Clean signal and wet simultaneously use my external pedal

[herkid]

Hello , I seem struggle to understand how to run both dry and wet signal from my external pedal ( in the front of helix lt )?

I don’t want to place into helix fx loop ( it overcomes and degrades signal ) so I run external pedal in the ftont of helix , but I want to run clean signal and affected by pedal effects at the same time. Running parallel path (2 or b) runs only signal processed by external pedal and no dry signal ( it’s logical )

 my goal is path 1 signal with my real pedal 

path 2 just clean signal 

how to do it ? 
 

 

please help 

[datacommando]

On 4/17/2025 at 5:20 PM, herkid said:

Hello , I seem struggle to understand how to run both dry and wet signal from my external pedal ( in the front of helix lt )?

I don’t want to place into helix fx loop ( it overcomes and degrades signal ) so I run external pedal in the ftont of helix , but I want to run clean signal and affected by pedal effects at the same time. Running parallel path (2 or b) runs only signal processed by external pedal and no dry signal ( it’s logical )

 my goal is path 1 signal with my real pedal 

path 2 just clean signal 

how to do it ? 
 

 

please help 

Hi,

 

When seeking assistance from users it’s a big help to know what you are trying to connect! We are not telepathic, we don’t have any concept of what your external pedal is?

 

I would seem that you want to attach an external FX pedal that can output both a dry and processed signal to a Helix LT.
 

Yes?

 

Well, the way you want to connect to the front end it is not possible, because the LT model only has a single guitar input (mono). Your only other option if you require a second input for the processed audio, is to use one of the Return sockets as an aux input, to a second path.

 

What I really cannot comprehend is why you “don’t want” to place it in the FX Loop, because that is exactly what Send/Return loops are designed to handle. You say that “it overcomes and degrades signal”. If that is the case, then that would seem to suggest that you are using the FX Loop incorrectly. I have patched many different external units, via the Send/Return options, from a cheapo Zoom MS-70 CDR, a DTP Ocean Machine, Magic Stomp, a vintage SPX90, various Loopers, rack mount delays and synth/drum modules - all without issue.
 

It maybe time you checked out the Helix LT 3.80 Owner’s Manual 
https://line6.com/data/6/0a00051afd86673ccb96424d9/application/pdf/Helix LT 3.80 Owner's Manual - English .pdf

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[herkid]

On 4/17/2025 at 6:40 PM, datacommando said:

Hi,

 

When seeking assistance from users it’s a big help to know what you are trying to connect! We are not telepathic, we don’t have any concept of what your external pedal is?

 

I would seem that you want to attach an external FX pedal that can output both a dry and processed signal to a Helix LT.
 

Yes?

 

Well, the way you want to connect to the front end it is not possible, because the LT model only has a single guitar input (mono). Your only other option if you require a second input for the processed audio, is to use one of the Return sockets as an aux input, to a second path.

 

What I really cannot comprehend is why you “don’t want” to place it in the FX Loop, because that is exactly what Send/Return loops are designed to handle. You say that “it overcomes and degrades signal”. If that is the case, then that would seem to suggest that you are using the FX Loop incorrectly. I have patched many different external units, via the Send/Return options, from a cheapo Zoom MS-70 CDR, a DTP Ocean Machine, Magic Stomp, a vintage SPX90, various Loopers, rack mount delays and synth/drum modules - all without issue.
 

It maybe time you checked out the Helix LT 3.80 Owner’s Manual 
https://line6.com/data/6/0a00051afd86673ccb96424d9/application/pdf/Helix LT 3.80 Owner's Manual - English .pdf

Hope this helps/makes sense.

Yes I checked manual and pedal I want to run and get clean and wet artesian time is Fuzz pedal . Placing fuzz into fxloop make it sounds thinner,overcompressed and lifeless .

As I see it might be not possible to run fuzz in the front of the helix and get clean and wet sound on the different helix paths 

[datacommando]

On 4/18/2025 at 4:13 AM, herkid said:

Yes I checked manual and pedal I want to run and get clean and wet artesian time is Fuzz pedal . Placing fuzz into fxloop make it sounds thinner,overcompressed and lifeless .

As I see it might be not possible to run fuzz in the front of the helix and get clean and wet sound on the different helix paths 

O.K. Here we go. 

 

I did say it would be helpful to know what you are trying to connect to the front of your Helix LT. Your answer is - a fuzz pedal. Great, that’s really specific - a generic fuzz pedal. 

 

Anyhow, the thing about why your “fuzz” pedal “overcomes and degrades the signal” in the FX Loop is more than likely due to a thing known as “impedance”, and not all fuzz pedals are the same and the impedance can vary, even between models of the same type.

 

The cable between your guitar and fuzz pedal will load the pickups with the impedance of the pedal, which will affect the tone of your guitar. If you connect the fuzz pedal to the FX Loop, you don’t have that impedance loading present and it so sounds different. (The Helix has lots of ways of dealing with impedance in the Global settings).

 

If you stick a fuzz pedal in front of the Helix, then you can only have clean guitar tone when the fuzz is off (bypassed) or fuzzy when on (engaged). All or nothing!

 

To achieve both clean and dirty, you would need to have a cable that split the guitar signal into 2 mono cables. First would go to the fuzz pedal and then to the LT guitar in socket to Path 1A. The second would connect to one of the the Return sockets on the LT and feed Path 1B which would be split directly after the main input. Path 1A = Fuzzy and Path 1B = Clean.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

 

Here’s a link to a discussion about Fuzz & Impedance.

 

 

EDIT:

Here ya go - load this into your Helix LT. Connect a signal splitter/ dual cable to your guitar. 1 into fuzzbox out to Path1A, other cable into Return 1 feeds Path 1B.  Change Amp and FX and populate the preset with whatever you want. 

 

Fuzz n Clean.hlx

Edited April 19 by datacommando
Added preset

[herkid]

Thank you , I have a DI box that do the trick , I thought helix can do it without external device .

fuzz I use is ordinary bigmuff( black and silver )

[datacommando]

On 4/20/2025 at 9:36 AM, herkid said:

Thank you , I have a DI box that do the trick , I thought helix can do it without external device .

fuzz I use is ordinary bigmuff( black and silver )

 

Hi,

 

Ah, yeah, I suppose you could try using a Behringer Ultra-DI D120, if you have the cables for the job. Your LT model doesn't have a second input for guitar, whereas my Helix Floor has a dedicated AUX input rated at 10kΩ for bass or guitars with active pups. Also the Send/Return jack sockets are specifically designed for use as additional inputs and outputs for connecting keyboards, drum machines, mixers, and other gear at line, or instrument level.

 

Before converting to digital multi-fx I ran mainly EXH pedals including, a Big Muff Pi, Small Stone, Electric Mistress Deluxe, Memory Man and even a very rare Crying Muff Wah pedal, but I never felt the need to have them running full time, which is why I don't understand you needing to have a dedicated fuzz path. Each to their own, I guess.

 

Happy trails