HonestOpinion

Seamless install. Easiest one yet. One note, it did seem to reset all my global settings to their defaults. Looking forward to checking out the new firmware and editor. Thanks Line6!

Go to the Input block on any preset that is set for Variax. Go to the second page of the parameters and set 'Variax Settings' = "Per Preset". Now save that preset. You should now have all your Variax settings back on all your presets. This is a Line6 idiosyncrasy that has been around for a while. Although 'Variax Settings' is located in a preset, it is actually a global setting.

Did you install both HX Edit and Helix Native? They are still separate downloads although the new naming convention has each referring to the other. If you did install both already then I would probably reinstall Native 1.9. I'm not getting anything about 1.80. The message in the Help/About reads like this when properly updated: "Helix Native 1.90 Helix 2.90 Compatible "

Used to do the binder thing but switched over to iPad years ago and never looked back. Has nice notes and other details features for including key, tempo, arrangment, etc.. Just make sure you are not using polarized sunglasses for an outdoor gig. Renders the screen almost unreadable, at least on my older iPad Air. I just dropbox whatever lyrics I want to the iPad. Have probably a thousand songs stored now. Btw, you can flip the pages on the iPad with your Helix if you get an adapter but I never wanted to give up two switches for that purpose. One of the features my band used the most was the ability to beam each other the latest setlist as well as all the lyrics or chord chart. That saves everyone from having to set up their own.

I use OnSong. Great piece of software that includes setlist management as well as allowing you to store lyrics and so many other features I won't bore you with. I use a Bluetooth pedal to change the pages for multi-page lyrics. It does have a feature where you can set the tempo of the song and it will auto-scroll for you but you are locked into that arrangement so I don't use that feature. For example, using auto-scroll if you do an extended solo your lyrics may now be displaying the wrong page. Here's OnSong's webpage: https://onsongapp.com/

Even if they can QA/QC remotely and much as it would be a lot of fun to get a bunch of new features and effects right now I imagine it's a risky proposition to put a new release out during a crisis. A lot of people are probably at home playing and recording up a storm with their HX devices. Not a good time to have people who are already stressed out from COVID19 freaking out because their update froze or they found a new bug that interferes with their previous workflow. What am I saying, aw heck, go for it Line6! We could all use a new toy we can play with at home right about now :-)

Here's some free IRs from Dr. Bonkers. Thanks!

In addition to the settings suggested in previous posts do you have your output block set to 'Multi' or 'S/PDIF'? Troubleshoot this on a single path and make sure the output block is set properly. Might want to test the preset out into another monitor first to make sure you have a decent output level.

Yup, learning how the routing is working and exactly how your signal path is configured makes a big difference to how things sound. One thing you want to make sure of is that if you are joining Path 1 to Path 2 for a "Super Serial" path, make sure you route the output block properly from Path 1 to Path 2. There are some useful routing templates in the Template setlist for this configuration such as the "Super Serial x2" template. Lastly you don't have to use effect blocks inline. They can be used on parallel paths as well, often turned up to 100% when used in parallel which provides only the wet signal. When used inline 50% will give you the max dry and wet(effected) signal. Anyway, congrats on getting it figured out.

As far as I know there are currently no polyphonic effects on the Helix.

You may have already tried all this but here goes. Do you have the flanger block set at 50% in line or do you have it set up on a parallel path? Turning up the 'Regen' parameter will also result in a more dramatic sound. Shifting its position in your signal chain may also help you achieve the sound you are going for.

It's not just about polyphonic tuning. Polyphonic processing can deliver synth, drop-tuning, and other effects that allow for multiple strings to be processed differently and accurate tracking of synthesized or drop-tuned chords. The ability to essentially mimic what a hex pickup is capable of doing although usually not with quite the same level of nuance or accuracy although the algorithms are getting better with time.

Before you download and unpack/unzip the new HX Edit export your IRs into a folder and take note of where you put it, then back up everything. I recommend maximum caution to be sure you preserve what you have currently. Create a full backup, back up a bundle, setlists, IRs, export your presets individually into separate directories by highlighting them all at one time and hitting export. Follow the firmware update instructions carefully. If the firmware update freezes at some point during the update that is part of the process. This is normal for the 2.82 release(see the update notes). Even if you have an abnormal freeze don't panic. Your Helix can be recovered by swapping around to other USB ports, global reset options, and the like. See the update thread for notes on how to recover if necessary. Lastly, by all means update, as Ilya-v mentioned tons of great stuff has been added since 2.11.

Don't know the answers to your questions but the way you asked them gives some interesting technical detail on what those controls might do on a real amp. The theoretical doesn't translate in my head to what difference to expect in the actual sound though. If you spliced your technical details to a layman's explanation of the tonal changes they create it might be helpful. I'm glad you asked though 'cos it was somewhat educational.

Thanks and no worries, just wanted to set the record straight. "Serious journalism need not be solemn" - Benjamin Franklin (err, Russell Baker) :-)

Coda you seem to have had a cut & paste issue in your post above and have me quoted as saying "Silly me too assume that they would work with P/C as well as my Helix." That is actually a quote from the user Randino.

I have a bunch of Celestion and 3Sigma IRs that I loaded up to my PC+. You might be having some other issue or maybe there is a compatibility problem with the specific set of Ownhammer IRs you are trying to load.

Hope your post helps some other folks out. I have always thought it was a good idea when doing a firmware upgrade to take that extra step to create a system backup, backup your setlists and presets, and then do the reset combination to install the latest factory setlists. Then restore your user setlists and restart your device to allow the presets to rebuild. It seems to result in fewer issues down the line and that way you also get the latest factory presets. Even using what I consider to be best practice when upgrading firmware though there are some bugs on 2.82 in the memory management on preset import/export and copy and paste. For example, using HX Edit I have had certain presets where when I copy them to a new slot as I start to edit them things get a bit wonky. The preset does not seem to be properly measuring the available DSP on the freshly copied preset. For example deleting a couple of blocks and trying to copy and paste one in from one path to the other will not work, even though there should be adequate DSP available after your deletion on that path. Usually just saving and switching away from the copied preset and then back to it sets things right and you can now copy/paste the block but that definitely appears to be some sort of bug.

Yup, it's a good head's up to new users. Haven't used any in a while but some of the factory presets had some pretty sensitive settings for the noise gate. I remember when I first got my Helix having to figure out what was throttling my sound. If you are unaware that the noise gate is on in the input block and also that Line6 may have designed it using parameters that are too sensitive it can be kicking in way before it should. Not something you are necessarily expecting on a factory preset although it provides a fine if somewhat dramatic example of a noise gate in action :-) Btw, you can edit your topic's title by going to your initial/first post in the topic and hitting edit. Along with being able to edit your post you can also edit the topic title.

You don't need to turn the noise gate off. Often just adjusting the threshold on the noise gate is sufficient. Too aggressive a setting and it will clamp down too early and kill your sustain. I assign the threshold as a snapshot parameter. On clean snapshots it is set to rarely or never kick in as there is little noise. Dirtier more distorted snapshots with more noise and gain get a more, but not overly, aggressive setting.

Good question and resultantly, as has been pointed out, there are many other topics on this subject you can check out. Using your ears perhaps along with a db meter, db meter app on your smartphone, or a meter in your DAW seem to be the current prevailing methods. The overall signal level to your monitors can effect perceived volume differences as well. Too low or too hot an overall output level can make the differences between presets with relatively small changes sound exaggerated. There are many players here who switch the global setting so that the large volume knob only controls their monitor and not the FOH. This is equivalent to turning the volume knob all the way up for FOH and eliminates one possible variable when dialing in presets ultimately presenting a more consistent level to FOH. As already mentioned the upcoming firmware release with meters should help. Personally to promote unity(gain) I have resorted to having all my presets circle up, hold hands, and chant "We Are The World" :-)

@ledvedder5150 What was your source was for hearing that it will support the switch in the future. If it was Line6 and you are going to get a Mission pedal wouldn't it be better to futureproof yourself and get the one kilrahi suggested with the switch in the event that either the HX Effects supports it in the future or if you decide to get a Helix?

Like DD mentioned check your input block on the Helix. Make sure is set to "Aux" or "Return *" or you may be able to use "Multi" depending on how you are connecting. Check your output block's setting as well. If that doesn't work you can also try testing the Helix with a guitar if you have one to make sure that your L6 Link cabling is good from the Helix to the PC and that the PC is set up properly. Lastly you can test your keyboard directly to the PC without the Helix.

Doubt this is limited to just the Helix but the current state of IR management is just terrible. , In the years since the Helix has been out IR management has received some minimal improvements in that at least a full backup will restore your IRs to the correct slots. Even this did not used to be possible. Not the first to say it but we need to be able to store the IR with the preset when it is exported or backed up. Yes I know this will marginally increase the size of the backups/exports . Store the IR either in the preset itself or in an attached folder with the IRs with pointers from the presets. The IR folder approach would reduce redundancy in the preset backups. Adding a feature to be able to designate whether a preset should have the IR stored with it or be "global" would be great too. That way if you wanted to change the IR in a slot it would be reflected in any preset using that slot that had the global flag. Now on to the second major issue, truncation of IR names. Routinely my IR names get truncated and lose any meaningful description. This requires manual renaming of the IRs. Are you kidding? Device manufacturers and IR producers have to get on the same page and come up with an adequate naming length standard. That standard then needs to be self-enforced by IR creators to make sure the IR names are not too long. Device makers need to ensure that their hardware and software provide the agreed upon length in their displays and onscreen in their computer apps. Scroll the names if you need to but show the whole name. The current situation is ridiculous. The character limit on IR names on for example the editor for the PowerCab+ is insanely short. It's more than eight but it reminds me of eight character filename limits from the bad old days or the devices I have owned, ooooold devices, which failed to provide a large enough namespace in their displays. I can't believe in 2020 it is still ok to hack a meaningful name in half. I just ran into this trying to load up a bunch of IRs from Celestion (not exactly an off-brand IR maker). At this rate we're going to have manned interstellar travel before we gain the ability to see our IR's entire names. Hope this gets addressed by the whole industry and soon. Amateur hour!

I have one of these too. Super inexpensive, very light, and works well.