soundog

I always try to fix my doo-dads unless they are still under warranty. Sometimes the fix is pretty simple (like a broken connector wire, loose wiring harness, bad solder joint, etc). If I get in over my head (micro electronics, weird stuff that I don't even know what it is, etc) I usually give up. At least I know I tried to save the patient. Even then, I usually salvage components and screws (organ donor). Half the fun is trying to figure out how to take things apart! You also learn which manufacturers design and make quality stuff when you look inside. BTW, Line 6 gets an A+ (except for some of their Variax components and accessories).

Take it apart and try to fix it. It'll be fun!

My rule of thumb for everything in life: Set all knobs to 10 unless something turns red.

Make sure your wah pedal is working on its own (guitar -> wah -amp). Sounds like it may have issues.

I, too, want MIDI control for my Variax. Plain and simple. It makes sense. It's easy. You have all the technical hooks. Just do it. If it requires a little box doo dad, I'll buy one.

The only other power supplies I've found that work with the A/B were also boat anchors.

Yeah, that's strange. Could even be an interaction between Logic settings, other plug-ins, or .... who knows????

Please open a ticket with Line 6 to report the bug. The data will help them resolve it....

I think its really important to have LED indicators on foot switches so you know if they are on or off (a must!). Another important thing for me is the size and portability of the product. For me, I like to see 5-pin DIN MIDI as well as USB MIDI ports (a want, not a must). And ... can you configure the foot switchs to send either MIDI CC, program change, and (perhaps even) note on/off? That provides more flexibility with old and new equipment (and 5-pin often eliminates the need for a computer). Also look at how easy it is to configure the controller (a display? software? is the software class compliant or does it have longevity?). Dig into the reviews. I'm not deeply familiar with either of the controllers you mention; my choice is based on a quick look of the manuals and some online reviews. Keep researching your choices and I think you'll arrive at the best choice for you. FBV3 LED colors or configurable screens? I dunno. Ask on the other forum or read the manual?

+1 for the Stomp XL...

Is the conroller and Helix for studio use, or playing out live? For studio, between the two, I'd pick the Morningstar. You can always add a low cost expression pedal if you need to control a parameter via MIDI CC (like volume, wah, filter, etc). I prefer the flexibility, screen and form factor of the Morningstar. If you don't need footswitches and just a MIDI studio controller, then there are lots of low cost options. Even a MIDIMix or nanokontrol will do a lot of tricks.

I've used a separate low cut filter with a steep roll-off (separate plug-in) in front of Native at times .... it really does help clean up some tones. You could do the same with a Helix block, I suppose, but I just like to do it that way. I figure its like having a really good bass knob on yer geetar.

An advantage of the Expression pedal method is that it provides a good workout for your plantar muscle.

I wonder if that is related to this: Good to know the bug has been reported. Thanks, @Leroy2112

@datacommando.... Well, of course! I fixed my post. @igorkulik I like it very much!

Also, you mention cleans are OK but higher gains suck. Hmmmm. All the advice here is excellent, but do pay special attention to your levels throughout the signal path (audio interface, Helix input and all blocks, Garageband levels, etc). Make sure nothing is being over-driven, and better to boost levels at your final output if needed.

@igorkulik -- very cool! Please tell us more about your setup, especially the monitor running Native.

FYI, I've been really liking the Teensy (Arduino based) boards for MIDI controller projects: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/

Nice! Thanks so much for all your hard work.

Gig Performer 3 is by far the best plug-in host I've found, and has the best MIDI control support I've found. Its expensive, but goes on sale now and then. I haven't tried Helix Native with it yet, but used it a lot with other plugins when I was performing live.

Thanks, makes sense and also helps. I just wish that Native could sync to the Stomp. When I tried to match Native to my Stomp (preset order, IR slot numbers, etc) it was a royal pain; lots of manual work. I was hoping I could just import the Stomps backup file into Native in one swoop. No such luck. Looks there's no easy path, @karlkaminski .... just some manual labor. I'll look on Ideascale and see if anyone has requested some sort of hardware-to-Native synch or import. UPDATE. There are at least 4 separate idea requests on Ideascale along the same lines. Here they are, with the two on top being the most relevant. Vote if ya want! https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Ability-to-Restore-Native-from-HX-Edit-Backup/918622-23508 https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Sync-Function-between-Helix-Hardware-HX-Edit-Helix-Native/918019-23508 https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Helix-Floor-Helix-Native-Sync/990695-23508 https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Complete-backup-of-setlist-AND-impulse-responses/967237-23508

This is an interesting topic to me. Since I'm not gigging live any these days, my Stomp is confined to my basement studio. I play my guitar through the Stomp, edit my presets using HX Edit, and keep my presets in a folder. All is good. When I record guitar tracks, I monitor my DAW tracks along with the "live" Stomp output. I keep a dry track for the guitar, then use a duplicate preset in Native, and tweak it a little if needed depending on the needs of the song. So, @datacommando, your method seems to fit my workflow. What I'm wondering, though, is it possible to "sync" the Stomp and Native presets (and IRs) so I always work with one master setlist of presets/IRs. Those would be created and maintained with Stomp/HX Edit. Ideally, Native would use this same master set. If I wanted to edit a preset for a Logic Project, I would make those edits and only save them with the project; they would not be saved/rewrite the master preset. For now, I feel like I have to do a lot of manual setlist building in Native to get all the presets/IRs to match exactly what I have on the Stomp. (I have Hardware Compatibility set to "Stomp" in Native.) As you say "hope this makes sense"! If you have any other Stomp - Native/Logic workflows you've settled on, I'd love to hear about them...

Apple is starting to p*ss me off with their nearly-forced hardware and software evolution. I'm too invested in their infrastructure to join the dark side. And I feel like they are trying to drag me kicking and screaming into the M1 Big Sur abyss....

???

Wrong forum. This is where you go if you're serious about suggestions for changes and improvements: https://line6.ideascale.com/a/index Before posting a new idea, please search to see if it's already been proposed. If 100 people vote on the same idea presented 20 different ways, it looks like only 5 people care about it! Also, post your ideas one at a time. I for one NEVER vote for multiple combined suggestions.