Should Your Drive be in the FX Loop? Line 6 Helix and HX Stomp
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- For my Presets visit: johnnathancord... So here's a question that Alec Bourne asked me, and of course I didn't really have a good answer - is there a difference between putting drive pedals before the HX Stomp/Helix - or in the Loop of the HX Stomp/Helix, and what are some of the reasons that you might want to try either.
The short answer is:
If you use a pedal/pedals in front of the HX Stomp, generally, you'll lose the interaction of the Input Impedance circuit (true bypass, unbuffered pedals would be an exception here, as you'll get some interaction with the impedance circuit).
If you use a pedal in the loop of the HX Stomp, you'll lose the impedance characteristics of the pedal - so if you're using something like a Fuzz pedal - you might want this in front of the Stomp.
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Try my NORMAL patches (90+) for Helix or HX Stomp in this bundle for £3 using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
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I didnt for a while, but ended up putting both Iridium and drives in the loop. I think it does sound a bit better, and I can then make other hx patches without the iridium or drives just by eliminating the fx loop.
I run an external fuzz pedal into the HX Stomp. It's a Germanium SunFace. It sounds great! Now I want to see how well the HX Stomp emulated fuzzes clean up when dialing back the guitar volume.
The fuzz face does a really good job of cleaning up
You can also manually set an impedance per preset under the input blocks at the start of the chain (ie set to auto by default, but can be overridden). Its on the second page of the input options & iirc it can change with snapshots too (not 100% on that part though)....
Revival Drive sounds good either way though, and some nice options to alter the character of a drive/preamp pedal!
Awwww there it is. Revival Drive comeback 😃
Drive is great in fx loop if you use other FX in front of drive like compression and trem etc
I put my external drives in front. I have tried it both ways and like the tone in front. If you are using the loop block, where you put it in the HX chain can effect tone as well.
I've read others also like to do this as well. It makes the feel a little different. Closer to playing a real amp.
Sorry for the reply to the old post, hopefully you might have some more opinions in the time that has passed. I'm doing much the same with externals out front. I have a wah, fuzz, TS9 and katana I run straight into the front of my amp, then the stomp in the loop of my amp for delay/reverbcat the moment.
However I've played with it in 4cm but haven't loved the results. I definitely would love to utilize some of the modulations in front of the amp. If I've had the stomp in front it's generally been at the end of the pedal chain heading into the amp. Did you find something that worked for you in the end?
very interesting JC. Still a little confused but yeah its important to know what is changing your tone positively / negatively. Keep it up
Well done sir, that certainly answers that and gives me a good bit to think about as I’m fidgeting with fuzz and drives ( finally! )
Thanks, I’m going to try this with my OCD pedal.
Features I'd like to see in an update or next gen Line 6 products: stereo in/out assignible as a second effects loop when using main I/O in mono. Ability to accept guitar signal from USB audio interfaces with USB specific ground lift+noise filter for easy switching between HX via USB and direct to interface. (Yes, I know Helix Native exists but the HX/Helix software is infinitely better on dedicated hardware and the editor is one of the best.) Give the editor some kind of compatibility mode for DAWs or reamping or something. (I guess this is kind of a combination of the last couple, but I still think it would be helpful.)
Pretty sure you can have two FX loops through the stereo loop on the side of the device, you just need a TRS splitter.
Thanks. You are a good teacher!
An idea could be if you have a boss tuner handy make that your standalone tuner to open up an hx stomp switch, then you could run the direct from tuner sound into input 1(L) and run the drive from the parallel out of the tuner into input 2(r). Then using the patch to select input left or right you could still have something switchable by presets but the loops would still be free.
As a bassist, yes. My drive lives in the loop. It stays on, I control it with snapshots with the loop bypassed.
Hey buddy, I play bass too, with my ds-1 in the loop, and yet I'm not getting good tones as compared to it being in the front of everything. What's your fx loop settings and impedence stuff?
So I was wondering and you confirmed I think, if you don't put a fuzz first in line you don't have to worry about changing the impedance back to normal when you bypass the fuzz ( I did it with the same switch I turn on fuzz with, obviously). It gets confusing and I have to keep going back to that video on how to do it. I just use fuzz out of my gsp1101 cause it's more simple.
It is just what i was thinking about - where i would plug in my YET inexisting tube preamp pedal into a YET unbought compact modeller (like Stomp for instance). Looks like loop is my choice, as i want to have a noise gate before my preamp.
Inexistent? There are a few tube preamps on the market like the Victory ones
I've just tried to put my distortion in the FX loop and it sounds awful, like it's broken, is there something I'm missing?
Great video as always John, it'd be interesting to see you try this same thing on the FM3, if possible (?). Cheers!
Great music at the start
So even if you use an external overdrive/distortion into the front of the Stomp, you still need to use up a block to make sure the input impedance is ideal? The only way to use an external drive to increase the number of blocks available is to put it in through the loop?
I have a question, when i enable my fx loop the amp at the end of my chain turns off,
Its like the output of the fx loop doesnt go to the main output
Any suggestions?
For my HX Effects I've only found the drives to sound good in the front for high gain stuff. When I had the drive in my FX Loop, it didn't seem to matter much where I moved in the block chain because it sounded diluted either way.
This is what happened to me, I had ll my snapshots set up with my distortion in the FX loop, plugged it into my amp and it sounded awful, like the pedal was broken!??
Were you running parallel paths in the patch? Because you will get 3-5 milliseconds of delay caused by the D/A and A/D in going out to the FX loop and back.
@@JohnShalamskas In my patch I use parallel (split?) path for the IR's. Not sure if I'm answering the question. Seems like I do get a slight delay few millisecond delay if doing something quick pick attack soloing.
@@christhembones8244 When you split the signal path into two forks, and then use the FX loop in the split path, it will cause weird phasing artifacts in the sound unless you do something to work around the issue.
@@christhembones8244 The delay on the split path comes from placing the FX loop in it. Converting your signal from digital to analog (FX out) and from analog to digital (FX in) adds latency - it's unavoidable. If you make your effects in the FX loop 100% "wet" then this latency is not as noticeable.
WOW that drive is da sauce
Trainwreck juicy juice
nice intro playing
I have a question: I would like plugin into the HX stomp an external "Deluxe Big Muff", which value of impedance should I set? It affects anyway the tone? And what if I plug it into fx loop? The Deluxe Big Muff is true bypass, the impedance of INPUT jack is 130 Kohms, the output level is 300 ohms. Any advice, or trick? Thank you.
Hey john , if i ‘m using hx stomp in front of an amp with 2 external drive ( strymon sunset and seymour palladium) + spécular tempus ( with midi control); what kind of routing can you imagine and advise me ??? Thank’s for your vidéo and your help 👍🎸
I’d place the drives in front with the GFI in the effects loop
@@DavidMorisset bingo
Hello John, I own an ampero, sadly this model dont have an effects loop, I was wondering if I can use an overdrive in front of it...I am really happy by now but i dont know if I should upgrade to a HX stomp or Ampero II
John I setup a boss rc1 looper into hx stomp fx loop however every time I use fx loop to strumming the chord heavily, sound will crack up. I turn off the fx loop and sound return normal. I am wondering is it hx stomp problem or rc 1 problem
Hi Sir! I connected into the hx fx loop the strymons deco, bluesky and capistan. The cap and the blue sound low volume compared with the other delays of the hx. The Deco is ok. What recommend to fix the volume?
You need to add +1.0dB to the volume output of the Return (block). Your signal will be matched.
Thanks John! This was one of the questions i had regarding my setup (HX Stomp + RDC). What do you think about the Hotrod in comparison to the classic RDC? Is it worth upgrading or using them as two channels? 😅
In Helix Native for some reason I don't feel the amps are "ampey" enough when playing clean. I'm trying to increase the early reflections and add a small room verb. Maybe my ears are getting fooled, but I'm gonna try using the Torpedo Cab M+ with some drive pedals before it and then the Helix FX for my cleaner tracks. The overdrive sounds to me are good enough. Maybe I'm doing something wrong`. I should compare with the hardware Helix A/B. Even the cheap Joyo "american sound" pedal sounds more like a fender on clean setting than the H. Native one does, especially on a clean jazz sound. Any suggestions? HAPPY EASTER everyone.
Hi, what about noise issues when using the FX loop for a distortion signal, in my case e line signal from a 6505 head? I receive a lot of feedback type of noise. Is a DI box a solution?
If i use overdrive pedal,is it good to use in fx loop or in front of multifx.im using pod go.maybe un can do a video
That Revival Drive sounds awesome (as does your playing)! Do you prefer it over the Dude?
thanks for this, with regards to just the drive pedal did u notice a diffrance between 'feel of play' with it infront or in the loop?
Does this advice also apply to other multi-effects, like the quad cortex or fractal fx?
Did you experience noise issue when using Helix with external overdrive pedal?
Hi John, a simple and maybe stupid question: can i change the position of the fx loop (aka send/return) in the chain. I would insert a strymon iridium in fx loop (use both its amp modeling and IR) but i would also (for example) set an entire chain with delay or modulation in front of the fx loop and another chain with these effects after the fx loop. Is it possible with the HX StompBox?
Yes you can put anywhere you want in the chain
How many pedals can you put in individually in the stomp?
1:10 saving this for later. Sheesh dude
Effectively :)
Amazing...mimics the non true bypass of old pedals...like the old days
Hey look, there in the beginning it's John Chordy
I’ve seen people say that John’s playing is tubular and buttery but that he can’t do both at once. Hope you’re choking on your words after that intro.
It is also poggers
Sounded a bit like Lari Basilio in the intro!
I run a fuzz, drive and distortion into the front of hx stomp and I feel that they cause digital clipping when on as if they push the front too hard? Can I dampen this with lower impedance in the input?
Global settings make sure it's set to INSt not line.
@@Creator-b4r Won't that make the guitar signal too low when not running the gain pedals?
Get to the point
damnnnn to much speaking
Tube amps for life never like this digital junk only solid state players that can't afford a real tube amp likes this junk modelers are only good for practicing with head phones at night tube amp rule fact
what a complete tosser
This "digital junk" is a necessity for some working musicians. Please be positive and try not to generalize. No, they're nothing like the real thing in feel or sound, but working musicians need all the help they can get. Poor sound and setup can make the best tube amp sound terrible to the audience, no matter how good it sounds and feels from the stage. You'd be surprised how many tube guys have something digital in the arsenal for gigging. Has nothing to do with affordability. It's getting the job done.