theredguitar6

I’ve got 2 units running side by side . one on 2.80 one on 2.81 ... this is definitely a 2.81 bug ... which effectively renders the unit unusable. I’m going to have to roll back my main rack to 2.8 for live work this weekend. Sigh.... ever wish you hadn’t started something. On a brighter note... built some superb live presets using ‘Fullerton jumped’ with heir apparent!! Really cuts through the mix . So I don’t really want to go back to 2.71 ... but it was stable

Yep , I’ve got this .... but only some of my presets... about 10 of them ... and nothing in common. Very weird... tried renaming snapshots etc ... no difference. I have rack with controller. Weird thing is ... the snapshot parameters do actually change but there is no feedback from the foot control . Just stays the same. If I use hx edit to switch snapshots... error message appears failed to recall snapshot parameters code -4

Modern Fender amp switching is logic controlled. The footswitches actually use active circuits internally to supply different voltages which are then interpreted by the amp. So ..short answer is NO. However if it's vital ... you could modify the existing switch ..but you'd still require it to be in circuit. That said ...what particular function to you want to switch? channels? ... My experience of the super sonic with Helix is: ...I love the SS gain channel but found it very easy to replicate and indeed improve on the clean channel with one of the Helix preamps/amps . So i ended up using 4CM and leaving the SS on the gain channel....therefore no amp switching required.

It's not really the right way to go. The amp is designed to have it's own signature sound and from memory ( i heard one a while ago) that's along the bad cat/matchless lines. Ideally for helix - if you want to go into a guitar amp - you want something that may be considered a good clean pedal platform. ...with plenty of headroom. Maybe fender blackface or even hot rod series. Otherwise you're never going to achieve all the amazing cleans that helix can deliver. A 2 x EL84 amp is always going to break up pretty quickly. You will have the same issues even if you use a loadbox. I just can't see the benefit of using this amp - unless you love the sound .... in which case ...use the amp! ...maybe just use the helix as a multi effects unit and skip the amp modelling

Mystery solved .... or at least dramatically improved. It's not the A/B split that causes the problem ...it's the merge mixer!. We've taken a whole bunch of measurements this morning ( i'm in the pro audio industry) and the merge mixer is dropping 3-4db in the signal chain. If you have a reasonable number of effects etc after this ( even reverb) it has quite a dramatic effect on tone and dynamics. Fortunately this all came back by raising the A & B levels on the merge mixer by 3db ( 3.5db on a clean amp). I did try some other tests - putting 3db gain block in front of the amps ( or A/B split) and that just slightly compresses the amps - last thing i wanted. Also made up some presets to see if amps in series affect each other when bypassed. It's small. but the merge mixer affect is BIG. I think this may have repercussions on other things as well ... anywhere a merge mixer is used. Hmmm ... Hope that helps - it's certainly cured my issue.

Good call... hadn't realised that. I'll have a play around and restore that 3db with some gain blocks. That a least will restore the perceived vol drop....and may indeed brighten the amp by pushing a little more. I should say that actually i'm very happy with the sound i'm getting switching the amps in series. Just puzzled by what's going on ...i know a lot of folk prefer the two amp A/B switch scenario for operational reasons.

yes i did ... and many thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I'm absolutely 100% sure on this so i'm to do some more work on it and report back. Whilst we're on the subject i also have 2 identical presets ( by accident actually) apart from one has a parametric just before the output. So they should both sound the same if the para is bypassed right? ... well the don't. It's subtle but the para adds a little more mid and less HF even when it's bypassed. Which is weird because thats what it's actually there to do. ...but not when it's bypassed.

No it's definitely the the split at A100/B100 ...so it shoudn't affect the signal. I think that the amp blocks - even when bypassed affect the signal chain- slight lift in level and perceived brightness. I'm going to do further experiments

Nope don't understand that... The split is 100% A or B ...not in the middle so it should not halve the signal

sorry if this one's been covered before. Let's keep it simple and imagine a single signal path with nothing else on it: Add TWO different amps in series ( archetype clean + archetype lead ). set up bypass switches to flick between them - so theoretically each amp is bypassed whilst using the other ..although the signal chain does still pass through the by passed amp in each state. THIS IS SOUND A ( Preset 1) Create another preset and do the same thing but pull the second amp block down to a signal loop and put a A/B switch in front. The A/B is set up 100% A or 100% B depending which amp you are using. all amp settings the same THIS IS SOUND B ( preset 2) switch between the presets - VERY DIFFERENT SOUNDS on each amp. Have i missed something here or does the bypass function not fully bypass - because in example A each bypassed amp is definitely affecting the sound of the active amp. In my case - actually in a good way. Kind a sounds the same as putting a buffer in a signal chain. Is this right?

Hmmm .... is yours a rack ? do you have expression pedal connected to floor controller when this happens? I spoke to the line 6 engineers today. They've diagnosed hardware ... it's going to get repaired/replaced. Totally brilliant service from them ...very pleased.

Lots of good advice from others. However. ... just something to think about. What did you do before using Helix? .. presumably you were using amp/combo and mic'ing speakers? How did you set your amp and pedals to get that solo boost and cut through the mix? One of the great concepts of helix is that it really can ( and does) emulate how a conventional set up would work...but with some exceptions. IR's and cab sims don't really capture what happens to guitar speaker(s) when the amp vol goes up. As we know .. two main things change (1) the response of the speakers (2) our own perception of how the balance of that sound is when louder - more bass for example. IR's don't and can't capture these changes unless you use many many IR's. We've all sat at home ( or in a shop) and played an amp that sounds good ( or bad) but when that amp is taken up to gig volume -- it's a completely different beast. So try to think that through. Bear in mind when you 'were' mic'ing your cab .. that sound would change when you kicked the amp harder and also may even have compressed the mic ( SM57?) So just making your helix output higher won't always do it....and you may overload ( or compress) the front end of the desk which will in turn, change the sound ( for the worse). Obviously a lot of high gain sounds tend to have loads of low end -slightly scooped mids- and very 'present' top ends. None of that will cut through a mix in a PA speaker with everything else going through it . Take some bass out, push the upper mids and take some presence out ....either at the amp or with an EQ block. In isolation that might be a bit 'in yer face' but it will sit well in the mix without having to push the output too hard. Just think old school and then apply it to Helix - it's all in there!

Yep, did the global resets each time also ...more recently did full factory preset reset as well. + global ....and still the same. good point about the USB port - thanks Interestingly .. there's another recent thread on here about loss of audio when scrolling presets ... There are several users that are experiencing similar issues on there -- we're all using slightly different language to describe similar problems though -- loss of audio. Those units seem to have ended up back at line 6 as no amount or firmware re install and resets etc etc made any improvement. So i'm starting to suspect hardware.

Yes Peter, i have tried all of that several times. It's heartening to hear that you guys have had zero ( or very few ) issues over quite long periods. I'm going to request a replacement unit as something is most clearly ...very wrong with mine. Thanks all

Thanks for the replies. I guess i just wanted to hear from folk who've NOT had issues - particularly when using live....and i do use fairly BIG presets so that i can use 6-7 snapshots instead of switching presets all the time Looking through the 'helix bug issues' topic ...there are some people having the same issues. Loss of audio , black screen and freezing ... they're just not having ALL the issues in the same unit. I WILL contact tech support. I absolutely love the sounds and the whole concept ...my pedal board used to be the size of mars! .. Just desperately want it to be stable.

My woes continue .... More 'random' issues at last nights gig. Complete loss of output from all outputs - (cured by reboot) . Then later, total freeze and BLACK SCREEN half way through last song. Couldn't do anything but still had ONE sound. I realised driving back from gig In the short (month) that i've had it ..... 3 gigs and it's played up at every one , 3 studio sessions - played up every time - I sit with it most days working on sounds and every day it freezes at least once or disconnects from editor etc etc SURELY MY RACK IS FAULTY? Regular daily problems are: Freezing when changing presets and disconnecting from editor ( randomly) Random problems are: Black screen !.... happened 3 times Loss of output (total output) happened twice - both times the unit has been standing idle for maybe 20-30mins Volume block issues - see other post. ...seems to have cured since my recent actions Floor controller - no display ( happened once) What have i done?: When i got unit .. i upgraded to 2.20 ..all ok ( but a few niggles) Then upgraded to 2.21 ... lots of niggles now. Upgraded editor etc Initially i'd been saving bundle on upgrade but realised that might be a bad idea.....so saved setlists and important presets individually. Re installed 2.21 ...and re loaded set lists. Last attempt to cure ... deleted ALL presets back to factory and just reloaded 2 presets for last nights gig ...and a couple of IR's. but still problems! Totally lost confidence ... i love the sounds but surely it has to be more stable than this? Is it the rack? ...is it the controller? Anyone else had similar issues?

Ok ...so i took the belt and braces approach. Deleted ALL user presets - all IR's. Re installed to TWO ( only 2) presets that i might need after having removed the volume blocks before saving. Rebuilt the presets using slightly stripped down versions and then added new volume blocks. Tested it and it all seemed fine. OFF to GIG! The GOOD news- Helix sounded awesome and no issues with VOL block. The BAD news - after sound check all was good. I left the stage and left everything turned on . Came back on stage about a minute before first set - NO OUTPUT from Helix at all. Not FOH or my monitor amp. Panic ! ..checked all connections - checked helix operations -all good - checked vol function -all good still showing 0-100% when moving pedal. OK - so reboot - and it all came back- phew! First set - fine, no probs Second set - fine - until.......last song (encore in fact) ...half way through the song, i became aware i was stuck on the same sound . Looked at floor controller - not changing snapshots - or even presets. Looked rack - BLACK SCREEN!!....nothing.... i still have sound but can't do anything with it . So couldn't do the solo ...and finished the gig feeling ( again) really disappointed with Helix. In the short (month) that i've had it ..... 3 gigs and it's played up at every one , 3 studio sessions - played up every time - I sit with it most days working on sounds and every day it freezes at least once or disconnects from editor etc etc SURELY MY RACK IS FAULTY?

Fair point but i think L6 should make it clear that saving everything as a bundle apparently has no merit. Not sure the point of this feature? As i've had further issues with the rack- i have in fact done the correct way now - re installed firmware and re-installed my presets and ir's. The rack is still flaky and freezing as per my other post about vol block issues. I have installed some 3rd party presets from other users - i'm going to remove those now - just in case.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Just to answer the questions. Yes - when it becomes problematic it is still showing brackets around the percentage. -- it always does? ...is that incorrect? No - when it is problematic - if i go to the min/max parameters they are still 0%-100% - but the pedal just won't achieve anywhere near 100% global settings -exp pedal parameters normally set to "preset" but i'm going to try 'global' as i'm starting to wonder where flicking through different presets is freaking it out? Getting worried now - gig tonight - switched on the rack this morning and did "nothing" just left it for an hour - came to use it and it was frozen - arrgghh - losing a bit of faith now. Back up rig tonight i think!

HELIX RACK Can't get me head around this one. My volume blocks seem to lose the ability to go to 100% If i build a live preset or use an existing one i normally add a volume block - usually at the output end - just to fine tune with changes in stage level. When i set it up - all is well - i have 2 expression pedals ( a line 6 + and ernie ball jnr) and it doesn't matter which i use, all is good. I get a full sweep from 0% ( or maybe 50%) right up to 100%. all cool. However as i start to use the preset and snapshots - at some point i will lose the ability to achieve 100% ... and find that it will maybe max out at some where between 60-80%. Nothing i can do will bring it back to 100% other than either (a) a reboot - which doesn't always help or (b) remove and re install the vol block ...which does restore it back to 100% ...but then it will go again sooner or later. I have tried three different pedals - doesn't make any difference. those pedals all work fine on wah I've tried swtiching the block between exp1 & exp2 on the floor controller. -- same thing Tried different cables etc etc I usually seems occur if after i modify something ... a snap shot for example. I am going mad here?? yes! But what am i doing wrong. By the way - maybe coincidence it seems to be worse after 2.21? .... i was also getting a lot of crashes yesterday so reinstalled firmware etc etc. Unit is more stable but vol block issue remains.

Ah ....ok ... I guess i just followed the Line 6 "method' for updating firmware including re loading exported bundle..but what you say makes more sense. Export and reload by set list. I've done a bit more research on the 'corrupted' snapshot thing. I seems that the problem only occurred on 5 presets ...all of which were derivatives of a 'master' preset i built a while ago. Interestingly this had previously been one of those presets that had caused a lock up when copying to a different location. So... i'v rebuilt the damn thing just in case. All else seems ok ... and i did realise i would have restore the ir's... it just a pain though isn't it.

UPDATE - Actually it's only a handful of presets and now noticed that that snapshot names are still there - but they have now effect on the amp models - the amps have defaulted to their normal state. Hmmm...

Just done the 2.21 update - absolutely as instructions , reset globals etc ...all looked good. However on restoring (bundle restore) all my presets - the i.r's have gone ( i think we know about this and i know where they all need to go) BUT .... many presets have lost all their snapshots? Hmm ... not great. Any comments?

Hi Peter, No, i checked the cable connection at both ends maybe a dozen times and have tried to replicate that today by moving and 'rocking' the RJ45 connectors but it's all fine. The weird thing is that the board 'backlighting' worked and indeed so did the footswitches - just 'apparently' no feedback from the rack to the board. At this stage i don't know whether to suspect board or rack. Might backup again and try a global reset.

Not a great start to life with the helix. 2nd live gig last night - Set everything up - booted Helix rack and floor controller lit up but didn't get any LED's, scribble strips or preset display. Arggh .... after much fiddling with cable, 5 or 6 reboots - still nothing. The rack was fine and working normally. I then realised that the foot controller buttons were actually working ( switching snapshots, preset etc) as i could see this happening on the rack ....but absolutely no visual feedback on the board. 30 mins before start of gig, i decided i couldn't risk it. and fortunately i was only 10mins from home. I went back and grabbed pedal board, amp etc etc. Just as i was leaving home i thought i'd grab another cat5 cable. Got back to gig - and thought i try the cable first of all --- and BINGO --- it all came back. Did the gig and no issues. So i was thinking " that's bad ! 2 weeks life span for the cable! ..... however i've tried the original cable this morning and it's fine!!! ....also checked it on a cat5 tester ..it's fine! so now i'm really worried that i don't know what caused this? ...and don't want to have to take a spare rig on every gig. Anyone else had this? do we think it's rack related or floor controller related? I guess the 20mins or so it took me to grab the other gear meant the rack had been off for that time and maybe it somehow cleared a problem. Worried.....