HXView updated to Helix 3.60 "The Grammatico Update"

I have updated HXView with support for Helix 3.60. You can access the app here: https://hxview.vercel.app/ . I have also made some optimization to the app so it runs little bit faster and use less bandwith.

This version includes the new amp Grammatico GSG, based on the Grammatico GSG100.

If you want to try the app you can download the Helix 3.60 factory setlists here: https://line6.com/support/topic/66316-helix-v36-factory-setlists/

Helix 3.60 Release Notes

New version of HX View and support for 3.50

The old version of the app was hosted on a free service no longer available. I have made a new version which run completely on the browser so I don't need a server anymore.

I have also updated it with a more modern UI.

I updated it with support for the new amps and effects Helix 3.50.

The new url for the app: https://hxview.vercel.app/

I'm not really sure how many people use it so if you find it useful I would appreciate if you can leave a comment here.

HELIX 3.15 in HLX View

Like every new HELIX version, I have updated HLX View to 3.15 so you can visualize presets with the new Line 6 Ventoux AMP, Bronze Master Distortion, etc

HLX View updated to support 3.10 presets

I have updated HLX View to support the new models introduced in 3.10 like the new mandarin amp, ratatouille distortion, euclidean delay, retro reel and hot springs reverb.

HLX View updated to support 3.0 presets

I have updated my HLX View app to display the new models included in Helix/HX 3.0 and Helix Native 3.0 which includes new amps, cabs and effects like: US Princess, Das Benzin Mega, Das Benzin Lead, Horizon Drive, Acoustic Sim, Poly Detune and many more.

The most exciting new feature for me is that now I can use 8 blocks on the Stomp, is perfect for adding a looper at the end without sacrificing a modulation o distorion in the chain. 

I haven't tested all the new effects but wanted to update the app right away because I'd like to check the new Artist Presets which are not available for the Stomp. This could be the right moment to add the functionality to load .hls files but that would need to wait until I'm finished trying the new sounds.

I have tested a preset with 8 blocks:

And some presets with new models:

This one downloaded from FluidSolo.

As always, this app is for my own personal use but I hope you find it useful.

HLX View updated to Helix/HX 2.90

I have updated my HLX View app to display the new models included in Helix/HX 2.90 and Helix Native 1.90 which includes new amps, cabs and effects.

Check it here: https://sensationnel-gerard-26922.herokuapp.com/

I like the name of the update: "The Always Level Presets By Ear at Stage Volume with the Rest of the Band Playing Update", but I dont get the level meters on the Stomp, I only get signal or clipping indicador on the input and output blocks.

You cand now use the HLX View to display your presets with the new models like the Alpaca Rogue, Revv Gen Purple or the new Split Dynamic node:

I would like to include new functionality like display stomp actions but I only use this app to quickly visualize and compare presets without loading them to the Stomp, which I think you should be able to do with HX Edit. This way I can decide if I would like to try the preset I have downloaded even from my phone. 

Another use for this app is to display all the parameters in one simple view, this way is easier to compare blocks, presets or even sharing your prefered block tone with others because they only need the value of the parameters.

As always, this app is for my own personal use but I would like to know if anyone find it useful.

Helix/HX Stomp preset-snapshot online viewer

I have implemented a Line6 Helix/HX Stomp online preset viewer, is hosted on a free heroku server here: https://sensationnel-gerard-26922.herokuapp.com/# . The app needs javascript to work.

It can display block state and parameter values for each snapshot, the active blocks have a white border and the inactive blocks have a grey border, and the parameters affected by a snapshot are in white text.

Motivation

I have the HX Stomp and I have purchased some presets that make good use of snapshots to have different sounds in the the same preset, this is important in the Stomp beacuse of the limited number of blocks available. I wanted to learn how to make my own presets but I find difficult to visualize the difference between snapshot when it changes a lot of parameters so I decided to implement a visualizer that can display all the parameters at once.

Once I had it working for the Stomp presets I adapted it to visualize the Helix presets, this way I can learn from all the presets avaliable from CustomTone.

How-To Use

To use it simply drag and drop your hlx files or click and select the files you want to visualize:

Click "Upload files":

Click "Finish" or select one preset from the list:

The preset list can be toggled with the = button to the left of  "Presets"

You can add more presets at any moment using the + button to the right of "Presets"

Technical info

The app is developed in javascript using Node.js and Express for the backend and Vue.js for the front end. The preset graphic paths and blocks are drawn in SVG.

The files are uploaded to the server but never written to disk, they are parsed in memory to build a json model ready for display. The .hlx files are json files but the parameters values lack unit information, are in different scales than displayed in the hadware and some are discrete value codes. This values are parsed in the backend and transformed to the correct display values. In the parse process the snapshot information is also transformed and embedded in the display model.

VulcanoFX MC6 Midi Controller for HX Stomp

I have gone full digital and bought a Line6 HX Stomp, it has everything I want: small form factor, amp and cab models for guitar and bass, usb audio interface with reamping capability, stereo input, output and send/return loop. Lots of effects and Line6 has updated it since its release with new effects, amps, etc. It has a lot of functions with only 3 footswitches but it also has a TRS FS/EXP input so you can expand it. But it also has MIDI input (and output/thru) and thats what I'm using to control it adding 6 more footswitches.

I found this post https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/338238-build-your-own-midi-controller-i-did/ from Stoo who should receive the credit here. He explained everything you need to know to build a midi controller using an arduino nano board, he even shared his code. I had an Adafruit Feather M0 Adaloger in a box which is arduino compatible so bough the 128x64 lcd screen and tested it on the breadboard. If you use the Feather M0 you need to use pull up resistors for SLC and SDA ports.

If you want the code just clone it from github:

https://github.com/yeraym/vulcano_controller

Once I was sure everything worked ordered a 1590J box, 6 SPST momentary footswitches and started wiring. You can find the micro usb panel mounted extension cable on ebay

I didn't want to mount the board permanently and came up this solution.

This is how it looks inside:

I 3D printed this model https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2283223 to frame the screen.

I'm very happy with the result:

Modded Faux Analog Echo

I did my own layout for the Faux Analog echo using the schematic by Intripped on freestompboxes.org

But I modified it to use an analog fet switch and wired it to have two modes, true bypass or buffered bypass with tails. I also included a temporary DPDT footswitch and a SPDT that you can use to have a temporary ON or temporary OFF effect when the pedal is on, either in true bypass or buffered bypass modes. Watch the videos below to see how it works and all the posibilities it offers.

BJFE Blueberry Bass Overdrive

One day last month a user called JFace show up out of the blue at FreeStompBoxes with a trace of his original BJFE BBOD, one of the most searched OD for bass, it was like the holy grail, a lot of people searching for it as it was supposed to give the eternal tone. I now understand why, this thing sound freaking awesome.

This is my veroboard layout, verified and boxed:

This is how it looks

Analog FET Switch, daughter board for Deep Blue Delay with Tails mod

I'm aware that my Deep Blue Delay with TAILS mod is being used as it is one of the most visited post on this blog, and the DBD is quite popular in the DIY community, but I'm not happy with my mod. After using it I realized that it doesn't always open completly, so the delay line continues engaged. In this post I present what I think it's a better alternative, although I haven't tested it so this is NOT VERIFIED,

I took the mod idea from the Small Time Delay and used the same implementation, but the mod is just an Analog Fet Switch, used in a lot of pedals in the "non true bypass" era. In the next article you can see how it was used by DOD.

It uses a flip flop and two fet switches. You can simulate the switches easily in LTSpice with the next schematic, but we only need one.

You can read more about FET switches at this thread on DIYSB, I have read a lot but I don't feel qualified to try to explain it. I just realized that it should work better with the DRAIN and SOURCE of the FET biased properly rather than relying on the previous and next circuit sections to do it.

I haven't tested it so this is NOT VERIFIED, but this should work better as a daugther board for the DBD Tails mod. The green wire should connect to A in my modified layout, and the blue wire to B. For the indicator LED take the V+ from the control wire.

This is the DBD modified layout (the same I posted on 12/2013)

If anyone try this, let me know to tag it as verified.

Chopped Boss OC-2

I've finished my Chopped Boss OC-2 build. When it comes to octavers nothing can beat the tracking on a digital one, but for a DIY project this is one of the best out there. If you want to build the full version go to Sabro's blog, if you also want an octave up you can build de madbean's lowrider which is a Pearl OC-7, but if you are going to use it with a bass probably you don't need more than the chopped OC-2.

As this only have two knobs I refused to use anything bigger than a 1590B and to do so I have to draw my own layout. Its based on the adapted schematic by Ben Milner which chops the second octave down. To keep the layout compact and 1590B friendly I had to reorder the opamps used in the LM324 and use a couple of shared holes.

I'm starting to like the sinthy sound it has.

And this is how my boxed OC-2 looks like.

DeadAstronaut's TremShifter

11-09-2014 Important! I need to update my vero with the final values (some caps in the filter section). I plan to do it in the next days

This is a fun effect to play, its an optical tremolo and optical auto filter with a lot of options designed by DeadAstronaut at diystompboes.com, go to the original thread to know more about it. Instead of traying to explain how it sounds, its better to hear it, I've recorded a crappy demo for you.

EHX Small Clone

I built my Small Clone using Mark's layout. This in theory could fit in a 1590b but I wouldn't try it again, I used closed jacks and mounted the board with component side down but I still had to force it a little when screwing the lid, and it did felt wrong to me. But it sounds great. I included a Mix pot to reduce the wet signal which helps when using it with a bass.

Catalinbread SFT

I built my SFT using sabro's layout, this is another amp like overdrive which is often compared to the ROG Ginger as it also tries to emulate the sought after ampeg-near-break sound. I like this better and is my favourite bass overdrive so far. It has a great dynamic response, I feel like I can control the clipping with my playing style, more so if I use a pick. I think it may be because of the mu-amp jfet gain stages. The SFT is also very versatile with a wide range of tones going from mild overdrive to a doomy distortion, and has a massive amount of lows in it.