Need help getting looping to work with Helix Floor

[cmichael1]

Hi Folks,

 

I need some help getting looping to work.  I've spent a number of hours watching every related YouTube video I could find.  Plus reading the manual, experimenting with buttons, menus and functions in HX-Edit but I'm still unable to get it to work.  I'm using FW v3.8.  Perhaps the UI has changed with 3.8 and the videos, posts, etc are no long applicable?  I do find the YouTube videos seem inconsistent in what they recommend, what their scribble strips display, etc.  It's quite frustrating.  

 

My goal is to get the 6-switch looper working and figure out how to assign it's functions to various Helix footswitches.  I'll assign it to an unused Snapshot to activate the looper UI on the unit.  My application is to loop clean guitar inputs so I can put the guitar down and use HX-Edit to create and tweak presets without having to spend all day setting down my guitar, tweaking, picking it up, testing, setting it down again, etc.

 

One video says to activate the looper you hit the fourth button in the top row, which has a blank scribble strip.  Why would a random blank button be used to activate the looper?  Makes no sense to me.  Another video recommends hitting the Mode button.  My UI doesn't even have a mode button so that's a dead end.

 

Once, briefly, I did get the UI to display "6 switch looper".  I don't know how I did that but it failed to bring up the looper controls.  Instead I recall it displayed various useless commands like Page, Value, Back, etc.  That's not what I want.  I've never since been able to get it to display that "6 switch looper" option so I guess the point is moot.

 

Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

[enjalt]

did you put the looper block in your chain?

 

You just have to assign the looper on the desired switch.  (here's the logo)

 

Then you have many options:

- 1/ press the assigned switch then the display will change and you'll have the looper's functions. it will look like this 

 

 

- 2/ Via command center (check the manual for the programming) you can assign the looper's functions on the switches you desire. For example for record/overdub the CC is 60 and the values are "0-63" for "overdub" and 64-127 for "Record"

 

or you can use the parameter "HX looper" and select the desired function. -> (check manual p59)

 

[cmichael1]

Yes, I definitely added a looper block to my chain.  That was easy.  I'm not using an external MIDI controller for my looping functions so I'm not sure how to make use of the control change codes.  As far as, "press the assigned switch then the display will change...".  I don't know what that means. What desired switch?  The looper logo appears in the signal chain.  But I can't figure out how to assign it to an unused snapshot or bring up the display with the six looper functions.

[silverhead]

Assign the Looper block to a footswitch, just like any other FX block. See manual for details if you are unfamiliar with doing this. It’s basic operations. Also to see the six functions you need to use the 6-switch looper, not the 1-switch version.

[cmichael1]

Hi, yes I know I need to somehow assign the looper block to a footswitch.  The Bypass Assign section of the manual mentions this but it's useless as far as figuring out the procedure.  I've wasted many hours unsuccessfully trying to do this.  Assuming I could assign the Looper to a footswitch, how would it be used?  Can it be added to the other snapshots of my presets?

[cmichael1]

Update: I gave up trying to assign a block to a footswitch the way the manual suggests.  But I think I found a way to do it in HX Edit.  I right-click on the Looper block and choose Bypass Assign, then choose a Footswitch (say, 1).  Unfortunately it still doesn't work.  It says it's assigned but all of the scribble strips on the Helix are still blank.

 

 

[silverhead]

You’ve assigned it to FS1, which is the Bank (or Preset, or Snapshot) Up switch whose scribble strip is hidden unless you also change a Global Setting. You have a lot to learn about operating your Helix.
 

Click on the Support tab at the top of this page. There is an entire section devoted to Helix tutorial videos. One of those deals specifically with assigning footswitches to FX blocks. Don’t be afraid of the manual either. Also, a new Helix device comes with a simple Cheat Sheet. Find and use it until you get familiar with device operations.

[cmichael1]

Success!  Thanks for the help folks!  I had never tried Stomp mode before - strictly used snapshots.  Funny the FW allows assigning a function to Bank yet doesn't display on the scribble strip.  The manual and tutorial videos say to "touch but not press" the buttons to assign.  Pulled my hair out for hours trying to get that to work.  Turns out it uses capacitive touch sensing which doesn't work with my footswitch toppers.  Even if Global Stomp Select is changed from Touch to Press.  To me it seems easier to use HX Edit.  

 

Unfortunately it's proving awkward switching between Preset/Snapshot mode and Stomp/Bypass mode in real-time.  All my presets use snapshots.  Anyone know if it's possible to assign specific looper functions like record, stop, play to buttons in snapshot mode for instant access?

[silverhead]

Read the manual section on Command Centre.

[enjalt]

Quote

Success!  Thanks for the help folks!  I had never tried Stomp mode before - strictly used snapshots.  Funny the FW allows assigning a function to Bank yet doesn't display on the scribble strip.  The manual and tutorial videos say to "touch but not press" the buttons to assign.  Pulled my hair out for hours trying to get that to work.  Turns out it uses capacitive touch sensing which doesn't work with my footswitch toppers.  Even if Global Stomp Select is changed from Touch to Press.  To me it seems easier to use HX Edit.  

 

Unfortunately it's proving awkward switching between Preset/Snapshot mode and Stomp/Bypass mode in real-time.  All my presets use snapshots.  Anyone know if it's possible to assign specific looper functions like record, stop, play to buttons in snapshot mode for instant access?

 

So The first thing (I think) you should set up is your display with stomp + snapshot (each on a row) using Global setting -> footswitches -> preset mode switches -> "Stomp/snap" or "Snap/stomp".
You'll have your snapshots on the first row ans the 2nd row in stomp mode or Stomp on first row and snap on second. That's your choice

Then via command center you can assign each stomp switches with specific commands:

In my example I'll give you some parameter to set on the second row, switches 1 to 3

 

Switch 1: Knob 1: "HX Looper" -> Knob 2: Function "Record"

Switch 2: Knob 1: "HX looper"-> knob 2: Function "Play"

Switch 3: Knob 1: "HX Looper" -> knob 2: Function "Stop"

 

(page 63 on the manual)

 

Then you'll have on a single display:

- Your snapshots on first row

- The looper functions on the second row

 

 

[PaulTBaker]

One of the reasons the Helix is so great is because of the enormous amount of option you can pick from and the multiple ways you can achieve the same results.

 

That is also the downfall of the Helix and why some people don't like it.  Once you learn the basics (which are really basic) then you are on your way.   It looks like you are over thinking it.  You have to put"stuff" (amps, cabs, effects, looper, etc.) in your chain.  To assign the stuff to a footswitch (so you can turn it on or off with your foot, when you are in "Stomp" mode) on the helix, make sure you are on the block you want to assign (in this case, the looper that you added to your chain), then touch and hold the footswitch you want to assign the block to and you will get a message asking if you want to assign this... hit save.  Then you have your blocks tied to footswitches.

 

For your snapshots, turn on the blocks you want activated in that snapshot and then save that as a snapshot.  Then, when you are in Snapshot Mode, you can select that snapshot and those blocks will be turned on.   

 

I usually run in Stomp mode and have a couple of snapshots assigned to a few footswitches.  A poster above pointed to how to do that. 

 

My understanding is you want to use the looper to set/tweak block settings.  To do this I suggest putting your looper first in your chain, that way, you will hear what changes you are making because the looper is sending the signal down the chain.  You will not hear any changes to your sound if you put the looper at the end, because the looper recorded your original sounds.  You may know this, however it is important to understand if not.

 

So I would put the 6 button looper first in the chain.... then add your other blocks (amps, cabs, whatever).... then click on the looper and you will see the loopers buttons.  hit record and play something.  Then press the "exit" button and you will return to the stomp mode AND the looper will keep playing.  Then you can tweak stuff.  When you find something you like, save that as a snapshot.... then repeat for whatever else you want.

 

Hope this helps.... It is easy to get frustrated, however once you get the basics, it really is worth your while... at least imo.