How to use different preamps for left and right channels?

[kerryhall1]

I have a setup I'm really happy with right now, but I am running stereo and would like a different preamp for left and right channels. Currently using 12 out of the 16 blocks for various effects. (eq, compression, reverb, etc)

 

Reading the manual, I see on page 20:

"For more sophisticated tones, a parallel (two stereo paths) signal flow can be created.
This lets one split the signal into two stereo paths, process them separately, and mix
the two paths back together"

 

This seems similar to what I'm looking for, but what I need is much simpler, I just want to split a single stereo path into two mono paths, run each into their own preamp, then merge back into a single stereo path as left and right.

 

How do I do that?

[rd2rk]

Hard to say, since you didn't specify which device you're using...

[kerryhall1]

Sorry! I thought this subforum was for just the Helix, I have a Helix rack.

[silverhead]

Helix Rack/Floor/Lt, HXStomp/XL, HXFX, HX One.

[silverhead]

In the Templates setlist check out presets 2C, 2D, and 4A. Inspect their setups and choose the one that most closely matches your  copy your preference. Copy it to you destination and start editing. For simple stereo use 4A, change Input 2 to Guitar, edit the blocks as desired, then use the Pan control in each Output block to define the stereo separation of each Path.

[theElevators]

For most cases, stereo is accomplished by running stereo delays at the very end of your chain.  Alternatively you can get stereo by running stereo cabinet blocks with different left/right cabinets... or running 2 different amp+cabs. 

 

Running completely different signals to left/right XLRs is asking for trouble.  Different amps are EQ'ed differently, compress differently and if a sound engineer puts the mix straight in the middle, then there will be volume/tone discrepancies on left/right, and the sound guy is not going to be too happy.   For example running Vox AC30 on the left and a Marshal on the right will result in having volume jumps, and the sound guy will probably get fed up and just run you in mono.

 

I would recommend having your signal in mono up until the very end of your chain where you add reverb/delay. Both left/right sides need to be similar, minus the delays/reverbs/panning.  So if you absolutely must combine 2 amps, then add a split, run both sides of the split to 2 different amps, then combine it, and add all the effects I mentioned ending with a delay.   To create a split, you simply take a block and drag it down, it will create the loop split--then you can place the merge wherever you want.  But the key is again to run 2 things and then combine them together in mono and then after you get the desired sound, you add things that make your signal be actual stereo. 

 

So in summary, don't create a stereo preset just for the sake of it. It should be practical, it should sound balanced and it should be easy for a sound person to run your guitar without any special accommodations.  And then again, you can do whatever you wish, Helix allows lots of crazy sonic options like wet/dry/wet...  That kind of a setup relies heavily on the sound engineer to make the decision how to actually mix all 3 different sounds together and produce a mix.  If the sound engineer is not familiar with what you are supposed to sound like, then you can get a complete garbled mess. 

 

Another thing is that your guitar signal should work as either mono or stereo.  Sometimes some venues don't have enough channels for you, so you need to go in mono.  Your Helix should have the outputs configured in such a way, so you can adjust to any situation like that.  Lots of live sound engineers just do mono on everything, if you are playing some kind of a stadium.  So that's something else you should definitely test drive your presets for--mono mix. 

 

Just sharing my experience, I've made some of these mistakes myself and learned as I went.  Good luck!

 

 

 

[kerryhall1]

I used to run two high gain tube amps in stereo and it sounded incredible. After switching to the Helix, I'm down to just one tube head, as I can't really lug a double head road case with integrated 8u rack as it would weigh probably 300lb. So my goal here is to just use the helix + solid state power amp for everything so all I need to do is bring the rack.

 

The tone I'm looking for is getting back to the "stereo high gain tube" sound I used to have. (ENGL Powerball on the left, Soldano SLO on the right, for example)

 

 

[codamedia]

On 9/23/2024 at 1:51 PM, kerryhall1 said:

I just want to split a single stereo path into two mono paths, run each into their own preamp, then merge back into a single stereo path as left and right.

 

Create a parallel path with the split block.... insert a separate preamp on each path then merge it back together with the paths hard panned. From that point forward everything needs to be stereo... including the cabinet block. If running IR's, you may need to add those in the parallel paths individually. After the merge, If you insert a mono effect/IR/cabinet everything will collapse back down to mono... that is why you need to use stereo effects after the amps.

 

Mono Effects > Split > one amp on each path > merge > stereo everything all the way to the output

 

Pay attention to the warning from "theElevators"... make sure the signal collapses elegantly to mono or you may be in for some horrible surprises on some gigs. Also keep in mind, in order to monitor this in stereo on stage, you still need a stereo power amp and cabs, or two monitors and a monitor mix that allows stereo.