HonestOpinion

I have had mine for about a year. No problems with the rotary knob but I use the Editor quite a bit which takes some stress off it. Hopefully yours is just one of a few units that will inevitably go bad on any product and not indicative of a larger problem. I have to admit the longevity of the rotary knob was one of my primary concerns when I first purchased my Helix so I am hoping we don't hear too many more stories like yours. So far we haven't. Thankfully Line6 has excellent customer service, I will be perfectly happy not to require it though.

No question, a lot of new features have made their way into the Helix since the 1.04 firmware. One thing to be aware of is to always match the version of the Helix App which contains the Updater, Driver, and Editor to the version of the firmware. So... if you use the 2.01 version of the firmware, make sure you have installed the 2.01 version of the Helix App. Line6 has been issuing a new version of the Editor with each new version of the firmware so they need to be the same or you are guaranteed to have problems. Downloading the firmware locally is a less desirable alternative to be used when you are having problems with the update process or internet connectivity. If you can use the Updater to grab the Firmware that is always the preferred method. Most people usually get through the process eventually although some PCs just seem to be more problematic than others. Make sure you follow the Release notes and do the global reset after updating your firmware. Good luck with your update!

I could never understand how any responsible producer even considered releasing that "modern" remake of Godzilla with Matthew Broderick without using BOC's "Godzilla". What were they thinking? It would have added so much to the film score. The same thing applies with the "Iron Man" films made without Black Sabbath's "Iron Man". Such missed opportunities. I don't know, maybe the bands did not want to license those songs but that seems unlikely. Not in the budget?

If I had my druthers I would prefer to see more frequent small interim releases with less features (bugfixes, new amps/cabs and effects, etc.) and a periodic large release (e.g. snapshots) with major new features. What concerns me about spacing releases out too far and lumping everything into them at once is that it means waiting months for bug fixes. It is difficult to do a major release that does not introduce some kind of bug(s) and it is a shame to see them take months to get resolved. However, too many interim releases can also cause bugs and they require additional regression testing and Line6 resources. There is also the issue that every time there is an update there are a certain percentage of users who have difficulty with the update process. Users also don't want changes that cause them to frequently have to modify their presets. It is a fine line for Line6 to walk. Anyway, my preferences regarding this have pretty much zero impact so I will just be happy dancing to the piper's tune and looking forward to what comes out next.

I would bring a laptop or tablet to the gig until then for emergencies. Good to have if your Helix ever completely crashes at a gig anyway and you have to reload your presets.

You can use the Helix Editor until you get it fixed. I know of no way to add blocks on the unit itself without the rotary knob.

That stood out for me as well. I have noticed that "sminch", the guy who does those great videos and has "The Helix Channel" (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpJrfCxQmio6zyjut4n0qRw), has it set around that range on a few of his videos as well. I have experimented with it there and it can sound good on some bright presets although I generally tend to run my cuts a bit higher, around the 5-8khz range so the guitar can cut through once the drums and keyboards get rolling.

Never cared much for Stryper but I see what you did with that "Honestly" thing. ;)

"Breaking News": Hilary's Fractal is on the fritz and 30,000 presets are missing after being hacked by the Russians and Trump was quoted saying his Zoom is "the greatest MFX ever, you won't believe how good this Zoom is, no one knows the Zoom better than me". :D

I don't know of any presets for a "strings" patch on CustomTone but something that leaps to mind might be using multiple Pitch blocks set to different intervals in combination with some other processing, delay perhaps chorus. Sounds like volume swells might help too. There is an organ preset on CustomTone, http://line6.com/customtone/search/?submitted=1&family=helix&search_term=Organ .

Not sure I understand exactly what your preset looks like so I apologize in advance if this answer doesn't help. I realize you are actually feeding a bass input and not an actual bass in separately but I have simply referred to is as "bass" below. I would try the answer below in bold first because it will be the easiest path to setting this up. Once you understand the routing it should be no problem setting up presets like this from scratch in the future. First copy the "04B - Gtr+VOX+Bas+Keys" template under the Templates setlist to a blank preset. You will use this template as a guide. Set the input in this template on Path B that is currently set to Mic to whatever input you are using for the "bass", for example "Aux" (or for instance "Return 1", see comment at the end of this paragraph). Now drag the merge block (small block at the end of Path B ) up to Path A, right before the looper This will cause Path B to collapse its output block into the one in Path A. Now set the output block on Path A to whatever you like. This should get you close to what you are looking to do. You can delete blocks on the two unused paths on Route 2 (VOX & Keys) to preserve DSP. You can then change the other blocks on Route 1(the one you just set up) to whatever effects and amps you choose. Not sure how you are incorporating the "Return" block you referenced but you should be able to work that into this setup as well. Btw, you may want to use a Return input rather than "Aux" for your bass input. The Aux input has a much higher impedance than the guitar input. If you want to do it from scratch here are some more detailed instructions. If you don't already have a split path you will want to drag at least one block, it can just be EQ, down to create a split path. I would put all my processing blocks for the bass on this path (Path B ) You can then move the split block on Path A directly after your return which is where it sounds like you are inputting your bass and then move the merge block right before the looper on Path A. You may want to put your bass Return block on Path B or even drag the split block down to Path B to create a second input block and set it to the bass Return, especially if you want to use a different set of effects than you use for the guitar. Alternatively, do you have two totally separate paths with separate inputs and perhaps separate outputs, one for bass and one for guitar? In other words, do you already have a split and merge block? If so, you should be able to drag the merge block (it is smaller than the effect or amp blocks) up to Path A just before the looper block. You will want the looper at the end of Path A unless you are trying to put your bass through the same effects as your guitar. There may be better ways to do all of this but this is what initially comes to mind.

Like cruisinon2 said the forum is pretty much conjecture and rumor although Digitalgloo the Helix product manager drops some hints now and then. I think there is more coming soon. I am wildly speculating it will be this month, next at the latest.

This is so cool! I have been a fan of the Blue Oyster Cult since I was a teenager and here is one of their talented lead guitarists demoing the Helix. You gotta love it! How can you not like a band with a guitarist who took the appellation "Buck Dharma"; one of the greatest stage names ever and this is the guy who trades licks with him in performance. Rock on! :)

Hmm, that is not what I get when I go to that link. I would try going over to the Line6 download page than and selecting it directly from the menu. Make sure you select the proper version of the Helix (floor version or rack) and your OS first. Just look for the 2.01 version of the flash. It will be towards the top of the list of downloads It will say "Flash Memory" in the thin dark grey box at the top. The notes section will be titled "Helix Firmware 2.01 Release Notes" Remember, you don't want to open that file or try to run it directly, just download it to your PC. You will then run the Updater which will have an option to point to that file for the firmware update.

I play directly through the PA or powerd speakers all the time and it sounds great, including awesome feedback on higher gain sounds. As bsd512 said though whether you use a guitar amp, PA. FRFR, or powered speakers you are going to want to set the EQ properly and that may well include low and high cuts. I prefer using full range speakers myself rather than a guitar amp to truly bring out the character of the different amp models on the Helix.

Should be no problem with the HD500, looking forward to them supporting the Variax guitars on the Helix as well. I think it is coming in a firmware update, just don't know when. You probably already know the process but just in case, http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/guitars/james-tyler-variax-guitars/variax-reflash-and-software-update-instructions-r103

It's the Variax 5-string bass and I don't think you can upgrade the firmware of any Variax instrument with the Helix yet.

You seem to be on the right track and have tried many of the available troubleshooting options. If you have another PC available you may want to try that. Here are a couple of other suggestions. Download the Flash file and use the updater to flash locally from your PC instead of across the net. Flash file for 2.01 on Win7 is here http://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=7109 Here are a variety of reset options available from the Helixhelp.com site. One of them may get you past the freeze point. http://helixhelp.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.ResetOptions

Great chops and sound!

Don't you think this last post of yours is kind of a pathetic attempt to come off as the wronged innocent? Your original post (quoted at the top here) is the one I responded to and it was hostile and insulting, especially to anyone who looks up the meaning of the word you used "sooking", not to speak of the content of the rest of your post. So how about we not pretend that my comment to you just mysteriously appeared when you were just a poor soul seeking help. My response was to your abusive language and content and I even told you it was simply to demonstrate that while you were quite offensively criticizing my effort to respond to racism in the forum, you could not even resist responding to a comment I made that simply questioned the somewhat abrasive way you went about seeking assistance. Surely you could have thought of a title like "Need Help With My Tone" rather than the more incendiary "Feeling less and less enthused about helix.". Judging by the title you expect others to be respectful of your feelings, how about returning the favor. I told you that the only reason I questioned your post was to show you how difficult it was not to respond to something you think is wrong. Sure enough you managed to miss my point while simultaneously making it. Forget about a comment that could definitely be construed as racist, you could not even resist responding to a comment that mildly criticized the way you asked this forum for help. Do you not see the irony here? What happened to your stance of not needing to post a response to "every little thing you read on the internet"? Clearly a double standard you only hold others to. I replied to and was able to clear up a misunderstanding due to someone who had no intention of making a highly loaded and offensive statement but did so innocently and from what I can tell was bummed out by the response it evoked. Your response was to try and cyber-bully me. Highly questionable behavior. I find your comments harder to fathom as he actually meant no harm. My record speaks for itself. I go out of my way to help other users who are having technical issues and rely on them in return. You can look at over a thousand of my posts that will demonstrate that. We may disagree at times but I do my best not to insult fellow users and vice-versa. Usually but not always we succeed in that endeavor and when we don't it is often done with humor, not bile. Why not just admit you were being rude "champ" and let the issue drop? Or not, I really don't care. Anyway, I am done here, I have seen these conversations escalate before and I have no wish to be caught up in the back and forth. I know most of my fellow forum members do their best to clear up misunderstandings where possible and don't get caught up in ugly exchanges that have no business here and truly bring down the quality of this forum and the value it delivers on a daily basis. I, like so many other people here try to speak out against racism or other issues that don't belong on the forum, try to understand where others are coming from, and I don't appreciate being bullied in return and question your motives for doing so. Anyway, I hope you can take this with the same thick skin you seem to be insisting everyone else have. 'Nuff said!

I thought that bit of unpleasantness was over but this is just B.S.. Just let it go. You choose to berate the people who respond in a reasonable manner to what sounded like a racist comment in a post. This is a great technical forum and should stay that way. There is no room for this crap and it shouldn't be dragging on. The guy who posted appears to be a decent fellow, clearly did not mean anything by it, and went out of his way to clear things up and apologize for it -- misunderstanding over. That misunderstanding would have remained without subsequent posts. You are just being abusive and keeping the strife rolling. Not surprising I guess coming from the guy who titles his topic "Feeling less and less enthused about helix." because of a problem that could easily be caused by his own user error. Ordinarily I would give you the benefit of the doubt and just assume the Helix glitched but I am trying to make a point. I trust you won't be offended, take my comment personally, or feel like you have to post a response, seeing as how in your own words, you abhor people "sooking" "over every little thing they read on the internet". Personally I hope Line6Tony deletes all of the posts (including my own) regarding this stuff as the guy who made the original ill-advised comment was not trying to offend and it is just a bunch of negativity and a distraction.

That is one bada$$ little trick!

Eso es demasiado a menudo es cierto, pero esa misma tecnología también ha ayudado a crear música increíble. Puede ser una trampa o una herramienta.

I did not see that shortcut listed in the Helix Application (Editor) Guide but hey, maybe you stumbled onto an undocumented shortcut. I haven't tried that one. The documented keyboard shortcuts can be found towards the bottom of the guide which can be downloaded and is also under the Help link in the Editor. http://line6.com/data/6/0a06439c4dbd577d594db0bd0/application/pdf/Helix%20App%20Pilots%20Guide%20-%20Rev%20B%20-%20English%20.pdf

Nope not them either, when we say the band was "killin' it" tonight we do not mean it literally. ;)