spikey

Glad to read you got it swapped out, but just wondering..., Do you know what caused it to fail the update? Im new with the Helix and didnt want to make the same error... Thanks.

Hi Guys! Im baacckkk!!!!.... :D After fighting this as long as I could possibly stand it, I finally realized that resistance is futile. After owning the Axe FX II and the KPA (which I still have btw- great product too), the sounds this thing makes just floored me!!! Just SIC syrup tone blended wonderful stuff! Mouth is still open after watching some videos... So..... I just ordered a Helix Rack and pedalboard.... Yep-, really... Me... I did... Huh.... :D And from the same guy that 2 years ago was completely done with Line 6. Going Fractal and not looking back, and so I did.. Never again- was my thought at the time. But this- this thing is different... I bet I'm not alone... This will be a welcome addition to my studio. I have not been this stoked since the early Vetta days! Oh Yea Im sure I'll be back in here soon causing stomach ulcers for Line-6 and the "Experts" over certain misgivings and features that I think should be redone or changed (some things never change), but Im very excited for this units KILLER tone, and I am simply astounded by what I saw and heard in the multitude of videos.... In fact the multiple videos and write-ups on the Helix convinced me that this unit was indeed something VERY special. Never thought Id EVER say it again, but Congrats Line 6. Crow never tasted so good. Pass the BBQ sauce please :P

Maybe there's a good reason for this, or maybe I just missed it, but when I checked out the AmpliFi on the Sweetwater site i noticed there was no visible Variax digital port... Huh? Latest digital amp and their own digital guitar without a port for it seems like a oops to me... As always YMMV... :P

Heres a nice Marshally tone... https://soundcloud.com/shoofly-1/new-groove-3 :P

With the proper testing done beforehand and QA tenacity, I don't think it just happens Phil. For example, when we as a company starts to care more about our profits versus our quality, thats when it just happens. Thats when we quit updating what we have to make it even better, and put out iPads with speakers. But, Im cynical and opinionated about such things, believe it or not... ;) And..., As always hind site is 20/20 and YMMV... :)

No Charlie you are right per say- the Vetta used iirc switching power supplies that HAD TRANSFORMERS IN THEM, that provide mostly the same results as a tube output transformer does for that circuit. Thats not the point here is it? Lets not fog up the issue with my calling a part incorrectly for what it is here even if it does the same thing more or less for said amp. Did the percentage of output parts fail in the Vetta line like they have in the DT Line, no matter if the switching power supply/output is the equivalent of an output transformer used in tube amps Charlie? If not why? Was their QA better back then? Were they more focused back then? What happened ?

Then tell me phil, what made all those output watts in the vetta if there wasn't some kind of a step up output device, like a solid state switching power supply/transformer/doubler/trippler for a solid state like circuit? Cold fusion perhaps? A little info just for you... Switching Power Supply Operation Modern power supplies are known as "switching regulator power supplies." In most switching supplies, the 110 volt AC input is first rectified by two diodes and filtered by a pair of capacitors. This creates two high- voltage sources; one positive and the other negative. A pair of transistors is then used to switch these high voltage supplies across the primary winding of a transformer. This switching action is very fast. A typical switching speed is around 40,000 cycles per second or 40 kilohertz. An integrated circuit is commonly used to control the transistors. This IC not only controls the speed at which the transistors are switched, but also controls the amount of time that each transistor is energized. The output voltage of the power supply is determined by the "on" time of the transistors. If the transistors are keep on for a longer period of time, the output voltage of the supply will rise, while shorter times lower the output voltage. This is known as "pulse-width modulation." The output of the transformer (which is now alternating current) is then rectified by special high-speed diodes to change it back to direct current. This output is not pure DC however, and requires extensive filtering to remove the high-frequency "noise" that is generated by the rapid switching action of the transistors. Filtering is accomplished by using a combination of coils (also known as "chokes") and capacitors. The output voltage of the power supply is regulated by feeding some of the output back to the integrated circuit that controls the switching transistors. If the output voltage is too low, the IC allows the transistors to remain energized for a longer period of time, raising the voltage. An output voltage that is too high signals the IC to cut back on the transistors, lowering the output voltage.... And so on.... All of which could have failed with a record like the transformers in the DT line, but didn't. :P I would doubt its a moot point to a DT owner with a blown one...

And thats the crux of my argument isn't it... I don't think its all an improvement more than its all to make a buck. And I don't think Line 6 (not that they are the only one) gave a rats rear end about improving the old stuff past a confirmed cutoff date to move on, no matter what is left that needs fixing. And instead of expanding and improving on the HD and HDx line by adding even more memory or doubling the process power on whats there now, and using better sounding technology on what they have, they have moved on instead to an iPad with speakers, the Amplifi... And I don't have any beef about them or anyone making profits, but please tell me if you can, just how many old output transformers failed in the Vetta amp back then, versus the "new" ones in the DT25/50 now...? I don't believe theres a better record involved with the new technology in this example. And I don't call that part of the process progress. I guess what bothers me more than anything is that I expected Line 6 to be "the" best modeling company out there, but they are not now and haven't been for a while. YMMV on this opinion of course, but with their now fast track attitudes, QA lackadaisical line inspections, and no direct communications with their user base here, is what I think has caused this.

Because IMHO the Vetta II and the HD had room for improvement and were left behind for the next best "flagship of the day". Some call that progress. In a way it is, and in another , well... I sometimes wonder if its not like the Texas two step... Two steps forward, one step back... ;) Nice to have the newest flavor of the day as long as it lasts... Which isn't very long it seems. I see maybe one more update on the HD, before it too is put out to the Vetta pasture... Ahh such is progress... A sad thing to see at times nostalgic wise... :)

Erased for negativity... I wish them the best of luck in their new amp directions....

Yes, until the next Vettaisk miracle happens along and then whammo! A new flagship is born to die another unfinished death before its pinnacle of support should be complete.... ;) I still have my Vetta 2 btw. It sits under the counter now, and is still in excellent shape... I look at it and kinda feel sad for all the current HD owners, knowing that someday very soon they too will suffer the same fate for another new "flagship" moment in history... Maybe they already have?.... Time will tell...

iPad with speakers....

So anyone tried the iPad with speakers yet? :P

Yea they are big files. Had it not been for cable internet id not be doing a lot of stuff these days....

True. my opinion is don't run anything but a guitar into the HD...

Zap Im running Cubase 7.5 and its pretty sweet. Have you tried that version yet Zap? It is now a MAJOR player and you should try it if you haven't lately. And I also run Sonar X3 version d (sweet too), and Logic X just released a MAJOR upgrade, which... I run too ... Its excellent BTW. Yea that leaves me no time to play with DP8... ;) Dean there were other things too, for me. Yes, they were ahead of the curve on many things i agree, at least at first. And there is not a thing wrong with making a profit, but in hind site it needs to be done with their Line 6 forum users ideas and input too. Production and sales numbers over the years seemed to outweigh the workmanship in their QA dept. Push it out push it out wayyyy out... Just look back at the problems affecting the Variax alone, and listed here "before" the new forum appeared out of nowhere and even now with the new one... Yea I know you can call up the old forums, but thats not the point is it. Little things, like the internal screws missing on the whammy bar. Then lose controls, scratches on the finish, and then fret issues... Strings popping out of the nut when bending them... The list was too long even for Line 6 ramp ups in a new production, in my humble opinion... Then on the Pod XT Pro, supposed flagship of preamps and included in their "dream" system. Little things like a dry output port on it that wouldn't work with their own freeking flagship guitar digitally. Things like audio inputs you had to rethink amp logic on in order to get the correct unity gain out of it. NOT allowing you to split the output feeds (control over what the cab sims and mic sims sent) for the house feed, and the stage amp feed. Because you sure don't need an amp feed thats winds up going to a fender cabinet with no way to turn off the cab simulation just because it needs to feed the house! Things like this drove me nuts, and I couldn't talk to um... Not here... Which Ill get to in a minute. Like releasing the Pod Pro without Workbench support (altho they did fix that later while I raised hell)... Things IMO that should not have ever happened, but did, and only because they got away from what I said earlier. That they quit being guitar players, and became gear inventor salesmen and out the door pushers... And I know why this happened too, if I may be so bold... The most damning thing, and one I just can not seem to wrap my head around, is the lack of nearly ALL user AND owner-maker conversations/talk/discuss/communication on this forum! I don't mean talking with the token experts here, no harm intended. They have their place, do their best most of the time and have helped many with issues here. We have had many spirited conversations good and bad, in agreement or not, but they can not and should not take the place of the owners own words here! Trouble is there usually isn't any, from Line 6. I mean talking with Line 6 directly - and having them talk back to their user base, Here.... I know this works well, 1st hand (but thats another story for another time). WHY is this important??? Just think about it if you will. To be able to discuss the issues and upgrades at hand with the maker of the designs direction is a wonderful feeling for the users, and more importantly lets them know that the maker of the guitar/amp/etc product is indeed listening to their user base, and building on that conversations outcome. Only submitting a ticket, is and will always be a joke for the masses that use the product on a forum. We don't know who read it, or when. What they did, where it wound up or if it was ever really fixed or even being worked on. We don't know where they are at in the process. We don't know anything, and thats just wrong headed.... There needs to be more input from the maker here. Otherwise its all speculation as to just how much if any, the users are listened to. And please, don't tell me this is not done in business today because I know better. It was better wayyy back when... As in It was "kinda" this way once with a L6 employee (named Hugo i think it was) on the forums, a long long while back before even the 1st Variaxs were released on the market... And then he at least said he was taking our requests inside the building... But THAT has not happened here again in a long time, and its a shame... Its also a terrible way to treat those that pay your light bill. Thats my take. They were bought out for a reason and Im betting it was not all good ones. Which part is correct here is as always mostly opinion driven, and YMMV. And even if these examples arnt reasons why they were bought out, they were indeed bought out. Merged if you prefer, as a steer and not the bull in the big pasture now... Now all thats said, I still wish the best for Line 6. Seriously. Im just not gonna sugar coat it.... ;)

Who doesn't need a full fledged DAW? ;)

Yes Dean, I think (altho they screwed up badly on some design stuff on the Pod IMHO), they are.... They at least at one point in time were in it for more. They cared about tone at least at one point because the pod sales records reflect this. Yes, those thoughts may be very naive of me, but I do believe this. If I didn't I would not waste ANY time here. Was their rapport with the user base done correctly? No, not even close compared to other places I am now a part of. But we all screw up and hind site is 20/20 isn't it :P ... I just hope for them this isn't another one...

Albertsons bought out United Supermarkets around here, and the peanuts are still on isle 5. Planters is still making them, and I hope the same thing happens with Line 6 and their products... Yea I'm playing Fractal Audio stuff now but the point is still a valid concern, which I'm fixing to get to... Yamaha May make great sounding keyboards but as far as guitar amps go, they are in need of L6 as much as the pod boys must need more capital. For the moment, it sounds great. OTOH, I think it would be a shame to see Line 6 just disappear like an Oldsmobile, swallowed up inside a bloated monster called profit margin rescue and capital gain adjustments. And I would also go as far to say that no one in the Yamaha CEO boardroom knows what a real amp is supposed to sound like, or cares. As long as it turns a profit and isn't a liability according to a select few bean counters. And that idea should now be Line 6's worst fear... That for what ever the reasons, they are no longer in control of making the peanuts or steering the olds... Ymmv....

Actually yes, I do think exactly that. Why?? I have witnessed it myself on other forums where the owner/maker of the equipment is in discussions with the users of the product on the same forum, and he see's 1st hand what the issues and non issues are while answering questions in the process. And you know what, its wonderful! Im talking about equipment that costs many times what a standard pod cost too. The process works well, as it would here if it was done. But with your attitude on this no wonder they don't... And Yes, I think Line 6 is smart with ideas... I never accused Line 6 of being not able to come up with ideas on their own. They have many times. I may not agree with their ideas at times, and it would be nice to tell them this in an open discussion here... I however do not think they know how to (or flat refuse to) deal with their customer in the way I describe above, and that I think is a shame for the whole user group here. Oh yea I can send them a private message and maybe get a reply... But that idea makes them isolationist in a respect. Its evidently a foreign concept to them to converse with their OWN user base here, and that was my point. And quite frankly its an uppity and pompous attitude for them and you to even think that they shouldn't use their own users as a source and tool (mind tap) for better ideas for the future. It also restricts the users of their products to become more involved with the process. So keep thinking Line 6 doesn't need your input here innovine, and just maybe you will keep getting your wish... ;)

I got my dream rig when I sold the DT heads, HD pro, and bought an FX II.... ;)

and the road go's on forever and the party never ends.... ;)

Amp sims... You mean like amp modeling? ;) So you are claiming that I should not believe everything I read, when you make several references on what you read? How do you determine who's not right in this, by hereditary analism? And I don't "got" to do anything, as you put it. Im satisfied with the tones from that wicked expensive new thing you seem to fear so much. :P In fact the Line 6 gear is new too. Are you afraid of it as well...? I used 40+ years of experience to pick what I wanted to use. No one hoodwinked me in to any belief that the Axe FX II sounds good. It just does, in spades. And yes, we all "know" its a good product so why are you so angry Im using it, and liking it? I cant understand that mindset of negativity you have with the unit or me, as to why it would bother you so...? It has tones to die for and if that statement upsets you, then take more meds or something... Cause truth is truth. The rest? As in every last one on EARTH? Really? lol.... And if the effects in the FX II was used by some of them in a rack that tours the WORLD, thats a plus isn't it? The box does have outstanding effects in it too, so its very possible that they also use the effects in it along with their other gear. Thats ok too, right? I mean along with the excellent amps and cab IR's in it, its ok to also have "world class" effects in it too? Good..... Im glad they use it in whatever they wish to since they paid for it. Just like I will... :) Oh yes, you also stated earlier that the star players listed on the Fractal site didn't buy their own Axe FX II. You're dead wrong. Read the post at the Fractal site where I ask the "owner and maker" of the Axe FX II if the famous players who are listed there bought their FX II, or not.... You will see where you are incorrect about that.. Per the equipment maker and owner of the business, they bought their own Axe FX II's. No gimmies... How it is used of course is up to them at that point, and that is ok too isn't it? And I don't understand why you want to argue the point about what "I" think about the FX II ? Am I under some agenda here to be fair and balanced according to your ideas on how good this box is for all of us? Cant I have an opinion here about what sounds good to me, even if it is expensive too? Or do I need to satisfy those who can't afford the box by not claiming how good it is, else its a bad sign? ;) Jeeezzz... According to what source? The same musicians that have everything given to them according to you? Yea it costs a lot, and its worth my $$... Sorry about that. It sounds great to me, and many others too. Thats fact... It seem you wouldnt like it because it cost too much and its too new to be any good, or some such nonsense... Terrible reasons in my opinion, but hey thats all right too.. Besides, too expensive for home use depends on the buyer, doesn't it? I mean this isn't "O"Gibson care is it? Has to be cheap for the masses before its worth having? Come on... Nothing wrong with freebees every now and then, but you make it sound like you think all the great players were in reality dead beats that got all their gear given to them all the time? I don't believe that at all cause its just not the case. I have a hard time believing anyone does. So Ramble on I guess. You can have the last word here... Im done. Enjoy your old equipment.

Oh I got your point just fine. I don't think you got mine however. And let me state first (if u didn't already know) that I like Line 6 products, and have used them for years... My honest thoughts about the famous guitar players listed on the Fractal website that support the Axe FX II is this...., No matter who paid for the box in their rack, it wouldn't be in there if it was not the best sounding thing for their needs.... In other words, its not there to fill up their rack space... Its not fluff or filler. After using one they wanted it in there... The famous players that use this box made a decision to put it in there because it sounds so freeking good, and NOT because its for some promo freebie act of kindness toward struggling equipment design engineers.... ; ) Don't take my word for it, read their own remarks on the Fractal webpage. Unless of course you think they are all liars, its worth a read. And its remarkable that all of them use the same box, and for good reasons as they state. And I would even go out on a limb here and make another flat statement in that even IF these same people got theirs for free (which i doubt most did), that after they heard it and used it they would then pay for it without question if needed, to keep using it day in and day out. My opinion is yes, Its that good.... And for me, its hard to believe after using it, that the Axe FX II isn't one of the best things or one of the most desired guitar boxes in "any" guitarist's dream rack these days. I don't think you would find anyone (that plays these days) that wouldn't take one in their own rack if money was not the issue and they got to sit down and use one for an evening... It sells it self. I have used many boxes over 40+ years and this one is head and shoulders above the rest I have tried... As always, YMMV.... :D

Do they need to buy it? maybe, maybe not... The important question is, is it in their rack? Yep.... ;)