stevekc

If you disable the Delay FX and palm mute all strings just prior to the instant you change Firehawk FX patches - it minimizes the loud chirp burst that can occur at each patch change.

FWIW - many Audio / MIDI apps from several vendors stopped working with the very latest OSX 10.10.5 "El Capitan" (Roland / Boss Tone Studio stopped working too) You might be stuck for a while if you remain on OSX 10.10.5 , until Line-6 updates the software to be compatible.

It remains to be seen what the Helix Patch to Patch switching time will be with the shipping firmware -no confirmation yet what that will be

If this is true - that would be impressive If I connect Helix to a Mac with OSX 10.10 ( or iPad Air with Apple Lighting USB Camera Adapter) I would expect Helix to appear as an 8 in / 8 out audio device. USB Audio Inputs (From Helix to DAW) ------------ Input 1 = Guitar IN Input 2 = Mic In Input 3 = Aux In Input 4 = ? Input 5 = FX Send 1 Input 6 = FX Send 2 Input 7 = FX Send 3 Input 8 = FX Send 4 USB Audio Outputs (From DAW to Helix ) ------------ OUT 1 = XLR OUT Left OUT 2 = XLR OUT Right OUT 3 = 1/4" Out Left OUT 4 = 1/4" Out Left OUT 5 = FX Send 1 OUT 6 = FX Send 2 OUT 7 = FX Send 3 OUT 8 = FX Send 4 * Note this omits SPDIF Input and Output - how are these handled? Is the above correct? Is there a Helix Beta tester who can talk about the Helix as IOS USB Class Compliant Audio / MIDI interface with iPad? http://auriaapp.com/Products/auria http://auriaapp.com/Support/auria-audio-interfaces

Confirmed Helix ( like many recent Line-6 Products, ( Relay G75, Firehawk FX) are not compatible with Line-6 Monkey these use the new "Line-6 Updater" instead. Of course Tyler Variax does not use Line-6 Updater. At release the Helix Variax VDI port has identical function as as Firehawk FX VDI port = Variax preset changing and Alt Tuning selection only - no Variax Workbench, no Variax Firmware update. So dont sell your HD500 yet ;)

If you are a new Line-6 user it might take 24-48 hours for your account credentials to be approval to trickle out the Line-6 Cloud, where Firehawk FX Editor connects. Contact Line-6 tech support.

At launch, in this regard, I expect Helix to be the same as Firehawk FX - i.e. No - There are no plans for Helix or Firehawk FX to support Line-6 Monkey - so that means no Variax updates I'm learning to ask questions, and not to assume anything

I can confirm the Ghosts exhbit high crosstalk, and RMC Piezo Pickups have the lowest crosstalk I once put Ghost Piezos on my Variax 600, - (to get the tremolo to work during dive bombs) - but the higher mechanical adjacent string crosstalk on the Ghosts resulted in much worse Alt tuning warbles - so i reinstalled the original LR Baggs Piezos

Helix as USB<>VDI Interface for JTV Variax Workbench HD Editor? Will this work? ( as it currently does with HD-500X) ??

I ask because my Firehawk FX does not support 44.1kHz - seems to be fixed at 48kHz with its Win USB ASIO driver version 1.76 and I dream Line-6 on the Helix would resurrect the flexible USB audio routing and Re-Amping function of the 10 year old POD XT Since Helix is USB Class Compliant Audio / MIDi Device - imagine in the Above USB Audio I/O Routing Block Above if replace "Computer" with "IPad running BIAS FX or InterApp Audio Host for Ipad FX (Holderness Media, VirSyn IOS FX)" then we have a new world of tone possibilities

it is when the documentation is vague -without an actual hardware block diagram

Does it support 24 bit / 44.1kHz?

When used as a USB Audio Interface - What are the available Bit depths and clock rates that Helix is capable of ? ( i.e. 16 bits @44.1kHz, 24 @ 48kHz , 32 bits @ 96kHz? ? Is there a Sample Rate Converter on the Helix's SPDIF Input ? What bit rates are acceptable? same question for the SPDIF Out Also Without a computer, Can I use the Helix's SPDIF Input as a separate audio source input, or use the SPDIF Send Return for external FX Loop - ?

Will Helix have any Re-Amping via USB capability ? Can I change the bit depth / bit rate when used as an ASIO Audio interface? Or will it be fixed at 24 bit @ 48kHz USB Audio Interface device - (like the Firehawk FX?)

Thanks - (been there, done that with Firehawk FX already )

Firehawk FX USB Driver is Nothing like the HD500X - no controls I can find - only a slider bar for latency - no other indicators, or controls. Is the Firehawk FX fixed at 24 bit @ 48kHz when used as an ASIO Audio interface? thats what it appear to be - might explain my distortion as I was working with a 44.1kHz project.

Will Helix be supported by Line-6 Monkey?

I spent more time trying to get the Firehawk FX to function as a a clean distortion free ASIO Audio device on Windows 8.1 ( Acer R7 laptop with USB 2.0 port that works flawless with all my other USB ASIO audio interfaces) . No luck There needs to be a better Line 6 USB driver uninstaller - I attempted to uninstall the latest USB driver 1.76, and install the older 1.70 USB driver - but I still have terrible kazoo distortion. Where my Line-6 Monkey? oh that's right, Firehawk is not supported!

Its the basic non functional ASIO Driver for Windows Totally does not work on my Windows 8.1 machine - and same Acer R7 works great with its USB 2.0 port with ALL my other USB Audio gear This Firehawk FX USB Driver does not work with Win 8.1: Line 6 Driver2 Version 1.76 Released 8/13/15

I own both of those - I prefer the GT-100, because I can easily tweak the FX with its dual LCD displays and good User controls -= its nearly point and shoot - No scratching my head and and spinning an encoder, to play "where's waldo" as I navigate folders on a stage lit bleached out poor contrast solid white HD500X LCD, just to adjust the tremolo depth mid song

One things is true - times are tough all over, and I know I sound cranky lately, but after dropping $400 on the Firehawk and it reveals itself to be a toy - I suppose Ive reached my threshold of pain. - and have to sharpen my abilities to apply more caution before clicking "Buy it now" when I make my Line-6 purchases -( I live over 100 miles from the nearest Line-6 dealer and buy online )- and be prepared to fully check it out for any bugs, oversold features that didnt make the production firmware release, and seek happiness by sending the unit back within the dealer's return for refund time period.

Good luck with that - I'm NOT too happy about the path Line-6 is on- (and glad they are not my employer). Witness what Yamaha has done to Steinberg. I recently purchased a Steinberg UR44 Audio interface - but its apparent Yamaha cut bulk of the Steinberg Staff a couple years ago, and the USB Driver support for this box designed in China is non existent. Nothing works. http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=15805.msg114483#msg114483 We know Yamaha also recently purchased Line-6. hopefully this is not a sign of things to come, but I'm not holding my breath - I advise download any Line-6 apps USB Drivers for Line-6 gear now while you still can before the Yamaha bean counters do to Line -6 as they have already have done to Steinberg. Read about FireHawk FX experience at failure here: http://line6.com/support/topic/13511-time-between-preset-swtiching-unbearable/page-2 http://line6.com/support/topic/13591-a-d-patch-lights-of-death/page-2

I'll be keeping an eye on this myself - It would be answered in 10 seconds - IF Line-6 just published a graphic signal routing block diagram of the HD500X - I guess only Service Manual owners get to know this important info.

I actually tried this over the weekend, it's dreadful ( nothing like my HD500X) Firehawk FX experiwnce has been a major stumble from Line-6 - a real step down in quality control, lack of attention to details -it feels like a rush job and the engineering team must be too busy with Helix to fix this. Feels like Yamaha has cut some needed QC - but at this rate Line-6 is heading down the same drain as Steinberg ( another recent nightmare with a UR44 )

Post a review / comparison of what you find is good /bad between GT-001 vs Firehawk. fwiw - here is an independent forum for GT-001 http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=148.0 http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=149.0 GT-001 User created patches http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=150.0