rvroberts

I am 100% convinced that going direct to FOH is the best solution unless you are in the enviable position of having a bank of amps and switching and a really good soundie who knows your material backwards.  Even then I'd argue that the studio quality sound you can get by doing certain processing after the amp and the cabinet means using an amp is pointless.  So in the same way, I'm 100% for decent FRFR on stage as you get to hear what they hear out front to a very good degree.

I used to use 2 x Vox AC15s in stereo - it was a good sounding rig for the sounds I was wanting.  But out front, I was in the hands of whoever was mixing, and the simple truth is that from feedback I trust, I sound way better now. I've got access to  wider range of sound and I can process it like a studio - and the sound guy just needs to set a level.  And yes, it even sounds better on stage.

HonestOpinion, No, I make every effort to say that I am running exactly the same version of the editor on both machines. Version 2.00.1 is version 2.0 - if you were to open 2.0 editor and look at the about file, you will see its actually called 2.00.1.

Thanks,

I wish it were that simple.

Let me just jump in one more time.

Silverhead - you say - 

"Potential problem with this is that if you do, indeed, start with 'delete any other Line 6 software you have floating around'...... presumably that includes the driver. And without the driver you can't use the updater."

 

The reason I'm going the other way is this guy is already up to his neck in problems - we don't know where they are coming from - what versions of what are running - obviously not the right ones - either that or his Helix is faulty and I'd say that's the least likely answer.

So the first thing I would do is get rid of anything that could cause a mistake.

Then the very next thing I do is get him to download and install the correct updater - and he can do that without installing anything else.

So I'm trying to make sure it's as clean an install as possible.

To me reading that he is having problems - this approach is the safest?

One problem here is neither of us is right or wrong - we could both be right depending on the user and his computer skills.

This is why I'm campaigning for Line 6 to create a better updater. 

We are sprouting a lot of information that a new user cannot be expected to know.

The comment by zooey is interesting - 2.01 seems to be the most stable recent version - and then he'd need updater 1.09 if my memory serves me correctly - but I have no idea if updater 1.10 will also correctly install 2.01?  Does anyone know?  Just curious.............

I'd still install 2.10 personally.  I'm yet to be convinced that there is much in 2.10 that is a deal breaker - mind you I'm still waiting for downtime before doing that myself.

Hi Paulzx,

See my note above - now to try to actually help you!

You don't say if you have rack or floor unit - I'm assuming floor.

If your Helix is brand new and you don't really need to save anything - and you really don't given how much better everything is since your version, You should be able to do the firmware upgrade to 2.10 directly.  (If you were updating from a more recent version and had lots of patches, you would use the editor for that version to backup before this step)

Delete any other line 6 software downloads you have floating around - you don't want to accidently use anything wrong!!

You go here to get the updater and  firmware -  

http://line6.com/software/  

For the updater - in the selection boxes you select Helix - Line 6 Updater - your OS  You want version 1.10

Install the updater.

For the firmware you select Helix - All Software - Mac OS X (or whatever OS you use)

On this page (just to start the confusion) the first download offered is the 2.10 Editor.  You will need that, so you can download it now if you like, but first you need the firmware installed to be able to use the editor. 

You scroll down to the next page to find the firmware.  The download button is in the bottom right of the page.

Follow the instructions precisely (Print them or screen grab before moving on). Make sure you do all the restarts

Your Helix should now be working fine as a v2.10 with all new factory presets and all the user setlists empty.

A clean slate (but right up to date)

After installing the firmware, you can install the editor - The instructions for both assume you want to backup settings, I'm assuming that is a waste of time for you.

Now I just contradicted 'silverhead' - I don't believe you actually even need the editor to use the Helix.

But you will find it just more comfortable to build patches with the editor.  The editor is just an application - the only thing that is important is that you must use the same version of editor as the Helix firmware - for the obvious reason that with different effects, amps and options with each update, the editor needs to address those differences.  

I'd always install the editor after the Firmware to avoid user error - remember- the Editor must match the Firmware version.

Finally, you need the up to date manual - I believe this is it (almost up to date!!)

http://line6.com/data/6/0a0643892850577d59b6033d6/application/pdf/Helix%202.0%20Owners%20Manual%20-%20Rev%20C%20-%20English%20.pdf

Please click my update request here -

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/a-professional-update-app/860327-23508

Hi All,

I'm still running Helix firmware and software 2.0.

That's because I don't want to go through all the fiddling I will need to do when I move to 2.10.

If it ain't broke................After Xmas for that update I think - gigs and things in the way for now.

I can connect the Helix to my Laptop - Mac Powerbook (OSX 10.11) - everything works fine (yes, Helix editor 2.00.1)

However when I connect it to my Workstation iMac (OS Sierra) - the editor (yes 2.00.1) does not see the Helix (Helix device not connected)

Now if I open GarageBand on that same iMac, I get full Audio interface from the Helix - so I can record and I hear everything through the Helix Headphones - and I assume through the XLRs if I had anything connected!

So clearly my mac audio see the Helix - just not the Helix app??

Tried a few USB ports just in case....................

Any suggestions - I get by with the laptop - but it's another thing on a crowded desktop and I like the big screen!!

One thing you didn't do in your test was patch (using the same leads) from your preamp into your power amp - as in taking the Helix out of the equation all together.

Can't help you - but you brighten my day with your post anyhow!

Thanks

Well then that's really strange because I installed the lastest updater 1.10 a few weeks ago, and I just installed the updater with the Firmware update and it reverted to 1.09.

That's definitely strange.

Anyone else got any information - this is more than a little concerning unless everything works fine with 1.10 or 1.09.

No - the problem is Line 6!

The latest updater is 1.10.

If you follow the update instructions exactly it installs updater 1.09.

So Line 6 Helix team don't know that some other part of line 6 has updated the updater!!!

Yes, if you follow the instructions precisely it should install 1.09 over 1.10 - but really - what if you have multiple line 6 devices??

Line 6 - make a decent update package like any decent developer would - please - I feel for all these people having unnecessary problems.

I also know it's stopping people moving to the Helix because forums like this are full of stuff like "I just bricked my Helix"

look here - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=4+cable+method+helix  You'll see plenty of options - not that I'm into any of that FRFR wins every time!

The Ownhammer IRs are excellent - maybe the best - I think it's hard to know because of the number of IRs out there!

And good IRs are worth having. It lifts the Helix another notch.

Regarding the number, they do give you a set that are the likely ones - I think they have an M suffix or something to say "try these first" - can't remember, but it's something like that.  The bewildering amount of choice had me totally accepting the Ms after a bit of trial and error.

There is unfortunately no easy way to try them all.  I bought a few sets that are my idea of likely IRs and it has worked well for me.

I got some Vox type IRs and some classic Marshall standards and a few Fender boxes.  Add a couple of Mesa quads and I can't see the need for more - I think you end up finding maybe 6 boxes you use all the time - and I'm talking a big range of sounds. So then it's down to mics.  I again find I only like a few mics - its probably a SM57 and maybe another dynamic like Sennheiser MD 421 - you also see Neumann U 87 in studios, but I'm not sure I'd pick it for live even if it was affordable! - I find ribbon mics don't give me the cut through I like but I admit my experience with them is limited - but anyhow, you can take a good standard 4x12 like Celestion Vintage 30s and try all the mics on that (maybe 20-30 IR's) and I think you will find you can eliminate 70% of the choices by identifying the dud mics.  These sets are really complete, but really, most of them you are never going to need.

And you'd be bloody good to pick an Orange 4x12 against a Marshall 4x12 with the same speakers - basically the same thing with a different brand on it with a mic an inch and a half off the cone.........!!!   its just crazy obsessive.

So I'm down to 22 IR's that cover it all for me. They do have some very neat configurations for open back boxes with the back mic'ed as well, but again although I was intrigued I didn't like them in the end.

Expect to get completely different stuff from other people - and I hate metal guitar sounds, so I obviously make different decisions to a metal guy.

No - sounds very odd considering you can save everything else.  I'm replying mostly because I want to know how this works out!

You really should have a computer you use all the time with the Helix..............it's kind of assumed - but yes, you can do it with a borrowed computer.

You can update without the editor, but you won't be able to put back any of your patches etc without the latest editor.  As you say your machine is brand new, I think you just do the firmware update.  

But really, you need the editor - it's the way to backup you Helix (as well as a really good way to build sounds, patches, manage IR's etc).  And as you should be regularly backing up at least, you will need a good arrangement with the computer's owner to keep some stuff on their machine or at least get a nice big USB stick and keep everything including the latest editor on that.

Otherwise when the next really good update comes you will be unable to save anything you have done in between.

I think I see your problem.

It's the IRs.

You need to independently reinstall all the IRs - in the same slots. 

So - what you should have done is either rename you IRs (add 01, 02 etc to the start of the name - yes, you might have to shorten the name as a result - so they are stored in the correct order in a computer,   -or-   Take a screen grab of them from the editor so you know where to replace them after the update.  Then you back them up!!

This is because they are removed after the update - don't ask me to justify any of that - it's something Line 6 don't seem to be willing to address.

So anyhow, after the update you then put the correct IR's back in the correct slots, and hopefully that fixes your issues - let us know if that works for you.

Hi anteater - forums are interesting things - you get your over the top fans and you get your total idiots.  You get very nice people who are just not understanding how the thing works.  You get people who get 'it' completely and everything else inbetween.  I've watched very closely over the months since I bought my Helix - which incidentally for me has been exactly the right move and worth every penny.  What I've observed is that there are a few people who are probably having a real issue - maybe due to some real failure of the Helix or connectivity issues with certain computers.

I've seen people try to use their Helix in strange and creative ways outside the concept of its design with the expected difficulty of trying to put a square peg in a round hole.  But overall 99% of what looks like an issue is user error.  Just my opinion.

If you are reasonably computer savvy, and understand what the Helix is, you are extremely likely to have a great experience.  It helps to have a background in the analogue world I think because the Helix duplicates it very well.  So when you plug a collection of pedals into a certain amp and box and mic it with a certain mic, you mostly get exactly what you would expect.  Knowing what to expect definitely helps! 

The only trap for young players - and something I think Line 6 should have an introduction on page 2 of the manual is that you will need to set a global EQ or per patch EQ that gets your frequency curve into the kind of space a real amp, speaker, mic and EQ on the desk combination you might find if you were setting all that up in a studio.  If you chose to run it into an guitar amp, you will miss a significant chunk of its goodies and you will have to avoid not only using amp and speaker models, but all the cool stuff that can be done (and is in a studio) buy processing the sound after the amp.  I'd personally think Fractal FX8 if I wanted to keep my amp at all costs.

I don't have, nor have I used a HD500X - so I can't give you any feeling of what kind of quality jump you will get.  But from what I can see others who do have that experience feel it's worth the upgrade.  I expect you will hear from a few of them soon.........

Warning is needed here!  You have to use the same editor version as your firmware.  If you have had your Helix for a year, then it will have firmware that predates the editor.  So you will need to back up as the first thing you do, then very carefully go through the updating process including the firmware.  Do not attempt to edit your old firmware version with a different editor version.

I agree - it's more likely to be a PC issue.  First shut everything down and restart and reconnect (PC and Helix) - then if you still got a problem find a good IT person and they will be able to trouble shoot your USB issues - very unlikely to be anything more complex than a driver issue - you might need to install the editor (the same version as your Helix firmware) on to another computer to do a backup.  I'm betting you will end up reinstalling the editor on your existing PC or at worst reinstalling your Helix firmware (after a backing up). it might even be your USB on the computer.  I've also had mine connected all day with no problems.  If you do find you have to do a full install, I'd be concerned about your PC's USB being safe. Do you have any USB connected drives or anything?  Do they all work reliably?  

Yes - restart - if that doesn't fix it see a computer geek! 

Well no one seems to have any actual experience of it! But as an Amplifire with a better pedal board (seems it is the same technology exactly - patches are totally compatible), it would be the perfect tool for someone who wants a modeling system that is a bit more simple than the Helix.  It's not as full featured, but it is a lot cheaper.

Expect to need an Expression pedal - so the gap will shrink a bit.

Only you can say if it does what you need. 

First let me agree 100% with DunedinDragon.

Secondly, The Helix is a complex bit of kit - so you have to be willing to dig into how it works a bit.  And it is like a studio - as in effects, an amp and a speakerbox and mic treated by outboard gear (delay reverb EQ etc).  So it's not exactly the same as an amp - it's more like the amp heard in the control room of a studio or through a good PA system run by someone who knows what they are doing (well a well created patch is!!).

You seriously limit the range of the Helix if you run it through an amp.  Now if you play in a really big name band and have a road crew and a few really great amps, and you are mostly getting what you want out of that rig, and you just want to use a Helix for a little extra color and to act as a control centre, then you might well still keep those amps and use some combination/variation of the 4 cable method. (maybe with some midi doing some switching of rack gear too - who knows - money will not be much of a limiting factor if you are that guy/girl).  But if you are using one pretty average (well really for the purpose less than average) amp, you have a lot of money tied up in a Helix, and you are stopping it do what it's designed to do. Get FRFR.  (you can buy a self a powered 12in PA style box for very reasonable dollars - probably 1000w - which will sound not a lot louder than your Peavey probably).  Talk to your friend about EQing that setup - sounds like your friend has got that figured.

An IR or even a power amp stage into your Peavey is very unlikely to be the way to go - although anything could work depending on what you are after.

Regarding level, you should be able to set your output to line level - which should overdrive you Peavey when plugged into the effects return.  You probably don't need to/should not do that - there are a lot of places in the chain to add gain and level.  Sorry, but its a case of RTFM.

Seriously - just go FRFR.

Yes, I would agree.  But I use some serious global EQ and go direct to a FRFR, so my experience might be different to yours.  I use 2 strats, and yes, they sound different - even into my old VOX combo. For whatever reason, that difference is more apparent through the Helix.  But its not absolutely dramatic as you seem to be indicating.  I think I'm still hearing a more "hifi" sound through the Helix and my FRFR system than I used to have with the VOX - despite the high and low cuts drastically trimming the tops and bottoms.  I like that a lot - it sounds more "studio".  But it does mean that some sounds are better with a certain guitar.  If you are experiencing more dramatic difference than that, try the global EQ.  Get rid of any high and lows you don't really want or need - as many people say you might well find your high cut coming in as low as 5 or 6K.  That might bring you guitars a bit closer while not killing all thew nice stuff?  As you are using 4 cable method, that might be excessive as you are already getting the effect of the guitar speaker.  Experiment and see how you go.

Thanks Silverhead, I'll have a look, and yes, I'm already looking into an external solution - you just get into a shortage of switches!  It's a place where dedicated devices might still win.  Won't totally fix the tapdance though - if you need to change loop and sound simultaneously it would need to be midi.  That moves the solution into pretty big dollars.  So I'm just going to plan around that for now!

I find this truely a strange comment.  I'm imagining it has to do with your age and being part of the digital generation - no insult intended.

Only a few years ago the absolute top bands in the world would have been awed to go into the studio and be presented with the range of amps on offer in the Helix.

Great tone is not a product of lots of amps.

Most amps are either Marshall or Fender based with a few Vox clones added to the mix.

If you sat with a good selection of equalizers and speakers, I think you could get 95% of all the other amp sounds out of that collection.  If you know the history of a lot of the amp brands you will find they regularly started as one of the above modded. That will be generally a drive stage or a tweak to the EQ at some stage in the preamp.

I've not found I could not get a great sound out of the existing amp collection for every requirement I have. Check out Glenn De Laune's videos on youtube.

Tell me where you think he's showing the restrictions particularly. It's understanding how to build tone that's important.

The Helix will not accurately reproduce every sound out there - but the people who got those sounds probably made the most suitable sound they could for the song they were recording out of the limited selection of gear available to them (with less choice than the Helix offers) - and that's what its about.

I'd be more inclined to point to the pedal collection if I was you.  Delay and reverb in the Helix is good - but there are a wide selection out there, and some could be considered "better".  

Luck enough, the Helix has great effects loops, so you can always plug on in if its really bugging you.  And you can build that into you patch for full automation if your pedal can handle that.

Live, I'd say that was probably being just too picky given the different acoustics of each venue.

Recording - well you will be using something outboard anyhow.

So I think this type of conversation comes from you not having had the chance to play through lots of amps and get sounds in the studio and live with t5raditional analogue equipment.  A huge range of amps sounds like a good selling point.  I think it's just a place to get lost for a very long time trying to make a decision!  And the best tone will be in your skill and ears anyhow.

I've noticed there are some people here who really want to do that - they get off on playing with the devices for ever - maybe the AX8 is better for that.  If that's what you want to do.  

If you want to build a really playable rig, I think the Helix wins - but they are very close.  Think about what you want to do/connect/etc, not the number of amps.............I'm sure that's a wrong turn.

Hi all,

I'd like to be able to use the looper while in shapshot mode.

Changing to stomp mode and that whole thing is not very practical live.

Now, I've seen some stuff before around the topic, but seems from searching that no one has actually wanted to set up the looper as a snapshot. I notice you can't assign the record function to shapshot for example, but you can assign play in snapshot mode??

I think what you actually want to do is toggle in and out of the looper interface using one switch?

What I want to do is play a section with one sound, play it back and overdub with a different sound (and level, but that could be in the snapshot).  That would give me a huge boost in a 3 piece situation.

Obviously other looper facilities would be nice too, like 2 loops, but just the looper as it is would help a lot - otherwise I'm going to end up buying a looper to insert - a pity since I sold one with a batch of other pedals when I decided to buy the Helix - it was intended to replace the board and the amp after all!

Anyhow, if there is a way to set this up that I'm missing please advise. Think live - I know how to do it in a studio situation.......but I don't need a looper at all in the studio!  To easy to do much more accurately in the DAW.

You really should look around a bit before posting on a forum!

Try youTube - 

And seeing you probably know nothing about the Helix, there is a computer based editor - see this - 

There's lots more out there and better than us trying to explain it here.