Line 6 HX Stomp

[BassJuju]

Just had another scenario presented to me. The sound tech that does our recordings asked if I’d be up for trying a stereo signal to the board which seems simple enough. Take out the Send/L and plug in a L and R cable boom.

Here’s where my head went when I heard that and ultimately my question. Has anyone tried using the Ric with Ric O Sound to send the two signals to the stomp. Then use a crossover to split the effects chain, add effects, and then out to the house? To me the biggest pain when I had a stereo Ric and tried to use that feature was the 2 amps required. This seems to eliminate that nuisance. Thoughts? Am I crazy? Well, crazy to want to try this?

 

[voodoobassist]

Just had another scenario presented to me. The sound tech that does our recordings asked if I’d be up for trying a stereo signal to the board which seems simple enough. Take out the Send/L and plug in a L and R cable boom.

Here’s where my head went when I heard that and ultimately my question. Has anyone tried using the Ric with Ric O Sound to send the two signals to the stomp. Then use a crossover to split the effects chain, add effects, and then out to the house? To me the biggest pain when I had a stereo Ric and tried to use that feature was the 2 amps required. This seems to eliminate that nuisance. Thoughts? Am I crazy? Well, crazy to want to try this?

Jon Willis, Dr Tones Helix bass lab does this with his Sheehan Yamaha. Check him on Fb or his dr tones site. IMHO, he’s doing some of the best presets out there, and they’re all free.

 

[been_effected]

There are already several cabs modelled for the Helix series. If available as a model, does it make sense to get an IR of the same cab ? Is there any improvement ?

There's some fairly significant differences between the Helix version of a cab and my OwnHammer IR's, for example. To my ear, they sound better. But, it all depends on the situation.

 

[hbabels]

There are already several cabs modelled for the Helix series. If available as a model, does it make sense to get an IR of the same cab ? Is there any improvement ?

Yes it does different IR’s of the same cab can sound very different. I think it very much worthwhile to look into 3rd party IR’s I find they on average sound better.
I like the bass options from Lancaster Audio and Own Hammer for a few examples

 

[fivestringgecko]

A post 2.90 observation... Since the colored switch rings were added to the Stomp's tuner, does that mean that customizing the ring color for a block could be added in a future update? That's something I use on the HXFX and definitely miss on the Stomp. Just a musing for the day. I should probably go post the idea in IdeaScale!

5sg.

 

[Plastalmonus]

This is hardly ground breaking but I just realised something about the Stomp that has just changed up my whole approach.

I usually play a 5 string and will often use all 5 strings during a song, albeit in sections, not shredding the board however I recently got my hands on a Stingray Starry Night 4H which I just absolutely love. Since getting it I have been trying to re-write some of my songs to allow me to play it and looking into potentially getting a Hipshot Drop Lever.

That is until it occurred to me that if I put a Simple Pitch block at the start of my chain and Drop it -5 Intervals and -8 cents with a 100% mix and 0 Delay, I suddenly have a 5 string on demand.

At the same time my guitarist has been hinting at getting some A# territory going so this will mean I won't have to restring with power lines

 

[KJMO]

This is hardly ground breaking but I just realised something about the Stomp that has just changed up my whole approach.

I usually play a 5 string and will often use all 5 strings during a song, albeit in sections, not shredding the board however I recently got my hands on a Stingray Starry Night 4H which I just absolutely love. Since getting it I have been trying to re-write some of my songs to allow me to play it and looking into potentially getting a Hipshot Drop Lever.

That is until it occurred to me that if I put a Simple Pitch block at the start of my chain and Drop it -5 Intervals and -8 cents with a 100% mix and 0 Delay, I suddenly have a 5 string on demand.

At the same time my guitarist has been hinting at getting some A# territory going so this will mean I won't have to restring with power lines

I've been using the simple pitch to tune down to a D for several songs, and it is a lifesaver (my band leader has quit bugging me to get a 5-string). I've actually been playing along to music in the absence of anywhere to play, like everyone else, and a patch I've had for awhile (ARKO metal svt) drops to a B if you engage the pitch, and it actually sounds pretty good. For my purposes I get rid of a bit of the metal (the obsidian and maybe even some of the dirt from the svt), and if I pluck close to the bridge, I like it. I think it might sound good on a couple church tunes, when that gets going again pretty soon.

Edit: I'll add a link to Arko's video and the patches, since I appreciate his efforts (I was unable to do it myself!), even though I know it's been posted before.

 

[Plastalmonus]

I've been using the simple pitch to tune down to a D for several songs, and it is a lifesaver (my band leader has quit bugging me to get a 5-string). I've actually been playing along to music in the absence of anywhere to play, like everyone else, and a patch I've had for awhile (ARKO metal svt) drops to a B if you engage the pitch, and it actually sounds pretty good. For my purposes I get rid of a bit of the metal (the obsidian and maybe even some of the dirt from the svt), and if I pluck close to the bridge, I like it. I think it might sound good on a couple church tunes, when that gets going again pretty soon.

Edit: I'll add a link to Arko's video and the patches, since I appreciate his efforts (I was unable to do it myself!), even though I know it's been posted before.

It was actually the Simple Pitch block from the ARKO Metal Patch that gave me the idea

I just adjusted the cents to -8 after a post here about how it didn't get the exact pitch with a tuner if the cents weren't adjust at -1.6 per -1 interval. I tested it and it seems bang on now.

 

[JES]

Hey! Looking into one of these, could save me a gear induced back problem I perform in a pearl jam tribute and I do use a 12 string bass. Does anyone know if the stomp can get a good 12 string sound for songs like Jeremy or Leash? Not important but would be a perk.

with one of the pitch shifters you could get close.

 

[hbabels]

It was actually the Simple Pitch block from the ARKO Metal Patch that gave me the idea

I just adjusted the cents to -8 after a post here about how it didn't get the exact pitch with a tuner if the cents weren't adjust at -1.6 per -1 interval. I tested it and it seems bang on now.

Yeah Got the idea from this patch at well and I think it works great! Better tone than the digitech drop even !

 

[been_effected]

with one of the pitch shifters you could get close.

Dual Pitch block?

 

[6Bass101]

I recently got an HXS and couldn’t be happier with it.
Just finished reading all 132 pages of this thread. Lots of great info. A big thanks to all of you who shared settings. Especially the filter sounds.
Here’s my setup. The the top four switches on Midi Commander pedal are set to switch blocks on/off. The bottom four are patch select. The HXS is in snapshot mode and the two button switch has tap/tuner and another effect on/off.

 

[been_effected]

I recently got an HXS and couldn’t be happier with it.
Just finished reading all 132 pages of this thread. Lots of great info. A big thanks to all of you who shared settings. Especially the filter sounds.
Here’s my setup. The the top four switches on Midi Commander pedal are set to switch blocks on/off. The bottom four are patch select. The HXS is in snapshot mode and the two button switch has tap/tuner and another effect on/off.
View attachment 3818449

Tasty!

 

[Jehos]

There are already several cabs modelled for the Helix series. If available as a model, does it make sense to get an IR of the same cab ? Is there any improvement ?

"Improvement" is subjective. Line6 does its best to accurately model the cab and mic combo (all cab models have mic models too) with the given settings like how far away the mic is. A custom IR might use a cab that Line6 models, but with speakers that aren't stock, or was recorded with a mic that Line6 doesn't model, or had the mic in a position that Line6 doesn't model, or used more than one mic, or used a mix of cabs. If you find an IR you like, go for it. If you find a Line6 model you like, go for it. It's all about whatever gets the sound you want.

 

[BassJuju]

I’ve been playing around with the simple pitch block since I read about it a few pages ago. I started by creating it exactly as written and moving a step or 2. Ultimately I went to a full 5 to turn my 4 into a BEAD as mentioned a post or two ago. I always thought it sounded a little out, so I used a strobe tuner and tested a few things. It would seem that that cents move isn’t needed on mine. Is it Stomp specific? Or, an update has corrected this? Anyone else noticing the same?

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

I havn’t bothered checking as my main basses aren’t 100% intoned anyway (bloody rickenbacker’s) lol

 

[6Bass101]

I just adjusted the cents to -8 after a post here about how it didn't get the exact pitch with a tuner if the cents weren't adjust at -1.6 per -1 interval. I tested it and it seems bang on now.

Has anyone tested whether you need to adjust the cents for +1 interval with the Simple Pitch block?

 

[Plastalmonus]

Has anyone tested whether you need to adjust the cents for +1 interval with the Simple Pitch block?

OK so I tested this with a Korg Pitchblack and you are right, it looks like the cent adjustment is no longer needed. I set the Cent back to 0 and it is spot on whereas the adjustment was slightly out.

Looks like my initial assessment of it being accurate was probably confirmation bias.

I also tested +1 at 0 cents and it was bang on as well.

 

[BassJuju]

OK so I tested this with a Korg Pitchblack and you are right, it looks like the cent adjustment is no longer needed. I set the Cent back to 0 and it is spot on whereas the adjustment was slightly out.

Looks like my initial assessment of it being accurate was probably confirmation bias.

I also tested +1 at 0 cents and it was bang on as well.

I suspect there’s been an upgrade to the code since the original post. Still one of the things about the stomp.

I also bought a couple of presets from Alex.Guitars. The B15 is really nice, but the SVT is maybe my new favorite.

 

[Droopy_TX]

I am the one who originally reported that the Simple Pitch block yielded a transposed note that was 1.6 cents sharp per each semitone of downward transposition, requiring that the resulting tone be altered by an additional -1.6 cents per semitone for precision.

I have upgraded my Stomp to firmware 2.91 (and Helix Native 1.91).

I just re-tested it using a pure tone generator. Indeed, the resulting transpositions have been improved significantly; but, they are not perfect. The transposition is now roughly 0.2 cents flat per semitone of downward transposition, requiring an offset of +0.2 cents for each semitone. However, this degree of inaccuracy probably can be disregarded in most cases, at least on the bass.

Using a test tone of A4 (440 Hz), the "beating" of the detuned notes occurs roughly every 12 seconds. At A3 (220 Hz), the "beating" occurs roughly every 24 seconds. At bass guitar frequencies, it is likely this is going to be imperceptible.

But, if you want it as close as possible (to satisfy OCD demands), replace the multiples -1.6 cent offset per semitone with multiples of +0.2 cents.

(Note: The resulting note is still a fraction off because the 'cents' parameter only has a resolution of 0.2 cents; but, the resulting beating at +0.2 cents occurs at such extremely long intervals, it's likely your strings are more out of tune with each other than remaining the error. )