I’ll see if I can find it. I pretty sure I read it on Line 6’s Helix forum.
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Line 6 HX Stomp
- Thread starter been_effected
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Over on a TGP Helix thread, beta-tester phil_m posts a picture of his pedalboard w/ 8-block HX Stomp (post #688). He added this comment (post #697):
The poly stuff is actually kind of the boring part of the update to me, at least the stuff that people are expecting... There‘s other new stuff that’s a lot cooler. I do think the poly engine is darn impressive, though.
The poly stuff is actually kind of the boring part of the update to me, at least the stuff that people are expecting... There‘s other new stuff that’s a lot cooler. I do think the poly engine is darn impressive, though.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Sorry I'm just excited. This is really cool news.
8 blocks is going to be fun. And if it's true that we will get more Command Center functionality for the Stomp, then I will need the LT even less tbh.
I will keep it as a studio building block for sure, but for gigging the Stomp gets more and more convenient.
Polyphonic pitch shift is maybe not so relevant for the bass, but still a nice feature. I hope it will be good, some tracking stuff on the Stomp was not as good as dedicated solo pedals.
The "mystery feature available for all HX platforms that is NOT for Blues Lawyers and that is NOT an Amp" might be pretty interesting. I hope it's going to be a whacky effect. Because crazy FX rule.
And there is "the one feature that will not come to the Stomp but will be also good". I hope it will be a practical thing, I am still overwhelmed with the amount of effects and stuff.
Another piece of info I got from the threads at TGP and L6 is that some of the new blocks will need some studying of the manual/release notes. So I expect some pretty sophisticated things shipping with 3.0. Cool!
... and I really hope the "save settings for individual blocks" will also end up on the stomp. The interface is cramped already so saving settings for your favourite preamps and amps would be SWEET AS HECK.
I will keep it as a studio building block for sure, but for gigging the Stomp gets more and more convenient.
Polyphonic pitch shift is maybe not so relevant for the bass, but still a nice feature. I hope it will be good, some tracking stuff on the Stomp was not as good as dedicated solo pedals.
The "mystery feature available for all HX platforms that is NOT for Blues Lawyers and that is NOT an Amp" might be pretty interesting. I hope it's going to be a whacky effect. Because crazy FX rule.
And there is "the one feature that will not come to the Stomp but will be also good". I hope it will be a practical thing, I am still overwhelmed with the amount of effects and stuff.
Another piece of info I got from the threads at TGP and L6 is that some of the new blocks will need some studying of the manual/release notes. So I expect some pretty sophisticated things shipping with 3.0. Cool!
... and I really hope the "save settings for individual blocks" will also end up on the stomp. The interface is cramped already so saving settings for your favourite preamps and amps would be SWEET AS HECK.
I currently use my Stomp primarily for doing transposition on my 4-stringers. My BL/guitarist/singer likes to transpose some songs a half- or whole-step; and then there’s drop D stuff. Being able to transpose my tuning to Eb or D means not having to retune or switch instruments between songs. I use the (currently) monophonic “Simple Pitch” effect for this purpose, and it works very well. In my opinion, much better than the Digitech Drop. If polyphonic pitch shift improves this function, that’ll be great for bass, too.
I wonder if this is going to be either something related to “full” Command Center functionality, or something that requires more buttons, like their “pet” feature for sending key commands from the Helix.
I get what you mean. I use a 5 string, that gets rid of the 'drop D' or 'half-step' issues. But of course only for E-stuff. If I was in the need to switch from B to A or something, yeah, then the shift would be pretty useful.
The monophonic shifter is pretty cool I'd say. Especially for moderate pitch shifts. I think the simple pitch shifter is the best working on the HX. The pitch-finding synth not so much. So we'll have to see how the polyphonic is going to work out. I'm optimistic. The L6 guys really improve everything with every update.
I rather use single notes on bass instead of several notes at once. But as soon as something is kept ringing, stuff can get pretty messy with shifting I guess. Great, now I am also excited for that thing! ;p
Well, we have three buttons instead of 12/10 on the big ones. So that will only bring three Commands at max. And you could change these with every preset. That means you can have only 3x3 Midi/CC/Keyboard/Amp messages you can send directly.
And the commands you can sent instantly via switching of preset/snapshot are limited by available snapshots. So that is three.
That makes 12 MIDI-Note/CC/PC/Keyboard/Amp messages you can sent in one preset. Maybe 2x3 more if you have FS4 and FS5 available. That is a lot, but you cannot play Doom conveniently like on the Floor/LT. Because then you would need at least 5 buttons.
EDIT: 3 FS plus FS4+FS5 would make Doom playable. Okay.
It'd be nice to see the manuals updated with 3.0 as well, to include info from the release notes. An "everything all in one place" kind of thing. The Stomp manual is still on 2.65 and HXFX is on 2.5.
First world problem, I guess. lol
5sg.
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The polyphonic ability is something I’ve been wanting badly ever since I got my Stomp- this is the longest I’ve gone without a polyphonic pitch shifter on my board in a long time. I can’t wait.
I agree the simple pitch shift in the Helix is the best I’ve tried for bass tracks great with minimal artifacts & latency. much better than the digitech drop which I think works great on 6 string guitars but is way too warbly sounding with bass. Adding polyphonic to it should only improve it hopefully.
I just discovered something interesting that makes this bad boy even better for me.
I'd been using Kinky Boost (EP Booster) on FS1 for nearly all my patches - you never know when you need boost, but it was a bit gritty and rolled off the highs. I started looking at just a flat EQ with added level or a Volume block, but wondered if this could be handled without using up a block. Searching through the manual, I saw this:
I was able to assign FS1 to be a 5db boost to the output, which is outstanding because I had been using the Kinky Boost first in the effects chain and it was over-driving my dirts and filters. This simple fix A) just makes everything a bit louder when needed, included all the effects in the patch, without adding gain to the patch, and B) allows me to eliminate the boost in the FX chain - opening up one more effect slot for sonic goodness.
Pages 37-38 of the manual walked me through this. I'm sure it's common knowledge to everyone, but it wasn't to me.
I'd been using Kinky Boost (EP Booster) on FS1 for nearly all my patches - you never know when you need boost, but it was a bit gritty and rolled off the highs. I started looking at just a flat EQ with added level or a Volume block, but wondered if this could be handled without using up a block. Searching through the manual, I saw this:
• If you're looking for an ultra-clean boost, instead of adding a Volume/Pan >
Gain block, try assigning a footswitch to increase the Level parameter of a
Mixer or Output block.
Gain block, try assigning a footswitch to increase the Level parameter of a
Mixer or Output block.
I was able to assign FS1 to be a 5db boost to the output, which is outstanding because I had been using the Kinky Boost first in the effects chain and it was over-driving my dirts and filters. This simple fix A) just makes everything a bit louder when needed, included all the effects in the patch, without adding gain to the patch, and B) allows me to eliminate the boost in the FX chain - opening up one more effect slot for sonic goodness.
Pages 37-38 of the manual walked me through this. I'm sure it's common knowledge to everyone, but it wasn't to me.
Similar to what I do. My dirt setting is just the same SVT/IR patch I use 99.9% of the time, but with the drive turned up and the channel volume adjusted a bit lower so the volume levels out with the normal setting.
similar to what i do too. Or use expression pedal to turn up gain for dirt and at the same time lower chan volume to level output
Yeah expression pedal blending of dirt is really cool. Something I’ve been toying with lately & it’s pretty rad.
Getting back to this - since I was the guy complaining that the HX Stomp couldn't be used as a DI....so I bought a DI (MXR Bass preamp)...and although I like it, I almost prefer the amp models in the HX Stomp and they're free - and I wouldn't have to worry about knobs on the MXR and could sell it for something I would use.
Three questions:
1. I send Left/Mono to the stage amplifier, so can I send Right to a TRS/XLR adaptor and have that be my DI? Will I get weird stereo issues with any stereo effects - although I'm not using stereo with the Mono out, some effects like phaser or delay are summed to Mono. But if there's an output on Right, with that be affected by stereo?
2. Is it better to use Send to get a Mono out? Does Balanced/Unbalanced matter?
3. Does EBS or another manufacturer make a flat, right angle TRS/XLR adaptor?
The L/R outputs can only be set as line level or instrument level. No option to set independently. So I don't think you'd want to split that way unless you're sending the Right to a dedicated DI. Otherwise no reason that shouldn't work as long as you're not intentionally fading left or right. Also, you could introduce some ground issues running your output to 2 separate locations. In which case I'd again recommend a DI with a ground lift (which most obviously have) on the right output.
You could also use a block at the end of each preset to use one of the effects sends to go to your amp. And then set the main outputs at line level and use an XLR TRS adapter. But you still don't have a ground lift in that scenario.
Yes you can split left to stage amp and right as a DI to FOH. You can even set one outputs level lower or higher as needed say to reduce level going into a stage amp. I do this with my setup and it works great. FX-Amp - Cab on FOH path. FX only or FX & Amp Depending on what setup I’m using, only on path to stage amp.
You can also use the FX loop send for this but it costs you a block plus one of your FX loops.
I don’t use any stereo FX so I can’t comment on that. It probably depends on the particular FX used as to if it was cause noticeable sound issues.
don’t know anyone that makes such a cable but there are a few companies that will custom make you cables with your choice of connectors.
Balanced is better for longer cables runs and noise reduction but the reality is either will work fine 95% of the time. So I’d say use balanced if / when possible if unbalanced is all you have to work with it’ll be fine the vast majority of the time if not always.
This is true they both can only be Line or instrument level but you can trim them separately. So in my case I set to line and then on the output that is going to stage amp I reduce the output level and it works & sounds great.
Would it be a catastrophe to use the headphone out as a DI? Then you can set the volume knob easily. Anyone tried?
