Helix HX Effects Question about EXT pedal control (Wah)

[jpdesroc]

Is-it possible to use only one Control pedal connected to EXT pedal #1

and use it as a Wah or Vol pedal depending on how far the pedal

is pushed down ?

I mean: pushing it down like a standard Wah to activate the Wah function

then pushing it again to get back to a 'Volume' control type use.

I think it's not possible but I ask..

[Schmalle]

Some expression pedals like the Mission Engineering SP1-L6H have toe switch. It allows you to switch stuff by applying pressure on the toe down position. You can use that to toggle between Wah and Vol. 

 

EDIT IMPORTANT NOTE: For the HX Effects you would need to modify the SP1-L6H and replace the momentary switch with a latching switch.

Edited March 4 by Schmalle
Misleading post - the SP1-L6H doesn't work for switching the HX FX without modification.

[theElevators]

On the Helix LT the external pedal will always be EXP 2.  On the Floor you can have EXP 2 and EXP3  (one more external pedal).  On the Helix rack, you can have all 3 pedals.

 

You cannot toggle between 0--100% wah and 0--100% volume by simply sweeping the pedal.  That could also get extremely confusing! 

 

Helix allows you to enable/disable different blocks if you bypass-assign these blocks to an expression pedal.  Basically, you can invert the bypassed/un-bypassed status of multiple blocks.  So you can un-bypass your wah, while at the sam etime bypassing the volume, and vice versa. 

 

 

Steps:

 

First, for both blocks remove all the default bypass behavior in HX edit (such as toe switch bypass).  Also remove the Snapshot Bypass assignment for both blocks (right-click in HX Edit, uncheck "Snapshot Bypass". Make sure in the "Bypass Assign" section, nothing is selected. 

 

 

 

In HX Edit, right-click on the first block, select bypass assign, select EXP 2.  IN Bypass/controller assign section, you have several parameters to specify:

 

Position: percentage of where your pedal is before the effect is bypassed/un-bypassed

Wait: When your expression pedal is lower the the percentage specified above, after how many milliseconds to return the block to the original state

And you can leave the behavior as Toggle.

 

In your specific preset and snapshot, save the wah block as bypassed, and volume block as un-bypassed.  Assign the volume pedal percentage and the wah position to EXP 2-- by default both blocks will not be both using EXP2, so you need to change that. 

 

 

Then for the wah block, select Bypass Assign, select EXP 2:

* Set the position at 99%.  Set the "wait" value to 1000 MS, leave everything else as is.

 

Then for the volume block, select Bypass Assign, select EXP 2:

2. Set the position at 99%, Set the "wait" value to 1000 MS, leave everything else as is.

 

End result: you can use your volume pedal from 0--99% of the EXP pedal path.  If you go to the toe position, volume pedal will turn off, and the wah will start working.  You will be able to do your Voodoo Chile Hendrix things.  But once you put the EXP pedal in the position of 99% or less, after a full second the wah will switch off and volume pedal will turn on. 

 

 

 

---

 

ALTERNATIVELY

 

Simply bypass/un-bypass either block in specific snapshots.  Snapshot 1 will have wah enabled/volume disabled; Snapshot 2 will be the opposite.  While both blocks are controlled by the same EXP 2 pedal, only one will be audible. 

 

You can still use the percentage-based engagement of the either block in specific snapshots.  You can assign both blocks to the same EXP 2 pedal, but "mix out" the block you don't want to use: assign the "mix" parameter to snapshots, and set to 0% or 100% for either block.  That's what I personally use: I control 5 different things with one expression pedal in one preset, but only one thing is being heard in each snapshot, because I'm using the "mix" parameter for these blocks. 

https://youtu.be/GskCbzmKXGU?si=7H_ZEozIJoYsC_tj

https://youtu.be/H5PMjg-oZJ8?si=WI0b3HNpM4ZNG-B1

[datacommando]

On 3/4/2025 at 12:05 AM, jpdesroc said:

Is-it possible to use only one Control pedal connected to EXT pedal #1

and use it as a Wah or Vol pedal depending on how far the pedal

is pushed down ?

Hi,

 

Yes it is possible, if you follow the advice given by @theElevators in the post above.

 

As the HXFX has 2 EXP inputs, it may be simpler to add a couple of cheap M-Audio EXP pedals to control Wah and Vol independently.

 

On 3/4/2025 at 5:07 AM, Schmalle said:

Some expression pedals like the Mission Engineering SP1-L6H have toe switch. It allows you to switch stuff by applying pressure on the toe down position. You can use that to toggle between Wah and Vol.

 

Hi,

 

AFAIK, the Mission SP1-L6H is not suitable for use with the HXFX. The switch makes it viable only for the Rack and Stomp units.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.