Helix Talk

[DieSchmalle]

It absolutely does.

Nope. A single 1024 sample IR block uses exactly as much DSP as a single 2048 sample IR block on the hardware units.
This is because the IR's are applied in an on-chip accelerator that runs in parallel with the DSP.

 

[sashimi]

I could have sworn there were instances where I had enough DSP for a 1024 IR but 2048 was greyed out. But I could be wrong.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I could have sworn there were instances where I had enough DSP for a 1024 IR but 2048 was greyed out. But I could be wrong.

I thought so as well. It is however really only happening as soon as you're already using another IR block or a cab. The internal limit seems to be like:

- 2 internal cabs
or
- 1 internal cab and 1 1024 IR block
or
- 2 1024 IR blocks
or
- 1 2048 IR block

Nope. A single 1024 sample IR block uses exactly as much DSP as a single 2048 sample IR block on the hardware units.

Not really. Otherwise you'd be able to load 2 2048 IR blocks as well, but that's impossible. It's just that the limitation only applies to anything happening within the on-chip accelerator.

 

[DieSchmalle]

Not really. Otherwise you'd be able to load 2 2048 IR blocks as well, but that's impossible. It's just that the limitation only applies to anything happening within the on-chip accelerator.

I know, I know.. "DSP" is always a tricky term and I use it sloppily like we all do when we e.g. ask "how much DSP does that block use?".

You only quoted half of my post. The other half does show that I use the term "DSP" to distinguish from the computation on the accelerator in this context. Usually with "DSP" we mean "DSP usage" aka the pool of signal computing cycles which is a resource that the patch's blocks share.

Of course all computation happens on the DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) and the accelerators are on those chips and part of it. The (F)IR accelerator comes with limitations: 1024 words (1024 filter samples) per channel and Line 6 seems to squeeze two channels (which are computed sequentially) into their system.

A thought experiment: If Line 6 would (and could) use 4 channels with the accelerator you would be able to load two 2048 IR blocks with the same DSP as two 1024 IR blocks. You would be able to load in four 1024 blocks but that would use twice as much DSP. One 4048 IR block would use half as much but the same as one 1024 or one 2048 block.

Hope that helps understanding what I mean with that damn term.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Hope that helps understanding what I mean with that damn term.

No worries, I did understand you already, it just had a bit of potential to be misleading.

 

[laxu]

Nope. A single 1024 sample IR block uses exactly as much DSP as a single 2048 sample IR block on the hardware units.
This is because the IR's are applied in an on-chip accelerator that runs in parallel with the DSP.

That's just being pedantic about what is running the code. The real world consequence for the end user is that yes, you can run less 2048 sample IRs than 1024 IRs or cabs.

The actual limits on the Helix Floor/Rack/LT seem to be:

• One 2048 sample single IR block per path (processor). The following items are also per path.
• Two 1024 sample single IR blocks.
• One 1024 sample dual IR block.
• One 2048 IR block + single/dual legacy Cab.
• One 1024 IR block + single new Cab.
• Two single new Cab blocks.
• One dual new Cab + single/dual legacy Cab.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

The only time I run short now with Stomp is:

OD >> amp >> IR >> delay >> reverb

If I want to add a chorus to it I am limited

 

[laxu]

The only time I run short now with Stomp is:

OD >> amp >> IR >> delay >> reverb

If I want to add a chorus to it I am limited

I guess you are running the delay and reverb in stereo? Mono chorus should be fine.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I guess you are running the delay and reverb in stereo? Mono chorus should be fine.

Yep. Both delay and Reverb are in stereo. OD is mono

 

[BahamaDada]

I have never tried a HX Stomp

So I wonder how exactly the Stomp functions. I have my Helix either in Snap/Stomp or Preset/Stomp.

If I have the 3 footswitches of the HX Stomp (and without having extra external fs) can I have a "tap here to have one of the 3 presets" (not snapshots) and afterwards I can press the 3 switches to access 3 effects?

I am still eyeing an HX Stomp for my band, where I play bass. I need 2 presets, so the Floor is just overkill. But in these presets I'd like to have the possibility to engage a Chorus or a slight volume boost.

 

[Sascha Franck]

If I have the 3 footswitches of the HX Stomp (and without having extra external fs) can I have a "tap here to have one of the 3 presets" (not snapshots) and afterwards I can press the 3 switches to access 3 effects?

I just tried (never needed it) and it seems to be impossible without an external footswitch. It does work with snapshots, though, but to enter patch switching mode you'd have to press either left/middle or right/middle.
Personally, when I used a setup with just the Stomp, I always had an external dual switch (I highly recommend getting one, the Ampero is 20 bucks and works a treat), one switch doing the tap/tuner job, the other either switching modes or alternating between two presets.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Fwiw, I'm not sold (or just not feeling it) on the new Super rev. model yet, or its cab. It's just missing that spank and sparkle, the attack. I know it has to be a tough one to replicate though.

 

[Lele]

The only time I run short now with Stomp is:

OD >> amp >> IR >> delay >> reverb

If I want to add a chorus to it I am limited

Which amp? Which OD? You have to find a compromise...

One for example is: "Ducked delay". Even its stereo model is very light (6% DSP load) and it has all the parameters you may need to customize your effect (hi/lo cuts, scale, and you are not forced to use its ducking/gating effect).
Reverb: what type? The legacy "Plate" and "Chamber" are stereo and very good (imho) and not so heavy on the DSP; "Glitz" is another excellent reverb that can be customized a lot to get an excellent sound, and it's rather light with its stereo version, too.

ODs and amps, too, have a wide range of DSP allocation.

I tried just as example, and it works with HX:

OD: KWB (a rather nice and flexible OD with several custom options)
AMP: anything, even the DSP heavyweight Vitriol Lead
IR: 1024
Modulation: "Chorus" stereo version
Delay: "Ducked delay" stereo version, or several other types
Reverb: "Glitz" stereo version or even "Dynamic plate" with the other above effects
With the above effects there is also room for a block from the "Dynamics" list.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Which amp? Which OD? You have to find a compromise...

One for example is: "Ducked delay". Even its stereo model is very light (6% DSP load) and it has all the parameters you may need to customize your effect (hi/lo cuts, scale, and you are not forced to use its ducking/gating effect).
Reverb: what type? The legacy "Plate" and "Chamber" are stereo and very good (imho) and not so heavy on the DSP; "Glitz" is another excellent reverb that can be customized a lot to get an excellent sound, and it's rather light with its stereo version, too.

ODs and amps, too, have a wide range of DSP allocation.

I tried just as example, and it works with HX:

OD: KWB (a rather nice and flexible OD with several custom options)
AMP: anything, even the DSP heavyweight Vitriol Lead
IR: 1024
Modulation: "Chorus" stereo version
Delay: "Ducked delay" stereo version, or several other types
Reverb: "Glitz" stereo version or even "Dynamic plate" with the other above effects
With the above effects there is also room for a block from the "Dynamics" list.

I had the prize drive as OD
I had one of the fender amps
York IR 2024
4 voicing chorus << this one did not fit both in mono and stereo
I had the simple delay I think, in stereo
And the Straymon equivalent of reverb in stereo

 

[Lele]

I had the prize drive as OD
I had one of the fender amps
York IR 2024
4 voicing chorus << this one did not fit both in mono and stereo
I had the simple delay I think, in stereo
And the Straymon equivalent of reverb in stereo

Well... do you know the word "compromise"? And anyway it's not even necessary a lot...

HX Stomp:

Prize Drive
US Princess
IR
stereo 4-Voice Chorus
stereo Ducked Delay
stereo reverb: any (except for "Nonlinear")

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, I'm not sold (or just not feeling it) on the new Super rev. model yet, or its cab. It's just missing that spank and sparkle, the attack. I know it has to be a tough one to replicate though.

Did you listen to the short snippet I posted some days ago? For that kinda stuff I find it to be excellent.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Did you listen to the short snippet I posted some days ago? For that kinda stuff I find it to be excellent.

I must have missed it, sorry. I did hear the one with Xtra Blue though.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I must have missed it, sorry. I did hear the one with Xtra Blue though.

Let's see whether this is the link (opened GDrive for the first time on this phone):

 

[FuzzyAce]

Let's see whether this is the link (opened GDrive for the first time on this phone):

Very nice, dig it.
I'd be interested to see your settings and cab choice if you can share?

 

[Sascha Franck]

I'd be interested to see your settings and cab choice if you can share?

No problem. Seems to be incredibly close to the default setting. Unfortunately I can't tell whether it's the exact settings because I kept noodling around after the bounce was done, so maybe I changed something. But the one below should be pretty close, gave it a brief testrun. Not sure though whether I used the matching cab or an IR (one of my main live IRs), so I included that as well (it's an IR I shot myself many moons ago).
Guitar used is an early 70s 335 clone from Ibanez (AS in the model number but they weren't called Artist back then), guess that adds some things to the overall tone (it usually does...).


Edit: Something seems to be pretty funky with the preset export from HX Native, so the above file turns out to be not the patch I used. For a corrected version, see this post.