codamedia

I have only looked at custom tone once or twice over the years.... but the process should be straight forward. 1: Go to Custom Tone and download a preset you want. Remember where you save the preset on the computer. 2: Connect your HD500 to the computer and open HD Edit 3: Edit should recognize the HD500 and you should see it load the presets from the unit 4: Find a place you want to load the new preset (you will likely have to overwrite something) and double click it 5: IMPORT the preset you downloaded in step one to that location and "send it to the HD500". NOTE: If you don't "send it to the HD500", it will only be temporarily loaded to hear it then when you restart the HD it will be tone.

That 2nd picture is HD Edit.... According to Monkey, you do not have HD 500X Edit Installed. Just highlight "HD 500x Edit" and press update selection. Then open HD Edit once it's installed.

Well.... there is a method to decide what gets controlled by the master volume knob, so that is a non-issue. If you want software control over the XLR outs separately, I have mentioned a work around a few times in these forums, and even in this thread. Of course, this does not help if you are already utilizing the global EQ. Assign the global EQ to XLR only and leave all EQ settings flat (no cuts or boosts). Now you can adjust the volume of the XLR outs with the "level" parameter in the Global EQ.

My recommendation for the OP is baby steps... don't try to accomplish it all in one shot. You don't know exactly where the breakdown of tone is occurring so you keep twisting knobs hoping to resolve it. You need to break that cycle by creating a tone you can trust... That amp has a power amp in doesn't it... try it! Plug the Helix into the power amp input, and run the speaker cabinets you are used to. Now learn how to create the tones in the Helix using the same power and speakers you are used to hearing. The only caveat to this is that you should use a "pre-amp only" amp or the full amp with no cabs... stay away from any cabs during this stage. This will help you find an amp model that does what the Ampeg does, and the effects to replace your existing effects. The side benefit is that through this process you are learning how to use the Helix. Take all the time you need... it doesn't have to be done in a weekend. Once you have replaced your effects and pre-amp of the Ampeg with a tone you trust from the Helix you can begin to replace that poweramp/cabinet(s) with the Powercab and possibly some cab blocks and ir's. That will be another learning curve but you have a foundation to start from! You are already aware that it won't sound as big or move as much air... but volume compensated (ie: at lower volumes) you should be able to equal the tone... now just learn to let the PA do the heavy lifting. Just my 2 cents....

Hard to say for sure ... there could be several reasons. Playing to soft? You need to play "through" the note or you will get a scratchy string noise. Don't underestimate the role of the fretting hand... it has a duty to mute as well! Strings vibrate a lot, even behind the fretted note. That's the job of the fretting hand to control. Guitar noise... springs, lose parts, a single lose bridge adjuster, etc... etc.... Something you cannot hear acoustically can come through loud and clear when amplified... especially with higher gain. If you can find a way to share an audio sample, I think many of us could identify the possible issue and fix.

Ahhhhh, I miss the 80's and the midi implementation charts that came with it :) I often wonder what these forums would be like if the Helix interface and operation was more like a DX7!

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure I've read that when it is set to auto the impedance is set by the first "on" effect in the chain. This would make for a very natural setup as you engage/disengage effects. EG: Guitar > Fuzz > Wah > Amp In that simple chain, normally the guitar would see the impedance of the amp... but when you engage one of the other effects the impedance will change accordingly as it would with the real pedals. The option to override that with a fixed value is great for those that used to run a buffer at the front of their pedal boards or an "always on pedal" that would keep the guitar isolated from the rest of the effects. The guitar will always react to the fixed value regardless of the effects that follow. FWIW I come from the later camp and prefer a fixed setting for consistency... but with some vintage effects (fuzz, wah, etc... etc... ), that take over of impedance (when first in chain) was part of the magic that makes them work at their best.

If nobody has those patches to share you could downgrade your firmware, do a factory reset, then export those presets individually. Then you would have to do the update again, do another factory reset, then restore those presets.

I have no idea about the Lunatic model.... I'll stay out of that one. The JMP-1 was a classic pre-amp, I think you best bet is to make a feature request for it and hope others (including the folks at L6) agree. Line 6 uses ideascale for feature requests... so don't ask for it here. (http://line6.ideascale.com) FYI: I just took a look and there is 1 request for a JMP-1 already there... you could just upvote that... https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Marshall-JMP-1Valve-Midi-Preamp-model/925906-23508 The JMP-1 was just 4 pre-amp models of their already famous amps. Do you know what channel was modeled in the X3? I'm thinking they went for channel 4.... but this is how I would approach each channel. Channel 1: Pre-amp version of the "Brit J-45 Nrm" Channel 2: Pre-amp version of the "Brit J-45 Brt" Channel 3: Pre-amp version of the "Brit Plexi Jump" Channel 4: Pre-amp version of the "Brit 2204" or "2204 Mod"

There is nothing "as usual" about updating to 2.8 (or 2.81) from the earlier versions. There are comprehensive instructions on how to do it.... did you read those? Did the error state "Boot Failure. Entered Update Mode!"? If so... that was also part of the install process and is clearly laid out in the instructions. If that looks familiar, then this is how you recover.... Turn off the Helix Download the latest HX Edit (2.81) and install it When you get to the options section of the install... LEAVE THEM ALL CHECKED. That is safer than unchecking something you need in error. DO NOT Open HX Edit after it installs... if it is open it will interfere with the updater. Start the Helix with FS6 and FS12 pressed (this will force the Helix into update mode) Now start the LINE 6 Updater and it should guide you through a successful update. TIP: Pay attention to the messages on the computer screen, not on the Helix itself!

Sorry, I missed this question earlier. One great option with standard 4cm is the possibility to toggle between your amps pre-amp and different pre-amps in the Helix. You have completely eliminated this option. You have locked yourself into 8 effects before the amp, and 6 effects in the effects loop (2 blocks are required for send/return on the loops path). With standard 4cm you are not tied to a specific number in either location.... you just have a 32 block overall limit. You have tied yourself to 1 processor for all your guitar effects. This may result in DSP limits.

I have gathered that.... it seems you are grappling with having a SEND go to the input of your amp and an OUTPUT go to your return on your amp. SENDS are OUTPUTS that can be placed wherever you want them to be in the signal flow RETURNS are INPUTS that can be placed wherever you want them to be in the signal flow An EFFECTS LOOP is just a single block that handles both the SEND and RETURN... both in the same position in the signal flow. By why? That's what many of us are trying to figure out... and most gave up trying :) Whether you recognize it or not you have just added complication and limitation. Someday you may hit a brick wall (limitation) and the "aha" moment will hit you. As I said earlier... if it works for you then that is all that matters :) There really is no right or wrong to creating good tone.

If you really want to keep it modular... adding a 2nd HX Effects will work and yes you can control it with the first one... If you wanted to mix it up a little, you could add an HX Stomp which would give you some different options and it would also work.... BUT..... ^^^ This ^^^ 2 HX Effects... 18 blocks total w/2 processors and 2 power supplies 1 HX Effect + 1 HX Stomp ..... 15 blocks total w/2 processors and 2 power supplies Helix LT.... 32 Blocks Total w/2 processors, no power supply required... just a standard power cord. For the cost of 2 HX Effects (or 1 HX Effects and 1 Stomp) you can have a Helix LT. All in one... more switches, build in expression, no midi required.... no muss, no fuss. If you don't need the amp models, don't use them. I know a few guitarists that use the Helix for effects and routing... there is no harm/shame in that.

I just went back through all your posts and in every one of them you claimed the problem was solved... and in each case you admitted user error, and/or confusion from complicated instructions. What has changed that you are now trolling the forums telling everyone that 2.8/2.81 is nothing but problems. What bug has made the new version unusable for you and forced you back to 2.71? If there is a post already that I have missed, please point me to it so you don't have to re-write anything.

This sounds like a corrupted patch. Can you export and share the patch? I'd be happy to load it into Native and see how it responds there.

If it works for you then that is all that matters :) I'll be honest... this looks like a complicated solution to a problem that never existed to begin with... not to mention it puts a hard limit on effects and effects placement compared to a traditional 4 cable method.

That is the design of the firmware... if I engage tuner mode, then change patches - it comes out of tuner mode. I would imagine that any patch change (even via midi) would behave like that. I don't know of a setting in the Helix to change this.... you may have to make a feature request at ideascale (line6.ideascale.com). There is an easy way to work around this. If there is a long intro that doesn't require guitar at the beginning.... don't program Ableton to change the preset so quickly. Just have it do it moments before you come in. If you aren't ready at that point, that's a different problem.

When you install the latest version of HX Edit do not uncheck anything other than.... maybe... the stomp drivers (unless you have a stomp). I believe the WinUSB drivers are the "Windows USB Drivers", required for ALL HX devices on Windows.... I don't believe it is specific to the HX Effects. HX Edit (and all drivers) are required on the laptop as much as they are needed on the desktop in order for hot keys to work.

I reference the HD500 Model Gallery PDF that I have downloaded to my computer.... but that M series gallery posted by datacommando above would be more appropriate since the HD contains the amp models that are irrelevant.

2.81 is a bug fix release for 2.80... in theory, it is suppose to cause less problems, not more. That said... it did create a new bug for the LT, which is why they released 2.81.1 for the LT only. FWIW... I just updated to 2.81.1 from 2.7 and it was a very smooth transition. I am not experiencing any problems with this latest version... and although I use the LA Comp on all my patches, even that "known issue" (for the entire 2.8 line) has not reared it's ugly head. I waited to update until I had enough days between gigs to properly test.... hours after updating I got a call for an emergency "fill in". Thrown into the fire, 2.81.1 did not let me down at the gig... quite the opposite - it performed as I hoped it would.

IMO.... let the Helix assign everything by default and don't give it a second thought. Add the Volume Pedal block and the helix will automatically assign it to EXP2 Add the Pitch Wham block and the Helix will automatically assign it to EXP1 and the Toe Switch for on/off status L6 does it this way for a logical reason. An external expression becomes EXP2... and the toe switch and EXP 1 remain under 1 foot for natural wah and whammy effects. By default the pitch wham will set toe down to be 0 and heel to be -12. You can easily adjust those parameters any way you want. Keep in mind though... if you set toe down to be +12 the guitar will jump an octave the moment you engage the switch.

The Helix should not have any problems replicating a BOSS FS-6. This is done with the External Amp control within the Helix.... but the details of how to implement it will differ depending on which model of Helix you have. Don't let the term "amp control" fool you, that feature is really just the simplest of on/off footswitch implementation just like the FS-6 is. It works by shorting "tip to sleeve" or "ring to sleeve" as assigned in command center, or to a footswitch.

It took a lot of thinking on my end... but I think I finally figured out what is bothering you! You want a PAIR of cables for the effects loop that make connections side by side at both the HELIX and the AMP. IMO... you are overthinking this. When you need to run a snake (eg: 2 or more lines) from one place to another... just leave an extra foot or two at each end so they can be inserted wherever they need to. Tag the ends so you know where they go... that is very common on all professional stages. The majority of the length itself can be tied or wrapped together in one neat bundle. The number of cables do not differ from a standard 4cm... where they connect does. FWIW... yes this can be done, but IMO.... the limits this imposes on your effects chain within the Helix is not worth the minuscule difference in cable organization.

The only other suggestion i have is to open a ticket with Line 6 and let them sort it out. L6 customer service is as good as it gets...

This is going to sound silly and possibly insulting, but I don't mean it to be :) Are you sure you plugged into the guitar input? I only ask because sometimes at a gig I find myself accidentally plugging into the EXP input or RETURN in error and a moment of panic comes over me when I get no signal. Another test you can do is insert a RETURN BLOCK and plug into the appropriate return. The tuner is NOT automatically setup to input from the returns so don't rely on the tuner as a test unless you specifically change it's input. Did you do a full restore after updating the firmware (Hold FS9 and FS10 on boot).... loading the firmware does not do this automatically. Since you don't have any presets of your own yet, this will guarantee the Helix is loaded with all it's default settings giving you a clean start.