4 Easy Steps to Setting Up a MIDI Contour on Helix * bigfinish.com

In this article, we will show you how to set up a MIDI contour on the Line 6 Helix guitar processor. A MIDI contour is a way to control the volume or other parameters of a sound using a MIDI controller, such as an expression pedal. This can be a great way to add expression and dynamics to your guitar playing.

To set up a MIDI contour on the Helix, you will first need to connect a MIDI controller to the Helix. Once you have done this, you can follow these steps:

Press the “Edit” button on the Helix.
Navigate to the “Cont” tab.
Select the “MIDI” source for the contour you want to use.
Adjust the “Min” and “Max” parameters to set the range of the contour.
Press the “Assign” button and move your MIDI controller to assign it to the contour.

Press the “Exit” button to save your changes.

Now that you have set up a MIDI contour, you can use it to control the volume or other parameters of your guitar sound. For example, you could assign a MIDI contour to an expression pedal and use it to fade in or out a delay effect. You could also assign a MIDI contour to a knob on your MIDI controller and use it to control the amount of gain in your guitar sound.

Understanding MIDI Control on Helix

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that allows electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other. It enables you to control parameters on one device with another device, creating a powerful system for controlling your rig. The Helix floor processor from Line 6 features extensive MIDI capabilities, allowing you to integrate it with other devices and create complex control setups.

Helix has two main types of MIDI control:

Program Change Messages: These messages are used to switch between presets on the Helix or other devices.

Control Change (CC) Messages: These messages are used to control specific parameters on the Helix or other devices, such as volume, effects settings, or amp parameters.

To set up MIDI control on Helix, you’ll need a MIDI controller, such as a keyboard, foot controller, or other device that can send MIDI messages. You’ll also need to connect the MIDI controller to the Helix using a MIDI cable. Once you’ve connected the devices, you can begin assigning MIDI messages to control parameters on the Helix.

The following steps will show you how to set up MIDI control on Helix:

Connect the MIDI controller to the Helix using a MIDI cable.
On the Helix, press the “Setup” button.
Select the “MIDI” tab.
Enable the “MIDI In” setting.
Select the “CC Assign” tab.
Use the “Assign” knob to assign a MIDI CC number to the parameter you want to control.
Press the “Store” button to save the setting.

Configuring MIDI Inputs and Outputs

To begin, you’ll need to connect your Helix to a compatible MIDI device using MIDI cables. Once connected, power up the Helix and open the Global Settings menu by pressing the Global button. Navigate to the MIDI/USB Settings page, where you can configure your MIDI inputs and outputs.

MIDI Inputs

Configure the MIDI input settings to receive MIDI messages from external devices. You can select the input port and channel, as well as specify the MIDI message type (Note, CC, or Program Change) to receive.

MIDI Input Port	MIDI Input Channel	MIDI Message Type
MIDI 1	1	Note
MIDI 2	2	CC

MIDI Outputs

Configure the MIDI output settings to send MIDI messages to external devices. Select the output port and channel, and specify the MIDI message type (Note, CC, or Program Change) to send.

MIDI Output Port	MIDI Output Channel	MIDI Message Type
MIDI 1	1	Note
MIDI 2	2	CC

Mapping MIDI Controls to Contour Parameters

Once you’ve created your desired Contour, you can map MIDI controls to its various parameters. This will allow you to control the Contour’s behavior remotely using a MIDI controller or sequencer.

To map a MIDI control to a Contour parameter, follow these steps:

Select the Contour you want to control.
Click on the “MIDI” tab in the Contour editor.
In the “MIDI Control” column, click on the parameter you want to control.
Move the desired MIDI control on your MIDI controller. The value of the corresponding parameter will update accordingly.

The following table lists the Contour parameters that can be controlled via MIDI:

Parameter	MIDI Control
Attack	CC#1
Decay	CC#2
Sustain	CC#3
Release	CC#4
Gain	CC#7
Mix	CC#10

In addition to the above parameters, you can also control the overall bypass state of the Contour using MIDI. To do this, map a MIDI control to the “Bypass” parameter in the “MIDI” tab of the Contour editor.

Setting Contour Range

The Contour Range parameter sets the range of values that the MIDI contour will control. The minimum value is 0, and the maximum value is 127. You can use the Contour Range parameter to limit the range of values that the MIDI contour can control. This can be useful for creating more subtle effects or for preventing the MIDI contour from controlling parameters that you don’t want it to.

Interpolation

The Interpolation parameter sets the way that the MIDI contour interpolates between its control points. The Interpolation parameter can be set to one of three values: Linear, Cubic, or Bezier. Linear interpolation is the simplest type of interpolation, and it creates a straight line between the control points. Cubic interpolation creates a smoother curve between the control points, and it is the most commonly used type of interpolation for MIDI contours. Bezier interpolation creates a curve that is more customizable than the curves created by linear and cubic interpolation.

Interpolation Settings

Setting	Description
Linear	Creates a straight line between the control points.
Cubic	Creates a smooth curve between the control points.
Bezier	Creates a curve that is more customizable than the curves created by linear and cubic interpolation.

Utilizing MIDI Expression Pedals

MIDI expression pedals provide a versatile way to control various parameters on the Helix. To set up a MIDI expression pedal, follow these steps:

1. Configure the Pedal

Connect the MIDI expression pedal to the appropriate MIDI port on the Helix. Navigate to the “MIDI” menu, then “MIDI Control Assignments,” and select the desired parameter to be controlled.

2. Choose MIDI Source

Select the MIDI expression pedal as the “Source” for the parameter. Adjust the “Polarity” and “Minimum Value” settings as needed to ensure the pedal’s behavior matches your preferences.

3. Curve Shape

Select the “Curve Shape” that determines how the pedal’s movement translates to parameter changes. Choose from linear, exponential, or custom curves to fine-tune the response.

4. Value Range

Set the “Value Range” to define the minimum and maximum values that the parameter can reach when the pedal is at its heel and toe positions.

5. MIDI Channel

Choose the MIDI channel that the expression pedal will respond to. This allows you to assign multiple pedals to control different parameters on separate channels.

6. Invert

Enable the “Invert” option to reverse the direction of the pedal’s movement. For example, moving the pedal forward would decrease the parameter value instead of increasing it.

7. Advanced Options

Additional advanced options allow for more granular control over the MIDI expression pedal’s behavior. These options include:

Exponential Curve Rate: Adjusts the rate at which the exponential curve responds to the pedal movement.
Smoothing: Applies a smoothing algorithm to reduce jitter in the parameter changes.
Offset and Scale: Allows precise fine-tuning of the pedal’s value range and minimum value.

Creating Custom MIDI Mappings

MIDI mappings allow you to control external devices, such as synthesizers or drum machines, using your Helix. This can be useful for creating custom sounds or for integrating your Helix into a larger MIDI setup.

To create a custom MIDI mapping, first select the parameter you want to control on the external device. Then, press the “MIDI” button on the Helix and select “Edit Map.” This will open the MIDI Mapping Editor.

In the MIDI Mapping Editor, you can specify the following parameters:

**MIDI Channel:** The MIDI channel that the mapping will be sent on.
**MIDI Control Change Number:** The MIDI control change number that will be sent when the parameter is changed.
**Value:** The value that will be sent when the parameter is changed.
**Range:** The range of values that the parameter can be set to.

MIDI Control Change Numbers

MIDI control change numbers are used to specify the specific parameter that will be controlled on the external device. A complete list of MIDI control change numbers can be found in the MIDI specification.

Some common MIDI control change numbers include:

Control Change Number	Parameter
0	Bank Select
1	Modulation Wheel
7	Volume
10	Pan
11	Expression Pedal

Creating a Custom MIDI Mapping for a Synthesizer

To create a custom MIDI mapping for a synthesizer, you will need to know the MIDI control change numbers for the parameters you want to control. Once you have this information, you can follow these steps:

Select the parameter you want to control on the synthesizer.
Press the “MIDI” button on the Helix and select “Edit Map.”
In the MIDI Mapping Editor, set the MIDI Channel to the channel that the synthesizer is listening on.
Set the MIDI Control Change Number to the control change number for the parameter you want to control.
Set the Value to the value you want to send when the parameter is changed.
Set the Range to the range of values that the parameter can be set to.
Click “OK” to save the mapping.

Integrating External MIDI Devices

To enhance the capabilities of your Helix, you can connect external MIDI devices to control various parameters. These external devices can range from MIDI keyboards to expression pedals, providing you with expanded control over your sound.

To integrate external MIDI devices, you will need to connect them to the Helix’s MIDI Input (Expression Jack) or MIDI Output (TRS Jack) using appropriate MIDI cables.

Once connected, you will need to configure the Helix to recognize the MIDI device. This is done through the “MIDI Control” section in the Helix editor software.

Setting Up MIDI Control

Follow these steps to set up MIDI control in the Helix editor software:

1. Open the Helix editor software and select “MIDI Control” from the menu.
2. In the “Input Devices” section, select the MIDI device you want to control the Helix.
3. In the “Control Assignments” section, select the Helix parameter you want to control with the MIDI device.
4. Set the “Type” to “Note” or “CC” (Continuous Controller) depending on the type of MIDI message the device sends.
5. Adjust the “Range” to define the range of MIDI values that control the Helix parameter.
6. Select the “Toggle” option to toggle the parameter on or off with a MIDI note or CC.
7. Click “Add” to create the control assignment.
8. Repeat steps 3-7 for each parameter you want to control.
9. Once you have finished assigning MIDI controls, click “Save” to save the settings to the Helix.

MIDI Message Type	Description
Note	Controls a parameter by sending a specific MIDI note number.
CC	Controls a parameter by sending a Continuous Controller (CC) message with a specific number.

Midi Contour Mode

The Helix MIDI Contour mode allows you to control the volume, pitch, or other parameters of your guitar or effects pedals using a MIDI controller. This can be useful for creating expressive and dynamic performances, or for controlling your sound remotely.

Setting Up A Midi Contour

Connect your MIDI controller to the Helix using a MIDI cable.
On the Helix, press the System button.
Select the MIDI tab.
Set the MIDI Input to the MIDI port that your controller is connected to.
Set the MIDI Channel to the MIDI channel that your controller is using.
Set the MIDI CC#> to the MIDI CC number that you want to use to control the parameter.
Set the MIDI Range to the range of values that you want to use to control the parameter.
Set the MIDI Curve to the shape of the curve that you want to use to control the parameter.
Press the Save button.
Press the Exit button.

Troubleshooting MIDI Contour Issues

If you are having trouble getting your MIDI contour to work, here are a few things you can try:

Make sure that your MIDI controller is sending the correct MIDI data.

You can use a MIDI monitor to check the MIDI data that your controller is sending. This will help you to make sure that the controller is sending the correct CC number and range of values.

Make sure that the Helix is receiving the MIDI data.

You can check this by going to the System -> MIDI tab on the Helix. The MIDI Input field should show the MIDI port that your controller is connected to. The MIDI Channel field should show the MIDI channel that your controller is using.

Make sure that the MIDI contour is set up correctly.

Go to the System -> MIDI Contour tab on the Helix. Make sure that the MIDI CC#>, MIDI Range, and MIDI Curve settings are set correctly.

Try restarting the Helix.

This can sometimes solve MIDI issues.

Contact Line 6 support.

If you are still having trouble getting your MIDI contour to work, you can contact Line 6 support for help.

How to Setup a MIDI Contour on Helix

MIDI contours are a powerful tool that can be used to create a wide variety of dynamic and expressive MIDI effects. They can be used to control any MIDI parameter, such as volume, pitch, or filter cutoff. In this article, we’ll show you how to set up a MIDI contour on a Helix guitar processor.

To get started, you’ll need a MIDI controller and a Helix processor. Once you have both of these, you’ll need to connect them using a MIDI cable. Once you’ve done this, you can open the Helix editor software and create a new preset.

In the preset editor, you’ll see a section called “MIDI Control.” This is where you can set up your MIDI contours. To create a new MIDI contour, click on the “Add” button. This will open up a new window where you can configure the contour’s settings.

The first thing you’ll need to do is select the MIDI parameter that you want to control. You can do this by clicking on the “Parameter” drop-down menu. Once you’ve selected the parameter, you’ll need to set the contour’s range. The range is the minimum and maximum values that the parameter will be set to when the contour is active.

Next, you’ll need to set the contour’s shape. The shape determines how the parameter will change over time. There are a variety of different shapes to choose from, such as linear, exponential, and logarithmic. Once you’ve selected the shape, you’ll need to set the contour’s duration. The duration is the length of time that the contour will be active.

Finally, you’ll need to set the contour’s trigger. The trigger is the event that will cause the contour to start playing. You can choose from a variety of different triggers, such as a MIDI Note On message, a MIDI Control Change message, or a footswitch. Once you’ve set the trigger, you’ll need to click on the “OK” button to save the contour.

Now that you’ve created a MIDI contour, you can use it to control any MIDI parameter on your Helix processor. To do this, simply assign the contour to a MIDI controller. You can do this by clicking on the “Assign” button in the MIDI Control section of the preset editor.

4 Easy Steps to Setting Up a MIDI Contour on Helix