rd2rk

A 1x12 will never sound like a 4x12. If you mostly play in the bedroom, you rarely get to hear your 4x12 in all it's full-throated glory anyhow, and odds are you won't be using your Katana with more than 1 watt anyway. Just be aware that the Katana speaker is designed to be used with 100 watts. You will NOT hear speaker breakup at bedroom levels.

No. You need MIDI. If you don't have the head version and don't want to be tethered to a laptop, you need something like this: http://www.primovasound.com/midx_10.html

Cool. Get back when you've established what the buttons do (open/closed) and I'll work on a how-to demo.

Not sure what you mean. It's pretty easy to get back to a previous version, and the reset procedures work as described here:

It's not L6's fault that you're banned from TGP. I don't blame anyone for not using FB. BUT...... The Devs are NOT providing a deeper level of TECHNICAL SUPPORT on TGP or FB than you'll get here - they are NOT TECHNICAL SUPPORT - and the official (read:PAID) Technical Support staff don't hang out here OR on TGP OR on FB. The Devs on TGP and FB are nice enough, on their own time, to answer technical DEVELOPMENT RELATED questions on those platforms, as and if it's appropriate to do so. Just TRY getting that level of support from most anybody else other than possibly Fractal. You ain't gonna get it from Roland, that's for sure! Also, if you have a problem such as your LT Expression pedal is broke, or your band is on the road in Bulgaria and your Helix broke, or you need your Native Trial extended, or THIS FORUM IS BROKE, Frank Richotte will answer your PM on TGP PDQ, and get something done for you! THAT'S GREAT SUPPORT! This forum is where you go for support prior to opening a Support Ticket. If your issue doesn't get an answer here, it takes about as long to open a Support Ticket as it does to post here or anywhere else, and I've always gotten a reply within 24 hours. THAT'S great support. I guess it sucks that L6 upper management won't snap to attention and do whatever any spoiled, entitled, whiney or just plain delusional user DEMANDS that they do. I say - BRAVO! Final thought - when Official L6 personnel DO attempt to be helpful by posting here, they wind up taking a bunch of guff from spoiled, entitled, whiney users who have no appreciation for their efforts anyway. I'd stay away too. Except sometimes I LIKE fighting with spoiled, entitled, whiney people. But mostly I like to help when I can, and MOST of the people I help are appreciative of this forum. Rant Over.

That amp is tricky. The following was posted by phil_m, who actually owns one: "The Atma's footswitch input is a single TRS jack, so, yes, you can do it with one expression jack, but if you want to be able to switch between all three channels, it will take two footswitches. The thing about the Atma is that it's not really a 3-channel amp (I own the combo version). It's more like a two channel amp where you can switch between the Crunch and Solo settings on Channel 2. So one footswitch, the one set to Tip, will switch from Channel 1 to Channel 2. The other footswitch will switch between Crunch and Solo. Whether the first footswitch goes from Channel 1 to Crunch or Channel 1 to Solo depends on what Channel 2 was set to before you went back to Channel 1." If you have a 2 button TRS footswitch, use a continuity tester to see what is actually happening with the Tip/Ring/Sleeve (open/closed) in all of the possible button configurations: ON/OFF OFF/ON ON/ON OFF/OFF You'll need an INSERT cable (1/4" TRS to Dual Mono). The Stomp sends only ONE type of non-configurable MIDI message, PC (Program Change). The message sent corresponds to the Stomp Preset number: 01A=000 01B=001 01C=002 02A=003 etc. So, the VLC will have to be programmed to send the correct open/closed info for EACH preset that you use. Example: Preset 01A SS1=PC#000=ON/OFF Preset 01B SS2=PC#001= ON/ON etc. Here's the bad news: You're SOL on doing this with Snapshots. Stomp does not have CommandCenter, so you can't tell a Snapshot to send a different PC#, and you can't use CC#s because it doesn't send CC#s.

A certain percentage of users will always have problems, often caused by failure to follow instructions, the vagaries of the trillions of HW and SW configurations possible on Windows boxes, or the next Apple or Windows OS update Such is the nature of computers. For myself, all I can say is that I've had my Helix Floor for going on 4 years, and I've never regretted installing an update, nor had to fall back to a previous version. I HAVE had to reverse Windows updates, so as far as I'm concerned, L6 has a better update track record than Microsoft. That said, anyone who updates a critical device in the middle of an important project or the day before a make or break gig is terminally foolish. Such is the nature of computers.

Be happy to help, but you'll need to provide the exact make/MODEL of the amp.

Just wait until 2.9 is finally released, and folks start complaining about it. THAT'S when the FUN starts!

Your original post: "Looks like I struck a nerve lol. Prove me wrong then rd2rk. Show me a "single" post from the CEO/Owner of Line-6 here, on this forum, and I'll apologize and shut up. And BTW- if you can't do that, the you do the same. ; ) " Your edited post: Who struck a nerve? No, spikey, when you bark, I don't jump. I laugh :-). You're ticked at me because I outed you to a newbie that you were in the process of baiting. I don't want your apology, it would be meaningless. You are who you are. Just admit it! I will admit, though - DEMANDING that the CEO/OWNER of Line6 - some Japanese executive and a million faceless stockholders - come on this forum and allow themselves to be interrogated and abused by you - now THAT was funny!

Why is this so hard to understand? How many times does it need to be explained? If you REALLY care about this, go to The Gear Page. Go to Facebook. That's where this stuff gets posted. Is it really all that hard to click those links and save them to your favorites? I don't remember if it was here or over on TGP, but someone was saying that THIS forum serves as the "front lines" of Tech Support. It's where people come first to get help from other users, before they open a support ticket. It is not, and was never intended to be, a Line6 Customer Service or Official Announcements space. That stuff happens on the above sites. It's not like they don't want to talk to us. And they talk to us more than any other Music Industry company. They just prefer to do it elsewhere.

Qwerty42 - you've engaged in what you think might be a logical discussion with spikey. Logical is not his thing, he just likes to stir the pot, and he's got a "thing" for D.I. It goes way back. Just laugh.

You should move this to the POD HD area, but it's not likely the Alto. Search for FIZZ.

From the manual: The Helix device's Global EQ has three fully parametric bands plus variable low and high cut filters, and is used for compensating for the wide disparity in acoustic environments on tour or when traveling from studio to studio. Global EQ is applied to all setlists and presets, and can be heard from the 1/4" outputs, XLR outputs, or both. NOTE: Global EQ is never heard from Send, Digital, or USB outputs. So, if HEADPHONES MONITOR is set to MULTI or wherever the USB 1/2 DESTINATION is set you should be good. I just tried it on my Stomp with PHONES MONITOR set to Main L/R and it worked.

If the pedal sends MIDI CC then it will work. I don't know of any simple Expression pedals that send MIDI. I've tested Native with the FCB1010, works fine. The FBV, having a toe switch on the Exp pedal should be even better. Be aware that unless you have a MAC with Logic (maybe some others - READ THE LATEST NATIVE MANUAL), Program Changes don't work. Snapshots work fine, as they use CCs. The FBV might not have enough buttons, you may want the bigger version. READ THE MANUAL! I had the larger version of the FBV for a while when I had a HD500, seemed to be sturdy and not too difficult to program. If you don't know what the various MIDI messages (PC,CC,NOTE) do, google it BEFORE trying to program the FBV. If all you care about is a WAH, just put one in front of the Focusrite. Works fine.

Yes, it's been brought up before. The reason there's not many votes on Ideascale is that there's just not a lot of people who think it's an awesome idea. Somewhere over on TGP one of the Helix designers addressed this, and IIRC it went something like this: There's an interaction between preamp and poweramp that is part of the reason why a specific amp sounds and feels the way it does. This interaction can be modeled when you're dealing with a specific amp. BUT - consider the total number of amps in Helix and figure out how much extra modeling would be necessary to match EVERY preamp with EVERY poweramp. Not practical to satisfy a handful of users who are mostly just wondering "I wonder what that would sound like?". This is also why (IMO/IME) many of us have discovered that using a Helix Preamp into the FX Return of a real amp, even the same kind, doesn't sound or feel the way we think it should. We might like the way it sounds, but it's just not the same as the real thing. Using the full Helix amp model (again, IME) sounds and feels better. If you'd really like to try this, pick up a copy of BIAS AMP. I think it's an epic fail ( I have it), but some people think it's great.

Come on spikey, I know you know this. But for anybody else who's just now discovered Helix, if you REALLY want to be kept up to date by REAL Line6 representatives (as opposed to just whining about why they don't hang out HERE), this is where you go: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line6-helix.1586637/page-3309#post-30295169 That's the most recent page as of today, and you may have to (OMG!) SEARCH for posts by @DigitalIgloo, but if you really want to know, this is where to go. And since we're waxing poetic: S'truth!

Here's a really good and very relevant post, The poster is very active, and one of the more reasonable and knowledgeable posters on TGP. https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/the-differences-can-be-negligible.2135974/#post-30293157

What sounds good is totally subjective. What sounds good to me might sound awful to you. Asking that kind of question (Which one sounds best?) will get you nothing but a thousand meaningless opinions. Spend 15 minutes over on The Gear Page in the Digital and Modeling forum, where all of your questions have been asked dozens of times, and you'll see what I mean. Bring aspirin! Start by getting a decent set of monitors. I use Rokit6, but Yamaha, JBL and MANY others make totally acceptable monitors. Decide how much you want to spend, check the PROFESSIONAL reviews and specs and go for it! I live in an apartment, and the 6 inch Rokits are plenty loud and have enough bass to sound good. I wouldn't get anything less than 5". The new PODGO series will sound just like the more expensive units in the series and will be MUCH simpler to use. You don't say where you are, but "no shop near me" means you'll either buy something used locally, or buy online from someone with a good return policy. Unfortunately, no matter how much research you do, all you'll get is personal opinions like "I use this or that, it's the best!" You're going to have to go through the same process as most all of us did. Start cheap and try things until you find something you like. The level of complexity of these devices tends to increase with cost, but "costs more" does NOT necessarily equate to "sounds better". Don't worry about IRs. It's a rabbit hole full of "Tone-sniffers" who'll argue endlessly over who makes the best. More opinions, more cost, more wasted time. The built-in Helix cabs sound just fine. And that's MY opinion. The one thing that I would recommend as a basic requirement is that the unit you decide on should be able to be used as an Audio Interface. You'll eventually want to record yourself and play along to backing tracks and streaming music services. Most modern modelers have this ability. Good Luck and Have Fun!

At $150US/$190CDN, and differeing programming/configuration requirements for every plugin, at what point does it become more practical to just buy a proper Whammy Pedal and control it with MIDI from the Helix?

Don't forget your mask and gloves when you're pissin' up that rope. :-) BUT....over on TGP Frank said that, while we're not getting ready for a landing yet, you might want to finish your drink and use the restroom......

Omnisphere has MIDI LEARN. See MIDI CC here: https://support.spectrasonics.net/manual/Omnisphere2/25/en/topic/glossary-index The Serum manual, as far as I can see, is only available from within Serum.

The Massive Manual starting on Page 34 addresses this. There's more I'm sure.

Expression pedals send a CC# with Values. They don't send Pitch Bend. The synth does the translation work. If Serum doesn't provide LEARN, then there's probably a fixed CC#. What does the Manual say in the MIDI section (usually an appendix)? If they're capable, the others should do likewise.

No. But don't overthink it. Helix is a VIRTUAL tone machine. All you're doing is amplifying the signal that comes out of it. The main reason that effects are put between pre and power amp ITRW is that there's no practical way to put them AFTER the power amp/speaker, as might be done on a studio recording. Before amps had FX loops, ALL effects came BEFORE the preamp. Also, don't limit yourself. Many of us have found that the preamp by itself is not an ideal sound. ITRW there's an interaction between pre and power amp that you won't get between the Helix preamp and your physical power amp. That interaction is specific to the amp being modeled, and is modeled into the FULL amp model. Again, your physical amp is doing nothing more than amplifying the sound from the Helix and providing the interaction between power amp and speaker, but the two interactions (virtual pre/power and RW power/speaker) are separate happenings.