Line 6 HX Stomp as a Pre-amp DI?

[DJWhitJr]

Short story - like the title suggests is anyone using the HX Stomp as a Pre-amp DI? I've ran through the manual and I know I can run it through my PA. I'm just curious if anyone is using it as a pre-amp DI?

Long story - I currently use a live wire solutions DI box to connect my bass to the PA for my in-ears only. I'm now getting close to pulling the trigger on a powered sub to complete my PA and when I do I want to starting running my bass through the PA for FOH. When I do I want to get a better DI like a Sansamp etc. that will allow me to sculpt my sound through the PA. My pedal board is simple, Boss TU3 > Broughton Always On HPF > Kelley Bassist > Pork and Pickle > Phase 90.

I don't really need any other pedals for the songs I play other than maybe a chorus pedal and the aforementioned Pre-amp DI. Would the HX Stomp accomplish the same thing or am I better off getting a dedicated pre-amp DI like a Sansamp etc.?

Yes I did read through some of the dedicated HX Stomp thread but got tired of going through the pages and not finding what I was looking for.

 

[wvbass]

I've done a bunch of shows using my HX Stomp as a preamp/DI. No amp. In-ears. No complaints. It is different than analog tone shaping, though. The biggest adjustments for me are these:

• It isn't on-the-fly tweakable. Sure, you can edit settings, but you can't just reach back to your amp and turn up the low end a little. The sound man probably appreciates this.
• I'm used to hearing a purely direct tone, so cab sims were an adjustment. In the end, I think the 810 sim is okay, but I prefer any cab sim on the HX to be blended with a clean signal.

Due to the lack of tweakability, I ended up with a couple pedals on my board, even though I could effectively get there with the HX Stomp:

• I put my Cali76 on my board for two reasons. 1) I have a Cali76. 2) The input gain is an important control on a compressor, and I like to be able to adjust that quickly when I switch basses.
• I use an Alpha Omega. The HX has a pretty decent B7K, but again, I like to be able to tweak that tone depending on the bass and my mood.

To be fair, all of the legitimate reasons I kept other pedals around are things that could be solved by just having different versions of the same patch tweaked a little for each bass. The HX Stomp is a great tool - it is small and portable, and the bass models sound great. I was a bit surprised by how easily most of them go into overdrive, but the full range from dark to bright and from clean to dirty are available.

 

[Bonecat]

I’m new to the HX Stomp game, having had mine for a week but so far I’m finding it pretty easy to use. I particularly like the HX Edit tool. I will be using it as the nucleus of an ampless rig when I don’t want to bring my Bergantino rig out. I really didn’t like the canned amp and cab presets, finding them muddy and noisy. I’m also still searching for an overdrive/distortion sound I like, but I’ll get there. In my effort to get a cleaner more transparent tone, I recently downloaded a number of Bergantino cab IRs that I found surprisingly good. I’m keeping things very simple, with the HXS output going to a Pinstripe MISO to get a cleaner DI signal and a ground lift. Once I get things worked out, I’ll share my gig experiences but so far I’m pretty excited about it.

 

[DJWhitJr]

I’m starting to think considering the cost, since I probably won’t be using many if any of the effects I would be better off with a dedicated DI. I’m still torn with all the options the stomp provides but I play rock and some pop. So far I’ve only needed a little bit of drive and or phaser for some songs. The HX may be overkill for what I need.

 

[RJ]

One thing that often tips the scales for me in favor of the Stomp is the number of utility pedals it can replace. Things like gate, eq, hpf/lpf, IRs and otherwise ‘always-on’ tone enhancers.

I’m new to the HX Stomp game, having had mine for a week but so far I’m finding it pretty easy to use. I particularly like the HX Edit tool. I will be using it as the nucleus of an ampless rig when I don’t want to bring my Bergantino rig out. I really didn’t like the canned amp and cab presets, finding them muddy and noisy. I’m also still searching for an overdrive/distortion sound I like, but I’ll get there. In my effort to get a cleaner more transparent tone, I recently downloaded a number of Bergantino cab IRs that I found surprisingly good. I’m keeping things very simple, with the HXS output going to a Pinstripe MISO to get a cleaner DI signal and a ground lift. Once I get things worked out, I’ll share my gig experiences but so far I’m pretty excited about it.

Agreed. It took some tweaking to find amp and cab configurations I liked. I like grit but having a clean platform to start with is preferable, IMO. I end up most often using a fender style guitar amp with the amps hpf and lpf adjust for bass.

 

[Bonecat]

Here’s another thought for folks that are starting from scratch: Do the math first.

Example - $450 for a used stomp, $50 for a bare pedalboard, $150 for a power supply, $50 for patch/power cables, $30 for an extension switch, and $150 for a line isolator w/xlr and ground lift. Add that up and it’s very close to the price of a used Helix LT, which still offers more flexibility. If you’re really starting from scratch, a used LT is probably the value sweet spot.

Obviously, if you’re already living in the pedalboard world, this analysis doesn’t apply. Food for thought all the same…

 

[EastCoastThump]

Well that's one (fairly extreme) way to figure the cost/value. And the HX Stomp appeals to players who don't want the LT's footprint—fits in your gigbag vs. almost as big as the full-sized floor Helix.

$400-450 for a used Stomp. Comes with a power supply. No particular need for a pedalboard unless you want to add a bunch of effects. $15-20 for a 1/4" to XLR cable. (Line iso w/ ground lift not needed.)

Depending on how you use the Stomp for bass, a 2-button footswitch is a nice $20 optional add-on for bass gigs (and almost a requirement if you're gigging a Stomp w/ guitar).

 

[KaseOfBass]

Exactly the way I use my HXS, though I do run it through a REDDI, then to FOH. I went that route mainly so I had a good Ampeg sim, plus any effects I might want or need at any time. My ears like the Shiftline 810 IR better than the native 810 in the HXS, but it's not bad by any means - just diff'rent strokes.

 

[4Mal]

The HX has a lot of good stuff in it. The aforementioned utility/ always open things. The Cossover Split is the cat's meow for bass players. What I liked best was using the Mic Pre as my initial gain stage followed by some of the always on stuff and the cross over split at about 120hz. That let me have a clean clear bottom and affected mids and highs.

My fave setup was Lehle 3@1 to cable and gain balance up to 3 basses, into my comp, into the HX. Future Impact in HX EFX loop. HX out to SushiBox Finally DI. The Finally out just the right warmth on the whole thing.
Instead of amp models I also ran a Sushibox Slampegg X preamp in one of the efx loops for a bit. I ended up moving ahead of the HX as it has become another always on thing for me.

Things I liked from an effects perspective.
70's Chorus - nice and thick
Simple Octave - just as it says. using it on the kids and highs and keeping it out of the lowest notes delivered something like a clean, non-glitchy Bass aoctave Deluxe.
Teemah distortion - can be set for very mild which for me is just enough...

Overall, there is lot to like in the HX Stomp. I am seriously considering the move to a Helix floor. I want the 4 effects loops...

 

[DJWhitJr]

Overall, there is lot to like in the HX Stomp. I am seriously considering the move to a Helix floor. I want the 4 effects loops...

The Helix floor is a slick setup. If it wasn't for already owning most of the effects I'll probably ever need for the rock bass and really wanting a subwoofer I'd seriously consider the Helix floor. I still don't have a powered sub which is consequently the same price of a Helix floor.

 

[4Mal]

@DJWhitJr I here ya and yeah, A sub for your PA, important. Not only does the PA get to sound fuller but it is also protection for your tops... For me the call to the Helix is the effects loop management. I'm about to try a Boss MS-3. I expect that i won't end up using it long. I am generally allergic to Boss menus. One more time...

The HX Stomp is hard to beat in anything near the cost or the form factor. It is a very capable device.

 

[makanudo]

Well it does have the Sansamp BDDI, B7K, and all of the preamp secton of the stock amps available. Plus many different EQ types and each mic type and distance from speaker that could also be considered EQ options.

There's also a bunch of settings that get to .1 db diff from the NOBLE DI at different knob positions over at the HX Stomp thread.

I own one and use it last after my MXR Bass comp and B7K. I honestly don't need anything else to pull off any kind of gig that could come my way.

 

[javi_bassist]

I use it as my preamp for IEM. Great tone and flexibility.

 

[SteveC]

The HX may be overkill for what I need.

I look at these and always come back to this. Unless I ditch my synth and start using my bass and effects as my synth (probably not going to happen as nothing really sounds like a synth) I just don't need much more than my current Empress/REDDI set up. I could use a little filter on a couple tunes, and maybe chorus on some 80's stuff, but I've been fine all these years without and no one has complained. I like to keep things to a Nano so my tuner, Rolls box for my IEM's, Empress and Big Muff fill the Nano.

 

[Mo'Phat]

I thought I needed a preamp, and got an MXR bass pre for this reason...then also would have an actual amp - Mesa D800 that the sound guy would usually take the DI from.

But I recently checked out the Dr. Tone balanced HX amp settings and both the SVT NRM, SVT 4Pro, and Cali400 Ch. 1 amps are terrific, even without cab sims.

I could easily play shows ampless with just a 1/4 to XLR adaptor out of the Stomp.

Seriously considering this route for all IEM gigs in the future.

 

[DJWhitJr]

I pulled the trigger on a used one the other week. I’m using some presets from Dr.Tone and really liking it so far. I’ve removed my high pass filter, compressor and phaser pedal from my board since I can add those to any preset. I can even add the HPF to the pedals global eq setting.

 

[Fazz1977]

I’ve removed my high pass filter, compressor and phaser pedal from my board since I can add those to any preset. I can even add the HPF to the pedals global eq setting.

That's how I run the hpf on my stomp xl, via the global EQ, saves a block for fun stuff/amps. I only kept my tuner (one tap mute) and source audio Aftershock (does stuff the HX doesn't) on the board.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I’ve tried it that way. I’ll do it for practicing at home sometimes. But I prefer to use it with an amp or external pre amp di. The problem I always have with the stomp is running out of processing power. Using an external amp/di frees up a ton of the stomps processing power to go crazy with the higher quality effects. Where when I’m using the amp modeling It severely limits what effects I can use because of the processing limitations. If I remember right from when I tried it. You can’t use the poly pitch effect and an amp model at the same time. That’s one amp model and one effect and it can’t even do that. If you want to use the amp modeling and have a pitch shifter you have to use the legacy pitch effects that are no better sound quality than the m series.

 

[Shak_2112]

Well it does have the Sansamp BDDI, B7K, and all of the preamp secton of the stock amps available. Plus many different EQ types and each mic type and distance from speaker that could also be considered EQ options.

There's also a bunch of settings that get to .1 db diff from the NOBLE DI at different knob positions over at the HX Stomp thread.

I own one and use it last after my MXR Bass comp and B7K. I honestly don't need anything else to pull off any kind of gig that could come my way.

Has there been a preset created for the HX Stomp that emulates the Noble DI?

If so do you please have a link or a link to the relevant thread posts?

Many thanks

 

[Shak_2112]

Has there been a preset created for the HX Stomp that emulates the Noble DI?

If so do you please have a link or a link to the relevant thread posts?

Many thanks

Found it!
Line 6 HX Stomp