When?

[PierM]

9 hours ago, craiganderton said:

True story: Microsoft put together a focus group on Word to come up with 20 (IIRC) most-requested features, so they could be included in the next version. It turned out Word already had them, but the users didn't realize they were in the program. (Maybe the focus group should have concentrated on how to improve the documentation...)

 

 

 

Documentation for a software/hardware is always a PITA as 90% of the time should be done from the same people who develop it. You are hardly moving these resources to write down a too deep and detailed documentation, as this is basically a "non productive" task from a business standpoint. I do work as GFX guy for a software company (can't name it because of NDA), but yeah - I was writing manuals and tutorials in my free time. :)

[brue58ski]

12 hours ago, craiganderton said:

True story: Microsoft put together a focus group on Word to come up with 20 (IIRC) most-requested features, so they could be included in the next version. It turned out Word already had them, but the users didn't realize they were in the program. (Maybe the focus group should have concentrated on how to improve the documentation...) 

 

Helix still has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. The Poly block does like CPU, but it leaves plenty left over for other effects. Techniques like using Preamps instead of Amps, and EQ-based cabs instead of IRs, save a huge amount of processing power. The image shows a Poly block-based low tuning preset for HX Stomp with bi-amped Amp blocks, and stereo EQ and Delay to preserve a wide stereo image. The trick here is using an EQ-based cab - after all, IRs are just very detailed EQ, and you can come close with the Helix parametric. (For those who have my eBook, this is the preset LowTuning.hlx in the Chapter 4 Presets folder.)

 

Although some might say something like an EQ-based cab is a workaround, you can shuffle the blocks around, give up stereo, and use a "real" cab. The bottom line is what sounds good. I tried a preset for the Floor version that replaced the EQ-based cab with two parallel cabs after the amp, but it didn't make much difference. HTH.

 

 

This really intrigues me. I have a full on floor Helix so this isn't as critical a thing for me but I wonder if some people might start coming up with EQ's that approximate Helix cabs and make some kind of list; especially for those that have the HX Stomp. Is this patch on Customtone? I am curious how it sounds.

[craiganderton]

7 hours ago, brue58ski said:

 

This really intrigues me. I have a full on floor Helix so this isn't as critical a thing for me but I wonder if some people might start coming up with EQ's that approximate Helix cabs and make some kind of list; especially for those that have the HX Stomp. Is this patch on Customtone? I am curious how it sounds.

 

Actually Helix Floor is even better, because then you have enough blocks so that if needed, you can put two parametric EQs in series, and get further definition.

 

The attached audio example has two parts. The first is bi-ampled Grammatico amps using an EQ-based cab. I had to use an EQ cab with HX Stomp because with two Grammaticos, Distortion, and Delay, it wasn't possible to add a stock cab. The second part is the low tuning example you asked about. Tuning it down by 5 semitones alters the tone pretty dramatically regardless of the cab, so it's hard to tell what the cab contributes and what the low tuning contributes. But you'll get the idea.

 

As to whether anyone has come up with EQs that approximate Helix cabs and made a list, I'm really into that. If you want to try your hand at it, the list shows the ones that were easiest to emulate (my eBook includes 31 EQ-based cab files, with 21 of them based on the Helix cabs in the list). Note that some cabs have responses that are too complex to emulate with one, or even two, stages of EQ. So this is not a "universal" solution for all cabs.

 

Some of the EQ cabs come surprisingly close, while others are similar, but lack detail. And some aren’t close at all, like the 2x12 Blue Bell and 1x12 Blue Bell - but they had their own distinctive sound, so I included them anyway. Usually what I do is load a preset with only the cab, copy the cab, and paste it into a preset with the amps and other blocks.

 

Stock cabs and IRs sound more "authentic," but EQ-based cabs save processing power, are easily customized, and stereo EQ can preserve a mixer block's stereo imaging when doing multi-band configurations. Hope this helps!

 

EQ Cab Examples.mp3