datacommando

I did a little digging and found this post from a while back (2019). If your rescue instructions ever get pinned this is a breadcrumb back to the Apple Security issue. Also another with a link to the Apple Support Information. Hope this helps/makes sense.

Hi, This may sound obvious but have you tried taking the DigiMax FS preamp out of the equation, and use the USB audio out of your Helix directly into Reaper using a USB port on the computer? Now, I'll bet that you're going to tell me that your RME (Hammerfall?) 9652 doesn't have USB. I guess you are taking ADAT Optical out of the preamp into the sound card ADAT Optical in I only want to ascertain if you can, or cannot, get a clean (non clipped) signal out of the HX Stomp XL and into the DAW. I have an awful nagging feeling that somehow you are overdriving the inputs of the PreSonus - although I realise that you keep telling us that is not the case. The reason I mention this is because the Owner's Manual for the DigiMax FS does state: 2.3 Instrument Input "Care should be taken not to overdrive these inputs with the signals from instruments with on-board preamplifiers. I would think that your HX Stomp counts as having on-board preamplifiers. Also from the Tech Spec sheet. Maximum Input Level (Unity Gain, 1KHz @ 0.5% THD+N) +11dBu If you say that having nothing but a clean Jazz Rivet 120 in the preset is causing this - then this is the only thing that makes sense to me. I just added a clean Jazz Rivet 120 (yes a Legacy amp/cab block) to a path with nothing else, then that goes out it Logic on the Mac over USB. Result - no clipping, no distortion, simply a clean JC tone. Go figure. Hope this helps/makes sense.

I have just updated my Helix to 3.50 - it was flawless and as you noted, you have to update HX Edit first, then when that is complete, it will re-open and ask if you want to update the firmware. It even states that it will appear to have failed about half way through, but to ignore the message and then hit the "Resume"button when it becomes active again. Not complex, not difficult. For the life of me I cannot comprehend how so many people manage to screw things up so badly. Although, as others have said in a similar way, my computer is optimised for the task. I don't ever have other stuff running in the background during the installation process, music player, screen saver, web browser, email, notifications etc. Just let it do the job.

Essentially your HX unit is a computer! Don’t Panic - It is very rare that a glitch in the firmware (software) update will actually turn your device into an paperweight.

You didn’t mention what version of the firmware you were updating to the latest 3.50? This latest update contains a huge update to the Core system which also happened with v2.80. When that arrived many people thought it had stalled part way through the update, even though it was still working in the background. There is also a note about if you are starting from 2.80, or earlier. My Helix/HX is at version X.XX. Can I go straight to 3.50? Yes, but note that if you're starting from 2.80 or lower, the update may appear to happen three times and will take notably longer than 30 minutes. This is normal. Hope this helps/makes sense.

That post was from “SaschaFranck”, back in Dec 2020. Like me he has become weary of constantly typing, and/or, copy and pasting the same reply over and over. He has also posted, in the last couple of hours, another list of instructions to follow for anyone who is suffering from a failed update. Here ya go! Hope this helps/makes sense.

Ah, yes - the overzealous Gatekeeper on the Mac. I have done a “walkthrough” explanation of how to deal with this, on a couple of previous occasions in these threads. I must see if I can resurrect it, although IIRC, there is an fully detailed page over on the Apple website on how to deal with that particular situation, as it is an OS thing rather than what you are trying to install. NOTE: It appears that I have been a little over enthusiastic with my “upvote” reaction on comments today - I have the “Sorry, you cannot add anymore reactions today”. I wonder which genius thought of that one, it’s on days like these that you really need to let people know how you feel!

This has to be, possibly, the most annoying thing with these updates - the forum is littered with “update bricked my Helix” threads, it’s complete madness. It must be some form of blindness caused by sheer panic, along with a Me, Me, Me attitude. Considering the amount of time Line 6 has been suppling free updates to the Helix range, you might expect a little more from these folks, but that would appear to be totally futile. This has gone on for so long now that I’m becoming reticent to assist any of these cry’s for help, but… well ya know!

Excellent idea Sascha - the thing is most of these people have failed updates because they do not follow the instructions, no matter how precise they are. Good luck with this attempt to avoid constant re-posts, although probably most will miss it. We are back to the usual multiple threads all saying the same thing - “update bricked my Helix” Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. NOTE: 1) Shut down HX Native Should be 1) Shut down HX Edit Whoops!

This is becoming tedious - once again from the top! Copy and paste from previous posts! This is well documented and a standard procedure when trying to recover from a failed installation. You cannot reconnect via USB to launch the Line 6 Updater app if HX Edit is still running in the background. See bullet 4 below. From the Line 6 Updating Helix/HX Notes: Updating Helix/HX IMPORTANT! Carefully read and follow the update instructions below. If you don't—and then run to the forums asking why it's not working—the interwebs will make fun of you. IMPORTANT! In the unlikely event that your update fails, please follow the steps below: Unplug the USB cable from both the back of your Helix and the computer. Turn your Helix/HX device off and on. Reconnect the USB cable to your Helix/HX device and the computer. Download, install, and launch the latest version of Line 6 Updater. In a failure state, the device will not connect to HX Edit. Line 6 Updater for macOS: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9831 Line 6 Updater for Windows: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9832 Select your device and try updating to the latest firmware again. If the device does not show up in Line 6 Updater after these steps, try a different USB cable and/or USB port. If it still doesn't show up, try a different computer.

From the Release Notes: OPTIONAL: Performing a factory reset loads the new 3.50 Factory Presets, but restoring from your backup will overwrite these. Spend some time exploring these and export the factory presets you want to keep (or drag them to your desktop). If you have unused setlists in Helix Floor/Rack/LT, you can also export the entire FACTORY 1 bundle for loading into an unused setlist later. Hope this helps/makes sense.

Ha ha ha, yeah Hawkwind - still going strong, recording and gigging! What a crew. First time I encountered them when I was an art college drop out back in ‘69, they were playing free gigs under a motorway flyover in Ladbroke Grove in London - loved them ever since. Lemmy was a force of nature, what a guy! I had a near death experience with him one night when Hawkwind were playing a local university. I went Into the student bar where Lemmy was in the middle of a game of pool. As I went past him on the way to the bar I asked, “How ya doing Ian?” Whoa! Bad move, never call him by his real name - thought he was gonna crack my skull open with a pool cue. Luckily I managed to subdue him with several shots of pre gig Jack! He said the lesson that Jimi Hendrix taught him was to give up on being a guitar player because Jimi told him he was never going to be that good, so he took up bass and never looked back. What a result - Motörhead welded punk and heavy metal into one huge monster! Oh, Budgie - sadly overlooked Welsh power trio - booked them for a couple of art school events back in the day. Jeez, even Metallica covered Breadfan. Ah! Those memories.

S’truth, Tingley! Do they still prop up their dead at the bus stop there? Yep, Cleckheaton - I used to go there to get drunk with Alan Holdsworth in the back room of the Royal. https://www.zanywoodruff.com I remember seeing Hawkwind (when Lemmy was still with them), and also Led Zep at St. George’s back in Jan ‘73 - your ticket was a quid, IIRC Zep was 75p. He, he,he! ;-)

Line 6 Updater app will not connect to hardware in a failed state if HX Edit is open and running in the background, also, see bullet point 4 below. See bullet point 4 from the notes below: Updating Helix/HX IMPORTANT! Carefully read and follow the update instructions below. If you don't—and then run to the forums asking why it's not working—the interwebs will make fun of you. IMPORTANT! In the unlikely event that your update fails, please follow the steps below: Unplug the USB cable from both the back of your Helix and the computer. Turn your Helix/HX device off and on. Reconnect the USB cable to your Helix/HX device and the computer. Download, install, and launch the latest version of Line 6 Updater. In a failure state, the device will not connect to HX Edit. Line 6 Updater for macOS: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9831 Line 6 Updater for Windows: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9832 Select your device and try updating to the latest firmware again. If the device does not show up in Line 6 Updater after these steps, try a different USB cable and/or USB port. If it still doesn't show up, try a different computer Hope this helps/makes sense.

Ye gods! You must have missed the 1974 huge poster campaign declaring “Bruce Springsteen - the future of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Good grief there was even one of those massive posters in Cleckheaton! How did you not see one of those billboards, they must have spent a fortune on promo for that guy. Loose Windscreens tune “Blinded by the Light” was on the MMEB Roaring Silence album in ‘77, they may have played it at the George’s Hall in Sept 76. So you might have been listening to Brucie without realising! Shock, horror! ;-)

This is well documented and a standard procedure when trying to recover from a failed installation. You cannot reconnect via USB to launch the Line 6 Updater app if HX Edit is still running in the background. See bullet 4 below. Maybe now you will realise why I said you need to provide the exact relevant information when asking for help! From the Line 6 Updating Helix/HX Notes: Updating Helix/HX IMPORTANT! Carefully read and follow the update instructions below. If you don't—and then run to the forums asking why it's not working—the interwebs will make fun of you. IMPORTANT! In the unlikely event that your update fails, please follow the steps below: Unplug the USB cable from both the back of your Helix and the computer. Turn your Helix/HX device off and on. Reconnect the USB cable to your Helix/HX device and the computer. Download, install, and launch the latest version of Line 6 Updater. In a failure state, the device will not connect to HX Edit. Line 6 Updater for macOS: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9831 Line 6 Updater for Windows: https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=9832 Select your device and try updating to the latest firmware again. If the device does not show up in Line 6 Updater after these steps, try a different USB cable and/or USB port. If it still doesn't show up, try a different computer.

O.K. Not only is it a big help to read the Release Notes prior to installing the update, it’s also very important when seeking assistance from forum users to supply as much relevant information as possible. What computer system and OS, what version of the firmware are you updating from on what unit, etc.? Simply saying “HXedit crashed during the update” is essentially meaningless without qualifying that statement! Please help others to help you! Hope this helps/makes sense.

Missing encoder 5? Well, that must be real fun. Go here for a full list of resets for the Rack unit. https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/reset-options Hope this helps/makes sense.

It’s a big help to read the Release Notes for the update, which actually mentions the “boot failure” situation. Hope this helps/makes sense.

Hi, First thing you should do is download the fully functional 15 day demo of Helix Native and load into your copy of Luna, which according to the UAD website can load AU plug-ins, and check it out. Native will also load into any Mac based DAW that is capable of loading Audio Units or VST plug-ins, so therefore you could load it into GarageBand, Logic, Reaper. Studio One, Tracktion etc. - your choice. You can continue to use your Apollo Solo for connecting your guitar to your Mac to record the audio. Hope this helps/makes sense.

Follow the advice given in the above reply from “MusicLaw”. Plus it’s always best practice to read the Release Notes before updating. Also - FYI - Pinned thread. Hope this helps/makes sense.

Hi, This may help!

Hi, If you want to learn about using your Helix to build tones, then this is possibly a very good place to start. Jason has lots of videos, some of which are really in depth, but here's a quick example of creating a tone from scratch. Here you have Clean and Dirty using snapshots Hope this helps/makes sense.

Even with the IRs all these "sound like whoever" are usually going to be a total waste of time! If you don't have the same setup, strings, technique or skills as the original artist, they actually should be named "my feeble attempt to recreate something in my basement that may be slightly similar to that which a famous guitar player spent a small fortune to record in a state of the art studio along with experienced audio engineers" But hey, it's somewhere to start. ;-)

What? Why? I despair! Truly, I despair!