HonestOpinion

Found these listed by Line6 here "HX Stomp XL 1. Foot switches C + D performs a factory reset while pressing on holding boot-up. (Resets Globals, Presets, IRs). 2. Pressing and Holding down the "Page >" Button while powering up will put the HX into update mode. This update mode is helpful if the update is interrupted, and the HX Stomp will not boot properly. You will see a blank screen (no visual feedback on the display)." Don't own the XL but maybe it is telling that https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/reset-options doesn't have any reset options for the XL yet. My guess is that the next firmware revision or a future one will work more in and/or document them. Might be something additional there already that a call to Line6 or a posted question on TGP might be able to shed some light on. I would have expected the reset options to be similar to the HX Stomp but there are those extra switches so maybe not. If the above options are not sufficient or not working have you tried the combinations for the HX Stomp? Not that I am recommending that but I doubt you'll cause any harm as long as you have backups.

Are you able to successfully get presets without a looper to play through your PA? How about to a monitor/amp? I would take a look at the settings for my output block, double-check that my monitor or PA is connected to the correct LT output, and think about swapping out the usual suspects like cables. Looking at your original post I am now wondering if the issue here is your PA settings? For example does a microphone or instrument work through the PA channel you are using for the LT? Another troubleshooting step might be to try testing the same output and cable you use to your PA to an amp instead. That might at least help you isolate whether the problem is your PA settings or no output signal from the LT. Note: make sure phantom power is off on your PA. Seeing that you are using the internal looper the first thing I might test is with nothing else connected but my monitor. Create a simple blank/new preset with nothing but an amp/cab in the path. Make sure that works properly to your amp. Now add a looper block. Is there still only output to the headphones? Btw, are you getting output to your monitor/amp when you are not using the looper? Is it possible that you are getting a very low output signal to your other outputs and cranking the headphone output such that it only appears that the signal is limited to the headphones? If so there might be a problem upstream in your preset's block levels or routing. Another test might be to use one of the factory presets, test to make sure you are getting decent levels at your monitor/amp and then just add a looper to the factory preset. If none of these PA settings or hardware or preset/routing issues are the problem I would probably proceed to doing a global reset and/or reapplying the firmware upgrade.

As rd2rk mentioned you need to provide more information about your preset and how you are cabled up. Are you using the internal looper on the LT or an external looper pedal? Providing your preset will help others here to troubleshoot the issue, particularly if you are using the LT's FX loop with an external looper pedal. Make sure your output block is set to "Multi" or whatever specific output is cabled to the PA, e.g. "XLR". I would not use the headphone output to the PA although you can.

I have no where near the expertise that the electrical engineers weighing in here bring to the table but when I look at your observations above regarding your sound with the reamp box it looks to me like this could be more about what signal level your amp is ultimately getting hit with. Is it possible impedance may be playing a negligible role?

Just save preset/snapshot with the wah block active. You didn't say which HX device you have. On the Helix do the following: Create wah and volume blocks and make sure both are active(lit) then highlight/select the Volume block Press the "≡" button (Note: Make sure your Volume block is selected first per step #1) Press Controller Assign Set the parameter 'Controller' = "EXP Pedal 1" (if your wah block is assigned to "EXP Pedal 1") Set 'Min Value' = 100%, Set 'Max Value' = 0% (notice you are reversing the default values, also, if you don't want the volume to go all the way to zero in the toe-up position or to max out at the toe-down position then adjust the Min/Max Value settings accordingly) Save your preset Note: You can edit the assignments further in HX Edit or on the device as needed if you decide to get the toe switch involved.

Yep, I've heard that echoed in interviews with surviving members of Chicago. I tend to believe he said it even though for me Hendrix is still the more innovative of the two. No need to compare them though, whether just hearsay that becomes the stuff of legend or an actual endorsement, Terry Kath was one extremely talented guitarist ! The solo from "25 or 6 to 4" is one of my all-time favorites.

POLO!

Source please. Where did you see this mentioned and in what context?

You might have to add another layer of DSP calculation and management to pull some of this off. That may be why you don't see some of these proposed modifications, at least not yet. It might be trickier in some cases than others to allow certain kinds of on the fly changes to blocks if the change pushes the preset over the maximum DSP available. Stereo blocks for example use more DSP than mono. I suppose you could just gray out any option that would kick over the DSP limit.

My focus was more on improving setlist/playlist management, editing, and storage. I'm pretty satisfied with switching at this point. On the whole I have no problems with switching between song parts. I think you will find that snapshots will take care of the changes required for most songs. They have spillover and instant switching. If you want to switch presets instantly for songs that require it(very few and far between for the stuff I play) there is now the global option that allows you to have instant switching between presets. It just halves your DSP so your block and routing options will be more limited. From the manual: In the Global Settings > Preferences menu, set Preset Spillover to "On." (SHORTCUT: Hold ACTION and press HOME.) A dialog appears, reading "Remove Path 2 to enable preset spillover?" Press Knob 6 (OK). Press HOME. Path 2 has disappeared! You may now switch presets to your heart's delight with true spillover but note that if Preset A is still spilling over into Preset B (say one of its delay blocks' feedback is making it self-oscillate), switching to Preset C will abruptly cut off Preset A. To return to normal operation with two paths, turn Preset Spillover back to "Off". (SHORTCUT: Hold ACTION and press HOME again.) A dialog appears, reading "The preset must be reloaded. All unsaved changes will be lost!" So if you've made changes to the preset, be sure to save it before turning Spillover off. Press Knob 6 (OK).

These topics eat brains!

Dry lubes seem like a safer bet in general. They have a tendency to gather less dirt and dust and stay put very well. When mine started to squeak I used the one at the link below and one application(just loosened things up a bit with the big Allen wrench, applied, and retightened, did not have to open chassis) has lasted for years and still going. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C17R7Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Similar to the OP I have also been requesting and hoping for a better method of song management for years now. I also see this as one of the important areas of functionality to incorporate into a device intended for live performance. It is an area that has been overlooked in the past by many/most of the modelers available. Probably viewed as a minor clerical function unworthy of hardware or development resources, or at least low on the list of priorities. That appears to be changing though(e.g. Headrush and potentially the Quad Cortex) and I hope that Line6 will address it at some point. The ability to integrate an entire "ecosystem" into the HX architecture is a L6 core competency. At the lower level this applies mostly to things like DSP optimization and hardware integration, e.g. incorporating external pedals/racks into loops, MIDI control, impedance matching, CV triggering, L6 Link, Variax, PowerCab, etc.. At a higher level we start to look at features like streamlined upgrades, backups, preset import/export, UI/UX development, ease of use, modeling accuracy/authenticity, block, snapshot, and preset management, etc.. Song and setlist management deserve more focus along with those other areas of development - the ability to search, sort, swap, and quickly and easily edit presets in one place across ordered setlists. Perhaps this might include a more sophisticated approach that included virtual pointers to songs that allow a setlist to consume minimal storage rather than containing the presets themselves. Another option is a (standalone?) setlist manager integrated into HX Edit. I just see more robust setlist/song management as a capability that will eventually be completely standard and expected in any modeler intended to be used live. Without it your modeler might well be considered to be better suited for studio use where setlist management is far less important. I say this realizing many users including myself have gotten fairly able at managing setslists as things stand now but I also see where this could be improved. Ultimately there are plenty of other features in a modeler that trump good setlist management but it would be ideal to have that as well. Hate that I am using this as an example but look at the success of Apple products, grossly overpriced IMHO but their knack for appealing design, ease of use, and the level of integration they offer with various hardware and software products has kept them at the front of the pack. Still, if you had an iPhone and it lacked a core function like the capacity to simply and easily manage your phone contacts, you would want that area of functionality bolstered. That is somewhat vaguely analogous to how I view song management. I would prefer this get addressed before many/most other items on my wishlist. A wishlist that has shrunk dramatically with so many amazing additions to the firmware over the past few years. COVID19 and the lack of live performance opportunities has probably reduced any sense of urgency for developing setlist/song management but I hope it remains on L6's radar.

If you are using the expression pedal toe switch to alternate between wah and pitch wham for example it sounds to me like you may need either a second pitch block detuned a half step that becomes active when you switch to the wah. Or, I suppose, depending on how you were using the pitch wham you could clear the bypass assignment for the pitch wham so it stays active when switching to wah. Or you could get a Variax :-)

As MusicLaw mentioned, give it a try, might work great. In the case of the HX Stomp XL, which does not have an XLR input, depending on which mic you are using, adding a mic preamp, small mixer, or LowZ/HighZ impedance transformer might improve the mic's sound. "You’ll also find a studio microphone preamp within the Preamp > Mic category."(from the manual).

Not sure if you are suggesting being able to load a global IR, if not please ignore the following. The Helix's current architecture is such that if you added a global IR the Helix would have to set aside the DSP for it in every preset. Whether it was active or not. That is a lot of DSP to set aside. Additionally Line6 would have to redesign the Helix so that it grays out your preset and makes it nonfunctional if kicking in the global IR takes the preset over the maximum available DSP. Seems unlikely that this will ever get added, but you never know. It might be more useful to have a global setting that allowed us to route all presets' cab or IR block(s) to any single or combination of outputs. That would make it simple for example to have the cab/IR block active in an XLR out to the PA but bypassed when using the 1/4" output into the front of an amp. Or, in the case you are describing route it only to the headphones. I think there may already be IdeaScale submissions for this.

First time I had actually seen this button option. Thanks for posting! They look great and the translucent design appears to let the LED ring remain nice and visible. The design with the metal insert in the center is potentially the best I have seen for retaining and using the capacitance sensitivity. I am curious as to whether affixing them magnetically is sufficient to keep them from getting lost or kicked off during a show. Also, at $7.99 apiece they are not inexpensive. Very appealing if they work properly though. Hope some folks who have them post their reviews here.

It still sounds to me like this might be corrected with a global reset, downloading and installing the latest version of HX Edit(3.0.1), and then reinstalling the 3.0.1 firmware. However if all else fails and you are still able to get back to the 2.8 firmware and make backups successfully I might try something like this. Export preset 28A and then copy a working(rebuilding properly) preset from one of the Factory setlists over the 28A preset in setlist three(the preset that is failing). Create a general backup and also backup all setlists, IRs, and presets individually. You can backup all presets individually at once by highlighting them all and hitting 'Export' in the editor. Export them into directories named after the setlist. Now download and install HX Edit 3.0.1, and then run the 3.01 firmware update again. If it succeeds and everything rebuilds normally great, if not restart the Helix with FS7 & FS8 depressed(for the Helix Floor). This will reset all the factory and user setlists. Your Helix should now be able to finish the rebuilding process as it will no longer be hitting the problematic preset. After it finishes rebuilding you can attempt to restore your setlists. If the restore of setlist three is still failing you can restore it by skipping the setlist restore for setlist three and instead use the individual presets you made in your prior backups. They can be restored in groups until you narrow down which preset(s) are failing.

I think this could be summarized into shorter conclusions and a more digestible form but the LOE is appreciated. How would you translate this into practical suggestions to help get a good sound for those using 4CM (and their ears)?

If this happened on my Helix the first thing I would check is using the Global reset options to put the Helix in test mode(FS 3&4 on the Helix) which does a low level check of the hardware and allows you to test all the buttons and switches. I don't see a test mode global reset option listed for the Stomp though. Just mention it in case one exists and isn't listed yet. Short of finding a test mode that allows you to test those buttons and given the fact that you already tried rd2rk's other remedies a ticket does sound like your next step. Who knows, maybe Line6 has a test mode you can try.

Are you referring to the icon in the system tray on Windows for "Safely Remove ..." USB devices? If so then it probably is not necessary but still not a bad idea. Disconnecting a device this way can help Windows keep track of which USB devices have been removed. In some cases that assists Windows in detecting when the device, e.g. your Stomp is plugged back in again. I turn my Helix off all the time while the editor is open and it does not seem to cause any issues. I save my preset first of course if I am editing. Nonetheless, the proper procedure is doubtless to close the editor before turning off or disconnecting the device. Does not seems to cause any problems if I don't though.

You first want to start by downloading and installing the 3.0.1 version of HX Edit with all boxes checked. You are probably going to have to do a global reset, you can find the various combinations here https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/reset-options . Then you can hopefully get back to kicking off the firmware update again from HX Edit. If these steps don't get you updated you can do the process manually with the Line6 Updater utility. It is fairly common for people to experience update issues, particularly their first one. The back & forth posts that can be required to diagnose and fix it would quickly overwhelm this "Bugs" topic. If you need more assistance I would open either a new topic or better yet post in one of the thousand that exist on this subject already, for example, the topic below has a lot of good tips, just a little long in the tooth now as you definitely want to download and install the latest 3.0.1 version of HX Edit.

Freeware too, nice! You can donate to the developer if you like and use it.

Saw the following quoted comment below the video the OP posted, borne out by the interview in kduck's post. "I just figured it out, its two boss dl3 pedasl joined in some "twin pedal" he uses them on the hold function." If that is correct you may need to incorporate that hold functionality along with the dual delay to get his sound.

This is a well documented and reported bug and is supposed to be fixed in the upcoming 3.1.0 firmware update. Btw, there is a topic pinned towards the top of the forum specifically for bugs where you can report these in the future. If it turns out to be a confirmed bug you may want to open a ticket with Line6 afterwards as they are much more likely to address it that way.