Use Your HELIX as a MIDI CONTROLLER - SEND MIDI with HELIX/HX STOMP

[@davidgrogan1]

I have referenced this video so many times over the past few days. It has been critical in helping me streamline my setup using BandHelper and my Helix LT. I can run the entire show from my Helix now completely hands free. I don’t have to have someone hit a button off stage to aid me in running my clicks or hit the button myself taking my focus of where it needs to be on the audience. I turned in my best solo show performance of my career when I was testing the system at my last performance. Thank you Scott for taking the time to make these amazing videos.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Nice! Glad to hear that 🤘🤘

[@mattiebarker6582]

This is the EXACT video I was looking for. Legend. Thanks so much

[@erikrummel6277]

I’m gonna need to watch this like 9 times. You crammed a ton of knowledge in this video brother!!!!!! Thank you so much.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidroden3799]

Thanks for another clear, understandable Helix tutorial. Really appreciate the effort you put into your videos. You've helped me learn so much about the HX Stomp and the Helix firmware.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks David! I appreciate you watching the series. The helix is such an incredible product!

[@rafaelchapine7252]

Your videos are amazing man Thanks a lot

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Glad you like them!

[@RealMrYouTube]

I made it to the end. Trying to use an expression knob to control the mix on my Strymon Cloudburst. Either I'm doing something wrong or my MIDI cable isn't working. The video was still super informative though.

[@ayyappanmusic]

Great video!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks!

[@TheOleHermit]

Not a muso, nor software engineer, but a laserist using MIDI to generate imagery with a DIY Teensy Laser Synth. Never heard of HELIX, until now, so I'm in the middle of making one from scratch, with an SBC, 16 RGB buttons, 8 rotary encoders, and a 10" touchscreen. 🙄 YES, 95% of my MIDI hassles are because of ME.🤔 Thanks for sharing your brain dumps, showing me what I SHOULD be doing, by illuminating the path ahead.😎

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Hahaha well I’m glad to help out haha

[@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist]

Right Scott. I would actually strongly recommend never using either PC send in globals or CC snapshot send unless you have deeply thought through and seen this isn’t going to mess with other pedals, The PC send will automatically send out the PC number as you change and that can play total havoc with gear unless you’re intentionally keeping all your PC’s in line. Yes it’ll save you a step. 9 out of 10 it’ll cause you to trip. Same with the CC69 sends for snapshots, useful if you’ve run out of instant messages in command center or actual switch sends BUT 😊 it is better in my view to take the time to program in exactly what you want to go out, and not use globals unless you’re sure it won’t bite you in the future.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Oh yeah, for sure, I agree. Only use those if you have really thought it out!

[@Sumarbrander]

Thank you! This Video is exactly what i was looking for while considering to buy a boss ve-500 and wether i can link it to my Helix. Thanks for all the graphics and foolproof explanaition!!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Glad I could help!

[@danielcichello4421]

Connecting an Ipad!?!? I would like to select a Helix preset patch, and via OLD SCHOOL midi cables, change presets on 4 individual midi stop boxes (2 Eventide H9s and 2 Meris pedals)so they all change to a designated preset. Just basic preset changes. No USB, no computers, no crazy controllers. Just preset changes. Once that is accomplished, it would be great to then select only the ones you want to slave to tap tempo midi clock and which ones to remain independent of midi clock. If I could do that, all this extra stuff should become more intuitive. You are very smart, many of us remain confused lol! None the less, I appreciate you very much!!!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

The same idea I go over with the iPad can be applied to a standard midi cable as well

[@ricsimmons5511]

As always great job. I love your videos.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks Ric!

[@JDavilaDavilaDVP_Productions]

Awesome info.another great video! Thanks!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks man 🤘

[@nateludwig9316]

Can you do both? Let's say I'm controlling an iPad, can the Helix receive changes from the iPad as well as send commands? I'd like to use the Helix to control play/stop/loop for instance on the iPad, but also receive preset/snapshot changes from the same iPad

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Yup you can 👍 just make sure it’s setup correctly in global settings and use helix to receive midi on a specific midi channel (4 for example) and then the other devices that the helix is controlling to receive on different midi channels (5 and 6 for example)

[@eansteidel9541]

I have been working out of the computer for many years and finally want to start buying to hardware. I think I really want something where I can still have the flexibility of pc effects, aka midi control, in hardware. Many modern pedals have midi control, but my question is if the Helix / Stomp can send midi in such a way as to change multiple parameters on these devices when switching between snapshots or presets? I think this has to happen through PC messages, so maybe it changes saved presets on the pedals (like say a chase bliss mood) Ive watched tons of videos about stomp setups but havn't been able to see this specific use case. thanks!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Yup, if I understand your question correctly, you can send multiple midi messages out at once form the helix 👍

[@Deadphish1]

I just ordered a HX Stomp XL and have been watching your videos the last couple days. Big thank you for all the work you put into them. I got the stomp to use with a iPad looper also (Loopy Pro) really great app if you haven’t seen it. I was wondering when you are sending midi to your Looper does the stomp accept midi feedback to show your loop state on the foot switches? Thank you again.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks! And I had a friend tell me about Loopy Pro and he really likes it. There is not a way to accept midi from Loopy to tell you the state of the looper though, I know it can’t do that. But it can send and receive midi 🤘

[@Altturigo]

bro thank you so much for your videos!! question: can i set a tap tempo on the hx stomp to sync with a boss slicer? if so, what cable would i need??

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I haven’t used the boss slicer so I’m not sure. But you should be able to use the midi clock feature to sync them up

[@danfrankum6233]

Hi Scott, don't know if this is possible: I'd like to use the Helix & Firehawk1500 together. Presently on the Helix; guitar into 1/4 guitar, xlr out to Firehawk then routed to xlr in, resulting in bypassing amp head & just using cabinet. To use Firehawk amp on it's own I unplug Helix xlr & plug guitar into it's guitar input. Instead of doing all this how do I route both together? Do I use a 4 cable method or midi, & how to configure? I also use a Variax. Thanks. Appreciate your time. Great Helix videos!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I have never used the Firehawk, so I’m not quite sure, but my guess is 4 cable method if I understand this properly

[@danfrankum6233]

Great tutorials. I noticed there is a Cakewalk preset in helix LT. How do I connect them both? Line6 have their own video, but is confusing. Thank you, Dan.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I haven’t used Cakewalk so I’m not sure for that

[@DarkSitari]

Do you have e any experience with sending commands to the voodoo labs control switcher? I was using preset changes to send program changes but it makes more sense to use snapshots to send changes. This means I can save presets by switching my real amp channels using snapshots. Not sure to use PC or CC though. CC means you have to remember to be meticulous.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I did once when I helped out a client for a consultation. But it’s been a while. It’s a really cool device though!

[@DeGroove]

Great, very clear and informative video's on Midi on your channel. I'm currently looking into my options to integrate a flexible looper in my pedalboard and control it with my HX-FX. Was thinking about loopy pro, but quantiloop seems nice as well. I do wonder how your audio routing is set up. How does the audio of the ipad goes into the rig? interface probably? Can I put the audio also through my guitar amp? Lots to figure out, newby in midi. Thanks anyway.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks! And the helix can go usb out directly into Quantiloop. It works great! I’ll do that or my xr18 direct into my iPad as well with the right usb cable 👍

[@DeGroove]

@@ScottUhlMusic ah the helix works as an audio-interface, I was under the impression that the HX-effects does not do that, I could be wrong.

[@DannyCruzCreations]

Very cool. I subbed. I've been using Morningstar controllers for a while, even to control an HX Stomp XL. But right not I'm busy building a compact board with that same HX Stomp XL and I'm trying to decide if I want a larger Morningstar MC6 Pro before it, or a smaller MC3. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm trying to decide if I want to do more complicated presets that send MIDI, with the Stomp, in order to keep the Morningstar small and only use the 3 button MC3... or if I want to stick with more programming BEFORE the Stomp and therefore use the 6 button MC6... I do find the Morningstar midi setup to be easier than on the Stomp.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Thanks for the sub! And yeah midi on the MS is definitely easier…. Minimalism is definitely something I go for as well

[@roberthealey8960]

Great video!! I've been trying to use my source audio c4 with my helix and your section on pc commands was what i needed to have the Helix control my patches on the c4. Is there a way to have the buttons light up when active? They only flash when i press it. I did make a pc command to trigger the c4 to bypass mode on a different button.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

That I’m not sure to be honest. But I’m glad you got that first part to work! 🤘

[@gezou]

Hi, thks for your videos. I just have one question. I want to keep my strymon big sky and timeline and be able to access one preset or another on different helix presets. For example on preset 01A: timeline would have preset 1 and bigsky preset 1, and on preset 01B: timeline would have preset 2 and bigsky preset 2. Is it possible with the helix ?

[@ScottUhlMusic]

With midi I believe this is possible, yes 👍

[@juand.g.2602]

This is great. Question: If you use this as MIDI, could you control the virtual pedalboard from Guitar Rig for example?

[@Anshul1614]

Yes sir

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Yup definitely!

[@vernonleemonii3334]

I cannot figure out how to change the tuning on my Digitech Whammy/DT Drop pedal using the Helix midi when I switch banks. Any ideas?

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I haven’t had to midi program that before, but it sound have directions in the manual IF it can be controlled with midi

[@Bernz66]

This might help using the HX Effects with the HX Stomp….. the stomp using only amp sims and the HXFX for all effects….. and the HX Effects controlling the whole rig

[@ScottUhlMusic]

That’s a cool idea for sure!

[@Chrisgotsoul]

Is it possible to send midi signals from the helix only when on a specific preset in the helix ? So that when I change presets on helix to another, the buttons won’t send midi? … Thanks for this great vid btw!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

It will automatically send the default messages, but you can set preset one button 2 to only send cc 100 and then on preset two it sends cc 101, etc 👍

[@robhenning8537]

I want my helix to work as a midi controller. This would be really convenient, but I find it unreliable. I program stuff in and it works for a couple of days and then all of a sudden the channel and command values default. I can’t figure out why.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

It shouldn’t do that. Thats very bizarre. Try doing a firmware update possibly

[@robhenning8537]

@@ScottUhlMusic I agree it shouldn’t LOL. I’m running the latest version 3.71.0 It’s frustrating.

[@Musicalpa]

How did you get your Helix rename to allow you to put it in from left to right? I always have to put my name in by typing it backwards from right to left. So slow and annoying, especially when I misspelled it.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I don’t remember, I believe that’s by default?

[@Deef83]

Hey Scott, I have a Grandmeister 36 and looking for a midi controller. Is it possible to use the Helix control as a midi controller or is it only compatible with Helix? Thnx! Greets from the Netherlands

[@ScottUhlMusic]

If it accepts general midi, this method can be used. But I also made a video on how to change channels on your amp with the helix here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX2ydmx5i8ebb7M

[@davidroden3799]

If I assign a Midi command to a footswtich in the Command Center, is that globally assigned, or does it only apply to the current preset?

[@ScottUhlMusic]

Current preset 👍

[@alanblakeguitarist]

Hey Scott the people at Line 6 sent me here. I sent you a message on another one of your vids. I need help with the MIDI being sent from the Helix to my Eventide H90. Please let me know if you can do a paid video call to help me with setup. Thanks!!

[@ScottUhlMusic]

That’s really cool that Line 6 directed you to my video 🤘🤘

[@Anshul1614]

As far as I know only line 6 let’s you do this.

[@ScottUhlMusic]

I haven’t used kemper or fractal stuff, but I would have to look into those. But the helix is so versatile!

[@KozmykJ]

I'll bet you had to lie down after making this vid 🛏