How to use a guitar and mic with the HX Stomp

[@DogOfEgypt]

Just because of this video, I had to get the Audix cable, and I will do my mad scientist things with my pedalboards and hx stomps with it. Not to mention that I do both vocals and guitar, so getting my mic through the stomp to a looper etc will be fantastic. Many thanks for the video!

[@Upside_Down_Guitar_Guy]

God bless you dude now I have my mic hooked up to my stomp and I am able record videos so simply. Before, I had my mic going into an audio interface which was also picking up the stomp but then I'd get electrical noise and this is way simpler. Plus, I can have patches where I have different effects on my voice! You're a legend.

[@DavidAddis]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful. And good idea to put some effects on your vocal!

[@wyattlauth1453]

You could also run your guitar signal and mic signal in dual stereo. Just change path b to go out through the fx send instead of mixing back into line a. It’s a bit better if you like stereo effects, though you may run out of dsp and blocks fairly quickly on the stomp... Great video!

[@DavidAddis]

Good point, I hadn't thought of that!

[@maria.garavaglia]

Tried doing this earlier for my own setup, didn't realize I needed the transformer adapter. And now I have path A for my electric guitar and path B for my mic'd up acoustic archtop. Works like a charm! Another thing I learned: if you have blocks and footswitches to spare, you can add a volume pedal to each path, set them both to 0% volume, and set two switches to bypass them, essentially creating mute buttons for the individual channels. Works great if you're switching between different setups during a gig!

[@DavidAddis]

Nice one! 👍

[@dariogrijalba]

Thank you so so much for your help and for sharing this information! It is really what I was needing

[@Lorneplumber]

Excellent. I use my helix for vocals all the time so interesting to know I can use my stomp for small stages

[@doougle]

As a sound guy I'd prefer the signals separate. If the guitar is too loud compared to the vocal or vice versa, the audience will turn around and look to me to fix it. They won't assume your pedal board levels are set poorly.

[@DavidAddis]

This is very true! Probably won't be running it in this configuration myself... unless there is a dire shortage of jack cables. 🙂

[@terencefarrell2897]

This was a great help. Was able to get dual mono signals from a mic pre into the HX and then into the DAW on separate channels. Thank you 👍

[@DavidAddis]

You're welcome, glad it worked out!

[@explodingwizard3535]

Thanks! Just what I was looking for.

[@Tiffers963Hz]

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. I was going to just go ahead and plug the mic into the effects pedal without the converter. Doh.

[@KLRCAT]

This is awesome, I was looking at getting a vocal effects pedal, but now I can just use my Helix to add any compression, reverb or delay to my vocals.

[@DavidAddis]

Yes!! Or some weird other-worldly effects if you want that Björk vibe!

[@KLRCAT]

@@DavidAddis I have now purchased an MXR Carbon Copy and Strymon Cloudburst to free up 2 blocks so I can utilise the HX Stomp more effectively. (Also cause the Delays and Reverbs in the Stomp are pretty lacking)

[@heterodoxic]

I thought this would work... Watching this video prompted me to actually try it :-) Pretty sweet if you're not using a lot of effects!

[@gustavoloebel]

You can also drag and drop the mixer block to the path B and you will have 2 completely independent stereo channels, the Path B will be sent to the Send L/R.

[@by.s]

This is really helpful and you are so detailed in your explanation. I love it!

[@DavidAddis]

Thanks, Sung!

[@AlDobko.]

I don’t know if you are still checking comments, but any particular reason why you are using the BOSS acoustic simulator when the HX stomp has one built-in? I’m thinking of getting an HX stomp myself for the acoustic simulator

[@DavidAddis]

Hey, I sure am! Good question. I very slightly preferred the sound of the BOSS. There's not a lot in it, and the Stomp acoustic simulator is still really good, so it'll do the job nicely. The BOSS provides an extra output as well which can be useful in some circumstances, but the Stomp is obviously a lot more versatile overall. Hope that answers your question!

[@ap210482]

I dont judge you, i learned a lot thanks a lot brother

[@DavidAddis]

Haha thanks 😅

[@limbosystem]

Exactly what I needed and it worked flawlessly. Thanks for the tutorial!!

[@HappySmilyGuy]

"Or you could mix them together and send them as a single signal to your sound engineer at the back of the room, to make his life a little bit easier during gigs" - please, no one ever do this. Having been a sound engineer I can tell you that it will make their job a lot harder.

[@simondass5600]

Nice, was looking for how to do exactly this, thanks.

[@drcockles]

Just what I needed thanks ! Subscribed 🤟🏼

[@gfarey]

So much talent David

[@DavidAddis]

Thanks Gray :D

[@pdepurpurina]

Fantastic! Waiting for the patch!

[@DavidAddis]

Finally uploaded it! :)

[@יעלזקש]

This is so great, thank you!

[@DrBillOwen]

Thanks for a really helpful and useful tutorial. I've noticed that, with a mic plugged in to the right input, you can get sudden and severe feedback if you inadvertently switch to a preset with a single path - the mic gets fed into a guitar amp with a couple of drive pedals, and suddenly you're picking picking bits of speaker cone out of your bleeding earholes! I sometimes make the mistake of turning the wrong knob on the helix when I'm editing and end up switching presets. This used to just be a frustrating way to lose your edits, but now comes with bonus tinnitus.....

[@untitleduser666]

This would be great for a talkbox setup. Run the speaker for the talk box out of the fx send and connect a mic to the return

[@TeddyBones]

Nice video. Would be nice to hear some more of the mic, though.

[@jonathanschefano3927]

great video! I got the Audix 50K cable and it works fine but do you use just a 1/4" by XLR to send to the front of house? Im just using for live vocals thanks!

[@DavidAddis]

Yep! Straight out of the Stomp you can get a balanced output if you use a TRS jack cable. Might be a good idea to use a DI box in case the engineer sends you some phantom power. :)

[@yuichituba]

Hey there! I don't know if you still check comments on this video but I have a question about the split channel in the beginning of the chain. I have it set as Split Y and BalanceA as L100 and BalanceB as R100, but for some reason I have my guitar's sound seeping through. So whatever preamp, harmony, or reverb I have set in my mic/vocal line, the guitar picks it up. Do you know what it may be?

[@DavidAddis]

Hey man. I sure do (check comments, not necessarily know what is wrong). Sounds like you are missing the pan settings in the mixer block at the end. 5:58 in the video. Give that a try!

[@yuichituba]

@@DavidAddis Hey, thanks for the quick reply! You're right, looks like it was in the mixer block. But the weird thing is I set L100% R100% like you did, but the sound bleeding stopped when I just put the Left and Right to center. Of course, then the signal won't be split but I'll just have to have both lines together through my amp.

[@Ghjuva2b]

Thank you very much!

[@AdiHauke]

Great Video! Thx

[@nubiroru132]

I wonder if i can plug my bass in instead of mic. Great vid, thanks!

[@boatingforbeginners7949]

Hi David, Lovin yr channel, Ive just purchased an HX stomp and you said you use it as part of yr pdl board, can i ask where you put it in the chain on yr board and how do you personally set the volume levels on the patches so that you dont get a giant boost in volume form one patch to another?

[@DavidAddis]

Hey man. I put it last in the chain, since it’s acting as the amp simulator - wah wah and chorus sounds better (in my opinion) before the amp. I found most of the volume levels don’t need managing, but you can change the gain on the final (output) block if you need to. I boosted it a bit on my lead channel, so I’m louder during the guitar solos. 🙂

[@motomike71]

The lack of an XLR input on the HX Stomp with phantom power is the only downside of the device that I've encountered. This cable method works, but if you have a mic that needs phantom power you'll need a powered DI box.

[@DavidAddis]

That's true. We tend to use SM58s, but it would be nice to have more flexibility.

[@duarte_almeida_music]

Thanks for the video! My question is, when you change presets does it affects the mic settings?

[@MaylorTaylor]

I'd love to see another video on this! I want to get one of these for doing guitar + vocal sets. I want to have my vocals w/ a bit of reverb/delay and my guitar with some effects also. I'm guessing this is possible but I'm curious what the limitations are or any drawbacks from doing this?

[@johannespatzig6218]

Thanks for the great video! I have a question: does this work with both a dynamic and a condenser microphone which needs phantom power?

[@javidavi]

Thanks for this video, David! One question, does the panning (guitar on left channel, vocals on right channel) also affect the headphone output? Or does the headphone output have its own "mix" (e.g. guitar and vocals in both L and R channels). Thanks!

[@DavidAddis]

It does indeed! If you want to wear cans and hear both channels in both ears, you’d need to mix them back together.

[@javidavi]

@@DavidAddis thanks for the info!

[@olegonegin2032]

nice!

[@MikeSpiderson]

Im gonna try this with the Helix.

[@DavidAddis]

Cool! Let us know how you get on.

[@vankata79]

Hi David, thanks for sharing the information and patch. Why is this Audix cable so short and is it easy to extend it without lowering the sound quality?

[@DavidAddis]

I think it's just for getting the connector from a mono jack to XLR... any XLR extension cable should do it! Although there will be signal degradation as it gets extremely long (but very little interference, due to the magic of XLR).

[@jsmith1899]

So I guess you can only do this with a dynamic mic. It's unliklely this would have phantom power.

[@JohnShalamskas]

The full-sized Helix has phantom power capability, but not the Stomp or Stomp XL.

[@JohnMark61355]

Thanks for the video. I am concerned that the gain at 7db, the microphone (I am using a Shure SM58A dynamic supercardoid mic) would cause other instruments to be picked up by the microphone, particularly when using harmonizers. Would using less gain in the preamp and more output work better in my situation? Thanks for your help.

[@jarg7]

i didnt know you could use the mic with the stomp, will effects work like reverb and fuzz as well?

[@GiorgioZarrelli]

Does it work with a condenser microphone? I got a SE X1 S but I do not see where to draw the phantom power.

[@DavidAddis]

I highly doubt it... You’re right, there’s no phantom power supplied.

[@coreyryan9703]

Hey Giorgio yes you can do this but you’ll have to power the mic via another interface which is what I do . I’ve been fiddling with it for a few weeks now I have the helix LT which doesn’t have the xlr in like it’s big brother has so if you have the stomp it would be the same situation as mine I believe . So anyways .. what I use is a reasonably priced behringer mixer with 2 phantom power xlr inputs . I plug my guitar in as usual and use path A . I send two powered mics from mixer out regular 1/4 and input into either fx send or receive either way , just have to choose the input setting in the global menu. So again , any phantom powered mixer with a 1/4 out to any of the modifiable ports on the helix . I send path A (guitar) to output thru usb channel 1-2 and path B ( Mic) out to usb channel 3 . It’s nice because once you gain stage all the levels properly you can really get into the compression and EQ and even nice reverbs . Also at least on the Lt you can monitor from the helix itself while plugging into a DAW and in PC making sure the output is set as Helix .

[@DavidAddis]

Nice suggestion!

[@amiraseri]

Great video. Is that Surface Go or Pro?

[@DavidAddis]

It's the Go 2

[@PeterVenkman_666]

Very useful video. I have a question: when splitting paths , if i put an effect block before the split, so that both signals share the same effect, the signals no longer remain split but they merge. Is there a way to solve this and keep both signals split? Thanks!

[@DavidAddis]

Hi Peter, I would have thought a stereo effect that processes each channel individually would do the trick, although that may not be how the Stomp does it! Instead, can you put a copy of the block on both paths after the split?

[@PeterVenkman_666]

@@DavidAddis David one more question, if i want to use this config with a powered cab, do i use one output or two outputs (left and right) if i want both signal paths to go out separately? Thanks!

[@DavidAddis]

@@PeterVenkman_666 yep use two outputs, one signal path in L and the other in R

[@PeterVenkman_666]

@@DavidAddis Many thanks for taking your time to reply! Greetings!

[@submoto]

My mic (Røde M2) requires phantom power though. is there a way to do that?

[@DavidAddis]

Not that I know of, sorry. Perhaps there is a way to add phantom power using some kind of splitter? I don’t think it will be simple though.

[@submoto]

@@DavidAddis ooh, may have just figured it out. The Stomp has a USB plug. I wonder if that usb plug would be able to power the xvive P1

[@GamersWorld22]

​@@submoto it should my mackie does for my sm7b

[@fillbertnjoko7875]

What kind of cables did you use for audio monitoring? TRS or TRRS? Thanks

[@DavidAddis]

TRS. Either the headphone output of the Stomp (practice) or my mini mixer (rehearsals with the band or gigs). I don’t really use TRRS for anything… maybe if I need to use my phone to record something in a pinch?

[@oobboo1799]

Could I use a dynamic mic with my HX Stomp for video calls? At the moment I have a dedicated interface for it but for making music I only use my HX Stomp

[@DavidAddis]

Pretty sure you could! Just set the Stomp as your microphone input in Zoom/Hangouts 🙂

[@spamspasm8183]

Would using a DI box in reverse work instead of using the impedance matching transformer? I can't seem to find that cable in my area and in theory, it sounds like a DI box but with the primary and secondary windings reversed.

[@alexpoovey9852]

I have wondered this as well... any luck?

[@spamspasm8183]

@@alexpoovey9852 It works. But make sure your DI box is completely passive.

[@KimbroughBand]

I have a Helix LT. Is it safe and will it work if I buy that low impedance cable and run my Shure SM7B through it with a cloud lifter preamp?

[@DavidAddis]

Don't the Cloudlifters require phantom power? In which case no, because the Helix models don't supply that. But I don't think anything will blow up. Please don't sue me if it does though!

[@DishPaDaDish]

Can I use that for an acoustic guitar?

[@chadgarber]

What happens if you don't get a transformer?

[@Corey_G]

You could do 2 guitars 🎸 🎸 I guess too! *** Depends on blocks, but you could have 2 guitarists jam through 1 HX Stomp 😁👍👍👍

[@jo18ist]

I have done jams with bass and guitar, also 2 guitars.

[@nevermindthebull0cks]

Where did you get that mic stand!? :)

[@jeffwinick8859]

"Doesn't blow up your hardware..." Can you elaborate on this pls? I had a spare XLR>1/4 TRS adaptor lying around (not an impedance matching transformer like this Audix you mention), and I plugged my Shure SM58 into the L/Mono of my HX stomp and set the input on global parameters to line. The volume was still VERY quiet and it didn't work. I notice on the Main L/R (HX Edit) there is an In-Z selector (auto, 10k, 22k, 32k, etc) that does not have any option to go down as low as the mic output impedance (150 ohm). Then I started looking on youtube and found your video and your mention of potential damage to hardware gets me super concerned. PLEASE help me sleep at night and tell me I didn't bugger-up my HX stomp in anyway!

[@jsmith1899]

I wonder if you can do this with any other multi effects pedals with a stereo input?

[@Truthbearsartlessness]

Thank you for this. Have you noticed a tone suck from the guitar amp? I’ve noticed that all my lovey overdrive, though working initially, starts sounding stale over time, or the audio starts fading in and out. Not sure what the issue is.

[@blackford8925]

I’ve found the noise gate sometimes does that

[@marcoalexanderwinthermikke9132]

Can you use it live as well? I play acoustic and use microphone, but i dont want to drag my 20 ton Helix Floorboard with me along with my 200 ton speakers. Exaggerating of course, but does it work live?

[@DavidAddis]

Yep! I haven't gigged in this configuration myself (yet), but I'm sure it would work!

[@ElcoWeitering]

You can also mike up your guitar AND use the line out on your acoustic at the same time! Imagine the sonic power at your command.

[@DavidAddis]

@@ElcoWeitering I've actually made a slight modification to this setup since the video. I now use the R input on the Stomp for the output of my acoustic simulator pedal. So I can give the sound engineer one output (from the Stomp) which is a mix of the electric (amp-simulated) guitar, and acoustic (tone-simulated) guitar. I have played gigs where I use the acoustic channel so rarely, the SE muted it, leading to some embarrassing moments when I started playing... this should avoid that. :)

[@ElcoWeitering]

​@@DavidAddis thanks for the update. It's always amazing to learn about the many ways people employ this unit. My setup is a Line6 G70 wireless pedal into the Stomp. The G70 also has a dedicated DI out that is great for blending the dry DI signal with the processed Stomp L&R. Or when the FOH engineer doesn't like the processed sound he can process his own with the dry DI signal. I'm lucky enough to work with the same guys most of the times and we crafted some great presets together for my live guitars.

[@DavidDaminelli]

What will happen if I dont use the impedance transformer?

[@DavidAddis]

When I tried it without the transformer, it just sounded very weird!

[@DavidNoyMusic]

First - Thanks! : ) But what will happen if I won't use the magic cable? It will be damaged? And does it matter if I'll plug it to the Return and split the path?

[@DavidAddis]

You're welcome! For me, before I got the adaptor, it was a very quiet signal. I boosted it with the preamp block and it still sounded wrong... like pitch-shifted down. I'm not an electrician so not sure exactly what is going on with the hardware but I don't think it's good to run it straight in. Don't think I understand... how do you mean plug it to the return?

[@DavidNoyMusic]

@@DavidAddis Thanks! I'll try to explain: If you standing on the "input" block in the HX Stomp you can choose your input - Main L/R, Return L/R or USB 5/6 (for re-amping). But you can also split the input and then in the A you'll have "Main 1/2" and in B you'll have "Return 3/4". and they aren't connected at all. you can do the same in the output. Then - connect the mic cable to the return of the FX loop in the HX Stomp. And then maybe you can choose s different impedance in the input so it'll feet the mic?

[@DavidAddis]

@@DavidNoyMusic Ah! Cool idea, when I get a spare moment I'll give it a try. :)

[@DavidNoyMusic]

@@DavidAddis Cool! I'll be glad to hear the results : ) Anyway, thanks for the video and for your answers and have fun with the HX Stomp 🙂

[@joeblackford]

I've found that it sucks the vocal tone when using the stomp for vocals. Compared to going straight into the PA. It sounded very muffled. I think it may be an impedance thing but I haven't found a work around yet.

[@BagusWibisono]

hi sir.. hx stomp is great sounding for playing live? tell me something truth please

[@DavidAddis]

It sure is! That's how I play live now. No amps. :)

[@BagusWibisono]

@@DavidAddis sounds similar like the real amp? Great sounding for playing live?

[@DavidAddis]

@@BagusWibisono I don't think I could actually tell the difference, to be honest. And it's certainly easier to manage.

[@jo18ist]

I have a Dynamic Mic which came with a cable that is XLR to 1/4 inch. Is it OK if I plug it just as it is? I've used it and the mic sounds good, but is it safe? Do I need to buy the Audix adapter?

[@IzelMori]

Can you power the mic with 48v through hx stomp?

[@DavidAddis]

Haven’t tried it, but I highly doubt it would supply phantom power.

[@JohnShalamskas]

@@DavidAddisNeed the full-on Helix for that.

[@danbobakov]

Just tried to send synth into L and guitar into R and mixing them both out stereo. No matter how I pan it, the left and right don't come out stereo. I wonder why that is....

[@DavidAddis]

So they're not coming out on separate channels? I would check the 'mixer' block where the A and B paths join, sounds like they are not panned hard left and right.

[@danbobakov]

Figured it out..if you want your mono signal to come out stereo the stomp needs an amp or mic pre block on that chain

[@DavidAddis]

@@danbobakov Ah! Good. Yes it took me a little while to figure out how to create Path B.

[@andreasguldner1917]

Hello music friends. I want to connect the TC to the Line6 Helix stomp xl. Play the acoustic guitar with the tc, the electric guitar with the helix. I would also like to use both guitars for polyphony. Can someone help. Please just please, I'm not a techie. Very kind regards. Andreas, Halberstadt, Germany

[@DishPaDaDish]

When balance 100% to left and right, is that the same as panning?

[@yohaneskurniawanmusic5081]

Can i use my studio monitor with this setting??

[@offshorestudio2487]

For the Condenser Mic can it be fit with HX Stomp ?

[@Truthbearsartlessness]

You’ll need a phantom power unit to get it to work. One way to do that is to use a balanced Y split, one hooked up to the helix and the other to a unit that provides phantom

[@GamersWorld22]

Can i do this with the pod go

[@SLASHMPI]

Excelent thks

[@jamursulap]

Any reason why my vocal result is going up and down? I use Logic Pro X, AKG C214, and SM57. Both resulted the same.

[@DavidAddis]

Up and down in pitch, volume, or something else? Sounds like it could be a rogue compressor somewhere in the signal chain.

[@drcockles]

Tried it and it’s super quiet, I have a dynamic mic, is it because no phantom power?

[@DavidAddis]

Have you definitely got the adaptor? If so try just increasing the gain on the preamp block. Mine was quieter than a guitar signal.

[@drcockles]

@@DavidAddis yep with an adapter and gain and level maxed on preamp block. Just ordered a cheap Bheringer phantom power block which will useful anyway, I’m assuming I can take the impedance widget straight out of that

[@drcockles]

@@DavidAddis got this. smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000FG795I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And this originally smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KH7RQ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 For a 25 quid mic 😂

[@drcockles]

Update....returned crap adaptor and got a Shure one for a few quid more, works great now, cheers David 🤟🏼

[@DavidAddis]

@@drcockles hehe ok good!

[@MrRafaztar]

That’s the most ghetto mic stand I’ve ever seen haha 😂

[@fabianvasquezjr8852]

Hey bud, they make a adapter for your mic clip ¾ that will screw on to your desk top camara tripod so you don't have to use medical tape to hold your mic, just saying, we've all done it, no shame.

[@DavidAddis]

Hahaha, actually I do have one now, thanks. But sometimes you've just got to make a start on a new video, adapter or not...