Line 6 Helix

Sporky

I certainly think Line 6 deserve credit for sticking by a product. Thereyve expanded the range, but the original (and best) hasn't been replaced for some quick sales wins. 

Moltisanti

haha! i actually bought a HX Stomp around 2019!

i stand corrected 

relic245

I've just upgraded from HX FX to Helix LT and having issues with 4cm. The amp is a Marshall DSL40cr if that makes any difference. 

I've imported a patch from HX FX that has a send/return block and a few FX - all worked well on that unit. 

On the Helix when the amps FX loop is turned on the volume drops considerably compared to when FX loop is off. It doesn't do that on the HX FX, 

I'm certain the connections are correct - I have labels on the cables and I've moved then 1 cable at a time to make sure I'm not doing anything stupid. 

I've done a factory reset on the Helix and still the same. 

I have also tried building a preset from scratch with just an fx loop and again with separate send/return blocks.

I'm guessing there is a setting somewhere that I'm missing?  I know I can change the send/return volume but don't understand why I'd need to when I didn't before. 

Any ideas - 

BTW my cables are:

Guitar -> Helix guitar in
Helix Send -> Amp instrument input
Amp Send -> Helix Return
Helix 1/4 out to amp return.

Musicwolf

Worth checking Global Settings > Ins/Outs >Send/Return.  This can be set to either Instrument or Line Level.

borntohang

@Musicwolf has it already, but the Helix units come with Sends set to Instrument as default. Try Line and see if that boosts you up to proper gain. 

relic245

borntohang said:

@Musicwolf has it already, but the Helix units come with Sends set to Instrument as default. Try Line and see if that boosts you up to proper gain. 

I tried it and it only makes a very slight difference. There is a still a significant difference in outputs.

guitarmangler

Just checking your inputs, so I’m clear.
Your going:
guitar in and 1/4” left mono out of the helix to the input of the amp.

The send from from the amp to helix return 
the send from helix to amps return 

?

Musicwolf

guitarmangler said:

Just checking your inputs, so I’m clear.
Your going:
guitar in and 1/4” left mono out of the helix to the input of the amp.

The send from from the amp to helix return 
the send from helix to amps return 

?

It should be

Guitar > Helix Gtr input

Within Helix.  Pre Amp FX Blocks (Comp, Dist etc)

Within Helix.  Send / Return Block

Helix Send > Amp In

Amp FX Loop Send > Helix Return

Within Helix. Post Amp FX Blocks (Modulation, Delays etc)

Helix Out > Amp FX Loop Return

guitarmangler

Musicwolf said:

guitarmangler said:

Just checking your inputs, so I’m clear.
Your going:
guitar in and 1/4” left mono out of the helix to the input of the amp.

The send from from the amp to helix return 
the send from helix to amps return 

?

It should be

Guitar > Helix Gtr input

Within Helix.  Pre Amp FX Blocks (Comp, Dist etc)

Within Helix.  Send / Return Block

Helix Send > Amp In

Amp FX Loop Send > Helix Return

Within Helix. Post Amp FX Blocks (Modulation, Delays etc)

Helix Out > Amp FX Loop Return

Yes. That’s it. Like this
I thought initially it was the way I described it before actually reading the manual and going’ oh, that’s how it’s done’. But that’s because I’m a doofus.

relic245

That's how I have it set 

I have a 4 cable snake with labels on the jacks that I've been using for ages on my hx FX so I know the connections are correct.

When using the same patch as ok the hxfx I get a different result so there must be a setting different somewhere.

borntohang

The FX doesn't have a volume knob does it? Is volume turned all the way up on the LT? 

relic245

borntohang said:

The FX doesn't have a volume knob does it? Is volume turned all the way up on the LT? 

You're correct that there is no volume knob on the FX. I do have it turned up on the LT.

borntohang

A bit baffling then. I'd suggest checking cables, but it works fine on the FX so probably not that. I guess at this point you double check all the global settings are identical on both units and then raise a ticket with L6 about it including the steps you have gone through. 

PolarityMan

How much do you like the marshall models in the helix? You could just go straight from the helix to the FX return of the amp and use one of the marshall models. Generally using a helix like this sounds very very good. 

relic245

borntohang said:

A bit baffling then. I'd suggest checking cables, but it works fine on the FX so probably not that. I guess at this point you double check all the global settings are identical on both units and then raise a ticket with L6 about it including the steps you have gone through. 

It's definitely not the cables. I may raise a ticket but to be honest it's not a real problem as I've never disengaged the loop on the marshal while I'm doing this. It's more about trying to understand how the unit works and why I'm getting this behaviour. 

relic245

PolarityMan said:

How much do you like the marshall models in the helix? You could just go straight from the helix to the FX return of the amp and use one of the marshall models. Generally using a helix like this sounds very very good. 

I was actually playing with this earlier today. I like the sounds but I'm not sure that I'd actually every use it like that live. 

I have 3 basic sounds set up - clean - crunch and more crunch.  I have a different volume control on the amp for each sound. 

I currently have 5 patches set up with different effects and within each I have a scene set that changes the channel on the amp via midi.

It seems to me that different venues the relative levels between the 3 sounds need to be different in order to cut through. On the amp it's easy, 3 volume controls. If I do that using the helix as you suggest then I have to make the same adjustment in 5 different patches. 

I don't think I can be arsed  

TTBZ

PolarityMan said:

How much do you like the marshall models in the helix? You could just go straight from the helix to the FX return of the amp and use one of the marshall models. Generally using a helix like this sounds very very good. 

This, when I had my Stomp I ran it into the FX return on my Jubilee and was able to get the Placater sounding pretty much the same  

Haych

Apologies if this goes off on a tangent, but thought it best to ask in this thread rather than starting a new one.

With a new Helix, how much setup time and additional purchases are required to get the unit functional for playing live, assuming I want to use Helix and nothing else for my sound.

So say I have a setlist of 20 songs and want to create a patch of two of three sounds for each song, how much jiggery pokery is required, and would I end up needing to purchase more patches, IRs or anything else from Line 6, or can it be done perfectly well how Helix comes equipped out of the box?

Assume I'm a modelling luddite, because I am.

TIA

bloodandtears

Haych said:

Apologies if this goes off on a tangent, but thought it best to ask in this thread rather than starting a new one.

With a new Helix, how much setup time and additional purchases are required to get the unit functional for playing live, assuming I want to use Helix and nothing else for my sound.

So say I have a setlist of 20 songs and want to create a patch of two of three sounds for each song, how much jiggery pokery is required, and would I end up needing to purchase more patches, IRs or anything else from Line 6, or can it be done perfectly well how Helix comes equipped out of the box?

Assume I'm a modelling luddite, because I am.

TIA

it all depends on how fickle your ear is..

also.. my band has over 70 songs in our list currently but primarily I have one patch that contains acoustic, clean, crunch and lead if you will..  its a swiss army knife patch...  and I rarely deviate...  I have my sound, I'm not trying to match original recorded sounds..  only in exceptional circumstances do I do that..

Sporky

I don't think you need to buy anything more.