silverhead

Yes.

Go to the Downloads section of this website, under the Support tab at the top of this page. Select Helix in the middle (software) field, not the leftmost (products) field. Read the installation instructions and follow them carefully. When instructed use the Get Download button at the bottom of the instructions pane to download and install the editor. When instructed you should also reinstall the v2.21 device firmware.

When you launch the editor program the device (not the editor) firmware version is displayed in the top left region. To obtain the editor version you use the Help - About Helix menu item. The versions should match.

You can use Snapshots to do that. No need to stop recording when you want to switch the settings - just use a footswitch to change snapshots. The use of Snapshots is well documented in the latest Helix manual.

What version of the editor are you using?

;) i edited the above for you ..... :D Just sayin'.....

And with a Variax guitar you wouldn't even need to swap physical guitars! You could store all the different Variax settings, including alternate tunings, in the Firehawk presets. By switching presets you could switch instantly from a Strat rhythm tone to an LP lead tone. Just one example of the additional flexibility. If and when you do start gigging in a band you will appreciate the convenience of carrying one guitar instead of four.

Congratulations! It takes a lot of planning and execution, and hence a lot of time, to achieve an organization of banks and presets that works for you. Your approach seems well thought out and reflects your particular needs with multiple guitars. As you say others will have a different organization that suits them better. What's important is that you have taken the time and done the work required to personalize an organization for yourself. You deserve to feel good about that!

Another option is the Earvana nut. I changed my JTV-59 nut to Earvana to compensate. http://www.earvana.com/

First question - yes the Helix LT will work the same. Second - either will work well over short distances. Just make sure the output/input levels are matched. In other words if you use the 1/4" connections and your monitor's 1/4" input is expecting a line level signal make sure the Helix 1/4" output is set to line level.

You can replace the Variax setlist in one operation rather than proceeding one preset at a time. The easiest way is to use the HD500X Edit program. First, select a preset in one of the USERx setlists. Then use the File command to save that setlist to your computer. Now select a preset in the Variax setlist and then use the File command again to import the saved setlist. This will replace the Variax setlist with the USERx setlist. Finally, don't forget to save/send that setlist to the HD500X device.

There is a tone file conversion utility (created and generously provided at no cost by one of our community users) that will turn an HD300 tone file into an HD400-compatible tone file. https://www.jzab.de/content/pod-hd

Yes - you need to un-pair then re-pair the Bluetooth connection when switching between mobile devices.

DarrellM5 is correct. Variax string volume is not currently a parameter that Helix stores in its presets.

Not all Variax purchasers have (or want) a VDI-compatible Line 6 guitar multi-FX device like Helix. Why should they pay for a cable that they don't need and can't use? I expect Line 6 would have more orders cancelled from those folks than from those in your situation. If you want to connect your Variax to Helix, buy the additional cable that you need and others don't. Of course, if you don't want a Variax at all, don't re-order.

That's a good question and I have no idea about the answer. I think only Line 6 designers/developers could answer that. I expect it may be technically possible but practically not worth the cost/effort. With Snapshots able to meet almost all needs for lag-free switching the ROI probably just isn't there. The business question is: how many ADDITIONAL Helix units would be sold if this specific option were available? Probably very few imho - far less than cost recovery.

Not sure what you mean. I use a single login for all Line 6 stuff. Same user ID and password combination works for everything. Of course, if you created a different combination each time you were asked then you have to use them accordingly.

Have you tried reflashing? I'm not sure that you can reflash just the Control device. You may have to reinstall the Helix Rack firmware with the Control device disconnected, then connect the Control device to trigger its firmware reinstall.

Here's some info from another thread.......elaborating on PeterHamm's castration reference...... http://line6.com/support/topic/27530-rapid-muted-sound-when-changing-patch/ POST A: This subject has been discussed forever in these forums, even before Helix line and it's still not 'fixed'. It's always a compromise between low latency/spillover in patch changes, or use the available processing power toward having more variety of amps and effects for the same unit cost. The latter always wins out. POST B: Yes, it's been discussed forever but the 'fix' is still misunderstood. What's required to resolve this issue is to have two independent processors in the device and only use one at a time for any preset. The other processor remains idle, waiting for the user to change presets. At that time the idle processor is loaded with the new preset while the active processor keeps producing sound. A few milliseconds later, when loading is complete, the previously idle processor becomes active with the new preset, and the previously active processor becomes idle, awaiting another preset change. It's not a simple choice of amps/effects vs. processing power. It's a choice of the number of internal processors and their use. You can't eliminate the gap on a POD HD device by reducing the number of amp/fx selections. It is a single processor device and the gap is unavoidable while a new preset is being loaded. Helix, being a dual processor device, could be turned into a no-delay-between-presets device. The cost would be that it would effectively become a single processor device. The current ability to use two independent processors simultaneously would be removed. Each preset would be constrained to use only one processor while the second processor would be used for the instantaneous preset switching as described above. To me that's much too high a cost to save a few mIlliseconds latency.

Also - I presume you have tried the factory presets and find them lacking? Still they probably represent a good starting point for tweaking. For instance, the factory Kick or Snare or Lead Male presets are probably a good start for shaping those inputs to your small gig venue. And as Rewolf48 says the M20d can save and restore (share) entire system settings including all presets and setups. It does not support export/import of individual presets.

Right, of course - thanks for clarifying my mis-speak..

You're right - you are hitting a limit. There are two DSP processors in Helix; one for each Path A and B. Once your signal path approaches the DSP limit the unavailable options are greyed out. Try routing the Output block of Path A into the Input block of Path B. That will double the amount of processing power available for the preset.

http://shop.line6.com/plug-ins/pod-farm-2-5.html

That would require a whole new plugin - perhaps called Variax Native. Helix does not do any Variax DSP; it just communicates Variax command and control data over VDI. Perhaps Line 6 will do that someday, but it would be a completely different VST product - not an extension of Helix Native.

OK - thanks for clarifying Phil.