silverhead

The USB 1/2 output pair sends the stereo output of the Helix device to your DAW. You assign it in your DAW a as the Input Source when you arm a stereo track for recording. So, yes, USB 1 is the L stereo channel and USB 2 is the R. Since you’re new to this you might also explore the potential of simultaneously recording your dry guitar. Create a mono track in your DAW and assign the input source to USB 7, which by default in Helix sends the dry guitar signal. You can use this track later if you wish to use a plug-in such as Helix Native (for which you gat a significant discount as a Helix owner). With Helix Native you can then affect the dry guitar track to provide all the processing that the Helix device can do. The presets are interchangeable between Helix and Helix Native, so you can begin by importing the Helix preset that you used while doing the initial recording and then tweaking as you wish during the development of your song. Since you have the dry track recorded you won’t have to re-record the guitar part to adjust the tone. When finished to your satisfaction in the recording you can then export the preset from Helix Native, import it into HX Edit, and take your studio tone on the road for gigs.

I’m not 100% sure about the POD XT but I used to own a POD X3 Live, a more recent model than the XT. The X3 is not a fully functional MIDI interface device. The X3 device handles a subset of MIDI a commands such as PC and some CCs. It does not handle (and does not Pass Thru) other MIDI commands such as the critically important Note On/Off commands that are necessary for supporting MIDI keyboard controllers. It would surprise me if the newer X3 series had MIDI capabilities stripped out of it after the XT series. I’m inclined to think the XT is the same as the X3 in terms of its MIDI implementation.

You shouldn’t. Stick with the sound you like.

Depending on the complexity of what you want to compare it may be easier to use the Looper block at the beginning of the signal chain. Record a loop, start playback, put your guitar down and tweak to your heart’s content. This way you can compare changes one setting/block at a time and hear the results in real time. But, yes... snapshot as are also a good way especially if you want to compare multiple changes at the same time and quickly flip back and forth between them.

It’s possible that a Global Setting has been changed. A firmware update resets the Globals to their default settings. You can restore your customized settings by using the HX Edit Restore Backup feature. Select to restore the Global Settings.

I find that most Helix patches designed for piezo acoustic guitars (including those designed for the Variax acoustic models) can sound either quite good or quite bad when I’m strumming. The difference is in my touch, strumming and pick. I find a need a lighter touch with my fingers on the strings, a MUCH lighter touch in strumming and a soft pick. Those elements, in my experience, are more important than the actual patch as long as it’s reasonably well designed. The best acoustic patches for piezo guitars that I have found in the Helix Marketplace are from Glenn DeLaune: https://shop.line6.com/marketplace/acoustic-simulations-patches-for-acoustics-piezo-equipped-guitars-and-variax-guitars.html Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Glenn DeLaune in any way, and my opinion is not intended to reflect in any way on anyone else’s Helix Marketplace offerings. I am simply offering my opinion based on my own personal experience after purchasing this preset pack myself, and comparing to acoustic presets I created myself as well as other Customtone downloads.

The best way would be to contact Line 6 directly. See Contact Support under the Support tab at the top of this page.

In your Line 6 Account settings there is a section called ‘Ignore Users’. You can enter specific usernames there and set some parameters.

A setlist file (*.his) is a bulk install using the HX Edit program. It installs all presets in the setlist. If there are existing presets in the given setlist location that you want to protect you should back them (or the entire setlist) up before installing the new setlist.

It’s not discontinued. It’s still being manufactured and supported. It hasn’t received a firmware update in a long time but that doesn’t mean it never will. Still, Line 6 support seemed to drop the ball on this one.

I’d love to see double DSP too, at the same price. Money for nothin’ and your chips for free! (DSP chips, that is).

How much more would you be willing to pay for that? Double the price?

Yes. Thanks for the correction.

www.helixhelp.com

Try updating using the Line 6 Updater program instead of HX Edit.

Is HX Edit working normally otherwise?

Be aware that in many (most?) cases repairing a broken USB connection on a POD HD500 also requires replacing an internal circuit board. Fixing the USB port itself usually won’t fix the problem.

Just some further clarity.... the Model Packs don’t actually need to be installed. They are already present in the firmware but hidden and inaccessible. When you purchase the Model Packs your Line 6 account is updated to reflect the purchase and then you just need to unlock them using the License Manager.

Seems this can never be said often enough! Of course, the users who don’t read the instructions are the same users who aren’t here to read this. ;-)

Would it be normal? What’s normal? Of course you should use only the subset that you want at any time and swap them in and out as desired if that’s what works for you. Whether or not that’s what other people do should be of no concern. What you describe sounds perfectly reasonable to me. No the number of presets you can have at any time is not expandable. You have 2 setlists to work with and that’s it.

No. They are still different programs and do different things. License Manager has not replaced Monkey. Seems License Manager is compatible with Big Sur. Monkey is probably not. You need Monkey to update firmware. That's not likely to happen again with the POD HD series so if the firmware in your POD HD is up to date you likely won't need Monkey again. But if you want to purchase any POD HD Model packages in the future you will need License Manager to get them authorized and available on your POD HD device.

Sorry. Snapshots don’t affect DSP usage. The preset’s DSP requirements take account of all blocks in the preset, whether or not they are used in any particular snapshot. Unfortunately the answer to the last sentence/question in your post is Yes.

... and you shouldn’t feel dumb at all. If you think everyone understands it just fine you’re wrong. They just don’t ask, perhaps because they might feel kind of dumb..... But because you have asked the question hopefully you understand a little better. And you have helped some silent readers who may also benefit from this.

1. The amp pack is a set of actual Helix presets that use the Helix Cali Rectifier amp model. Hence the .hlx format. 2. Yes. You can usually replace the Helix preset Cab model with any purchased IR. 3. A1) IRs are usually used to replace a stock Cab but sometimes they are used to augment a stock cab, meaning both should be used toghether. Perhaps ML Sound Labs has used this approach in their MO Cab Pack. Or, the Rectifier Amp Pack presets are designed so that you can choose to use either the stock cab or the IR in the same preset, selecting between them with, for instance, a footswitch. You'd have to inspect the preset structure to answer this question. 3. A2) Don't know exactly how this purchase is structured, but if you can purchase the Amp Pack without the IR pack then the preset files have to be able to stand alone, using a stock cab without an IR.

Yes. The only thing that happens to the incoming analog signal is an A/D conversion. After that it is sent directly over USB to your DAW.