Craig Anderton’s amazing multiband Helix presets
The Quadrafuzz, created in the mid-80s by Craig Anderton (and since virtualized as plug-ins by Steinberg and MOTU), has become legendary as the first commercial multiband distortion unit. By splitting the guitar into four frequency bands and processing each band individually, the resulting distortion had a clarity and focus that gave the guitar an unprecedented level of sonic definition. Unfortunately, the technology was difficult to implement in analog hardware, although PAiA Electronics created a do-it-yourself kit (which is still available) for guitarists who could handle a soldering iron.
However with the Line 6 Helix, which offers four independent audio processing paths, multiband distortion has become a practical reality. These 128 multiband presets, custom designed for the Helix Floor, Rack, and Native versions, bring out a level of articulation and clarity—as well as stereo imaging—you’ve never heard before out of single-band distortion. Optimized for chords, these big, bold presets are essential Helix additions, and available now for $29.95 (download only) from https://shop.line6.com/marketplace/anderton-s-amazing-multiband-presets.html
60 multiband presets (one for each current Helix amp model) split the guitar into 2 to 4 bands, and process each band individually. Each of these presets has 8 snapshots (480 sounds total). And for serious customizing, another 60 presets (no snapshots) are basic 4-band versions of all amps, with no additional effects. 6 additional clean presets are based on dialing back the Drive on distorted amps. The final two presets are templates for creating your own multiband presets.
What really drives the point home is when you compare the sound of the stock Helix amps with the multiband versions. The demo video at https://youtu.be/9nhXh39tZPs includes several comparisons, as well as sound examples of various multiband amps.
The pack also includes documentation on how to use, customize, and get the most out of this innovative preset collection. With “Craig Anderton’s Amazing Multiband Helix Presets", next-gen guitar sounds are here.
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@TheCraigAnderton replies to @joepalladino4323: Thanks for the comment! It depends on which amps you choose, some draw more power than others. Also, sharing a cab between two amps helps. FYI I'm currently finishing up "The Big Book of Helix Tips and Tricks" for Sweetwater Publishing, and it covers a lot of ways to maximize DSP power with Helix and HX Stomp.
@ksbkonto: I bought til bundle at 30$ and am very very disappointed. To modify these presets to something useful in a live situation takes more time than to program what you really need.... Now even the levels on the snapshots have been leveled. Maybe someone can use this - I wasted my money - sorry to say but thats the truth.
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @ksbkonto: Bruno, I do not want ANY unhappy customers! Please write to my personal support email in the documentation, and I can arrange for a refund. FWIW, on other sites that sell the presets, there are downloadable sample presets and/or documentation (which says "Think of multiband presets as turning Helix from a multieffects into an extremely customizable amp,
with an alternative type of distortion sound") so that people know what they're getting. Unfortunately there's no way the Line 6 site is set up to provide free sample downloads. Also note that multiband distortion uses up almost all the CPU, which is why this preset pack is positioned as amp replacements instead of a multieffects. In any event, write the support email, and we'll take care of you.
@ksbkonto replies to @ksbkonto: Hi Craig
Thanks for your reply. As i write this is not useful for me but others with a lot of time on their hands might want to edit your package into something usefull. I dont want a refund as i support all the work you have done so far for us guitarists and others.
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @ksbkonto: @@ksbkonto Cool, thanks. Hopefully you'll find it suitable as an amp replacement. Also, I asked Line 6 to modify the description to emphasize the studio aspect. However!! I am working on a set specifically for live performance. If you'd like to beta test it before release, I'd be happy to send it to you for free.
@ksbkonto replies to @ksbkonto: @@TheCraigAnderton Now THAT would be very interesting and i would love to give you my extensive feedback.
I guess you will use the 3.01 firmware and include the options it provides ?
I have made around 40 presets myself including from 3 to 8 snapshot. All are ready for live performances including perfect volume leveling between both presets and snapshots - even level compensations between the snapshots like clean, crunch, chrunch 2, fills, solo and “gone mad solos” for metal heads.
They use advanced settings in both amps and effects with close regards to cpu, playing style and ease if use in live gigs. Around half of them are slightly modified for Helix Native giving me and the audience perfect recognition between my sounds live and studio recordings. Some presets are tweeked to different guitar types like humbuckers, single coils, P90, even for actives like Fluence and a few for EMG 80’s.
I use standard cabs as well as IR’s.
So i would love to try your latest creations... 🎸🎸🎸
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @ksbkonto: @@ksbkonto That sounds great, your opinion would be highly valued. It took me a year to do the multiband presets, I expect to have a beta of the live presets ready by mid-March. Please send your email to my support email address and we'll take it from there. VERY cool!
@Boombergtastic: Do any of these have presets without cab blocks? I use a power amp and Marshall cab in my live setup.
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @Boombergtastic: No, they all have cab blocks. They're not really designed to go into amps...unless you have a bunch of them!
@MC-dj7ri: Hey Craig! This is a unrelated question concerning devices under the PowerPots booster brand (late 70’s early e80’s era). If I remember correctly you’d mentioned in one of your books that you had some involvement in the design of those particular boosters, as there were a few different models.
Obviously they were designed to be installed inside the guitar. I’m no electronics guru but I was wondering if instead of installing the device in the guitar, would it function as intended if I installed it in a housing and used it as a pedal. I’m thinking it would function kind of like a Seymour Duncan pickup booster? So my question is.. will it function in a acceptable manner or would it shine being installed in a guitar.
Maybe someone could chime in who has experience with one of these boosters.
What type of player/ music style was it designed for?
Thanks for any help or advice.
@fdhal87wn: Thank you very much Craig! Just got your set of Amazing Mutibands and let me tell you: even though i'm a long time, experienced and experimental user of a beautiful HELIX, you've changed my perspective of it's possibilities even further. Brilliant work!
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @fdhal87wn: Thanks for the props! You never know how people will react when you put something different into the world, but so far, it seems people "get it."
@zwip778: Wow, fantastic concept! But man those levels coming into the Helix are way too high or am I missing something. I never hit -12 when using Helix Native
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @zwip778: I hit it hard because the filters themselves cut down the level going to each amp by quite a bit. So the hot input is more to compensate for the subsequent loss that to overdrive the amps. Good question!
@zwip778 replies to @zwip778: Craig Anderton thank you! Makes sense now.
@PIERRESILEX: Please , does it works with HX stomp ?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @PIERRESILEX: Sorry, it does not.
@PIERRESILEX replies to @PIERRESILEX: OK ! Thanks ! So, I'm going to buy an HELIX floor !
@indianrockstrat: If your primary focus is playing live with a mono FOH system ( no panning/stereo ) or you simply don't have two PA channels available, does this do anything for you?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @indianrockstrat: The 60 main presets all have 8 snapshots; one of them is mono without effects for live use. However, many of the stereo versions collapse well to mono. If you send a request to craig.tech.center@gmail.com, I'll email you some sample presets so you can try them for yourself, and see if they work for you.
@r.llynch4124: HI Craig, Getting ready to purchase and had a question. I'm guessing I can replace the cab block with my IR no issues?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @r.llynch4124: I use only the stock cabs in the presets, but unless the IRs consume more CPU , they should be fine.
@MarlonDeanMcQueen replies to @r.llynch4124: Craig Anderton Hi, Craig. Do you have an audio file of the demo record from Electronic Projects for Musicians? I still have my book, but lost the record.
@yrebrac: How do I 'confirm correct levels' on a helix floor?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @yrebrac: Thanks for asking. I recommend not using the Pad option, unless you have super-hot or active pickups. I tested these presets on a Helix Floor with standard passive guitar pickups, and they sounded the same way as they did with Helix Native when it was set properly. The levels going into a Helix Floor from guitar pickups are going to be pretty standard, but with Helix Native, there can be several stages prior to the Helix. That's where gain-staging becomes more critical...hope this helps!
@r.llynch4124: This really sounds amazing and does take the Helix to another level. Can you incorporate another user preset with these presets so the other user preset gets the wide stereo sound as long as enough DSP is available? I guess you would use the templates included?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @r.llynch4124: I'm not totally sure I understand the question, but maybe this will help. The 60 core presets each have 8 snapshots. The main preset is stereo, with effects. For those using the Helix as the amp component in a pedalboard, there's also a stereo snapshot with no FX, and a mono one with no FX. 3 stereo snapshots remove one band from each snapshot (low, mid, or high), and there are two clean stereo presets. Most of the stereo presets sum well to mono if needed.
@r.llynch4124 replies to @r.llynch4124: @@TheCraigAnderton I'm coming from tube amps to Helix and the Helix is on its way. I'm doing guitar lessons and I have downloaded artist presets from Glenn DeLaune. I'm wondering how to keep the artist patch settings Glenn has but also use your band presets so I get all your amp/stereo fx and his preset together. Hope that's not too confusing?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @r.llynch4124: Great question, actually. That might be tough. I haven't used Glenn's presets, but the multiband presets require quite a bit of CPU. The one thing you can try (if there's enough CPU) is to split the signal for two-band operation just before the amp block, add another amp, then sum them back together before hitting the rest of the effects. Two-band isn't as good as three or four bands, but it's a lot better than one. Several of the presets in my preset pack that the Line 6 original cabs are two-band versions to accommodate having lots of effects.
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @r.llynch4124: Okay...I did some experiments with converting presets to two-band operation, and posted a thread about it in the Helix forum.
@r.llynch4124 replies to @r.llynch4124: @@TheCraigAnderton I found something very interesting you may want to check out. Jason Sadites has a video about creating IR's for the EQ/Volume blocks. I think you could create 1 IR from your blocks and free up DSP usage but I'm not sure yet. The video is called "creating IR's from EQ curves" Very interesting ideal. Check it out ,maybe it would work for those of us who want to free up DSP on your presets?
@ExplicableCashew: And this is how, in my mind, digital has finally overcome analog
@CircumferencePI: Wow. This sounds fantastic.
@localpm: How are they for Jazz fusion lead stuff and clean stuff craig?
@TheCraigAnderton replies to @localpm: Thanks for the question! They're not specifically designed for that; think of the presets as replacements for the existing Helix amps that give superior clarity and definition. I made them for my own use, but other people thought they sounded great, so I decided to offer them commercially. If these presets do reasonably well, I anticipate doing a follow-up with lead and clean sounds, which again, I'm developing for my own use.
@danielleohallisey4218: Craig, you got me started on pedal building way back in the 80’s. You’re a genius!