Anderton

Keni
Amplitube 3 allows for two parrallel paths...

I believe Amplitube 4 allows this as well, but I'm not certain...

Yes, Amplitube allows for two parallel paths. The CA-X Biamp Power Chord amp uses TH3's parallel paths. However for multiband processing with amps, two bands doesn't really cut it because you can do only lows and highs. Four bands allows for a lot more definition. Cubase comes with a virtualization of the Quadrafuzz, the four-band multiband distortion I designed back in the early 80s, and iZotope Trash allows for multiband distortion as well. But what appeals to me about the Helix is that it allows multiband processing that's not only distortion.
 
 

Interesting...

I got the helux native a cople of weeks ago and it was ok but I wasn't particularly impressed. A friend bought the helix lt and while learning/teaching it to him i was very uncomfortable with the gui/logic for programming it...

synkrotron
I thought I knew what "parallel effects" was but, having read the above I'm not so sure.

Can't you just put each effect on a buss an use sends?

Yes, as I said in the first post, "you can always set up multiple buses or use Aux tracks with folders." However, then you have to manage a bunch of individual buses or aux tracks. While not a deal-breaker, I'm a fan of fast/convenient.

pwalpwal
another option is ddmf's metaplugin https://ddmf.eu/metaplugin-chainer-vst-au-rtas-aax-wrapper/

That looks really cool...only $49, and it comes with a four band crossover. I'm not sure I'll be a fan of having four amp sims open instead of just one, but it looks great for all the other stuff I do.

Question, what is it you like about multiband distortion on guitar? I've only ever used it on other instruments (bass or drums mainly) when I want to mostly preserve the sound but add a bit of grit or saturation to the top end only. So really I've only done two bands, highs with some distortion, everything below the crossover point clean.

rmfegley
Question, what is it you like about multiband distortion on guitar?

It makes amp sims sound delicious, but I've been doing this since the 80s, when I came up with the Quadrafuzz. I stopped using guitar amps in 1968 so I've always wanted to get "my sound" before hitting the input jack of a flat response amp. So far multiband distortion is the best option for getting the sound I want.
 
I'll be doing a demo at some point of the difference between single-band and multiband amps. I sent a quick demo to Line 6 in the spirit of "Hey, do you guys know Helix can do this?" and they were pretty impressed.
 
You can think of multiband distortion as cleaner than conventional distortion, but dirtier than hex distortion where each string distorts individually.

Anderton
Yes, as I said in the first post, "you can always set up multiple buses or use Aux tracks with folders."

Apologies, Craig, I honestly didn't read that bit... You know how it is, you read so much text and your brain decides that you got everything...
 
cheers, and thanks,
 
andy

synkrotron
 
Apologies, Craig, I honestly didn't read that bit... You know how it is, you read so much text and your brain decides that you got everything...

 
Well sometimes I "bury the lead" 
 

Anderton
 
Well sometimes I "bury the lede" 
 

FTFY ;)

Have you tried NF MAGMA? It can do up to 4 parallel paths and it hosts 3d party plugins too.

Soundwise
Have you tried NF MAGMA? It can do up to 4 parallel paths and it hosts 3d party plugins too.

Thanks! Saw it at a trade show years ago but had forgotten about it...looks pretty cool, and definitely less expensive than Helix. Time for the demo download