The Hx 3.9 fw thread

[Vic Winters]

Some of that laundry list.

Amps:
-Standalone poweramp sim, possibly with some extra parameters like we saw on the new Bogner models
-Marshall Jubilee
-Marshall JMP-1
-ADA MP1
-Rockman X100
-REVV Green
-Mesa Recto Orange
-Mesa IIC+ or JP2C
-Diezel VH-4 (Channel 2)

Effects:
-Boss DS-2
-Boss BD-2
-Boss GE-7
-Darkglass VMT Deluxe
-EHX Bass Microsynth
-Ibanez CF-7 (WACK'D)
-Ibanez LF-7
-Ibanez WH10
-Simple Pitch with Shift and Return parameters

Functionality:
-Tap Tempo Splash Screen (Make tapping bring up the same screen as capacitive touch)
-Extend range on Dynamic Split parameters to be like the noise gate
-More footswitch mode options for Rack, Floor, LT (MIDI, YouTube control, DAW control, etc.)

 

[molul]

It may explain the previous small update. Making way for a planned BIG anniversary update.

I choose to take this as fact.

 

[pablo retamal]

I just remembered a pedal I would like to have... "q zone"

 

[dronerstone]

I just remembered a pedal I would like to have... "q zone"

A wah (no rocker control, on/off assigned to a footswitch) or parametric EQ will do that just fine.

I know because I use my Q-Zone a lot and therefore needed to "recreate" it in the Helix.

Pretty easy.

 

[pablo retamal]

A wah (no rocker control, on/off assigned to a footswitch) or parametric EQ will do that just fine.

I know because I use my Q-Zone a lot and therefore needed to "recreate" it in the Helix.

Pretty easy.

Could you guide me in what Q ranges to work with and what bandwidth would allow me to achieve a close result?

 

[molul]

Hoping for a Shin-ei Companion fuzz or a great clone like the SolidGold FX Sasori to arrive to the Helix someday.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I'd happily take a decent fuzz not requiring input impedance maneuvers. There's fuzz boxes working great in a buffered environment (such as, say, the VS Audio Pandora), I'd really like one of those. Without input impedance tweaking (impossible in my case as I'm always running buffers in front), the HX fuzzes sound pretty bad.
Btw, on the software side of things, Amplitube has pretty nice fuzzes, the one on Logic's internal pedalboard plugin is decent, too. So it's possible to get there wiithout impedance tweaks.

 

[Lele]

I'd happily take a decent fuzz not requiring input impedance maneuvres. There's fuzz boxes working great in a buffered environment (such as, say, the VS Audio Pandora), I'd really like one of those. Without input impedance tweaking (impossible in my case as I'm always running buffers in front), the HX buffers sound pretty bad.

I agree, it would be very useful, if it is possible.
By the way, it's not properly a fuzz, but the Red Llama "Alpaca Rouge" doesn't depend a lot on that impedance thing, if you like its fuzz-ish sound.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I agree, it would be very useful, if it is possible.

It defenitely is. As said, the VS Audio box is great as a pedal and Amplitube has some fine software fuzz boxes. Maybe not 100% authentic but extremely useful within a buffered environment.

By the way, it's not properly a fuzz, but the Red Llama "Alpaca Rouge" doesn't depend a lot on that impedance thing, if you like its fuzz-ish sound.

I might check that out. So far, with the HX-verse, I like the Top Secret OD, which can get fuzzy-ish, too. Too bad it's output is pretty low, so I usually switch an extra EQ with it.

 

[Lele]

I might check that out. So far, with the HX-verse, I like the Top Secret OD, which can get fuzzy-ish, too. Too bad it's output is pretty low, so I usually switch an extra EQ with it.

The Red Llama is a very simple and interesting overdrive circuit. It has a great dynamic response and it's really raw, with a kind of tweed sound. Sometimes I use it together with an EQ block to cut its powerful lows.
But actually I haven't used it with my band so far, it's not my typical favourite guitar sound (raspy and farty ) even if it can add an interesting character to the guitar tone, and I don't know if it will cut through the mix.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I find the Red Llama to be really picky with amps. It works great into a Fender or Vox style amp but not so great into a Marshall.

 

[Lele]

I find the Red Llama to be really picky with amps. It works great into a Fender or Vox style amp but not so great into a Marshall.

I think you're right. Fender amps and maybe also single coils are the perfect match with the Red Llama.

 

[Tito83]

I agree, it would be very useful, if it is possible.
By the way, it's not properly a fuzz, but the Red Llama "Alpaca Rouge" doesn't depend a lot on that impedance thing, if you like its fuzz-ish sound.

It most certainly is. Original has a low input impedance, the default value on Helix reflects that. You may like it with a higher input impedance though.

 

[Perrymusica]

If there's a new update, it shouldn't be far off, right? Although I have no idea what's coming, I know Helix will be around for a long time.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

If there's a new update, it shouldn't be far off, right? Although I have no idea what's coming, I know Helix will be around for a long time.

It's only been 5 months since the last one hasn't it? I don't think we'll see one until closer to November. I'd be happy to be wrong but it's pretty much once per year now.

 

[pablo retamal]

It's only been 5 months since the last one hasn't it? I don't think we'll see one until closer to November. I'd be happy to be wrong but it's pretty much once per year now.

Helix birthday!

 

[BenIfin]

It's only been 5 months since the last one hasn't it? I don't think we'll see one until closer to November. I'd be happy to be wrong but it's pretty much once per year now.

Good or bad .... rightly or wrongly .... I think we are now well and truly into the era of just one Helix Update per year.

Why ? we can only speculate.

 

[molul]

Good or bad .... rightly or wrongly .... I think we are now well and truly into the era of just one Helix Update per year.

Why ? we can only speculate.

I'd say because the Helix has enough value already, and no competitor is pushing releases more frequently.

The updates from now would only make sense if they offer some new value that can push sales.

It's a bummer, but we all knew this wouldn't keep going forever.

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I'd say because the Helix has enough value already, and no competitor is pushing releases more frequently.

The updates from now would only make sense if they offer some new value that can push sales.

It's a bummer, but we all knew this wouldn't keep going forever.

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

Dynamics-based parameter modulation. Fart Pedal model.

 

[Sascha Franck]

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

For me defenitely global blocks (but pretty much all other modelers are missing that as well). Ever since I switched to the GT-1000 as the centerpiece of my main rig (even if I'm not using its amp modeling), this has proven to be incredibly useful for my needs.

Better parameter order, especially on the Stomp. Others have this sorted way better. When you have an amp or drive, I'd take any bet that the single most relevant parameters people often touch are drive and output level. Those should be on the first page, regardless of the model used.

Better visibility. Mostly hardware related, but if the Floor had the display mode of the LT (big squares showing what the switches are doing), it would've meant a lot to me (basically among the main reasons for me why I sold it). Another thing where the GT is just way better, you always see the status of the switches, and while the display is pretty bad, too, you can still decipher things in daylight.

Mobile editing. This could've been added easily (cable based of course, but that still would've been very useful). If NUX can do it for their kinda lowly Amp Academy, Line 6 could do is as well.

Better hardware. Of course, that can't be added. But IMO it needs to be looked at for future products. There's zero reason why a flagship modeler would crap out once there's phantom power running on the XLR connection. Even my super cheap Zoom G3 has no issues with that. And even if you can get along with that, there's still the rather non-military-grade encoders, switches and the (pretty meaningless, btw) "joystick" encoder on the bigger models. All of them often showing issues.
This is one of the other reasons why I went with the GT-1000. Boss hardware is made to stand live stresstests and still last for ages.

And as far as some software related things go:
Better pitch shifting algorithms. They're still not great at all. Maybe good for the occasional riff, but run a 4-part chord through any of the models and it's a mess. Also adding too much latency.
Some more synth-ish things. Doesn't even need to be true synthesis like, say, the Boss SY stuff, but decent filters would be a good place to start.

Dynamics-based parameter modulation.

I'd add "any* kind of modulation. Input level, envelopes, LFOs. Those open up for a whole new world of options.