duncann

The manual doesn't say anything about it. It was introduced in firmware 2.61 I believe, back on 4/3/15, after the manual was written. It's also not editable via the edit program. Here's the info about it from from the firmware release notes: To access Global EQ: Press and hold the VIEW button to open the Setup Menu. Using the four-way, cursor right until you see the Global EQ screen. Turn Knob 1 to select the desired EQ band (Low Cut, Low, Mid, High, High Cut) and turn Knobs 2, 3, and/or 4 to adjust the selected band. To bypass or enable Global EQ, press ENTER.

Don't know about currently, but a while back, more than a year ago, you could download an earlier version of axe-edit from Fractal's website. One of those earlier versions allowed an offline mode. However, it probably wouldn't work with more recent patches, if you can even find the earlier version.

There is mousewheel support for at least one thing, and that's when the parameter list for a model is longer than what the UI is capable of displaying. If you have 4k monitor and use it at that resolution, that's likely not a problem though. Keyboard shortcuts are severely lacking right now. I was able to get it so that I could control the parameters using the arrow keys but I had no idea how I got to that point. It was useless anyway because it increased/decreased the values in large jumps.

If I had the time and programming skills, I might attempt to write an offline editor myself, but I don't. I remember someone else mentioning they might give it a shot. Can't remember who that was. It actually doesn't seem like it would be super difficult to make one. The presets are json files and all the models libraries are also json files. One thing that would be missing, I think, is exact DSP allocation.

There is a hitch if you have the model packs.

I noticed this also. I have no clue what that could be referring to. I could sometimes get the arrow keys to work though. For example, I could switch between the editor and global EQ by making sure the focus is on the preset list (there is no indication of where the focus is, however, which is a problem), hitting tab, then the right arrow. From there you'd think hitting the left arrow would switch back to the editor. It doesn't. Or I found you can use the arrow keys, this time left and right works, to switch between home, footswitch assign, controller assign, and command center, after hitting tab five times starting with the focus on the preset list. It currently doesn't make much sense, but it looks like something might be planned for keyboard control. Hope so anyway.

I kind of expected this because I remember hearing there won't be an offline mode. Disappointing nonetheless. A bigger downer might be the almost complete lack of keyboard navigability. Too much depends almost solely on mouse control. Where's the use of arrow keys to change values? Right now the best way is right clicking and entering a value directly. Arrow keys would be easier and potentially quicker. Where's the use of the TAB key to change where the current focus is? The only way to scroll if an effect/amp has too many parameters is by using the mouse wheel or trying desperately to find the almost invisible scroll bar. The colors interfere with the text on certain things, like delays, making it impossible to read. White text on bright green background? Yikes. Just a little feedback for Line 6. Not good initial impressions for me, as you can tell. It doesn't do a $1500 device justice at the moment. People who say editing on the device itself is easier probably weren't kidding at all. But I'm still glad to have something besides the device itself to edit with, saving both my back and Helix's buttons. So thanks Line 6.

I hope this problem is a software problem and not hardware. If it's hardware, it's probably not fixable for current owners. I wonder if Line 6 did any sort of environmental and noise testing on Helix, ESD, EMI, humidity, temperature, etc. Like Gawwuf, I can also induce a dropout if I turn on a fluorescent light. I can get sound back by just unplugging and replugging the cable from Helix.

Lol. Couldn't be clearer. :lol: (I obviously get what you meant to say)

It's an actual circuit, not modeled, in the HD. By default it's set to auto and what that does is match the input impedance to the first effect in the chain. As to what it does in terms of tone, it's pretty much as I described above. For bass, I've always put that on 3.5M because of the extra brightness it gives. But I like a bright, trebley bass tone most of the time. It's by no means a tone sculpting tool, just a finishing touch kind of thing. It's probably a better idea to get the tone as good as you can first, independent of this setting, by using the amp controls or possibly some EQs. As to what input impedance technically is, and why it affects tone the way it does, here's one source of info.

The default settings for the global EQ are more or less transparent, according to this topic. Post #23 shows the default settings. While there is some low cut going on, I doubt it's anything perceivable, but I guess it's possible, maybe more so with a bass guitar. As an alternative to the global EQ, you could try using the guitar-in Z global setting. Use a lower value to achieve a softer, less bright tone. The good thing about this setting is it can be used either globally or per preset.

The only reason I can think of is that it might take away from the development of Helix itself. Other than that, I don't see how an editor can be a bad thing. Just have to be patient a little longer than if there was no editor.

48kHz here with dropouts.

I don't think there's any basis for this. I have routinely used Reaper and HD Edit at the same time. No problems. And I often forget I have the current Helix app open while Reaper is running. Never encountered a problem. By the way, DI said somewhere a couple of days ago, he hopes the editor is coming sometime next week, or the end of the month as others have said.

There is a global setting that's on by default which sends a PC midi message on a patch change. Turn that off and all should be well again.

It sounds like what you're describing is scenes. Sadly, I don't see any updates in the HD500X's future for what you want. It's possible, but very unlikely. Helix doesn't even have this ability yet. But if it does show up in any of Line 6's products, Helix will be the one to get it. Or maybe a next generation HD, who knows? The multiple min/max parameters via the peddle's sweep range is an interesting idea, but how would you control it with any accuracy, unless I'm missing something?

Let's assume you're talking about Helix. If not, please disregard. With the amp selected, press and hold the encoder below the amp's drive parameter. From there, select the controller (switch 4), set the min (49), set the max (67), hit the home button.

Yes. This sort of thing is really easy. And once you actually have the unit and do this, it's only a matter of seconds to program it.

You can do this. If I remember right, the limit is 8 functions per switch (block on/off toggle and/or parameter min/max toggle), and 64 per patch. Never ran into the limit which is why it's difficult to remember off the top of my head.

Don't know about a Les Paul in particular, but for the input settings, what you set those at could depend on what kind of tone you're after. If it's clean, it might be beneficial to set input 2 to something unused, so as not to drive the amp, and possibly any effects before the amp, too hard, creating unwanted breakup. For higher gain, setting both inputs to the same thing could be just what you're looking for for that little bit of extra edginess.

Please forgive if this has been mentioned earlier in the thread. One thing to consider when comparing these devices is the amount of time the firmware has had to evolve. Not sure about specific numbers, but it occurs to me that Fractal's AX8 firmware has been in development for quite a bit longer than Helix's. Since the sound character and quality of these sorts of devices are wholly dependent on the firmware, it could be something to think about for a fair comparison. Besides that, it's all subjective anyway. People can only offer their opinions. Others may or may not care about those opinions either... I've never used or seen in person an AX8, but just looking on virtual paper and at pictures of the AX8, in terms of hardware and design, I think Helix far out-paces the AX8.

You could temporarily set something up to toggle between two cab blocks. Assuming the cab blocks are being used on their own path, set a switch to toggle the route to parameter of an A/B split. A dual cab block is a parallel setup I think.Then when you want to see what both cabs sound like together, have the A/B split selected and just press the route to encoder, assuming you want each cab to have the same amount of input signal. Anyway, good idea to have a convenient one-half bypass on a dual cab block.

I'm always baffled by people that say less is more. That may be true, but only in some circumstances. The trick is identifying when less is more and when more is more. There is no absolute either way. Therefore, it's a dumb "rule", or even guideline, to begin with. Go with what works. Find out what works through experimentation.

Nothing as complicated as what you described. Pretty much what you see is what you get with Helix and patch organization. There is a global option to change the numbering scheme for each setlist: either 0-127, or 1A-32D. When using the 1A-32D it goes from 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A ... etc. So each group of four patches could be considered a bank. That's about as complicated a scheme that Helix has.

Not sure what real patches are. If you're referring to the factory patches, you can delete those if you want. There are 1024 patches and 8 setlists. Each setlist has 128 patches. You'd need to change things in both locations, or just change one and then copy that into the second location.