do2mind Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Happy Thansksgiving everybody! My son bought me a bass guitar - I'm 53, and I played trombone in high school. I've forgotten 90% of what I used to know, so I'm making this up as I go. So I BOUGHT MYSELF a Helix LT. I've got it updated to version 3.70. But for setting it up with my bass, the manual is way over my head at the beginner level. Is there a bass guitar "getting started guide" for the Helix LT that will walk me from step zero? The YouTube videos I see are either way too general (marketing, it's great!), or way too specific (you've already got it set up, now here's fine tweaks) -- at least for my knowledge level. It looks like there's quite a bit more information out there for guitar. I searched these forums hoping to find a "zero to up and working" guide for bass guitar - no luck. Help, anybody? Where do I start? What I DO have working - I have the cables set up, and I get sound coming out of the amp... But as is, the Helix LT is just a VERY expensive paperweight in the middle of that. I've found the 05B "Real Bass Pedals" template. That looks like it might be a good foundation for what I'm trying to do. And I'm not sure how to shift the default setup to bring the bass-oriented stuff there "to the front" / default. Thanks! Derek / Connecticut, USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Welcome to the world of Helix! There’s a learning curve for sure, whether bass or regular guitar, but a bit of perseverance will yield great results. I suggest you start by clicking the Support tab at the top of this page and check out the Helix Tutorial Videos section. Also check out the General Tutorial Videos, especially the Jason Sadites series. They’re not specific to bass guitars, and I’m not a bass player, but I expect that once you’ve learned the basics of using the device and creating presets all you’ll need to do is select the bass guitar amps and cabs when building your presets. Then exploring the different tones and FX geared to bass guitars. You’ll find the bass amps in their own section of the Helix amp options. Have fun and don’t hesitate to come here and ask when you get confused (which is likely for everyone getting started, not just you). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 On 11/23/2023 at 7:18 PM, do2mind said: Is there a bass guitar "getting started guide" for the Helix LT that will walk me from step zero? Hi, There is this from a guy in Denmark. Not exactly from zero, but he does go through creating a bass tone in HX Edit, suitable for a Helix LT. Hope this helps/makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashcraaft Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 On 11/23/2023 at 8:18 PM, do2mind said: What I DO have working - I have the cables set up, and I get sound coming out of the amp... But as is, the Helix LT is just a VERY expensive paperweight in the middle of that. Hi Derek, let's start by checking your signal chain which goes bass > cable > Helix Guitar in > ... please add 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
do2mind Posted November 24, 2023 Author Share Posted November 24, 2023 Well, I THOUGHT I figured it out. I poked around these forums about how to upload .hlx files, and somebody said "you can just drag and drop them in HX Edit"... and I said to myself "I can definitely figure that out" and I bought presets (.hlx files) from Rick Beato, Steve Cook, and Nick Hill... via HX Edit I got them loaded into the LT under "User 1", I can see them in the LT, I can choose them... It LOOKS LIKE it should work... then I plug in the bass... and choose one of the presets I bought... make sure it looks right... fiddle with the volume... Nothing. Nada. the Helix LT is not passing any sound through to the bass. I choose another one of the presets I bought. Nothing. I try the factory bass presets, which I found by uploading purchased ones... okay, I'm starting to figure out how to navigate around, but still no sound. I have the 1/4" cable from the bass coming into the LT's "Guitar In" I have a 1/4" cable from the LT to the amp from "1/4" Out Left/Mono" When I skip the LT and go straight from the bass to the amp with one cable, I DO have sound. It LOOKS like the Helix LT should be "doing it's thing". I can choose the .hlx files I bought... I recognize the names, and the place I loaded them... But... nothing. Not even any "hiss" is passing through to the amp. For any/all presets I choose. Silence. Is there an easy way to "brick" a Helix LT by... I dunno... turning it on wrong? Or turning it off wrong after using HX Edit? Maybe important to note... After I configured it in HX Edit on the kitchen table, I moved it to the foyer to plug in... When I turned it on it went through a long process to "rebuild presets". ???? But after that, I see and choose both the presets I bought and loaded, and also the Factory presets, and neither works. Before I figured out how to buy, load, and choose presets from the market... I was automatically chosen to a guitar preset which loads by default... and I had sound there... the only not quite right thing was it was too loud, but not drastically so, if that blew up the LT, then the LT is a piece of kaka. So figuring out how to navigate the LT... took me backwards... I at least had sound when I had the bass going through a guitar preset. So it seems like there's probably something very "BASIC" wrong... one wrong setting... But I can't figure out what it is. I verified my inputs and outputs are set to "Instrument", not "Line". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Check the level of the master volume knob on your LT; make sure it’s near maximum. If you increased it turn down the levels of any outboard equipment (e.g. your speakers or headphones). Check the Input and Output blocks. Make sure the Input is set to Guitar or Multi. The Output should be set to include the 1/4” outputs and the Level should be 0db. Also test the 2nd cable in your setup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 (edited) On 11/24/2023 at 10:51 PM, do2mind said: When I turned it on it went through a long process to "rebuild presets". Hi, again, O.K. I realise that you have jumped in at the deep end and are trying to figure out stuff, but essentially what you have is a computer. It’s a very specialised computer designed to emulate real world amplifiers, cabinets and various effects, but a computer non the less. Generally, adding presets, either bought via third parties, or freebie downloaded from CustomTone, will not break your Helix LT, fry anything inside the box, or turn it into a “brick”. Because it is a computer, whenever you load a preset that was created in an earlier version of the firmware and load it into your Helix LT, the next time you power up the unit it will go through the routine of “Rebuilding Presets”. This is to upgrade those older preset to work correctly with the latest firmware version. Rather than buying presets, even from the 3 reputable vendors you mention, your LT comes with a bunch of Bass presets straight out of the box. With those presets, you could simply plug your bass into the guitar input jack, and another 1/4” cable from the LEFT (Mono) Output to your playback system, and you should be cooking. If you’re using a factory preset everything should just work - Ah! Yeah, if you are encountering silence, please make sure that the isn’t a Volume Block in your signal path that may be turned off (Bypassed), or set to zero! Hint: if you select the final output block of the signal path, you should be able to see 2 green VU meters showing the output level - no green = no sound. It’s kinda difficult to advise you on what is happening with your set up when we cannot see what’s going on. It might be advisable for you to become familiar with all the useful information provided in the Helix LT 3.0 Owner’s Manual, rather than blindly flail around. https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a41edfe64823e79e9cdc/application/pdf/Helix LT 3.0 Owner's Manual - English .pdf Here’s another video for Helix 101, by a trusted occasional forum contributor (Chad Huskey) - O.K. It’s for guitar, but the bass is also a guitar, therefore every time there is a guitar mentioned - just think bass. Hope this helps/makes sense. EDIT: Here’s another from the splendid Mr. Cordy. Edited November 25, 2023 by datacommando Added 2nd video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
do2mind Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/24/2023 at 5:51 PM, do2mind said: ...then I plug in the bass... and choose one of the presets I bought... make sure it looks right... fiddle with the volume... Nothing. Nada. the Helix LT is not passing any sound through to the bass. I choose another one of the presets I bought. Nothing. I try the factory bass presets, which I found by uploading purchased ones... okay, I'm starting to figure out how to navigate around, but still no sound. I have the 1/4" cable from the bass coming into the LT's "Guitar In" I have a 1/4" cable from the LT to the amp from "1/4" Out Left/Mono" When I skip the LT and go straight from the bass to the amp with one cable, I DO have sound... It's working !!!! Played around with it for an hour-ish, tried every preset I bought. Because I had already taken the steps suggested by above... (but thanks for the suggestions everyone, that I was "doing the right things" helped reassure me I'm not totally helpless) Soooo... I took everything completely apart, unplugged it... put it back together, and plugged it in again. That worked. Either I had something plugged in wrong... I quadruple checked it before, but hey, ya never know... Or the act of completely starting from scratch reset something. Thanks everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
do2mind Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/24/2023 at 7:48 PM, datacommando said: Ah! Yeah, if you are encountering silence, please make sure that the isn’t a Volume Block in your signal path that may be turned off (Bypassed), or set to zero! Hint: if you select the final output block of the signal path, you should be able to see 2 green VU meters showing the output level - no green = no sound. ... Here’s another video for Helix 101, by a trusted occasional forum contributor (Chad Huskey) - O.K. It’s for guitar, but the bass is also a guitar, therefore every time there is a guitar mentioned - just think bass. Hope this helps/makes sense. Datacommando... I got it working just by taking it apart and putting it back together... YOUR VIDEO, this guy talks in a way I understand more than the other videos I found by myself. So THANK YOU for that hookup. Appreciate it !!!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/25/2023 at 1:33 AM, do2mind said: I got it working just by taking it apart and putting it back together... Ah! The old bad connection scenario - it happens to everyone sometime or other. Good to know you have it working as it should. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.