HX Effects - Pre Purchase Question

[Rushfan76]

Hi, 

 

I'm on the brink of buying one of these, but had a question regarding using it with my existing pedals. My rig is a Friedman Runt 20 (with effects loop) into a Two Notes Captor X. In front of the amp I have various drive/gain pedals. 

 

I want to use my existing drive pedals as normal, so would I be correct in assuming I would use the '4 Cable Method' but have my guitar plugging into my existing pedals and then a cable from the last pedal going into the Helix Effects?

 

Watched countless videos and read the manual on this, they all talk about the 4CM but don't mention using the HX Effects unit in conjunction with other pedals.

 

Many thanks

Simon

[silverhead]

You don't have to use 4CM with your existing drive pedals. If you don't want any of the HX FX blocks in front of your amp you could just put the HX FX in your amp's FX Loop. 

 

However, if you want to have complete flexibility about the pedal/FX ordering in your overall signal flow then, yes, use 4CM as documented. You can place you existing pedals anywhere - before the HX FX device and/or anywhere else in any of the loop sections/cables. Just make sure all Send/Return points are set to Amp/Instrument (not Line) level. The HX FX device provides you with a series of FX blocks just like analog pedals, with its own FX loop that allows you to tap into your amp's preamp section at any point in the chain. You can add external pedals anywhere except, of course, 'within' the HX FX box.

[Rushfan76]

Thanks for the reply, Silverhead!

 

That makes sense and I definitely want flexibility so using the 4CM is most appropriate, I also saw a video last night about FX loop blocks on the Helix so I will trial that too, but either way you've answered my question so feel more confident about purchasing the unit now.

 

Many thanks