https://line6.com/customtone/tone/6187067/
Let's get into the Helix then and go for one of the great indie schmindie rack patches ever: the Yamaha FX500 Soft Focus patch. You'll find it as Program 40 on the FX500. I've done a video of this previously when trying to recreate it with plugins and did a fairly alright job considering my dismal lack of talent.
The Soft Focus patch is made up from these elements.
Most of it is pretty self explanatory. The compressor and equalizer settings are easy to set up. Choose a suitable reverb, set the times, and listen to the video above to the reverb sound on its own to get your reverb to how you want it. The left-right delay is also fairly easy.
The stumbling block is the Symphonic chorus setting. It isn't a regular chorus, it has a sort of phased warble to it which adds some movement to the overall sound. The above video has the Symphonic chorus on its own. I don't have an FX500 now but I do have an SPX90 so that was used to get a good idea of what settings will be needed. The sound of the SYmphonic chorus on the SPX90 will be found on the overall video below.
(there are physical differences between the units. SPX90 is noisier, less clarity, FX500 overall sounds brighter. If you go through the various Yamaha rack units, every Symphonic chorus setting will sound a little bit different)
Let's get into the Helix then. First of all, use stereo elements. The overall chain is like this.
Compressor--> Reverb --> parametric EQ --> flanger modulation --> delay --> chorus
I won't go through all the settings in detail as you can download the patch I've made and see what's there. I'll talk a bit about them though and my reasons for doing what I did.
Compressor: you need some lengthy release time in there. It gives the whole thing some ooompf.
EQ after reverb: the FX500 is a bright unit, much brighter than the SPX90. Adding in EQ at the top end gives it a more FX500 sheen.
Flanger modulation: just enough to get the movement you have in the Symphonic chorus on the FX500.
Delay: left-right delays set as per the FX500 settings above. Very plain and simple delay needed here.
Chorus: I used the Plastichorus model based on the modded Arion SCH-Z.
Video:
Let's get into the Helix then and go for one of the great indie schmindie rack patches ever: the Yamaha FX500 Soft Focus patch. You'll find it as Program 40 on the FX500. I've done a video of this previously when trying to recreate it with plugins and did a fairly alright job considering my dismal lack of talent.
The Soft Focus patch is made up from these elements.
The stumbling block is the Symphonic chorus setting. It isn't a regular chorus, it has a sort of phased warble to it which adds some movement to the overall sound. The above video has the Symphonic chorus on its own. I don't have an FX500 now but I do have an SPX90 so that was used to get a good idea of what settings will be needed. The sound of the SYmphonic chorus on the SPX90 will be found on the overall video below.
(there are physical differences between the units. SPX90 is noisier, less clarity, FX500 overall sounds brighter. If you go through the various Yamaha rack units, every Symphonic chorus setting will sound a little bit different)
Let's get into the Helix then. First of all, use stereo elements. The overall chain is like this.
Compressor--> Reverb --> parametric EQ --> flanger modulation --> delay --> chorus
I won't go through all the settings in detail as you can download the patch I've made and see what's there. I'll talk a bit about them though and my reasons for doing what I did.
Compressor: you need some lengthy release time in there. It gives the whole thing some ooompf.
EQ after reverb: the FX500 is a bright unit, much brighter than the SPX90. Adding in EQ at the top end gives it a more FX500 sheen.
Flanger modulation: just enough to get the movement you have in the Symphonic chorus on the FX500.
Delay: left-right delays set as per the FX500 settings above. Very plain and simple delay needed here.
Chorus: I used the Plastichorus model based on the modded Arion SCH-Z.
Video:
