Line 6 HX Effects

[Chace90]

Yea I thought of that, just sucks to have to waste a preset for that- you might also need a blank preset on every bank..Dont understand why you wouldn't want to be able to turn presets off the same way you cut them on? Perfect world (for me) cut a preset off (by pressing the preset) and the pedal is in true bypass- small gripe on an awesome pedal

I mean, what you're describing is basically snapshot mode--the ability to turn multiple things on and off with a single foot switch. The bypass functionality is really only there as a fail safe in case something weird happens.

It really sounds like you should just get an inexpensive loop pedal and put the HXFX in that. Then you can get what you describe without having to use more than 1 footswitch.

 

[Chace90]

Or maybe you could assign bypass to an external switch?

 

[matt thompson]

Say I have A B C section of a song - I want an effect for A, clean for B, different effect for C

I can't see where Im going while in tuner mode..

Once again not overly disappointed just wonder why not have this..

EDIT: I haven't gotten into snapshot yet- maybe my answer is in there

 

[Chace90]

Say I have A B C section of a song - I want an effect for A, clean for B, different effect for C

I can't see where Im going while in tuner mode..

Once again not overly disappointed just wonder why not have this..

Snapshot mode does all this...

 

[matt thompson]

Awesome! Ill check out some vids to get my feet wet- thx dudes

 

[dave_bass5]

Say I have A B C section of a song - I want an effect for A, clean for B, different effect for C

I can't see where Im going while in tuner mode..

Once again not overly disappointed just wonder why not have this..

EDIT: I haven't gotten into snapshot yet- maybe my answer is in there

So when would you not need any effect? Wouldn't you just tun off or on the effect you need as and when you need it? In the example above you could have 3 patches, one for each song, and the 4th with nothing in it. Set the HX up to keep the patch selection active and you have all four showing at once.

Sorry I'm not questioning why you want to do it just trying to understand it.

 

[Chace90]

So when would you not need any effect? Wouldn't you just tun off or on the effect you need as and when you need it? In the example above you could have 3 patches, one for each song, and the 4th with nothing in it.

Sorry I'm not questioning why you want to do it just trying to understand it.

Agreed. If you're only turning 1 effect on at a time, snapshots are overkill. Just use stombox mode. But if you're wanting to toggle 2 or more together (that you also don't want to share switches in stompbox mode), then Snapshots are the way to go. Of course that's really only the basics of what snapshot mode is capable of, but it's a great place to start!

 

[matt thompson]

Yea in stomp mode it makes total sense, but in preset mode I just don't get why you have to "work around it"
Is there an advantage to not being able to cut presets off the same way you turn them on. Basically have preset mode work like stomp mode in that way

Why would you not want it to operate this way is what I'm most curious abt- Im sure there is a good reason

 

[dave_bass5]

A question about snapshots. Ive still not got in to using Snapshots. I tends to have my HX set up as if it was a pedal board and turn the individual effects on and off when needed. The reason I haven't bothered with snapshots yet is, and I'm sure i have this right, you lose the ability to be spontaneous. Im still working out where i need certain effects, but with snap shots i dont get the option to try different effects at different times, the combination of on/off is set in stone. I cant, for example, add in a chorus to a drive if its not already on in the snapshot.
If that how it is?

 

[Chace90]

Yea in stomp mode it makes total sense, but in preset mode I just don't get why you have to "work around it"
Is there an advantage to not being able to cut presets off the same way you turn them on. Basically have preset mode work like stomp mode in that way

Why would you not want it to operate this way is what I'm most curious abt- Im sure there is a good reason

I think it's important to keep in mind that the HXFX is not designed as an on or off solution. The idea is that it's the main hub of your whole board and that it's always on, whether by itself or in addition to other pedals. Even if you're not using any blocks/effects on it, it's still on. With that in mind, it has to load things into memory (DSP) when you recall a preset. Which is fast! But not instantaneous. If you're playing and switch presets in the middle of sound coming from your instrument, you'll hear it drop out just for a short moment. The same goes for bypassing the DSP--fast but not instant.

I understand what you want (or at least I think I do), and what I've been saying is that all that is possible, just not in the way you seem to want it in preset mode via one switch. Preset mode is just a way to access different sets of effects (since you're limited to 9 blocks per preset). You need to go a step further to do what you're wanting, which is programming snapshots or assigning multiple blocks to 1 foot switch in stompbox mode. With snapshots, since it's only manipulating the set of blocks that have been assigned to a preset, any switching they do IS instantaneous.

 

[Chace90]

A question about snapshots. Ive still not got in to using Snapshots. I tends to have my HX set up as if it was a pedal board and turn the individual effects on and off when needed. The reason I haven't bothered with snapshots yet is, and I'm sure i have this right, you lose the ability to be spontaneous. Im still working out where i need certain effects, but with snap shots i dont get the option to try different effects at different times, the combination of on/off is set in stone. I cant, for example, add in a chorus to a drive if its not already on in the snapshot.
If that how it is?

I guess I'd say spontaneous is relative. But the short answer is yes, snapshots require some pre-planning. I've found they're best used for specific songs or sections of songs where you'd want very quick switching for multiple parameters or turning on/off multiple things at once.

But what you're saying about snapshot mode being set in stone is not true. If you know you always like using distortion and a compressor together, then you could assign those both to turn on with a snapshot. And then be free to switch back to stomp mode and be able to turn on/off chorus or anything else ready to use in stomp mode. If you have the distortion and/or compressor assigned to switches in stomp mode, they'd just be toggled on via the snapshot, but there's no reason you can't turn them off again within the snapshot. In fact, you can set snapshot mode to remember changes you make or not. It's great!

 

[dave_bass5]

Thanks. By set in stone in meant if i had say chorus and distortion on i couldn't just turn on a sub octave on along with them. You answered that though anyway, so thanks for confirming. I believe the more expensive models can mix and match.
I will get around to using snapshots at some point, but for now i love the 6 foot switch pedal board mode.

 

[Chace90]

Thanks. By set in stone in meant if i had say chorus and distortion on i couldn't just turn on a sub octave no the spur of the moment. You answered that though anyway, so thanks for confirming. I believe the more expensive models can mix and match.
I will get around to using snapshots at some point, but for now i love the 6 foot switch pedal board mode.

For sure! I don't personally use snapshots a ton myself, but they sure are handy when you find a use for them.

Another trick I forgot about. In the Global Settings --> Switches, you can set Snapshot mode to be Latching or Momentary. Latching means the 4 switches for snapshots stay up when you select a snapshot. Momentary means when you pick a snapshot, it immediately switches back to stompbox mode. Same option is there for Preset mode too.

Also remember that it's highly customizable with more foot switches or a MIDI controller. I know most (including myself currently) don't want to add more gear or spend the money. But adding a MIDI controller especially would go a long way to making some of this stuff more quickly accessible. For instance having a MIDI controller set to control snapshots and keeping the main unit displaying stomp mode. Best of both worlds right there.

 

[dave_bass5]

Cheers. I do have mine set to switch back to stomp mode immediately when I slept a preset mode. Very cool how line 6 thought all this out.

 

[JES]

So I found a good deal on a used HX FX and took the plunge. I’m curious what drives, fuzzes and distortions people think are particularly good for bass in terms of preserving low end. Teemah and KWB and Obsidian obviously, but is there a master list somewhere in the thread? I can’t seem to find one, and the comments are pretty mixed in with others.

I suppose I could be the one to start the master list....

TIA.

 

[gregmon79]

So I found a good deal on a used HX FX and took the plunge. I’m curious what drives, fuzzes and distortions people think are particularly good for bass in terms of preserving low end. Teemah and KWB and Obsidian obviously, but is there a master list somewhere in the thread? I can’t seem to find one, and the comments are pretty mixed in with others.

I suppose I could be the one to start the master list....

TIA.

technically you could use all in ways that won’t effect your low end given the fact you can run things in parallel with your clean and blend the two. But I feel the timmy clone is one of the best ones for bass and for my tastes. It reminds me a lot of my MBD1. There are others, but if I were to be using one of the drives in the HX as a main drive tone, the timmy would be the one for me.

 

[dave_bass5]

Loving that i can use the HX Effects to switch my GK head channels, and have the name come up on the scribble strip. Very cool feature.
Can i ask if people use IR's when using a proper rig? I wouldn't think its needed, but can hear a difference and i like what i hear (Fender Bassman IR).
Obviously its down to personal preference, but I'm just asking what others do.

 

[eyvindwa]

Loving that i can use the HX Effects to switch my GK head channels, and have the name come up on the scribble strip. Very cool feature.
Can i ask if people use IR's when using a proper rig? I wouldn't think its needed, but can hear a difference and i like what i hear (Fender Bassman IR).
Obviously its down to personal preference, but I'm just asking what others do.

Yeah, I use some double bass IRs to make my EUB sound more "authentic".

 

[Diegombass]

Yeah, I use some double bass IRs to make my EUB sound more "authentic".

Do you think double bass IR would work with semihollow piezo equipped? Which one do you use?

 

[fivestringgecko]

technically you could use all in ways that won’t effect your low end given the fact you can run things in parallel with your clean and blend the two. But I feel the timmy clone is one of the best ones for bass and for my tastes. It reminds me a lot of my MBD1. There are others, but if I were to be using one of the drives in the HX as a main drive tone, the timmy would be the one for me.

The Teemah is my favorite as well, I use it pretty much exclusively now... Love the sound and how it fits into my gigs. Sounds great with all my basses in general, but I particularly dig it with my P Bass for some great old school warmth.

Teemah! settings:
Gain: 0.6
Bass Cut: 0.0
Treble Cut: 3.8
Clipping: Center
Level: 5.0

Can i ask if people use IR's when using a proper rig? I wouldn't think its needed, but can hear a difference and i like what i hear (Fender Bassman IR).
Obviously its down to personal preference, but I'm just asking what others do.

No IRs for me when I'm using my amp setup, but like you said... if you've found one you dig, use it! There's no right or wrong answer.

Yeah, I use some double bass IRs to make my EUB sound more "authentic".

This is about the only time I use IRs as well, with my NXTa electric upright (3Sigma Prescott). Positive comments from both band members and sound engineers every time.

I'm still exploring IRs for when my band is on in-ear monitors, but haven't found one that really vibes with me yet.

5sg.