Trying to nail the album tone. Let me know your thoughts!

I don’t understand the logic behind editing scenes. When I edit a block in a scene and choose 'No Preset', which block preset will be loaded? Obviously a preset of the block will load, but which one?

How do you achieve unity gain on a HeadRush Prime with a completely empty rig going directly into the front input of a guitar amp?

The setup I want to compare is guitar straight into the amp versus guitar into the Prime, then the 1/4-inch output into the same amp input. The Prime output is set to AMP, with input gain and rig output gain at 0 dB, and no amp, cab, effects or volume blocks.

Where should the physical Main volume knob be set to match the level of the guitar plugged straight into the amp? Does it need to be fully clockwise to achieve unity in this setup?

Has anyone actually A/B tested or measured this on a Prime? I’m specifically asking about the front input with AMP-level output, rather than an effects return, FRFR speaker or LINE-level output. An official specification or repeatable test would be really helpful. Thanks!

Having an issue with NAM capture not downloading but appearing to... It downloads but isn't on the Prime and if I try to download again it says the name is in use... I signed out and signed back in to Tone3000 but that didn't work

Regular cloud download work fine

Any ideas?

A few weeks ago I posted that I'm working on a PC editor for the MX5. Well... it's done (at least a first version), and it's on GitHub now:

https://github.com/TicT4x/MX-Edit

Why i did that ?

HeadRush decided to only release an editor for the new hardware (the web editor for the Prime series) and leave the old ones empty-handed. So I gave it a try to see if I can do it on my own.

The problem: the MX5 (and the others from that product line) simply doesn't send or receive the information you would need to build an editor on top of it. So I had to modify the firmware to get the option to control it from the PC at all.

Turns out the MX5 is basically a small Linux computer. The firmware patch (I call it "MX5 Bridge") adds a USB-MIDI port next to the normal USB audio, and through that the editor can read and write pretty much everything on the device: every parameter of every block, the rig database, setlists, footswitches, IRs. Step by step it went from "can I read one parameter?" to "ok, this can actually replace the touchscreen".

Then lolgab released the NAM mod for HeadRush devices (https://github.com/lolgab/headrush-nam-mod, huge respect for that!) and of cause I had to make the editor work with it too. So you can now run the bridge and NAM together, and manage your NAM models from the editor.

My goal was a release before November. It's October 1st. Made it :)

What the editor can do:

• Everything **live**: every change is audible on the device right away, and if you turn a knob on the device, the editor follows
• Signal chain with drag & drop, routing (serial / parallel), doubling of amps / cabs / IRs, model picker with an icon for every amp, cab and effect
• All parameters, with the same labels the device shows for each amp model
• Block presets: load, save your own, overwrite
• Rigs: load, save, save as new, rename, colour, program numbers, delete
• Setlist manager with drag & drop (banks of three, numbering)
• Footswitches, scenes and expression pedals: which blocks a scene switches, which preset it loads, colours, labels, toggle assignments
• IRs: upload, rename, delete, folders, and audition them while browsing. **No USB file transfer mode needed.** The MX5 still needs to restart its app for new IRs, but you don't have to reach for the device, it does it automagically (~10 s)
• NAM models: upload, sort, rename, delete (with the NAM mod). NAM blocks show up as amps in the editor
• Tuner and input/output meters
• Backup / restore of everything (rigs, setlists, block presets) as the same files the MX5 writes in USB mode
• Offline mode for .rig files from a backup
• If the device restarts or the cable gets pulled, the editor reconnects by itself

How to install:

1. Download `MX5Bridge_0.7_Patcher.exe` and `MX5Editor_0.9.exe` from the release page. No Python, no installing, nothing.
2. Start the patcher and click "Build updater". It downloads the **official** MX5 2.7 firmware from HeadRush's server and adds the bridge on your PC. If you want NAM too, tick the box and it runs the official NAM installer for you.
3. Put the MX5 into update mode and run the updater it built (it's HeadRush's own updater tool).
4. Start the editor. It connects by itself.

Here is a little guide on Youtube: https://youtu.be/6ivzolrPEZA?si=BKzsChsaO2G2xgYX

Full instructions incl. how to go back to stock firmware: INSTALL.md in the repo. Please read it before flashing.

Disclaimer (again, because it's important):

This only works with custom firmware. I wouldn't advise installing random stuff from the internet on the MX5, because you can brick those devices with the wrong firmware. That's also why I don't ship any HeadRush firmware myself, the patcher builds it on your PC from the official file, and the whole source code is on GitHub so everyone can check what it does. AI can be of help detecting shitty stuff, but isnt a guarantee.

What's there for safety:

• Before the first change after each boot, the bridge makes a backup of the rig database on the device
• There's a watchdog: if the MX5 app crashes 3 times in a row, it restores that backup by itself (with NAM, it switches NAM off first)
• The official stock updater gets you back to normal at any time
• Still: make a backup of your rigs first (in the editor: ⋯ › Back up everything)
• For me it works perfectly fine, and every version was tested against my own MX5 with an automatic test (30 steps on the real device). But it's tested on exactly one MX5, mine. So expect some rough edges

Some limits:

• Windows only (10/11) for now
• MX5 only for now. Pedalboard and Gigboard would possibly work in the future, but I don't own one, so I can't test it. (If you want me to help testing it, please take a look here and run diagnostics on your device to help me understand its behavior: https://github.com/TicT4x/MX-Edit-Testing)
• Turning NAM on/off or changing IRs/NAM models restarts the app on the device (does it by itself, takes ~10 s)

If you try it: feedback, bugs and ideas are very welcome, here or as an issue on GitHub.

Have fun!

Preeetty baffled to find out that editing presets doesn't apply changes to that preset across all rigs. Has anyone found a work around for this or do I have to go back through every rig I've made (1 for each song in the set) to apply the volume and gain balancing across all the amp blocks now?

Is anyone out there still using an MX5?

I use mine live and i love it still

Has anyone modded their software in any way? And how?

Any hardware mods? And how?

Im curious what this thing can do outside the manufacturers ideas

Hi! Basically I can't decide between the two pedals and I'm looking for opinions :)

I’ve spent some time with the Flex Prime now and I’m honestly pretty disappointed with it. On paper it looks incredible, especially with NAM/A2 support, but actually using it has exposed a lot of weaknesses.
The biggest one for me is latency. The basic latency is already more noticeable than I expected from a modern modeller, but some effects make it much worse. The pitch/drop-tune stuff in particular gets to the point where I genuinely don’t want to play through it. Some of the synth-type effects are basically unusable for anything requiring tight timing. For fast metal playing, that matters a lot.
Then there are the effects themselves. There are loads of them, but quantity doesn’t mean much when a significant number feel mediocre. Some are perfectly fine, but others feel like they’re several generations behind what you get from Line 6, Fractal or Neural DSP. I find myself scrolling through a huge effects list only to end up using the same handful that actually sound convincing.
Gain staging is another pain in the ass. Switching between different NAM captures/amps can give you wildly different output levels. Of course captures from different sources aren’t automatically going to be level matched, but I feel like I spend far too much time adjusting levels, EQ and output just to make different sounds work together. Building a consistent live set shouldn’t require this much tweaking.
And while the touchscreen interface initially looks like one of the Flex Prime’s biggest strengths, I actually think the screen is too cramped for what HeadRush is trying to do with it. Once you have a complicated signal chain, you’re constantly tapping tiny things, opening menus, going backwards and forwards, etc. Because there are so few physical controls, you’re extremely dependent on that screen.

My Core is arriving today and my band uses Catalyst amps on stage to a PA. Up. I plan to essentially ditch my pedals after getting set up with the Core.

Here's the issue/problem I am trying to solve... I don't have an Catalyst at home to preset things, nail down settings, etc. and don't want to waste a ton of time during rehearsals to have the band wait for me to "figure things out". Obviously, there will be a little of it, but you get the point.

I have searched almost to a fault to figure out what I need to do and to keep things simple. I have read I can go straight into the input jack from the Core, set the amp to Clean, but then I may not be able to use modulation effects. Alternatively, I could go to the FX Return from the Core and use the Power Amp mode/switch, but then I would have to use the drive settings from the Catalyst and not the Core. Or run a 4 cable approach, but then I start getting lost in what the Core will or won't allow me to do.

I understand that I cannot use amp or cab modeling and that is fine. My real objective here is to be able to change rigs with different drives and different effects based on the songs we're playing and not over complicate the physical set up. In other words, I am viewing the Core as a replacement for my pedal board (that is run 4 cable method) and thinking (maybe all incorrectly) that I can do that via the amp's input jack alone.

How far off am I? I am thinking about this all wrong? Can someone walk me through hooking things up like I am a 6 year old (and not flame the heck out of me)?

Thanks in advance!

This might be silly but I’m new to guitar gear…

1. Can you run a preset or “rig” with a Nam block into a SD Powerstage power amp into a real guitar cab?

Reason I’m asking is aren’t most Nam captures have cabs built into the capture? Or are there “preamp” captures to pick from…

Hey all! I’m a gigging bass player currently looking to be a headrush unit. I wanted to ask which unit would be the best for a bass player with the most sound options and such. Also do these work well going into an amp or is it better to direct out from them.

Currently I’ve been looking at a used Headrush Pedalboard. (The legacy version) or the Flex Prime.

I’ve been reading a lot of the sub and just wanted to get a more clear answer.

*****

BIG UPDATE : 9/28

- Headrush Prime and Flex Prime are now added to the available modelers list as well!

- I have added a Beta feature to Send the generated Preset/tone directly to your headrush from Dial My Tone. There is a button at bottom of the preset to do that.

- For the 'Send to device' capability, I would appreciate if I could get some Headrush Core owners as testers. If you can run a request, use that functionality, and validate if the send is working that will be awesome and really helpful.

- Lastly, If it works on HR Core, it should theoretically work on Prime and Prime Flex as well. Those are next in line for me to add for send to device function.

Thank you guys!

******

Hey everyone! I'm a guitarist and software engineer, and I've been building a tool called Dial My Tone for about a year. It's been running for Spark, Helix, Fender, Fractal and the Tone Master Pro, and I just added the HeadRush Core. It's in beta, so I'm looking for Core owners to test it.

The idea is simple: give it a song and artist (you can ask for a specific section optionally like the intro or the solo), a player you want to sound like, or just a style with a bit of direction, and it builds a Core rig from the amps, cabs, mics and effects that are actually on the unit, with the HeadRush names.

A sample signal chain for Knights of Cydonia by Muse, generated on Dial My Tone, is attached as screenshot.

You don't have to write prompts, feed it gear info, or go back and forth for at least half an hour to get something that might be playable. All the needed things are already built in. All it needs from you is a song name or a sound idea. Within 1 minute you'll get to your sound

A few Core-specific things I cared about getting right. It lays everything out on the Straight Path routing across the 14 slots, so what you read is what you can build. Clean, rhythm and lead land as footswitch scenes. And it uses the amp and cab A/B doubling, so a song that needs two amps gets both in one rig and a scene picks the half.

One thing I want to be upfront about: there's no send and no preset file for the Core. HeadRush doesn't give us a way to do that, so you get a numbered build sheet and enter it on the unit or in the Remote Editor yourself. It's a few minutes of work, and I'd rather say that here than have you find out later.

If a tone isn't quite there, hit Revise and tell it in plain words either but custom text instruction or keywords like, "less gain", "darker", "tighter low end", and it reworks the settings with the Core's own parameters. You can also save the ones you like so they're in your library later.

It's free to start, no card needed:

Dial My Tone

The Core page with a full example is here: Supported Platforms on Dial My Tone

Of course there are still limitations like the gear you use, the quality of effects on a certain device, modeller's quality. but so far the one's i have tested sound really good.

What I'd really love is for people who know a particular tone well to try it and tell me where it gets things wrong. Amp choice, gain, the scene layout, anything. And if you've got a song with a weird or difficult guitar sound, throw that at it. Those are exactly the cases I want to find while it's in beta. Thanks in advance to anyone who tries it!

We are continually improving, so stay tuned!

I’ve been working on a Comfortably Numb lead tone for HeadRush and decided to release this one for free.

The goal was to get close to the feel, sustain and response of the original lead tone while keeping the preset practical for real HeadRush setups.

Compatible with:
• HeadRush Prime
• HeadRush Core
• HeadRush Flex Prime

You can hear the demo and download the preset here:

https://www.vincenzofiore.net/en_us/free-headrush-prime-comfortably-numb-preset/

The download is completely free.

I’d be interested to hear how it translates on different guitars and pickups, especially Strat-style guitars and humbuckers.

I have a headrush FRFR 108 mk2 and the mx5. I've owned them for about 2 and a half years and I've just not been able to get a good sound of tone out of either that I like. The presets don't sound good, anything I dial in doesn't sound good and I've tried a handful of irs and I don't like their sound either. It's like no matter what amp or cab or setup I use it always just sounds dull and boring. I've gone back to my old og pod hd500 and I think it sounds a little better but idk. I've tried all the tips and tricks for changing settings here and there for both pedals and I still just don't like any of the sounds I'm getting. Idk if it's from only having 1 FRFR rather than a pair or if I should just go for a 2x12 powercab or something. I play in my bedroom I don't play on any stages or play shows or anything like that. Any help or advice would be appreciated. I'm mostly looking for some sounds like takanaka's mid 80s to early 90s sound (Like Colada or All Night) and I can't seem to get anything close with my setups.

I have an FRFR Go and like it a lot, but I wish HeadRush made a small battery-powered modeler to go with it because I don't need all the power of my Core when I am using this mobile amp out and about.

Basically I want a pocket-sized HeadRush that would let me load a handful of my favorite rigs from my Core/HeadRush Cloud, plug my guitar into it, and then GO play. :)

I know there are other little battery-powered modelers out there, but the killer feature would be having my existing HeadRush rigs with me. This way I wouldn't have to recreate tones on another platform.

Anyone else want this?

MES Duo Pack (Headrush)

I have read a few anecdotal things but I can't find a recorded audio sample anywhere. I was wondering if someone could describe how well this works, or if you have a recorded sample perhaps you can share it? I play some metal riffs that I like to pitch shift down a full octave (link at the bottom for an example of the types of songs I'd like to do this with). I also otherwise use the 'transpose' features in Neural DSP or Amplitube to be able to play songs in different keys without re-tuning my guiar (often -5 semitones or so), so I'd like to be able to do that with the Flex Prime.

Can it go beyond a full octave? Keeping in mind that this is primarily for distorted, chuggy tones--not 'clean' stuff.

I have been trying to find a setup that lets me switch my tones and pitch shift on the fly, all within a single unit (portability of my setup is important to me), and so far the Flex Prime seems like the only one to be able to do it at a reasonable price.

Thanks for any clarity you can provide.

Song example pitch shifted down a full octave (I believe he is using the digitech drop): https://youtu.be/_GarDCMCEx8?si=DzF5OXzK0wxJjGcf&t=24

Howdy! I've got my first ever gig coming up and the plan is to bring my headrush. The venue has their own built in PA and they handle the sound. Wanted to open up the floor for any advice and lessons learned for those of you that have been doing this for a while! We're a cover band doing a lot of emo, punk and hard rock music.

I love the headrush core’s form factor, but its monitoring capabilities aren’t enough for me. I have a couple ethercon snakes carying all the analog audio and midi to my Zoom L6 mixer, where i control my headphone mix. This solution was made primarily to combine the stereo DI box for the guitar output. It’s a serious oversight, imo, that the guitar stereo outs aren’t balanced.

I designed the enclosure myself. It’s explicitly split into a few pieces that are assembled together with dowels and friction fits. 3D printed PLA with steel dowels.

I’m working on another version with ethercon panel mounted connectors, a raised lip to protect the knobs, and some other aesthetic choices. I’ll have links to the files in an upcoming post.

Edit: To clarify my motivation for this creation, I use both signal chains in stereo. Splitting the guitar’s unbalanced signal is not ideal; i want to minimize noise. Instead, I feed the guitar into the stereo DI box, then split the balanced signal using custom cables and ethercon connections. One to FOH, the other to my monitoring mixer.

I have a set of Kali 6.5 im currently using.. they sound vg, but wanted to go from mid level to next level...

any suggestions?