codamedia

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.

All amps/channels have their own distinct characteristics, however they also follow the same general principle for usage. Preamp up / Master Down for overdrive tones Preamp down / Master Up for clean tones On the Helix, the preamp volume is referred to as "Drive"... that is where your overdrive comes from. The higher this is, the dirtier the amp will be. You adjust the overall volume of the model with the "channel volume" once you get the desired breakup from the "drive" level. For the cleanest tone possible, turn the "channel volume" up full then turn up the drive to achieve your desired volume. There are a few amps (such as the Twin) that will stay clean for a long time, but in general, most amp models will begin to break up when the "drive" is pushed past 4. This happens with the REAL AMPS as well... it's the nature of the beast! One more consideration, the hotter your guitar or the louder the effects in front of the amp are, the lower the "drive" has to be on the amp for it to begin breaking up. Since you play a Les Paul Studio don't be surprised if you have to keep the DRIVE down to 2 or 3 to keep an amp models clean... that's normal. There are also some amp models that WILL NOT clean up at all... that's because the model is sometimes the high gain channel of a specific amp. EG: SOLO LEAD OD will never clean up... while SOLO LEAD CLEAN will. That is exactly how a SOLDANO SLO Amp operates.

I am not saying this is your problem, but please double check to make sure you have done the following.... and don't make any assumptions, double/triple check! Disconnect the Helix from the computer Download and Install the latest version of HX Edit (2.81 as of this reply) During install.... DO NOT uncheck any of the options. Just install the entire package.... DO NOT open HX Edit..... The updater will run into problems if HX Edit is open! When that is complete.... Connect the Helix, Start the Helix and run the UPDATER again. If the updater still cannot see the Helix, restart the HELIX with FS6 & FS12 pressed then restart the updater.

I'm a creature of habit... my favorite amp for cleans in the real world was the normal channel of a Blackface Deluxe... so that's what I lean to in the Helix, without disappointment.

The Helix will not function as an interface between your 1st gen Variax and Workbench on a computer. There are some basic functions that do work between the Helix and Variax such as power & model select, but that's it. I have a Variax 300 & I'd love to unload my old HD500... but can't because it the Variax umbilical cord to the computer.

You can easily assign ONE alternate tuning per preset through the controller section with a single button.... but I don't see an easy way to assign 4 separate tunings on 4 buttons. You might be able to do this via midi but it will require some experimenting and my Variax is an original model so I cannot test my theory. Connect a MIDI jumper between the OUT and IN (make sure midi thru is turned off in the global settings) Assign the tuning parameter controller to a MIDI CC # Use Command Center to send the correct values to the appropriate CC # for each footswitch.

I also run my XLR out at MIC level and have it disengaged from the volume control... yet every now and then during soundcheck a tech will yell across the room "can you pad the DI on the guitar?" For those occasions I have re-purposed my global EQ since I never use it as an EQ. I set it to XLR outputs only, leave all EQ settings flat and turn down the level about 6db - 10db. It's really easy to engage/disengage as required and makes a great variable pad. Of course, that is not an option if you use the Global EQ for it's intended purposes.

True.... in addition to my response above I should state that I only used HD Edit as a sketchpad, I rarely did any tone editing on it. I preferred to do all of that on the HD itself... You may be on to something with this... although I have encountered a few inconsistencies and problems with HX Edit and the Helix in the past. But it's been rare enough that I do not know if it was the pairing or human error :)

Although i never finalized patches without being connected.... I found "offline mode" in HD Edit to be quite handy. For me conceptualizing a patch/preset is the beginning stage.... just like a flow chart in business or a storyboard for a film producer. Sure, I couldn't finalize anything but I know my gear - so I could get things into the ballpark rather quickly... without having my HD500 by my side. I own Helix Native so that has become my "offline" visualization with the Helix. I don't need a guitar in hand to conceptualize or prepare the routing for a preset. Just my take on it....

This is what I would do.... then I could insert it anywhere I want in any particular chain rather than be tied to the front of the Helix.

There is about 5 - 6 repeats, each one substantially quieter than the previous. The Helix can easily do this on most delay choices. If you set the feedback too high it is going to get in your way.... the very first repeat should be equal value (or quite close) to the actual note you played. Any basic delay will accomplish this... heck, I use to do this with a boss DD-3. Dotted 8th subdivision Tap in the tempo via quarter notes... (eg, 1, 2, 3, 4) Play the PART on the QUARTER NOTES... do not try to play it like you hear it! The part you play is extremely simple... the delay does the magic.

The latest version of Helix Native has an option to disengage hardware compatibility... this means you will not run out of resources, providing your computer can handle it. Total # of Blocks = 32 This is split into 4 paths of 8 blocks each There are two primary paths.... and each primary has a parallel path. If you don't need any parallel effects you can create a larger serial chain... which is how you can ultimately end up with 32 effects.

Well... it all depends on how you monitor. This will not work well if you are listening through headphones, studio monitors, PA cabinet, etc... etc.... This WILL work well if you are listening through the power amp input on a guitar amp or any power amp into a standard guitar cabinet. The above scenario's are not equal, and need to be approached differently.

As a programmer by trade.... the reported error usually suggests a line that has no issues at all, what is directly before that line is the problem. In other words... if the last three presets are scrambled, look closely at the 4th last preset. This is what I would try.... Reload the original setlist from 2.6 Let the Helix rebuild the presets export the last 5 presets separately... while they appear to be in working order. Remove the 4th last one from the Helix (or copy a blank preset over it) NOW try and export / import the setlist and see what happens. You now have the last 5 presets (individually wrapped) that you can load individually which may help you isolate the problem.