silverhead

It sounds like you are not using the current Helix editor v2.20. You need to download and install it separately. The Line 6 Updater program does not update the editor.

I think you need to install the Line 6 driver. Go to the Downloads section of this website (see tab at the top of this page). Select the POD HD500X in the Products field, select Drivers in the Software field, and make sure the automatically selected display in the OS field is correct. Hit GO. On the following page, hit the Get Download button for the latest driver. After downloading the installer file, run the installer. Follow the instructions re: disconnecting your HD500X during driver installation.

I don't think the issue is the file size or complexity of Android devices, nor their internet connectivity for downloading the firmware to the Android device. The issue is the communications between the Android and Helix devices. There's generally no USB connection on these mobile devices; they tend to rely on the (relatively slow and unreliable) Bluetooth technology for non-internet peer communications. From what I've read the Line 6 experience with updating Amplifi and Firehawk devices via Bluetooth shows that the connection is often unreliable for the length of time required for the update. Amplifi and Firehawk users tend to use the USB connection to a PC/Mac for more reliable and much faster updating. Bluetooth is great for audio streaming. You lose a few data packets here and there and you just ignore and discard them; the ear compensates quite nicely even if there's a stutter in the sound. But lose a few data packets during a firmware update and the update fails at best, and your device is bricked at worst.

What type of Variax cable is it? A VDI cable or the one that comes with the JTV? They are different. You should be using a VDI cable (shielded at both ends) when connecting to a device like the POD. Not saying it's necessarily the cable, but using the proper cable will rule out that possibility.

Huh? How can you hear a volume increase when there's no sound?

Test with headphones to determine whether it might be an L2m issue.

You need the v2.11 editor to backup the current stuff. The new editor v2.2 will not work with the old firmware and hence can't be used to create the backup you need. And you are wise to be backing up throroufhly. Having said that I find it useless to backup the entire bundle - use setlists.

I suppose a corruption of a Setup could occur. Let's hope that's it. There should be no problem reinstalling the firmware. Just make sure that beforehand you back up the existing stuff. Use the built in Backup feature (see the System menus under the top right hand info button on the screen display). You can get the firmware file from the Downloads section of this website. Load it onto an M20d compatible USB stick or SD card and then use the firmware installation feature followed by the inverse Restore feature from the same M20d System menu. See manual pages 9.6 and 9.7.

I know what you mean. I have a beauty of a guitar that is the Variax 300 electronics in a Warmoth built Strat tobacco burst body and ebony neck. It actually plays better than my JTV-59 although I usually play my JTV because of alt tunings and Helix compatibility. But occasionally for a treat I will play the old Warmoth V300. The old models still sound great and the playability is inspirational. Not that theJTV doesn't play very well - it does. But, man, that Warmoth......... I can see myself having three great Variax guitars if the recent survey is a portend of things to come.

The product description of the FBV3 identifies the Line 6 products that it is compatible with at the bottom of this page: http://line6.com/foot-controllers/fbv3 Note that the FBV3 is not required for products that have built in footswitches and expression pedal. Different Line 6 guitar multiFX products have different answers to the other questions you ask. Again the product descriptions specify whether they include a Pc/Mac based editor (POD HD series, Helix), an iOS/Android based editor (Amplifi and Firehawk series), or other bundled software ( Pod Studio series). Look again at the different product descriptions. Read them thoroughly, including the Specs info, and ask specific questions about particular ones. You can also access all the product manuals online. They all operate differently in detail, but in general all of them can be operated (accessing amps/FX) both standalone and with an editing program that runs either on your computer or mobile device (not both). Your question is too general and can't be properly answered without rewriting a lot of info already available.

Yes. Follow the installation procedures as described in the Helix editor release notes. Backing up your current setlists and IRs is required if you plan to restore them after the update.

Bug in Helix edit v2.20 re: editor display not properly tracking EXP pedal movement with pedal assigned to Amp Drive. I have a preset that uses EXP 2 (Helix Control unit) assigned to both the Amp Drive and the amp Channel volume in an inverse max/min relationship. As I move the EXP pedal from heel to toe I simultaneously increase the Drive level while decreasing the Channel Volume to keep the overall volume consistent. On the Helix Rack device I can see the display for both the Drive and Channel Volume levels change as I move the pedal. In Helix edit only the Channel Volume is correctly tracking the pedal movement; the Drive display in the editor does not change although the Drive level is clearly changing the sound.

It might also have to do with editing presets that have not yet been rebuilt in v2.20. Note that the first thing that Helix does after the firmware installation is automatically rebuild the installed presets. I'm not sure why, because then the global reset erases all existing (just rebuilt) presets and installs the new factory presets. Perhaps it's just to make the device stable and reliable before doing the global reset if desired (though not recommended). In any case rebuilding recently installed presets from earlier firmware versions is an automatic part of the Helix startup sequence. That suggests that we should restart Helix immediately after importing our user setlists into new firmware - before editing them. My speculation (pure and total speculation, I emphasize) in the case of weird block copy/paste behaviour is this: you import a new preset and start editing without rebuilding. The preset retains its DSP-remaining calculation from the old firmware. This will no longer be accurate if DSP performance improvements have been made in the new firmware. Note that the v2.20 release notes make specific mention of some DSP utilization improvements. Hence weird DSP-related behaviour results until the preset is rebuilt properly during the next Helix startup.

This is a snip from the user manual: Factory Reset & Pedal Calibration Performing a Factory Reset restores the Firehawk FX to the original factory settings and Presets. Be sure to use the Firehawk Remote app to back up your customized Presets before performing a Factory Reset! After performing a Factory Reset, it is recommended that you next perform the Pedal Calibration for proper Pedal operation. • FactoryReset:SimultaneouslypressandholdtheMasterVolume Knob and the TAP footswitch as you power on the unit. • PedalCalibration:PowerO yourFirehawkFXdevice,thenpress and hold footswitch A while powering On the unit. Follow the steps in the LCD screen to calibrate the on-board Expression Pedal.

No it does not save the factory presets. It provides a revised set of factory presets. Some of the old ones are replaced with new ones. Others are updated. Most of the factory presets are unchanged but the update saves nothing. It replaces all factory presets, mostly with the same presets but still - it replaces them; it does not save them. You may notice that immediately after the firmware upgrade all the previous setlists, both factory and user setlists, still remain in the Helix device. But the update procedures are not complete. The mandatory Global Reset is what replaces all setlists. You could choose not to do this but you will encounter problems.

I think you mean the factory setlists - there are no factory IRs. The update saves nothing; you need to manually save, before the update,anything you want to restore after the update. I suggest you save the individual setlists rather than the entire bundle. The new firmware includes a new set of factory setlists that replace the old ones. So you don't need to save the old factory setlists unless there are specific presets that you want to keep; they may no longer be part of the new factory setlists. But for sure save your user setlists before updating. You should manually back up any IRs that you are using as well; they will be deleted by the firmware update procedures. Make sure you keep track of what slots the IRs are in - you will have to manually reload them into the same slots after the update. ... btw, most of what I've said here is included in the documented update procedures. Make sure you follow them.

Excellent work Jason! You are very generous but I do hope some people are noticing your Donate link! (I did.) One suggestion: Your Reset Options currently only deal with the Helix floor model. The Helix Rack has a different set of button-pushing. Could you also include this? Helix Rack Since the rack doesn't have footswitches, you'll instead hold down a combination of the 6 encoders that are below the main LCD screen as you're booting up. ENC2 & ENC3 - reset globals ENC3 & ENC4 - restore stock presets and setlists ENC4 & ENC5 - restore stock presets, setlists, and IRs ENC5 & ENC6 - reset globals and restore presets, setlists, and IRs (entire factory restore) ENC1 & ENC3 - rebuild all presets ENC1 & ENC5 - clear all presets, setlists, and IRs ENC1 & ENC6 - will enter Update Mode (This feature is only available on firmware v1.06.5 and higher)

Hmmmm....... a store sold a defective unit on April1st. ........... I'd definitely return it.

Try downloading the firmware file first then run Line 6 Updater and select Update From File.

No the Firehawk FX is not a Workbench interface device.

You also need to Save the preset, of course, before leaving it. But before doing these edits check your global setting for handling Snapshot changes. If it is set to Discard then you will need to either change it to Retain or you will need to Save the preset before leaving each Snapshot. Otherwise the snapshot changes will be (as specified by that parameter) Discarded without being saved.

Sounds like you headphones use an 1/8" jack (Android, Windows, Apple). Make sure you are using a stereo 1/8" to 1/4" adapter for connecting to the POD HD500x.

OK - good luck with the recovery.

And just another logistical check..... did you also install the new driver (v1.85) and the new Line 6 Updater program (v1.11) when installing the editor? Did you use Updater v1.11 to update the firmware? It's probably worth trying to reinstall all the latest components and test the bundle file again. But after the firmware update, and before trying to reinstall the old bundle, back up the new v2.20 factory setlists. And henceforth use setlists rather than bundles. If the old bundle still wopn't load after a fresh v2.20 installation then your corruption assumption may be correct. You may not be entirely screwed, though. Some users here have been able to interpret and edit the source JSON files in setltists and presets. I don't know about bundles but if you're lucky someone will reply with editing suggestions to help you recover the setlists/presets from the bundle file.

Best idea won't help now, but in future I suggest you backup individual setlists rather than (or at least as well as) the bundle. That way you won't ovrewrite the new factory presets when you restore the old bundle. For now.... Are you sure you are using the v2.20 editor as well? The editor and firmware must be compatible - you can't use the old editor with the new firmware.