HOW TO PROPERLY LEVEL LINE 6 HELIX PRESETS!

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In this video I take all of the information I presented in my previous two gain staging and my single unity gain video and talk about how we can use that info to create a real world preset and level them in the absolute best way possible. I also go deeper into debunking some of the myths that are floating around about appropriate levels in Line 6 Helix presets. I really hope you enjoy the video and find the information useful.
As always, thanks so much for watching...
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[@GeorgeAmodei21]

Love how you get in depth.To meet it really makes the difference .. Another Great Vid Jason! I'm sure LINE6 really appreciates your Videos ( Helping others out) :)

[@StephenSpelman]

Thanks so much. As always, you take what initially seems to be a murky and complex topic, and explain it a clear, concise, and straightforward manner.

[@altag1]

Jason, great content and delivery! Even though I do not own a Helix, I plan to apply the principles you presented in my GT-1000. Thank you and I appreciate it!

[@jamespitman3357]

ive re watched this and set up from scratch with the ins/outs vids etc vol knob disabled, added on the la comp last and my sound is now back to rewarding - and i actually understand where im going with it all. your are a genius of sound and music - thank you - and you presets on my helix are back to where they should be

[@delarosa74]

Great video! Thanks for taking your time to do all these helpful videos!

[@patrickolson8558]

Very informative, thanks for debunking some of these myths we read online, now to go back and watch some of the other updates you've posted this past week.

[@picksalot1]

I'm a new HX Stomp user and have been enjoying your very helpful videos. I've been using the Output setting to match loudness between different patches. The "Null Test" rules! Subscribed. Thanks

[@charlestaylor8939]

I commented about the master volume levels and for some reason, I can't find that comment again but Jason, You replied and mentioned that I could find that by going to the final output block to adjust the output level. Thank you. As a new owner of the Helix, I wasn't aware of that and I truly appreciate the help. Problem solved and I can't thank you enough. The solution was simple but I was not seeing it. Thanks again!!!

[@TheMujiFuji]

Thanks Professor - another great lesson!👍🏼

[@teetosh]

Thanks Dr. Sadites you are a true Helix Ninja. My biggest frustration in programing my money patches via the 4cm into my Hot Rod Deluxe and have them sound great at home and way out of proportian on a gig. The Helix LT needs a global final out.

[@markteeters1794]

Jason (and all), nice set of videos. I have a theory on why many people are confused about the channel volume changing the sound. Just a theory. I started out on transistor amps because I couldn't afford a tube amp. Most of these had two channels, each with a channel volume and then a master volume. Turning the channel volume up was simply turning the preamp up which caused more distortion. The master volume was just to make it louder or softer overall. When I first got the Helix, I spent several frustrating hours trying to get a bit more distortion with the channel volume until I watched a video (probably yours) explaining it. I think I understand Line 6's thoughts on this...on a tube amp you crank the master to overdrive the tubes. It was just a little different for me. Even the tube amp I have now has 2 separate 'channel' volumes to increase distortion and a master volume. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Thanks for all the videos.

[@guitarjonn7103]

Late to this one but, as usual I'm often learning something new or at least reminded to apply something forgotten here. As a Variax user who'll go from an acoustic model to an electric, turning off the amp for the acoustic snapshot is pretty much always necessary, so your comment about the one time to keep the amp at unity gain was a "slap myself in the forehead" moment for me. The other thing I'll mention is if your only using two snapshot for a tune (like a rhythm and lead) and you encounter that volume surge, something that's worked for me is to switch the snapshot changes to an expression pedal. Thanks, Jason.

[@mutlucagliyan4865]

One of the best videos in this area. Thanks a lot. Changed my point of view. Are there a database initiation of Linear and Non-Linear blocks somewhere?

[@petrucci12]

Hello Jason, thank you for the great content as always. Quick question, don't know if someone ask this before, in your sound card how are the gains when you do the presets ? are they down to 0? or do you have some gain on the channels? Thank you in advance.

[@tbarnhart]

Hi Jason. What a great informative video. Any chance of making a video for people like me who use the helix going directly into an amp, w/o effects loop(alot of headroom). Thanks!!

[@scottwilliams3608]

Hi - Thank you for the detailed, informative videos!!! I have been using helix for a long time with generally great results. Now trying your advice about keeping the big vol knob at 100% and have been redoing some presets to test this out and I do think it sounds better. However, need a little reality check. I have probably missed - or forgotten- this in a prior episode, but here goes: If i set up the preset you did above, and have my big vol knob at 100% as you recommend, those levels hit my PA mixers pretty hard (depending on gig, i'm using one of two mackie mixers and seeing similar results)... I lowered my IRs to -18 and my channel volumes around 4-5, but I still have to keep the gain on the mixer channel down around 0- 20% ish to keep the level on the mixer meters in a good range. This is not so wildly different from what you're showing and I realize some guitars are louder than others (although this is fairly consistent for me over a few different guitars). If the main volume knob is always at 100%, and the channel volumes are below 5, does that big of a "spread" introduce more background noise? does it matter? do you have one preset for live application and another for studio? Also, are you using the output meters on the helix to help judge proper levels at all?

[@sikulagabor3127]

I faced the same problem when I turned up the volume knob to 100% 🤔 Is there any other solution other than described above?

[@nick.raptis]

Hey Jason! Coming into this some months later, I just got a stomp. Great info, and nothing I disagree with. I do have a question though. What we're glossing over here is that as soon as we're leaving the digital realm and we're going out the analog outs of the helix, we are actually hitting an analog "gain stage". That is the DAC and amplifying transistors that feed the outputs. I think where the people arguing "don't run the helix TOO HOT, but stay in the zone of instrument unit gain" are coming from, is a place where they think that you can get adverse distortion in that circuit. Personally, I bet you can't. Line6 is sure to have given PLENTY of headroom and designed those for linearity. If anything, giving out a healthy signal should have that circuit in a sweet spot by design, at least for a range of sensible inputs on the other end. I'm happy with your "gain stage appropriately for what you're going into", just wanted to share my thoughts on what that meant.

[@steveandrushko75]

As a very new Helix owner your videos are incredible

[@JasonSadites]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Really glad you are enjoying 😀

[@liquidtensionable]

Thank you for this Jason!

[@JasonSadites]

My pleasure Tony :-)

[@chrisbordeaux3399]

Thank you. This was very helpful. I have a question on basic connectivity and and unit output settings. I'm wondering where to set the main volume on the Helix (I have HX Stomp). Would it be different if I'm using the 1/4 TRS outputs vs the USB? Is the USB out a better way to go because you are keeping the signal digital? I don't think I can use the digital out unless I use the Helix as an interface. I usually use the pair of 1/4 TRS outputs into my UAD Apollo Twin, with the HX Stomp volume (the volume knob on the front of the unit) set to half way. The HX Stomp output signal is set to Line, and goes into the Apollo twin with the pair of inputs set to Linked. If I set the HX Stomp volume too full I get some clipping. However, If I was using the Usb out, would I then set the HX Stomp vol to full? Thank you.

[@crocholiday]

I think the unity gain is just an artifact from the analog pedal days maybe? It was just what ya did. Makes sense that rule of thumb would carry over. I'm glad you mentioned it though. Now I can go crank up all of my unity gain set up presets for a hotter signal lol.

[@Superstacco]

Will boosting cutting the gain levels on a merge block work the same as described on the output block? This is to level/boost and match two separate paralell signal paths (Ie, is this essentially the same as inserting two gain blocks WITHIN each paralell path?

[@stevelamm2366]

Jason, in what other videos do you explain the Channel Volume in the Helix? I'm wondering what the tonal differences are between the Helix channel and master volume controls. In a traditional amp, the channel volume determines how much the preamp is overdriven, the master volume determine overall volume. Is this reversed in the Helix?

[@amandalepre]

12:12 this is what I came here for, thank you for covering this

[@JasonSadites]

My pleasure and glad it was helpful 😀

[@petedean4705]

Hi Jason. Great video and very informative at always! Kind of a sideways question, but where did you get your chair?

[@JasonSadites]

Thanks so much :-) I actually did a video about my chair a while back since I would get so many questions about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWnceoqwmM2isM0

[@petedean4705]

@@JasonSadites that is too funny!! Thanks Jason. I saw you sitting with the arm up and thought, "That's just what I am looking for!"

[@chrisobrien9687]

Hi Jason, wouldn't it be a good idea for line 6 to put a basic loudness meter on HX edit on a future update? I'm not really a recording guitarist so DAW's are a complete minefield for me. Thoughts please. Ps great you tube channel.

[@ficelli4385]

I've heard they would put one in the next update

[@electricmeatpuppet]

Still waiting for this in the HX Stomp. Weird coz there's one in native. Such a basic feature too...

[@Juhde1800]

This is we need

[@josmyburgh670]

Hi Jason, thanks for the great clear demonstrations! I have a question regarding the hx stomp. When recording via usb the levels seem to be independant of the volume knob on the unit. I am very happy with my patch levels as measured on the channel meter in logic. How do I match the same level when going DI into a mixer via output 1+2? Would it work to disable to volume knob from controlling output 1+2 and set it to only control headphones (in global settings?)

[@josmyburgh670]

Sorry.. second question... for recording I am at getting around -18 to -12dB levels with the fader at unity. Would you say this is a good aim for a digital mixer as well? Or would you like to send a hotter signal?

[@MrCgar18]

I think the Helix has raised the level of of OCD!!! Not the pedal the condition.

[@CaptainWhiteman7]

Hi Jason. How would you set levels across snapshots in a preset if you needed a lead snapshot to cut through the band in a live setting really well with the 112 Powercab Plus? It seems like the clean and overdrive snapshots wouldn't be able to hit that yellow light on the Powercab if the lead needed to play in that extra headroom.

[@johnbeamon]

Cutting through the mix is about both volume and tone. "Yellow" is a range. If you need dynamic headroom, then calibrate for the lowest end of yellow input to leave linear headroom for the jump. Gear Gods had a vid called "How to Make Your Guitar Solos CUT Using EQ" that you might check out. Trey bumped mids and actually cut highs to get his lead tone away from the vocal/cymbal sibilance. He became easier to hear by not competing less, not more.

[@retorgere3718]

Hi, Jason . I have the helix connected to the H&K grandmeister return . No mater what so do with gain there is always a noise like phaser especially with low strings comes up . I tried to lower the volume, tweak with the parameters but still that phaser like noise

[@thefix-itguyreviewer8151]

When you're matching presets or channels with snapshots should you use the channel volume or the end of the chain output volume with the snapshot or does it even matter

[@pabloadolfolopezalegria7390]

Hello there great channel 👍🏼, you know I just connected my HX stomp to my dawn and notice when I first play i get -24db but after a second the level get down to -30db and I don't know why is that, any advice? Thanks

[@CH-en9rv]

Hi Jason. I use a bunch of your presets and I always add a volume pedal to control sound level in the room. How are you controlling the sound level in your room? If you were to add a volume pedal in your Helix preset template where would you put it?

[@philf4086]

Hi C H - I'm in the same spot as you with this question. I usually put the volume pedal upstream of delay/reverb so that if I kill the volume at the pedal quickly, the delay and reverb trails continue. You could put it right up front, but if you do you'll change the overdrive and amp characteristics. Summarizing, my volume pedal ends up after the amp/cab, in front of the delay. With all that said, I still don't know if I'm doing it like a pro would.

[@vincentpeer5188]

@@philf4086 that’s pretty pro. I keep mine second in my chain (compressor first) so I can clean up my tone with the volume pedal, but still kill the volume with it too. Last part of my chain is an EQ with 6(ish) db of volume cut, effectively making it a boost.

[@alicejanecole2800]

What about pram. Switch order? Kill the vol before any other cuts or gains.

[@PrivatePrivette]

Jason, thanks for your video. I went in with a slightly different question: how to get consistency between totally different patches over the course of a live show. I use the Helix Hx (no amp models) and a Twin Reverb. The amps headroom leads to a lot of huge volume differences in my patches. You showed the volume fader at the output block, and I think that is my ticket. I’m wondering how you are monitoring the pedal’s output into cubase?

[@vincentpeer5188]

Just use the peak meter on the channel you’re using. When you plug into your DAW and assign your helix to a channel, there should be a readout next to the volume fader that says how close to zero you’re getting.

[@josephhaimerl6114]

Jason, When playing out live and switching songs / patches, it wouldn't be desirable to throw the mix off of the whole band if some patches are louder than others. The obvious would be to normalize all of one's patches to a common level (say all rhythm snapshots across all the patches). Is the output level control the best way to do this? What would you suggest for actually measuring the level quantitatively? (My little mixer doesn't have a good meter, but perhaps it could be run into Logic Pro X)

[@josephhaimerl6114]

OK found this: Line 6 Helix - Create A Great Tone - Pt. 33 - Balancing Volume Levels Between Snapshot/Presets...

[@TheTorfx]

Thanks :)

[@JaffaRoad]

say you are only using stomp models and no amps and pluging into an actual guitar amp. what do you aim for DB wise?

[@georgecalvin1471]

Question: curious if we are thinking of above 0db on a daw as clipping? I seen and practiced around or above -10-13 as clipping in the digital environment. Thoughts?

[@JasonSadites]

Clipping in the digital world is 0dbfs. -10-13 on peaks is no where even close to clipping. As long as peaks do not surpass 0 dbfs you will not have digital clipping.

[@victorventura1006]

Well this is a problem ! If you have 2 amps in preset with diferent volumes ? Where i can down the preset Volume without using the big button ? I want drop the volume down without affect the preset. There are a option for program the big Volume button ? I think not

[@josephmkearns5197]

I am trying to figure out what I am missing. In the final output level. I am running my helix into a scarlet 2i2. Line level XLR. The 2i2 is set for line level as week. I downloaded your basic template. You mention in many videos that you leave final volume knob full. With the preset template I can't co anywhere near full-no attenuation on that knob with out the interface clipping. Is it just a simple as going ot the final output path just before the volume knob and lowering it there or am I missing a global setting somewhere? Does anyone else use the scarlet and see the same thing.

[@jesterraj]

Comp with distortion patch? Good and bad can you explain.

[@evandolan]

I know you have probably addressed this before (sorry if you have) but does the volume on the helix unit itself need to be turned all the way up? I did have it pointed at about 1 or 2 o’clock but was recently told to turn it all the way up. How do you set yours? Thank you in advance, love the videos!

[@CH-en9rv]

Turning it all the way up is unity gain, so most people do that. It's also nice because it removes a variable in your gain staging.

[@samuelhimmelstrup799]

Can someone tell me how to see the level of gain reduction the compressor performs? :D He seems to be looking at the Helix unit?

[@marstudios7879]

Master Jason can you explain the different signal path in Helix please? The reason I’m asking you this is because I’m totally new using Helix.

[@TheTrainwreckTV]

He already has

[@chrisobrien9687]

Hi, do yourself a favour and dedicate a huge chunk of time and go over all Jason's previous helix videos. It's what I've done and I understand it so much more now. Think of it as a Netflix series. Lol

[@artytoney2057]

If im going back and leveling presets I already have can I do it the same way your showing here if I just cut blocks off and work through them the same as building and leveling from scratch , I follow yor template so the blocks are normaly simular in placement on comps n eq's

[@JasonSadites]

I don't see why that wouldn't be alright.

[@RicardoMV95]

Jason what is the digital background noise that you can hear around minute 17:00 when you turn on the reverb? It’s also around later in the video but it doesn’t seem to be in the beginning

[@JasonSadites]

It is noise from the single pickups that I either forgot to turn the guitar volume down or edit the pickup noise out in video post production at those spots 😀

[@RicardoMV95]

@@JasonSadites thanks!! I was just wondering cause I think I’ve had that come up before too and wanted to know what it was

[@MSGadded]

What is the best position to have the big volume knob? I usually have it half way(12:00)

[@JasonSadites]

I keep mine on full at all times.

[@jvlaine96]

Q.E.D. once again☝️. Check it with Jason, no need to look further👍.

[@austinleehead]

Hi, what position should I have the big volume knob, alot of people say it's unity gain at 100% is this right?

[@JasonSadites]

I always run mine at 100%.

[@Juhde1800]

Time the hit on the down strum is what i always do and it works fine all the time. After the solo i turn the guitar volume down than change preset or OD or whatever. In live it's more than you and your gear it's about all the things on and off stage. Level your sound carefully or the singer will make weird faces at you LOL 😂😂😂

[@mohitarora92]

how to fix muddy tones i'm getting from helix LT & Ibanez JEM 555?

[@Newnodrogbob]

Less gain more mids? Hard to be more specific than that without poking around in your chain. If you have a lot going on in your chain, try turning things on and off one at a time until you can identify what is causing the mud…

[@jakeyboy2929]

Watched twice but couldn’t seem to find if you said, is the volume knob on the helix set at unity (100%)?

[@JasonSadites]

Yes it is, I always keep the volume at 100%.

[@jakeyboy2929]

@@JasonSadites thanks Jason. I was always bringing my amp volume down to unity gain but finding i didn’t have enough volume hitting the compressor. I will use Logic Pro X to see my volume, is using the stock volume meters enough or is another volume metering method better? Like average volume metering etc.

[@Virtu0city]

Hi dude! Clearly you're very knowledgeable and your videos are informative. I think you'd do better on youtube if you compress all the information from 30 minutes video into 5 minutrs max. Thanks for your time! All the best.

[@aaronboothe283]

Good evening, what is it that causes my self made presets to be so much quieter than presets of yours I’ve downloaded?

[@JasonSadites]

Did you happen to watch this video? It is literally what the video is about.

[@aaronboothe283]

@@JasonSadites I did, and I have looked at those settings in both my patches and mine in the past. I even use your comp at the end of my patches the same as yours. I will check my settings again, but I didn’t know if there was something else that was the cause or what not.

[@JasonSadites]

@@aaronboothe283 there shouldn't be....you should be able to use the final output block to simply raise the level of the preset up to where you need it...hope that helps...

[@aaronboothe283]

@@JasonSadites thanks. Sorry if my original question seemed asinine. Thanks for all your help with the helix universe!

[@JasonSadites]

@@aaronboothe283 no worries at all....hope it helps :-)

[@barry5607]

Thanks Jason have a cuppa on me☕ great work you are doing !! helped me a lot on my new pod go👍😎🎸

[@JasonSadites]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻 Glad the videos have been so helpful!

[@juliocarrillobatta2597]

Where do I look for the gain reduction meters on the compressor? When you mentioned that at 5:17 I didn’t see any movement on the screen anywhere.

[@johnbeamon]

On the device screen itself, with a Compressor block selected. Also, the Output blocks and (IIRC) the split/merge blocks now have meters. See Jason's vid on this, kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5vEqKWGlL1go5Y

[@juliocarrillobatta2597]

@@johnbeamon Thanks man! Truly appreciate the help!

[@saddestchord7622]

@@johnbeamon Thanks. This thing is behind me when I'm working in the edit software and I just got it, so was confused by that too. Oh, it's not on the Stomp, I guess.