Line 6 Helix

Drew_TNBD

The update rate doesn't seem quick enough. The pitch accuracy is fine, but the needle doesn't move quick enough.

John_A

I love the tuner, don't even need my specs on to see it and it's certainly accurate

Drew_TNBD

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

John_A

Drew_TNBD said:

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

Just did and it had a it of a +/- 1 cent wobble which I'm more than happy with

Drew_TNBD

John_A said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

Just did and it had a it of a +/- 1 cent wobble which I'm more than happy with

Don't believe you.

John_A

Drew_TNBD said:

John_A said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

Just did and it had a it of a +/- 1 cent wobble which I'm more than happy with

Don't believe you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebZysm7X01Q

guitarfishbay

John_A said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

Just did and it had a it of a +/- 1 cent wobble which I'm more than happy with

I know where Drew is coming from.

The reaction speed of the needle is important.  If you're not getting a quick read on the tuner then in all likelyhood you'll wind up being sharp, as you'll end up only tuning to the sustain of a note.  One "ideal compromise" way of tuning is to pick at your regular strength about once a second or so... if the tuner can't hack that then it's not good enough.  Many tuners struggle with lower notes.

When you're recording you ideally want to tune to the exact way you'll play the notes... if you're going to pick hard and often (which is common in some rock/metal riffs) then you need to tune so the attack is in tune.  Otherwise you'll potentially wind up in a situation where your guitar is 10 cents sharp of standard but you'll only find out when you try and chuck a synth on top and for some reason the synth sounds out of tune with the guitar but they're both in tune in isolation...  I'm sure I'm not the only person who learned this the hard way.

John_A

Yes, suppose you are right if you are recording something that important then the response speed may have an issue.  Don't know of anything that will pick up a C on a bass much quicker though, but I don't play bass in drop C so I'll get my coat

guitarfishbay

John_A said:

Drew_TNBD said:

John_A said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Try it in Drop-C on a bass guitar. It kinda sucks.

Just did and it had a it of a +/- 1 cent wobble which I'm more than happy with

Don't believe you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebZysm7X01Q

Not hearing audio on this

John_A

You can't see it's a bass either . It's a muted bass 3 feet away from the Helix, try turning it right up there should be somthing there

Cabicular

It takes a bit of adapting to but I'm ok with it

TimmyO

guitarfishbay said:

In what way?

It's twitchy as fuck

fretmeister

John_A said:

Yes, suppose you are right if you are recording something that important then the response speed may have an issue.  Don't know of anything that will pick up a C on a bass much quicker though, but I don't play bass in drop C so I'll get my coat

I'm in drop A sometimes.

I'll stick with my Polytune.

sgosden

I'm not a fan of the tuner, I have a TU3 or pitch black in between wireless and helix input. 
Helix tuner is ok on stage to get a rough tune, but then I'm the only guitar, and the bassists tone is 80% fuzz so non perfect tuning isn't essential:P 

My bass is in A#. Helix has no chance on it. 

John_A

TimmyO said:

guitarfishbay said:

In what way?

It's twitchy as fuck

It's really not, it's just accurate, it wiggles  around a bit +/- a few hundredths of a semitone but you can blow a string that far out of tune.

seriously, see my video above, no issue with drop C on a bass, I'll try A later on

John_A

For anyone that's interested I tried the Helix tuner down to Bb on bass and it was fine, wouldn't pick up an A, but that may have been my 100 gauge bottom E flapping about like a rubber band

FarleyUK

So what amps are/is everyone using on the Helix...? I always find myself switching between the 2203 and the Line 6 Modded 2203 version. Really want to try the others, but keep coming back to the Marshalls.

Anyone have some good settings for things like the Archon, Cali, the other MESA one and the Soldano?

John_A

I'm using the Archetype for cleans and the 2203 for everything else.  Haven't spent enough time with it to really try the others, only had it a year  I'm getting all the sounds I need out of those two, but trying some more is on the to do list 

TimmyO

I like those but also use the Orange (Mandarin) - great chunky rock sound 

TimmyO

And the Litigator