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Line 6 Powercab Plus MIDI Control with Helix MIDI This works with Firmware Version 2.20 and later. Have your Helix Floor, Helix Rack, Helix LT or HX Effects automatically switch to any desired Powercab Plus channel Preset or combination of settings when pressing any Helix Preset or Snapshot button. You can easily change the Powercab Plus’ configuration from Helix’ Presets or Snapshots. For example, you may want the Powercab Plus in LF Flat mode for a particular Preset or Snapshot, then switch to Speaker Mode with a Vintage speaker model for a different Preset or Snapshot. A word about Powercab Plus Preset management. There are two basic ways to implement MIDI control for Powercab Plus with Helix MIDI. 1) Program Change using MIDI PC (Program Change) messages, and 2) Control Change using MIDI CC (Control Change or Continuous Controller) messages. 1) Program Change - In this scheme, when changing Presets or Snapshots on Helix, the Powercab Plus switches to it’s corresponding Preset. For example, switching to Preset 004 on Helix would switch Powercab Plus to it’s Preset 004 or whatever Preset you programmed in Helix. With this method there is only one setting in Helix that has to be programmed. All of the Powercab Plus settings are set and saved in Powercab Plus using the onboard screen or Powercab Edit app. 2) Control Change - In this scheme, Helix transmits all of the desired Powercab Plus settings to Powercab Plus using CC messages, regardless of what Preset Powercab Plus is currently on. No settings are required to be set or saved in Powercab Plus. For example, switching to Preset 004 on Helix could switch Powercab Plus settings to use a Green speaker model. Then, switching Snapshots within Preset 004 could switch the Powercab Plus speaker model to Vintage. Or, a Helix Preset could be configured to tell Powercab Plus to use a speaker model and then switching to different Helix Preset could then tell Powercab Plus to switch LF Flat mode. The advantages of using Control Change is, you don’t have to maintain individual Presets in Powercab Plus, it doesn’t matter what Powercab Plus Preset you are currently on, and it works when plugging into any Powercab Plus, even somebody else’s (as long as Helix and Powercab Plus are set on the same MIDI channel). IMPORTANT - When using MIDI Program Change or Control Change switching for Presets and Snapshots it is important to note that Powercab Plus will always remain it it’s last state unless it is sent a message or messages to alter that state. For example, if Powercab Plus had been set on a Preset that called for a Green speaker model, then you switched to a different Helix Preset, unless you send Powercab Plus either a PC message or one or more CC messages to change that, Powercab Plus will remain in it’s last state, set on the Green speaker. Getting Started DO THIS FIRST Connect a standard five pin MIDI cable from the Helix ‘MIDI Out/Thru’ connector to the Powercab Plus ‘Midi In’ connector. DO THIS SECOND Connect a USB cable from Powercab Plus to your computer and launch Powercab Edit. This is only to monitor the status of Powercab Plus to make sure your Helix MIDI settings are doing what you want them to do. Changing Powercab Plus Presets with Helix Presets and Snapshots If you prefer to use Powercab Plus Presets and switch between them using Helix Presets and/or Snapshots, this is for you. You can have your Powercab Plus switch to any of it’s Presets when changing Helix Presets or Snapshots. This is done with MIDI PC messages. Here’s how. 1. Go to the Helix Preset you want to program. 2. Navigate to Menu > Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo > Page 2 > MIDI PC Send - set this to MIDI or MIDI + USB 3. Navigate to Menu > Command Center 4. Highlight an Instant Command (Lightning Bolt) You should see five settings. Set them like this. Command: Bank/Prog Midi Ch: Base (or whatever MIDI channel you have Powercab Plus is set on.) Bank CC00: off Bank CC32: off Program: 4 (or whatever Powercab Plus Preset you want to use.) SAVE SAVE Repeat for Snapshots if desired. Check Powercab Edit to make sure it is working as expected. In this example, when you recall the selected Helix Preset, Powercab Plus will switch to it’s Preset 004. Done. Now, every time you press that Helix Preset button, Powercab Plus will switch to it’s Preset that you have programmed into Helix. Repeat for other Presets. Changing Powercab Plus Settings with Helix Presets and Snapshots If you don’t want to have to maintain Presets in Powercab Plus, and you want to change Powercab Plus settings with Helix Presets and Snapshots, and you don’t mind a little extra programming, this is for you. 1. Go to the Helix Preset you want to program. 2. Navigate to Menu > Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo > Page 2 > MIDI PC Send - set this to Off 3. Navigate to Menu > Command Center 4. Highlight an Instant Command (Lightning Bolt) In this example we will Program Helix to send two CC messages to Powercab Plus, telling it to switch to Flat Mode with LF Flat Voicing. With the first Instant Command (Lightning Bolt) highlighted, you should see five settings. Using the MIDI tables from the Manual to set the following as desired. This first Instant Command will send a CC message to Powercab Plus telling it you want Flat Mode. Command: MIDI CC Midi Ch: Base (or whatever MIDI channel you have Powercab Plus set on.) CC#: 20 Value: 0 With a second Instant Command (Lightning Bolt) highlighted, set the following values. This sends a CC message to Powercab Plus telling it you want LF Flat Voicing. Command: MIDI CC Midi Ch: Base (or whatever MIDI channel you have Powercab Plus set on.) CC#: 21 Value: 2 SAVE SAVE Up to six Instant Commands can be used per Helix Preset. Check Powercab Edit to make sure it is working as expected. In this example, when you recall the selected Helix Preset, Powercab Plus will switch to it’s Flat Mode with LF Flat Voicing. Done.

I'm having some serious fun with this tiny Helix! A while back I got a little VOX Adio Air GT for ultra portability and good sound (it does sound good!). It's full stereo and also designed to stream backing tracks and so on, so it's essentially a tiny stereo FRFR will a modeler built-in. It also has an AUX input for connecting any 3.5mm stereo plug - you can connect a drum machine, MP3 player, whatever. I connected up my Stomp from its stereo outs using a 3.5mm stereo -> 2 x 1/4" mono adapter cable, and was STUNNED at how good it sounded. For such a small amp, it delivers a GREAT sound for the Stomp. Of course, it wouldn't be appropriate for a live band setting, it doesn't get quite that loud, but the sound is huge for its size. I fed couple presets into it - the one loaded below is the ENGL with a stereo ping-pong delay feeding into the ganymede stereo reverb. Again ... I was stunned! I must say, I am extremely happy with the Stomp. And if you're looking for a very small stereo capable playback amp that packs a good sound for its size, try the VOX Adio GT. It's not the prettiest thing to look at, but it sure does sound great driven by the Stomp (or Helix). It sounds way bigger than it looks.

Three other likely reasons to add to those above … Line 6 can point out how committed it is in the long term, and simultaneously play the numbers game against the competition by porting all the other effects it has available into the package. However it doesn’t want anyone comparing old code to the competition’s new code, so they are labeled as legacy to counter the ‘Helix is rubbish because its Dimension D lacks detail’ trolls. And why the duplicates? The old code requires less resources than the ‘headline’ versions of the effects. So if you’re struggling to get a red MXR compressor into your preset you have a cheaper (in system resources term) alternative that still has the flavour of the real thing.

Speaking subjectively with preference of tone... I didn't really care for the hardware amp head. I only liked 3 of the 14 options. First is Axe FX III - that sounds pretty damn good. Second is Helix Native - sounds good, but I would have adjusted parameters a little more to get a slightly more pronounced, but tighter bass, and slightly more high end. Third is that Lepou plugin - that sounded pretty good, but I would personally have to tame the low end tub a good bit on that one. Once adjusted I think the Lepou, and HX Native would sound great as one L, and one R for a nice dynamic of rhythm guitars. My girlfriend liked the same 3 options I liked, but she also liked the hardware amp head too.

You can do an amp/cab combo block on the "big" Helix too, but most people like the flexibility of separating them. I was looking at the Stomp as a backup for the Helix, but the block limit and not-so-instantaneous patch switching are kind of a put-off. I like the design of the HeadRush stuff, but I don't like using "updated" amp modeling from a decade ago.

Ah, good point. Looks like I'll have to wait until Line 6 makes a section for it then. Another plus is they made the amp/cab combo be only 1 block. Enjoying the hell out of the HX Stomp. I had gotten the Headrush Gigboard & while the display was very nice with the touchscreen, I just wasn't happy with the effect models so I returned it and exchanged for the HX Stomp.

Just thought I would reply for the OP on at least he Firehawk issue and the issue of needing to upgrade with a Helix family product to gain the Helix sounds for our already adequate Firehawk. Most of the posts on this issue revolve around a Helix centered amp on the platform of a Firehawk speaker system or using a Helix into an FRFR version of Firehawk. Many of these posts have mentioned lightening the load to half the 1500s like the Amplifi family but I think this might take this amp out of the stage amp realm since the 1500 watt rating of the Firehawk is a peak output rating and you probably need that much power for this amp to compete on stage since the wattage is split between the speaker array. I think the only way they could lighten the load in this amp would be to use lighter (i.e. more expensive) speakers and lighter (i.e. solid wood) in the cabinet. I really think that they should simply forego all or most of the legacy sounds in this amp since most of these have been upgraded with HD effects and replace them with HX effects and presets. If they did this, then we wouldn't have to purchase a new Helix product....wait .... I guess that's the point. As for Bluetooth in the Variax, I'm all for it but I think they will need to make it as an adapter that would plug into the Variax guitar VDI and use a seperate Bluetooth receiver that would plug into the guitar input like the G-10...wait...they have that already, just not with Bluetooth or VDI. They might need to just make the G-10 VDI compatible because the Bluetooth might interfere with the Bluetooth already in the 1500.

Any luck with your setup. I have Apollo8 and was wondering recommended ways to introduce the helix to this. I put in a ticket w/ UAD. Will post here if helpful once they respond.