silverhead

Dunno but I guess so.

When you want to make a copy of a preset in the editor, CTRL+drag the preset to a different location rather than SAVE it.

Then I suggest you open a support ticket to work directly with Line 6 tech support. It seems you have a problem that's out of the ordinary, perhaps unique, and probably related to something in your computer environment. Have you tired using different USB ports on your computer? Sometimes front panel ports have an internal hub that can cause issues. Try a rear panel port if you haven't yet.

But did you reinstall the latest firmware with the latest version of Line 6 Updater - the one that came with the latest Helix app installer? Please confirm that you have followed the installation instructions as posted above - from start to finish in order. If you kinda-sorta did Step 5 before you did Step 3 you WILL have problems.

I agree - try posting in a more recent thread- and read the thread first to see if you can find any answers there. Also make sure you are following the installation instructions as posted in the download screen. If you follow them you may find your problem gets resolved.

EDIT: The reason I keep harping on following the installation instructions is because it is critical for this update. Hopefully the more people who see these reminders, the more will actually read and follow the instructions! Line 6 Support has been tracking update issues and to date about 95% of them are the direct result of NOT following the instructions.

Try following the instructions. It appears you used an older Updater program when doing the installation. This is what is causing the problem. You need to download the Helix app installer first. Then run this installer. It will also install the latest Line 6 Updater program and driver. Then you run the new Updater program to install the latest firmware. You do NOT need to download the firmware file at all - the Updater does this. There's another key element to performing a successful update. It's in the installation instructions that you will find on the downloads page. Read them and follow them.

Yes, they are in the same download/installer. I'm sure the factory reset (9/10 switches) is missed by many who experience problems.

Yes. The photography analogy is a good one, I think. Think of a preset as being the subject being photographed. Physically, it is constant and well defined - it's just there as it is, like a preset's amps, FX models, and signal chain flow are there, and well defined. Snapshots are different images of the subject - in photography and in Helix. In photography this is different angles and perspectives of the fixed subject. In Helix it is different images of the fixed preset - different amp/FX states (on/off) and up to 64 different parameter settings among all the amps/FX. Hope that helps.

I think you make a very good point. While the update instructions seem clear, the reference to downloading the Helix app/editor first could be missed by the user. What could also be confusing is that if you follow the installation instructions properly you don't actually have to download the firmware file that is linked to using the Get Download button at the bottom of the firmware download page. I expect some users read the instructions hastily, unnecessarily download the linked file and then immediately try to install it using the old Updater program. That WILL cause problems if there is a newer version of the Updater program that should be used.

Helix, and other guitar processors, model the sound of a mic'd amp. It's what the audio engineer hears in the control room of a recording studio, or what the audience hears after the guitarist's on-stage amp is mic'd and pumped through a PA system. This sound is slightly different from what the guitarist hears coming out of his physical tube amp, either in the recording room or on stage. The sound you hear direct from an amp's speaker cabinet is not the sound you hear from a PA system or from studio monitors. Perhaps this is what you think you are missing.

No misunderstanding. They can be mixed, either using Workbench HD to mix them in a single model, or using a dual-path VDI-equipped Line 6 processor like POD HD500x or Helix. In the former case you download the model from Workbench into the Variax guitar and then select it like any other model. In the latter case you select Variax as the input to one path and Variax Mags as the input to the other. But that's quite separate from the topic of this thread. You'll get a very dissonant sound if you mix an alt-tuned model with the unalt-tuned mags.

V2.01 is primarily a bug-fix release. There's really no benefit in doing it unless you are bothered by any of the bugs listed in the release notes for the update. If you would like to benefit from any of those bugs being fixed there's really no reason not to do the update, assuming you follow the update instructions. While there are users who followed all instructions and still have subsequent difficulties their numbers are very small and the problems are usually unique. For instance, while it remains to be confirmed the OP in this thread seems to have had the Helix USB port fail. That likely has nothing to do with the firmware update itself - just a faulty piece of hardware that suddenly failed. It would have failed soon enough even if the update had not been performed.

There's no way of charging the battery while in the guitar. Have to do it using the charger.

But not all Variax owners also own a Line 6 VDI-equipped processor like Helix, which are the only devices that cable is used with. In fact I would guess that the majority don't. So including that for everyone would be a waste and an extra cost for at least a large segment, if not the majority, of Variax buyers.

Not sure what you mean about Variax specific running only through VDI. The Variax models run out of the 1/4" output as well when selected.

It's all legit but buyer beware. Some offerings are excellent and well worth the money, especially those from Glenn DeLaune (google him). These are also very reasonably priced. But some offerings are nothing more than a compilation and bundling of tones that you can download yourself, individually, from Customtone. These, imo, are not worth much. Do some investigation about the source of the patches before you buy anything.

Make sure you are using v2.01 of the editor as well.

Have you read the installation instructions, and are you following them? What version of Line 6 Updater are you using?

The Variax Standard - a brand name - is the latest model. I believe brue58ski is using the term 'standard' in its general form referring to the older 600 model, like saying the Deluxe is a standard Fender amp.

Probably nothing. All the presets in the setlist you imported have to be rebuilt at some point. That happens when you restart the device, not when the setlist is imported. But it should only happen once for each setlist. Are you having any performance issues after the presets are rebuilt?

Did you reset the device after updating by holding down FS 9&10 while powering on?

The general rule of thumb is to and power things UP from the inside out, and power DOWN from the outside in. All connections should be made before anything is powered up, and disconnected after everything is powered down. 'In' and 'Out' are the direction of the signal chain - from sound source (In) to speakers (Out). For example, when powering up you start by connecting all the components to each other with no power. First you turn on any instruments, then any pedals or processors between instruments and amps/mixer, then amps, and then the mixer. Finally you turn on the mains/speakers. When powering down you do the exact reverse. Turn off the mains/speakers first, then the mixer, then amps and finally the pedals/processors and instruments. So, assuming you are connecting the HD Pro outputs to the power amp inputs you would turn the HD Pro on first then the power amp. When powering down you turn off the power amp first then the HD Pro.

I notice the release notes for the new v2.01 firmware and editor discuss a related bug in v2.0 that is now fixed. Perhaps this is no longer an issue.

It's about quality over quantity. The HD500X has much better amp modeling allowing you to produce a wider variety of tones from each amp. I believe most users who went from the X3 to the HD series are glad they did, and they don't feel like they are missing out on the X3 tones. And Helix is better yet, though admittedly much more costly.