4 Cable Method Helix & Synergy Amps

[@michaelaustin1853]

Thanks for being the only channel (so far) that shows how to hook up and fully integrate the Synergy gear with the Helix. You saved me a LOT of time and aggravation and it sounds fantastic.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Hi Michael, you're very welcome. I'm happy to be of help for you and others. I love my Synergy rig!! What modules do you have?

[@michaelaustin1853]

TONE WARS I have the Friedman HBE now and the ENGL Savage is arriving later this week. 🤘🤘

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@michaelaustin1853 cool!! You're gonna love the Savage. It pairs well with and OD pedal and sounds amazing and spooky with a wah

[@ariraphiel39]

This is the BEST video detailing why any one considering Tube+Modeling Hybrid. And those synergy units have to make it extremely easy.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you so much my friend. I really love this rig. Tons of options and very compact and easy to set up and tear down. It really does sound amazing. This video does not do it Justice.

[@JimsMusicJourney]

I was on the market for a hybrid system to use with my helix rack and remembered this video. Santa is now hooking me up with a Syn2 and Powerball and Vai modules.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I think you will really enjoy the flexibility of the synergy system, especially when paired with the HELIX

[@charlesrocks]

I love the Synergy modules. Amazing stuff!

[@mrbadsound]

Your channel rocks, mate. You play all my favourite (or most wanted) guitars too.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you! I love these JP guitars

[@jamesmiller9823]

I have to agree , it does sound like the ultimate hybrid , especially with the Engl . And the Helix sounds great using them together . As always great playing and tone.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you very much. I love playing leads on that Engl It sounds so distinct and those squealy pinch harmonics are amazing

[@ChristopherM5]

this should also work if you are connecting a Line 6 HX Effects with 2 Synergy Synergy-2 pre-amps, I would imagine?

[@patriknessboLemoran]

I have a question! Could you wire it from the amps preamp to the syn1 and then back into the power amp ? And then just go straight into your amp from your guitar ? I have a boogie mark IV that comes with a footswitch that lets me have the FX loop activated for separate channels. So I can have the FX loop on me clean channel and then with the press of a Button i go to the lead channel without having the FX loop active. So basically selecting the SYN1 with the boogie footswitch. U get where i am going with this ?

[@brettshawver2983]

DUDE!! I couldn't wait to see this one man! The Synergy stuff is so groovin that I pulled the trigger about a month ago. I use my Helix LT & only have one SYN2 & of course I started GAS'n for another SYN2 but I'm gonna stick with one. Haven't been using the Friedman ASC12 since the SYN-5050 basically gives me whatever modules I'm using as an amp so I'm throwing that on Mesa 2x12 cab with the Helix LT in 4CM. I agree - this is ABSOLUTELY the best hybrid rig giving you everything you want! I'm looking at that Angel mod as I love the Engl mod I have. I never thought I'd own a Friedman BE, Diezel VH4 or Engl man. This provides WHATEVER you could possibly want! Love it! Keep doing the good stuff!!!!!🤘😁🤘 I never even thought about the midi controller option. That is definitely gonna open up an entire new venture now! Thanks dude!

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Hey Brett, so good to hear from you! I'm glad you're enjoying the Synergy/helix combo as well as the amazing modules. You're really gonna love what MIDI control will do for you. It's so easy and creative. Dude, you MUST get the Salvation Angel. The tone is soooooo rich. It's my favorite one. Let me know when you get yours. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts

[@brettshawver2983]

@@TONEWARSgearshow the midi would definitely be worthwhile man! We did a youth convention & we were leading worship & all that for them & everything was nice & soft & the keyboard had the choir voicing oo's & ah's going. So I'm just following along clean, chorus, delay - you know. Well we were building up & I went for a little hair - no dude. FULL ON BRUTAL COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DISTORTION & DELAY!! Dude, I was HORIFFIED! But I must admit that when I think about it now - I seriously LOL because watching an entire arena jump 3 feet in the air was pretty funny - but at the time I was horrified. The rest of the guys thought it was funny & couldn't stop laughing. I'll never hear the end of this. That's the only drawback about no scribble strips & not paying attention. Yeah man. I'm gonna try the midi for sure! Keep doing the good stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🤘😁🤘

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@brettshawver2983 it's good when we can laugh at out big blunders afterwards. I've had my share as well. Enjoy the MIDI control. It's amazing

[@ariraphiel39]

Sounds fantastic! That has to CRUSH live

[@ericollom7530]

Where did you get those colored nuts on all your 1/4 inputs. Clean idea!

[@molsenale]

I know, it's an old thread but it's still relevant today, thank you. Question, I have a Helix rack w/ foot controller & a Helix floor. Which would you recommend building a synergy rig around when you have both? I also have the 50W Synergy head & 2 speaker cab with 4 modules. I was thinking about a rack-based portable rig with a Fryette PS-100 power station, a couple of Syn-2 rack units, and the Helix rack with a foot controller. Using the Helix floor on a pedal board with additional expression pedals with the Synergy amp for home/studio use. I'm new to Synergy and haven't tried putting any of it together yet. Thx.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

I think you could go either way. I'm leaning slightly towards the rack though

[@KrlosRodz]

Does a setup like this need some sort of Power Amp modelling...or would whichever coloration included in IR be enough?

[@88Nikoli]

Hey Jarrod, I know that this is an old video , I have a helix rack and can finally afford a syn 2 and modules . I see you had an I.R. in patch and know you do not use frfr cabs. Do you use this for recording , in ears or foh and or use a power amp and cab for monitoring live (without the I.R. of course) ?

[@tomulator]

Sounds really great. Noticed you are using a lot of “stereo” effects (reverb, delays, etc.)...in a live setting, how are you obtaining a true stereo output signal path? Thx!

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you. To your question. There are two ways to achieve this. Number one, using a stereo power amp and two cabinets. Number 2 going direct left and right using an impulse response going

[@mikeaustin4138]

I have a Blackstar HT-5R and a HX Stomp. I'd like to get one or more Synergy modules with a SYN-1 docking station. Does anyone have wiring instructions for doing this? Or a link to a YT video? Without a Synergy unit, it's straightforward to bypass the amp's pre-amp. It's not clear to a rank amateur like myself how to do this with a Synergy.

[@justinTime077]

Ty sire. 4cm is so much to take in as a novice to this. Almost wish I was one of those types that are happy on headphones... almost..

[@richarddunstan9247]

Brilliant thanks. As you use IR’s from the Helix do you use frfr monitor live?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Since I use IEM's live, I just run direct to FOH using IR's

[@richarddunstan9247]

Thanks for your reply.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@richarddunstan9247 my pleasure!

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@richarddunstan9247 may I also add that the power amp (SYN 50/50) really adds a ton of goodness regarding tone, clarity and feel

[@zbyszekolko3998]

I miss direct shootout of Hx models vs Synergy preamps. You have both. Please make it Jarrod.

[@GameMoviesTelevision]

I am sorry to place a comment not by the theme of the video. I watched some of your vids about FRFR and guitar digital modelling, but I still have a lil bit of questions. Currently I am running regular PC speakers and I don't even need to tell how many problems are there with this sound. So here are the matter: I play at home most of the time and sometimes, very rarely, I need to take the system for a small gig in a small room, and I don't need to ever, ever be crazy loud. Studio monitors would be much more universal than a PA, cause I can replace my PC speakers with them, get better mixing and possibly still take them sometimes with me. But would I be able to ever fill not too big room with the monitors? If yes, what exactly should I look for in them for specs\brand\model in a budget of about 200-400$?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Great question. I definitely understand where you're coming from here. You would need some pretty substantial studio monitors to use for a live gig. Chances are, they'll be more than $400. Depending on the Room size and how many people are in there, it might be able to be done. Go with with the biggest ones you can get for the money

[@GameMoviesTelevision]

My speakers are F&D 611 (probably a licensed copy of Sven 611, specs are the same), and the power is 36W. My setup already includes an audio card and I can get them loud enough at home and don't even hit half of the volume on volume pots (card+speaker together). But the problem is - the sound gets completely distorted, especially when I play bass notes - it starts to overdrive so much and sounds like a drill. I also took them with me several times and they seemed to be just enough loud live. That's why I am curious, when I see, for example, popular KRK ROKIT monitors - they are 50W. But it's not good to use them 100% power, right? At the same time, a PA like an Alto 310 worth 250$, would be easier to take with and would be more than ever needed louder and would move more air. But, as I understand, would not sound better, especially not in quiet playing. All in all it seemes like market needs an in between segment product and it would be fine, but there are no better solutions, as I understand :P

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@GameMoviesTelevision I agree, there should be an in between type solution for you. If it were me, I would use a PA type speaker so that you don't have to risk not being loud enough or running into distortion issues.

[@GameMoviesTelevision]

Thank you so much for getting into this question and for your time! I think that would be a good solution too! Thank you for the answer!

[@timshadgett]

So, I've had a Helix for a while and have hooked it up to a couple of full heads that I have (Powerball 2 and 5150 III) which are great, but I went out and grabbed a SYN-1 with a Vai module and a Bogner Uberschall and hooked it up today. I have it hooked up to the FX Loop, the way you show here, but I don't know why, but this thing is ridiculously noisy! My 5150 on FX Loop 1 is nice and quiet (using torpedo captor), but this thing is unbearably noisy (gnd loop switched on/off). Any ideas??

[@timshadgett]

Maybe my cables are crap... time for some new ones, I think!

[@EliPorterMahn]

If you would be so kind to help me understand something: How would you hook everything up if you were to use only the Synergy 5050 and Helix into a cab without using any synergy modules. I currently am using it in this way but I think Im doing something wrong since I get awful feed back on dead stops when chugging etc even tho I have the helix input gate on and another gate block after the helix preamp block. Thanks in advance love the channel

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

So you're just using the SYN5050 as a power amp for your Helix to go into a cab?

[@EliPorterMahn]

@@TONEWARSgearshow Yes exactly my config is Helix > Synergy 5050 > Passive Cab

[@EliPorterMahn]

I run the Preamp blocks in the helix instead of the regular amp blocks too if that is necessary info

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@EliPorterMahn how are you hooking it all up?

[@EliPorterMahn]

@@TONEWARSgearshow I run my helix from the 1/4" mono out (line level) into the channel A input of the power amp and then I just run 16 ohms out on channel A's "Use first" speaker out into my 16 ohm cab

[@philipecsun]

How to combine helix + amp (4 cable method) + synergy?

[@JimsMusicJourney]

Is the synergy line level into helix or amp

[@Ghettorok1]

Forgot to ask you what kind of cab IR’s you are using

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

I use Live Ready Sound from his metal pack Mesa 4x12 - 57/421 combo

[@Ghettorok1]

awesome of you to share your information thank you so much your tones on this video are bad ass I actually ordered the VH4 module and I’m hoping I can get something similar to the tone you were. I also have the Percision drive with my helix and a BBE sonic maximizer at the end of my signal chain in an effects loop it adds a very nice quality as well if you have never checked one out before

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@Ghettorok1 my pleasure! Thank you for the tip regarding the sonic maximizer. I'll have to look into that. The Diezel was very easy to dial in. I'm sure you'll achieve great tone with it

[@axemanjax3701]

what kind of eq you use in the Helix?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Hello, no eq at all

[@axemanjax3701]

@@TONEWARSgearshow so your not using any kind of EQ in the helix with the Synergy modules

[@axemanjax3701]

any chance of buying some of the presets your using with the Synergy Modules?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@axemanjax3701 thanks for asking. Here ya go www.tonewars.com/tone-wars-shop/helix-template-4cm

[@axemanjax3701]

@@TONEWARSgearshow so this is the presets your using with your Synergy Modules?

[@wheelsdetroit8608]

Great concise video. What recording setup are you using?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you. I have a pretty simple interface for now. It's the Audio Box by PreSonus

[@mraybarsx]

now this is rocket science

[@Ghettorok1]

Your tone is already killer so I don’t even know if it’s needed or if you have considered it but have you thought about using a modeled power amp such as the hotone cab sim or the mooer radar for simulating the power amps section of an amplifier after the synergy preamp?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you. Live, I use IEM's and I play thru Friedman ASC 12's at home for personal practice. Although I would love to see how a power amp would affect my tone, in order to do that, I would have to buy a passive cab as well. It's a great idea, maybe someday I will have to give it a try.

[@Ghettorok1]

yeah I was just curious because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m gonna run it through a line 6 power cab with a Mooer radar behind the synergy for a modeled power amp

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@Ghettorok1 do you already have the Powercab?

[@Ghettorok1]

yes i do. its actually a pretty impressive little unit. im gonna try it at band practice on saturdayto see how it sits in the live mix but I can already tell it’s going to feel and sound way better than the fr i have been using. if you get the power pole cab plus you are able to load your own I ours into it and change them with the helix via midi. The only complaint I have right now is I have way too many options and I’m having a hard time picking what I like best ha ha.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@Ghettorok1 options are our frenemy 😂😂

[@benburnett8109]

I am leaving the first comment. I need to get some presets to you. I am very interested in your thoughts and opinions. Although I strongly disagree with you on the subject of "plastic monitors" I do find you to have a very good ear for tone. The studio video you did with Carrie (spelling??) with all the ultra high dollar amps was next level good. I also have a free IR pack from Valhallir.at that I want to send to you or you could download from their site. The Engl cab and the Dimebag cab are stellar. The Plow cab is great as well. They have very good IRs that you don't have to EQ into oblivion. Hope to hear from you and love the videos. As a suggestion, I would love to see you do more live video feeds. Those are super cool. Also more videos with Carrie (spelling??) as she seems to be very cool and is far more attractive than you. Maybe she could be the on screen talent and you could be the camera guy??? Just spitballing ideas.....

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Lol so you're saying that you're not attracted to me? Lol. Thanks for commenting and for your suggestions. Kari will be on more episodes for sure. I'm definitely planning some livestreams in the near future too. Feel free to send your presets to me at [e-mail]

[@benburnett8109]

@@TONEWARSgearshow Well, Kari has "more charisma and a camera ready look" while you are really good at guitar and wearing sleeve-less flannel shirts----LOL Glad to hear more livestreams are on the way. I'll send the IR pack from Valhallir.at and some presets soon.

[@markk9184]

That sounded great! Especially the lead and cleans. That reverse delay was cool. How do you like the synergy stuff compared to your Kemper?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you very much, it's good to hear from you. Yeah, that reverse delay is one of my favorite secret weapons. It adds a beautiful creepiness to everything. I really like both rigs equally but for different reasons. The Kemper sounds fantastic and has tons of amps to choose from. 1 I also really like a lot of the features and affects on it. The synergy/helix rig is very versatile and has genuine tube tone. The amp modules are a ton of fun to play through and sound really good

[@kevindavid37]

Dude, seriously? I can get a Syn-2 and play it through my HX Stomp without any cab and shit?

[@GStunna6]

If you're using the 3 cable method... Where does the guitar go ? Could you explain the 3cable method Less cables more happiness 😂

[@GStunna6]

I have a helix & I wanna do a syn 50/50 & syn 2 with Marshall cabs How do I run the helix?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

I'm wireless haha

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@GStunna6 you would run it as a controller/fx unit

[@GStunna6]

@@TONEWARSgearshow Ohhhhh it's just 4 cable method without counting the cable to the guitar Thanks for the great quality info!! I'm buying mines in August!! You're Great!!

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@GStunna6 my pleasure!! Thanks for your support

[@homersimpson2159]

Where did you get the colored nuts?