silverhead

What device is providing phantom power to your condenser mic? What device is connected to your computer that reaper communicates with?

That's a cool concept, Phil. I think Helix is the first Line 6 device I've seen that can handle MIDI note on/off events. Maybe the POD HD series could but I never noticed/experimented with it. Can you provide details about physical connections among the devices and the Helix preset structure that's relevant to the synth?

I would open a support ticket with Line 6. They can facilitate the repair with the local service centre, including having it shipped directly to Line 6 for repair if necessary.

What audio interface are you using? What microphone?

There is no global input setting in Helix as there was with the POD HD series. It has to be done per preset. The default input setting is Multi, which includes Guitar, so that should work for you. If you are not using VDI the Variax input will simply be ignored.

Apologies if I'm repeating earlier comments in this thread. I haven't gone back to read the whole thing..... Have you tried using no guitar amp at all? I usually use just a compressor, EQ, and optionally a small amount of chorus, delay, and reverb. One of the available imported acoustic IRs also helps. The Variax Tone knob is also helpful in dialing in the desired amount of body resonance, based on modelled mic placement. I find I also need to use a really light touch when playing the Variax acoustic models. Heavy strumming just doesn't sound good. The acoustic models don't behave so well with too much vibration on the piezos.

Don't know for sure but I think it's unlikely. Helix rebuilds ALL presets after a firmware update, and also has a startup sequence that rebuilds all presets, so I can't see there ever being too many to rebuild.

The HD500 does not provide phantom power. Condenser mics will not work when connected directly to the HD500/X.

No - an FBV shortboard will not substitute for the USB Workbench hardware interface.

Helix is not recognized as a midi interface by your DAW (it only has partial midi implementation) so it won't help you with your virtual instruments and midi keyboard. And yes, if it is your computer's audio device, with your speakers/monitors connected to its outputs, then it has to be connected and turned on if you want to hear sound from your computer. To bypass it you would need to leave it powered off and switch your speaker connections to the computer's audio outputs. You would control PC volume using the PC, not Helix. Sounds like a separate audio/midi interface is what you want.

Why this is an 'issue'? Everything operates fine - just takes a few more seconds to power up.

You're halfway there! Don't forget that VDI also powers the Variax. After you figure out the technology for wireless power transmission and give Line 6 the patent for it I'm sure Line 6 could grant you your wish. ;) :lol:

I use the looper at half speed often and I don't have this problem when switching patches. Check both patches and save them both with the looper set to half speed.

When you are on the downloads page make sure you select Helix in the Software field - the middle field, not the Products field. Select OSX (if not already selected) and click on the Beta box. You should be presented with Helix version 1.11.1 and a set of instructions. Follow those instructions. You can ignore the instructions about using your current Helix app to backup your presets. Presumably you don't have any presets yet that need backing up.

Here are some basics to check, and a quick test - set the output level on the L2t to the notch (12 o'clock) position - set the L2t mode to PA/Reference and place it on a pole/stand so the speaker is at about head-height - set the Helix main output level low to start and increase as desired Test: - start with an empty Helix preset (New Preset) - if you are using a hi-gain guitar with active pickups use the PAD on the Helix input - make an Amp+Cab selection in the Helix preset, preferably a clean amp (e.g. one of the Fenders). Start with the Drive at a low setting and increase as desired. Adjust Drive level and amp Volume level until the desired combination of grit/crunch and volume level is obtained. If you can't get a reasonable sound with just this basic setup, without the muddy harshness, please let us know.

Have you updated Helix to the latest firmware yet? Not saying that will necessarily solve the issue but at least you'll have the best starting point for debugging. You can get the latest software versions by going here: http://line6.com/software/ Select Helix in the Software field and check the Beta box beside the selection fields. This will let you download an installer file. Run the installer to install the Helix editor, the Line 6 Updater program, and the latest driver. After installation connect Helix to your computer via usb and run the Line 6 Updater program. This will install the latest firmware on your Helix device.

Any time you hit any authorization limitations just open a support ticket with Line 6. They will help you resolve any issues.

Go to the downloads area of this website, here: http://line6.com/software/ Select Helix in the Software field and check the Beta box to the right of the selections. This will let you download the installer file for the Helix Editor application, as well as required driver and the Line 6 Updater program. After installing all components, connect your Helix device to the computer via usb and run the Line 6 updater program. This will help you install the latest firmware on the Helix device. If problems persist please start a new thread to describe the symptoms.

Have you updated to the latest firmware end editor?

Each patch has a looper. Are both set to half speed?

No global setting for this - needs to be per patch. What you could do is make your own template of a 'global' patch, including your Send/Return assignment as well as any other settings you want as a starting point for all your patches. You would then copy this patch every time you want to create a new patch.

Please describe your setup - all hardware and software components that are involved.

It could make a difference. We're trying to narrow down the source of the problem. So far we know that the POD itself works as the audio interface via usb, and it works OK using headphones. So it's not the POD processing at fault. So now we narrow down further. The Troubleshooting 101 steps I would take are: Since the POD XLR audio outputs to the Profire inputs does not work, it's either the cables, the POD XLR outputs or something with the Profire. Testing cables is easy - if you have extra XLRs do that first. I suggested using the POD s/pdif output to see if the problem is somewhere in the XLR signal path. If the s/pdif connection works OK then it's either the POD XLR outputs, or the Profire XLR inputs, or the internal Profire processing. As an aside, using both the s/pdif and XLR or 1/4" POD outputs to your Profire will let you record the dry guitar signal (via s/pdif) and the processed signal (via XLR or 1/4") simultaneously into your DAW. Great for subsequent VST processing of the dry signal. Is it the POD XLR outputs? A good test of that would be to connect them to some powered monitors and see if the problem persists. If not, it's something in the Profire XLR signal path. The simplest thing to try on the Profire would be to make sure it is not applying phantom power to its MIC inputs when the POD XLRs are connected. This can be an issue when using Line 6 Helix. I haven't heard of it being an issue with POD HD devices but best to rule it out. You could also independently test the Profire XLR inputs. Do they work with a microphone? Or simply use another pair of the many Profire XLR inputs. Finally I would try using the POD 1/4" outputs to the Profire 1/4" inputs. Again, you can independently test the POD 1/4" outputs to external monitors/speakers. All these test should gradually identify the culprit.

Does your Profire have an s/pdif input? You could try that with the POD s/pdif output.

Just to test..... what happens if you remove the ProFire from your setup and use the HD500 and its ASIO driver as the audio interface to your DAW?