How to Level Presets Line 6 Helix HX Stomp Pod Go + Free Preset Tutorial 

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Could never understand why Line 6 haven't put a VU meter in the output stage of the helix!

Using the DAW is just brilliant. Thanks for posting this great tip. By extension, if you plan to use the same preset with 2 different guitars, you can use the DAW to determine the difference in output level, and then make a quick adjustment in the output block (or somewhere else) to compensate for the differences in the 2 guitars output levels. You'll know how many db is needed to get them roughly equal in level. This won't take tonal differences into account (but that's part of why you use 2 different guitars in the first place - for their different tonal characteristics), but it will help get a low output guitar like a Strat up to a higher output guitar's level (like an SG) without doing endless trial and error at the gig.

After years with the Helix i have come to the conclusion the singe most important parameter is the high and low cut on the cab block, LPF at 5k and HPF at 100/120Hz , this should be everybody's first move after amp and cab selection. I guarantee this simple step will get you much, much closer to the tone your looking for ......A real speaker in a real cab doesn't see anything above 5k or anything below 80hz... The low cut at 5k gets rid of the crappy fizzy shit and the High cut at 100hz gets rid of the flub in the bottom end...You can thank me later...:)

Steve: this was super cool and super helpful!!! I totally forgot about the dual cabs and thanks for that reminder. It's the iceberg principle. There are so many awesome things on the Helix that you get in your groove and you forget about all the other features. I have Reaper and it was easy to dial in the -12.0 dB and that was great. I think a video series of "Build a preset with Steve" would be totally awesome! Thanks for sharing!!!

Something I do is put a looper at the beginning of the chain, record a quick rhythm and lead. Then let it run while I'm building my preset.

Really helpful, Steve. Nice noodling, too. Love that run down the neck in 6ths with the F bent ever so slightly. Showing your Country chops! Love it. 🎸🎸🎸

Just upgraded from a HX Stomp to the Helix Rack. It’s like starting all over but your right the tones are there. Just have to tweak em.

Thanks for this Steve, really useful ideas on a perennial problem!

and here i am, throwing away all my presets and starting from scratch. excellent video!

Brilliant. I need to now look at why you do the parallel path for the reverb

I agree. I always set my presets to -12 dB and when I add amp gain I don't add volume. When I boost, it is 2 db, however, I'm not playing solos. If anything a little boost and mid to push when I play hooks.

The "channel volume doesn't affect the tone but the master volume does" thing is something I'm seeing more often here on RU-vid with Helix Line 6 and seems to be the contrary of what I and many others were always told in the past re how to set valve amps. Previously, the concept when adjusting a valve amp was to increase say, the channel volume as a way of increasing drive... set the tone to how you wanted it ....THEN adjust the master volume to how you wanted the final volume. In other words the polar opposite of what you're saying. I'm not saying you're wrong - but if you're right then we were wrong all those years ago.

Thanks for these tips. I think this is one of the key features that I'm currently missing (this -12dB tip)

Steve, I found this an incredible help for the levels. Help me totally! Thanks man, please keep them coming man.

Lol. Now I know what "ass" sounds like, so I can avoid it! All kidding aside, these are some of the coolest tips on Helix Steve! Let's roll!

Using the Helix is like cooking. You taste and adjust the seasoning. A good cook instantly knows what to add and how much. That what the helix seems to demand. Hearing a sound and going “yea it needs ____”

OMG this is so helpful. Sterlacci you have saved me man, I have always had trouble leveling. Especially for gospel gigs where loudness has to be even with minimal spike in volume.

Hey Steve! Great video. Sweet playing there. Long time....been dealing with my health issues and working on the house so no time for YT for the past several weeks. Need to catch up. Keep up the good work. Yeha patch leveling seems to be the biggest complaint by ALL modelers out there for sure no matter what model or brand they own.

Steve, a few questions. 1) how are you connecting your Helix to your computer? via an interface (Focusrite or something similar) or USB direct from Helix to computer? 2) Do you use the Helix floor to create your presets or Helix Native as a plug-in? I’m sure there will be more as I’m just getting started. Definitely appreciate the vids - thanks!!!

FYI - if you move the cursor in the patch on the helix to the output block helix displays a level meter at the bottom of the patch window so you don't need a DAW to see your patch levels.

I use the cabinet/IR level as my main output volume to match preset volumes. I thought that doesn’t affect tone.

Thanks! great tips!

Steve ; question . If have interface like a boss gigcaster which has sliders for each input channel. What do I set that to start with before even look at the gain meter in the DAW? In other words what is optimum to hit the daw with to start with from an interface

I wish there was a pedal measuring dB Simple as that

Nice info--thanks!

Hello Steve ! just found out your channel, thanks for this useful video :) After watching the vidéo I have few questions : 1) -12db is your suggested guideline for the lead tones or for the clean one ? 2) how many db difference (roughtly) would you put between your clean tone, your rhythmic one and your lead one ?

Finally a Cakewalk user!

I understand you correctly, do I need to keep the output signal level the same as the input signal? It doesn't necessarily have to be -12 dB. If I have a guitar with single coils and the input signal without effects is -22 dB, then should I get -22 dB at the Hx Stomp output? It seems to me that this is too low a level. Or did I misunderstand something? Or - is 12 dB a good indicator at the output regardless of the input level? Thanks!!

Steve: Very clever using the DAW, simple perhaps silly question wouuld having a Comp at the end of the signal chain like the LA Studio Comp OR The Billy Sheehan one and keep the Comp settings the same would this give a unifying sound / level for each preset much in the way DAWs use a Compressor on a Master Bus at the end of the signal chain? Thank you for great Helix content. Greatly appreciated.

Your videos are great! Could you do an acoustic preset from scratch?

Great videos Steve , you got me at pedal edit mode on another video lol . You checked your daw level for the clean signal then again once you set your amp/cab. I don't think you checked it after putting the overdrive in . My question is would you adjust the level on the overdrive ( or any blovk with a level/ gain option )by ear as to how it blends the sound or set it with the daw ? Hope this makes sense . Robert

Hello. I was running an HX Stomp into an amp but now it's a whole new ballgame. And I'm kind of new to modeling, I guess. Anyway I have the stomp hooked up to monitors through TRS-XLR, and via USB to my computer. Through the DAW I'm peaking at like -20 db but I swear I've heard the monitors clipping at their power amp. I have no clip lights on these monitors, though. Volume on the Stomp is dimed. Sometimes the stomp sounds good. Sometimes it sounds bad. Also, when I'm playing my strat, sometimes I can't seem to get enough gain. I'm generally not a high gain player but I'll rock some fuzz now and then. Without the fuzz I sometimes struggle to get gain. I've even found players using strats on youtube and duplicated their presets. Mine sound different. I've even changed the pickups in that guitar from fairly low output pickups to relatively hot ones, and it didn't really make that much of a difference. The same thing happens with humbuckers and filtertrons, too, to a lesser degree. This thing is weird. I love it, though. Sometimes it sounds really great and I know I could make it sound great all the time if I just knew what I was doing. I'm not even that old, but I'm a tube and tape dinosaur trying to enter the digital world.

Thanks Steve! How does all this work with the actual volume knob on the helix itself? Where should you/do you set yours before levelling patches as per the video? 50%? 100% volume knob? Thanks!

Very helpful (as always). Go Red Sox.

Steve will bandlab (cakewalk) work to help monitor level just trying to find a decent daw for this , def dont want to sound like complete ass lol thanks for this highly needed video

🙌

12:11 I checked the other video, and I understand the parallel option when you have more than one effect to put on the other path, but in this case why not using the Mix knob?

Steve, thanks for creating these videos. I think I've watched all the Helix vids. In my opinion, the fact that your a real deal gigging musician gives you a little more authority than some other channels. This may be a question you've answered before, but how can the bypass volume be increased (or should it?) Should I just take what I get using the bypass directly into my DAW and match everything to that? I'm not hitting -12 on the bypass volume with a 335 direct into the Helix into Logic. Also, is there a one click solution to bypassing every thing in your chain if you've already gotta chain built?

Another good video! Is there one on the relationship between, master volume, channel volume and gain or drive? Also it seems that most person have master volume on 10?

great video Steve.. what are the benefits of using the reverb and delays parallel in the signal chain?

Hi to do this , do you connect Helix directly into your DAW by usb or by Xlr into an external audio device ?

Steve - are you available to consult on helix over zoom? I need some prepurchase advice, and will need some help setting up.

Quick question: you say "always always Chanel Volume". I thought the channel volume changes the character of the amp tone and master volume would be the one which controls the overall volume of the amp without affecting its tone... I'm confused now

Hi Steve I always follow your videos, tips and suggestions with interest. I recently started using Cakewalk with Helix. So I recorded a guitar base and so far so good. When I try to record a second track, the first one turns out to be one semitone lower when listening. If, on the other hand, I listen to it without recording other tracks, it is in the correct pitch. Have you had similar experiences? What am I doing wrong?

Great video! Can you share what your global setting volume is set at? And would this effect the -12db benchmark?

Steve - I heard that you might do consulting on the Helix (virtual coaching on using it, setting up presets, etc). That true? If so how can I sign up?

hi, tanks for the informations. I've two questions: 1) I've seen the cab block at 0db decrease the amp volume. So, to level the signal chain I prefer to put the cab block volume at maximum (6db). In this way the level of the signal chain is the same (when you switch on/off the cab is evident). What do you think about? 2) keeping low the volume on the patches help to take under control the fizzness but when I use the Helix at home to ramble on backing tracks the volume of the simulations is too low for the music that came from iTunes, this is a bit annoying. Is possible to solve it?

Very helpful, thanks! but I've got a question. How do you connect the helix to your daw? Usb or xlr? My usb signal is way hotter than xlr (fixed at max) (focusrite claret with input gain at 0)

Hi Steve, really getting a lot out of your instructional videos, thank you very much. Kind of a dumb question. I purchased POD GO and want to use it at church in silent stage worship team environment. If I connect it the same way and with same input level as my current FlyRig V2 and A/B it for comparison as I tweak, can I effectively use my stage IEMs to set up patches at volume without the band being present or without FOH being turned on? We use Aviom system for IEM so i can hear my signal without the mains being on.

Cool video man

I have a Pod Go Version 1.40. I use an SSL 2 audio interface with Reaper as my DAW. First question, how to bypass all my effects blocks in a preset to get the raw signal output from the Pod Go? Is it as easy as turning off/disabling all the blocks? I know there is a way to use the Pod Go USB as an audio interface, so my second question is, should I do this or can I go through the SSL 2 with the Main Out/ Amp Out signal?

Great work. I do have one question. My bypassed signal (using a Presonus Quantum and Logic Pro) is around -12, but when I add the amp and cabs it gets to around -20. Then I cranked the channels volume all the way up and I couldn’t get it above -18... the Helix feels overwhelming but I look forward to understanding someday, lol

Steve, great video, thanks! Question for you. If I were to run my Helix LT into my interface with line out left and right, and then go to the interface into my DAW, is it best to just leave the interface channel gains on +- 0 to avoid the preamp coloring the Helix signal? I know many say the best bet is to just go direct from Helix to DAW via USB, but in the instance where I don't, how do I keep the interface from screwing things up? Thanks again!

Thank you for the videos! Question I have, where would you recommend setting the master volume knob on the Stomp when creating presets? I'm just a bedroom player, but my presets all seem pretty loud, so I usually have to keep the volume knob around half way or less to keep the volume at a usable level. Not sure if there is a better way to set presets. Thanks!

Hello bro, I have a small question, I would appreciate it if you could answer. When I start balancing with a mix I shouldn't go over -12 right(?). I should only go down if I need to, right(?).

Dial in your basic sound. Copy and paste for each song and alter it a little.

I don't understand.I get that you set ypur level to -12db in the DAW. You are showing using the helix to set this. On my system I set the input with the interface and the input slider of the DAW. Do you have some kind of "unity" setting or something for these that would take them out of the equation?

Hey mate! Awesome video this helped heaps 🙌 For your lead boost (for solos) do you have it peaking at about -6db in your DAW? I’ve watched some other videos and other people tend to put a 5 or 6 db boost for their solos but I’m worried about whether this will cause issues if my rhythm tone is set to -12db.

Hi Steve, I appreciate your work here. I have a question: I watched a video of you the other day talking about getting the right amount of signal from the Pod Go to the PowerCab. I have my Pod Go plugged line out into my powercab 112 with the volume knob all the way up on the Pod Go and the volume turned off on the PowerCab. Even with the Pod Go volume all the way up I cannot get any clipping at all on the Powercab indicator light. It only stays green and does not even go to yellow, much less red. I have tried it with my single coil guitar and my humbucker one too. Not sure what is going on. Any insights? Thanks for taking the time to read this. God bless.

Steve but what if your not using a DAW? I just got my stomp and the problem I am having is setting live levels so my dirty rock channels match my hard-rock levels. This is helpful but not sure if this cover the problem entirely

Hey great channel about helix, you know I just notice in my hx stomp when I play the signal gets -24db and after a second the signal get down to -30db, I don't know why this happens but every pause the level gets up and after gets down, any advice? thanks 👍🏼

Curious as to why you turn off the high and low cuts on the cab? I find they tame the harshness of both frequencies. I usually use 80hz and 8-10khz. I also have 80-100hz low cut and 14khz high cut for my global settings. These sound great for me but I'm not exactly sure how each play a factor for each other? Like what is the difference between the global and cab high and low cuts? I understand global is for all presets but if I change the high and low cuts for the cab, does that cancel out the global cuts or does it add to them? Sorry if my question is confusing lol.

is it normal that im using my stomp as the interface and plugged to my monitors and while my presets sound normal i get no bypass at all? with a blank preset i get no sound at all. what am i doing wrong?

Thanks, Steve! How do you recommend getting the level up with an amp whose channel volume doesn't get all the way to -12? Like some of the clean Fender models with the gain turned down?

hello,i set for some presets the channel volume and master on 10 is that ok? like on a plexi?

I can't find anywhere to download hx edit. any tips please?:)

I am on PODGO.... should I have the physical big volume knob all the way up or at 3/4 to start this process?

Where do you y’all set your volume knob on the helix device in a live situation?

When I first got my HX Stomp, I noticed a big difference in Preset volumes. I "normalized" them so I wouldn't damaged my hearing from the very loud ones. I get a good strong line out signal to my mixer, but in comparison, the Headphone out on the Stomp is very week - about half the volume even when it's volume knob it turned all the way up. Do you have any suggestions or insights on what's going on? Thanks

Question: in order to make the leveling presets, I have to do it through the computer right? I cannot do it using the physical Helix knobs. Am I right?

The title is "How to Level Presets", but then you add a bunch of blocks and never actually level them (i.e. your "Simple Delay"). Should have spent more screen time on the DAW levels with each block. Or perhaps I missed the point - which is possible. i.e. should you level each block as a sum - add a block, check levels. Or individually - add a block - turn off all others - check levels.

Unfortunately Cakewalk Sonar isn't free anymore.

It just too unpredictable, fks my show up everytime,,pod go in the trash!

Hi. I'm a pedal player that just bought a Line 6. I honestly got an RMA and was going to send it back because it is so damn complicated. But I didn't. That said, I feel this was a rather poor instructional video. First off, what is a DAW? You also kept saying I'm changing this and that because the patch sounded horrible but you didn't actually explain what you were doing. Lastly, as a 30 year player,.you played WAY WAY too much after each parameter change. Do yourself a favor, get a Ditto Looper and plug your guitar into it and then plug the Helix into the looper. Then play a single riff, loop it and adjust tone as necessary.

Great tips, Steve! When I go in to logic my signal is coming in at about -22, which seems low. In this instant should I be bringing up the channel volume to -12 or do I need to match it to the -22? Is there another way I should boost the input gain into the interface once the raw and amped signals are matched? I'm using the stomp as an interface btw. Not sure if my question makes sense but thanks!!