HELP! I Need To Level My Presets And Snapshots?!?!? Here Is How! | Create A Quick Great Tone

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In this episode of Create A Quick Great Tone, I talk about a question I receive a lot, what is the best way to level presets and snapshots in the Helix so that when switching everything sound even and smooth. In this video I take a quick look at this topic and give you all you need to know to quickly and effectively get the job done.
Orban Loudness Meter: www.orban.com/meter
As always, thanks so much for watching...
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[@cbaten2]

Useful! But,... Should we not also very much ask Line6 for an input/output VU meter in de next version of the software of helix/stomp/native?! That would be truly awesome! By selectively activating blocks in our preset this can then be used in a myriad of useful (gain staging) ways.

[@dallascowboys75006]

I would pay a little extra for some functionality inside the heliz that would let you compare output levels between presets and snapshots

[@Nicky-T]

Your videos are always so packed with sensible suggestions and thorough knowledge. I've learned so much from them. I don't always do everything the same way you do, but you are always quick to point out there is "no right or wrong way." And there lie the informed decisions we can make after learning how all this works. 🎸👍🎸

[@armandpelletier4068]

Thanks Jason, that was one of the best videos for the helix, I have the LT, this helps considerably, thank you for explaining the behaviour of certain blocks.

[@garycoraluzzi1166]

Thank you very much. Always great advice from you !

[@JayJoke7]

Thanks for uploading this man - super helpful. I’m an idiot and didn’t even know you could change the level on the output block, had been messing around with EQ blocks etc. for volume boosts.

[@marais888]

THis is so, so helpful for me! Thank You!

[@jdiesel9048]

Yes! Thank you I was just researching this question!

[@JasonSadites]

My pleasure and hope it helps 😀

[@brianunkhunter1340]

Thank you! I needed to see this.

[@andreajem7v]

It's finally good to know which parameter (integrated around - 18) keeping monitored on Cubase. Thanks a lot for this explanation!

[@krzysztoflondon2711]

Awesome, man, thanks!...🎸🏴‍☠

[@rudolfbagusat9267]

thank you very much , this video helped me alot 🤩

[@JasonSadites]

My pleasure Rufolf! Really glad to hear it was helpful 😀

[@Mooseboy08]

Love your videos, Jason, I always learn a lot. But I respectfully don't agree on "where should I put the big volume knob". I put mine on 70% so that if I'm in the middle of a gig and need more overall volume, I still have it. Could I also go in and tweak the master outputs of all of my patches? Sure I could. But why force myself to do ten things to accomplish the same goal in the heat of battle?

[@federicotudori6619]

great video, so do you think the best best way to level to different preset is the final Global output level ?

[@gpcnogueira]

Thx for the video! Was struggling with this last weekend. I just did not understood why don’t you just used the output level to do the leveling.. considering all presets and snapshots already sounds as you like, this would be the best way to balance levels (and avoid clipping). Right!?

[@JoePariseauMusic]

I use the Orban Loudness meter and boy it is so important! I tried the other one, YouLean Loudness meter too. It's not as good imho. I play professionally, especially a lot of funk, fusion, jazz, blues and rock so I run the whole gambit of tones needed. This is why I like digital modeling, especially for musical theater and symphony gigs! One minute your playing an acoustic ballad next song is rock, then big band, then Elvis! Lol Anyhow, the trickiest thing I've encountered is when leveling clean sounds. The cleans tend to have a quick peak and then fade quickly. It's hard to get a good reading because compression seems to give the meter more time to listen before the notes fade away. My question is should I look at the momentary MTU for cleans and the LUFS for compressed sounds like tube saturated sounds? Also, I find it harder to set the level of a Solo Lead Tone that is clean. Distorted lead tones seem to be easy for the meter to read. Is that because of the compression that a distorted tone provides? When I'm doing a Clean Jazz lead, Blues, Funk, or Country, all on the cleaner side of the spectrum, I find it more difficult to get the levels right. Advice? Thanks Jason! 🙏😊🔥🎸

[@indianrockstrat]

Using your advice from way back, I have an LA Studio Comp at the end of every patch, possibly with a gain block after it. How do you determine how much compression, in decibels, you want out of that compressor? Same value range always? Varies with type of music, etc? I guess the only way to observe that is to select the compressor and view the meter on the physical helix unit itself?

[@JoePariseauMusic]

I have a Pod Go and 1x12 Power Cab. I like setting up the Pod Go to use 4 snapshots 99% of the time. Clean, Amp Drive, Lead, Snapshot 4 is usually for an additional effect like clean with chorus. I level my snapshots using Orban. My question is how far apart do you make your clean to dirty rhythm sounds vs lead volume? For example: If your Lead tone is reading on the LUFS say 20db would you deduct 4db for your rhythm drive or maybe 6db? We all know we have to boost our volume for soloing lead tones, but do you put your clean volume the same as your rhythm dirty sounds or a few db quiter? Might a present look something like this after leveling with the Orban Meter? Lead Snapshot = LUFS 20db Rhythm Drive = 16db Clean = 13db Clean Modulation = 13bd What is the loudest to quitest db you're looking for? For example: Lead Volume = 20db Clean rhythm = subtract 6bd? Drity Rhythm = Somewhere in between? It's a bit confusing at times! 😜 Thank you Jason! 🙏😊🎸🔥🔥🔥

[@marksale3996]

Thanks so much, Jason, for the info.Very useful. Just to clarify, is -18 the best output level, on my Helix LT, to go directly into the soundboard? Any comments would help. Cheers

[@picksalot1]

It sure would be if there was a built in VU meter on Line 6 products, either in HX Edit or in the unit itself. I'm confused about the Volume knob setting for "Unity Gain" on the HX Stomp. I don't have a Helix with a "big knob." The issue of Unity Gain is something that came up for me when I first got my Stomp. I didn't know what the "Volume" knob on the unit should be set at. The most specific information I could find regarding Unity Gain was on the Line 6 Forum, in which the Poster stated: "Old thread, but I just got my Helix floor unit, and wanted to add my observations, using Firmware 2.50. I'm using an empty preset--no amp model, no FX blocks, nothing. Plugged a sine wave generator into guitar input: 1KHz at 1v p-p. Then I connected my oscilloscope to the 1/4" mono output. The big Volume knob allows unity output (1v p-p) at about 1:30 o'clock on the dial. With Volume at maximum, the output is 2.5v p-p, or 250% gain." Ever since reading that comment, I've used "1:30 o'clock" as my default Unity Gain setting on my HX Stomp "Volume" knob, because I couldn't find any better/authoritative information, and I wanted to have some sort of uniform setting. I run my outputs into a Mixer. If I want to use headphones plugged directly into my Stomp, I have to set the Volume knob to maximum, otherwise it is too quiet. Based on this video, maybe I should change the way I do things? EDIT: I was on a live stream with Line 6 on 4/7/22, and asked them about what setting should the Volume knob at for Unity Gain. They said it doesn't really matter, but "they are taught to set it at noon," but professional musicians usually set it at the maximum level, (as apparently this helps eliminate some possible confusion that might take place at the Mixing Board/Desk). In either case, they advise to use the same "Clean Preset" as a standard to compare other Presets to, as this will make normalizing volumes easier.

[@Paddywantune]

Hi Jason. Enjoying your vids. I'm a Helix Newbie. Do you believe the compression needs to go at the very end of the chain?

[@indianrockstrat]

I'm sure in the past I read advice not to use the final output block as a volume leveling tool. ( patch to patch ) Maybe the advice was not to have it change per snapshot? I typically use a snapshot based gain block at the beginning of DSP row one and at the end of DSP row two. Interesting to note that boosting level ahead of a compressor is a bad idea. Also the amp in the video shows master level above channel volume, usually they're the other way around :-)

[@michaelmercer7763]

Great stuff! Thanks! Where do you have the main volume knob on the helix set when you do this?

[@michaelmercer7763]

Nevermind.....you literally answered the question in the video the second after I entered this question.

[@timchipman7386]

Hi Jason. One question......maybe it's obvious. In my setup the Focusrite pre amp volume knobs control how my Waves LUFS meter behaves. In other words, the pre amps on the interface are what ultimately decides where the LUFS meter reads. I use the XLR outs to the Clarrett's inputs, volume know on Helix all the way up, then have to adjust those two inputs (first so that right and left are the same when I'm in stereo) but then also to keep the volume of that track at around that magic -18 level, regardless of where the Helix floor is set. I've been checking the little green meter on the output block of the Helix but that is really just a huge guess........some say 60 to 70% is good, but it's still just a guess. The actual output of the Helix then can't be adjusted precisely unless you're also hooked up to a DAW, ( in my case Protools) I guess just make sure that little green line is still green? Tim Chipman

[@ronpluijm]

Hi Jason, last week I picked up a Helix LT. I'm relatively new to this stuff and I noticed that a lot of folks place effects after the amp blocks.. Well, almost everything is possible in the "digital world" :) Is there any specific reason for that? I posed the same question to Scott Uhl (another KZbinr, who talks about Helix stuff aswel) and he answered that it is just a matter of taste. "Just use your ears..." which is fine of course. Still, since you talk about presets, gain stages etc. in a very detailed way (is engineering, tech and math in your background?) I wonder what 's your take on this matter. Is there a measurable effect on the sound of the Helix. Does the sequence in which you set up your chain, affect the tone and behavior of the Helix , dramatically? Given your explanation on difference between "linear and nonlinear" effects, I recon there must be. So, why put effects after something that's meant to simulate a power amp. In "real world" things would somewhat explode :) Thanks in advance for your reply.

[@gillespiewrga]

For us ambient players, adjusting levels per snapshot is trickier. Delay and Reverb trails will be affected when changing snapshots IF the overall level is adjusted after the Delay/Reverb blocks. e.g., Snapshot 8 is my most ambient with long trails and high mixes of delay and verb. However, when leaving that snapshot and moving to a dry snapshot that needs 6 dB overall boost to level with the other snapshots. I'm in Snapshot 8, stop playing and the trails begin to decay, then I step on Snapshot 1, and boom the trails kick up 6 dB. I level snapshots for this one pre-delay/verb.

[@marais888]

Jason, this question is off topic but I'm trying to compose a violin/cello sound for my electric guitar. Could you tell me which effect I might try to change my note attack so it is more like a bowed instrument?

[@superglassbucks6356]

People often complain about tweaking modelers but I myself never have an issue….with the exception of volume between presets. I spent hours doing this at gig volumes and thought I was good until I got to a gig. Next I’m just going to have to embrace minimal presets. I’m also heading towards the 4CM which is what I wanted to avoid in the 1st place.

[@andyfenton1510]

The 4CM is definitely the way to go.

[@jmarks24]

Can you do this for the Pod Go?

[@dancurtis461]

I created a new preset with a number of effects, but when I go into stomp mode, all the switches are off and the scribble strip is blank. I can go back to factory presets, and everything works correctly but when I go to my user preset, all the switches are inactive.

[@amycook9554]

I wish Line6 would integrate some type of loudness meter on the output level, virtual if need be. It's a lot of trouble to patch into my DAW just to check output levels every time I make or change a patch.

[@amycook9554]

Craig Johnson on my GF's computer.

[@Themetallikid1]

Do you have a recommendation on how to help eliminate any volume "pops/spikes" when changing snapshots. My volume overall is leveled pretty well between presets, and even between snapshots within a preset, but I have some presets that when changing between snapshots there is an audible pop or boost in volume for a split second. I generally use similar templates between my presets so its not like one preset has a drastically different 'routing' inside it. Any ideas?

[@sergejk]

Following ...

[@andreajem7v]

I suppose it happens when you use different amps in different snapshot

[@clementchou7995]

Hey Jason! Running on the Pod Go here and I actually have the same question. Many of your presets seem to change volume in the way described above when changing snapshots, especially when going from the clean or pushed snapshots to the lead sounds, which I always found interesting as I assumed a sound used for solos would naturally be boosted louder, but that might be my inexperience talking. Would love to get your thoughts on this as well!

[@fearofnone2]

Do you keep the gain at 0 on the interface before you start to level

[@indianrockstrat]

Whether practicing or jamming online with Jamulus, 90% of the time my guitar goes into a small Mackie mixer which functions as interface. So Reaper ( my DAW) is using the ASIO driver from the Mackie, with Helix Native running in Reaper. Patches developed this way are eventually migrated to my Helix floor for live use. In the case of Native, I mainly look at the input / output meters showing in the Native VST plugin, to get that -18 range. I realize before the gig I need to use the hardware unit because things will change in the translation when loading the Native-developed patches into the floor unit. With floor, I do use the Orban loudness meter :-)

[@lukeb5584]

Thx. Really useful information, however in my humble opinion you could have used a different tone. I found the difference so subtle that it made all the fussing around hardly worth the effort. Also, I use a FRFR cabinet setup and this makes all the settings completely different to get the tone and level I need.

[@kennrayy]

Don’t you make any terrible videos? I thought not. Another excellent seminar 😎🎶🗿

[@JasonSadites]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Glad you enjoyed!