soundog

Good catch on the Native instructions. Native always seems to be an afterthought. Even on the Native forum, the Line 6 Sticky at the top says "Helix Native 1.50 Available Now". That post is almost 2 years old!

Did you see "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"? That's what happens if you're asleep when it releases.

When running Native as a plug-in within a large DAW recording project, there's often a trade-off between monitoring through the plug-in/DAW vs latency (delay between playing the guitar and hearing the guitar through the software/hardware). In Logic, I often have to set my buffer up pretty high in order to prevent audio glitches if I want to monitor through Helix Native when recording a new guitar track. For me, its important to hear the sound of a guitar modeler and its effects in order to get the mojo of the track while recording. Yeah, I can use a guitar modeler in my Apollo Twin DSP, and monitor that in real-time, but its not the same. It's workable but not ideal. That's a big trade-off. I recently bought a copy of S-Gear (another popular amp/cabinet and effects modeler). Its not as extensive as Helix Native, but for the included amps I actually prefer its tone and response. But the HUGE benefit is that the software includes a stand-alone application identical to the DAW plug-in. Now I can set up routing through my audio interface so that I can monitor the sound of the S-Gear amps and effects through the standalone app with very low latency (8.5 ms), while recording the guitar along with my existing Logic tracks. I can leave my Logic buffer set high for large track and virtual instrument counts, and still have low latency when monitoring my amped guitar. Its delicious. And, like Native, I can choose to record the raw track, or the S-Gear processed track. Sadly, Helix Native does not include a standalone app. If there was one (and it would need to be a low-latency application), users would be able to 1) monitor their guitar modeling with near zero latency when recording tracks and 2) play through the app without having to fire up their DAW, load the plug-in, etc. P.S. There are standalone apps that will host plug-ins out there. That might work for this usage, but I haven't tested it. Worth a try!

Agreed. I had a huge crush on Leeloo when that movie came out.

Please don't be sad, Leeloo.

In Helix Native, there is currently support for snapshot changes and parameters and block switch changes (via CC MIDI), but no support for preset changes. How this is done varies between DAWs, but it's usually via the automation features of the DAW.

The signs are everywhere ..... hurricane brewing off the U.S. southern coast, a locust infestation in Iceland, sheep walking in circles , the moon turned a fiery red...

That's why I like my sax and harmonica. After the apocalypse and none of our electronics work any more, I can jam with other survivors.

If you're going to buy a Variax guitar for the modeling, don't expect it to work for as long as a guitar. Yeah, the magnetic pickup stuff will work, but its not that great a guitar for the money without the modeling. Line 6 seems to have totally abandoned legacy Workbench support for the Variax 700 acoustic. I need Workbench to tweak my models and tunings, so I have to jump through Java hoops and workarounds to get it to work. The Variax acoustic is not a useful guitar without the modeling. So there ya go, the writing is on the wall. I bought a Variax Standard for alternate tunings and slide. I figure when Line 6 eventually abandons it, I'll be in the same boat. Yeah, it has magnetic pickups and would still work as a guitar — just not what I bought it for. I'd dump it in a hearbeat if Workbench went away. Bottom line .... if you're buying a Variax for the modeling, don't be surprised if support for the guitar goes away some day. Yeah, its still a guitar, but underneath its an electronic computer. It won't outlive a nice Tele or Strat.

You keep your hands offa my sister's diddly bow, datacommando.

We had to build our first guitars with 2x4's, nails, and hay-bailing wire. If we whined about the pain and bleeding, the belt came out. Made men out of all of us, even my sisters.

Right.

For the discounted license, Line 6 checks to see if you have a Helix, LT, or Stomp registered with your account before they will authorize.

If this fixes it, you have just experienced the #1 mistake made by EVERYONE who has ever used MIDI. I still make the mistake after 20 years!

No, the manual cover it pretty well. In the Helix Global Settings for MIDI, make sure things are set up to send/receive PC messages, and MIDI over USB is turned on. I'd let Helix send PC (same as patch numers) to corresponding songs in band Helper.

A few quick thoughts: 1) Some of those cheaper MIDI USB converters/cables don't work worth a hoot. The "iConnectivity mio USB MIDI Interface" has worked well for me. 2) When cabling devices, sure your MIDI outs is connecting to your MIDI ins. Or vice versa. 3) When troubleshooting, use free or low-cost MIDI monitoring software on your computer, tablet, or phone to visually see what messages are being sent/received. 4) Double check the MIDI section for all devices. MIDI is picky. 5) Usually you use MIDI program changes to change songs and presets. Are you sure Bandhelper is expecting CC's instead?

Sounds like fun! Its too bad, though, that the Stomp won't send MIDI CC commands from its footswitches so we could use it as a controller.

Here in Clark County, Washington State, USA most of the locals own large firearms. Its the land of the freakin' free and brave, right?! I'm sitting on my porch as we move into the early evening of the 4th of July, and can hear neighbors shooting shotguns, AR-15s and tank grenades into the air to celebrate. Its not a good time to be flying a small plane. Yee haw!!

Is it OK to blow up the animals first and then eat them?

I was just lamenting on the fireworks you get now; they're overpriced and nowhere near as good as the sh*t you could buy when I was a kid. We used to be able to get M-80s and cherry bombs. Do some damage. Make some noise. Now they just sell Pop-its and these little tanks that shoot sparks out and stuff.

O.K. Next topic.

Wait. Jimi Hendrix played "Little Wing" on an Epiphone acoustic guitar? It sounds really good. I just found a good used one on E-bay so just ordered. Excited!!!!

Logic does it nicely. After the looped recording, you can select the sections you like from the "comps" and merged them to a single "best takes" file.

Sadly, the Command Center is not available in the Stomp. And I don't think its getting added via 2.8, either. Huge Bummer.

So, here we all are ..... drinking heavily until 2.8 comes out.