phil_m

First of all, not all the posts here where people report a supposed bug are actually bugs. Sometimes it's people misunderstanding how a feature is designed to work. There are, of course, legitimate bugs posted in this thread, and there are quite a few instances of multiple people posting about the same bug. There's also plenty of responses in that thread where people are discussing bugs or supposed bugs rather than reporting them... I guess what I'm getting at is that thread has been up for over two and a half years now, and it's not like it's just one long list of bugs. Beyond that, though, every product using firmware and/or software has bugs - no exceptions. The GT-1000 has bugs (Boss doesn't really have an official forum, but people have reported them over at TGP). I've had my Helix for over three years (was an early beta tester), and it has been nothing but reliable for me for that period. I have personally never really had an issue with a bug that's been more than a minor annoyance. There hasn't been anything that's prevented me from using the Helix for a gig or anything like that.

Actually, it's because the HX has the ability to maintain stereo separation that it will work. You just have to make sure you keep the splits and merge points hard panned, as I mentioned.

Yep...

For the Helix, I measured it with my multimeter. I'll try to grab readings on the HX this evening. I did some more digging, and someone on TGP measured the outputs as 370 Ohms, which seems to make more sense.

I would recommend updating to the latest firmware before you do anything else. As far as freezing, if it's happening on the same preset, it's most likely a corrupt preset.

Not to contradict psarkissian, but I believe the ins and outs are the same as the Helix (although the main inputs don't have the same variable Z that the Helix has). At instrument level, the Helix inputs and returns will be 1MOhm. At line level, they're 10kOhm. When I measured the outputs and sends on the Helix, they were 10kOhm regardless if they were set to line or instrument level. I haven't measured them on the HX Effects yet.

Hmmm... It might work... If you create a parallel path in Signal Flow view and hard-panned the Split block and hard-panned the outputs for Paths A and B, I actually think you might be able to do this. You would use Path A for your pre effects and Path B for those you want in your loop. I'll have to mess with this sometime.

I don't have any insider information on this, so this is just speculation, but I wouldn't say all hope is gone for this. Line 6 has pretty much affirmed that they're adding control to the L6 Link connection for the Powercab, so if they're adding that control component, I would think it would be a relatively minor thing for it to work for the DT amps as well. It won't ever be as integrated as it was with the HD series, I'm sure, but I think there's a good chance there could be something.

Well, not to point out the obvious, but it seems like the lag would be more likely to be coming from the A2. Do you have USB connected to the HX?

The Helix's expression jacks aren't multi-functional like the HX FX's. They can only be used as expression pedal inputs. I have to believe that's something that can't be changed with a firmware update, as it's related to the way they are actually wired.

There's a Gain block in the same menu as the Volume block. Unlike the Volume block, it allows you to boost as well as cut.

It should be instantaneous... That's kind of the whole point of snapshots. Are you controlling any external gear with the HX FX? I'm controlling four pedals via MIDI with my HX FX, and I can't say I've ever encountered a lag when switching snapshots.

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking in regards to the "Learn" thing, but if you want to get out of the Controller Assign screen, just hit the Mode footswitch or the Home button. As far as the blocks, all the other Helix products can have up to 32 blocks in a preset, but that's limited by the amount of DSP available. But the other Helix products have twice as much DSP power as the HX Effects does.

Maybe a little bit more... It might be your patches are a little low overall, I don't know. There's no preamp in the Powercab, so all preamp gain has to come from the Helix. I'be just read so many other reviews where people say it's plenty loud, that I don't know. Line 6 recommends maxing out the volume from the modeler and controlling the volume on the PC with its master volume knob.

It shouldn't really make a difference. What color is the clipping indicator on the Powercab?

Yes, most likely you're missing something or something isn't right. Do you have the output on the Helix set to line level?

I think the only feature the HX Effects has that the Helix doesn't is the ability to have a second EXT AMP jack with a total of up to four relays. Of course, using both of those means you lose both external expression jacks.

One thing to be aware of with connecting a MIDI cable from the Helix back to itself is that if you use the looper, you'll run into issues... If not, you should be OK. Make sure you have the automatic PC Send setting in the Global Settings menu turned off.

Here's a video comparing the Helix's Minotaur model to the Klon KTR, which is technically more of a Klon than the Tumnus... FWIW, I've gotten rid of nearly every overdrive and/or distortion pedal I own since having the Helix and now HX Effects. I've had all sorts of Klones, the Timmy, and a bunch of other more boutique-y drive. I don't really feel I'm missing anything. The only one I've held onto is the Wampler Dual Fusion, and even with that I'm very close to getting rid of it. The main reason I keep is for on my HX Effects board, and I think there is some utility in having one external drive to make quick adjustments.

Uh, but there was no old way... You've always had to have the individual string pitches tied to snapshot controllers.

The Expression Toe Switch can't be used as a controller, at least not currently.

I'm definitely not getting the MSB messages when changing presets. As far as the Instant Commands and snapshots one thing to clarify is that there's not really any that are unassigned. If you create an Instant Command in any snapshot, it will be the same for all the snapshots unless you go change it.

I was curious about this, so I ran the MIDI monitor in MIDI OX with my Helix connected, and I am seeing the CC61, val 0 being sent when changing presets. As far as the PC doubling, it only seems to be sending double PCs for those snapshots which I'm only changing one PC (one Instant Command). For the snapshots in which two Instant Commands change, I'm getting what's expected - two unique PC messages. I did try adding two more Instant Commands, and it seems that does lead to some doubling. It doesn't seem like those double messages are really hurting anything or making anything unexpected happen...

Is the wah sweep responding to the movement of the pedal? I've seen a few cases where people get the controller/bypass thing mixed up, so they're turning the wah on, but not actually sweeping the position. And if the wah is on with the position parameter in a set position high up on the sweep, that can sound pretty bad.

Yes, it sure does.