soundog

I'm with Spikey — I'll need to take it for a demo spin before I'm assured it will sound "close enough" to the hardware by the time I get it settled into a DAW track. I'm not worried about latency or the response or A/D in my Apogee Duet (114 dB, same as the the Helix chip's spec'd A/D dynamic range). But I've yet to use a software amp sim that I like. That's the main reason I bought the Helix. If the native plug is up to snuff, my wallet will flop out.

Try eating some cookies.

This is all fantastic news! I especially look forward to new MIDI timing capabilities, Workbench HD support, and some new bass amps. Thanks, Line 6 team! :)

From the literature: "NOTE: Users must wear a fingerless, black velvet glove in order to operate the device."

Yo Freman ..... are you still planning to do a Variax pack someday (Variax + Helix patches? If so, that would be great!

Agreed. The 3 Sigma IRs are crazy good, and they give you a good assortment for your money (including IRs for piezo pu, magnetic pu, and electric git). (FYI, I tried one of those IK Multimedia iRig acoustic pickups, and it sounded awful on my Alvarez Yairi acoustic — sent it back.)

It could also be a power issue. Do you have the CCK that has the power connection? http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter?afid=p238%7CsUT3HWa3h-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_52243316890_&cid=aos-us-kwgo-pla-btb--slid--product-MK0W2AM/A

Its good to know how to do a little DIY maintenance on the Variax's. I just replaced some piezos on my trusty Variax Acoustic 700, and its good again. I'll have to open up my Standard sometime and look around in there. Glad you got it working!

sounds like something is wrong, but I don't know what. I have a Variax Standard, and the magnetic pickups have about the same level and noise as my Mexican Strat. Are you getting a normal input into your 1/4" Helix inputs from other guitars?

+1. Updated and refreshed models, and I'd love to be able to replace those I never use with some keepers. "A dream pipe is a brass instrument." ~ Frank Zappa

I, too, can vouch for the 3 Sigma acoustic IRs. I use them with an Alvarez Yairi acoustic (with B-Band A2.2 pickup) and they are the basis for all my acoustic tones. I've also A/B'ed them with small and large diagram mics recorded straight into a DAW, and the pickup->IR tracks hold their own if you pick the best one for your guitar. When with the Helix for live performance, little else is needed in the signal path ... perhaps the tube preamp, and a little studio compressor. There are other threads which suggest Helix blocks/paths to use with acoustics, and those are very useful. I find that less is best. Add some room or hall verb to taste.

Just in time for Christmas....Glenn just released his Boutique Amp Simulation Patches Volume II (Clean). I'm getting them as a gift to myself for being a good boy most of the year:

.....you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need.

....still wondering.

Those of us who sold off our POD 500s to get the much, much, much, new and improved Helix sometimes scratch our heads, wondering "my old POD had MIDI sync, and Helix doesn't. That's f'cked!" But I don't think the 500 had MIDI sync until after a few firmware upgrades. So, I'm still hopeful the Helix will get MIDI sync, one fine day. It just seems like one of those meant-to-be things.

Merry Christmas to all.

If MIDI sync is a "must" for you, then you should hold off on your purchase. If its a "want," go ahead and pull the trigger and take your chances. In the meantime, Line 6, please fix the MIDI Tap Tempo bug!

No, MIDI tap tempo (CC64) isn't working reliably here using the latest firmware. See also here: http://line6.com/support/topic/19801-midi-over-usb-tap-tempo/

Yes, I've noticed this — but I was in too big a hurry to take notes on which parameter was not being updated on which block(s). I'll make a note if I encounter the problem again.

FYI, I use the Helix without the Line 6 drivers. However, they say that if you want sample rates other than 48k to appear, you need to use their driver. I do wish they would fix that so they are compliant.

Re 2) --- if you can get close to latency-free monitoring from your DAW, you're fine without separate interface monitoring. I like need zero latency, so monitor Helix through my Apogee Duet for tracking while listening to other recorded DAW tracks. Having both the Helix and your Scarlett will give you plenty of flexibility.

Does Helix show up in the Audio portion of Audio/Midi Setup? Sorry for so many questions!

#1. Try connected to your Mac's USB port, not a hub. #2. Try without the Line 6 Mac driver. #3. Check to see if your Helix appears in MIDI portion of your Mac's Audio Midi Setup utility. Let us know what's happening.

@roscoe5 --- yeah, go for it. I didn't even think about the Send/Return capability for adding your other analog gear and pedals, great idea. Re: MIDI control. Most DAWS allow you to control external MIDI equipment. In Logic Pro X, I dedicate a track to send MIDI commands to control the Helix, so its easy to place snapshot and foot switch commands in the timeline of the song. Then, when you record your track(s,) its fun to just sit back and watch the robots work together!

Ditto. In my case, I'm combing it with an Apogee Duet, as an Aggregate Device under Mac OSX. Powerful.