silverhead

There is a setting in the Variax section of every Helix preset that is effective with the VDI connection. It allows you to assign the Variax Vol knob as a controller and specify how you want it to behave. Since it is a per-preset setting you may be experiencing unexpected volume changes when switching presets due to this parameter setting. Sounds to me like you want to set it to Don’t Force which means you want to control the Variax Volume using the guitar itself. I know this feature works with Variax guitars from the JTV series onward. I’m not sure whether this works for the pre-JTV guitars. Try it. If it’s not available the issue is something else.

You do have a Line 6 account - you are using it to make this post. You don’t need to use any old one that may still exist. In your account, register your Helix device . Contact Line 6 if any difficulty. However, you shouldn’t need any account info or device registration to update your Helix. If prompted for it you can just ignore and proceed. Begin by downloading and installing the latest version of the HX Edit program. Choose to install all components. Then Run HX Edit and follow the update instructions carefully. Note that since your last update was years ago the procedure is a little cumbersome. Make sure you know what version of firmware is currently installed and select the right set of instructions. You can proceed with your appointment but frankly if you encounter any installation issues this user community is likely more knowledgeable and helpful than your average retail employee at the store. Come back here for guidance if the installation doesn’t seem to be working.

I'm looking and have approved this post. It seems to be the first post under this username which is why it was flagged for moderator approval. You should be able to make other posts without needing approval now.

Yes, you need to install the Line 6 ASIO driver for the POD Go.

If there is such a capability I’ve never heard of it.

Thanks for the link. I didn’t know it was there!

I don’t think there is a specific POD Express forum. This forum (POD Go) is the place for POD Express posts. Curious- where do you see a POD Express forum grayed out?

Since the Line 6 software (and hence the computer) doesn’t see the Variax, from where would this command line originate? That’s why the Line 6 software exists - to support computer/Variax communication. There’s no back door.

Since you’re asking this question I presume you have the POD HD Desktop (kidney bean shaped) model, not one of the other POD HD models that have built-in footswitch controllers. To use your feet rather than your hands to change presets with the Desktop model you will need a compatible footboard controller. The options are listed in an Appendix of the manual (link attached). https://line6.com/data/6/0a06434dc1125085c5933f8db/application/pdf/POD HD Advanced Guide v2.10 - English ( Rev A ).pdf

What I, or anyone else, thinks is irrelevant. Line 6 will never announce that this is not going to be done. If it is going to be done they will announce it as part of the firmware release notes that includes it. When will that be, if ever? Mine, yours, or anyone else’s guess is pretty meaningless right now.

It’s never worth waiting for an update to potentially provide a feature/function that you want/need. Your wish may never be fulfilled. That goes for buying new equipment too. Don’t buy something today that doesn’t do what you need based on the hope that it might be able to do it at some future date. If you need full midi functionality now, go get a device that does it.

I would check the levels in this segment of your chain. Is the Radial expecting a line level input? Are the levels of the Radial output to amp input compatible?

What exactly is the issue? If I read this correctly it works with the cable that came with the device. So….?? Not all cables are created equal. It’s quite common for a USB cable to work for some things and not others - especially home made I would think. Use the cable that works. Also worth noting, most CAT-5 cables are designed to carry standard IP (Internet protocol) data traffic. The Helix Rack/Control communications use a proprietary non-IP protocol. Does that matter? Don’t know, but maybe most CAT-5 cables are built to different standards or specifications.

Don't know. Never tried it.

Maybe use Return 2 for the guitar and free up the FX Loop in Send/Return 1?

Are you not using an amp model in your preset? This provides the same tone stack as your physical amp. Please attach a copy of your preset and we can have a look and perhaps advise from there. Many, many people are using both an amp and a PA quite successfully and are not using their physical guitar amp preamp. Massive EQing is not required. There seems to be something wrong in your setup.

First off, those statements are contradictory. I would try using the EQ available on the Stomp and connect the Stomp output to a Return on your amp, not the guitar input. Set your PA EQ to neutral. Experiment with the different EQ features on the Stomp (EQ blocks, hi/lo filters on the cab block, different mics and placements, Tone parameters in FX blocks, Bias level in Master amp section) until you don’t have to do significant EQ on either your amp or most PAs. It is normal to have to do some EQ on the PA due to different room acoustics.

Is it possible that you are mistakenly pressing the wrong footswitch, or two footswitches at once, when this happens?

Because there’s something wrong with the installation of either HX Edit or Win 10, or a conflict between HX Edit and some other program installed on your computer. I would look for any USB issues first.

I hope this answer is helpful. I am responding just to let you know that your post is visible to the community. I don’t know if anyone has actually tried this and unless they have they likely won’t respond. So in case you hear silence…. Your question has been heard.

Another way of looking at what’s correctly described above: The Mix control operates within the FX block, affecting the dry/wet blend of the signal reaching the FX block output The Level control affects the loudness of the output in the overall preset. For example, you could set a very high Mix level so that the tonal impact of the FX block is very noticeable. But if you set the Level control very low you may not be able to hear that impact.

You are misunderstanding the concept of snapshots. There are, indeed, only four (limited by device design and architecture) and exactly one of them is always active. You can’t turn them all ‘off’, you must have one active at any given time. It’s similar to the pickup selector switch on a guitar. The switch is always in one position or another and one combination of pickups is always active. There’s no extra position to ‘turn them all off’ and still have sound.

The most likely reason other people’s patches sound rubbish to you is that they probably were not designed to be played through your engl amp. If the patch includes cab modeling and you listen to it played through your cab it will definitely sound like rubbish. Play those patches through a PA or studio monitors rather than your amp and they will probably sound much better. That’s what they were likely designed for. Also if you want to try a different sound and are searching for patches based on that you might expect to hear, well, a different sound. And you may simply not like it. Personally I’ve never found a hi-gain patch I like. They all sound rubbish to me.

Before you install things, check the OS compatibility that is listed with each piece of software in the Downloads section. If it says the software is compatible with Windows 11 then proceed to install. If not there’s probably no point. You can do this before you get a new computer.

Since this is your first post I approved it because your question is legitimate. In future please refrain from including promotional links.