codamedia

You need to change your way of thinking when it comes to the Helix.... The Helix is a software based platform, the hardware is only there for I/O, foot control, and programming. Major software updates come more than once a year.... I bought my LT when 2.5 was current and have seen 4 significant updates in just under 2 years and I know their is a major update (v3) is in the works. Hardware has not changed one bit but the Helix I have now is significantly better (IMO) than it was when I bought it. Here is the best part.... it didn't cost me any more money for all those updates. So ask yourself.... Do you need more I/O options that aren't available within the current family of products? Do you need more foot control options? Do you need a touchscreen? Do you need more DSP power?

Sorry about that.... I misunderstood how that worked. My suggestion for going through an amp then would just be to disable both the amp and cab block. You can turn those on if you ever need to go direct, but leave them off when going to the amp.

FWIW.... thrift stores are full of great buys on old hard cases full of character. Find one the fits the POD GO and call it a day. You can always line it with a little padding if you think you have to.

IMO.... in your global settings set it so the Amp Output bypasses the amp/cab settings. Just plug the amp out to the amp and play. When you want the amp sims (to FRFR or direct to PA), use the normal outputs.

I use the opto trem, placed between the AMP and Cab (IR). I don't think I altered the settings much beyond depth and speed, but I honestly don't remember. Worth noting: One reason a trem on a Fender Amp sounds as lush as it does is because it is AFTER the amps reverb... For that lush Fender effect try this.... Amp > Reverb > Trem > Speaker (IR) ... That is the closest placement you will get on a Helix. Real amps put it between the preamp and poweramp.

Yeah well... the Headrush is an FRFR that will require cabinet modeling, the Katana already has a cabinet so it doesn't. Therefore your findings are exactly what I would expect. I'm not sure if you understood what I said earlier though... the Katana also has "power amp modeling" so IF POSSIBLE, (ie: if it's an option) just use a preamp model on the Pod Go.

There are no dumb questions :) I wish I had access to a POD Go.... I'm looking through manuals but don't see anything written out clearly. My hunch tells me that "full amp model" includes the preamp, power amp and cab, while "pre amp model plus cab" is likely just the preamp and cab, no power amp modeling. The power amp modelling has settings like "sag, bias, x-bias, etc... etc..." Ultimately, you will want to avoid power amp settings and a cabinet/IR if you are going into the power amp input on a Katana MK II.

I thought you were using a Headrush FRFR? Sorry about that.... Does the POD GO have "preamp only versions" of the amps? If so, try the same amp, but just the preamp version. You are running it through a Katana power amp and speaker, not the speaker in the Blues Jr. Speakers make a huge difference in tone so trying compare those two setups is not realistic. Ultimately for a proper comparison, you would want to run them through the same speaker. Even if you ran the Pod into an FRFR, that is not the sound of an "amp in the room"... it's the sound of that amp "miced up"... like it would be in a studio or live performance. Learning the difference between "amp in the room" and "miced up amp" tones is an important step to understanding modelers.

Good heavens... your' missing out on SO MUCH GREAT STUFF! Take the time to update your unit before you do anything else! There is ZERO reason to stay on 2.3, there are countless reasons you should update!

Not that I am aware of...

Based on this thread.... he's actually using POD GO, not a Helix. He came to this forum because the other one was really quiet. Can't say I blame him :) https://line6.com/support/topic/56650-sound-quality-frfr-vs-headphones/ Simple test..... Make sure your global EQ on the POD GO is OFF.... When going to your FRFR, use the normal outputs, NOT the amp out. Start with an empty preset... completely empty. Add a Fender Deluxe Vibrato Channel (probably labelled "US Deluxe VIB") amp and default cab for that amp Add a spring reverb If that doesn't sound like a classic clean Fender tone, something is wrong in your setup, or with the unit!

Agreed..... Oh.... it's opened up again - LOL! Couldn't you have just left it with your first line instead of invoking more discussion?

Seeing that you claim you own a cheap Zoom G3, then make this claim directly above regarding use in the sun. I AM CALLING YOUR BLUFF! I own both as well... please don't even try to go there! Yeah it is... but that doesn't make it cheap or poor quality. IMO, It's a lot easier to adapt to known issues that it is to complain about them indefinitely :)

There was a design oversight that causes "possible" degradation of sound when phantom power is applied. That doesn't mean the XLR out is "cheap", it just means you can't run phantom power on a Helix line. You know that, so it really is a simple solution!

Great story...Your boss example is very similar to how I discovered my problem with the X3 Live years ago. I don't get worked up over "gear quirks" anymore. All gear has quirks.... find the problem, replicate the problem for confirmation... then work around it! When I buy gear (including the Helix) I read the forums to learn about the quirks... then if I come across them myself I won't be surprised. This one took my by surprise... but I still had a hunch of what it might be so I didn't panic :)

I just took the time to do a couple of tests... and have come to the conclusion this was indeed a "sun related" incident. I took a flashlight to the area around my expression pedal.... and sure enough, without moving the pedal (leaving it in a fixed "full on" position I was able to vary the reading of the pedal with the flashlight alone. Not a lot (I could drop reading from 100 to high 80's) but enough to convince me sunlight (at the right angle) could certainly have an effect on the expression pedal. This is not a problem I am overly worried about... the light angle and strength has to be very specific. In my case it was a "setting sun" hitting the side of the unit dead on... a position I may NEVER find myself in again! Unless this rears it's head with regular sunlight, or stage lights - I'm not concerned about it.

Yes it is an LT.... and I do believe it's an optical issue, not a mechanical or software problem. At the precise moment I had the problem the sun was at a particular angle, hitting EXP side of the helix. That is why I thought about the issues I used to have with my X3.... the EXP would not work at all in the sun. Even though things worked for the night and still work as expected right now I still did a Global Reset, and manually entered my global values. We'll see how it does at this weekends "outdoor" gigs!

Me too.... We differ there... for 35+ years I have battled on stages when sunlight is a factor. Aside from some pedals with "super bright LED's" (which completely blind you on dark stages) I could never see the status of my effects in sunlight. Same experience with all the different multi effects I've owned.... such as Roland/Boss, Digitech, Zoom, and earlier Line 6 products. Sunlight has always been my nemesis. Maybe implementation can be improved such as your suggestion to have the ability to invert the scribble strips... or maybe a brightness control can be added, or more contrast options. But TBH, this reads like a passive aggressive "cheap shot" in the middle of an otherwise helpful post.

Your numbers are flawed. You are missing a key point... and it throws quite a monkey wrench in your theory. Business 101: Line 6 doesn't sell them for $1500.... the retailer does! That means it's gone through 2 or even 3 stages of markup... and Line 6 is only responsible for one of those, at the lowest level of profit! L6 profits are likely about 25% - 30% of what you assume they are! And those profits need to pay for the salaries, the R&D, the marketing, the support, the business taxes, the office, the warehouse, the office supplies, the hand trucks, the toilet paper, etc... etc... etc...

The latest version of 32 bit JAVA should be fine.... If you try the auto installer it will try to install the 64 bit version, you need the 32 bit version.

Although the 108 would be considered a budget FRFR.... it should not sound bad, just not as good as higher end models. Many people use the Headrush successfully... so it should work for you. I use a "budget" FRFR myself but not the headrush.... I have no problems getting what I need out of it. A few suggestions to try.... Do not engage the contour button on the headrush. You want this unit to be as flat as possible. Engaging the contour might give you a false sense of "bigger" at first.... but it actually will thin out the tone substantially.... especially as you play louder. Try and decouple it from the floor as much as possible. I usually find the "monitor position" is enough for me with these types of boxes, you may need to actually lift it. "Louder" will always be perceived as "better"..... are you attempting to listen to the FRFR really quietly.... or are you able to actually push it a little? And here is one to be aware of.... Headphones are stereo, the FRFR is mono! Just like the volume I mention above, stereo will almost always be "perceived" as bigger and better.

Without seeing or hearing your actual preset.... I can only lend my general opinion on Strats. I have always found them to sound somewhat "compressed" compared to most other guitars. This is more pronounced on the 2/4 positions and/or if the pickups are set too high (or strings to low).

Every patch I have includes a volume block w/audio taper with the internal volume pedal connected to it. I don't swap out for wah or anything else... just volume! This EXP is set to global, not preset or snap. At yesterday's soundcheck my rig was running normal during monitor checks... but when we went to do a song I had nothing! Quick troubleshooting reveals that my expression starting going from 0 (heel down) - 100 (middle) - 0 (toe down). It did this on ALL presets, and multiple restarts did not solve it! It's never done that before! Knowing it's behavior I figured I would get through sound check, then do a global reset and see if that solves it. We ran a few songs, and I pretty much left the EXP pedal at the half point. During our last tune (about 20 minutes later) it began working as it should. It restored itself as fast as it died, right out of the blue! No issues during the two set show last night, it performed flawlessly. I never had to do a global reset! Has anyone else has ever experienced such a thing? It got me thinking about my old X3 Live.... where the SUN LIGHT would sometimes render the Expression pedal useless. The brightness of the sun was certainly hitting the Helix from the side at the time, where light could enter under the pedal.... it wasn't that hot (about 75 degrees) so it wasn't a heat issue, but the light was certainly a direct hit when it started happening. Any chance this old X3 Live problem has returned.... or does anyone have any other thoughts?

LT owner here with latest (2.92 as of today) firmware installed.... I just created a blank path and assigned a footswtich to Ext Amp TIP and another footswitch to Ext Amp RING Tip On = 2.97v Tip Off = 2.97v Ring On = 4mv Ring Off = 4mv Those numbers are very similar to your numbers.... NOTE: Voltage is irrelevant. For EXT amp switching, a dead short is suppose to be created between "tip / sleeve" and "ring / sleeve". On my LT, both the TIP and the RING properly dead short to sleeve when I press the corresponding foot switches. IMO... You need to test for dead shorts.... if those are working as expected, then the problem is at your amp, not from the Helix. If those are not dead shorting, then the problem is at the Helix.

IMO ... Tone is great, playing is great! You've captured the essence of the original track... although a little dirtier. As mentioned already... I'd prefer to hear it sit more in context with the song, not overwhelm it. It's OK if we hear the original track a little :)