PlexMan DW – Line 6 Helix Patch

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE: Please upgrade the firmware on your Helix and the HX Edit software from Line 6 to the latest before installing this patch. Even if your Helix is up to date, the ‘HX Edit’ app needs to be updated as well. If you get an error importing a patch, the problem is most likely outdated firmware on your Helix/HX Edit.

2. IR CABS INCLUDED: This download includes  two premium IR cabs we made from the 3rd Power Dream Weaver amp. These IR’s paired with the amp settings in this patch results in tones remarkably similar to the real 3rd Power amplifier. Please note: There is no stock cab version of this patch.

Here are the IRs included:

• WT 3P DW Gold 121 (top row)
• WT 3P DW Gold SR25 (bottom row)
• With Firmware 2.90, Helix should recall the IR based on its name rather than slot number, so it shouldn’t matter which slot you import the IR into.

3. BASED ON A 3RD POWER DREAM WEAVER: This patch is based on Brian’s 3rd Power Dream Weaver amplifier, which combines a Plexi voiced channel and a Blonde Bassman voiced channel. The Dream Weaver allows you to jump the channels to blend them together. The amp is in a 1×12  combo configuration with a Celestion Alnico Gold speaker. This patch features both Plexi and Bassman amp models in stereo through IR’s of the Alnico Gold in the Dream Weaver. We think it sounds remarkably close to the original amplifier (this is also why there is no stock cab version of the patch).

PATCHES

This download includes two patches as well as the IR cabs. The patches are:

• PlexMan DW WT SC – This patch uses the IR cabs and is meant for guitars with single coils or low output humbuckers
• PlexMan DW WT HB – This patch uses the IR cabs and is meant for guitars with more traditionally voiced humbuckers
• PlexMan DW WT – This patch uses stock Helix cabs rather than IR’s (uses the single coil settings)

HOW TO IMPORT THIS PATCH AND IR

1. Connect your Helix to your computer using a USB Cable
2. Download and instal the ‘HX Edit’ app from Line 6
3. In the ‘HX Edit’ app, drag and drop the patch into a slot in the ‘PRESETS’ column
4. To import an IR, switch to the ‘IMPULSES’ column (next to the PRESETS column), and drag & drop the IR into the an open slot.
5. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have the IR loaded into the ‘IMPULSES’ column, the patch will not sound correct, even if you have the IR block on – you must drag and drop the IR into the IMPULSES column.

SIGNAL FLOW AND EFFECTS

1. Input
2. Deluxe Comp
3. Heir Apparent – KOT – mapped to a switch labeled ‘KOT’
4. Teeman! – mapped to a switch labeled ‘Timmy’
5. Cali Q Graphic – used as an EQ Boost/OD – mapped to switch labeled ‘EQ Boost’
6. Volume (log curve) – mapped to EXP 2
7. Tremolo – mapped to switch labeled ‘Tremolo’
8. Transistor Tape – 8th note delay – mapped to switch labeled labeled ‘Soft Delay’
9. Transistor Tape – Dotted 8th delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘.8th Tape’
10. Dual Delay – Dual Delay (1/8d + 1/4) – mapped to switch labeled ‘Dual ST DLY’
11. Retro Reel – mapped to switch labeled ‘Retro Reel’
12. Dynamic Hall – ambient reverb – mapped to a switch labeled ‘Dyn Hall Big’
13. Plate Reverb – subtle reverb – mapped to switch labeled ‘Plate’
14. Amps – Brit Blexi Brt and Tweed Blues Brt (in stereo)
15. Cabs/IR – see above for IR info
16. Gain Block – used for a volume boost in snapshots
17. Output

USAGE

This patch is meant to be used in either stompbox or snapshot mode. We recommend setting up your Helix to use all ten stomps (stompbox mode) or all eight snapshots (snapshot mode). The Helix LT does not allow 10-button stomp mode, so you’ll have to re-arrange the button assignments to suite your preferences.

WET EFFECTS IN FRONT OF THE AMPS

All the wet effects (reverbs and delays) are positioned in front of the amplifiers in this patch. This recreates the experience of using a stereo pedalboard into stereo amps. The character of the reverbs and delays is greatly affected by the amps themselves. This is also why there is no ‘amp gain’ functionality in this patch.

STEREO:

Everything after the tremolo  runs in stereo. If you are able to run stereo, the wet effects will sound bigger and better. If you only use the L/Mono output of the Helix, everything will be summed to mono automatically. NOTE: Do not use just the Right output of the helix – some of the delays will not be audible if you do this.

SNAPSHOTS:

There are eight snapshots included in this patch to get different sounds (all patches feature the same snapshots).

They are:

• Snapshot 1: CLEAN. This is the base clean tone with delay.
• Snapshot 2: DRIVE. Light overdrive.
• Snapshot 3: DRIVE +: Bigger overdrive
• Snapshot 4: P&W LEAD – Lead tone with lots of reverb and delay
• Snapshot 5: AMBI CLEAN – Ambient Clean tone
• Snapshot 6: AMBI MOD – Ambient clean tone with Retro Reel
• Snapshot 7: AMBI DRIVE – Rhythm drive tone with reverb
• Snapshot 8: SWELLS – this uses the ‘Swells’ stomp button plus more verb and delay.

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR YOUR SETUP

SETTING THE PATCH UP FOR YOUR GUITAR

All guitars are different, so you may want to make changes to suite your playing style and guitar. We set this up with a variety of guitars, including both single coils and humbuckers (primarily a Telecaster style guitar). If your guitar has humbuckers, please refer to the suggested settings below.

We recommend making a copy of the patch and changing the copy just in case you want to revert back to the original. 

We’ve included both single coil and humbucker voiced patches to serve as starting points for your guitars. To make adjustments, we recommend starting with these parameters:

• Amp Gain: Adjust the min/max values of the amp gain so that your guitar is slightly breaking up with big chords on the bridge position (without any drive pedals on)
• Amp EQ controls: Adjust these to suite your individual guitars/taste

VOLUME CHANGES

If you would like to make this patch louder or quieter without affecting tone, the following adjustments can be made:

“Ch Vol” control on the amp module. This will increase or decrease volume without affecting the tone of the amp. This is the primary level adjustment tool I use for changing patch volumes.

Output block level. Changing the level control on the output block (the very last thing in the signal chain) will increase or decrease overall volume. We typically have this set at zero, but feel free to adjust this as you see fit.

CHANGELOG

Initial Release (1.0): 2022-03-14