Helix momentary boost in Snapshot mode?

[weezypeezy83]

Hi. I've had my Helix less than a year so I'm still learning. I'm playing a song that requires a small boost in the chorus. I have a Snapshot called "chorus" that I'd like to be able to boost. I'd like this to be assigned to a foot switch for momentary use. So basically when I'm  jamming through the chorus and the hold the boost foot switch until the riff is done, and it returns back to the chorus setting. I'm struggling. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in Advance.

[DunedinDragon]

Not everything needs to be a snapshot and it sounds like this is a classic one.  Just use a simple footswitch setup that you can momentarily do the boost.

[somebodyelse]

How ironic.

Just yesterday, youtube put a Jason Sadites video in my 'feed' explaining exactly how to do this.

Initially, you might think this doesn't apply to you, but give it a watch, anyway.

 

 

 

[theElevators]

If you only use snapshots and do not want to use the stomp mode or the command center, then momentary switching does not exist in snapshots.  But in stomp mode you can definitely assign anything and have it turn on in momentary mode.  Some people have the top row of their buttons control stomps, or mix and match with the command center...

 

I personally never use the stomp mode.  I use the snapshots exclusively.  If I need a quick solo boost, I would simply assign it to the expression pedal.  The exp. pedal can control things like the wah contour, volume, or simply act as an on/off switch if you use the percentage-based bypass assignment.  It's easier for me personally to engage/disengage and I use it all over the place in all different snapshots.  For example, in one snapshot the expression pedal will control the "Freeze" effect.  In the other, it will be wah.  In a third it will be a solo boost.  So I frequently assign things that I tend to constantly turn on/off to the expression pedal.  If I did the same thing with the footswitches, they would have been worn out within a week.  The exp. pedal is big and robust and it's right there.  So it's easier for me to "find it" when I'm playing a show.  If it makes sense....

 

 

So in your example, I would take a gain block and place it after the amp/cab.  I would assign the "gain" value to snapshots.  In one particular snapshot where I need the boost to happen, I would go in and change the gain to be +5 db, everywhere else it would be +0 db.  Then I would remove the snapshot bypass assignment of the block.  And finally I would assign the bypass assignment to EXP pedal 1: over 5% it would get turned on, and under 5% it would get turned off, without any wait time.

 

So in the end, I will have the gain block that always gets turn on/off with my expression pedal.  But if the gain block does not have any db boost, then you will not hear the difference, it will sound identical: bypassed or not.  In one specific snapshot, where we change the gain to be +5db, you will hear it. 

 

As part of the solo boost, you can also add a delay.  It doesn't have to be only one thing.  you can assign many things to the same exp pedal: something gets turned on, something gets turned off.  I do it all the time. 

[theElevators]

Here's pretty much the same thing explained here (vid from a few years ago).  Except always remove the snapshot bypass if you have want to control the bypass state of the block(s) with the expression pedal.  Otherwise I've had issues where the blocks' bypass state can get flipped... very very rarely. 

 

[Schmalle]

On 10/22/2024 at 12:32 PM, theElevators said:

If you only use snapshots and do not want to use the stomp mode or the command center, then momentary switching does not exist in snapshots. [...]

What about external foot switches and the volume pedal switch?

[theElevators]

You can use whatever you want.  But... with so many buttons on the Helix, why do you need to add external ones...

 

I personally do not want to step on the expression pedal to turn things on/off.  So I specifically looked for and found ways to not have to use that toe switch on the EXP pedal.  With so many buttons and ways to configure my snapshots, there is absolutely no need for me (at least) to use that toe switch. 

[Schmalle]

On 10/27/2024 at 4:09 PM, theElevators said:

You can use whatever you want.  But... with so many buttons on the Helix, why do you need to add external ones...

 

I personally do not want to step on the expression pedal to turn things on/off.  So I specifically looked for and found ways to not have to use that toe switch on the EXP pedal.  With so many buttons and ways to configure my snapshots, there is absolutely no need for me (at least) to use that toe switch. 

Fair enough. Not everyone shares your opinions though and an absolute statement like "...momentary switching does not exist in snapshots" might be misleading for someone who sees an external foot switch or the EXP switch as a welcome option.

[themetallikid]

On 10/27/2024 at 11:11 AM, Schmalle said:

Fair enough. Not everyone shares your opinions though and an absolute statement like "...momentary switching does not exist in snapshots" might be misleading for someone who sees an external foot switch or the EXP switch as a welcome option.

I use the EXP for this purpose or to change 'snapshots' in a way as well.    Some presets for me (i'm also lead singer and guitar) are a simple rhythm sound and then a lead sound, but while singing it can be trouble some with the size of my pedal board to look down and hit the right button.  I have incorporated into my 'stance' a way to rest my right foot on the expression pedal..... and use 15% as the auto engage between my rhythm/lead tones.  

 

Its easy enough to set the auto engage to the bypass function of a block and then you can vary between the 2.   The main place where having an actual stomp button is a better solution is if you have a block that is already engaged in your rhythm and you are adjust a parameter to get into your lead sound, you need the on/off functionality of a button.  Example, if you have an always on OD in front of your amp (take the standard screamer scenario 0 drive, tone 5, level 10), and now for lead purposes you want to increase the gain to 4 to add a little extra dirt to your signal hitting the amp.   Using a footswitch you can set snapshots to do this, or assign the drive paramenter to the expression pedal..  however setting the drive to the expression pedal, creates a gradual increase as you go from 15% >100% to get your increase of 0 drive to 4 drive.  Subtle in this example, but for some effects, it can be not the goal.  

 

 

A 2nd way to do this would be to assign all effects to a button on your Helix's layout, as a stomp.  Thus assigning every paramenter change to a single stomp.  You can then set the switch to be momentary thus step on (play lead), let off (back to rhythm).

 

A 3rd way would be to set up a specific rhythm/lead snapshots scenario 1 & 2.  I typically will assign button 11 as my rhythm (home) tone.   Button 7 is my goto for a momentary lead sound switch.  I will then assign button 7 to snapshot 2.  In the Command Center, when setting up button 7, you set the step on snapshot to 2, and the step off snapshot to 1.  So thus creating a momentary situation as well.