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Hi gang, It seems the Helix Rack's looper can't stop playback and start a new recording whilst in playback mode unless it receives a stop-playback MIDI CC message first. It also seems the stop-playback message needs to be received 20-21ms before the start-recording message, otherwise the latter is sometimes/often not acknowledged. Is there any way to have the start-recording function override and force playback to stop? Or alternatively is there an adjustable setting that'll make the Helix process the pair of stop/start of messages quicker? I'm looking for immediacy with this so I can emulate glitching effects. Sending the two messages within 15-20ms is useable yet unreliable, and anything under 15ms registers only the stop-playback message, leaving the start-recording message overlooked. Anything above 21ms is consistently reliable, but the latency is off-putting. What are my options? Cheers! Dawes

Hello, sorry if this is a duplicate, I'm not a regular forums user... I've received my Helix Rack today and was updating it to the current firmware and setting it up and was wondering if it would not be possible to use on of the backpanel jacks as a regular instrument in. The background is that it sits below my wireless which of course outputs on the back an instrument level signal and I would like to avoid laying a cable out to the frontpanel instrument in. I was checking all the global in/out options but could not find anything like this. As far as I understand it, the aux in expects a line level input. On a sidenote: Does anybody know what happens if you feed an instrument level signal through a lne level input port? I would guess it would sound a little "washed out"? Thanks in advance and best regards

Hello. I would like to know how to control the looper of the helix rack with fcb1010. I state, I use the FCB1010 as a preset and stomp box recall. the problem is that, if I set the pedals to use the looper, set by helix between the cc60 and cc67, I can no longer use the pedals for the stompboxes, because they have other dedicated mids. how can I exclude everything (preset and stomp) of the helix when I use the looper, and get everything back (preset and stomp) when I remove the looper ?? thanks

I have a Helix Floor unit in excellent condition that I'd like to trade for the rack mount with the controller. Also, I will include the Gator G-TOUR PEDALBOARD-LGW ATA Wood Tour Case. I am a touring musician out of Nashville and I want to build a rack for touring to include my IEMs, Wireless guitar unit, and rack effects. So, moving to the rack model will just make life easier. (I hope LOL!) If you're interested feel free to email me at blackburnguitar@gmail.com and we can work out the details! Thank you!

Ehy guys I have a question. I’m going to buy a new helix but I don’t know which one. Is there any software or hardware difference between the rack version (with the controller and a expression pedal) and the floor version? Thank you all

I've owned a Helix rack for about six months, finally decided to pick up a Control. I opened the box, skimmed the manual (I was expecting to be able to just plug it in, but wanted to make sure), plugged in and powered on. All the scribble strips lit up solid white, and "Control needs to be updated" appeared on the Rack's screen. I pushed the 'green OK button' (knob six), and after a few seconds got a "Communication failed" message, which would endlessly loop if I kept hitting OK. I figured out how to power the Control on, into update mode (or at least, that's what the display said), but it didn't make any difference. My Helix was on 2.80, so I downgraded to 2.71 and tried again - no luck. I discovered that the Control's firmware is 1.06.05, so I thought that maybe being so old it would have to hit a 'waypoint' release - so I downgraded the Rack to 2.00. Still no change in behavior. I opened a ticket, but I suspect they're pretty overwhelmed with 2.80 stuff right now. I'm guessing there's no other way to force a Control update, than through the Rack?

Hi guys. Recently I sold my Helix Floor to buy a (brand new) Rack+Controller+Power Conditioner and everything arrived today. Very happy so far, love the new setup, much easier on my back lol! The power conditioner also removed all the noise I had coming from my power socket, awesome toy. Anyway, the joystick on the Rack front panel, it's very fluid for top/left/bottom clicks, but stiff on the right. You can barely feel and ear the click. I had exactly this same behavior on the Helix Floor, even on the second Joystick they installed for a repair. At this point I guess it's something common? After that, I see the joystick it's very off center, but again...looking around on google images, I see the same thing on many units. At this point I'm just trying to understand if the two factors are correlated, stiffness and off center (bad installation on the front panel?), or if it's just a common thing and I've to live with it. Any Rack user here that could confirm or give me some advice? Do I have to return it? Meh? :) Anyway, couple of pics so you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Thanks for any input. o/

Short Description: I can get a Direct out to my DAW and record that with no problems through the SPDIF line. But when I try to send the recorded signal back into my Helix through SPDIF, I get a horrible feedback. (3.6khz) This is using a Presonus Studio 18/24 audio interface and Presonus Studio One Pro V. 4.5 as my DAW. Using the Helix as my audio interface and the USB ports and S1 as the DAW works fine. Hardware and connections Helix Rack, Presonus Studio 18/24 1/4 inch outs of Helix into presonus inputs (helix out set to 1/4 inch, not multi) S/PDIF out of Helix to S/PDIF in on presonus S/PDIF out on Presonus to S/PDIF in on Helix Wordclock out on Presonus connected to Wordclock in on Helix. (clock set to internal on presonus, clock set to wordclock in in the global settings on Helix) Software DAW and Helix edit settings On the DI track, output is set to S/PDIF, input is set to none. (output gain can be adjusted with fader, initially have it set all the way down) On the track where I intend to record the re-amped signal I have the inputs set to the Helix audio outs with gain set down. Helix edit has lane 2 input set to none output set to unused output port. Lane 1 has input set to guitar, output set to 1/4 in outs. As soon as I switch the lane one input to digital (S/PDIF signal) it goes into uncontrolled screeching. No other setting seems to matter. Does anyone have experience with this and can let me know what I'm missing or what mistake I'm making?

Is anyone aware of and can point me to a tutorial on configuring my Helix Rack to be controlled with my DAW? I know the information is available in the manual(s) if you know what you're doing and how to use it, but I don't. I'm using Presonus Studio one pro for my DAW (win7), a Presonus sutdio 18/24 for my interface. I've also downloaded and installed HX edit. Hooking up cables, establishing midi channels is easy enough, but getting things to talk to each other, not so much. I'm a reasonably tech savy kind of guy and can probably figure it out eventually but finding a tutorial and some tips and tricks to speed that along would be nice. In hindsight, I probably should've gone with the helix native plugin, and will probably go ahead and get it, but, I've got the rack so here we are. :)

Twice this week my Helix Rack and Control froze and wouldn't change presets. Once during a rehearsal, and last night during a performance. Only thing that fixed it was powering off and then on. Not sure if it was same preset that froze or not. But I do know that the rack and control both read different presets. Signal was still coming through so I was able to finish song, but why would it be freezing like that? I'm on latest firmware. I have 2 Helix Mission expression pedals plugged in to control. Any Ideas? I'm using all tones I've created and maybe 1 or 2 custom patches from other people, with IR's. I've read about the "rebuild all presets" feature but not sure what that does or if it would fix this particular bug. Thanks

2021 Updated! V1.2 is Now online! This is a Premium MIDI Layout made for Line 6 Helix devices: Helix Floor, Helix LT or Helix Rack. Requires MIDI Designer Pro 2 (IOS app, sold separately) Full tactile control over your Helix using MIDI over Bluetooth or MIDI-USB connections. Hardware and Software requirements: Line 6 Helix, Helix LT or Helix Rack MIDI Designer Pro 2 (IOS App, sold separately) Apple iPad MIDI Interface (wireless or wired) Changes Log: 1 August 2021 - Updated to 1.2 Save and Mode buttons added (requires firmware 3.10 or later) New Helix LT layout included (replaces FS3 slider with a View button) 16 January 2021 - Updated to 1.1 Improved design BlueBoard screen added Extended visual Input: Now this Layout can receive CC69 (Snapshots), values [0,1,2] if you have configured your device to send such data in Command Center. The same is applied to CC1 and CC2 (EXP pedals). These changes must be saved per preset basis in your device. Recommended MIDI Interfaces: Wireless: Yamaha MD-BT01 or CME WIDI Master Wired (using Helix USB): Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter Wired (MIDI to USB): Roland UM-ONE MKII + Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter Included support (optional): Embedded suport for the IK Multimedia Blueboard Bluetooth LE Modes: Mode B (Half/Full speed, Undo/Redo, Play/Stop, Rec/Overdub) Mode C (Snapshots 1-4) Includes a Small MIDI implementation to replicate the BlueBoard behaviour with any other configurable MIDI device (Airturn, Airstep, Pirate MIDI Bridge6/4, Morningstar, etc) A bit of tech stuff: The operation of this MIDI Layout is based on the current MIDI implementation available on Line 6 Helix devices. This means that the limits of what or how can be controlled are determined by the manufacturer (to a large extent). The practical translation of this fact is that: There are some functions in the Helix that are not controllable, simply because there is no CC assigned to whatever. There are some things in the Helix that receive MIDI but they do not send it. A clear example are the footswitches (FS). For this reason, it is not possible to show a synchronized status (on/off) on the controller's screen. For this type of controls, it will only be possible to send a status change message, so the buttons will be of a momentary type. Helix does not send the names of presets or setlists via MIDI -something that would normally use SYSEX messages or the Line 6's own protocol. Description: 1- Main Screen. From this screen you can control the main functions of your Helix. Some elements receives the MIDI information that your Helix sends and display it on the screen, such as bank and program changes. Others are used to send commands to activate and deactivate elements such as footswitches. A few elements are bi-directional, such as looper controls (broken feature in the 3.0/3.01 Firmware. Waiting for the upcoming 3.1 Helix firmware update). As you already know, the Helix does not send us the setlists names. However, you will be able to rename your Setlists on the controller easily from this screen, simply by pressing the "Setlist" button to write names coincident with those of your Helix. 2-Setlist Screen The main function of this screen is to navigate comfortably between the eight banks of your Helix, but we can also select a preset in each of the 8 banks, and toggle between them at the touch of a button. There are also controls that receive information from your Helix, like these three large screens showing the current MIDI PC, Bank, and Preset (ABCD). The eight Snapshots and the most relevant looper controls are also present here. 3- Preset Screen On this screen, the idea is to have quick and immediate access to all the Presets (and Setlists) of your Helix. Snapshot selection controls are also present, as well as the looper, tap tempo and tuner buttons. 4- BlueBoard Screen This new screen provides embedded support for the iRig BlueBoard. Two units can be used simultaneosly. A small MIDI implementation is also included, to use with any other configurable MIDI controller (Airturn, Airstep, Pirate MIDI Bridge, Morningstar...) CHEAT SHEETS 1- Main View 2- Setlist View 3- Presets View 4- BlueBoard View https://app.gumroad.com/ed_saxman

Hello y'all! I am new to the world of Digital Sound. I am a veteran here in my local music scene. I'v played through a Mesa Boogie F50 and Laney GH50 for the last 14 years. Using different setups from rack to floor fx setups. Like many on this forum I've gigged extensively, have written and have recorded many a track and tune. I took a break for the last 5 years. I stepped back in a year ago through a couple friends who wanted an EP produced, which I am hoping both will be complete within the next few weeks. The reason I decided on Helix and to enter the world of digital sound are many. One it's where the market is progressing towards. 2. I needed to hear and feel the difference myself as a guitar player. 3. I am hoping to be venturing in to my creative disc in the coming weeks after I finish said artists production. So, I thought maybe this unit will offer some inspiration. Finally I decided this against the KEmper, Axe and Headrush. For the money my research found this unit is a solid overall machine for the value. We'll see. I purchased the Helix rack, the controller and a Headrush power cab a few days ago. I am waiting on the power cab. Since my purchase I have started a journal documenting my journey with the machine. I thought I'd post the journey here in hopes to A) Meet some incredible people, musicians and creative talent. B) Learn something from the community and finally C) If I can offer help that would be cool too. With this said; Please chime in, offer anything such as direction, feedback and ETC. I'm here to be a part of everyone's creative journey as I frolic through my own. Cheers. Below is my Journey through Day 1 through 3 with a couple pics. Day 1: Not impressed with the machine, but all I have played through are the presets it came with, and I'm running through a pair of JBL 2300's. I'll need to create some patches using it as my source. Day 2: Helix update: Jumped on it this morning after beginning my fun diet of smoothies, boiled eggs and tuna. (I have officially acknowledged that my age dictates my weight. Therefore I must fight the battle of aging so that I may live longer, play more and do all of our favorite thing to do... How can I say this politically correct? Headboard against wall. ;) So back to subject at hand. My goal with this machine is to emulate a tube amp's characteristics. Such as touch response, harmonic clarity, string articulation, textures of gentle compressed lows, warm mids and pleasant highs. While offering that 3d visual one gets when listening to a tube amp. So out of the box the Helix is very very digital sounding. There is no love out of the box for an experience player. However, the interface is very intuitive. There are a few parameters that are new to me. Such as Sag, Ripple, Bias along with a couple more options. These are suppose to control an amps "characteristics". They do, but ummm.... Not as noticeable as one may think. What I have found is like in music production a little goes along way when one is mixing. Same goes for the Helix rack or it seems. For example: Right now I am using the emulation of an Bogner Shiva connected to its Uberkab 4x12 loaded with V 30's. This has a high gain and dark sound from the get. I have a Ribbon 121 mic 8.5" away from the grill giving it about 30% of room ambience. Initially it sounded good, but nowhere near the goal I'm looking to obtain. The first thing my ears notice were harsh grainy highs and muddy lows. (Remember my source. I am pushing the Helix through a pair of JBL 2300 studio nearfields. They are loaded with a 5" wolfer and 1" tweeter. A guitar cabinet is at least a 12" speaker. So, I am asking a lot out of the JBL's. I basically want the Helix to come across as a well mic'd 4x12 cabinet. Think about this, I want it to sound like 4 12" speakers out of 2 5" speakers. I am pushing the Helix. ;) After eq'ing and compressing with emulated gear such a LA Studio Compressor, the MXR 10 band EQ, a low and high filter along with a noise gate. Spending about a half hour on it by figuring how each parameter, and piece of emulated gear react with each other. I have come very close to the sound being acceptable. Almost there. If I can reach what my ear is asking for I'll post a video of it if you're interested in listening. I'm learning a tune from Metallica called "and Justice for All" I believed they used Mesa Mark IV's on that LP, but I decided to use the Bogner. Which is probably a fault since my ear is accustomed to that Mesa sound. Either way I started with the Bogner so I'll finish with Bogner. Day 3: ;) 3rd Day with the Helix. Today I am running it through my recording rig. It's a modest set up with a couple Focusrite 18i20's and Pro Tools. I recorded the patch I spoke of yesterday. An emulated Bogner Shiva with its 4×12 Uberkab. Thus far I am digging the tone. Both through the 5" JBL's and the recorded track through a pair of Tonnoy 6" nearfields. I'm still missing the touch response and 3D sound you can hear through a tube amp. I do not expect this unit to nail it. However I'd like to be able to feel as if I am playing through a tube amp. I'm sure some of this is physiological and a mental obstacle to I need to accept the LIne 6 Helix is what it is. Today I am going to learn the cool features Sag, Ripple, Bias and ECT. Hoping to find that "touch response" I'm looking for. I know this will not nail a tube amp, but I'm sure I can get close, or am I asking to much. Today my goal is to find it. Below are pics of my modest jam room/studio, the axe I am using to workout my first patch and the patch I've started to build.

Hey Guys, Today I have a Foo Fighters guitar tone for you. I took inspiration from the Wasting Light Album. I used Ownhammer Impulse Response IR’s this time. The OH 412 EDVH EDVH+V30 57-07 Chain: PRS Tremonti SE loaded with Fishman Fluence Moderns Line 6 Helix using the Line 6 Placater Dirty amp model which is modeled ofter the Friedman BE IR is the OH 412 EDVH EDVH+V30 57-07 Into the Universal Audio Apollo Twin which feeds Presonus Studio One 3 all the lovely tones. Drums are courtesy of Toontrack Superior Drummer 3 https://youtu.be/JRKDBn1P8f4

Hey Guys, Today I have a Foo Fighters guitar tone for you. I took inspiration from the Wasting Light Album. I used Ownhammer Impulse Response IR’s this time. The OH 412 EDVH EDVH+V30 57-07 Chain: PRS Tremonti SE loaded with Fishman Fluence Moderns Line 6 Helix using the Line 6 Placater Dirty amp model which is modeled ofter the Friedman BE IR is the OH 412 EDVH EDVH+V30 57-07 Into the Universal Audio Apollo Twin which feeds Presonus Studio One 3 all the lovely tones. Drums are courtesy of Toontrack Superior Drummer 3 https://youtu.be/JRKDBn1P8f4

Hey Guys, Today I have a Slipknot guitar tone for you. I took inspiration from the song Before I Forget off of the Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses album. I stayed “in the box†this time and utilized the onboard LINE 6 Cab and mic models as well. Chain: PRS Tremonti SE loaded with Fishman Fluence Moderns Line 6 Helix using the Line 6 SOLO Lead Crunch amp model. IR's are on board LINE 6 Models. It is a blend of: 4x12 Mandarian EM 4x12 VVL V30 Into the Universal Audio Apollo Twin which feeds Logic Pro X all the lovely tones. Drums are courtesy of Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

Hey Guys, Today I have a Slipknot guitar tone for you. I took inspiration from the song Before I Forget off of the Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses album. I stayed “in the box†this time and utilized the onboard LINE 6 Cab and mic models as well. Chain: PRS Tremonti SE loaded with Fishman Fluence Moderns Line 6 Helix using the Line 6 SOLO Lead Crunch amp model. IR's are on board LINE 6 Models. It is a blend of: 4x12 Mandarian EM 4x12 VVL V30 Into the Universal Audio Apollo Twin which feeds Logic Pro X all the lovely tones. Drums are courtesy of Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

I am planing on swapping my Helix for a Helix Rack + Controller but, I have a few questions: 1. Can the Controller fit in a rack drawer? I am guessing a 2U? 2. How do you transport the Volume pedal? I am guessing you have another drawer just for pedals and you have to connect them at the venue you're playing at? 3. What rack did you get and what do you have on? Drawer for cables? Patchbay? Power conditioner? 4. Do you use a tuner plugged in the Controller in case you can't see the rack? 5. What about the g10? If you use one what do you do? another drawer? (this rack is becoming really big!) I am sure I am not the only one with those questions, so I believe pics would also be great! Thanks :)

Hey Guys! I put together another video highlighting a bass tone inside of Helix. It uses the Del Sol 300 amp block which is modeled after the "Sun Coliseum 300," with eh Obsidian 700 which is a model of the Darkglas B7K. The impulse is a ROSEN DIGITAL AUDIO Ampeg SVT. I tried to zoom on all of the important settings. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment.

Hey Guys! I put together another video highlighting a bass tone inside of Helix. It uses the Del Sol 300 amp block which is modeled after the "Sun Coliseum 300," with eh Obsidian 700 which is a model of the Darkglas B7K. The impulse is a ROSEN DIGITAL AUDIO Ampeg SVT. I tried to zoom on all of the important settings. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment.

Hey guys. I was inspired by a fresh set of strings and came up with this bass tone in Helix Rack. Hope it can help someone!

Hey guys, Just wanted to share a walkthrough the tone I used in a recent video. Hope this helps someone! https://youtu.be/OFhFWvt6nzU

Hey guys, Just wanted to share a walkthrough the tone I used in a recent video. Hope this helps someone!

I have a brand new never opened box Helix Rack for sale. $1300 shipped. PM me for more info.

Hi everyone, Just ordered a Helix Rack from Sweetwater that will be here in a few days, and I can't wait to fire that thing up! I've read that the stock IRs are not so great and people have suggested added their own custom IRs they've bought from third-parties. I've heard a demo of some ML Sound Labs IRs that Fractal Audio sells through their store. If I wanted to buy an IR pack from ML Sound Labs (through Fractal Audio), would I be able to use them with my Helix? I have 0 experience with IRs, but I've read that they're mostly like .wav files but couldn't confirm from their site. Thanks