mastodonrules Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I do not mean to kick a dead horse but I can't stand using the tuner on the helix. I lost my boss tuner and I just got a new guitar so I figure I will use the helix tuner to adjust my intonation. What a mistake and horrible experience that was. I knew it was not that great years ago but surely after all the updates, I figured it would fine. Not a chance. I set the input to just guitar I went over all the settings and have looked at the forums. It just does not seem to be a good tuner at all. If any one has any advice on how to make it work better I am all ears but it just seems to be one of those things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Use the "coarse" tuner -- it's great. I can't stand the default fine tuner. It's too fidgety. I actively use the coarse tuner throughout my 2.5 hour show :) good enough for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddkc Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 I use the strobe mode and it works perfectly well. I hate to be that guy, but this has to be user error. I do have a helix floor, so maybe if you have a stomp it's different? I doubt it, but trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastodonrules Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 On 2/4/2023 at 7:57 PM, toddkc said: I use the strobe mode and it works perfectly well. I hate to be that guy, but this has to be user error. I do have a helix floor, so maybe if you have a stomp it's different? I doubt it, but trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here. I am actually using the Helix floor. Literally the 3rd one I have had. Never used the tuner much. I have always had either a polytune or my old Boss tuner. However I was using the fine tuning setting, and did not realize I was getting a lot of electrical noise from my computer and it was bugging up my signal. So yeah, user error. : ). It happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiganderton Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 On 2/4/2023 at 11:46 PM, mastodonrules said: However I was using the fine tuning setting, and did not realize I was getting a lot of electrical noise from my computer and it was bugging up my signal. So yeah, user error. : ) Maybe, but that's also a useful tip. I'm sure circling back and mentioning how you resolved it will help others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 I think it would be an improvement if i.e. the note is between G and G# it should be displayed as G<>G# instead of nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Disputes about the quality of Helix's tuner notwithstanding...I cannot fathom why there continues to be confusion about what to do if you don't like the onboard tuner. It's not supernatural: Buy something else. From $12 clip-ons, to rack- mounted tuners, to stand alone pedals... you can't swing a dead cat without hitting something that you can use to tune an electric guitar. Pick one and soldier on.... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 On 2/6/2023 at 9:13 AM, cruisinon2 said: Disputes about the quality of Helix's tuner notwithstanding...I cannot fathom why there continues to be confusion about what to do if you don't like the onboard tuner. It's not supernatural: Buy something else. From $12 clip-ons, to rack- mounted tuners, to stand alone pedals... you can't swing a dead cat without hitting something that you can use to tune an electric guitar. Pick one and soldier on.... I get what you are saying but I would not characterize what is going on as confusion. Of course they could buy another tuner. It is, to put it kindly, inaccurate to think that people don't know that. It's just wanting the tuner they have to work properly, or at least what they consider to be properly. I do understand the fidgety description. I don't think it's not working, I just think it's hyper accurate and seems to react immediately to the slightest anything. It doesn't seem to have any damping at all. If you have a Floyd Rose, it is kind of a pain. I defy anyone with one to get every string on a guitar with a Floyd Rose on it so that both the coarse and fine indicators are exactly in the middle. I've never had that issue with any of the other tuners I have used before. Including an old Peterson strobe tuner. Personally, I use it and make it work and I'm in tune and I'm fine with it. But I understand why there are people that don't like it. The best I can get is the coarse indicator in the middle and the fine indicator around the middle for each string. Most of the strings will not have both indicators in the exact middle. If the fine indicator is bouncing between the middle and halfway between the middle and the end, that's the best I can get for all of the strings. Unless there is some method I am unaware of. I do remember that turning the tone knob down all the way seemed to help mellow the inidicator out a little. One thing I have not done is a comparison with other tuners. Like when the string's tuning has the Helix's fine indicator mostly in the middle, how do other tuners read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Guys, please: try the coarse tuner first. I really really insist that the coarse tuner is absolutely fine. It's great, it's fantastic. When I saw the default Fine tuner, I thought it was a piece of crap... It is a piece of crap and is unusable. The needle moves back and forth and you cannot freaking ... tune. Take it from me: I use the onboard tuner for recording sessions. I play 2.5 hours on stage and tune up throughout the show with it. If you tried the coarse tuner, then I don't know what to say... you may have some weird tuning standard that I cannot relate to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwandering Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 I generally use a Peterson Stomp HD in front of my Helix. Just because I like the interface, like it "always on", and like an always available on/off switch. When I have used the tuner in the Helix, I use the strobe mode. Mostly because I'm used to that way of tuning. Jason Sadites has a video that compares the Helix strobe to a Peterson and it comes across as very favorable to the Helix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayPRS Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 I use the Strobe mode on my HX FX and don't have any issues. Works very well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimimidi Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 please stop swinging dead cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 On 2/9/2023 at 6:06 PM, jimimidi said: please stop swinging dead cats. Curiosity already killed it before it was swung! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 On 2/9/2023 at 11:26 AM, MayPRS said: I use the Strobe mode on my HX FX and don't have any issues. Works very well. ^^^ this ^^^... for me. I also own a Peterson and find the Helix Tuner in strobe mode works equally as well, minus a few features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanesinu Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 On 2/9/2023 at 2:18 PM, theElevators said: Guys, please: try the coarse tuner first. I really really insist that the coarse tuner is absolutely fine. It's great, it's fantastic. When I saw the default Fine tuner, I thought it was a piece of crap... It is a piece of crap and is unusable. The needle moves back and forth and you cannot freaking ... tune. Take it from me: I use the onboard tuner for recording sessions. I play 2.5 hours on stage and tune up throughout the show with it. If you tried the coarse tuner, then I don't know what to say... you may have some weird tuning standard that I cannot relate to. What is a coarse tunner? Is a block for the helix? To the OP: I also hate the inbuilt tunner, I bought a BOSS TU-3 and never looked back. My pedalboard is the Helix effects + TU-3 xD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 On 2/13/2023 at 8:43 AM, joanesinu said: What is a coarse tunner? Is a block for the helix? No, not a block - see Page 17 of your HX Effects 3.0 Owners Manual: You have 3 types of Tuner available - Fine, Coarse and Strobe. Select which type you want to use. Hope this helps/makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastodonrules Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 I ended limiting electrical noise (60 hZ hum) and using the strobe tuner until buying a TC Electronics Polytube 3. That was a game changer for me. I use to use the boss pedal and that was fine. I built my own PC and with the graphics card and stupid RGB lights I put in it I needed a 1200 watt power supply. The PC was very loud electrically so I turned off my lighting and undervolted my GPU plus added some shielding. It made a world of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulTBaker Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I don't understand all this talk about tuning! Next time buy a guitar that is in tune!!!! :) just kidding of course :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 On 3/20/2023 at 9:53 AM, PaulTBaker said: I don't understand all this talk about tuning! Next time buy a guitar that is in tune!!!! :) just kidding of course :) I know!! Right? I've returned 5 guitars in the last month because they can't seem to sell me one that's in tune!!! I mean what gives? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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