and new reverb algorithms. This allowed us to patches and even tone a bit differently, which is I find Helix the easiest to use and edit of
create pretty complicated patches with a lot of helpful for building patches for a wide variety of anything I’ve tried. The user interface is just so
functionality specifically for church players who people. We typically build our patches around intuitive. This really comes in to play when you
are doing modern praise and worship. We really different amps so people can sort of pick and need to make an adjustment on the fly in the
wanted to make our sounds available to others choose what they want if they know what kinds middle of a rehearsal or service. Everything is
if they wanted them. of amps they like. From there we like to use so easy to get to and edit. Nobody else even
them live, and that’s the test. We know if they comes close, in my opinion.
I also remembered just how much help I sound good on their own and in a full band mix,
needed back when I switched from an amp and we’ve got something worth sharing.
pedalboard system to a Line 6 HD500X as my
I also really love how modular they’ve made
the system. Line 6 has a Helix (or HX) solution
main rig. I had a friend (Nick Rice - or as some Regarding the ReadMe notes, I think I could to fit pretty much any rig. If you use an amp
Worship Tutorials subscribers might know him - be a product manual writer in another life, ha! and you’d like the HX effects modeling on your
Rick Squier) who was great at building patches I always enjoy getting clear and easy to read board, you’ve got the HX Effects. If you have
for the HD500x, and he let me use his. It really notes or manuals with things I buy. a traditional pedalboard and you want a direct
helped me understand how to dial in a modeler.
amp solution (or dual stereo amp solution) plus
[WM] You guys also create patches and
a few more effects, HX Stomp is perfect.
[WM] I've downloaded a number of your profiles for the Axe-FX and Kemper platforms, patches (not just the free ones) and I'm always so I’d love to know which elements about Helix Helix also has the biggest bang for your buck
impressed by the level of detail in the notes. appeal to you most and why? compared to almost everything else. What you
Can you tell us about your approach for building
get for the money really is amazing. We live in
patches and how long it takes before you think [Brian] The biggest advantage Helix brings a great time to be a guitar player – it wasn’t
something is 'ready for prime time'? over anything else I’ve tried is just how good always like this, ha!
it is as an all-in-one unit. If you use Kemper,
[Brian] All the patches that we make are you’ll need a remote (and likely you’ll want [WM] You guys were also on the 2.8 beta
built by myself and Bradford Mitchell. When other pedals). If you use an Axe-FX, you’ll need team, what about this release do you like the
we approach a new patch, we try to include some kind of foot controller. With Helix, literally most?
the sounds and functionality that a typical everything you’d ever need is built right in, and church player would want for a modern praise it sounds great. Incredible, in fact.
and worship setting. This means multiple
[Brian] This one’s easy! The King of Tone
(Tone Sovereign) and the Prince of Tone (Heir
levels of drive/gain, really ambient tones (that
aren’t washed out), modulation, etc. We also
try to package them in a way that is useable
in different scenarios. For example, if you like
to use stomp-box mode, we have effects laid
out in a logical way like you would a typical
analog board. If you like pre-made sounds, we
have snapshots already built in that replicate
common
sounds.
We
have
song-based
patches available as well that utilize snapshots
to recreate the tones for the individual parts of a
song. This is how I personally prefer to use the
Helix and other modelers.
From a purely tone perspective, it’s very helpful
for Bradford and I to build these together as a
team. In the beginning, I made most of them
myself, and since Bradford partnered with me
for presets and patches, they sound way better
- he’s just a tone monster. He and I approach
August 2019
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