Boudoir Guitar
Rock Star
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Clickbate audio file is at bottom, but this post will be mostly about how I'm integrating these two things.
The Helix Rack/Control is the hub of my audio workstation/guitar rig at the moment. I have added a Synergy Syn1 loaded with the Synergy BMAN module, and its really fantastic in so many ways: (1) build quality; (2) well thought out design, implementation, input/output, etc.; (3) Sound. I've really been blown away by it more than I imagined. I have also been REALLY pleased with how easily and unobtrusively it integrates into the Helix setup.
My personal goals are for a somewhat limited integration of the two, not a complete "I could just sub in the Synergy module as an amp block anywhere I want". In particular, my goal is for, when I'm using the Synergy module, to have everything leading from guitar up to the input of the Synergy to be a pedal that is either analog or has analog dry-thru. End goal will be pure analog, but will take a little bit of time to get there. I want the output of the Synergy to then enter into Helix land, where I can add post effects, possibly speaker cab simulation, and then route the signal either to my monitors or out to an appropriate power amp/guitar cab. Also part of the integration goal is to have my guitar rig...whether I'm using synergy, or just Helix alone, to always start with me grabbing a cable, plugging it into my guitar, and flipping the master Guitar Rig Power Switch...i.e., no re-patching anything. Guitar always plugs into the same thing, everything always powers on together, etc. I'm almost there.
I set up my master Helix template for use with the Synergy to include, in order, a Helix amp block, a Return 1 block, any post effects I want after those blocks, finally a split with one side of the split going to Helix Out 2 and the other side including a speaker cab block and going to main Helix output.
-- regardless of whether I'm using Helix amp or Synergy, I choose which side of the split to send the signal down depending on whether I want to be going out to power amps, or out to my main monitors/DAW, etc.
-- If I want to use the Helix amp block, I put the Synergy module in bypass mode, engage the amp block, and bypass the "return 1" block.
-- If I want to use the Synergy module, I bypass the Helix amp block, engage the Return 1 block, and take the Synergy out of bypass mode. Worst case scenario in switching all of these is I'm either passing signal straight through Helix with no amp block, or everything goes silent - no worries about two amps in series creating a howling feedback mess.
-- I CAN put pre effects in front of the Helix amp block, and those will be accessible when using the Helix amp block; they will not be accessible when using the Synergy module.
-- I DO run pedals in front of the Synergy module. These are available for use regardless of whether I'm using the Synergy amp module or using the Helix amp block. If using the Helix amp block, the pedals will come in front of anything in the Helix signal path.
To accomplish this, I implement a modified version of the Synergy 4CM that is designed to allow the Synergy module to be used as an additional channel of a tube amp having an effects loop -- it becomes a 3CM in this scenario. Signal path is as follows:
Guitar -> pedals -> Synergy Input jack (first of the three cables); The "TO AMP IN" jack on the back of the Synergy is then patched directly to the Helix Guitar in (the second of the three cables) -- when the Synergy is in bypass mode, this acts as a tube buffered bypass, sending whatever signal hits the Synergy input and passing it through at unity gain, but buffered by one of the two gain stages in the 12ax7 tube that is fixed in the Syn1 dock. This jack only passes signal when the Synergy is in bypass mode; Then the "TO AMP FX RETURN" jack on the back of the synergy goes to "Return 1" on the Helix (third cable). This only passes signal when the Synergy is out of bypass state.
I haven't quite done the work to figure out how to use the Helix CV jack to control the Synergy (bypass state and channel select of the active module are accessible by foot switch jack and so should be controllable by the Helix). Once I get that setup, I can have one foot switch on the Helix control that toggles the bypass state of the Helix amp block, the bypass state of the Helix Return 1 block, and the bypass mode of the Synergy unit (and then a second foot switch that can select channel on the Synergy unit).
On to the tones -- the clip below has the Tweed Blues Nrm Helix amp, and I'm using the blue (cleaner) channel of the BMAN module in the Synergy. The cab sim is a cab block in the Helix (I think I did a dual cab with one being the 4x10 bassman with a condenser of some sort and the other being the Matchless G25 2x12 with a ribbon of some sort? And there is a Helix room reverb, too. Knobs on each are not set 1:1 exact, but they aren't too far off. I only adjusted tone stack/drive knobs on the Helix amp block, keeping master at 10 since its a NMV amp. The bright switch on the BMAN is at its neutral position, and the "T" (bass) switch is in the up position, which I found to be much closer to the Helix amp. They aren't exact, but given that one is a digital model of a tweed bassman that Line 6 owns and the Synergy is a tube preamp only voiced to try to sound like...a...bassman? I was really surprised how close they actually are. Which could point to "wtf are you running the Synergy for, then?!? Why not just save cash and keep things simpler." But...knobs are good. The Helix is a great interface, a wonderful signal router, and a fantastic controller for everything. Also pretty great for post effects that don't get tweaked much. But having drive/fuzz pedals, delays and reverbs that are going in front of an amp, and the amp itself, all have knobs available is a much better experience.
Big thx to @Elric for being a sounding board as I was working through getting this system up and running.
The Helix Rack/Control is the hub of my audio workstation/guitar rig at the moment. I have added a Synergy Syn1 loaded with the Synergy BMAN module, and its really fantastic in so many ways: (1) build quality; (2) well thought out design, implementation, input/output, etc.; (3) Sound. I've really been blown away by it more than I imagined. I have also been REALLY pleased with how easily and unobtrusively it integrates into the Helix setup.
My personal goals are for a somewhat limited integration of the two, not a complete "I could just sub in the Synergy module as an amp block anywhere I want". In particular, my goal is for, when I'm using the Synergy module, to have everything leading from guitar up to the input of the Synergy to be a pedal that is either analog or has analog dry-thru. End goal will be pure analog, but will take a little bit of time to get there. I want the output of the Synergy to then enter into Helix land, where I can add post effects, possibly speaker cab simulation, and then route the signal either to my monitors or out to an appropriate power amp/guitar cab. Also part of the integration goal is to have my guitar rig...whether I'm using synergy, or just Helix alone, to always start with me grabbing a cable, plugging it into my guitar, and flipping the master Guitar Rig Power Switch...i.e., no re-patching anything. Guitar always plugs into the same thing, everything always powers on together, etc. I'm almost there.
I set up my master Helix template for use with the Synergy to include, in order, a Helix amp block, a Return 1 block, any post effects I want after those blocks, finally a split with one side of the split going to Helix Out 2 and the other side including a speaker cab block and going to main Helix output.
-- regardless of whether I'm using Helix amp or Synergy, I choose which side of the split to send the signal down depending on whether I want to be going out to power amps, or out to my main monitors/DAW, etc.
-- If I want to use the Helix amp block, I put the Synergy module in bypass mode, engage the amp block, and bypass the "return 1" block.
-- If I want to use the Synergy module, I bypass the Helix amp block, engage the Return 1 block, and take the Synergy out of bypass mode. Worst case scenario in switching all of these is I'm either passing signal straight through Helix with no amp block, or everything goes silent - no worries about two amps in series creating a howling feedback mess.
-- I CAN put pre effects in front of the Helix amp block, and those will be accessible when using the Helix amp block; they will not be accessible when using the Synergy module.
-- I DO run pedals in front of the Synergy module. These are available for use regardless of whether I'm using the Synergy amp module or using the Helix amp block. If using the Helix amp block, the pedals will come in front of anything in the Helix signal path.
To accomplish this, I implement a modified version of the Synergy 4CM that is designed to allow the Synergy module to be used as an additional channel of a tube amp having an effects loop -- it becomes a 3CM in this scenario. Signal path is as follows:
Guitar -> pedals -> Synergy Input jack (first of the three cables); The "TO AMP IN" jack on the back of the Synergy is then patched directly to the Helix Guitar in (the second of the three cables) -- when the Synergy is in bypass mode, this acts as a tube buffered bypass, sending whatever signal hits the Synergy input and passing it through at unity gain, but buffered by one of the two gain stages in the 12ax7 tube that is fixed in the Syn1 dock. This jack only passes signal when the Synergy is in bypass mode; Then the "TO AMP FX RETURN" jack on the back of the synergy goes to "Return 1" on the Helix (third cable). This only passes signal when the Synergy is out of bypass state.
I haven't quite done the work to figure out how to use the Helix CV jack to control the Synergy (bypass state and channel select of the active module are accessible by foot switch jack and so should be controllable by the Helix). Once I get that setup, I can have one foot switch on the Helix control that toggles the bypass state of the Helix amp block, the bypass state of the Helix Return 1 block, and the bypass mode of the Synergy unit (and then a second foot switch that can select channel on the Synergy unit).
On to the tones -- the clip below has the Tweed Blues Nrm Helix amp, and I'm using the blue (cleaner) channel of the BMAN module in the Synergy. The cab sim is a cab block in the Helix (I think I did a dual cab with one being the 4x10 bassman with a condenser of some sort and the other being the Matchless G25 2x12 with a ribbon of some sort? And there is a Helix room reverb, too. Knobs on each are not set 1:1 exact, but they aren't too far off. I only adjusted tone stack/drive knobs on the Helix amp block, keeping master at 10 since its a NMV amp. The bright switch on the BMAN is at its neutral position, and the "T" (bass) switch is in the up position, which I found to be much closer to the Helix amp. They aren't exact, but given that one is a digital model of a tweed bassman that Line 6 owns and the Synergy is a tube preamp only voiced to try to sound like...a...bassman? I was really surprised how close they actually are. Which could point to "wtf are you running the Synergy for, then?!? Why not just save cash and keep things simpler." But...knobs are good. The Helix is a great interface, a wonderful signal router, and a fantastic controller for everything. Also pretty great for post effects that don't get tweaked much. But having drive/fuzz pedals, delays and reverbs that are going in front of an amp, and the amp itself, all have knobs available is a much better experience.
Big thx to @Elric for being a sounding board as I was working through getting this system up and running.
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Only difference I can tell is that the 2nd version of each was slightly but audibly louder ... which gives it a false sense of "more better" .... other than that ... if they were identically volume matched ..... I don't think - no I'm sure - anyone with 10 guesses would do no better than 50/50 ..... the answer to your Audio File Title ... "Does Technology Matter?" ... if you have current high quality well made and well supported digital [or analog] amp gear ... the answer is a definite No.
