silverhead

Try increasing the output volume level of your computer.

I'm not a Mac guy so perhaps others can better answer this one.

Sorry - my mistake. The latest Mac El Capitan driver is not yet publicly available - still in beta testing. However, it may no longer be required since the latest Apple El Capitan update apparently fixes the problems the driver was designed to fix (since Apple was so slow to release a fix). If you're still having problems with El Capitan it's not likely a driver issue.

But things will sound good through the HD300 headphones, or through external speakers connected to the HD300 outputs. When you are using the HD300 as your audio interface in Reaper your internal laptop speakers are bypassed. The HD300 is your soundcard.

Connect your headphones or speakers to the Hd300 and turn down the volume on your amp, or turn it off, during playback.

You should have no problems updating with a Windows machine and then reverting to using it with a Mac. But it depends on where the problem occurs on the Mac. If it's just a problem with the update process you could be OK. It if it's a more general problem with USB communications then those problems might affect DAW or Helix librarian applications. Also, make sure your Line 6 driver for Mac is up to date.

... All of which spells not-so-good news for hdsteele. The problem seems to be something in your Mac environment that doesn't play well with Helix. Hard to determine whether the problem lies with Line 6, Apple, or some other program running on your Mac. I suggest you open a support ticket with Line 6, but be open to the possibility that it's not actually their fault and hence may not be something they can fix.

I think there's some confusion in the fact the the Helix editor program that runs on your computer is named .... Wait for it... Helix!

There are a few ways to approach tone creation for cover bands. I use a combination of all in various situations. 1) Search Customtone for song specific presets. You can expect that most of them may not sound as you expect because of differences in external equipment - guitar, amp, monitors, speakers, etc. But you will often find a tone that is quite good and sounds close to the original, or close enough to tweak to your taste. 2) search Customtone for specific bands that your band covers. For instance you can look for a 'generic' Led Zeppelin tone and again tweak to taste in terms of optional FX to turn off/on for different Zeppelin songs. I found some really versatile Helix tones this way recently for 60s Liverpool, SRV Blues, Stones, and I think Zeppelin. There are likely similar ones for the HD500. 3) Google some bands you cover to find out their original equipment and setups, and creat presets that replicate those. For instance, you'll get some nice early Beatles tones using VOX amps and Gretsch or Rickenbacker guitars (here's where a Variax really shines). For Stones, Fender amps and guitars, especially a Tele.

Have you updated to the latest version of El Capitan? Apparently Apple has fixed what they broke in early releases.

Nope. That will require you to include the pitch shift FX in all presets. Unless you want your external footswitch to be a pitch shifter! 😄

In Helix the Varaiax Magnetics are a separate selection for the Input block. You do not select the mags using the Variax settings; you select them as an input.

Yes it's global. So no, can't set it per patch/setlist.

That's what I do too - include the IR slot # in the name.

I expect Helix will continue to receive updates for several years and will remain a supported product long after that. However, at some point the next generation of product will be released and Helix development will stop. That doesn't mean your Helix will suddenly stop working. It just means it will no longer represent the state-of-the-art. Inevitably something better will replace it. Your dusty old analog gear still works, too, and still does what it was designed to do. In its time it was state-of-the-art. Time marches on and technology will continue to improve. Helix will someday succumb to that reality as well.

1) The corresponding program that runs on your computer is called Helix. 2) yes. Click on your username in the top right portion of this page. Select My Settings. In the next page select Email and Password in the left column. In the next page select Registered Gear. Hit Remove in the far right column for the device registration you want to delete. 3) you use a program called Line 6 Updater.

I don't think he was trying to deter anyone. If I recall his opening post he seemed to make it clear that he was just offering feedback to Line 6. Nothing wrong with that I think.

You're asking someone else to do what you can easily do yourself. Do a quick Google search to find out the equipment used in Novemeber Rain, and start there. The detailed settings like treble and mids will have to be tweaked anyway because the specific monitors/speakers/cab you are using to listen to the tone will be different from whomever advises you to use specific settings, and this will affect the tone greatly.

You need a lighter touch. You just need to press hard enough for the string to firmly touch the fret. You don't need to have your fingertips/strings touch the fretboard. In fact I changed the frets on my JTV-59 to medium because I couldn't get used to the light touch required. I was used to (and still am) pressing hard enough for the string to touch the fretboard and doing that with the 59 was causing the strings to actually go audibly out of tune. Like a vertical rather than horizontal string bending technique.

Is your JTV battery well charged? Can you change Variax models?

Yes. When assigning the second and subsequent FX choose the Merge rather than Replace setting in one of the knobs before hitting OK to complete the assignment.

There are no rules, of course. But I use the same kind of pairings that you mention. I think that's mostly based on familiarity with vintage sounds. Want to sound like The Beatles, or other 60s Liverpool? Vox with R-Billy or Chime. Rolling Stones? Fender guitars and amps. Acoustic? No amp at all but Vintage Preamp is your friend. Classic Blues? Again, Fender all the way. Zeppelin or AC/DC type hard rock? Marshall and Gibson, particularly Les Paul. Smooth jazz? Jazz Rivet and jazz bank of guitars. Metal and real high gain stuff? Not my bag, but the pairings are there. But no harm in mixing and matching!

No reason not to. In fact you should.

Makes sense.

Actually, no.... I've just reviewed the thread from the point at which you said you were leaving. The next several posts you made were not in response to any question. You just kept participating. Nothing wrong in that, but let's not rewrite history. In fact things were going along quite smoothly until you reacted strongly to RRMark's comment which you called 'ignorant' and then went on to discredit him personally. That's when things went south. However it's irrelevant now because this time I know you're no longer posting.