silverhead

It is separate from the Customtone database. It is in 'the cloud' and available in the Firehawk app through the Tone Match feature.

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

I have recorded vocals with both dynamic and condenser mics and Helix Rack with no issues.

Line 6 has provided a way for you to answer this for yourself: http://line6.com/helix/sound.html It's based on the most fair comparison you can make - the recorded sound of the mic'd real amp vs. the recorded sound of Helix using the same amp model with the same cab/mic combination. What are your conclusions?

The latest Helix firmware release (yesterday) lists the Fender Sag issue as being fixed.

That's an interesting question that I think is very simplistic on the surface but very complicated when you dig deeper. Simplistically, that's the whole idea of modelling. So the sound of the model is as close to the 'real' sound as the modelling technology allows. To put it another way, the sound at the same settings is as close as it can get; it won't sound closer at different settings. But I think what you're really asking is "How close is it?". And that's where things get complicated because the answer depends on who is judging/measuring, and how? If a studio technician is measuring using waveform analysis based on recorded samples of the two you may get an answer like "the waveforms are 99% identical". Does that mean the sound is 'the same'? I don't know. If a guitar player is standing in front of the real amp and comparing his/her perception of the real amp sound compared to the sound of the Helix output through some other amplification system, you may get a different answer which is based purely on one person's ability to subjectively differentiate between two sounds. And all that means is that the sound is 'the same', or not, based on that person in that place at that time with that equipment. You could get a different answer from a different (or even the same) person using different Helix amplification/monitoring in a different setting. And whether or not they sound exactly the same, perhaps the best question is "Do they sound close enough that nobody in the audience will notice, so I don't have to lug around all the heavy physical amps that I want to use at different times during a gig?". For me, the answer to that last question is a resounding Yes!

In the edit program you have to use the SEND command to save/store a preset in the POD device.

Thx.

I have highlighted the last word above just to ask for confirmation....... I don't have the right setup to test this myself right now but am interested...... So it seems the midi command associated with the NEW, not CURRENT, preset is sent? In other words the midi command is sent AFTER, not BEFORE, the preset switch?

In customtone there is a search filter where you can specify the device (product) for which the search will find compatible tones. Did you use this filter to specify that you are only interested in Pocket Pod compatible tones?

Factual information: Variax Standard will not run v1.9. Personal opinion: If you want to use 1.9 you should use a JTV. Q.E.D.

Have you installed the driver?

The fan rattle problem in the L2 speakers was fixed in production a long time ago. New units manufactured since that time do not have this problem. However, it is possible that some older faulty units may still be in a dealer's inventory. So there is still a small chance that you could buy a new unit that was manufactured prior to the fix. If that happens Line 6 will fix the unit it under warranty.

If you are going to connect a bass guitar I would go with the L3s. You might also consider the L3t (with built in mixer) for vocals and acoustic guitar in the small venue/rehearsal situation.

Not currently. This could become possible in a future update but Line 6 has not committed to implementing this.

Depends on what you mean by 'instantly'. No processing system (whether computer, phone, guitar multiFX device, ....) can swap RAM data instantly. It necessarily takes some number of milliseconds to transfer data from storage to RAM. The question is: is the data transfer time (the lag) noticeable? And that depends on who's doing the noticing. In the case of Helix the delay is measured in milliseconds. If you need to change presets in mid-strum, from a preset with a lengthy heavy delay, there will be an audible dropout. But in most cases one can adapt thei playing style so that the brief dropout is not noticeable. For instance, when going from a clean rhythm in a chorus part to a lead solo you can usually pause a quarter beat before starting the lead part - more than long enough to switch presets with no audible dropout.

I'm still struggling a bit to understand the value of the FH 1500 in that setup. You have Helix doing the guitar processing, so the FH1500 isn't necessary for that. Helix is also feeding FOH. You have the L2t (2 of them) as floor monitors, also fed by Helix, so no need for the FH 1500 there. Why is the FH 1500 on the stage?

What would you be connecting the Firehawk 1500 to via L6 Link? Not a guitar multiFX processor - the FH 1500 is a multiFX processor. And not a Stagesource - the FH 1500 provides its own speaker system. What other L6 device do you plan on using with the FH1500? And why?

Again, it may be as much a matter of usage than a problem. But for some users it may indeed be easier to globally boost USB signal level than boost every preset level to compensate for a high master analog output level.

It's not necessarily crazy. As mentioned the big master output volume knob has no effect on the USB signal level; that is determined by the preset volume level. But the overall volume level that you hear while playing in your studio is determined by the big knob. If your big knob is set relatively high, say 60% or more, then your preset levels may be set relatively low so that your ears don't bleed. Hence you may be, in a sense, choosing to send a relatively low USB signal to your DAW. Experiment with one or two presets. Turn the Helix master output down and increase your preset volume level (without affecting tone) so the your ears hear the same volume in your studio. That's essentially what your doing with the 'crazy' 10db boost. Try recording again. I'm not saying this will necessarily work for you but it might.

Personally I find the recording level OK as is, but it's worth putting this on Ideascale as suggested. I recall with the POD HD series that there were similar initial comments and complaints. A subsequent update to the ASIO driver included a +18db option for the strength of the signal passed to your DAW via USB. Perhaps that is (or will be with sufficient demand) in the cards for Helix as well.

That won't cause any problem at all with the AMPLIFi. You won't have to change any settings in AMPLIFi, but if your multiFX unit has the ability it would be best to set its output signal level to Amp rather than Line. Otherwise you'll just have to be aware of the FX blocks that you are using in the multiFX vs. those in the AMPLIFi preset. There's no right or wrong placement of FX in the signal chain, but typically one uses FX like compressor, distortion, wah, and others before the amp, and FX like chorus, delay, and reverb after the amp. That would argue that you probably would not, for instance, use a reverb FX in your multiFX unit but rather use the AMPLIFi preset for reverb. Also, when you are using the multiFX unit you will undermine the Tone Matching feature of AMPLIFi. You will stil be able to obtain 'matching' presets from the cloud, but any external FX will defeat the accuracy of matching.

Are you using the latest versions of the Firehawk firmware and app?

That's correct. It will sound much better going directly to your Friedman.

Helix does not convert guitar notes to midi.