Help me understand low/high cut on cabs/IRs

[H3R3T1K]

I thought this would do what a dedicated low/high cut block would do saving you one at the end of your chain. But somehow it's more complicated. Can someone enlighten me?

[datacommando]

On 2/15/2023 at 7:23 AM, H3R3T1K said:

Can someone enlighten me?

Yes.

 

Quick and dirty answer - they are probably more specific to how speaker cabinets function. Low cut gives you a sound that is similar to the effect of having an open backed cab simply by rolling off the low end. High cut is obvious as it cuts the highs in a similar fashion to a real world speaker, where there nothing really happening in the range above 7 - 8k and sometimes much lower. They just allow you to tune the response of the cab a little bit more if you wish. Oh, yeah, the high and low cut options are not just in the cabinet blocks. Check your delay, reverb and even some distortion options.

 

If you’re seeking the path of enlightenment as to the way of the Helix, you should invest in a copy of the book written by sometime forum contributor @craiganderton and available from Sweetwater as a digital download. 
 

If you are in the USA go here:-

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AndertonHX-e--sweetwater-publishing-the-big-book-of-helix-tips-and-tricks?irclickid=zr1VSD3WMxyNR5BXia2F3SfnUkAyxDUU00000w0&irgwc=1&utm_source=Impact&utm_medium=Music+Player+Network&utm_campaign=Test+Catalog+Ad

 

If you are from outside of the USA, it might be wise to follow this link and read the instructions given by the author.

 

https://forums.musicplayer.com/topic/182888-the-big-book-of-helix-tips-tricks/

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[SaschaFranck]

On 2/15/2023 at 8:23 AM, H3R3T1K said:

But somehow it's more complicated.

 

How is it more complicated?

Things too boomy: Reach for the low cut.

Things too shrill: Reach for the high cut.

In either case, adjust to taste.

 

In some cases, it might not be sufficient, though. From all I know, the cab block cuts are coming in at 6dB per octave, which is very little. The dedicated hi/lo cut block however is cutting much steeper (I'd say at least with 12dB/oct). Using the cuts on the cab/IR blocks could hence possibly result in having to cut too deep into the "meat" of the sound.

But then, all this is soo subjective, best to simply fool around with things.

[H3R3T1K]

On 2/16/2023 at 10:17 AM, SaschaFranck said:

n some cases, it might not be sufficient, though. From all I know, the cab block cuts are coming in at 6dB per octave, which is very little. The dedicated hi/lo cut block however is cutting much steeper (I'd say at least with 12dB/oct). Using the cuts on the cab/IR blocks could hence possibly result in having to cut too deep into the "meat" of the sound.

But then, all this is soo subjective, best to simply fool around with things.

 

That's exactly it tho. You cannot simply save a block that way. And I was wondering why it doesn't seem to do what I want it to do. In this case remove nasty distorted top end that wouldn't disappear no matter how low I went with the cut. I had no DSP left on my Stomp.

[datacommando]

On 2/16/2023 at 3:25 PM, H3R3T1K said:

 

That's exactly it tho. You cannot simply save a block that way. And I was wondering why it doesn't seem to do what I want it to do. In this case remove nasty distorted top end that wouldn't disappear no matter how low I went with the cut. I had no DSP left on my Stomp.

 

Hi,

 

I think you really need to post an example preset that demonstrates this "nasty distorted top end" that is proving so difficult to remove.

 

I'm not sure what you are doing for this to happen, but IME if something is so far wide of the mark in the sound you want to achieve, then something is badly wrong in your set up. It's really easy to FUBAR tone if you are setting things incorrectly.

 

It helps to know exactly what you are trying to do, so far all we know is you have a HX Stomp producing "nasty distorted top end" , but have no idea what you are playing into the Stomp and how you are monitoring the stuff coming out. Too many variables, too little information. Help us to help you.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[craiganderton]

In multiband presets, I often trim the cab filters to keep out frequencies that aren't needed. For example, in a high-frequency band, setting the low cut to around 400 Hz can clean up the overall sound. In a low-frequency band, I'll trim the highs.

[theElevators]

Sometimes your sound may be great in isolation, but may conflict with your band's instruments.  For example, my sound has 300 Hz, which steps on our trombone player's frequency.... so I've EQ'ed that frequency out for live playing.  Sometimes global EQ can accomplish the same... as the sound guy can easily tune your stuff properly... but on stage you may need to do it yourself.  In my band, I notch out the problematic frequency for the monitor mix, which goes to a power amp/cab.