Kilrahi

I really liked this one. Oddly enough, I have been wanting to create a patch for this to celebrate the upcoming July 4th so you saved me some serious time. Thank you!

I'm very stoked too, but to my knowledge there's been no explanation of how it will work, but instead a brief rundown of its history. As I recall, it was actually a largely finished model before the Helix was even released, but that the guy who owned their copy of the King of Tone that it was built from left the company and took the pedal with him before they could go forward with proper A and B testing. Without the ability to test the accuracy, it was held back, and then largely forgotten . . . until it was recently uncovered, and I guess now they have a way to test it. I'm hoping it's as accurate as possible (other than the 14 months part) and hope that it is one block that can select either side. I'd be happy with two blocks though if that's the only way. I'm pretty stoked for it though. Too bad it sounds like it's still a few months off . . .

Yes. Assuming the first part works, that second part is pretty easy. When you set the controller, you assign a off value and an on value so that when it's on it immediately jumps to the parameter you want, and when it's off, it drops to the one that (hopefully) kills the delay while it's off.

I ran into the same thing once, and at least in my case, it was just that I had a setting off. Here's some things I would double check: 1. Ensure FX loop mix is set to 100%. 2. Set Firehawk loop to "stomp," not line. 3. Set Firehawk output to "line," not "stomp." That's the first place I'd start. If your amp has a switch for its effects loop to be line or instrument, set up the above and if it doesn't work, flip the switch and test again. Also, the thread below has tons more discussion and even a diagram or two:

This is the exact same design they used for the Firehawk 1500's FBV controller. In my opinion, it's a cheap design - the Mission Engineering pedal with a toe switch has an actual switch similar to the Helix stomp switches and it just seems like a better, but more expensive, approach. With that said, the Firehawk's pedal works fine for me. It does take a bit of force to switch, but not an insane amount of force. Once you figure out how much it's pretty easy to do. It's always hard reading these in forum posts because I have no way to tell if those complaining about their pedal are using the same amount of force but hating it whereas I don't care and I don't think it's a big deal, or is their's really a broken mess and it requires a stupid wrecking ball dropped on it to change. Still, that's the best feedback I can give on it. The pedal should take a nice little forward stomp (hell, you don't even have to do a real stomp as I usually keep my toe connected to the pedal the whole time) - but it's not a stomp that would break somebody's toe if they were on the receiving end either.

I ran into this the other day and it surprised me too. Usually, I want trails but in this instance I wanted a hard kill switch and then when I switched it back on again it was still blaring out. Quite an unfortunate surprise. This is something I haven't tried yet, but doesn't the delay change in real time if you mess with the feedback and/or mix factors while the delay is still going? If so, what would happen if you not only assigned the bypass switch to the delay, but also assigned the feedback parameter to it as well so that when the foot switch was hit it both bypassed it and dialed the feedback to 0%? Maybe nothing. I'll have to test that out tonight though.

Uh . . . that's a big question. I'm a Stomp owner. Seriously considered getting a Helix LT and was saving up the cash for it. Right at about the $600 mark the Stomp was released . . . and it sold me on it. You'll definitely want to hear from some Helix owners, but in my opinion if you get the Helix it's to be your all in one unit. I know some who use pedals with it still, but usually the goal is to ditch them or maybe just use a special pedal or two that can't be recreated on the Helix. It takes up enough real estate on its own that if you're travelling around you really don't want to carry too much more, BUT you really don't have to because it's capable of doing so many things in a signal chain. I've used one from time to time, and now owning Helix Native I can attest to what a monster of possibilities it is. Finally, most people don't own a Line 6 Variax guitar, but it is quite a powerful creature in its own right, and the things a Helix or Helix LT can do with one are pretty crazy. If a Variax is even a temptation, then get the Helix (and I own a Variax - doh!). The Stomp really feels like a baby Helix. The thing is, that's part of why I ended up being okay with it. The majority of the time signal chains I build are never that complex anyway. I keep working away at it, but when I create tones they're rarely more than six blocks and to me they sound great. My favorite artists throughout several decades worth usually only had an amp and an effect or two so it just isn't hard to dial in what I like with the Stomp. Furthermore, I already owned several pedals and Line 6's own Firehawk 1500 that allows me to share in DSP usage, further diminishing the need for me to have a full blooded Helix (in fact, I can do dual amps just fine - I let the rest of my pedalboard pick up the slack). While it's easy to think of all that the Helix can do, the Stomp is quite the powerhouse in its own right. The things I can do with three snapshots and an expression pedal already is well beyond anything I'd ever experienced in traditional pedal land. I've been quite happy with it. Now, there is one downside to the Stomp, and it is this: What it does it does so well that very often you will find yourself wondering if you should have gone full Helix. My recommendation to people is usually, "If you want to save money AND/OR if you want to keep your pedals viable and have a small form factor, get the Stomp. If money and space is no object, the Helix or Helix LT is a no brainer."

Just to give a quick fly by, four cable can sound complex but it's not as bad a hairball as it seems. The Firehawk makes it especially easy. Here's how I'd run it: Pre Steps: 1. Have four 1/4 " cables - hence the name. 2. In signal chain of Firehawk, set amp/cab block to be empty - no amp or cab. 3. In signal chain, set FX block to active, and either before empty amp/cab block or after (I prefer it after - some prefer it before - test and see what you like). 4. Design signal chain so that effects you'd like BEFORE your real pre-amp are before the amp/cab block on the Firehawk, and effects you'd like in the effects loop of your real amp are after the amp/cab block of the Firehawk. Connections: 1. Guitar plugged in to "guitar in" of Firehawk FX. 2. 1/4 cable from FX send of Firehawk to "guitar in" of amp. 3. 1/4 cable from effects loop send of amp to FX return of Firehawk. 4. 1/4 cable from Firehawk main out to effects loop return of real amp. Walla. Four cable.

If I had the cash flow, I could easily see myself splurging on some of the higher end guitars that are out there. There's a lot of beautiful guitars, and it's fun if you can afford it. However, you hit significant diminishing (and arguably non existent) returns for any guitar pushing past the $2,000 mark. Now, you find a guy who works out of his home shop and only makes a few guitars a year (like what cruisinon2 described above - a true custom job) and you can still see some significant value pushing above the $2,000. Whether it's worth it to you as a player is another question entirely. But a Gibson for $5,000? Ehh . . .no . . . you're just buying into a legacy of hype there. My Korean built JTV 59 is one of the priciest guitars I've ever bought. Chump change to many, but a splurge for me based on all of the sounds that it could do. I consider it very nice and it's my most versatile instrument. However, the craftsmanship in no way blows the doors off of my $400 Epi Les Paul. It's in incremental improvement, not a quantum leap.

I never felt they sounded the same. The particle verb, for example, sounds vastly different than a standard plate reverb. Where do you have the reverb in your chain? I usually put it at the very end, but where you're going direct into the front of the amp it is probably destroying a lot of the nuance of the reverb. Personally, I'd go four cable method where you say it has an effects loop and put the reverb in the effects loop.

If you look further up this thread there is a general link to all of Line 6's devices to put them in update mode. Here are the instructions for the HX Effects: HX Effects: Turn unit off and then turn back on. Hold Footswitch 6 and Tap throughout the boot process, until you see that your factory presets are loading. If you run into any trouble with a failed update or your unit will not boot up, try powering on while holding the right arrow ">" This will put the unit into update mode and you can re-install the latest firmware from there.

Agreed. I paid full price and really enjoyed it. Not to begrudge the concept of sales though either - but I fully respect someone making a business decision not to. I also bought some of Peter's stuff and wasn't disappointed there either. I highly recommend both of them.

I thought Peter Hamm's were awesome. The link to the Helix version is in the comments. https://youtu.be/5uFSvdR6DW4

You mean knob 3? It never does anything? If so, yeah, that's the kind of thing you'll want to either call in or return.

Yeah, unfortunately . . . I think if it's been registered before then it prevents it from qualifying for the $99 discount. Sorry man.

Phil largely explained it above, but think of it this way. I use the Stomp with Native because the Stomp is my audio interface. However, Native provides ALL of the effects. With HX Effects, it can't be an interface. I THINK you might be able to use it as a midi controller. Either way, it's a great deal.

I wouldn't be surprised if you see this at some point. Interestingly enough, the Stomp kind of has this now as you can attach an external foot switch that control snapshots while the main unit does Stomps, and a few other cool pairings as well. So maybe that bodes well for your idea.

I personally don't recall ever seeing the Marketplace items go on sale, BUT I do have to stress the marketplace has only been around for a few months. I assume that a sale might be up to the seller (i.e. if Glenn decides he wants to have a sale then it will happen). Maybe not though. Maybe they waive all those rights and give them to Line 6 when they decide to put stuff on the marketplace.

Just to verify - are you logged in to your account already when you go to purchase the software? If you are, the only time I saw someone run into a problem with getting the discount, it was because they weren't the original owners of the HX device and had bought it used. Are you the first owner of your Helix Rack? If you are . . . then it sounds like a bug to me and I'd submit a support ticket fast so that it can get resolved before the sale goes away (I suspect the sale will last no more than a week, but I could be wrong).

Actually I do vaguely remember facing something like this with the Stomp once and, at least in my case, it was that I'd flipped some easy to miss setting that borked the whole damn thing. One starting point that I've found it's always good to check on if you haven't already, are all the levels set correctly (line/instrument level)?

I'm completely baffled about the problem you're facing though I'm thinking about it. Any great ideas and I'll pass them on. However, I have a question for you. What do you think of the Midi Commander? I've looked really closely at that one for controlling the HX Stomp.

That's true Phil, but this is still a bummer. The hardware is there, the processing power is there ... I don't think it's quite up to the bummer of the artificial 6 block limit, but it is something that I hope gets an update. Business opinions are always complex, but to give a crass summary, I'm a firm believer you should never dumb down a product because you worry your consumer is lazy/dumb. Make the benefit great enough that the consumer can choose to rise to that level if they deem it of value. Having said all this, to be clear I still adore my Stomp.

In terms of the FX block, I usually like it after the amp block actually. I'd test both to see what you think. If it's prior to the amp block, I believe in all cases it's mono because the amp block sums everything to mono (though maybe with that off that isn't the case - I haven't tested that). After it can be stereo - but it doesn't have to be. Those are the main differences. There's also no problem just running it in your amp's FX loop. That's the easiest way to do it, and you don't even need to mess with FX blocks. Simply go through Firehawk's guitar in and main out, and again, no amp or cab block. The problem with that approach is that effects that typically come before amps, like distortion and compressor, will now be after. If you like the sound of it though, it works great.

A support forum is going to draw in all of the people with problems or concerns. Online reviews should at least give you some comfort as both guitars tend to be ranked pretty high. Especially when you consider how picky and bitchy guitar players as a group can be, solid reviews for such a unique idea is a confidence builder. I understand your concern though, long ago when I was researching the JTV-59 I checked SOOOO many forums and reviews because one, the guitar as a concept sounds too good to be true, and two, it's a pricey sum to pay for something that you're already unsure of as a concept. I finally leaped in. Here's the two things I can tell you: 1. My JTV-59 is my baby and my go to guitar in the vast majority of situations. I LOVE how many sounds I can get out of the thing, and the instant tuning changes (I play a lot of wacko tunings) work like a dream. 2. IF you run into issues, Line 6's warranty support is iron clad awesome. They'll make sure you're happy in the end.

Frick . . . yeah . . . fixed . . . I'm either getting old, or typing with my fingers on a phone screen sucks. Or both.