Leaderboard

Firstly, congratulations to the Line 6 team on the Helix Stadium XL. The Matrix Mixer, Showcase integration, independent output buses, and USB audio interface have made the Stadium one of the most innovative live-performance processors currently available. This proposal is intended to unlock one workflow that I believe would make the Stadium XL the definitive all-in-one live performance hub for professional touring musicians. ⸻ Current workflow Many modern touring musicians now use a laptop running Cubase, Ableton Live, Logic, MainStage or Reaper as the central show controller. The DAW simultaneously provides: • Backing tracks • Click tracks • Spoken cues • MIDI Program Changes • Snapshot automation • Tempo automation The Helix Stadium XL already receives MIDI perfectly over USB. The missing piece is flexible routing of USB audio returns. ⸻ Current USB Routing Currently: USB 1/2 ✔ Appears directly in Matrix Mixer ✔ Independent level ✔ Independent routing ✔ No DSP path required USB 3/4 Requires DSP Path USB 5/6 Requires DSP Path USB 7/8 Requires DSP Path This means additional DSP paths are consumed purely for routing audio rather than processing it. ⸻ Real-world example Professional live show Inputs Helix • Guitar • Bass • Vocal Cubase USB 1/2 Stereo Backing Tracks USB 3 Click USB 4 Voice Cue USB MIDI Program Changes Snapshot Changes Tempo Changes Desired Matrix XLR (FOH) • Guitar • Bass • Vocal • Backing Tracks (No Click) (No Cue) ⸻ Phones / IEM • Guitar • Bass • Vocal • Backing Tracks • Click • Cue ⸻ Current limitation Because USB 3/4 cannot be accessed directly inside Matrix: Click and Cue must consume one or more DSP paths. This reduces available DSP for: • Dual Guitar amps • Bass processing • Vocal processing • Parallel effects • Additional routing ⸻ Proposed Feature Expose: USB In 3/4 USB In 5/6 USB In 7/8 as Matrix Mixer sources. Exactly like USB 1/2. Each should provide: • Level • Pan • Mute • Solo • Assignment to: • XLR • 1/4” • Phones ⸻ Even cleaner implementation Instead of adding three additional Matrix channels: Simply allow the existing USB Matrix source to choose its source. Example: USB Matrix Source ○ USB 1/2 ○ USB 3/4 ○ USB 5/6 ○ USB 7/8 This would require almost no UI expansion. ⸻ Additional Enhancement Allow multiple USB Matrix channels simultaneously. Example: USB 1/2 Stereo Backing USB 3 Click USB 4 Cue USB 5/6 Playback Stem Each independently routable. ⸻ Why this matters The Stadium XL is uniquely positioned to become: • Guitar Processor • Bass Processor • Vocal Processor • USB Audio Interface • Playback Engine • MIDI Show Controller • Monitor Mixer inside one device. No additional interface. No external mixer. One USB cable. One pedalboard. One MacBook. ⸻ Competitive Advantage Many touring guitarists currently carry: • Guitar Processor • Playback Interface • MIDI Interface • Small Mixer The Stadium XL already contains almost everything required. This firmware enhancement would allow many musicians to eliminate: • Additional USB interfaces • Playback mixers • Extra cabling resulting in: • Faster setup • Fewer failure points • Easier travel • Simpler stage footprint ⸻ Why this fits the Stadium philosophy The Matrix Mixer already supports multiple non-DSP sources including: • USB 1/2 • Bluetooth • Aux • Showcase playback • Click • Count-in Extending Matrix support to additional USB return pairs would be a natural continuation of this architecture and would greatly enhance the Stadium’s role as a complete live-performance hub. ⸻ Final Thoughts I’m a professional touring musician building my live show around the Helix Stadium XL. My goal is to use a single USB connection from Cubase to carry: • Backing tracks • Click • Cue tracks • MIDI Program Changes • Snapshot automation while using the Stadium XL as the only stage processor for guitar, bass, vocals, monitoring, and FOH routing. This enhancement would make that possible without additional hardware and would elevate the Helix Stadium XL into a class-leading solution for modern live performance. Thank you for considering this feature request and for continuing to develop such an innovative platform.

I totally agree! I was dying to use USB inputs and outputs more easily with my OG Helix.. made some feature requests years ago. Every time I see an update I hope they add this - but sadly no - another amp I likely won't use! Would be great if the USBs could go on Send / Return blocks as well as Path inputs and outputs. I have plans!

Sends should defnitely get a mixer! SPDIFs too! That way you can send the song (or the return of USB for a DAW) straight into a physical out... I use Gig perfomer with as synth so I have a separate interface for it and I would definitely use only helix as interface if I could send Gig performers out to the 3/4 sends... 3/4 returns used as IEM In so... there is a nice use for the unused sends! Probably a mode called Aux out (to copy aux in for IEM in) that turns 3/4 sends into a mixer ... then you select whatever you want to send.

As is often said, the devil is in the details, and you didn't specify the model of your Catalyst. Since the connections are not obvious, I'll assume that you have a Catalyst 60, which does not have a MIDI DIN Port. To use MIDI you'll either need a HOST (a computer, iPhone or iPad), a MIDI controller that doubles as a HOST. or a HOST "box". Amazon.com: M-VAVE Chocolate Plus MIDI Footswitch Controller Pedal, 4 Buttons, USB Compatible, APP Control, Portable : Musical Instruments I've never used this, so read everything you can find about it. AFAICT, you should be able to simply connect a USB-B to USB-C cable from your Cat60 to the Chocolate+ and use the wireless app to program it. If you choose to go this way, buy it from a store with a no-questions-asked return policy. It's non-host version gets good reviews on The Gear Page. If you have an iPhone/iPad (idk about androids) you can connect directly and the iThingy will serve as a host. I recommend getting a powered hub instead of direct connect, else usable time will be limited by the battery in your iThingy. I use this with my iPad: Amazon.com: Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display | 85W Max PD, 1 Powered USB-C 5Gbps & 2 Powered USB-A 3.0 5Gbps Data Ports, for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Dell and More (Black) : Electronics You can also connect a standard (non host) MIDI controller using one of these: Amazon.com: CME H2MIDI Pro Compact USB Host MIDI Interface | Router, Filter, Mapper, 32-Bit Processor, Dual Power Mode, Minimal Size, For Guitarists & Producer : Musical Instruments There are other products at various prices in all of the above categories. I suggest that you do your due diligence before deciding which way to go.

+1 to this. Fully support this request! As a touring musician running a DAW-automated live setup, this is a massive oversight in the current implementation. Having to consume valuable DSP blocks just to route USB audio channels like Click and Cue tracks completely defeats the purpose of having a powerful built-in USB audio interface. Exposing USB 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 directly to the Matrix Mixer (bypassing DSP entirely) and allowing them to be independently assigned to specific hardware physical outputs (XLR, 1/4" / Sends, and Phones) is crucial. Click and cues must go exclusively to IEMs without touching FOH, and doing that right now needlessly eats up DSP. The Stadium XL has all the hardware capability to be the ultimate single-cable live performance hub. Huge thanks to the OP for such a clean breakdown. Line 6 / Digital Igloo, please take a look at this — implementing this would allow us to ditch secondary audio interfaces for good!