codamedia

It is interesting that come people are experiencing this and others are not... I wonder if this problem is associated with a particular unit (floor, stomp, lt, etc...) or possibly a particular combination of an amp and/or effect and the LA Comp? I fully agree with this... if I can find a 4 - 5 day stretch between gigs I will certainly try the update. I just want to make sure I have enough time to properly test it before taking it to the stage.

I know the BOSS says 5150... but it sounds nothing like a 5150 to me therefore it's leading you in the wrong direction. It's mid focussed It's low gain In other words, it sounds more like EVH's earlier tones than it does his 5150 tones..... For that.... give a Plexi Jump a try. Default settings should be close (guitar has a huge impact on that... adjust gains and tones as required)... but you will also need to add a little reverb and delay. Final Note: the guitar part on that video is really poorly recorded so my perception of both 1&2 could be out to lunch :)

This is what I like to hear.... it's my main concern of 2.8 / 2.8.1 Ahh crap... back down to earth :) I really want to update but my schedule is just too busy right now to take the chance. I'll stick to 2.7 for a little longer. That's not a complaint, just fact. I do expect these oddities with such a large update.

They may use modern gear, but coming from the 80's they are not likely to abandon the tone from that era.... JCM800. That tone will be embedded in their mind, and they will dial in any modern amps in that direction. Keep in mind, these guys don't use the same tone for rhythms & leads.... they change it! You can't just set a rhythm and expect to use that for lead... Here is what I suggest... (thinking Whitesnake since you mention them a few times) Setup a basic patch.... from scratch so you don't inherit other attempts to fix it Insert a JCM 800 or the 2204Mod Dial in a rhythm tone.... try different mics and distances as part of the eq process If you need/want a reverb or delay, go ahead and add it to sweeten the tone. IMO... this is best done AFTER getting a basic tone. You should be able to get a great rhythm tone with nothing more added..... if you aren't, keep working on it. Once you have a great rhythm tone... time to work on the lead... Place a KLON or Tube Screamer in front of the amp. You do not need a lot of GAIN on the effect, certainly not more than half.. probably lower. Adjust the output level to be just slightly louder than when the pedal is off By default.... the KLON or TUBE SCREAMER is going to thicken the tone when you engage it, and make it a touch louder if setup as I suggested. This is perfect for leads.... it beefs up the tone and cuts through a mix. To sweeten the lead tone more.... engage a delay (about 350ms) with a few repeats at the same time as the overdrive. Keep the mix fairly low... just enough to blend the notes smoothly. Another trick used often by groups like this is a half cocked wah pedal for leads. Do a little research on that and try it out... but not until you get the basic tones up and running. You can try other amps.... but that era was JCM800 more times than not. I really suggest you START there! Same applies to the overdrives I suggested. Good luck

^^^ probably this ^^^ The number shown at the bottom of the HX Edit screen when it opens is the Firmware version of your device. To see the installed HX Edit version.... click "Help > About".

So much great info provided already in this thread.. especially @silverhead's comment a post or two above. I'm going to try and tackle this one :) You are monitoring through headphones... therefore the guitar has "zero" interaction with any volume. Sustain is often the result of an amp being turned up, and the guitar interacting with that amp. If you monitor the Helix through an FRFR (or similar) and get it up to levels similar to a "real amp", then it will sound and feel more like a "real amp". (This is partly because you will setup the amp model in a more realistic way was well) There are tricks to simulate this type of interaction through IEM (headphones) or at lower volumes, but those tricks won't be implemented in any presets... you would need to learn how to add those yourself. There isn't really a "one trick fits all". Boosts, pre-amps, compression, overdrives, EQ, delay, reverb, etc... etc... can all help provide depth, loudness and sustain... how it is applied will change from tone to tone. Just my 2 cents....

Take the time to set it up at home and balance the patches as much as possible to eliminate this. There is a channel volume on every amp, and there is an output block that you can adjust the volume on to achieve this. There is no way the Helix can magically set all levels... you do have to do this on your own. When done, you won't have to bend over between songs ever again :)

It disturbs me that DI takes the stance that meters are useless. That's not the open mind I would hope to exist with someone closely connected to product development at Line 6. Of course our ears are the final judge (yes, I need to make sure that is clear)... but in my experience meters are a tremendously valuable tool for establishing the base level when setting up a preset. When i get to rehearsal... only a small tweak here or there is ever needed. Some common sense goes a long way. It's up to you to know the relationships between your presets... not just set them all to the same level on a meter and expect it to work. In my experience.... Ears should be trusted "in context". This would be in a rehearsal or on a stage at proper volume. Ears LIE "out of context". Trying to setup tones without the reference of stage or rehearsal. EG: How often have you setup a distorted lead tone at home by ear, only to take it to the stage and find that "screaming lead" gets buried in context with the rest of the band. If you put a METER on what you just setup... you will find that you set your lead (by ear) substantially quieter than the normal tone even though it sounded balanced. If you use the meter to balance the level it will sound way too loud on it's own... but in a mix, it's actually much closer to being right. NOTE: The same applies to a compressed clean sound... and every type of tone will apply differently. There is no right way or wrong way.... find a method that works for you and use it. I really wish DI and Peter wouldn't tell everyone that uses a meter they are wrong for doing so. I know it works REALLY WELL for me to set the base level for the patch.

No, bank selection cannot be moved to any other button location.

I'm a little disappointed that this still resides in the "known issues" category.... That's the biggest concern I had with 2.8 as I use the LA Comp near the end of every preset I use... therefore I have never updated from 2.7.1 I don't have a break in gigs until September.... actually late September. Had this been resolved in 2.8.1 I may have rolled the dice with a few days between gigs, but if it's still hanging around I'll have to wait until I get a good week or two off before I can attempt the update.... even for testing. C'est la vie! I'll still update Native and enjoy the new features there.

Phantom only effects the balanced signal (TRS or XLR). Since you are coming out "unbalanced" it should not effect you. That said... are you properly converting from hi imp (unbalanced) to low imp (balanced)? If that cable is just wired end to end all bets are off... it should be going through a transformer for a proper conversion. (ie: direct box) This is exactly how and why I do the same thing...

FWIW.... low mids are not the cause of "thin fizzy tone"... high mids maybe, but not low mids. I can visualize this problem immediately... it's not the models, it how they are dialed in. Those mid scooped chug sounds are wimpy thin buzz saws when attempting to play a lead. You need to reduce the scoop, especially when striking out to do a solo. That's nothing more than a general approach... without knowing how you monitor yourself it's nearly impossible to provide specific suggestions.

Just one more to add.... 2.1.... do not open HX Edit (or keep it open) while running the updater!

In fairness... I know what you mean but IMO, (trying not to get political) the race problem needs some addressing and the card is played appropriately and blindly discarded by others as much as it is over played... just saying :) But the point is extremely valid... it's a default insult when you actually have nothing substantial to debate.

As for the 2.8 installer... I do agree with many here, it's not hard to add a safe guard and it should have been done. The "firmware install" should be checking to make sure HX Edit and the Drivers are properly updated before attempting to update the firmware in the hardware. Even if they couldn't automate the other updates from that, it could have stopped the install process and told the user to go read the instructions again :) That said.... anyone that calls me a fanboi has never seen my account and the tickets associated with it! I don't complain to the public (these forums, facebook, tgp, etc...)... I complain to the people that need to hear it (L6 through the ticket system). It's amazing how much gets resolved through the proper channels :) 100% of the time? IME they bat about 80% - 90%... then get it right 1 or 2 updates down the road. I consider this to be the way it is with software (any company) and that saves me a lot of unnecessary grief :)

TBH... I did update my Helix Native to the latest update so I could test the new models and such. I'm enjoying 2.8, just not on my LT yet :)

I'm in the exact same situation... but for me it was an easy decision and solution. As soon as I realized that this was a complete re-write of the CORE I made the conscious decision (right then and there) to be patient and wait until 2.8.1 was released. I do the same thing when my DAW releases a major update. I wait for the dot release while everyone else finds the bugs. I do the same thing when Microsoft does a major update on Windows 10 (every March and November).... I wait until the first round of "fixes" are completed before I do the update. (eg: Windows update 1903 broke a lot of audio systems.... I waiting until the April fix was released before I updated) It's all software... and if I need to rely on it I am not going to be an early adopter of any major release! Coming from an IT background I do have one complaint... an update as major as this one should have been given the 3.0 designation making it obvious that a major change has taken place. Just my perspective :)

That's an assumption you shouldn't make.... just because you have the problem doesn't mean everyone does, and therefore that doesn't mean L6 is aware of it. They didn't test on "your system", and the beta testers don't have "your system" either. L6 wants to hear about this stuff, just in case they haven't become aware of it.

If it's only going into your mixer, and you have no intentions of ever turning on phantom power (when the HX is plugged in) then no, you don't need a blocker. I can't get away with that.... I play too many different clubs and venues with a variety of mixers/techs. Rather than go through the same talk over and over with techs that may or may not understand the problem is far more difficult than just plugging in a blocker and not worrying about it. Before I had blockers I just ran a DI to be safe.

Mine is set to log... that's what most "real" volume pedals have.

As you know... 2.8 was the first firmware able to utilize L6 link so I think the implementation is still in it's infancy. Take a look on ideascale to see if someone has made a feature request and upvote it... if nobody has, you can lead the charge and make the request. In the meantime... you could use midi instant commands in the control center and run a midi cable back to the PC Plus. Not ideal, but a possible solution until they expand the Link capabilities.

Update... the great deal was a bust. I don't mind wear and tear, but not abuse. It was absolutely filthy and had two pots broken off in the mixer. Even at the low price I was quick to walk away.

If you think about your setup... the delay and reverb heading to your AMP (path without IR) is also before the speaker... isn't it? It's really all a matter of taste. With a product like a Helix you have the ability to apply effects the way you might in a studio but that doesn't mean you have to. You can still apply them the way every guitar player has always done with traditional amp setups over the years. Common practice is to place those effects in the effects loop of an amp which is between "Pre-Amp & Power Amp" which are certainly before the speaker (ir). Not to mention, any amp with built in reverb has it placed in the same position... always before the speaker.

TBH... that is always my first choice... but I also use a Helix. With a stomp that burns one of the six precious blocks... so I always reach for other solutions when possible.

"The computer companies just don't want to deal with it"? It is Line 6's choice to abandon the original Variax, not Windows and MAC. MAC and Windows do not write the software for line 6 products.... Line 6 does. If Line 6 wanted Workbench (pre HD) to work with the latest versions of the OS, they would update it. Line 6 chooses not to! How can you say Line 6 Supports it? If you contact line 6 about installing it on Windows 10 they tell you it is only supported up to Windows 8.1. If you try and install it on Windows 8.1 (or even Windows 7) you get a Java error... and it won't work at all unless you have Java installed on your system already. There is no additional support from Line 6 about getting it installed and working, even on a supported OS... users are on their own! The real kicker. Variax Workbench works on Windows 10.... I just used it again this week. Sadly, Line 6 won't even list it as supported by Windows 10 on their site, and Line 6 won't update the Java pointer in the installer so that forces people to install their own version of Java and ignore/bypass all the warnings. For most people this is just too much.... for me, it's just a pain in the butt.