HonestOpinion

Don't know if someone else posted this already but I just noticed that there is a new template at 32D , titled "Snapshot 2: No!", buried as the last template in the Templates setlist. It is a quick and easy template to play with the new "3 Note Generator" in the 2.20 firmware. No guitar required. Just set it to the snapshot named "Don't". Btw, be sure to take note of the expression pedal scribble strip in this template which has been renamed "DEMON SQUIRRELS". Not sure what it does but it is certainly named and ready for some demented synthesis. :)

Even before the "Editor" allowed you to change the blocks, routing, etc., there was an Editor-like app for the Helix that was a essentially only a librarian that could be used for backup and restores. I am assuming that Bela6 is seeing 1.03 as the firmware version coming up on the Helix when he starts it. " After reviewing the old notes in the firmware and Helix app for these early versions I am forced to revise my earlier comment though about matching the Editor version to the firmware version. It appears that not only are the firmware and Editor versions out of synch for the latest firmware release (they had been in synch for the last few versions), but it also appears that there were version mismatches early in the firmware release process as well. Whoa, hold the phone (mumbling to myself). I just noticed the following quote from the 1.02 version of the "Helix" app - "- Supports backup and restore of new Helix delay models in 1.04.1". This implies to me that at some point in the past the firmware and Editor versions were out of synch with each other. It would also seem to imply that perhaps you need the 1.01 version of the "Helix" app to backup 1.03 firmware version presets. Not enough notes regarding version matching to be sure though. At this point I would recommend contacting L6 support to confirm which version of the Editor to use to make your backups from the 1.03 firmware. I agree with jbuhajla that you may want to wait until the 2.20 firmware to do the firmware upgrade but it is never too early to get everything backed up so I would get that version issue straightened out now with Line6 so you can get some backups and are not left sitting on the fence when the new upgrade hits.

If you use IRs back them up and make sure you take a screenshot so you can restore them back to the same location. Backup your presets with a bundle, setlist, and individual preset backups to be thorough. If you are on the 1.03 firmware you want to do the backup with the matching 1.03 Editor. Do not use a different version. As others have indicated keep experimenting with different USB ports and different computers until one of those combinations sees your Helix properly. With the exception of some very rare occasions where the Helix or the USB cable is actually damaged some combination of the right computer and USB port will work. Hang in there! If you are using Windows make sure you let the "Helix" application install the driver as well as the Updater and Editor.

There were some posts a few weeks ago that indicated that L6 was going to provide a link with the "official" sanctified procedure for lubricating the pedal. Any news on that?

Just wanted to mention that my band did indeed do "Let It Rain" at our Saint Patrick's Day gig and I used the preset you designed with some tweaks to make it sound right through my stage and FOH setup. Just awesome! The way you set up the intro, rhythm, lead1, and lead2 snapshots was just perfect. I have played that song many times before but never with four distinct sounds set up for the four different song parts. We sounded better and more authentic on that song than we ever had previously! Great job on that preset, it will get plenty of use! My humble thanks! One more note.... I found it interesting that you placed the harmony/pitch block between the amp and the cab. I would never have thought to place it there and it really gives the harmonies a smooth sound. I have implemented that placement in a couple of my own presets as a result I liked the sound so much.

Not sure if this is exactly what you were looking for but you can contact them directly via a support ticket or phone here: http://line6.com/support/tickets/

I agree with your point that the versions being out of sync is confusing. L6 is working on a more smooth-lined firmware process so it should make more sense in the future. Regarding "unchecking" the drivers - You do want the latest driver, Editor, and Updater files from the 2.11 Helix app to run with the 2.12 firmware. These files will not interfere with the 2.12 firmware so you should go ahead and install them. Only running the Updater will change the firmware and if you are already on the 2.12 version you don't need to run the Updater.

Have to agree, I have tried all the suggestions for alleviating the jumpiness and it is still pretty bad. It is such an obvious problem that it is the first time I have ever had members of my band looking at my tuner asking "what is wrong with that thing, it jumps all over the place". The display and the addition of added granularity are awesome but can we please make it a bit more stable.

Heh, that is some fine research right there! It makes sense to release firmware towards the beginning of the week.. That way if there is a problem that has to be addressed immediately your developers are not required to fight fires over the weekend (not that I'm saying the L6 developers don't spend weekends, holidays, bonus leap year days, and sick days working on new models ;) ).

Unfortunately L6 still has not updated the Helix with HX reverbs yet so this is not an area where the Helix excels although I find them quite adequate to good. I don't think I am alone when I say a few HX reverbs should be part of the next major update. There is so much else to love about the Helix though that to paraphrase Tom Petty "the waiting really isn't the hardest part".

This could be a lot of things including in very rare cases a defective Helix. I would start by making sure your gain levels are sufficient (particularly Ch. Vol on the cab and the main volume knob) and experimenting with switching between line or instrument level to your outputs. Inadequate signal has a significant negative/fizzy impact on the sound. You may be hearing too much on the high end. Try a progressively more aggressive high cut on the cab and see if the fizz you are hearing goes away. Another good method for tracking it down is using the sweep method with the parametric EQ to dial out frequencies you don't like. You may want to try experimenting with the microphone type on the cabs as well, they can make a huge difference to the sound. I'm sure some other folks can offer some useful suggestions. Good luck!

Kind of a matter of taste, what sound you are going for and the amp and other effects you are using. Even with an amp with the drive cranked up, a distortion model give it a little extra edge, maybe with the drive parameter on the distortion turned down. If you are looking for an over the top distorted sound you may want to turn the drive up on both the amp and distortion blocks. A lot of distortions sound good with the drive on the amp turned to just where it is starting to break up. It really all depends on the sound you are looking for.

If you do a search on "Global EQ" you will find several ideas in IdeaScale for this. Vote 'em up!

I also place mine after the amp/cab and before any delay, reverb, or even mod effects like chorus that have a delay. That way the trails don't get cut off prematurely if you crank down your volume via the expression pedal.

Still think the Helix needs the ability to add split blocks in addition to the two available when you pull a block down to create for example path 1a and 1b. This would allow presets that require a larger number of blocks not to have that split monopolized by only a single delay/reverb block.

You can also increase the level on the output block, and that does not effect the response of any blocks upstream if you are just looking for more volume from the preset.

I usually upgrade the minute new firmware comes out but I am also in the camp of preferring to wait for a relatively bug-free update than rushing the developers into one that has serious issues.

The problem with this approach is that all snapshots within a preset use the same blocks. You cannot select an entirely different set of blocks for each snapshot, you can only activate/bypass the ones in that preset as well as change their parameters. This means you need enough DSP available for whatever amps/cabs/IRs/effects etc. you select for that preset in addition to the blocks necessary for your "global lead" tone. So this approach might work fine for simpler presets where you still have enough DSP left over for adding the blocks necessary for your global lead tone but more complex presets would probably not have enough extra DSP. Perhaps your best options right now are MusicLaw's approach for presets where there is enough DSP to fit both the general preset's blocks and the global lead's blocks and phil_m's approach with an external MIDI pedal for presets without enough DSP when the global lead is added. One problem I see with an external MIDI switch is easily getting back to the original preset after you have selected the global lead. I suppose you could also put one instance of your global lead tone in every bank to make it easily available for Helix preset switches but that seems more than a little redundant and a waste of preset locations. This approach would also result in less flexibility in how you set up your footswitches, e.g. snap/stomp if you wanted to get to a preset switch quickly. Overall I don't see an ideal solution for a global lead right now. Maybe someone can post one up.

Thanks duncann, make that three and three quarters options for autowah (envelope follower, envelope filter, 'wah'tevah)..

It has two, the "Mutant Filter" and the "Autofilter"

Does flipping the ground switch on the Helix help?

Sounds like an intermittent issue (maybe loose or failing VDI cable?) that hopefully won't reoccur but I am curious, what do you have your "Global Settings > EXP Pedals > EXP 2 Pedal Position" set to? It almost sounds like it was snapping back to the preset's volume setting rather than a global volume set by the pedal position.

In astronomical terms that is known as a Total 'Ellipse' ;)

I wouldn't mind having a multi-level "UnDo/ReDo" feature in addition to compare, even if it is just in the Editor.

I don't know of any capability like this on the Helix, sounds like a cool feature though. Generally I use a snapshot for my lead sound and I do like the lead to reflect the effects and amp/cab choices I have for that preset. I can see a global lead sound being useful in some scenarios though.