silverhead

The behaviour you describe is accurate but I doubt the feature uses an 'auto-sensor' of any sort. I expect it simply adjusts volume based on vehicle speed, which it already tracks separately. There's probably no sensing of any external factors involved - just an automatic volume adjustment to compensate for the known change in interior cabin sound levels as velocity increases/decreases. Doing that is the same as adjusting the speed readout as you accelerate/brake, whether changing the digital display or moving the analog needle. I don't think there's any analogy to Helix here.

I think the point that DI was making is that Helix does NOT know the ambient volume at which you are playing; that - as he says - is the real issue. Hence, what you're hoping is the case (regardless of the volume settings everything will sound the same at low and at high levels or even at headphone and gig levels) is not the case.

I can't explain the technical considerations. I just know that Line 6 has repeatedly stated here that you should not do it. On the other hand I know that some people have done it for some time, at least before Line 6 warned against it. Whether or not anyone continues to do it without issues I do not know. At the very least I think it's inviting problems.

Line 6 recommends that you do not use the VDI and 1/4" outputs simultaneously. Apparently that can potentially overload some internal circuitry.

I think you're making a good choice going with 8" over 5". I have a pair of 5" for studio work and I've tried them using them for reheasals in my studio with other guys jamming out. I find them insufficient for that purpose; in fact I blew one of them once and haven't used them for that purpose since. I now have a pair of Stagesource L3t for rehearsals in the studio, but I'm sure your 8" pair will be fine for that.

No. Only the bottom row of switches can be toggled to operate as FX switches or preset selection switches (see the FS mode parameter in the Utiilities setup menu). The top row of switches is always assigned to turn FX on/off.

Did you save the alternate tuning after creating it? From the manual: "Press and hold the Guitar Model Selector knob for 2.5 seconds or until the Alternate Tuning LED stops blinking to save your new tuning."

You can use the monitor outputs to send output signals to whatever device you like. Create a monitor stereo pair in Setup mode. Use the channel monitor assignments to control the mix and the monitor level controls to adjust the output levels. You can link or unlink the channels to the monitor level as desired. However, the manual states that the Master Volume knob only controls the level of the Main stereo outputs. Sounds like you cannot control the monitor outputs by this knob, but you can check this yourself.

If you are using only Path 1 for processing the signal, check your inputs and outputs for Path 2. It's possible that it is receiving and outputting the dry signal.

I suggest you open a support ticket. There may be some hardware or driver conflict issues. http://line6.com/support/tickets/add.html

Try cycling the power in both the POD and the PC. Also try using different usb ports, especially the rear panel ports.

No you're not missing it. Firehawk (and the AMPLIFi product series) have their own separate tone libraries in the cloud. That's what they use for their Tone Matching feature. It is also directly searchable from the Firehawk/AMPLIFi apps.

Have you tried recalibrating the pedal on the HD500X?

No worries. In re-reading my post I can see that it could be seen as provocative, too. Unintended but he black and white of simple text is easily misinterpreted. Sorry about that. As for the issue at hand, it is important that you do the reset after the firmware update. The problem with doing it before you begin the numbered sequence of steps is that you will overwrite all existing presets. That means the backup procedures that begin the process are too late - the presets you want to back up are already gone.

I would start with your FRFR setlist.

Really? So when you read Step 8: 8. Using the NEW Helix editor application (2.21), restore the user presets you backed up in step 2. .... you don't think they need to be performed in sequence?

I too sympathize with chitlun and think that a support ticket is the best thing at this point. However it seems to me that the instructions are quite clear that the reset is to be done after updating the firmware. Here's the update instructions for steps 5&6 (firmware update) and 7 (reset). Given that these steps are to be performed in order I'm not sure where your confusion is. 5. Using the latest Line 6 Updater (1.11), update Helix/Helix Rack to the newest firmware (2.21). At the end of the update process, Helix/Helix Rack will reboot automatically and begin rebuilding presets. Wait for this process to complete. 6. If you’re using Helix Control with Helix Rack, connect and power on Helix Control. The inspector will ask if you want to update its firmware. Press Knob 6 (OK). Wait for the update to finish. YOU MUST RESET GLOBALS AND RESTORE PRESETS, OTHERWISE HELIX 2.21 WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. DO IT. DO IT NOW: 7. To reset globals and restore presets, turn off Helix/Helix Rack. (... etc. ...) Having said that, the current update process is cumbersome and error-prone. Line 6 is aware of this and is working on a new and improved update process that should be ready at some point in the not too distant future (later this year iirc).

That's calendar spring. We would prefer to use solar spring for this: :D June Solstice in Calabasas, California, USA is on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 9:24 pm PDT ... and as PeterHamm says we have to add a day just for pi$$ing them off.

On the device itself saving a preset is a two-step process. After hitting the SAVE button once, you can select the destination location. Change the destination to a new location then hit the SAVE button the second time. That constitutes the COPY operation; there are now two identical versions of the preset and you can begin to edit either one.

In my experience (I'm not at my Helix at the moment to test) you are correct. The tap tempo function only works when the delay is set to a note value. When set to a bpm value the tempo does not change when you tap on the switch. However, the blinking light on the tap tempo switch DOES change in response to your tapping, which can lead to the mistaken impression that the underlying tempo actually changes as well. It does not.

You may have a gate FX, or something similar, that is cutting the sound out when the signal level is too low. Examine your signal chain and experiment with turning FX on/off.

I haven't experienced this issue with my setup of M20d, L3t, and L3s. It's been used many times with rock bands in both indoor and outdoor environments. Since I never had any issues I haven't subjected it to the kind of testing you describe here so I can't say whether the same tests on my L3s would yield the same result. A possible next step for you might be to rent an L3s for a day and compare performance. It's possible your used unit might be faulty.

You can't 'delete' a preset. You overwrite it with an 'empty' one (with all amps/FX removed from the signal path). But replacing presets with empty ones does not gain you and DSP improvement; they are totally separate things.

That's correct. The main board is only available by purchasing a guitar, or for ordering by an authorized service center in the context of repairing a guitar. I suppose one could try ordering the main board (and other unavailable parts if any) through a service center but I expect they would require a trade-in main board that needs replacing. Line 6 keeps pretty tight control over the Variax technology.

It's not a step back; it's a different product for a different market. Firehawk is a single path processor designed for the mobile user, compatible with iOS/Android devices and Bluetooth. The POD HD500X is a dual path processor for use with PC/Mac over a usb connection. Apples to oranges.