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Gigged with Firehawk into Stagesource LT3 last night and had a lot of squealing/feedback issues. Slightly confused by this as I tested my pre-sets at stage/gig volume - no problem - after upping the noise gate settings a bit. Perhaps it was the room dynamics....I don't know but thinking I might need to return to my Fender Hot Rod.....shame as I get and like the idea of using FRFR. Has anyone had similar problems and hopefully a solution or two......

Please excuse my nievity - when connecting my Firehawk to a Stagesource Lt3 is it better to use xlr or 1/4" Jack or, I suspect, it doesn't make any difference? My second question is what might I gain from a stereo connection and how would I do this - do I need a second amp/speaker? Thank you in anticipation...... Evorgeloc

Guys- I have filed the following firmware update wishes within line6.IdeaScale.com In case you are looking for these kind of improvements, too, I'll be glad, if you could vote for it . THANKS! Firehawk FX: Add Boost Functionality 'Switch on/off Solo Boost' 1. Generally Change Preset Indicator LED on Floorboard Firmware from Bright Red into now Dimmed Red 2. Assign a boost level +xx dB within the Firehawk App whilst 'Boosted', also apply Default Bost = on/off whilst Preset is being selected 3. Whilst Preset is selected tap on the already selected FX-Switch for this Patch again (twice quickly). This will both enable the Boost and change the colour of the FX switch into Bright Red 4. Switch Boost off whilst tapping again on the selected Preset FX-Switch Firehawk FX: Add Alternate Preset Mode Functionality 1. Generally Change Preset Indicator LED on Floorboard Firmware from Bright Red into now Dimmed Red 2. Assign an alternate / modified Preset with some FX blocks defined on/off as customized in the Firehawk App 3. Whilst Preset is selected tap (hold for 2 seconds) on the already selected FX-Switch for this Patch again. This will both enable the Alternate Preset Mode (hold for 2 seconds again) and change the colour of the FX switch into Bright Yellow (OR start flashing) 4. Switch Alternate Preset Mode off whilst tapping again on the selected Preset FX-Switch Firehawk FX: Add Smart Preset-Change Mode Functionality 1. Default Preset Change mode is 'Hard Change-over' (as it works today) 2. Assign an alternate Smart Preset Change mode in the Firehawk App,. This generally applies to the Floorboard functionality. Within the Smart Preset Change Over Mode, the user should be able to define a fade-out time of the previously selected preset, once a new preset had already been selected. This will help to have a smoother switch from one preset to the next, i.e. delays of the former preset used will not be just hard cut-off... 3. Whilst Alternate Preset Change mode is selected the Bank-up and Bank-down FX-switch LED's (if there are any..) will turn into dimmed grey (from being off in the default setting) Firehawk FX: Global Looper Mode Functionality

Is there any way to manually punch in the numbers for a tempo using the keyboard on the firehawk app? I set up patches for individual songs a lot and it's a pain to try and use the tap tempo to hit an exact tempo for every patch that I make. But it won't let me select the tempo value to just type the numbers in. Am I missing something? I would really appreciate a feature of just being able to touch the tempo number and type in a new tempo.

Yesterday, I traded in my pod HD500X for a Firehawk unit. Before anyone calls me crazy, I want to explain why. I usually only play in my house. I play music and jam to it. I practice. Occasionally, I get together with a buddy. I don't own an amp. Part of the fun for me is to design patches that sound like the songs I like to play. Using the HD 500X to edit patches was a pain in the neck. I didn't like to edit patches on the unit, and the HD 500 edit program wasn't really working for me either. If I edited patches on the unit, I was stopping and bending over just to make a tweak. If I edited the patch on the computer, I would have to sit down and I would often get distracted from playing. When I had an X3 live, I created a midi template that would allow me to make patch edits on my iPad. However, when I upgraded to the HD500X, the midi implementation was completely different. So, I realize I've lost some functionality, but gained a lot more in the process. I think it fits my needs better than the HD500X. Your results may vary. Here are a couple of issues that showed up right away: Bluetooth connectivity was kind of flaky at first. The unit would frequently disconnect from my phone or my iPad. This document helps me troubleshoot the connectivity issues. Turning off Bluetooth on my iMac and moving my iPad away from my iMac and my router made a big difference in connectivity. Basically, try to eliminate any sources of interference with the Bluetooth signal. When you initially connect your iPad to the FH, it takes a 30 seconds or so to transfer the patches to your iPad. Sometimes, it doesn't preload all of them at the same time, so if you are trying to scroll down to bank 25, you have to wait as it retrieves each bank from the FH. Loading patches from the iPad works fine, but does take a few seconds, it likely wouldn't work if you were playing live and trying to switch that way. That being said, you can organize your patches, storing them wherever you want in any of the ABCD locations in any of the 32 banks. Then you can use the ABCD buttons to switch between them. Switching patches that way is very quick. I don't keep music on my iPad, I use Beats music instead. So, I didn't get to try out the tone matching yet. Playing music from Beats works fine. When switching between the FH application and other music applications on my iPad, the FH disconnects from the iPad. It does reconnect automatically, but that takes a few seconds. Using tone search, you can usually find a patch that gets you close and edit from there. Loading the patch from the cloud is as simple as tapping on it. Editing patches on the iPad is fun and intuitive. Once a patch has changed, the title of the patch turns red indicating that what you are hearing is different from what is stored on the FH. You can save the changes to the FH from the iPad using the"Save info" button. However, I find it easier to use the FH. On the FH, the patch will have a period next to it's location in the title. For Example "30D.Cray Clean" in its name, indicating that changes have been made. You can save those changes by tapping and holding the patch button, the FH will show you the patch location, Tap and hold again to save to that location. (If this is unclear, there are instructions in the manual for saving patches.) Once the patch has been saved, the period disappears - "30D Cray Clean" Making small changes to patches while playing is really easy and doesn't require you to bend over and mess with the FH or use your computer. As with all POD units, volume leveling between patches will likely be necessary One thing I REALLY like is that stomps are color-coded, And the LEDs change colors, so you always know what effect is where, Making it easy to turn them on and off, and you don't get confused between patches. For example, MOD effects will always be blue, reverb effects will always be orange, regardless of where you put them in the signal chain. Much easier than the HD500X where the LED's were all red and I had to remember where each stomp was for each different patch. The tuner is cool, it shows up on the iPad, on the display on the FH, and the LEDs around the large volume knob. Accessing the Varian settings for the patch is easy and works great. Guitar Model, pickup and tuning are all assignable by patch. Love switching from a Lester to a Strat to an acoustic at the stomp of a switch. As far as the sound is concerned, the FH sounds fantastic! It has all of the HD models the pod HD500X has out of the box. I don't think that it has the new HD models that were just released as an add-on. I'm not sure if those will be available for the FH in the future firmware add-ons. I found many of the preloaded patches to be very usable. Since I use the JTV, It would be nice to see more acoustic presets. I don't think it does dual tone patches, but I didn't use any anyways. Patches from older PODS are not compatible with the Firehawk.... So, if you have a library of POD patches, it doesn't seem like you can just port them to your Firehawk - that is a bummer. The build is very solid. Good weight to it, but not as heavy as the POD HD500X. Metal case. The buttons are the same as the HD500X, except for the color coded LEDS. The Drive, Bass, Mid, Treb, etc knobs are not notched, they are nice and smooth. When you turn one, the LED's around the volume show you where the initial setting for that parameter was with a red LED, and White LED's show up as you turn the knob. Cool! The large volume knob works as a volume and blend control - like a mixer between the guitar volume and the music you are playing to. It feels solid, and is notched, meaning it clicks as you turn it. LED's light up for either. You can also adjust the volume and blend from the iPad etc. I would have liked a little more control here, the volume jumps between the clicks a little too much for my liking. But, it's easily fixed by using the volume on the iPad as well. Expression pedal is a little cheaper then the HD500X, but is very solid still. Works fine and is assignable like the other PODS. Overall, I'm loving it. Let me know if you have any questions. JP

Here is my video showing the stock presets for the Firehawk FX.

Hey guys, Check out my latest video showing a song I created using the Firehawk and my iPad.

Hi! This is the first pedal with send/return I will buy, and I have some questions if you can help me: - I suppose the send will transport the original guitar signal to apply external effects and then the return can be inserted at any stage. Is this right? - What happens if I use only the return to insert additional audio? Will it replace the full sound? Thanks, Regards.

As far as I can tell so far, there is no way to backup the entire contents of the Firehawk? I have not connected it yet to PC but I think that is just for recording purposes. Has anyone checked this out? Also I did not realize when I bought my Firehawk, that you can write or "copy" over the factory settings, and once you do that, that particular patch is gone for good unless you do a full factory reset which will likely wipe out any settings of your own in the unit itself. Then, you are left to download one by one all the patches you have saved to "My Tones" Am I correct on all the above??? I would like to know the individual factory patches are available for download just in case I want to reload it. Any help is appreciated!! Also, this is my review of the Firehawk at this point: First, it is a bright brassy sounding unit. It's great for a lot of distortion tones but to me does not appear to be designed for a straight guitar sound like you would use for a straight rhythm or Country Music style leads. Also to me, even a lot of the distortion patches are brassy sounding. That is my conclusion so far after a couple hours of playing with the settings. Consider also this is my opinion in the way that I am connecting the unit. I am only running the mono out directly into my old solid state Peavey Special 130 amp. Running thru a tube amp or sound system may make a big difference but I still think this unit is very bright and digital sounding. I have been trying to find a "warm" tube amp straight sound. The way I was finally successful in getting very close was to start with an unedited "User" patch that you will find at 30.A. Then I added and edited Eq. and compression, delay and reverb, possibly noise gate if you want. Doing this was faster and easier than trying to edit an existing factory patch. I was considering returning the unit until I figured this out because it is just too bright sounding to me. I am still using my old old Digitech RP 10 and I think it sounds better than the new wonderful Firehawk. Just my 5 cents worth, but I still have a mountain of editing to do with the Firehawk. In all fairness, the RP10 was pretty digital sounding also until I eventually tweeked in the right amount of compression and e.q. for my taste, but over the years I have been very satisfied with it. I do think however that the Firehawk is actually worse in that respect. Hard to believe in this advanced stage of electronic evolution we live in. I'm not convinced we have totally overcome the need for tubes! Thanks all!!! Jay

Firstly, can I say that I think the FX100 is great. I have had many effects / pedals in the past and usually just gone back to Marshall and Guitar and ditch everything else. I do have an HD400 but never really tweaked it much and the PC editor was good but a bit of a faff to use. maybe over complicated for an average user. For the record I have used FX100 for rehearsals and recording (released material) and it is very effective (I reckon it could easily be used live but I have held back due to potential for monitoring concerns). Try and play tones loud when you get the chance as they come alive more than just listening at home. I use it with a bank of settings using the same Amp. So A is Amp only, B is Amp + Volume and Reverb (for lead), C is Amp + Phaser, D is Amp + Delay I too am not sure where to head next with regard to the Firehawk. I have a HD400 and an FX100 (and an Amplifi 75). Something has to go! Some differences I would like to understand though: HD400 has Line6 Port (which allows control of DT25 and DT50 amps direct from the footswitch). No such port on the Firehawk. Could you the Firehawk FX Loop but not quite the same thing. Brilliant that there is bank up and down switches though as the tapping of 2 FX100 switches to go up and down was prone to error. Independent switching for FX (5 switches) is great as it means I am not limited to just the 4 settings discussed above. Makes it 20 available I think (maybe more in combination) A big requirement for me is to be able to use the Tap function independently of the programmed tone. FX100 tone set with a delay of say 180bpm is locked into the system so I can't switch from A to D (for example) to anything other than 180bpm without tapping again and this is useless when playing live. Hopefully I can tap on intro and then just kick in the delay as required. Hopefully that makes sense. I read somewhere that the tones for Firehawk are in packs. Does this means additional purchases? Outputs look more like the HD400 on the Firehawk but FX100 outputs are comprehensive anyway (other than the Line 6 Port). Wish it had a 'kettle' lead though I guess this bulks up the pedal. Nice to have LCD of loaded tone on Firehawk. Any other advantages / disadvantages people? Which one(s) should I sell to uby the Firehawk.....if any.

Hello! I pre-ordered the firehawk and I'm really excited. I own the hd500 and have been wanting something easier to use and edit. What effects will be available in the firehawk? Please tell me the pitch glide made the cut! Thanks!

I was trying to recreate the solo in Like a Stone using the firehawk as a whammy pedal. It has an effect called bender in the synths section. At first this seemed impossible because when you first enter the bender effect (for me at least) you can only control the mix parameter with the FX knob or expression pedal. I looked all over the place to see where I can reassign the pedal to the position parameter, like a whammy pedal. Plus, why would the mix parameter be controlled by the pedal by default? Anyway, I searched for an answer and couldn't find any. So I switched the effect to see how the pedal was controlling other parameters in other effects. Couldn't find a solution there either. So I went back to the bender effect. When I went back, the expression pedal was assigned to the position parameter, like how I wanted it. No idea how it happened... but I was able to publish my attempt at the Like a Stone Solo tone. So does anyone know how to manually change what parameter is assigned to the FX knob or expression pedal? I just got lucky, but would like to know how this can be controlled. THANKS!

I just got the Firehawk and was fiddling with the remote app on my iPhone. I then decided to use a larger interface and grabbed my Galaxy Tab3 (Android). I was trying to see if I could use the Now Playing song to match possible patches (which worked on the iPhone). When i go to the Now Playing in the remote app on my tablet... it doesn't appear to find any songs on the device (even if i am plying a song in the background). Is this an iOS only feature right now? Thanks, Bryan

Has anyone used the FX send /return path of the Firehawk Yet ? The key question is do you have to connect the return portion ? I am looking for a way to have a clean signal from the Firehawk at the same time as my processed outs. Since the position of the FX send/return can be placed just after the wah (position of Variax and wah are fixed) in the order map a clean signal should be available at the FX send connections. Alternately, the USB out could carry a signal to a DAW using the Driver provided by Line 6. A this point it is my understanding only a "Main Out" processed signal is available for USB. Other companies like Roland have guitar processors that carry both Processed and clean signals over the same USB connection for use with DAWs. Any insights as to future upgrades for Firehawk to provide similar functionality?

Just wondering if anyone might know, even though the Variaxes all come with the Workbench interface now, will the Firehawk act as a Workbench interface like the Pods do?

hi line 6 - Firehawk - almost perfect for what i need. i can see why this all in one floor solution is potentially great for so many people - but for those people that use real amps its scintillating close to a great product but currently no good. there must be millions of people out there that don't use the amp modelling just the effects. so i suggest a fire hawk effects only unit. a sort of update to all the M series effects boxes you've had before. Lose all amp modelling and make all the effects HD add a channel switching option for amp channels - a jack on the back of the machine - or put midi in. make the knobs/controls on the foot controller applicable to effects - i.e. - speed, depth, level, mix etc etc. then everyone that uses a real amp might consider one of these. i think its worth asking the question as right now without a amp channel switching jack or midi its useless to me. But I'm drawn in by the fantastic foot controller with colour coding switches and the bluetooth to my iPad on stage software for controlling everything. thats your greatest strength right now - the iPad editor app. so simple and so powerful. I've seen so many bands (including myself) where the guitarist has an iPad on stage next to him. Has anyone tried the fire hawk yet - is there a way of switching amp channels and storing it in a preset? So unless the PODHD 500x software update includes adding a bluetooth add on and the iPad app to control it i need something like the fire hawk.

I know that a lot of people see USB connectivity making midi obsolete. I've noticed that the two latest pedal boards, both of which seem to be really awesome lack a midi connection. Our band runs on midi, we use it to control our lights, keyboard program changes, and program changes on both of our guitar effects units so we don't have to do the river dance during a performance. Lack of midi means that I pretty much will not be a buyer for either of these products which makes me sad. I'm a loyal Variax user and would have really like to run the Firehawk through the paces to see if it could best my Boss GT-100. I love the connectivity via bluetooth and see so much potential. If only it had midi......