hx effects Struggling to get my HX Effects to replace my Boss MS-3 on my pedalboard. Any help with setting up?

[spiattalo]

Just hoping someone could give me any pointers to achieve the following:

 

FS1: activates my amp's channel one via MIDI with a compressor and reverb on;

FS2: activates my amp's channel two via MIDI with a noise gate and and OD;

FS3: same as FS2, but with channel three of the amp;

FS4: same as FS3, but adds a delay, and an EQ;

FS5: same as FS4, but adds a chorus;

FS6: adds a single select effect to the (e.g. a poly pitch).

 

I would like to avoid using the up/down buttons, the above is literally all I need to have at once.

 

I thought the easier way would be by Snapshots, but I understand that I can only have four snapshots on at the same time.

 

Any suggestions?

[silverhead]

No, you can have up to 8 different snapshots in a preset. However your list of FX may be limited by the DSP capacity. 
 

Investigate the Helix Command Centre (see manual).Perhaps you can use Instant Commands to achieve what you want by recalling different Presets rather than Snapshots, or use a combination of both if DSP in the preset becomes an issue.

[Schmalle]

On 4/23/2025 at 1:38 PM, silverhead said:

No, you can have up to 8 different snapshots in a preset. However your list of FX may be limited by the DSP capacity. 
 

Investigate the Helix Command Centre (see manual).Perhaps you can use Instant Commands to achieve what you want by recalling different Presets rather than Snapshots, or use a combination of both if DSP in the preset becomes an issue.

It's four snapshots on the HX Effects.

[Schmalle]

On 4/23/2025 at 10:41 AM, spiattalo said:

Just hoping someone could give me any pointers to achieve the following:

 

FS1: activates my amp's channel one via MIDI with a compressor and reverb on;

FS2: activates my amp's channel two via MIDI with a noise gate and and OD;

FS3: same as FS2, but with channel three of the amp;

FS4: same as FS3, but adds a delay, and an EQ;

FS5: same as FS4, but adds a chorus;

FS6: adds a single select effect to the (e.g. a poly pitch).

 

I would like to avoid using the up/down buttons, the above is literally all I need to have at once.

 

I thought the easier way would be by Snapshots, but I understand that I can only have four snapshots on at the same time.

 

Any suggestions?

It's four snapshots on the HX Effects so you can do:

 

FS1: activates my amp's channel one via MIDI with a compressor and reverb on;

FS2: activates my amp's channel two via MIDI with a noise gate and and OD;

FS3: same as FS2, but with channel three of the amp;

FS4: same as FS3, but adds a delay, and an EQ;

FS5: adds a single chorus effect;

FS6: adds a single select effect (e.g. a poly pitch).

Use Stomp Mode for this. Configure FS 1...4 via Command Center's Snapshot Commands and FS 5+6 via Bypass Assign. Configure the four snapshots to switch MIDI via Instant Commands and noise gate, comp, reverb and OD via stock snapshot bypass.

[rd2rk]

 

You only get 4 Snapshots on the HXFX.

 

FS1: Calls SS1 - activates amp's channel one via MIDI with Comp and Reverb ACTIVE/ON

FS2: Calls SS2 - activates amp's channel two via MIDI with NG and OD ACTIVE/ON

FS3: Calls SS3 - activates amp's channel three via MIDI with NG and OD ACTIVE/ON

FS4: Calls SS4 - activates amp's channel three via MIDI with NG, OD, Delay and EQ ACTIVE/ON

FS5: Toggles Chorus, regardless of SS

FS6: Toggles other effect regardless of SS

 

SAVE each SS with the requisite FX ACTIVE/ON. Unnecessary FX should be BYPASSED/OFF when the SS is SAVED.

 

Since you only specified Chorus on Ch3 with NG, OD, Delay and EQ (SS4), placing the Chorus on FS 5 right next to FS4/SS4 allows you to hit both switches at once.

Dicey, I know, but in lieu of a 5th SS, it's the best I can think of.

 

 

 

[silverhead]

On 4/23/2025 at 9:21 AM, Schmalle said:

It's four snapshots on the HX Effects.

Right. Thanks for the correction.

[theElevators]

I actually used MS-3 for about 2 years.  For the band I was playing in, I used one bank, 4 buttons and 2 external buttons to cover every sound I'd ever need, which was a lot!  When I got the Helix 5 years ago, I realized that one preset would not be enough.  But this was a long time ago, before the revolutionary Command Center was introduced.  So I settled on the song-per-preset approach and could not have been happier.  That is the way to go.

 

 

 

 

I have a Pod Go, which also has 4 snapshots.  I wanted to downsize from the Helix and found it more than enough actually in terms of power/snapshots, etc.. 

 

It's only 4 snapshots, but if you have a preset per song, then 4 snapshots is plenty. 

 

For additional sounds, on the Pod Go, I use the expression pedal.  With the pedal, you can assign multiple things to it, so you can double the number of sounds you can produce to 8.  Expression pedal is not just for wah/volume!  You can assign anything to it: parameter changes, bypassing/un-bypassing things. 

 

If you assign mix parameters of various blocks to snapshots, and bypass/un-bypass things with the expression pedal, then you can really expand your possibilities.  The mix parameter set at 0%, means the block is not heard.  That means that the same expression pedal can turn on/off different things depending on the snapshot you are in (something is turned on but not heard).  To accomplish that, assign multiple effects to the pedal, but mix the ones you don't need out (mix = 0%).

 

For example, you can have 4 rhythm snapshots.  From these two, you can have 2 double as lead snapshots.  In those two snapshots, if you put the expression pedal in the toe position, it activates a delay and EQ to make your solos cut through.  In one of these rhythm/lead snapshots, you can have the expression pedal control the wah as well.  You can have delayed bypassing of blocks via the expression pedal -- up to 1 second.  So in one of these snapshots, if I start rocking the pedal, the lead sound persists, while I rock the pedal.  Then when I put it in toe position, delay/EQ turn off after 1 second...

 

And we are just getting started!  MS-3 had the ability to use each button for 2 things, aka "current number".  On the Helix, you can also do things like that with the Command Center.  So you can mix and match snapshots/stomps.  So, for example, you enter one snapshot, then press the same button again (or hold it) to turn something else on/off.  

 

I have no idea how to do this on the unit itself, given there's no screen.  But I'm sure in HX Edit, that's easily doable. 

 

So with Command Center + expression pedal, you have WAY more than 8 sounds possible.  Probably like 16. 

 

 

[spiattalo]

On 4/23/2025 at 11:26 PM, Schmalle said:

It's four snapshots on the HX Effects so you can do:

 

FS1: activates my amp's channel one via MIDI with a compressor and reverb on;

FS2: activates my amp's channel two via MIDI with a noise gate and and OD;

FS3: same as FS2, but with channel three of the amp;

FS4: same as FS3, but adds a delay, and an EQ;

FS5: adds a single chorus effect;

FS6: adds a single select effect (e.g. a poly pitch).

Use Stomp Mode for this. Configure FS 1...4 via Command Center's Snapshot Commands and FS 5+6 via Bypass Assign. Configure the four snapshots to switch MIDI via Instant Commands and noise gate, comp, reverb and OD via stock snapshot bypass.

 

On 4/23/2025 at 11:53 PM, rd2rk said:

 

You only get 4 Snapshots on the HXFX.

 

FS1: Calls SS1 - activates amp's channel one via MIDI with Comp and Reverb ACTIVE/ON

FS2: Calls SS2 - activates amp's channel two via MIDI with NG and OD ACTIVE/ON

FS3: Calls SS3 - activates amp's channel three via MIDI with NG and OD ACTIVE/ON

FS4: Calls SS4 - activates amp's channel three via MIDI with NG, OD, Delay and EQ ACTIVE/ON

FS5: Toggles Chorus, regardless of SS

FS6: Toggles other effect regardless of SS

 

SAVE each SS with the requisite FX ACTIVE/ON. Unnecessary FX should be BYPASSED/OFF when the SS is SAVED.

 

Since you only specified Chorus on Ch3 with NG, OD, Delay and EQ (SS4), placing the Chorus on FS 5 right next to FS4/SS4 allows you to hit both switches at once.

Dicey, I know, but in lieu of a 5th SS, it's the best I can think of.

Thanks for the suggestions, so what I would hope to do is just not possible in that way.

On 4/24/2025 at 12:54 AM, theElevators said:

I actually used MS-3 for about 2 years.  For the band I was playing in, I used one bank, 4 buttons and 2 external buttons to cover every sound I'd ever need, which was a lot!  When I got the Helix 5 years ago, I realized that one preset would not be enough.  But this was a long time ago, before the revolutionary Command Center was introduced.  So I settled on the song-per-preset approach and could not have been happier.  That is the way to go.

 

 

 

 

I have a Pod Go, which also has 4 snapshots.  I wanted to downsize from the Helix and found it more than enough actually in terms of power/snapshots, etc.. 

 

It's only 4 snapshots, but if you have a preset per song, then 4 snapshots is plenty. 

 

For additional sounds, on the Pod Go, I use the expression pedal.  With the pedal, you can assign multiple things to it, so you can double the number of sounds you can produce to 8.  Expression pedal is not just for wah/volume!  You can assign anything to it: parameter changes, bypassing/un-bypassing things. 

 

If you assign mix parameters of various blocks to snapshots, and bypass/un-bypass things with the expression pedal, then you can really expand your possibilities.  The mix parameter set at 0%, means the block is not heard.  That means that the same expression pedal can turn on/off different things depending on the snapshot you are in (something is turned on but not heard).  To accomplish that, assign multiple effects to the pedal, but mix the ones you don't need out (mix = 0%).

 

For example, you can have 4 rhythm snapshots.  From these two, you can have 2 double as lead snapshots.  In those two snapshots, if you put the expression pedal in the toe position, it activates a delay and EQ to make your solos cut through.  In one of these rhythm/lead snapshots, you can have the expression pedal control the wah as well.  You can have delayed bypassing of blocks via the expression pedal -- up to 1 second.  So in one of these snapshots, if I start rocking the pedal, the lead sound persists, while I rock the pedal.  Then when I put it in toe position, delay/EQ turn off after 1 second...

 

And we are just getting started!  MS-3 had the ability to use each button for 2 things, aka "current number".  On the Helix, you can also do things like that with the Command Center.  So you can mix and match snapshots/stomps.  So, for example, you enter one snapshot, then press the same button again (or hold it) to turn something else on/off.  

 

I have no idea how to do this on the unit itself, given there's no screen.  But I'm sure in HX Edit, that's easily doable. 

 

So with Command Center + expression pedal, you have WAY more than 8 sounds possible.  Probably like 16. 

 

 

I'm a bit confused about your suggestion re: incorporating an expression pedal, but I think having a preset per song might actually be the way to make it work.

 

That or using it in stomp mode with a second midi controller.

[theElevators]

On 4/24/2025 at 3:06 AM, spiattalo said:

 

I'm a bit confused about your suggestion re: incorporating an expression pedal, but I think having a preset per song might actually be the way to make it work.

 

Take a look at what I typed up earlier.  The expression pedal can basically add a bunch of additional sounds to your existing snapshots. For example:  Toe: 5 things get turned off, 7 things get turned on, and heel: the opposite.  Depending on the snapshot, you can mix certain effects out. 

 

I have some videos that you may find useful (not HX Effects though), that go over this.  The first video specifically goes over my approach of mixing things out.  As you can see, one expression pedal can do completely different things in each snapshot: turn on/off wah, vibrato, synth, as well as controlling parameters like the curve, feedback, output level, whatever you want. 

 

Also, the "current number" feature in MS-3 is doable with the Command Center and it's great.  Please familiarize yourself with it.  You can have one button to switch to a specific snapshot, while also toggle on/off multiple effects after you are in that snapshot.  You can have one button cycle through all snapshots if you want to!  A combination of all the tricks: 4 snapshots * expression pedal (toe/heel) = 8 distinct sound combinations.  Add to that 4 stomps that can be accessible from the same view using Command Center, 8 * 2 = 16 distinct sound combinations.