Stadium XL --> 4cm and Straight into FRFR

[bvstone]

Because I love my Blue Deluxe amp and and I also want to take advantage of the modeling in the Stadium XL when it arrives (any day now!) I am interested in setup for this.. mainly on the device side.  I believe the cabling I can figure out.

 

What I want to do:

 

1.  Set it up so I can use either the 4CM output to my BD amp and/or my FRFR.  Would this be two separate signal chains with output directed to the specific output?

2.  Use a stomp to turn each one on and off (I think I can figure this out.. but hints would be great).

3.  Understand if there are settings in the chain setup I need to do to make sure my analog pedals in the chain are in the correct spot on the Stadium XL

4.  Anything else I'm forgetting

 

Obviously for my 4CM setting I want cab sims turned off but still want to be able to use the stomps and make sure they're in the right place in the signal change (ie, preamp, post amp, etc).  Same for the FRFR which I believe will be more straightforward.

 

If these would be two separate signal chains directed to different outputs, I assume for FRFR I just set up the amp, cab, etc.  For the 4CM I assume I just don't use any amp, preamp, cab, etc and just set up stomps... but how do I get them in the right order (ie pre/post preamp)

 

I am coming from a Boss GT-100 so I have some idea of how this works, but the Line 6 Stadium XL is brand new to me and seems Lightyears ahead of the GT-100!  

 

I've searched for videos, etc but haven't found much except for the physical cabling to use.

 

TIA!

[silverhead]

1. 4CM setup uses an FX Loop in the Stadium signal chain. One signal chain, no need for separate outputs. 
2. Assign a Stomp footswitch to the FX Loop FX block. Do not use a Cab/IR in the preset; your physical amp cab provides that. When the FX Loop is active the signal is sent to your physical amp’s guitar input (preamp section) so deactivate the amp model in the preset. When the FX Loop is bypassed the signal does not go to to your amp’s preamp section so you want an active amp model placed after the FX Loop in the signal chain.

3. Any FX blocks you place before the FX Loop in the preset’s signal chain are in front of the amp, whether the real amp or the amp model (only one of which should be active at any time). Any FX blocks placed after the amp model are post amp. The only confusion here would be if your preset signal chain places FX blocks after the FX Loop and before the amp model. Those blocks would be post real amp but pre amp model. You might want to avoid that setup unless you have a specific purpose.

4. Just make sure you get the cabling right. I can’t tell you how many times novice 4CM users say “I’m sure my cabling is correct” when it’s not.

[bvstone]

On 1/26/2026 at 7:33 PM, silverhead said:

1. 4CM setup uses an FX Loop in the Stadium signal chain. One signal chain, no need for separate outputs. 
2. Assign a Stomp footswitch to the FX Loop FX block. Do not use a Cab/IR in the preset; your physical amp cab provides that. When the FX Loop is active the signal is sent to your physical amp’s guitar input (preamp section) so deactivate the amp model in the preset. When the FX Loop is bypassed the signal does not go to to your amp’s preamp section so you want an active amp model placed after the FX Loop in the signal chain.

3. Any FX blocks you place before the FX Loop in the preset’s signal chain are in front of the amp, whether the real amp or the amp model (only one of which should be active at any time). Any FX blocks placed after the amp model are post amp. The only confusion here would be if your preset signal chain places FX blocks after the FX Loop and before the amp model. Those blocks would be post real amp but pre amp model. You might want to avoid that setup unless you have a specific purpose.

4. Just make sure you get the cabling right. I can’t tell you how many times novice 4CM users say “I’m sure my cabling is correct” when it’s not.

 

Ok, maybe this will be a little more complicated that I thought.  I had looked up how to do this but with the Amp and FRFR speaker, how would you wire it in this case?  I was assuming 2 separate outputs would be the way to do it.. it appears not.  This is what "AI" told me..

 

4-Cable Method + FRFR Wiring Steps:

1. Guitar → Helix Input: Guitar goes into the Helix/Stomp Input.
2. Helix Send 1 → Amp Input: Connect Helix Send 1 to the front input of your real amp.
3. Amp FX Send → Helix Return 1: Connect the amp's FX Loop Send to the Helix Return 1.
4. Helix Output → Amp FX Return: Connect the main Helix Output (L/Mono) to the amp's FX Loop Return.
5. FRFR Setup: Connect a separate Helix Output (e.g., 1/4" Right or XLR) to your FRFR speaker input. 

Signal Chain and Settings:

• Place the FX Loop Block: Put the FX Loop block in your Helix chain after your wah/distortions, but before delays/reverbs.
• Split Signal for FRFR: In the Helix, place a "Send" block (or use Output 2) before the Cab/IR block, routed to the FRFR speaker. Ensure the path to the real amp (FX Loop) does not have a Cab/IR block activated, while the path to the FRFR does.
• 4CM Management: Ensure the FX Loop block is active in all patches to hear the amp's preamp. 

 

Edit:

In thinking about this more I think I understand.   Use an FX loop and assign a stomp that turns the FX loop on any cab sims off, or vice versa.  It will probably make more sense once I have the unit in front of me.  I was thinking I could create a branch after the FX loop that includes amp/preamp/cab sims and when I turn the FX loop on it would turn this branch off, or vice versa.  

 

Just wondering if I wanted to run them both that would require a separate stomp to turn the cab branch on/off?

 

sorry if I'm a newb... I haven't really touched my GT100 much since I got 4cm working on it... :) 

[silverhead]

Yes, I had overlooked the FRFR part in my earlier response. The AI directions seem correct to me as far as they go. But I think it has overlooked the desire to use either the real amp or an amp sim at any time.
 

You still need the amp sim block after the FX Loop and you need to arrange for it to be bypassed when the FX Loop is on. You will need to use a Split block after the amp sim with a Cab/IR after the Split to provide cab simulation to the FRFR. I would use the 2nd Output block rather than a Send block for the FRFR signal. The signal entering the Split block should have either the amp’s preamp or the amp sim, not both. Choose/configure the Split block to send the signal through to both paths. One path goes to the amp’s cab while the other goes through a cab sim to the FRFR.
 

Set up your presets to use either your amp’s preamp or an amp sim, not both. For your amp’s preamp activate the FX Loop, and deactivate it for the amp sim. If you want to get really fancy and use either the amp’s preamp or an amp sim in the same preset you might look into using Snapshots to activate or bypass the FX Loop and the amp sim with one footswitch.

[jpdennis]

On 1/26/2026 at 2:19 PM, bvstone said:

Obviously for my 4CM setting I want cab sims turned off but still want to be able to use the stomps and make sure they're in the right place in the signal change (ie, preamp, post amp, etc).  Same for the FRFR which I believe will be more straightforward.

 

If these would be two separate signal chains directed to different outputs, I assume for FRFR I just set up the amp, cab, etc.  For the 4CM I assume I just don't use any amp, preamp, cab, etc and just set up stomps... but how do I get them in the right order (ie pre/post preamp)

 

bvstone,

 

I am going to make a few assumptions as well as possible provide information you are already aware of.  Please forgive me if my assumptions are incorrect.  Forgive me if some of this information is redundant or you already know most of it. 

 

I find this an interesting concept as well as very doable as long as the DSP doesn't restrict you.  The 4CM for Stadium XL to physical amp is fairly straight forward, as long as you heed silverhead's warning about cabling.  When using the 4CM I put time based blocks (delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, etc.) after the amp.  There are many vlogs concerning the Helix on this.   The Matrix will come in handy for your thoughts concerning two separate signal paths.  One of the output paths will use on the 1/4 L/Mono out jack only for the amp based 4CM and one will be the Stadium XLR L/Mono only for the FRFR.  The 4CM path will not have any amp and/or speaker blocks on it.  It could possibly be a single path to start to test DSP limits.  Your more complex will be the guitar in to XLR out path containing the amp and cab models as your FRFR is similar to the studio playback monitor.  You input on both paths can be set to the same guitar input of your choosing.  I normally use my guitar's volume pots but if you want to use a Volume block I'd suggest putting it right after the input of both paths.  Then you can play with their position within your design based upon the best application.  I have found that placing the volume mono block on each path one after another (so to speak) works as expected so they are both controlled properly by the same EXP pedal.  If using a Wah-Wah do the same and use the exact same Wah until you get use to assigning the same EXP to separate types.  The various effects are your choice as I am just mimicking each path for effects and will use either a footswitch to activate the same type of effect block with a single footswitch and/or use snapshots.  For the fx loop, that is your preference.  Personally I am using a FX Loop Send 1 and FX Loop Return 2 so I can adjust the level (instrument versus line) separately based upon the FX loop on the amp I am using; I am still using the Helix Floor concept and will adjust as I get more familiar with the Stadium.  You will need to apply this yourself for your system based upon the amps instruction manual.

 

 

Also, forgive me if I have completely lost sight of what you are looking for ;-)

 

Good luck,

 

jpd