HonestOpinion

Nice error report and equipment details. If you haven't already, I would restart your Helix and give the presets you loaded a chance to rebuild in case they haven't yet. This might resolve your backup issues. Also when you go to create a backup check your HX Edit version under 'Help --> 'About the Helix' and make sure it is 2.80.

Check the 'Help' ---> 'About HX Edit' entry in HX Edit and make sure it is 2.8. Could be you have a bad link to the wrong version of HX Edit or it did not update properly. You can also try rebooting the computer as well as different USB ports and/or different USB cable.

As noted above, any path is legit if it sounds good to you, from inspiration to mad scientist. I'm only running my cabs in front of my amps from now on (miss those old emojis that clearly indicated jest). :-)

I would reboot your PC and Helix and start checking different USB ports and cable. If your Mac still can't see the Helix after that I would uninstall all Line6 software and reinstall "HX Edit" 2.80.

Set this up per your settings and I can't recreate this bug on my Helix (2.8 release). My FS2 switch LED ring retains the correct settings when switching modes.

Might not be your issue as it sounds like this is what you did but you said your reinstalled the "updater/drivers", did you reinstall the file named "HX Edit" 2.8 version? If not try uninstalling all Line6 apps and downloading and reinstalling the "HX Edit" 2.8 version file. You will have to scroll past the "Flash Memory" file on the downloads page to get to it. When you run the HX Edit installer check all the boxes and just let it install all the software and drivers to your computer. Restart the upgrade and try every USB port. If that doesn't work try another computer and USB cable if available.

Hang in there, Line6 will get it worked out for you. Sorry you have to go through the hassle. Assume you have already tried uninstalling the Line6 software and then going to the downloads page, scrolling past the "Flash Memory" file, downloaded the "HX Edit" 2.8 version and reinstalled and restarted the process. This works for a lot of folks. Some specific hardware jut seems to be more uncooperative than most but in several years now of updates I have almost never seen anyone with a bricked unit that can't be unbricked with the right sequence of actions or using another computer and cable. I can almost guarantee you will get a satisfactory resolution, stressful in the interim though I know.

If after rebooting your PC, HX Edit still does not open at all I would uninstall the Line6 apps and then reinstall the "HX Edit" 2.80 file. Make sure you scroll down past the "Flash Memory" file on the L6 downloads page (just want to make sure you are grabbing the correct file).

Probably not the issue but have you tried a different USB cable?

If you've tried all the steps including trying all the USB ports, swapping cables, restarting computer or using a different one, restarting Helix, global resets, etc. then I would open a ticket/'phone call' with Line6 and let them help you out. What is your Helix displaying when you turn it on?

I am on Helix Floor using HX Edit 2.80 on a Win 10 x64 machine and I can not confirm this bug. The save works just fine for me to other drives. I did notice that I get different style dialog boxes when I export one preset versus multiple presets. Don't remember that happening before (although maybe it did) but everything works just fine. This problem may be specific to your setup.

Not sure but I think Slidedude was referring to the Native user setlists persisting after the update which is exactly what I found; even after doing the step to update to the Native 1.8 Factory and Template presets. None of the setlists are cleared automatically during the upgrade to Native. I'm wondering if we are good going forward with our old "upgrade-in-place" presets or if we need to actually restore them in Native 1.8 to force them to update properly?

Generally every update has to strike a balance between improving effects and amps/cabs and the fact that people have spent countless hours customizing their presets. Even if an update can provide a genuine improvement to a given effect, amp, or cab that has to be weighed against any detrimental effect it may have on users' current presets. Kind of a tightrope to walk. I would think wherever possible they probably opt for adding new blocks and features that include improvements that will not undermine and totally hijack the old and require users to modify their old presets. If the change is relatively transparent, sounds undeniably "better", or is simply required to move the product forward then the decision probably gets made to modify preexisting blocks and features.

Just select "Helix Native" from the center("All Software") dialog box, and your OS from the one on the right on the Downloads page. Download the "Helix Native" 1.80 file. Follow the backup instructions first if you want to retain your current setlists/presets.

Thanks. Some helpful posts from jmcecil here. Maybe 2.8 has an incompatibility with certain drivers or hardware. Short of reinstalling 2.80 and hoping for a different result it does sound like opening a ticket/call with Line6 support might be the best course of action unless some more folks chime in with a fix for your issue.

More info please. Which version of HX Edit did you install and what version of the firmware are you on? What OS are you using?

Good tip thanks but this should be happening automatically once the Helix has been restarted after loading prior version presets. I wonder if the same effect would have been achieved if the user had just restarted the Helix. Gonna jump over to TGP and look for these posts.

Have you tried just loading another IR on top of the corrupt one? If you find yourself having to resort to the brute force method you can do a global reset to clear the IRs but it will clear your user setlists and require you to restore them afterwards so only do it if you have a set of older backups you can live with. Reset Options (from Helixhelp.com) Helix Floor/LT Button Combination Description 2 LED light Fun 3 & 4 Test Mode 5 & 6 Global reset 7 & 8 Reset setlists to factory, Keep IRs 8 & 9 Reset setlists to factory, Clear IRs 9 & 10 Reset setlists to factory, Global reset, Clear IRs 10 & 11 Upgrades existing presets to latest format 11 & 12 Clear current preset 5 & 12 Clear setlists, clear IRs, Return system settings to default 6 & 12 Safe boot mode To use Reset Options: Power off the Helix Hold the desired button combination Power on the Helix Release the button combination Please note: Buttons are numbered from top left to bottom right. Helix Rack Since the rack doesn’t have footswitches, you’ll instead hold down a combination of the 6 encoders that are below the main LCD screen as you’re booting up. Button Combination Description ENC2 & ENC3 Reset globals ENC3 & ENC4 Restore stock presets and setlists ENC4 & ENC5 Restore stock presets, setlists, and IRs ENC5 & ENC6 Reset globals and restore presets, setlists, and IRs (entire factory restore) ENC1 & ENC3 Rebuild all presets ENC1 & ENC5 Clear all presets, setlists, and IRs ENC1 & ENC6 Will enter Update Mode (This feature is only available on firmware v1.06.5 and higher) HX Effects Button Combination Description Holding FS3 + MODE Will clear all Presets and IRs Holding FS4+FS5 Will reset Global Settings Holding FS5+FS6 Will reset Presets only Holding FS6+TAP Will Perform factory restore (reset, Globals, IRs, and Presets) Holding the right arrow ">" Will put the unit in a fail safe update mode. Use this when the HX Effects is in an un-recoverable state HX Stomp Button Combination Description All 3 Footswitches Clears all presets/IRs FS1+2 Resets presets and IRs FS 2+3 Factory restore (globals, presets, IRs)

Thanks for the clarification/correction. Sho'nuff it's in there. I think a lot of people were working off the notes from the Downloads page rather than this post. I am not sure everyone got this message “Boot Failure. Entered Update Mode!” or the screenshot in the article above. Perhaps that caused some confusion but I could be wrong, don't remember what I was looking at when I pressed "OK" but the entire update executed quickly and without mishap after pressing it. The instructions appear to be clear on this point but a lot of users missed this so I am glad there is some attention being turned towards it for those yet to update. A lot of people probably wing updates without reading the notes. Perhaps the issue is no more than people getting so accustomed to standard software installation with other products that when they hit a step where things are frozen they need a specific command onscreen to take action. Even if the proper instructions have been provided in the release notes. The installation for the Helix is almost more like an enterprise level piece of software like a SQL Server in some respects than consumer level software. Makes sense given how complex the product is and how many major changes went into this revision. I remain a big fan of how much care went into the instructions and process for this upgrade and my upgrade was seamless and quick. Instructions from the "HX Edit" release notes on the Downloads page: 6. Think “Hmm, maybe I should’ve backed up first? Nah, I insist on subverting the dominant paradigm,” and click “OK.” Helix begins updating. As wholly expected, because we warned you… because you always read the instructions… halfway through the update process, Line 6 Updater displays a second dialog and Helix’s LCD reads “Boot Failure. Entered Update Mode!” THIS IS NORMAL. Breathe deep, everything is fine. You’re almost there. 7.Click “OK” again. When finished, Helix restarts automatically and begins rebuilding your presets. Let it finish.

Take a look at the global settings for the expression pedal that controls your volume(EXP 2 by default). Your previous global setting may have been reset such that the volumes are changing from preset to preset in a different manner than your previous setting.

I actually mentioned this several times yesterday on several threads but it is easy for it to get lost in the abundance of information and topics. Seems like we still need to find a better way to consolidate update notes in the future but I can't think of a great way to do that given that there was a sticky thread at the top asking people not to open new update instruction threads and it still quite predictably happened(including the topic I started to announce the new release was out). The firmware release instructions should probably be updated now to specifically include this as part of step #3. It will still be helpful to the many people who have not upgraded yet. I understand why people were hesitant to hit the "OK" button without explicit instructions to do so either on the screen or in the release notes. For many of us who have been through many updates it seemed intuitive which may be why it was left out but I think it would be better to state it. Ideally it would just happen automatically when the software freezes as part of the normal process required to get to the new "Core" firmware. Just guessing but this step may not be required for the next update as long as you are updating from 2.8(Core).

Line6 has stated that in general they will only do manual revisions when there is a major release so the next one should be for the 3.0 release. They have to translate the manuals into many languages so it is actually a fairly substantial undertaking. In the meantime the best place to look are in the sticky threads regarding the release at the top of the forum and the firmware/software notes on the Downloads page.

Starting at #4 below are the official Line6 firmware update instructions. Alternatively you can use the method provided in the link to the post below. 4. Loading the 2.80 Factory Presets / Templates IMPORTANT! The following procedure will COMPLETELY ERASE ALL OF YOUR CUSTOM PRESETS! If you want to keep them, make sure you back them up First! (See “STEP 1a :Backing Up Helix /HX Hardware” above.) Turn off your Helix / HX processor. Depending on your type of Helix / HX product, follow the procedure below: Helix Floor / LT - While holding footswitches 7 and 8 (two left-most switches on the bottom row), turn on Helix / Helix LT. Wait for “Will restore stock Presets and Setlists…” and let go Helix Rack / Control - While holding knobs 3 and 4 below the screen, turn on Helix Rack. Wait for “Will reset Presets…” and let go HX Effects - While holding footswitches 5 and 6 (middle two switches on the bottom row), turn on HX Effects. Wait for “Will reset Presets…” and let go HX Stomp - While holding footswitches 1 and 2, turn on HX Stomp. Wait for “Will reset Presets…” to appear on the screen and let go Helix Native - Click the gear icon in the lower left corner to open the Preferences window. From the Presets/IRs tab, click “Restore Factory Setlists” 5a. Restoring Helix / HX Hardware from a Backup (Optional) Connect your Helix / HX processor to a Mac or PC via USB (do not use any sort of USB hub) and turn it on. Open the NEW VERSION OF HX Edit 2.80 you installed in step 2, “Updating HX Edit to 2.80” above. From the top File menu, select “Restore from Backup.” Browse to the backup file and click “Open.” TIP: If you instead exported individual setlists and loaded the 2.80 factory presets / templates (and want to keep them), from the preset list along the left side, select an empty User setlist and then drag the saved setlist file (from the tip in STEP 1) into the preset list IMPORTANT! You may notice that after restoring from a backup (or loading in previously stored setlists or individual presets) that preset switching times are slower than normal. Restart Helix / HX, and you’ll see the display read “Rebuilding preset [XXX]”. Wait for it to rebuild your presets, and they will load faster. 5b. Restoring Helix Native from a Backup If you don’t own Helix Native, skip this step. Open any instance of Helix Native within your DAW and click the gear icon in the lower left corner to open the Preferences window. From the Presets/IRs tab, click “Import Bundle.” Browse to the location chosen in STEP 2 above and click “Open.”

Frank Ritchotte posted this over at The Gear Page. Doesn't really have much info on how they set it but they do discuss how they address the two sides and their combination to emulate the original pedal. Apparently they use both of the new Line6 distortion models "Tone Sovereign"(=Analogman King 0f Tone) and the "Heir Apparent" (=Analogman Prince Of Tone) to get the sound of the original Analogman King Of Tone pedal.

Awesome, glad to hear it!