HonestOpinion

I did not own the HD500 but I feel the same way, the scribble strips make it infinitely easier to remember what each footswitch is assigned to, especially when you custom name a multiple assignment. They also eliminate the exact issue you described with magnetic labels where most of them may apply from preset to preset but there are usually a couple that have to be kept generic (e.g. "FX1", "FX2") and consequently non-descriptive for effects that change from preset to preset. Scribble strips rock!

I think astroturf intended to recommend setting the high "cut" (low pass) filter to 6000khz and I agree. I generally like the cut somewhere between 5-8khz. I find that with any full range cabinet solution, be it FRFR or PA, on many patches you will need to set the high cut filter aggressively or the Helix will sound harsh. To me this is just the nature of the beast and the same with any MFX capable of generating a full range signal. Maybe some manufacturers already design their presets with this cut or implement it automatically behind the scenes but you may need to explicitly include it with your Helix presets depending on the instrument, preset, and what amp or full range cab you are playing through. To me, appropriate high cuts are just part of good preset design and not "building them in" does offer maximum flexibility but does require slightly more effort by the user to get the sound right.

I think I may understand what you are trying to do. I don't know if there is a way to do this globally but you can certainly do it per preset. The trick is, it is a two step process. So, for instance, if you have a wah pedal set up on "EXP 1" on the toe switch for the Helix's internal expression pedal (the default) and you want to lets say assign an external pedal to control the volume block from the EXP3 jack you need to execute the following steps. Make sure your external pedal is plugged into the "EXP3" input on the back of the Helix. First select the volume block, and go to the "Footswitch Assign" screen. It will have "Exp Toe" set as the default. Set this to "None". Make sure the volume block is still selected and now go to the "Controller Assign" screen, set the "Parameter" knob to "Position" and set the "Controller" knob to "EXP 3". Make sure the volume block is not bypassed. Save the preset. You are done! Now when you press the footswitch on the Helix built-in expression pedal it will turn the wah on and off but will not effect the volume block (which you have assigned to your external pedal on "EXP 3"). Your external pedal on "EXP 3" should now be controlling the volume. This process should work for any block/parameter you want to assign to your external pedal (although if your external pedal is controlling a block other than the volume you may not need to execute step #2). Ultimately you have to both unassign the volume block in the "Footswitch Assign" screen, and then assign the "Position" parameter to the "EXP 3" input in the "Controller Assign" screen. Basically the same instructions apply if you have your external expression plugged into the "EXP2" input on the back of the Helix.

Well, after attempting to do a setup on my practically new Variax I discovered that the nut had been either cut too low or notched too deeply(from the factory), actually seemed like a bit of both, and that no matter how much I raised the saddles it was still buzzing on open strings; even after checking neck relief and the whammy angle and height. The buzz impacted the E, B, & G strings and appears to be at least the most obvious cause of the lack of sustain and tonal weirdness. So an exchange is happening. Will try and report back after I get the new one. I would say string buzz was accounting for my issues now. We will see if a properly setup Variax is free of issues.

I spoke with the Nushield rep and they said the Day Vue film works quite well in direct sunlight, applies easily, still provides good visibility indoors, assists visibility with polarized sunglasses, and can be easily removed or even reapplied. Looks like it might be worth a try.

This looks like an awesome alternative if as you say they don't damage the screen if they need to be removed. If anyone tries them I hope they post back here on their effectiveness and usability.

I have the same issue with digital mixing boards. Your best alternative is to rig something out of cardboard or wood or use one of those auto sun protectors to deflect the sun and just hope it isn't shining from behind you.

I don't want to jump to any conclusions yet. I did a setup on my Variax last night and I will be retesting.

Looks like phil_m answered as I was posting, I concur.

You could potentially use the inserts on your personal mixer to send the soundman a signal but they are likely tapped after the preamp on your mixer so this is not a good idea. Some kind of XLR splitter so you can send the signal to both your board and the soundman's may be the best solution. You can buy them individually or get something like the snake or rack version below. The rack version defaults to two outputs per input but can send up to four outputs per input, ideal for instance for sending to FOH, a recording interface, and your monitor mixer. Splitter Snake http://www.seismicaudiospeakers.com/16-channel-xlr-splitter-snake-cable-two-15-foot-trunks/p/SATSS-16x1515 Rack mounted splitter with some additional functionality like ground lift and phantom power http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MS8000?adpos=1t1&creative=105744828601&device=c&matchtype=b&network=g&gclid=CPr9oMfBls0CFUM8gQodvdIIrQ Single splitter http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-YXM-121-XLR3F-XLR3M-Cable/dp/B000068O59 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/YMXF2XM1?adpos=1o2&creative=54989267161&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CKvdoue-ls0CFdgQgQodE1YPAg

An ingenious solution and implementation for quick footswitch swaps from Line6. Big thanks to them!

Just enter pedal mode and touch and hold(don't press) both switches at the same time (source & target switch). A message will popup asking if you want to swap them. Answer "OK" and all the assignments as well as the custom label and ring color will swap to the new footswitch.

Love that light strip you set up around the pedalboard. Makes things easier to see and probably helps avoid people stepping on it. What did you use for the lighting.

Hmm, funny you should mention this, I was just noticing the same thing on my JTV-69s today but I figured it was a setup problem or just the preset I was on. I hope this is not a problem with the piezos or the software. I will optimize the setup first, do some comparisons between the mags and models, and then take stock again. The lack of sustain was what I was finding particularly troubling. The notes were dying unnaturally quickly, almost like a palm mute had been applied.

Agree, L6 gave us a fantastic selection of internal wah pedals to choose from! Also, putting pedals in a send/return loop instead of before or after the Helix enables you to easily put multiple pedals in different insert points in or out of the signal chain with one click from the Helix. This way you can just leave the external pedals on and bring them in any time in any combination from the Helix. A bonus is you are not getting extra noise when they are not in use and there is less need to tap dance on your external pedals.

You have a point in that it is always a matter of achieving balance and you can definitely reach a point of diminishing returns where limited resources can be tilted too far towards testing and not enough to creating. That is one of the reasons why I am such a fan of automated test harnesses where possible. Although they may take some time to code initially they can be a real time saver for repeated test iterations and also cut down on things missed by more manual methods. You do have to take into account the nature of the software and its usage. If you are writing software for Wall Street that can tank the markets if it has errors, the testing has to be fairly rigorous. Same goes for if you are doing a Moon launch at Cape Canaveral and bad software means a bunch of astronauts never make it home (although ironically the Helix software is far more complex than the software that sent the original astronauts to the Moon), or if you are writing the software that supports the power grid, or an air traffic control system. So granted that Helix does not come close to hitting any of these thresholds but it is used for live performance and everything that implies from one-time events like weddings to internationally filmed concerts with thousands of attendees, and therefor does require a certain level of reliability. If you are constantly reintroducing old bugs, or introducing new bugs with every upgrade it may be time to take a closer look at your development and testing process, you may be erring on the side of the equation that is not testing thoroughly enough, although bugs crop up in even the best software shops. Anyway, I hope the tap tempo bug get fixed soon as I think it is fairly substantial and I still would like to have at least heard an explanation from L6 as to why this one did not warrant a quickfix, or why a quickfix was not feasible. I ask this humbly as the programmers at L6 are doing things far beyond my own feeble talents. I am mollified in the meantime by the distinct feeling that some substantial new features and additions are headed our way.

How about this awesome piece of tech as a MIDI controller for the Helix. The Livid Guitar Wing MIDI Performance Controller. It has a wireless USB Bluetooth receiver that you connect to your computer but I wonder if you could plug the USB Bluetooth receiver into a female USB to standard MIDI convertor cable and plug that directly into the Helix for a wireless connection. Powering the USB receiver would probably be the challenge. If not, it looks like you could pretty easily set up a wired connection with a convertor like the one in the link below. If it proves this can't be used to control the Helix it still looks like it would be amazing to use in conjunction with the Helix. There are some other great demo videos on the Sweetwater site: http://www.sweetwate...tail/GuitarWing Or just wire it directly to the Helix with something like this: http://www.ebay.com/...s&ul_noapp=true

I haven't used my L2m's in exactly this configuration. I have an M20d mixer so when I am using the L2ms as whole band monitors the L6 Link connection is used by the L6 Link output from the M20d mixer, that makes the L6 Link input on the L2m unavailable to plug the Helix into. I wish the M20d mixer had L6 inputs, which I would then plug the Helix into, but it does not, only an L6 Link output. I run my Helix into the mixing board via XLR. I then just use the mixer to provide my monitor mix with the band and guitar. The L2m speakers sound excellent with the band as well as my guitar, I have had no issues with dynamics, just have to get the blend of guitar to, particularly in my case, the vocal levels right as you no longer have the separation of a separate guitar amp and vocal monitor wedge. Everything is coming out of the L2ms. When I use the L2m strictly as a guitar amp for the Helix with other non Line6 PA systems, that is when I use the L6 Link from the Helix to the L2m and then out from the L2m to the PA and have a separate floor wedge/monitor for vocals and the rest of the band mix. I have not encountered a gig when using other PA systems where I did not have the option of an additional vocal monitor and therefor would have had to run a return back from the board to my L2m for the band mix. I believe it would work just fine that way though and you would have the advantage of being able to use the digital L6 Link connection direct from the Helix to the L2m (or L3t in your case). Btw, I do have the L3ts as well but I use them for FOH rather than monitors. As I alluded to earlier, the one thing I avoid is having guitar coming out of an L2m behind me as well as having the guitar come out of the vocal monitor in front of me to avoid phase cancellation, perhaps it would not be as much of an issue if you were using the L2m strictly as an off axis side-fill monitor for yourself and perhaps the rest of the band.

I do agree it is best to have your presets pretty much dialed in before the show but I have had the iPad on a mic stand control over my pedalboard setup with a different MFX unit and although I rarely used it live, I have to admit it was easy to access and to see and not that different from folks who keep rackmounts within arm's reach. That setup was actually most useful for making adjustments during band practice where I used it quite a bit. I knew some guys once in a sort of underground punk/alt/techno (genres are so confusing) "band" who had a guitarist who sometimes never actually removed the guitar from its case but just had a series of pedals he spun dials on and various objects to bang the guitar with (still in its open case). Or, maybe you are five guitarists in an ambient band who just want to play with Helix settings synched to the light show. Who am I to judge? :D The Helix does have the unique and most nifty ability to be programmed from the footswitches and expression pedal while standing up (particularly barefoot) although I wonder how many people are actually using it. I definitely fall in the camp that thinks Bluetooth or WIFI "live UI" or editor control would have been a great feature.

I am no expert on the 4CM method, I have tried it but I don't use it (too much darn cabling for my tastes). I believe that the flexibility it offers would allow you to bypass the guitar amp's preamp and use the modeling direct to the power amp, or use modeling with the preamp, or not use the modeling at all depending on where your routes blocks are positioned and what you have bypassed in the signal chain.

I have used an L2m before in pretty much the first manner you described. The L6 link out from the Helix to the L2m and then the L2m out to the mixer. I also had a vocal monitor so I was not returning anything from the mixer desk to the L2m. If you have the L3t behind you and also return guitar from the mixer to the vocal monitor in front, you will probably end up with phase cancellation so I kept the vocal/band mix with none of my guitar in the vocal monitor and used the L2m to monitor my guitar. Works great but I also love traveling light and just using the Helix directly to the board and hearing the guitar back in the monitor. Doesn't have quite the same air moving behind you effect but a decent soundman can make sure the audience is getting a great guitar mix and I don't have to worry about blasting out the people in the front rows. The trick can be getting the right vocal to guitar mix in the monitor if you are a singer as well.

I thought this discussion had been put to bed, I never suspected what a difference of opinion on beta testing there would be and how strongly people would feel about it. I don't want to get into a contest about who has more experience but I also have designed software for some of the largest companies in the world and my experience is that the process of beta testing differs from shop to shop, app to app. Anyway, I have no ego invested in this, I simply want to see some of the better suggestions from the beta tests incorporated into the Helix. I don't really care what that process ends up being as long as it happens and I certainly have no desire to delegitimize the experience of other developers and software professionals. I was simply pointing out that I have seen all manner of development, test, and QA, processes implemented over the years. whatever gets us there. I think L6 needed to get the Editor out and they did the right thing by releasing it. I hope future versions take into account some of the needs and suggestions of their user base. Here is a fairly decent link for the difference between alpha and beta testing although the definition of a beta test is somewhat fluid from company to company. I think it supports an argument from either side of the fence of what exactly the use and results of a beta test should be and we have certainly seen that in this topic. Perhaps an argument could be made that alpha testing with a wider audience should have been attempted but I can certainly see the difficulty of doing that. It probably is not practical with a consumer base that may have well been left with presets that did not load properly from version to version or major bugs that would have exploded in forum posts. http://www.centercode.com/blog/2011/01/alpha-vs-beta-testing/

This topic has come up before and as phil_m points out there may be some lag for live use but there are a couple of ways you could pull it off. Both methods would use the Helix Editor. The first method is completely wired and the second is semi-wireless. Use a Windows tablet with a USB port on a mic stand holder or music stand wired directly to the Helix. Use a Windows or Mac wired to the Helix and then use a remote desktop such as the ones described below with a wireless tablet connection, again on a mic stand holder or music stand. http://www.geek.com/apple/the-5-best-remote-desktop-apps-for-ipad-1565111/ Here is a previous topic link from radatats exploring the Splashtop app: http://line6.com/support/topic/19535-control-helix-app-from-ipad-or-android-tablet/?hl=splashtop

My thanks to Duncann, cabIREU, and klangmaler for offering some guidance and clarity on the use of Reverb IRs and IRs in general on the Helix. One option might be if the current Helix could allow larger IRs by cutting down the number of total IR slots available for folks who want to experiment with IRs with longer sample lengths. Ideally though we would have more slots available and a larger max IR file size as well as a longer namespace in the next Helix(this?) version. IR names are loooong...

Yep, I only encounter this issue of disappearing scroll bars on my Windows 10 Acer laptop. This appears to be a Windows 10 configuration issue, not a Line6 issue. It may be the interaction of the Editor with the new implementation of Windows 10 of the "scroll inactive" feature. You may want to try the #1 solution below and move on to #2 if necessary. The #3 solution is included only if the first two don't remedy the issue. Here are a few suggested fixes from online. 1. Use this link to set the "scroll inactive" feature off. I would start here and see if this resolves your issue. http://lifehacker.com/how-to-disable-windows-10s-inactive-window-scrolling-1727952625 2. Instructions from this link if you want to change the width of the scrollbar. http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-change-the-size-of-scrollbars-in-windows-10/ 3.This discussion has a Registry hack to change scollbar width. Backup/export your Registry first. I suggest trying the first two solutions first and only using this one if you have to. http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=45&topicid=183845