Line 6 Helix

Musicwolf

bloodandtears said:

But I still wonder which volume control is "best" to use..

I don't think that it makes any material difference from a sound point of view, it all comes down to operation.

As you've already de-activated control of the main XLR outs you have handed control of the FoH level to the Sound Engineer, which is how it should be.  When it comes to adjusting your monitor levels then things are in your hands and it's just a case of saying - which is easiest for me to control / which am I least likely to move accidentally?

Since I'm the person mixing from the stage I make all of my adjustments, FoH and monitor, from my mixer.  If I had the luxury of an Engineer out front then I'd proberly adopt your method and use the Helix vol control.

bloodandtears

yeah. well it's easier to adjust the dial at my feet than reach around the back of the cab... but.. should I be giving the cab a louder signal perhaps??

robinbowes

bloodandtears said:

Musicwolf said:

bloodandtears said:

1) for those using frfr speakers with their helix, do you prefer to max out the volume from the Helix and adjust frfr amp volume, or have the frfr amp volume turned up and therefore have a lower output from the helix?

I've bypassed the volume control on my Helix by assigninging it to 'Digital' (I am not using the digital out).  Global Settings > Ins / Outs > Volume Knob Controls = Digital.  It saves me from getting caught out whereby I don't spot that the volume control has shifted in transit, since the mark on the dial isn't very clear.

I'm direct to PA with my monitor being fed from an aux bus on the desk so I am, in effect, adjusting the FRFR amp volume.

I have also changed that setting, to 1/4 inch only, which is how I feed my FRFR. I feed the PA with an XLR.

But I still wonder which volume control is "best" to use..

I feed the PA from the XLRs, set to mic-level and fixed volume, and I rely on the PA monitoring to hear myself. If I have my own monitor on stage, I set the level on the monitor to max and feed that from the 1/4" output, set to line-level and controlled by the volume knob on the Helix. 

R.

bloodandtears

robinbowes said:

bloodandtears said:

Musicwolf said:

bloodandtears said:

1) for those using frfr speakers with their helix, do you prefer to max out the volume from the Helix and adjust frfr amp volume, or have the frfr amp volume turned up and therefore have a lower output from the helix?

I've bypassed the volume control on my Helix by assigninging it to 'Digital' (I am not using the digital out).  Global Settings > Ins / Outs > Volume Knob Controls = Digital.  It saves me from getting caught out whereby I don't spot that the volume control has shifted in transit, since the mark on the dial isn't very clear.

I'm direct to PA with my monitor being fed from an aux bus on the desk so I am, in effect, adjusting the FRFR amp volume.

I have also changed that setting, to 1/4 inch only, which is how I feed my FRFR. I feed the PA with an XLR.

But I still wonder which volume control is "best" to use..

I feed the PA from the XLRs, set to mic-level and fixed volume, and I rely on the PA monitoring to hear myself. If I have my own monitor on stage, I set the level on the monitor to max and feed that from the 1/4" output, set to line-level and controlled by the volume knob on the Helix. 

R.

So you prefer to have the monitor volume cranked as opposed to the Helix volume knob..  interesting.. I have been doing it that way for years but recently questioned if it was the "right way" if you get me..  It certainly allows a lot more headroom control immediately at my feet (my Laney LFR112 is backline form factor and thus positioned behind me).

robinbowes

bloodandtears said:

robinbowes said:

bloodandtears said:

Musicwolf said:

bloodandtears said:

1) for those using frfr speakers with their helix, do you prefer to max out the volume from the Helix and adjust frfr amp volume, or have the frfr amp volume turned up and therefore have a lower output from the helix?

I've bypassed the volume control on my Helix by assigninging it to 'Digital' (I am not using the digital out).  Global Settings > Ins / Outs > Volume Knob Controls = Digital.  It saves me from getting caught out whereby I don't spot that the volume control has shifted in transit, since the mark on the dial isn't very clear.

I'm direct to PA with my monitor being fed from an aux bus on the desk so I am, in effect, adjusting the FRFR amp volume.

I have also changed that setting, to 1/4 inch only, which is how I feed my FRFR. I feed the PA with an XLR.

But I still wonder which volume control is "best" to use..

I feed the PA from the XLRs, set to mic-level and fixed volume, and I rely on the PA monitoring to hear myself. If I have my own monitor on stage, I set the level on the monitor to max and feed that from the 1/4" output, set to line-level and controlled by the volume knob on the Helix. 

R.

So you prefer to have the monitor volume cranked as opposed to the Helix volume knob..  interesting.. I have been doing it that way for years but recently questioned if it was the "right way" if you get me..  It certainly allows a lot more headroom control immediately at my feet (my Laney LFR112 is backline form factor and thus positioned behind me).

Yeah, that's what works best for me. It's typically how things work in the PA world, ie. you set your stack/monitors to full-volume and control the actual level by what you send to the stack.

R.

bloodandtears

robinbowes said:

bloodandtears said:

robinbowes said:

bloodandtears said:

Musicwolf said:

bloodandtears said:

1) for those using frfr speakers with their helix, do you prefer to max out the volume from the Helix and adjust frfr amp volume, or have the frfr amp volume turned up and therefore have a lower output from the helix?

I've bypassed the volume control on my Helix by assigninging it to 'Digital' (I am not using the digital out).  Global Settings > Ins / Outs > Volume Knob Controls = Digital.  It saves me from getting caught out whereby I don't spot that the volume control has shifted in transit, since the mark on the dial isn't very clear.

I'm direct to PA with my monitor being fed from an aux bus on the desk so I am, in effect, adjusting the FRFR amp volume.

I have also changed that setting, to 1/4 inch only, which is how I feed my FRFR. I feed the PA with an XLR.

But I still wonder which volume control is "best" to use..

I feed the PA from the XLRs, set to mic-level and fixed volume, and I rely on the PA monitoring to hear myself. If I have my own monitor on stage, I set the level on the monitor to max and feed that from the 1/4" output, set to line-level and controlled by the volume knob on the Helix. 

R.

So you prefer to have the monitor volume cranked as opposed to the Helix volume knob..  interesting.. I have been doing it that way for years but recently questioned if it was the "right way" if you get me..  It certainly allows a lot more headroom control immediately at my feet (my Laney LFR112 is backline form factor and thus positioned behind me).

Yeah, that's what works best for me. It's typically how things work in the PA world, ie. you set your stack/monitors to full-volume and control the actual level by what you send to the stack.

R.

Well that makes sense in that scenario; you can hardly go around all the speakers adjusting each volume control..    I guess I just thought any speaker needs the best (loudest?) signal it can get..

chris45

Can anyone help with the following:
I want to be able to connect my Helix via USB for stereo recording.  I want the audio output from the Helix and the PC itself to go to my mini monitors.  The obvious solution is to connect the monitors direct to the Helix BUT ...
...the PC has become a family PC and I would rather not have to power up the Helix in order to have PC audio output (basically, kids, get away from my music stuff).
So I am guessing I need some sort of (always on) mixer that can take the audio out from the Helix and the audio out from the PC, and route to the monitors.
Is this the best solution?  If so, please suggest appropriate hardware - thanks!

Musicwolf

When you are not using the PC for guitar, i.e. when the family are using it, are you still using the mini monitors?

bloodandtears

chris45 said:

Can anyone help with the following:
I want to be able to connect my Helix via USB for stereo recording.  I want the audio output from the Helix and the PC itself to go to my mini monitors.  The obvious solution is to connect the monitors direct to the Helix BUT ...
...the PC has become a family PC and I would rather not have to power up the Helix in order to have PC audio output (basically, kids, get away from my music stuff).
So I am guessing I need some sort of (always on) mixer that can take the audio out from the Helix and the audio out from the PC, and route to the monitors.
Is this the best solution?  If so, please suggest appropriate hardware - thanks!

I have a set of speakers attached to the PC for general usage.

I have a set of monitors attached to the Helix for that purpose.

So rather than buy a mixer that you have to turn on..  get some cheap PC speakers.

chris45

Musicwolf said:

When you are not using the PC for guitar, i.e. when the family are using it, are you still using the mini monitors?

Yes - they provide the PC sound output

Musicwolf

chris45 said:

Musicwolf said:

When you are not using the PC for guitar, i.e. when the family are using it, are you still using the mini monitors?

Yes - they provide the PC sound output

I'd go with @bloodandtears suggestion above then.

sgosden

is it possible to do the stacked snapshot thing on the big helix?

bloodandtears

sgosden said:

is it possible to do the stacked snapshot thing on the big helix?

stacked snapshot??

sgosden

bloodandtears said:

sgosden said:

is it possible to do the stacked snapshot thing on the big helix?

stacked snapshot??

yeah. where on the stomp/fx you can change the application of a button after its pressed. 

bloodandtears

sgosden said:

bloodandtears said:

sgosden said:

is it possible to do the stacked snapshot thing on the big helix?

stacked snapshot??

yeah. where on the stomp/fx you can change the application of a button after its pressed. 

Never seen this, button given the helix had 8 snapshot buttons I doubt it. 

Musicwolf

Yes, you can do this with the full size Helix. 

shuikit

This is just using command centre to assign snapshots to footswitches (you have to be in stomp box mode) so this is all the same for the Helix, though I can't remember if I've specifically tried it.

Voxsupertwin

Just gone back to Helix after 2 years trying/using inferior gear…..bought a rack for home studio use….excellent, like an old friend ….

Musicwolf

shuikit said:

This is just using command centre to assign snapshots to footswitches (you have to be in stomp box mode) so this is all the same for the Helix, though I can't remember if I've specifically tried it.

Command Centre is the key.  I've also had it set up whereby you start in say Snapshot 1, you press and hold a footswitch and whilst you hold it you are in Snapshot 2 then, when you release it, you are in Snapshot 3.

duotone