programming. Like, real code.

It's not hard to do, and I've already created sample code for Amplitube, but it's not for everybody.

Just sayin'.

 

The Top Row is configured to control Reaper. You could change that to control the AT5 Looper/Recorder if you want, or reassign the Footswitches to CC#s as on the lower row to control more AT5 stuff.

 

EXP1 can be used for WAH, and you could always assign MIDI to Exp2 to use that for something else.

Be aware that the normal AT ON/OFF values (127/0, reverse of standard in most other amp sims) are reversed for the WAH (0/127) Toe Switch (who knows what IK was thinking), and if the WAH has a MODE switch it won't work because it's a 3 position switch.

 

NOTE: AT5 has the WORST MIDI implementation of any version to date. They removed the ability to assign the BYPASS of the PEDALBOARD FX Globally, and the "OLD" Post FX no longer HAVE a bypass (that I can find).

 

 

 

 

MIDI AT4.hlx