Line 6 Helix

fretmeister

Anyone know if a Helix can control a second Helix?

Sporky

There's MIDI in and out, so you can synchronise patches. I think you can make all the footswitches and the expression pedal send CC messages as well.

What exactly do you want to do?

Also your EQ suggestions were very successful - the Helix EQ frequencies are slightly different but it sounds much more like a bass now. I also ran a compressor into the bass signal path before the pitch shifter, and put a Minotaur OD at the end with lots of gain (far more than I'd expected to need) but not much level. Turned off the guitar cab models when the bass is running and used the SVR 8x10 cab model instead.

In a mix I think it'd fool people.

fretmeister

I was just curious about it really - whether it was possible.

 Glad to help on the EQ! I wanted to know the result but I didn't want to hassle you! 

Compressors before pitch shifters are usually a good idea to give the shifter a better signal. Although I do have the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe which is pleasingly glitchy when used without.

Sporky

Certainly possible, but depends a little on exactly what you want it to do.

handsomerik

FYI the editor and new firmware to support it has finally been released!

On the line 6 software page make sure you click the little beta button next to the other three drop down menus or you won't see the editor.

Sporky

Excellent - thanks!

MtB

Good news! Thanks for letting us know.

Sporky

Update failed first time, but fine the second. Looks like using a KVM to switch the mouse away during the update is a bad plan. Which seems obvious now given that it'd disrupt the USB link.

Anyways, all good now, the editor works pretty well though I'll be happier once it's got copy & paste and access to editing the scribble strips. Still easier than sitting on the floor though.

Digital_Igloo

Sporky said:

Anyways, all good now, the editor works pretty well though I'll be happier once it's got copy & paste and access to editing the scribble strips. Still easier than sitting on the floor though.

Copy/paste blocks and customizing the scribble strips and LED colors is at the very top of our to-do list.

Sporky

I saw!

My post seems a bit of a downer compared to how I actually feel - the editor is a marvellous step forwards, and the Helix was pretty ace already.

D'you know if there are any plans for a freely assignable internal LFO or envelope follower or such?

johnny9fingers

Editor is great. Small amounts of bliss and less backache.

sweepy

Looking forward to messing about with 3rd party IR's now the editor is out

Cabicular

Why
Could you not before?

sweepy

Well, not according to the manual, unless I missed something painfully obvious

johnny9fingers

sweepy said:

Well, not according to the manual, unless I missed something painfully obvious

You could load other IRs into the old Helix Application, and then onto your Helix. I got the free Ownhammer ones, but rarely use them, most of the modelled cabs being pretty good for when I'm going direct out from the XLRs into a PA.

Cabicular

sweepy;1021887" said:

Well, not according to the manual, unless I missed something painfully obvious

Yes
The old app let you drag and drop folders of IRs
In
Up to 128 IIRC
You can then load them up and audition them using the footswitches to change them

andyoz

So are most shops still out of Helix stock...what a feckup!

I'm losing interest fast and will wait for the updated version...

hugbot

Question. Is setting up a system like: "one path without cab modelling output to amp, one with cab modelling to PA" easy, or a pain?

I assume it would be but then I think about delays and reverbs that are after the amp in the signal chain and start to worry about routing and DSP limits.

Sporky

andyoz said:

So are most shops still out of Helix stock...what a feckup!

I'm losing interest fast and will wait for the updated version...

So that you can complain when that one is popular too?

I decided I wanted one so I went onto a waiting list. Less than a month later I had my Helix.

hugbot said:

Question. Is setting up a system like: "one path without cab modelling output to amp, one with cab modelling to PA" easy, or a pain?

I assume it would be but then I think about delays and reverbs that are after the amp in the signal chain and start to worry about routing and DSP limits.

I think that'd be very easy.

You'd have the normal pre-amp effects, then the amp, then the post-amp effects, then a split with a cab in one branch and nothing in the other, with each branch routed to a different output - simplest to do them as left and right but there are lots of other ways you could do it.

While it is possible to hit the DSP limits (even using both paths) you have to have a lot of stuff there. I have a patch which includes two compressors, a wah, four distortions, pitch shift, three cabs, 10-band EQ, two phasers, two tremolos, reverb and delay. There's still DSP left to add more. Not much more, but more.

sweepy

That explains it, I was one of the first Helix owners and apart from the updated and driver software there was no other software available for the Mac