brettspahr Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have connected the HX Stomp to my Tube amp using the 4 cable method. I want to run a drive in front and then have delay, reverb, etc. in the effects loop. When I turn on the effects loop it is very noisy and the drive sounds are almost clean with hardly anything to it. When I bypass the effects loop the drive sounds great and the noise is gone. Also, the reverb and delay effects still work with the loop off. I am not sure if I missing something or have this setup incorrectly in the chain. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Your wiring should be: Guitar>HXS L/Mono IN>HXS SEND L(using a TS cable)>Amp INPUT>Amp SEND>HXS L/Mono RETURN>HXS L/Mono MAIN OUT>Amp RETURN Not all amp FX loops are the same. It helps to have ALL of the details. ASSUMING the simplest configuration of a MODERN amp, the FX loop is INSTRUMENT level, as most MODERN users will be placing stompbox FX in the loop. Make sure that the FX Loop that you are using is set to INSTRUMENT level in Global Settings>Ins/Outs. Also make sure that the RETURN TYPE is set to RETURN. Leave the FX Loop Block's S/R settings at the defaults (0db/0db). Be aware that the OUTPUT LEVEL of the pre-amp models is MUCH lower than the OUTPUT LEVEL of the FULL (no cab) models. Also, the SIC (Speaker Impedance Curve) emulation lives in the POWER AMP, not the PRE-AMP. If your amp has a Post Inverter MASTER volume, that will control the amps output level and the HXS VOLUME control should be MAXXED. If not, the amp's output will be 100% and the HXS Volume control will control the amp's OUTPUT LEVEL. There are potentially other variables depending upon your amp. That's why knowing all of the details matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpdennis Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 On 3/15/2026 at 5:36 PM, brettspahr said: I have connected the HX Stomp to my Tube amp using the 4 cable method. I want to run a drive in front and then have delay, reverb, etc. in the effects loop. When I turn on the effects loop it is very noisy and the drive sounds are almost clean with hardly anything to it. When I bypass the effects loop the drive sounds great and the noise is gone. Also, the reverb and delay effects still work with the loop off. I am not sure if I missing something or have this setup incorrectly in the chain. Any ideas? brettspahr, What tube amp are you using? jpd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettspahr Posted March 16 Author Share Posted March 16 The amp is a Marshall Orgin combo. Yes. The cables are connected as follows: Guitar>HXS L/Mono IN HXS SEND L(using a TS cable)>Amp INPUT Amp SEND>HXS L/Mono RETURN HXS L/Mono MAIN OUT>Amp RETURN The FX Loop is set to INSTRUMENT level in Global Settings>Ins/Outs The RETURN TYPE is set to RETURN. The FX Loop Block's S/R settings are at the defaults (0db/0db) The HXS VOLUME control is MAXXED all the way up Do I need the FX loop block in the path? I thought this was needed but it sounds way better without it unless there is something else I am missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 The FX Loop Block is how the signal gets to the SEND and back thru the RETURN. It's not 4cm without it - the signal never gets to your amp's pre-amp section, it just passes through the signal chain to the OUTPUT and into your amp's RETURN. You want your PRE-AMP model on either side of the FX Loop Block. SAVE the preset with both the PRE-AMP and the FX LOOP blocks on the same FS, one ON and the other OFF. When you hit the switch you'll toggle between the HELIX PRE-AMP and your Marshall's pre. Use the HELIX PRE-AMP's CHANNEL Volume and/or the FX Loop Block's S/R to level the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 I had time to look up the manual for your amp. There's a footswitch (PEDL-90016) that toggles the FX Loop. Since I don't see a manual switch (usually on the front panel) I would normally assume that the FX Loop is ON by default. However, it would be silly to assume logic from Marshall (like they ASSUME that you have the footswitch, so no front panel switch is necessary...)., so if your FX LOOP isn't working you should spend some time researching that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettspahr Posted March 21 Author Share Posted March 21 Yes, this amp does require the foot switch to be plugged in and engaged for the effects loop to work. That is how it is setup and is working fine. After looking into this further I found that the effects loop on this amp is line level. I have switched this from Instrument in Global settings. After spending a little more time I noticed that bringing down the return level to -10 db on the effects loop block got rid of the noise. This now sounds much better. Should I be using a preamp block or amp block? Also, should it be on the left or right of the FX Loop block? Does it matter? Appreciate your help with this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 On 3/21/2026 at 5:21 AM, brettspahr said: Yes, this amp does require the foot switch to be plugged in and engaged for the effects loop to work. That is how it is setup and is working fine. After looking into this further I found that the effects loop on this amp is line level. I have switched this from Instrument in Global settings. After spending a little more time I noticed that bringing down the return level to -10 db on the effects loop block got rid of the noise. This now sounds much better. Should I be using a preamp block or amp block? Also, should it be on the left or right of the FX Loop block? Does it matter? Appreciate your help with this! Glad you're making progress! If you are using a pre-amp like you would use a physical AIAB pedal in front of an amp, then place it before the FX Loop Block and keep both active. If you are using a pre-amp to REPLACE the Marshall pre-amp then it doesn't matter where you place it as the FX Loop Block will be bypassed when it is in use. IME, using both an Engl and a Blackstar, pre-amp blocks don't sound all that good as a replacement for the physical amp's pre-amp. Try it both ways and use whichever sounds best to you. That's all that really matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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