Volume pedal block - what is the point ?

[uddude]

 

Hi am relatively new to Helix ( I have the HX Stomp XL) I am trying to get it setup and running well to replace a big board for fly dates.

On my big board I am a heavy user of volume pedals for all kinds of reasons. So naturally I started building my presets with a volume pedal block in most of them. 

 

Then I realized this is a waste of a block b/c I can assign the expression pedal to control "level"  in an eq, amp, compressor, reverb etc etc. 

 

So now I am curious to know if / why do people use the volume pedal block instead of just assigning expression to level in an other block. 

 

Know what I mean?

[rwandering]

If you need the room, then yeah, do what you say.  But if you have room, I think it is helpful to have something that is clearly related to volume.  For example, I sometimes use a volume block to change the volume between snapshots.  The existence of the volume block reminds me that I have an adjustment at a glance.  Not super important, but still helpful.

 

From the perspective of a Helix (Floor/Rack/LT), there are many more available slots, so it is a bit easier to use my strategy universally.

[PierM]

On 3/16/2023 at 3:32 AM, uddude said:

 

Hi am relatively new to Helix ( I have the HX Stomp XL) I am trying to get it setup and running well to replace a big board for fly dates.

On my big board I am a heavy user of volume pedals for all kinds of reasons. So naturally I started building my presets with a volume pedal block in most of them. 

 

Then I realized this is a waste of a block b/c I can assign the expression pedal to control "level"  in an eq, amp, compressor, reverb etc etc. 

 

So now I am curious to know if / why do people use the volume pedal block instead of just assigning expression to level in an other block. 

 

Know what I mean?

 

Block Level and Volume Block aren't really doing the same thing.

 

Block Level is for gain staging, and it's linear. Also, since this is scaled as gain/boost, it has a huge range in dB, which force you setting proper min and max unless you don't want to make a hole on your ceiling when hits the +12dB. :) Also, since this is a gain, its variation it will change the behaviour of blocks after this one.

 

Volume block is acting like a real PASSIVE volume pedal, with a 0/100 range, and can be set to work as a linear or log potentiometer. When assigned to a exp pedal (with correct specs) will act and feel as a real passive volume pedal.

 

That's why they did this way, a that's why you can even choose between a Volume Pedal block and a Gain Pedal block. :)

[themetallikid]

I will typically use a volume block if there are swells I want, at the end of the chain but before any time based effects like delay/reverb.  My main use is actually to simulate rolling the guitar volume down.  I'll put it first (other than a poly block) in my chain and set the % to whatever gives me the right sound/feel.  That way I can assign that block to a snapshot change or a stomp button and not have to roll "approximately" to a spot on my guitar while also trying to sing/play/perform/balance a ball on my head/drink a beer and change my underwear.  

[theElevators]

I use the volume pedal pedal in a weird/unconventional way, I leave it fixed to cut the input volume.

 

I always clean up my guitar sound by rolling down the volume knob on my guitar.  When I have time to do that, I use the knob.  When the changes happen very fast like Nirvana/Pixies, I sometimes put a fixed volume pedal in the beginning of the chain.  That way I can switch between the clean/dirty sound instantaneously.  I have one snapshot that is clean (with the volume pedal engaged at 10%), and one that is dirty (volume pedal bypassed).

 

I find that always having gain in my sound makes it sound more "alive" as opposed to "dead" for the clean sounds; plus there's all this compression that you get which is nice.  But that's just me.  I have dialed in my main basic sound and all the other sounds are variations on the dirty sound...

[uddude]

Great answers - very helpful

 

thanks for that 

[codamedia]

On 3/15/2023 at 9:32 PM, uddude said:

So now I am curious to know if / why do people use the volume pedal block instead of just assigning expression to level in an other block.

 

Lots of great answers already which you have acknowledged... I'll just share my reasons.

 

1: Freedom of placement. I can choose the exact place I want that control at my foot, and it is different at almost every location. Sure, you could put a GAIN block anywhere in the chain as well and assign the pedal... but that leads me to #2

 

2: The VP block is the only option that offers LOG taper like a guitar volume/volume pedal uses. Anything else is much more linear. I think there is room for improvement on the taper, but for me it works. I do hold out hope that a future update will offer more taper options.