Sound Like James Hetfield From METALLICA With The HELIX!

Thanks for watching my tutorial video on sounding like James Hetfield from Metallica. In this video I focus on James's modern live tone using the Line 6 Helix (Helix Native) and York Audio IRs. I use my ESP LTD Iron Cross (EMG Het Set pickups).
York Audio Impulse Responses: www.yorkaudio.co/
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#soundlike #metallica #jameshetfield #line6 #helix

[@SonicDriveStudio]

OWW YEAAHHH! :)

[@apallikamusic]

Hello! How are physically recording this into your computer? Additional equipment / software / etc? Just ordered my first Helix basically because of this video and looking forward to playing around with it

[@dendyadiluhung8315]

Amazing tones with perfect explanation how to achieved it, not just some preset sharing A lot of guitarist or Helix user will smiled watching this Jon keep doing this great content please!

[@itsgmani]

Just got a helix LT these videos are quite timely. Thank you

[@clivepeacock]

Sounds just like his live tone. Bravo! Will try this later!

[@BasedCringe]

That Diezel VH4 sound and that IR is ABSOLUTELY KILLER. Might have to purchase these IRs.

[@scottwhitlow8468]

Love stuff like this. You should try the updated Petrucci sound (from the View from the Top Album or new plugin) next! 👍🏻

[@danc3746]

Hi Jon...this is EXCELLENT! PLEASE do more of these for different artists/bands, or maybe just focus on different Helix Amps like the ENGL and REVV and dial them up! Great start with Metallica and James as it is probably one of the most sought out tones to this day.

[@Ryan_Q3L]

Great track! Sounds spot on.

[@profile_01]

Great playing and tones

[@JackStolz]

Dude this is so good! I'd love to see a deep dive on the helix mark iv vs your real mark v. I have a pretty easy time dialing in most of the other amps on the Helix, but the Mark iv is always too boomy, or too scooped, or too honky. I feel like I can dial in the real amps fine, but the model in the helix are tough for me haha

[@jayjaymerritt2785]

The 5 band EQ/ cab high low cuts, and a boost will make that amp crush.

[@DaveSheremata]

Sounds AWESOME!

[@elgamal1982]

Amazing. Nailed It...Thanks.

[@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE]

Love it! "The Black Album" still has my favourite heavy rhythm tone of all time.

[@gallettiguitartones]

Very nice Jon ! I’ll try to apply this on my axe Fx 3. Btw I also use YA IR’s a lot for my high gain tones, thank you !

[@Kevn1215]

That sounds exactly like their live tone. Very impressive!

[@DrTruckster]

Awesome tone!

[@thegregramirezcovers]

Awesome video man! Would be awesome to see the same with the live clean tone also

[@julianmedranoa]

Amazing video, Ill wait for the AXE FX III video.

[@fpvnoob5371]

Great preset! For anyone interested you can get a similar sound on a HX Stomp just change the parametric EQ to the simple EQ and use 1024 IR instead of 2048 IR. It will all fit within the HX Stomp processing power limitations.

[@tonymartin4571]

How? Did you split the path between the two amps and then rejoin them into one eq and then into one iR?

[@rhitosparsha]

@@tonymartin4571 Yes you'd have to split the path. You can run both the amp models and two 1024 IR blocks, but only one parametric EQ. So it might be better to run the EQ at the end of the chain after merging the split paths.

[@jetvanderkrogt679]

Sounds really accurate!

[@AndyDacoulis]

Great video!

[@micuronium]

The great thing is that you’ll still have processor room, at lest on the MESA side, to squeeze in a JC120 amp for a nice crystal clear “Justice”-era clean tone within the same patch. I do this with my stomp, using half the processing power, so I know it works.

[@gerrydaly5409]

Excellent tones as always. I wish Line 6 would make a model of the Mesa Boogie IIC+ amp for the Helix.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

That would be great!

[@james-f1802]

Nailed it ! 😮

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Cheers!

[@Blueesteel_]

Great job

[@Turbo-D]

his gear like the VH4 and triaxis are modified for him so its impossible to recreate his sound exactly, very cool video again my friend. his best sound i think was the black album when he paired his modified triaxis with the mesa IIc+ amps! just amazing! he also said that ne never used booster pedals like tubescreamer and by the way i was so much disappointed with the VH$ synergy module that i send it back to thomann..greetz from germany again :)

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The Triaxis modifications aren't very drastic tbh. I don't know about the VH4 mods.

[@Turbo-D]

there are different versions, some triaxis have been modified to sound like his old rectifiers and some to sound like a IIc+. peter diezel said that it took over a year to modify his HV4s to his needs so his gear is not standard in any ways.

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

Diezel really has some bright weird transient hit with pick attack,in the mix its less noticeable, but on its own even with two amps i notice that. Except that i love everything about the tone you made.

[@toonhabrakenmusic]

Nice video man!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks bro! :)

[@MeikelLohse]

I have a Hetfield sound that I made 2 yrs ago that was real close. Gonna set this one up and do sound test.

[@djentleman5129]

Though I prefer creating the 80s sounds this video is a great job!!!!!

[@saltan7036]

Niceee, i will sound like as Hetfield after bank grabbing for iron cross and helix :)

[@david37485]

Sounds amazing on my HX stomp (simple eq and IRs at 1024 to make it fit). Thanks so much!!

[@tonymartin4571]

How did you do this on the stomp. I’m having trouble making two separate paths. Or did you just split the signal into the 2 amps and then join them back together

[@david37485]

@@tonymartin4571 Exactly, you just split the path as you noted, same result

[@D20band]

Killer tones and playing as always Jon! Question: In all honesty do you find it just as easy to obtain a good sound with Helix? I had one, but had hardware issues with it and it was so much easier and faster to dial in a good sound with my Axe Fx 3. Just curious if it takes you longer to get a good sound with the Helix. I may check out the next Helix that gets released, but I'm pretty happy with the Axe 3 at the moment.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks! I love the Helix and I think it's very easy to dial in

[@XxSypherxX91]

I just made 2 identical live Metallica patches. One in standard, one in Eb. Using snapshot mode, my clean channel is a Roland JC120, the rhythm sound is a Mark IV Lead with the mids scooped like crazy. There’s ALOTTA mids on that amp. Then for lead I added delay and of course wah.

[@mivani84]

Hell yeah🤘

[@doefle]

Great Sound Dud, can you make these with the Fractal AxeFX III ?

[@SRC1022]

Awesome stuff! Sorry if i missed it somewhere but how come you switched from the ownhammer to the york ir's?

[@zwb2008]

I'd love it if you could do a tone from the load/ reload era(my favorite era tone wise)

[@oscarostman9341]

Hey man, great video. I just wonder, do you think this preset would sound the same on the pod go??

[@JorgeLFajardoG]

💪🏼🔥🎸

[@ty_sd]

Any plans to make one for James' Clean live sound and Kirk's lead tone? thanks!

[@thebackspacers]

Nice! Do know an alternative free program where you can do this in?

[@guille_toledo76]

Hi John, cool tone....! Are you working with York audio instead of Ownhammer?

[@ChrisCCastro]

You didn't say which York Audio IR you used. Excellent video.

[@milsamilsa-is8uv]

What you mean - it is imposible for hx stomp? There is 2 path with 2 amps + eq + ir. I will try. BTW amazing tone. Man i love your work.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

You can definitely try

[@jayjaymerritt2785]

A tad too compressed, but it still is 90% there. Try using the 3rd channel on the Diezel, that's what James uses. The idea is the Diezel is more "open" and middy, while the mk4 handles Mr. Scoopy😂

[@fabianarce921]

Muy bueno..! Pregunta, el IR es con un SM57?

[@HeartDrumMachine]

Sound awesome! In this video sound from helix or helix native?

[@marcosandron6081]

Great sound as always! Just one question, why stereo tracks? Is there some kind of benefit? I always use mono tracks and pan one hard left and one hard right.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Great question, stupid answer: it's just a habbit. You can get the same results with mono DI tracks. I've just always done it this way but it usually doesn't matter at all... :)

[@marcosandron6081]

@@SonicDriveStudio 🤣🤣🤣 cool, I was hoping in some kind of black magic 🤣 but nah…

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@@marcosandron6081 nope haha! Just a lazy habbit

[@lasv155]

Sounds great!!!! how can i get that tone on FM3?

[@shaharbar]

I know you own a AxeFX III (you used to to load IR‘s in the past), can you compare that to the Helix?

[@denmut]

Great tone! Have a weird question. Is the Iron Cross on the body just screwed in or also glued on? Thanks in advance :)

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Set Neck!

[@denmut]

@@SonicDriveStudio I meant the plastic iron cross logo on the body. I am planning to but the guitar but take out the logo on the body. Cheers.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@@denmut Ohhh it's screwed on

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It's not plastic btw

[@denmut]

@@SonicDriveStudio thanks for the reply :)

[@J4cks0n3]

Is there any way to make a POD Go version of this?

[@andyandy2731]

Can you make Degarmo/Wilton from Operation Mindcrime???

[@ChrisBrightwellMusic]

Is there a trick to this? I set it up with exactly the same settings, the same IRs, everything... It sounds nothing like this. Very scratchy, thin and bright... With no bottom end. Could it be because it looks like you're running two stereo tracks which is impossible to do live?

[@georgezorbas9036]

Which York Audio IR do you use...it sounds fantastic mate. Bravo

[@SonicDriveStudio]

All is explained in the video

[@ChrisBrightwellMusic]

@@SonicDriveStudio You mentioned the IR pack, but there are tons of IRs in each pack... can you tell us specifically which ones you chose?

[@rhitosparsha]

@@ChrisBrightwellMusic The names of the IRs are visible at 06:28 and 07:33.

[@thespotlights9278]

Man.... I've owned an HX Stomp, Helix Native and Pod Go...... Used York, OH, Audio Assualt, and ML IRs...... All tones I get out of these Line 6 products sound fizzy, flat and muddy. I also use ML Sound Labs amp plugins and I have a couple Nueral DSP trials running currently...... The ML and Nueral, no issues....sound great "out of the box".... But, the Line 6 I absolutely cannot get usable tones . I try not to use post processing as the IRs already have an eq curve from the speaker. Honestly, my best description is like I'm using a BOSS Metal Zone on ANY higain amp.....Orange, Mesa, Badonk....all sound mid scooped. I'm using Adam Audio speakers and this issue persists into my headphones, car test etc.... I just dont undertow to get a good tone out of these units. You should sell PRESETS.... alot of people would buy them lol

[@kramrul]

Hi. Did you use some kind of post processing for the demo and when you turned each amp on separately? I downloaded Helix Native, completely copied the preset from the video, took my ESP LTD Snakebyte and couldn't get the same sound. I feel like you added reverb and post equalization which was not shown in the video.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

No post processing

[@DavidMacVicar]

So if you did this on Helix hardware... two paths... are these settings set up now to deal with the two volume differences? Or does a Y need to be setup to be able to blend the volumes more accurately?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The levels of the paths are both equal. I didn't change those.

[@DavidMacVicar]

@@SonicDriveStudio Ok! Not sure I asked my question properly - you mentioned one amp was louder than the other... was that in the MIX or in the actual path levels in the preset itself?

[@hernan_93]

May you share the preset in custom tone, please?

[@danielceppa3898]

Can this stereo sound be achieved with the hx stomp?

[@EllieReagan]

Dude, can do a helix sounds like Queens of the Stone Age?

[@Taylor___]

They need to do a Line 6 Helix but with a power amp built in

[@peterschaefer1665]

Did you go into the stereo loop returns on the amp central for this?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

No. Amp Central isn't needed with a modeler

[@user-kp7zt9tc7f]

Where can I find the backing track?

[@MatthewWilkinson]

Do you pan one left and one right?

[@wongsanggar]

I think you should make new series of creating artist tones with helix. I'm sure it'll blow up!

[@Mindartcreativity]

Yes! More Helix content please!

[@alexkatz3619]

Ditto!

[@julianmedranoa]

Are you doing a video of the clean tone?

[@RapttorX]

he did it a few years back with the OH IRs

[@jiminez5461]

can you do the pod go please!!!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I don't have one but I could try a more simple preset in the future.... Maybe a black album tone or something

[@billhillard]

Great video, dude and excellent sound quality. I will never understand why people call an LTD an ESP. I own both LTD and ESP and the LTD are surprisingly good, especially for the money. But an LTD is not an ESP. It is not made by ESP. It is a licensed copy made by a third party vendor like Cort, or World Music INC. I own a lot of Ibanez Japan (aka real Ibanez) and Ibanez imports. They are also surprisingly good for the money and they are branded as Ibanez...but not really. I am amazed by this video though. I started playing as a child in the 80's and back then the gear SuUUUuuUUUUuuucked. Ever the GOOD gear was hard to play and sounded mediocre at best. That amp sounds so much like a tube amp. Technology has come such a long way from when I had to plug into a Gorilla practice amp and a Crate POS amp for the small gigs of the time as a teen. Although I did get a Laney in my late teens THEN I got one of the first ENGLs to hit America around 1990? It is so long ago the amp had "made in West Germany" on it! I sold that amp! I am such an idiot! It would be a collector's piece now. Although just about every amp now sounds as good as that Engl, back THEN that was huge dude! No one could believe my tone! Back then I mostly played old Charvels and I had a Heritage Les Paul that I also sold, as I previously mentioned because I am an idiot. Now I own A LOT of gear but I want that Engl and that bloody Heritage back! And one Charvel that I sold that also ruled. Do not sell gear, kids. You end up regretting it. Which is why I have so many guitars and amps now. I am not selling anything. Great video, dude and way to show how great the new gear sounds and it is not expensive at all! The first Engl that I bought in 89/90 cost 1/3rd as much as my CAR that I had then...and it was a nice car! Great video, dude. Love the channel. Thanks. PS ~ Active pickups suck. I know that they have a place and some people love them...but I hate EMGs. Have you tried the new Fishman? THEY are good. But EMGs...so sick of them. Thats aid I have some, as I earlier mentioned, because I am an idiot. :)

[@DarkStoneCastle]

How about Dave Mustaine/Rust in Peace with Helix?

[@guitarriffers9539]

Can you share irs?

[@MrJHate]

Don't they boost their live rigs with Klons? I recall seeing that on a rig even after they switched to fractal

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I've never heard about that tbh

[@MrJHate]

Sonic Drive Studio looks like they don't do it with the fractal rigs, but if you watch the Hetfield rig rundown from 8 years ago they go through it. That's actually why I started dabbling with knock off Klons. The Mosky Golden Horse, which is like $25 on ebay is AMAZING. On the "Classic Gain" channel of my JCM2000 with a little gain on the OD and the gain on the amp cranked it's freakin 1984 again. Sounds like old Anthrax to me. You should snag one! They're a lot of fun.

[@jordanloeffelholz8405]

The klon is used for hetfields lead tone not rhythm

[@Павел86]

Cannibal Corpse sound please)

[@Noelrodrii]

wich model of helix , the HELIX LT of 1000$ or the 1500$ ???

[@Noelrodrii]

or only the helix , or the helix lt?

[@peterellwood2103]

This can be done on hx stomp.

[@GluedBarstool]

Do you have the files for this?

[@meeeellker]

It needs more distortion and a little bit more gain

[@Halolaloo]

No way, this is perfect for Hardwired and 72 Seasons tone imo. That crisp tone is very fitting, maybe pre Load era had more distorted sound.

[@Soldano999]

Funny how everyone wants to sound like James and not Kirk

[@user-to8tg1ly3r]

Tried Helix Native. Don't know why, but it sounds much worse than Metalurgy.

[@tractorgt]

Sounds better than Metallica, you don't have a Lars. 🤘😜

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Honestly, I love Lars

[@FlyingSquirrelTony]

Do you have a link to download this preset?