devices · Helix Rack · learn · 02 of 08 · 6 min

making a sound, correctly

Plug in, hear something, and get the cab block right. Set wrong, the whole thing sounds broken.

the one thing

Cab block ON into anything full-range. Cab block OFF into anything that ends in a real guitar speaker.

start with headphones

Before you wire anything into an amp or a PA, plug headphones in and load a factory preset. That proves the box works and gives you a correct sound to compare against later.

the cab block rule

A cab block is a simulation of a speaker cabinet with a microphone in front of it. It belongs in the chain whenever you listen on something with no guitar speaker of its own: headphones, a full-range powered speaker, the desk, your computer.

Leave it out when the signal ends in a real guitar cabinet. Two speakers stacked on each other sound muffled and small, and EQ will not rescue it.

plug it into your rig

Once you know what right sounds like, work out what your setup needs. The setup tool covers each case with the cabling and the settings.

rig setup

What are you plugging into?
cab sim

leave it on

You're feeding a full-range system, so the Helix Rack has to supply the speaker.

the setup the Rack suits best.

the Rack on its own, driven from the front panel and from HX Edit on the computer.

Hook it up
  1. 01
    Guitar GUITAR IN on the front panel
  2. 02
    XLR OUT LEFT/MONO + RIGHT Monitors or interface
  3. 03
    USB Computer

    USB Type B

Set it up
cab block
On
editing
HX Edit over USB is faster than the front panel

real amps, each read from its schematic, ready for your Helix Rack.

presets for your Helix Rack →