Helix Floor/LT/HX/Stomp/PodGo owners' Club - Tips, Ideas & Patches

[funkle]

That’s a very cool find. I’m going to try a play with those settings. 

[tauzero]

Just asked for Pino Palladino fretless sound from Paul Young's records. I shall have a play with the settings it's provided and see how it turns out.

[Gank Bass]

Apologies if this has already been asked! But in preset mode, is there a way to get the footswitch icons to display the name of the preset and not the code?

 

 

[Wombat]

On 05/12/2024 at 12:40, Gank Bass said:

Apologies if this has already been asked! But in preset mode, is there a way to get the footswitch icons to display the name of the preset and not the code?

 

 

I’m sure by default it shows the preset number above the name? If not possibly one of the Global footswitch settIngs has been changed?
 

It’s explained in the Helix manual. Page 12 in the 3.80 version.

[Gank Bass]

1 hour ago, Wombat said:

I’m sure by default it shows the preset number above the name? If not possibly one of the Global footswitch settIngs has been changed?
 

It’s explained in the Helix manual. Page 12 in the 3.80 version.

I'll take a look, thank you!

 

Bought the unit second hand from what I'm assuming was a pink Floyd tribute as every preset slow was a Floyd song, quite impressive really!

 

 

[Wombat]

Fine if you want Gilmore tones. Or Guy’s? Easy enough to change though. And plenty of help here if you need it.

[BassAgent]

I have a question about my Helix LT. I've just had a flight case built for my Helix LT. I want to put velcro on the bottom of the Helix to fix it to the case. Is it possible to remove the rubber feet without compromising the fixation of the bottom plate to the device? 

[Wombat]

If it’s in warranty I’d probably leave it as you could invalidate that. I had my helix open a couple of times when it was like 3 years old and as far as I recall the feet were not completely necessary.

I think I’d find something thick enough to make up the gap.

[BigRedX]

On 13/12/2024 at 16:51, BassAgent said:

I have a question about my Helix LT. I've just had a flight case built for my Helix LT. I want to put velcro on the bottom of the Helix to fix it to the case. Is it possible to remove the rubber feet without compromising the fixation of the bottom plate to the device? 

 

Someone here 3D printing fixtures that replaced the feet and allowed the Helix the be screwed to the wooden base of a pedal board case.

[tauzero]

Just thought I'd mention that Line 6 have updated the manual for both the Stomp and HX Edit to 3.80 (@Wombat has mentioned it above but just in case people missed it). Also, v3.82 of HX Edit is out.

[Skybone]

POD Go v2.50 has been released.

 

Will mine update later after work.

 

2 new bass amps, 2 new bass cabs, a new bass wah & the Noble pre-amp model.

Edited January 22 by Skybone

[cocco]

Sorry in advance if this has been asked/covered before. 

 

Does anyone have any tips on using a parallel signal path for a clean blend with the guitar overdrives? 

 

My current signal chain is compressor to signal split then a Klon and a plumes on one path and an EQ that I'm using as a clean boost on the other. The Klon is on all the time and the plumes (in op amp mode) is used to add more dirt when required.

 

I'm basically wondering if I've gone about it the most sensible way, is there a better way of boosting the clean signal so the level is the same as the dirty? 

 

 

[Wombat]

Hola,

 

Can I ask which bit of kit you are using? The signal flow is different on each device.

[cocco]

30 minutes ago, Wombat said:

Hola,

 

Can I ask which bit of kit you are using? The signal flow is different on each device.

My bad! The HX stomp XL

[Greg Edwards69]

11 hours ago, cocco said:

Sorry in advance if this has been asked/covered before. 

 

Does anyone have any tips on using a parallel signal path for a clean blend with the guitar overdrives? 

 

My current signal chain is compressor to signal split then a Klon and a plumes on one path and an EQ that I'm using as a clean boost on the other. The Klon is on all the time and the plumes (in op amp mode) is used to add more dirt when required.

 

I'm basically wondering if I've gone about it the most sensible way, is there a better way of boosting the clean signal so the level is the same as the dirty? 

 

 

You probably don't need the eq to boost the clean path. The merge block where the split paths rejoin has a mixer so you can balance the two signal paths.

 

Also, try experimenting with different types of split. The crossover split (set to around 200hz) is quite useful for certain drive models to retain a clean low end.

Edited January 24 by Greg Edwards69

[cocco]

10 hours ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

You probably don't need the eq to boost the clean path. The merge block where the split paths rejoin has a mixer so you can balance the two signal paths.

 

Also, try experimenting with different types of split. The crossover split (set to around 200hz) is quite useful for certain drive models to retain a clean low end.

Thanks! I hadn't noticed the mixer in the merge block. That'll stop the clean sound being colored at all.

 

I'll have a look at the other splits too. Sending just highs to the dirty bit could be interesting. 

[carlsim]

Hi… very new to the helix fraternity with a hx stomp…

been looking around at presets until I can get time to really look at building my own sounds and I came across the Ian Allison presets - very expensive and some research tells me they aren’t worth it (not my opinion!)

I came across Jon Willis’ website dr tone which seems to have similar stuff available for a free download! Unfortunately, the ones I wanted don’t seem to be there! It’s the synth pack:

 

https://drtone.theblackcreekband.com/preset/synth-bass-pack/

 

it would appear the download link is broken, I have contacted him and waiting to hear but I wondered if anyone else had these presets that they fancied sharing?

 

it seems to be a great resource and well regarded, and best of all, free!

The presets from Ian Allison do look good but $50 for a few presets seems a bit of the high side… but that’s my opinion only…

 

can anyone help? Would also be grateful of any advice for building a faithful synth bass sound? 80s synth bass (think I wanna dance…)

There seems to be lot of videos online of demos, so I know the unit can do it… just need to figure out the best approach!

[Greg Edwards69]

I'll be blunt, my opinion of Jon Willis has plummeted over the years. I've known of him for a number of years since the Facebook Yamaha attitude owners group before the helix came along. 
 

He's somewhat crowned himself as the helix bass guru without credentials and most of his presets are variations of the same thing, mid-rangey, Sheehan-esque p bass type stuff. All dialled in with an RTA and headphones. Fine  for Sheehan style rock stuff, but not a lot else. I tried his synth pack and didn't find it useful at all tbh. 
 

I've been using the helix for at least 6 years and like you, I'm loathed to pay money for presets. I've dialled in my own and was generally happy, although synths are my Achilles heel. But over the last year I've been enamoured with Ian Alison's tones so I bit the bullet and bought his vintage synth pack.
 

Oh my! These are the real deal - they sound extraordinary. Genuinely useful, especially the mini moon preset. I enjoyed it so much I bought his signature pack too to see if I could learn anything and he improve my own. Needless to say a modified version of his signature amp preset forms the basis of my core tones. Organic, gritty, gooey goodness and very versatile. 
 

A while ago Jon and Ian had a rather public spat of social media where Jon "bought Ian's presets to review so you don't have to" and heavily criticised them for having round numbers in the settings. As if that's proof they haven't been dialled in and finessed over hundreds of gigs. He accused Ian of being nothing more than a used care salesman and then proceeded to tweak Ian's presets by 0.1 in each block and give them away for free. 
 

the community did not approve. I lost all respect for him at that point. 
 

honestly, IMA's presets appear costly, but they are the real deal and sound great, and dead easy to tweak if you need to shape to your taste and requirements. 
 

 

[carlsim]

13 hours ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

I'll be blunt, my opinion of Jon Willis has plummeted over the years. I've known of him for a number of years since the Facebook Yamaha attitude owners group before the helix came along. 
 

He's somewhat crowned himself as the helix bass guru without credentials and most of his presets are variations of the same thing, mid-rangey, Sheehan-esque p bass type stuff. All dialled in with an RTA and headphones. Fine  for Sheehan style rock stuff, but not a lot else. I tried his synth pack and didn't find it useful at all tbh. 
 

I've been using the helix for at least 6 years and like you, I'm loathed to pay money for presets. I've dialled in my own and was generally happy, although synths are my Achilles heel. But over the last year I've been enamoured with Ian Alison's tones so I bit the bullet and bought his vintage synth pack.
 

Oh my! These are the real deal - they sound extraordinary. Genuinely useful, especially the mini moon preset. I enjoyed it so much I bought his signature pack too to see if I could learn anything and he improve my own. Needless to say a modified version of his signature amp preset forms the basis of my core tones. Organic, gritty, gooey goodness and very versatile. 
 

A while ago Jon and Ian had a rather public spat of social media where Jon "bought Ian's presets to review so you don't have to" and heavily criticised them for having round numbers in the settings. As if that's proof they haven't been dialled in and finessed over hundreds of gigs. He accused Ian of being nothing more than a used care salesman and then proceeded to tweak Ian's presets by 0.1 in each block and give them away for free. 
 

the community did not approve. I lost all respect for him at that point. 
 

honestly, IMA's presets appear costly, but they are the real deal and sound great, and dead easy to tweak if you need to shape to your taste and requirements. 
 

 

 

Thanks for this reply - I purchased the vintage synth pack and you are right, there are some great sounds in there. I noticed some others which were by Chad Carouthers - a lot cheaper but IMO, nowhere near what Ian has. To be honest, the 4 sounds in there will give me everything I need so I am quite happy... there were a little pricey - £40 for 4 presets but it will save me a ton of time experimenting to get close and with pedals, I kinda want in now rather than faffing around too much.

 

[Naigewron]

14 hours ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

I'll be blunt, my opinion of Jon Willis has plummeted over the years. I've known of him for a number of years since the Facebook Yamaha attitude owners group before the helix came along. 
 

He's somewhat crowned himself as the helix bass guru without credentials and most of his presets are variations of the same thing, mid-rangey, Sheehan-esque p bass type stuff. All dialled in with an RTA and headphones. Fine  for Sheehan style rock stuff, but not a lot else. I tried his synth pack and didn't find it useful at all tbh. 
 

I've been using the helix for at least 6 years and like you, I'm loathed to pay money for presets. I've dialled in my own and was generally happy, although synths are my Achilles heel. But over the last year I've been enamoured with Ian Alison's tones so I bit the bullet and bought his vintage synth pack.
 

Oh my! These are the real deal - they sound extraordinary. Genuinely useful, especially the mini moon preset. I enjoyed it so much I bought his signature pack too to see if I could learn anything and he improve my own. Needless to say a modified version of his signature amp preset forms the basis of my core tones. Organic, gritty, gooey goodness and very versatile. 
 

A while ago Jon and Ian had a rather public spat of social media where Jon "bought Ian's presets to review so you don't have to" and heavily criticised them for having round numbers in the settings. As if that's proof they haven't been dialled in and finessed over hundreds of gigs. He accused Ian of being nothing more than a used care salesman and then proceeded to tweak Ian's presets by 0.1 in each block and give them away for free. 
 

the community did not approve. I lost all respect for him at that point. 
 

honestly, IMA's presets appear costly, but they are the real deal and sound great, and dead easy to tweak if you need to shape to your taste and requirements. 
 

 

 

Well, I didn't want make that post, but you're 100% spot on.

[BigRedX]

In 40 years of using programmable multi-effects and synths I think I've only ever used a few factory presets which still needed adjusting to work in the context of what I wanted to do and I have never paid for any. Line6 recently shared Peter Hooks "Salford Rules" Helix Preset, and while it wasn't bad, I think I preferred the version of his sound that I had programmed myself.

 

The Helix and HX series of devices are simple to program. Simply start with a blank Preset or if your device doesn't come with any pick one that you'll never use and wipe it. I spent half a day going through all the Presets that came with my Helix when I bought it and decided that none of them were remotely what I wanted to sound like. Then start adding modules as if you were populating a pedal board with pedals. Work on each one separately until it's producing a sound you like and then tweak them to produce the combined sound you want. You'll stillness a technical rehearsal or two with your band to fine tune everything, but other than that it's easy.

[LukeFRC]

18 hours ago, BigRedX said:

In 40 years of using programmable multi-effects and synths I think I've only ever used a few factory presets which still needed adjusting to work in the context of what I wanted to do and I have never paid for any. Line6 recently shared Peter Hooks "Salford Rules" Helix Preset, and while it wasn't bad, I think I preferred the version of his sound that I had programmed myself.

 

The Helix and HX series of devices are simple to program. Simply start with a blank Preset or if your device doesn't come with any pick one that you'll never use and wipe it. I spent half a day going through all the Presets that came with my Helix when I bought it and decided that none of them were remotely what I wanted to sound like. Then start adding modules as if you were populating a pedal board with pedals. Work on each one separately until it's producing a sound you like and then tweak them to produce the combined sound you want. You'll stillness a technical rehearsal or two with your band to fine tune everything, but other than that it's easy.

+1

One of the best bits of advice for digital gear someone gave me was for an H9, ignore every preset, start with 2-3 of your own and ignore the rest. Just think about 1 thing. 

It makes you focus on making the single thing you need, and then you can expand it later if you need.

Before I did that I was trying to make use of everything and focusing on the technology rather than my/the musics needs that the technology would help me do

[ratman]

I bought Ian Allison's Vintage Synth Pack too. I think it's great. Now that I can see how he does things I have used elements of his presets in my own and I'm very happy with the results.

[carlsim]

I'm selling my Stomp currently in the classifieds and am looking to sell the Vintage Synth Pack that I bought from Ian Allison. Would this be allowed in the classifieds? Obviously if I have no stomp I have no need for the presets so I would prefer to sell them... Does anyone know if this would be allowed in the classifieds?

[Cliff Edge]

1 hour ago, carlsim said:

I'm selling my Stomp currently in the classifieds and am looking to sell the Vintage Synth Pack that I bought from Ian Allison. Would this be allowed in the classifieds? Obviously if I have no stomp I have no need for the presets so I would prefer to sell them... Does anyone know if this would be allowed in the classifieds?

You bought it, surely it’s yours to do what ever you want.