silverhead

I want to correct my mistake in terminology. MusicLaw and zooey are correct. I meant to say to route the Output of Path 1 to the Input of Path 2. It's Paths 1 and 2 that have separate DSP; Paths 1 A and 1B share the DSP that is allocated Path 1. Similarly paths 2A and 2B share Path 2's DSP.

The red indicator does mean, as you suspect, that there is insufficient DSP remaining to load the block. Perhaps the few blocks you have already loaded are very DSP intensive. What are they? Also you can make use of both Paths to utilize all available DSP. Route the Outpute block of Path A to the Input of Path B.

Yes - I just downloaded the approx. 80MB Helix app in under 20 seconds, so more than 4MB/sec.

I'm not having any performance issues at the moment. Is this happening only with the Line 6 website? Check your ISP device(s) and supplier.

Yes I would definitely buy one again. Two things I want to respond to from your post: First, this is a user support forum. People come here when they have problems. So what you get here is a very skewed perspective. You don't hear from the vast majority of users who have no problems with their equipment. Consider the number of people discussing their Variax issues here; you can probably count them in the tens - say less than 100 people over the last several years. Perhaps more, but still...... Then think about the number of Variax guitars that Line 6 must have sold worldwide in that time in order for it to be a viable product. I'd guess a LOT more than 100 (or higher). Is it fair to conclude that the vast majority of users are not here? I think so. Secondly, you describe the most commonly reported issue of alternate tuning - the supposed ghost notes. In almost all cases this boils down to the simple fact that your ears are hearing the acoustic sound of the original string vibration (which remains in standard tuning) along with the alternate tuned note. Many people swear up and down that that's not what they are hearing, until they actually do a recording. The ghost note is not present in the recording because only the alternate tuning is recorded - the physical sound of the vibrating string is not recorded. You need to listen at a very loud volume or in good isolation headphones before the alternate tuned note overpowers and hides the physical string vibration from your ears. The store you are playing in would tell you to turn things down before you approach that volume level.

If it's working OK for you right now I would leave it alone until the pending v2.2 release. When you install that according to the instructions it will overwrite everything that is now installed. Backing up the Factory presets is optional. However, the v2.2 installation will overwrite all existing presets. So if you have custom presets that you will want to use again after the installation you will need to back them up first.

If you want to be sure about the installation I would reinstall firmware v2.12 using the Updater program that was installed with the v2.11 editor package. P.S. Don't forget to follow the pre and post-installation instructions re: backing up setlists and Global Reset.

Well, the whole idea is that an amp modeling device replaces at least the preamp section of your tube amp. So yes, it will completely take over your original tone as far as the preamp and tone stack are concerned. Using the 4CM and running the amp model through your amp's FX loop retains the power amp and cab section of your amp so you should not use a cab/mic selection in the POD HD preset. Whether or not it sounds amazing like your tube amp only you can decide. But it certainly gives you the flexibility to have a couple of dozen different tube amps at your fingertips.

You will find the v2.11 editor in the Downloads section of this website. Select 'Helix' in the Software (nor Products) field and download the installer file, then execute it and follow the installation instructions carefully. The fact that you have already update the firmware to v2.12, apparently without the v2.11 editor package, suggests that your firmware installation might cause problems. As the installation instructions indicate you should begin with the v2.11 editor package, which includes the latest version of the Line 6 Updater program. Without the latest editor package you likely installed the firmware using an outdated version of the Updater program - and therein lie the potential issues. But at this point you might as well just install the editor by itself and if you don't have any immediate issues you can just wait for the v2.2 editor/driver/Updater/firmware that will be released very soon.

The audio coming directly from your computer into Helix via USB channels 1 and 2 is not available for recording through Helix. Here's what the user manual says about it: "USB inputs 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 can all be used for processing tracks from your Mac® or Windows® DAW software. See "USB Audio" Helix also receives input from USB 1/2, but it's dedicated for monitoring audio from your computer (or iPad) and bypasses all processing blocks. As such, it's not available as an input block source."

Not sure I understand. Please describe your setup more completely. Where exactly is the backing track? Is it a previously recorded track in Audacity? Is it a loop recorded on Helix? Is it from an external device being fed into Helix? Describe your Helix preset. How many paths? What is on each path? What are the path Output(s) set to? Describe your Audacity configuration. What is the Audio Setup? What driver are you using?

I suggest you open a support ticket to work directly with Line 6 tech support. http://line6.com/support/tickets/add.html

Connect your monitors to the POD outputs, not the computer. The POD becomes your soundcard. Turn off the software monitoring in Reaper.

No I don't work for them. But I think it's not fair to blame the developer when you purchase a product that is clearly documented as not meeting your expectations. You simply did not do your homework if you expected to be able to use your Windows tablet. That's not Line 6's fault. Here's what it says on the first page of the product description on this website. Seems pretty clear to me. "The innovative Firehawk Remote app for iOS and Android™ gives you the power to find the perfect tone faster than ever." Later on it says this, which is also true but not what you expected to be able to do: "Firehawk FX is more than just a multi-effects system—it’s a powerful guitar recording interface for the studio. Record to your Mac® or PC with ultra-low latency."

Yes - that's exactly the difference between support and development. And Line 6 has never said they are not continuing development. But if they are they aren't saying so. I am familiar with the thread you referred to. Note that the title is a user's opinion, like yours - it's not a statement from Line 6. I also made a lengthy post in that thread about Line 6 users belonging to one of two camps when it comes to expectations. I won't repeat the comments here but I think they're relevant in this context.

There is a setting in Pod Farm to select the input source. It's on the Mixer page I believe. Set it to Input 2.

You're right that they shouldn't affect things but I wouldn't discount it without explicitly testing. I say this because I have noticed that the Trim control, if not at zero, can introduce noise to the mixer channel even if there is no physical input. That noise can be heard through the speaker. I discovered this one day in trying to diagnose a noise source. After checking all the usual suspects I remembered that I had moved the speaker out of and back into my studio since last using it in the studio. Sure enough during the movement someone's fingers appeared to have rotated a side panel Trim knob. Returning the knob to the zero position removed the noise. I haven't checked further on all the other side panel mixer knobs.

That much hi-cut seems unusual to me too, but if it sounds good to you then that's all that matters. We all have different tastes and different ears.

I have experienced similar Variax weirdness periodically, especially after a firmware update. Seems that some Variax- specific settings in presets created in earlier firmware don't always migrate properly. Like you, I've found that re-saving the preset in the new firmware helps. I've also found that it helps to disconnect the VDI cable during firmware updates and reconnect after the update is complete including the factory reset. Don't ask me to explain that.

Are the Variax settings in Global or Preset? Check the first parameter on the Variax page. If Global, try the Preset setting.

That's adjustable. You can change the behaviour of the Master Volume knob so that it controls only the XLR or 1/4" outputs.

Use a single signal path. You don't need two paths. Set the Output block to Multi. In Helix Global Settings -> Inputs/Outputs set the XLR output level to Mic and route the XLRs directly to FOH. Use two channels for stereo. No DI box is necessary. IMPORTANT: Tell the sound guy to make sure there is no phantom power on the Helix input channels. Set the 1/4" output level to Line or Mic, whatever your Alto input is expecting, and route the L/MONO output to your Alto monitor. This sums the stereo signal to mono. I suggest you keep/take responsibility for your own EQ/tone. Don't use Helix Global EQ and don't change anything in the good Aerosmith (or whatever) tone you like. Tell the sound guy to start with flat EQ on the board. He can then tweak to the room requirements. But you should control your own basic tone. His job is to shape your tone to the room, not to define your basic tone. Just be sure the Helix Global EQ is off.

If you are using cab/mics or IRs in your Helix preset make sure your L2t is in PA/Reference mode. With no cab/mic or IR you could try the L2t in Eletric Guitar mode. Also try experimenting with the Cab parameters and settings. You can often get rid of some unwanted noise with the Hi and Lo Cut Settings as well as the Bias setting. And, the Drive parameter interacts heavily with the Master volume (not the Channel volume) level. Getting the right (for you) balance between those two can help. How are you connecting to the L2t? L6 Link, rear panel analog, or side panel mixer? If rear panel set the Helix output to Line level. If side panel use Mic level and make sure the mixer tone and FX controls are off/neutral.

Some time ago a user posted a bank of Spank models that he had customized in Workbench HD to sound more like the earlier Variax Spank models. He very generously shared them here. I can't recall his username, or locate the thread at the moment, but a search should find it. I downloaded them into my JTV-59 to replace the factory presets and I still use them. Edit: Just did a quick search and found the thread. Many thanks to mdmayfield. http://line6.com/support/topic/10186-version-19-sound-alike-strat-bundle-for-version-2x/?findpost=70997 Note that there are two versions of the models in this thread, one in the initial post and another in post #17.

You can use any of the Return inputs to feed external sound sources into Helix. Use one Return for mono sources or a Return pair for stereo sources. You can place them anywhere in your signal chain including as an Input Source, somewhere in the middle, or at the very end of th chain depending on what signal processing you want to apply to the external inputs. You need to apply these Returns to each patch/preset where you plan to use them. There is no global setting for external inputs.