datacommando

Hi, If you have suggestions for anything you feel might be missing from, or could improve the Helix range of products, then you really need to post to: https://line6.ideascale.com/ This is simply a “user forum” and it is very rare that any member of Line 6 staff would bother to pick up on anything that you may post here. In fact you would have greater chance on your FB Helix Family Group, where Frank R and Digital_Igloo are regular correspondents. If you post to Ideascale, first make sure that the suggestion is not already on there, as that would dilute the amount of votes given which gets it higher on the list. Hope this makes sense.

Hi, FYI. The Line 6 Badonk model was add in the Firmware 2.20 released on the 30th March 2017. That was quite an upgrade because that had a bunch of release notes with it especially about resetting the Globals otherwise 2.20 would not work properly. Maybe your Helix was never reset and that's how come it didn't function as everyone else expected?

Hi, If you need long layered loops then, the general opinion seems to be, the best thing to do is patch a dedicated looper into one of the send and return blocks. Gives you a lot more control and if you have a Boss RC-10R you get 6 hours of recording and a built in rhythm box, with 16 drum kits. There is a thread here about the Helix looper and why you should possibly use an external option.

Hi I have to say that the comments in the 2 posts above are from guys who are beta testers for this stuff and if they’re convinced it never worked that way, well, then I’m really confused. You say it worked, they say no - very strange. The only thing that springs to mind about this situation is if you have updated to firmware version 2.81, then because it’s such a major change to the Core, your Global Settings will have been wiped. If you performed a backup prior to updating then maybe you could launch HX Edit and just restore your old Globals only from the backup. It’s worth a shot! Hope this helps/makes sense

Well, I have been using Helix since Oct 2015 and never regarded anything with the parallel routing as a drawback. As for your diagram, I can’t recall ever needing any patch to be configured like that - maybe that’s just me. Anyhow, your best bet is to post this on the Line 6 Ideascale, as suggested by “DunedinDragon” above. Link: https://line6.ideascale.com/

Which Updater does not work? Are you certain that you have the correct version? I can understand your frustration, but “it doesn’t work” is not going to get a helpful response as you don’t give much to go on. You state that you tried 2 computers, although you haven’t said what type and OS. You haven’t said what version of the firmware you are currently using. You also say say that you would like a direct link to the file needed. Well, it’s available, maybe you just can’t find it, but I would advise that if you cannot get the Updater to function automatically as it should, would you really want to attempt to do it yourself? Just in case you missed this or didn’t bother to read these instructions - do yourself a favour and read them now! You only need to download the HX Edit 2.81 package which includes the latest Updater, drivers and HX Edit. Updating HX Effects/HX Stomp to 2.81 (DO NOT DO THIS UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE UPDATED HX EDIT TO 2.81!) Shut down all Line 6 software or any programs that use audio, like DAWs, iTunes, Spotify, video games, etc. Connect your HX processor to a Mac or PC via USB (do not use any sort of USB hub) and turn it on. Launch Line 6 Updater. The latest version was automatically installed when you installed HX Edit 2.81 in "STEP 2—Updating HX Edit to 2.80" above. Enter your Line 6 Username and Password and click "Sign In." A big green box appears with a picture of your HX product. Click the big green box and then click "Update" next to Version: 2.81. Carefully read the instructions (HEY! DID YOU BACK UP FIRST?), click "Continue," and then "Accept." When finished, your HX device restarts automatically. My guess is that the only way to fix this is to take humans out of the update process, a bit like Apple do with an iPhone.

Hi channelk, Yep, IIRC - your 8201 is a badly formatted preset error. Try this: Reboot your Helix while holding down footswitches 10 & 11 which should rebuild your presets and update them to the latest firmware spec. Note: if this doesn’t fix it, then you need to supply more info. What you gave here is not much use! You know we need important stuff like: what hardware, what computer, what OS , what firmware, etc. It’s a big help. Hope this helps/makes sense

I looked at that thread and it looks to me like "VirtualGuitars" had supplied the info the OP needed to fix the problem. He even added an extra suggestion for using the built in chorus and reverb by using a TRS cable!

Hi, As I understand it, the point of HX Native is to allow as many instances of the plug-in as your computer processing power can handle. Having said that, I don’t know if that means an instance of HXN with a full signal chain. Obviously, each block will use different amounts of cpu power, but just because you load Native into an audio channel, it doesn’t mean that you have to use every block. I have used it, without using any amp and cab blocks, just to utilise some of the FX on old guitar tracks, although I wasn’t looking to see how much it loaded the processor. I guess when Native loads it grab a chunk of space to work in, but I don’t know if that expands for each FX block you add. As noted by “soundog in the comment above, just go for it and see how far you can push it.

Doesn’t anyone bother to read the technical specifications for this stuff before buying it? What next? My unicorn told me that Headrush and Mooer can load Fractal and Helix presets! Ye gods, I despair!

Shouldn’t rule anything out until we get some more feedback. Having said that, Mac OS is based on UNIX and the drivers used would be Kernel Extension (KEXT) files in the System folder and it’s quite a bit different from MS Windows. It maybe that a simple reset will kick start the thing.

Possibly not with this one, Peter. The guy is using a Mac so no driver issues like the Windows crew. ;-)

Hi, If you think that some people will groan when they read your cry for help, you would be correct. Especially me. Ohhhhhhh! One big thing here though - you’re using a Mac. Out of the many hundreds of screams for assistance, most are from Windows users because during the “Brain Transplant” to the new Core there is a glitch were the drivers get screwed up and need to be reinstalled. I don’t immediately recall this with a Mac, and as mentioned by “DunedinDragon” above, a step by step break down of what is occurring may help us to help you sort this out. And when I say “step by step”, I mean forensically. For example if someone asks how you got to work today, you could simply say that you got in the car and drove. That’s too vague. You need to say that you woke up, washed, made breakfast, got dressed, picked up the car key, left the house locked the door, etc. You get the picture - the more info we have the better it is for you. Hope this makes sense.

Ah, 1983 the year the DX7 arrived, but I went the Roland route with a JX3P because it had an onboard step sequencer. Then in ‘84 got a Yamaha CX5MII computer system which had MIDI which could communicate with other equipment - not just the DX7. Oh, what fun we had with programming that stuff. Later Drum machines with EPROM. If people think updating stuff is a PITA in the 21st century they would have run away screaming trying to deal with the stuff we had back then.

Hi Ray, Re: Turn it off, not quite. This is a feature in v2.81.0 Firmware - The Joystick can be switched from "Model" to "Selection" and you can find it in your Helix Global Settings > Preferences > Joystick Encoder. "Model" makes it work as it always has and "Selection" allows you to scroll through the signal chain. Set whichever mode you prefer. Hope this helps/makes sense

I'll be just a couple of months behind you - I hit that in early January. I reckon that when this tech stuff really started to change things, from around the early eighties, there wasn't anyone available to ask how to get the stuff to function - you just had to figure it out. Spending hours writing a computer routine in BASIC and loading it from a cassette tape, figuring out MIDI in/out/thru/merge with DIN cables, drum machines that were just spurts of white noise and no synchronisation. We became the technicians by default, and I spend most of my time trouble shooting stuff for people who should know better. KIds nowadays don't know they're born! Ooops, I just started to sound like my late father. ;-)

Hi DD, This one is double post from someone who doesn’t read the install/release notes or tell you what computer and OS and expects help without criticism. Sadly, my patience is wearing rather thin when it comes to blatant ignorance! In the other thread the poster commented “dont let anybody make u afriad”. I guess they must have been afraid of the truth.

Well, the entire internet has been alive with this since the release of v2.8 in July, so you obviously never bothered to check before posting here. Also you don’t appear to have bothered looking through the large amounts of posts on here. Also you expect to get help without stating what computer and operating system you are using. Actually I must be psychic because I’m going to guess that you are using a PC with Windows. The new firmware and subsequent v2.81.0 release came with lots of very detailed installation instructions/release notes. It seems that almost every problem with the update was a result of certain users failing to read those instructions. Luckily for you, and everyone else who ignored the notes, this is not fatal and it can be fixed and if you still can’t get it to work after reading these replies you can always roll back to v2.7 So when you named this thread “Can’t update 2.81” my suggestion is, yes you can - you just need to read the instructions. Good luck.

I don’t think that will ever catch on - shame. ;-)

Hi, Yes, I think it will be O.K. now. I had that problem back on August 9th, a reinstall and full reset seems to have fixed the issue and since then it is used every day and works perfectly. If it is a hardware problem you can simply have the unit replaced under warranty, but the dealer must be happy with the reset fix. Try it and see how it goes.

Hi, Another thread - Another TLDR incident. Another person seeking help without stating important things like what computer and operating system are being used. It’s only because you mention throwing the Helix through the window that we know what hardware you are having the problem with. Most helpful - welcome to the Helix psychic help line. The update routine is Backup your existing presets Turn off or disconnect your Helix. Download and install HX Edit v2.81 - YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE UPDATING YOUR FIRMWARE! This also installs the latest drivers and Line 6 Updater. Connect your Helix via USB (no hub) and turn the power on. Run the Line 6 Updater and install the correct firmware. 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. Click O.K. When finished, Helix restarts automatically and begins rebuilding your presets. Let it finish. If all this fails then you can always revert to a previous firmware which is known to work - or throw your Helix out of a window, which possibly may kill anyone passing by and not really cause much damage to the black box. It’s built like a tank. Looks to me like a case of not bothering to read the release notes/installation instructions, which are posted here and been available for anyone to read since mid June! Hope this helps/makes sense

Well, yes, you could wait around forever, or just do it because if you really have issues you can revert to a previous version. One thing to consider is, that as a Helix LT user, you got an extra Firmware upgrade to v2.81.1 just for LT units. Go for it.

Hi, Well, these are named “Legacy” models because they are the same as the effects that shipped in the old “M” series FX boxes and the ones used in the POD500X. If you find the model names a little esoteric, you can check what they are based on, along with a description of the ones specifically created by Line 6, in the Manuals for either the POD or M series stuff. Here ya go: https://uk.line6.com/data/6/0a060b316ac34f0593f9471cf/application/pdf/M13/M9/M5 Model Gallery - English ( Rev D ).pdf Have fun Note: You will realise that a lot of these models have better high quality HX versions already in the Helix, but not all were updated - therefore you have Legacy versions.

Hi again, I think really that you need a few “driving lessons” with this stuff, therefore I would suggest you take some time, make some coffee and settle down to watch this guy’s videos about using HX Effects. He has quite a few covering what you need to know. Please check them out!

Hi Scott, You really do have something odd going on there and at this precise moment I don’t know what to suggest. Anyhow - Reset options - here ya go. Note Footswitches 5&6 Global Reset or Safe Boot 6&12 may be the way to go. Reset Options  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.