Powercab 112 Plus In Depth | Line 6

[@noworry9097]

I love the power cab plus amp with the helix the tones are endless bliss.

[@DavidMacVicar]

Paul, interested in a real world opinion on a Powercab for Helix vs. a pair of L3M line 6 FRFR speakers. Is there a major difference in tone or feel? Basically I'm running my helix into the stereo L3m's and wondering if a powercab is really going to do much different for me.

[@zakklee2556]

Power cab has a feature that the L3T doesn't have, simultaneous modes linked to inputs. Example: input 1 mode speaker, input 2 mode FRFR.

[@FLdb-wj4wc]

How do I set the output to go to a mixer? Do I put it on line or mic? Can I use a regular power cab with the power cab Plus

[@daviswiltonbader4807]

Which setup would sound better? Is there any difference? 1) Amp model + speaker IR in Helix -> Powercab in Flat Mode 2) Amp model -> Powercab with IR programmed.

[@n.s.a5661]

Yes

[@VictorEMusique]

so with a pod hd500x - connect via midi to change the cab settings AND via Line 6 link? Or would the line 6 link changes the cab settings also?

[@ChapmanMusic]

Line 6 L6 Digital LINK Cable can now change cab settings without need for midi cable.

[@zakklee2556]

@@ChapmanMusic but only on helix not on hd500x.

[@tomulator]

I have no earthly idea what he just said.😳. But, now I must have one!

[@jesseknorr9815]

How do I clear my IR list. trying to reorganize but there doesn't seem to be a delete option?

[@EnzoGallardo]

Awesome review! Does anyone know if it can send a stereo signal to the front of house using helix to powercab to FOH via the output jack?

[@jakebarber7735]

It seems like to send a stereo signal youd need two 112 plus cabs. XLR put from each after theyre linked in stereo?😮

[@Askyne]

what's the best connectic between XLR and Jack to connect the HELIX on the powercab ??

[@ChapmanMusic]

Askyne / Dastany neither. Use the Line 6 L6 Digital LINK Cable. Then you can also control other parameters without the need for a midi cable.

[@JM-eq3sx]

The real 57 is definitely fatter. Seems to switch from model to mic around 0:24. Fatter isn't necessarily better in a mix. Could be just the opposite. Goes from "flat" to cream at 0:35. The video says it shouldn't sound good at 0:24 with the real 57 mic'ing the flat setting, but Hindmarsh can make baling wire stretched over a broom handle and coffee can sound good, so it doesn't actually sound as "bad" as it should.

[@jlondon53]

I'd like to dabble around with the groove style Paul is playing. Anybody know what tuning he's using on guitar? I'm thinking it's more than just a drop D on the E.

[@guitarist100]

what is the low end like compared to a Headrush frfr108 ? , my frfr is very dark sounding with my pod go or hx stomp which is very annoying.

[@GlennMarshallRocks]

I had a Headrush FRFR-108 for about a day, and sent it back the very next day for exactly that reason - it was very dark, and very "boxy" sounding. After I tried it and heard what it sounded like, I came across a bunch of reviews from other folks saying the same thing - very dark, muffled sounding, too much bass, etc. I found some folks guessing the reason for this was because of the polycarbonate material the cabinet is made out of, which is fine if you're into theories and rationalizations like that, but really, who cares, the fact is it's just not an accurate sounding piece of gear. Compared to the Headrush FRFR cabs, the Powercab 112 Plus is crystal clear. To my ears it is vastly more accurate. If you're playing clean sounds like a tele or strat through a Fender Twin patch, you can close your eyes and actually think you've got a Fender Twin in the room with you. It's that good. If you switch to a Marshall Plexi patch, you get that Marshall growl that hits you right in the gut... which is the kind of experience you want to have when you hear the sound coming out of your modeler and being reproduced by an FRFR speaker cabinet. One thing to keep in mind, however, is because the Powercab is not only an FRFR cabinet, but also has built-in speaker modeling, as well as the ability to store and use up to 128 IR's, as well, you have to remember to alter your Modelers patches and turn off any Cab simulations or IR's in the modeler when using the speaker-modeling or IR's in the Powercab. But in my experience, the Line 6 Powercab is head and shoulders above the Headrush FRFR cabinets when it comes to crystal clear, accurate reproduction of what is coming out of your modeler. It's like night and day, really. Also the Powercab Plus has a "80 Hz low-cut filter" switch on the back panel to cut the lows below 80Hz.

[@AC-hz4xq]

Sounds killer. Wish I could have one

[@emericanmx188]

I guess. I'm just confused I'm been trying to figure this out for days. If you are using a helix into a powercab. You would use the IRs in the helix and the powercab in flat mode correct? I don't understand why you wouldnt those IRs are already based on a "speaker" so wouldn't that still give you the "amp in the room" feel? I guess I'm just really lost. I love the idea of using the helix with a speaker that is versatile enough for multiple style of amps/ cabs but how is that different from any other frfr?

[@jimamsden]

Amp in the room is essentially removing the mic modeling from the signal chain. Any cab model or IR in Helix will have a mic model and position which adds its own tone and room ambience into the signal chain which is reproduced by Powercab Flat/FRFR mode. This would be the same as turning off the cab model or IR in Helix and using an IR model in Powercab (other than the position of the IR in the overall signal chain). However, things get interesting and different when you turn off the cab or IR block in Helix and use either Flat/LF Raw (which is very similar to Speaker model/Natural) or any of the speaker models. In these cases, only the woofer in Powercab is active (the tweeter is turned off) and there is no mic model. The Powercab woofer is essentially a custom 1x12 guitar speaker (not a PA speaker), so you're playing Helix amp models directly into a powered guitar speaker. This would be similar to running Helix amp models into the FX return of a traditional guitar amp. What's confusing is the speaker models also have a mic model and distance, but this only effects the XLR output that would be going to FOH, it has no impact on what's coming out of the Powercab woofer. This is similar to putting a physical mic in front of the Powercab as shown in this video.

[@bertbushey]

emericanmx188 awesome response and description by Jim A. Thank you

[@zakklee2556]

IR's will not give you the amp in the room sound because IR's have the mic component along with the speaker component. The speaker mode is the feature that gives you the amp in the room. The Helix IR's give you the sound in the mixing room monitors.

[@robalo61]

Nice, but how can I get this in Costa Rica???????

[@guille_toledo76]

What happens when you use an L6 link cable with a stereo preset?

[@luispaxtor2680]

It's a very fun piece of gear, I would say it is a necessity if you own a Helix.

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

I plug right into a regular 1x12 line6 guitar cabinet.

[@jimbarrow8463]

Mine is on order

[@eduardoandreasguitar]

This is so cool

[@cosfunkrs3473]

A real sm57 capturing sound of the guitar in a daw would sound better than capturing from powercab usb? Im hesitating to buy a sm57, because i want a natural capture, with full dimensions of my playing.. not flat

[@wallsdownstudios4112]

The thing with a 57 is that the mics frequency response is voiced perfectly with guitar amps. Experiment with placement. How close to the speaker it is will dictate boominess and moving the mic between the center of the speaker and the edge will change how you pick up high frequencies. No speaker is EQ'd flat anyway, guitar amps actually sound very brittle and shrill on their own, the speaker you run them through ads a LOT of character.

[@akhmadyahin]

I have hx stomp and theres amp/cab sim ....is still need add cab sim on my hx stomp???

[@valebliz]

No

[@JM-eq3sx]

Modes 2:10

[@ShaggyDawg]

No matter what you do it always sounds like a tube amp with a blanket over it.

[@ron.v]

Hahaha, love the comment. Speaker is a killer guitarist but his accent sounds like a fast-talking used car salesman who was raised in Liverpool by Scottish parents. Too bad this video isn't available in English.

[@jimamsden]

Maybe, but that might have a lot to do with the guitar and amp models too. That's a double coil guitar want an amp setting that's pretty warm. Single coils with amp models that have bright switches will sound a lot different.