Line 6 HX Effects

[fivestringgecko]

This may be a bit of blasphemy, but has anyone thought about (or actually gone through with) trading down from the HX Effects to the HX Stomp? I wouldn't mind freeing up some space on my board, and I also wouldn't mind having some amp/cab sims. I need to research it a bit more (for example, figuring out if the Stomp has all the effects from the HX Effects that I currently use, etc), but I'm curious about anyone else's opinions/experiences.

Definitely not blasphemy. I posted above about thinking exactly this. I'd have to actually try a build with my Stomp in place of the HXFX before I knew for sure, but I'd probably lean towards keeping the HXFX around because it's such a great box. There would undoubtedly be uses for it.

What the blasphemy might be is that I already find myself really looking forward to "the next box" that @Digital Igloo mentioned here, or even what the team at Line 6 comes up with after Helix. The imagination kind of runs wild when one thinks of what comes next.

5sg.

 

[gregmon79]

This may be a bit of blasphemy, but has anyone thought about (or actually gone through with) trading down from the HX Effects to the HX Stomp? I wouldn't mind freeing up some space on my board, and I also wouldn't mind having some amp/cab sims. I need to research it a bit more (for example, figuring out if the Stomp has all the effects from the HX Effects that I currently use, etc), but I'm curious about anyone else's opinions/experiences.

Imo, this would actually be trading up. Not down. You will get any and all effects, functions and otherwise in the stomp that you would the HXFX but then you the added amp and cab sims. Yes you lose some foot switches. But you can work around that easy enough with some external switching.

I’m gonna sit down this weekend and see what I can do with the stomp and HXFX on the same board along with a controller or two and an exp. pretty excited!

 

[Abe-of-Bass]

This may be a bit of blasphemy, but has anyone thought about (or actually gone through with) trading down from the HX Effects to the HX Stomp? I wouldn't mind freeing up some space on my board, and I also wouldn't mind having some amp/cab sims. I need to research it a bit more (for example, figuring out if the Stomp has all the effects from the HX Effects that I currently use, etc), but I'm curious about anyone else's opinions/experiences.

This is what I did just recently, and so far it seems to have been a great choice. I actually find the amps/cabs a lot more useful than I expected, and the form factor is so much nicer. All the same effects are available and now that the Stomp has 8 blocks the only real limitation compared to the HX Effects is the footswitches. I do miss the additional footswitches, but I'm going to go the route of a midi controller and get the HX up off the floor which is how I prefer it anyways.

 

[Al Krow]

Imo, this would actually be trading up. Not down. You will get any and all effects, functions and otherwise in the stomp that you would the HXFX but then you the added amp and cab sims. Yes you lose some foot switches. But you can work around that easy enough with some external switching.

I’m gonna sit down this weekend and see what I can do with the stomp and HXFX on the same board along with a controller or two and an exp. pretty excited!

You also lose the ability to have 128 "boards" of 6 pedals each accessible by a separate Stomp switch. That is an awesome feature of the HX Effects that the Stomp can't compete with!

I went the other way and traded down from Stomp to HX Effects. As I love my actual amp and cab, I'm cool with not having any amp and cab sims, particularly as they apparently drain the hell out of the processor in terms of DSP usage!

 

[gregmon79]

You also lose the ability to have 128 "boards" of 6 pedals each accessible by a separate Stomp switch. That is an awesome feature of the HX Effects that the Stomp can't compete with!

I went the other way and traded down from Stomp to HX Effects. As I love my actual amp and cab, I'm cool with not having any amp and cab sims, particularly as they apparently drain the hell out of the processor in terms of DSP usage!

Yeah this is a good point I forgot about. You can set the stomp up sorta similarly with presets imo. That’s how I always looked at it anyway.

 

[Abe-of-Bass]

You also lose the ability to have 128 "boards" of 6 pedals each accessible by a separate Stomp switch. That is an awesome feature of the HX Effects that the Stomp can't compete with!

I went the other way and traded down from Stomp to HX Effects. As I love my actual amp and cab, I'm cool with not having any amp and cab sims, particularly as they apparently drain the hell out of the processor in terms of DSP usage!

Good point. If that is how you use the devices, that is a big difference. I tend to use a preset/snapshot approach, rather than individual stomps, but for those that do that is an important consideration. Both devices are fantastic, and we're lucky to have such a choice!

 

[promdates]

I did this. Then I sold the Stomp for an LT.

This is kinda where I'm heading atm.

 

[jasonmitsch]

Actually, I agree with you there. The one thing I can't coax out of the HX is a Mastotron/Woolly Mammoth sound.

Truthfully, the SA OFD had my fav gated fuzz tones where I used the Octave Fuzz with a heavy gate. I'm sure I could recreate it in the Aftershock, but the whole reason I ever attempted it was for Saw and Square wave synths, and the C4 does that more perfectly than any fuzz. Now when I want fuzz I lean towards the HX Muff or Octavia models, un gated and balls to the walls.

I still need to check out the Glitch/Shuffle combo, I've wanted to check out an Ottobit Jr. for a long time. I really dig some of the stuff Janek does with it. I've felt the same about the dirt models in the Helix, and the Chainsaw kind of surprised me... I wasn't that excited about a Boss dirt model, but I find myself liking it a lot at lower gain settings. I still have a couple other dirt pedals on my board because I have the room, but the HX Teemah is still my go-to for dirt. I'll say this though... I do want to check out the new Ultrawave coming from Source Audio!

Regarding the C4 vs. Impact (briefly): Both are great. The FI sounds a little more "analog fat" than the C4 and has a few other options that I like (like being able to do FOUR of one type of oscillator), but the C4 is smaller and the editor is much more user friendly, IMO. Both are killer pedals, so it just depends on which you vibe with more. I love the Impact and won't get rid of it, but I just find the C4 a bit easier to use. Plus the Neuro Community. The Impact has a patch share community, but it's a bit more convoluted than the super easy C4 process.



@gregmon79 might have some input here. He's explored the dirt models in the HX pretty extensively and has a mind for dirt like I have for envelope filters.

5sg.

The Ottobit is still unique, and it does certain things the HX line can't do(or needs to use 3+ blocks to accomplish the same sound). It sounds poopy and digital in the HX loop because of comb filtering and blending differing A/D/D/A signals in my rig. It's still cool and at times I want a "fake" bass sound to go with my fake glitched out bit crushed tones.

The specter of this Ultrawave is the only thing keeping me from buying a SB2 Multiwave Bass Distortion. I'm very excited to see what it has to offer.

If I find a FI for the right price I will jump on it, but I'm very satisfied with my C4 for the time being.

To take your thought one step further, I'm actually considering whether my Stomp will replace my HXFX on my main board. The 8 block update is pretty huge for me personally, so having that and the amps in the Stomp may win. I was also using the HXFX as a MIDI controller, but have switched MIDI control over to my iPad since I pretty much always have it at gigs anyway. The Stomp could free up some space on my board because of that, which would be pretty nice!

5sg.

I'm looking at iPads for my partner for a Xmas gift and honestly wanting one for myself. I've been using a cheap droid tablet for lyrics(borrowed from my singer) and it just barely works. I would love to have a faster device that can do more musically.

Both are on my personal wish list, but they might be a hard sell for 3.10 considering 3.0 added so many fuzzes.

Maybe you could press the fact that 3.0 offered no new bass specific effects as part of the sell? (I really like all of the poly devices on bass, but I'm just selfishly trying to advocate for the bass community.)

This may be a bit of blasphemy, but has anyone thought about (or actually gone through with) trading down from the HX Effects to the HX Stomp? I wouldn't mind freeing up some space on my board, and I also wouldn't mind having some amp/cab sims. I need to research it a bit more (for example, figuring out if the Stomp has all the effects from the HX Effects that I currently use, etc), but I'm curious about anyone else's opinions/experiences.

I use both for different reasons. If I had to pick one or the other, I'd probably use the Effects with a Sansamp rather than a Stomp with other pedals. Just makes more sense to my workflow.

I did this. Then I sold the Stomp for an LT.

I'm just here for the meme's

SHARE THE MEMES

Definitely not blasphemy. I posted above about thinking exactly this. I'd have to actually try a build with my Stomp in place of the HXFX before I knew for sure, but I'd probably lean towards keeping the HXFX around because it's such a great box. There would undoubtedly be uses for it.

What the blasphemy might be is that I already find myself really looking forward to "the next box" that @Digital Igloo mentioned here, or even what the team at Line 6 comes up with after Helix. The imagination kind of runs wild when one thinks of what comes next.

5sg.

Next box... ugh... I need a next stimulus check before the next box.

 

[Al Krow]

@jasonmitsch interested why the C4 isn't hitting the mark for you? I've got my eye on that as a possible pairing with my Helix to plug the filter and especially synth gap.

 

[fivestringgecko]

@jasonmitsch interested why the C4 isn't hitting the mark for you? I've got my eye on that as a possible pairing with my Helix to plug the filter and especially synth gap.

I agree about the synth gap in the Helix, but I'm a total filter junkie, and the Auto Filter model in the Helix is up there with my top 2-3 favs out of the 40 or so filters I've owned or tried along the way. I did a quick start guide for it here that may help get you started, and I posted a Dropbox link to HXFX and HX Stomp patches with various Auto Filter blocks/sounds that may help get you get started. Check here for the link and brief block descriptions.

Hopefully that'll help get you going for filters in the Helix!

5sg.

 

[gregmon79]

Ok, so I’m gonna ask this. I think again. But I’m hoping with the added update and effects, that someone here will be able to help me.

Effects like the glitch delay and the new looper, you’re going to be able to do some whacky stuff. I want to be able to control the speed of delay repeats with an exp pedal. I’ve tried to do this in the past with some of the models but I could never seem to get it to where I wanted it. I can never get it to control the speed of the delay on an infinite feedback delayed signal. It always go glitchy but not in a good way. I just want to get a nice, controllable, infinitely delayed signal, to sweep with an exp. without glitching out or sounding totally uncontrolled. If that makes sense.......??

 

[Al Krow]

Apologies if this is old news, but y'all seen the new manual for HX Effects which brings it up to date for release 3.0?

 

[eyvindwa]

Hi - a question for the gurus here:

Is it possible to set up the HX FX in some way as a page turner for an iPad? Hooking it up via USB or Midi perhaps?

 

[gregmon79]

Hi - a question for the gurus here:

Is it possible to set up the HX FX in some way as a page turner for an iPad? Hooking it up via USB or Midi perhaps?

I’m pretty sure you can do this. Hey @fivestringgecko, you know this one don’t you?? You do this don’t you??

I just got an iPad not too long ago myself. I think I need to look into what you guys are already.

 

[gregmon79]

Apologies if this is old news, but y'all seen the new manual for HX Effects which brings it up to date for release 3.0?

I have.

 

[gregmon79]

Need some advice all. I wanna try and fit the HXFX and the stomp on one board. I want to keep one exp and the one dual switch. I’d also like to try and keep one preamp (probably the colorbox) but it’s not the end of the world if I can’t fit one. I def want to keep the MBD and Bloop and the black hole. That’s already too much I think! Haha

What would a helix head do????

 

[fivestringgecko]

Hi - a question for the gurus here:

Is it possible to set up the HX FX in some way as a page turner for an iPad? Hooking it up via USB or Midi perhaps?

What app(s) are you using? MIDI controllers can control synth apps on the iPad (i.e. go from controller > ipad), so in theory I don't see why the HXFX couldn't function as a controller as well, but it depends on how the app is set up. Example: I'm using ForScore for charts where I need the page turn ability, but the app is only set up to SEND commands, the it doesn't receive MIDI.

If the app you're using has a manual, you could check to see if it can receive MIDI, and you'd also need the Apple Camera Connector for the two to be able to talk to each other. Then it would just be a matter of programming the HXFX to send the appropriate "next page" and "previous page" commands and you'd be good.

Another option worth checking out is an Airturn bluetooth page turner. I use an older model BT-105 that still works great, but they've updated to the BT-200. A couple of the horn players in my main gig also use the PedPRO. At least half of us in the (14-piece) band have Airturns and I can't remember anyone every talking about a problem with them. Easy and reliable.

5sg.

 

[Al Krow]

Arriving very late to the party, I've discovered it's possible that following a couple of recent updates to set up parallel paths in Helix not just split by frequency cross overs but by dynamics of playing as well. That could open up a whole load of interesting possibilities!

E.g. an octave patch that doesn't bother with octave down below its glitch free levels or more simply below a low A - as no one can really hear much below 30 Hz anyway, particularly at the power outputs of a typical amp / cab set up and even more so if you're applying HPF to tighten up the low end.

Again apologies if this all old hat to the more expert crew on here!

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

Need some advice all. I wanna try and fit the HXFX and the stomp on one board. I want to keep one exp and the one dual switch. I’d also like to try and keep one preamp (probably the colorbox) but it’s not the end of the world if I can’t fit one. I def want to keep the MBD and Bloop and the black hole. That’s already too much I think! Haha

What would a helix head do????


View attachment 4069077

like you have it setup, but ditched the expr to the right. Move everything to the right, then fit the 2-button switcher to the very left. And connect hxfx and and stomp with midi, to make it so much easier to control.

 

[eyvindwa]

What app(s) are you using? MIDI controllers can control synth apps on the iPad (i.e. go from controller > ipad), so in theory I don't see why the HXFX couldn't function as a controller as well, but it depends on how the app is set up. Example: I'm using ForScore for charts where I need the page turn ability, but the app is only set up to SEND commands, the it doesn't receive MIDI.

If the app you're using has a manual, you could check to see if it can receive MIDI, and you'd also need the Apple Camera Connector for the two to be able to talk to each other. Then it would just be a matter of programming the HXFX to send the appropriate "next page" and "previous page" commands and you'd be good.

Another option worth checking out is an Airturn bluetooth page turner. I use an older model BT-105 that still works great, but they've updated to the BT-200. A couple of the horn players in my main gig also use the PedPRO. At least half of us in the (14-piece) band have Airturns and I can't remember anyone every talking about a problem with them. Easy and reliable.

5sg.

Thanks for the quick response, @fivestringgecko .

From what you write, it seems that I will indeed be better off with something like the PedPRO