duncann

You are correct. It wouldn't matter because I'm using the spdif output only for monitoring. Everything takes place over USB and inside the computer. I've been enjoying Helix quite a bit, and don't regret getting one at all, so hopefully you can have a similar experience once you get one.

I've slowly been trying to track down what's been causing the dropouts I've been having. I've since tried running with 64 samples, no problems with that, except one dropout yesterday (I only ever got one dropout per session). I've also tried monitoring directly from the headphone jack, instead of spdif. No dropouts. I'm also just about done with 1.5 hour session using 64 samples and spdif, no dropouts. I should mention that just before this session I rechecked the cable going out of Helix's spdif. I also convert the coaxial digital to optical using one those cheap, powered converters you can find for about $20. So I checked the optical cable going from that to my computer. Basically reseated all the connections. So far so good. I really don't think anything is wrong the drivers at this point, at least on windows 7. I'm much more likely to blame the cheap converter.

I've experienced this problem, but firmware v1.02.2 seems to have fixed it. So you can rest easy knowing it's only a software problem.

I have both a 500 and 500X, and as far as I can tell, both ports look exactly the same. I've never had a problem with either one, but I rarely ever move either device, and I also rarely plug or unplug the usb port cable, because of the problems you mentioned.

Yea, I've found that DPC latency checker program, which didn't find anything wrong after letting it run for a while. The other program, LatencyMon, sees everything as OK as well, although dxgkrnl.sys (directx graphics kernel, microsoft) is the highest ISR reported, and the highest DPC is nvlddmkm.sys (nvidia). Earlier I've also tried a buffer setting of 128. Still dropped out. I should also mention I never hear any snaps, crackles, or pops at any buffer setting I've tried. I'm skeptical that it's something with my system, because I've used the HD500X without these dropouts. The ASIO driver selected in Reaper is really the only thing that changed. But I'm far from an expert at this, so it could just as easily be something with my system (bios settings?), or even user error. I have yet to try a different output from Helix, currently using spdif for monitoring. I'll try this because when the audio drops out when recording, the audio, at the time of dropout, is actually recorded. I don't have Helix connected through a usb hub. Using a 2.0 port on the back of the computer. Thanks for the suggestions.

It's pretty easy to try them in your DAW. You don't even have to pick your guitar up if you have a dry track recorded already. Use Helix's reamping feature. In Reaper I use the Reaverb plugin, where you can select one file in a folder, and after that, just use the arrow key on the keyboard to quickly scroll through the rest of the IRs in that folder, immediately hearing the difference. It's a good way to try and narrow down what you want to put on Helix when you have so so many files.

I've tried it on 256 and 512. I just have to remember to change this setting next time I use Helix. It's easy to forget until the dropout happens (damn, forgot to change it!), at which point it's too late, cause the dropout doesn't usually happen until 1+ hours of use and I'm just about done, until the next session, at which point I forget to change the buffer size, etc. lol. Could be something with the way Reaper interacts with the driver as well, I suppose, as well as who knows what with my system: Win7, z97, i7 4790K, 16GB, GTX 970. Thanks for the link to that LatencyMon program. Looks very helpful in narrowing down the problem.

Here's some quick results using RTL Utility:

Ah, ok. When I get a little more time I might take a look at that RTL utility. I do notice that at least once, usually only once, each session with Helix, I get a complete audio dropout while recording in Reaper. The dropout lasts for less than a second, but the audio I'm recording still records. I monitor using the spdif output. I can't be sure what's causing this, but my HD500X doesn't do this and I suppose Helix's driver could be a culprit.

You're talking about controlling Helix from your DAW, correct? If so, then how you describe it is how it works. Just toggles. It would be useful to force a switch to a certain state, regardless of its current state. There might even be an ideascale entry for this. So this could be something, hopefully, that can be done eventually.

TexLefty65 is right. The defaults are guitar on USB 7, mic on USB 8. So in your DAW, make sure to set the input for the track on USB 8.

There is zero latency if you monitor the sound from Helix's various outputs; xlr, 1/4", spdif, sends.

How do you reset just the global settings?

I can confirm this. Empty presets between non-empty ones, when exported as a setlist, and then imported, remove the empty presets that were between non-empty ones, and moves the the presets that were after the empty ones to the spot where the empty ones began. bull1030 said it better, 'squished'.

With the effect selected, hit the menu button, then footswitch assign, then set the footswitch to none.

Same here. Occasional screen corruption and one black screen before 1.02.2 firmware. Neither of those since 1.02.2. The past two sessions I've used Helix I've had one sound dropout each session for less than a second. Startling when it happens. I can't be sure it was Helix's fault or something else along the way to the headphones.

Hmm. That's sounds like a similar problem when trying to load more than one IR at a time. Are you saying you select a bunch of presets, right click, and select export? And then when you want them back in Helix you select them all in your file manager and drag them to a starting position in a setlist? When I backup my presets, I export an entire setlist instead of one or more presets at a time. Haven't had any problems doing it this way.

I haven't tried using 96KHz IRs with Helix, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work. I don't think Helix or the application would mangle it in any way, but if it's longer than 2048 samples the application just cuts off the extra samples. Whether or not you can hear a difference between 48KHz or 96KHz only you can answer that. I can't tell a difference, using a DAW IR loader, so I just use 48KHz.

I find it is quieter relative to the other outputs. Have to set Helix's volume control at max when using spdif where the 1/4" outs I'll put on 12:00. No biggie. But something about the spdif seems a little more balanced than the analog outputs. It could be my imagination though.

The channel volume doesn't affect the tone up to the point of the amp, but the master volume affects the fundamental tone. I'm like the others here in that once it's adjusted, I just leave it be, just like bias, bias x, etc.

I don't think there are any non expression pedal effects, or parameters, in Helix. But I get what you mean, wah, volume, pitch glide, etc. So select the effect, hit the menu button, press footswitch assign, then turn the encoder till it says EXP Toe.

If you want to use 48KHz samples, there should already be a folder called 'S-Gear & Other' that contains 48KHz IRs.

I have no complaints about them. I'm liking the sound of the deluxe compressor. The la studio comp is good too. Lots of actual compressor parameters in these as opposed to just level and threshold controls. The red squeeze I think is the same as the red comp from the HD series, and sounds good for adding that little bit of extra sustain on medium/high gain lead tones. I suppose three comps aren't that many, but they work and they work well.

Perhaps the input settings was somehow changed from preset to global. And the global input settings were set to variax and same so you didn't hear any sound.

I remember reading about determining, controlling, or both, a definite on/off state of a block. Here's an ideascale entry relating to this, but for midi: http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/HELIX-MIDI-implementation/781277-23508. If this idea is can be done via midi, maybe it could carry over to non-midi operation. Maybe by adding another switch mode or something. Sounds like it could be useful. Or maybe the above is somewhat related to the idea of scenes for Helix: http://line6.ideascale.com/a/ideas/search?templateId=0&query=helix+scenes I'm not sure, but I think the idea of scenes comes from Fractal's AxeFX, or at least that's what has a scenes capability. The idea has probably been around for a long time.