silverhead

Yes - true. But notice also that it's not available quite yet. Very soon now.

The tones/presets are fully compatible among those products. Any list for any one of them is a list for all of them. In Customtone, search for Helix tones and you will have the full list for Helix LT and Helix Native as well.

Customtone is a repository where users can share presets/tones. You will find the link to it at the top of this page. Select your device (Flextone III) in the Products field to view and download compatible presets. Each preset is designed to run on one or more Line 6 hardware devices. Each device has its own software editor which is used to view and audit the downloaded tones and to transfer them to the device if desired. To editor for the Flextone III is the Line 6 Edit program. In the software downloads page Select Flextone III as the Product, select Line 6 Edit in the software column and select Windows 7 in the OS field (the last OS version for which Line 6 Edit was released though it should still work under Windows 10).

Have you tried any of the startup procedures described here? http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/effects-controllers/helix/helix-reset-procedures-and-troubleshooting-tricks-r768 The firmware update procedures are much more automated and simpler now. If you have trouble installing v2.50 it probably indicates a problem with your USB communications between your computer and Helix.

Not sure exactly what you mean. There is a display mode in Helix where all 10 scribble strips can display the custom names for your 10 footswitch assignments that control your FX. In this mode FS1 and FS7 do not control bank/preset/snapshot up/down, they control the assigned and displayed FX on/off. Do you mean something else?

Yes. And had this not been announced in advance but was a surprise release we would be hearing complaints like "If I knew this was coming so soon I wouldn't have done X last week!! You should have told us!!"

Have you removed the plastic screen protector?

Helix supports all Variax models beginning with the JTVs. So that includes JTV, Standard, and Shuriken. Check the Products page on this website; Helix supports all currently manufactured Variax models listed there.

Right now, and I mean only for the next few days, the HXFX device includes more FX. But when Helix firmware v2.50 is released very soon all Helix devices - Floor, Rack/Control, LT, and HXFX - will offer the same FX models and parameters. HXFX does not include any amp/cab modeling. It was the first device to be released with firmware v2.50. The others will receive the v2.50 update this week. There is no ability to add FX models; they are embedded in the firmware and cannot be added or removed.

It seems the problem is with the file itself - you can't fix it. Customtone is a simple repository for users to share files. There is no monitoring and no quality control. Anyone can upload any file (even empty ones) and call it whatever they want. There is no guarantee that the file is or sounds like what it says it is. Whoever uploaded the files you reference made a mistake; the file is empty. You would need to contact them nad ask them to investigate and upload the proper file.

It gets a bit complicated. The reverbs in Helix prior to v2.50 are based on HD modeling technology and simply ported to Helix. That's what has now been done to all the other Legacy HD effects in v2.50. Accordingly the HD Reverb models have been moved to join the others in the Legacy category. The new reverbs in v2.50 are brand new and use the HX modeling technology; you will find those in the Stereo section of the Reverbs. All other FX in Helix (except for a few Wah models apparently) are brand new FX based on HX modeling. For instance, all the Delay FX are brand new and they will stay in the existing Mono/Stereo sections when you look at the Delays in v2.50. There will be a new section called Legacy where all the newly imported HD Delay FX will live. When I spoke of two different models of the same FX I was referring to some physical analog pedals that Line 6 has modelled using both HD and HX technologies. You will now find those FX models in both the Legacy (HD modeling) and the Mono/Stereo (HX modeling) sections.

Note that even for those Legacy models that already exist in Helix the underlying modeling technology is different so they won't sound exactly the same. You should consider them to be two different models of the same analog device.

Are you able to download any other Customtone files successfully? If so the problem is likely with the file itself. If not there is a general problem with your computer setup.

I don't believe the modeling process itself has changed since the introduction of Helix. The newer amps use the same modeling afaik.

Probably because it's not an audio interface. It's designed to fit into a traditional analog setup for a guitarist; stomp pedals, 1/4 cables, and a tube amp. No digital devices in sight, except midi.

Historically Line 6 provides periodic firmware updates to their products but not as frequently as Fractal. There are more frequent updates early in the lifecycle and less frequent updates later on as the next generation of products receives more development attention. As far as Helix goes I expect updates and improvements to continue for several years now. This should include additional amp sims; some have already been promised for the next (post-v2.50) update. Line 6 has just made a huge investment in developing a common software architecture for the full line of Helix products. There are now several hardware versions of Helix (Floor, Rack/Control, LT) well as the new HXFX product. All share a common HX Edit program and alll except HXFX at the moment are compatible with the Helix Native plugin. To illustrate the power of the common architecture, HXFX, being a subset of Helix, could relatively easily now be integrated into Helix Native. Not saying it will be but it seems like a no-brainer to me in terms of generating additional revenues for relatively little development effort. This is a platform and suite of products built for the long term (in the context of electronic devices). Personally I expect it will be many years before Line 6 produces a successor to this suite. Meantime I expect that all Helix products will continue to be improved.

Not weird at all. HXFX and Helix do not run the very same firmware; each has its own flavour of v2.50. HXFX has now been released. Helix will not be far behind, it it's not available just yet.

That's a great line! I think I'll use it as I grow my fingernails in preparation for my future life(?) as a harpist! :lol: I fully expect that there are lots of hi-gain harps in hell!

True, but pretty close. Line 6's target market here is not existing Line 6 multi-FX device owners (like you, me and DBCrocky), it is the entire world of tube-amp guitar players. We already know about Line 6 and digital modeling. Among the much larger group of tube amp players who will see the HXFX as their first foray into the digital modeling world I still claim (with no evidence whatsoever :P ) the presence of Variax guitar owners is almost too small to measure.

HaHa!! I consider myself one of those guys. But I don't disparage your desire for those bee-buzzers and I hope you get them. I already have way more options in Helix that I could ever fully explore and use. (Is bee-buzzer a fair trade for wanker? At least I was talking about objects, not people!)

You might also have to find a way to pan the two return signals fully L/R respectively to capture the stereo effect.

Definitely Yes, and coming in the pending v2.50 Helix firmware described in the link provided above.

I do this too, with almost all my presets. Allows me to use the amp drive dynamically instead of engaging a stomp pedal sometimes. I find the drive gives a little warmer breakup. I do notice, however, that the overall volume increases a bit at the mid-sweep position vs. the toe/heel positions. That's probably due to the taper curve built into the pedals. I haven't tried too hard to find a solution yet; it's not a big issue.

The HXFX is designed for guitarists who prefer their tube amps and are not (yet) into amp modeling technology in general, much less guitar modeling. It's meant to expand the Line 6 customer base; it's not really aimed at existing Line 6 customers. The likelihood that someone attracted to the HXFX already has a Variax guitar is almost nil. You may find yourself almost alone in thinking that including a Variax connection with the HXFX would be a good business decision.

Yes, the new Line 6 Updater program and new drivers are included in the v2.50 HX Edit installation package. As usual we should start (after backing up using the current v2.30 HX Edit, of course) with HX Edit v2.5 installation of all components and then use the new Updater to install the v2.50 Helix firmware. Line 6 Updater is not used to update Helix Native, which is a straightforward download and install on its own.