mcbeddall Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Sounds like a firmware fix. Probably holding back the units because they don't want anymore people getting the hump and also some people have had issues trying to update But if it is some kind of hardware update they better be planning on a recall of the old units Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agrimaldi74 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Why, what normally happens in case of firmware update is that items already out for distribution gets shipped as they are, since they can be easily updated by the owners. Such a procedure is instead required if the modification is more complex... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I'm excited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nremondelli Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 If that were the case, online retailers would cease selling them. As of now, they are still in stock and ready to ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paultm Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Returned my Firehawk today, waiting for the Helix to arrive, its not acceptable that this basic function is not tested prior to release. Taking to long to fix it though is the final insult....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeddall Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 And why do you think helix will be any different? I won't be suckered in again, I'll let others do the beta testing for me, 4 months in and I still have to use my old rig for gigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratotron Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 It has officially become unbearable. The latency noises and "pops" during patch switches has become more than I can work around. While switching tones during quiet passages and between songs there are occasional pops that are unacceptable. It has become such a distraction, that the Firehawk is out of service until the fix is published, or I sell it. I need to concentrate my energy and focus on playing the actual song, not concentrate on how I am going to cover up some flippin pop or quack that comes out of my FX device. Luckily I have my HD500X back up. This week, I left my Firehawk rig at the gig, so I broke out the 500X to rehearse at home and was reminded of what a quality unit it is. More assignable fx blocks and no noise. Certainly less to haul around (My Firehawk now has 2 other stompboxes connected to FX loop to make up for lack of assignable blocks, that means added power supply, so whole thing is in a huge pedal board that weighs a ton.) Add to that, I had forgotten how some of the patches on the 500x sound, more vibrant and apparent. I had struggled to recreate the dimension of some of my 500x patches translated to the Firehawk. Firehawk just won't do it due to lack of assignable blocks and lack of block position flexibility. The switching in the 500x allows multiple blocks to be assigned to the same switch, so tapping a switch can toggle on effect on and another one off simultaneously. Bluetooth and iPad editing on the Firehawk put,it in one sense, miles ahead, the latency and the noises have rendered it useless to me. Historically, I have jumped on each new effect incarnation that has come out of Line 6, since XT. After owning the Amplifi, and the Firehawk, I will wait and take a long, long cautious look at the Helix. For $1500 of my hard earned bucks, it will need to review as flawless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevell99 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I've been trying to stay with it for as long as possible, I've played maybe 10 gigs with it since June, but I've just about given up. Coming up to the Christmas season I'll be gigging at least once a week so need reliability. Have a lend of a TC G-system to try out and on early testing think I'll switch to it. Not as simple or intuitive as FH, but just simply 'works'. Hoping I can trade the FH in somewhere for decent credit on one now. I'll never buy without trying again I don't think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratotron Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Rehearsed again this AM with HD500x, dang boy! It totally had slipped my memory how nice it is! It helps that my HD is packed full of patches that I wrote, so it is easy to switch to. I will hang on to Firehawk till the fix comes and re-evaluate at that time. A buddy of mine has the TC G system, I have checked it out. He plays backline, I play direct. My SENSE is that the TC G system is geared more for backline amps, and not as focused on running direct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 One persons "very minimal " patch change lag is another persons eternity. and this reminds me of the old Marx Brothers line 1: Doc, it hurts when I do this... 2: Then don't do that. 3: Have you had this before? 1: Yes. 2: Well you've got it again. Ive since moved to a Vypyr Pro System for my live gig needs -that has instant patch changes and easy editing a patch mid song, while Line -6 spins a reality distortion field around the Firehawk FX patch change problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeddall Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Wow his response has me very worried I honestly don't see how anyone can see it that way, I actually got told to stop using the firehawk at a local practice studio, the owner was walking past while I was changing backwards and forwards between patches listening to how bad the pops are and he said I was gonna blow his speakers, yes he is a bit of a muppet sometimes but I honestly can't blame him, it sounded so unhealthy I've never owned anything else that does this between patches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikedub Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 That response is very worrying! How has he not experienced the delay artifacts between patches? Maybe he doesn't use delay :wacko: ... For me this is the single biggest issue with the Firehawk, it's unacceptable and does make it unusable in live situations... Maybe the world should change to accommodate the flaws of this Line6 product, 0.08 seconds filled with the cry of a wild banshee isn't an amount of time to be considered a BIG issue.... seriously?? YES IT IS#!!! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeddall Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 To be fair the tester might totally agree with us and informed line 6 of the issues but he's not going to publicly flog them on a forum as he might not be asked to test in the future That's the straw I'm clutching at anyhow, otherwise my day is ruined lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArneLine6 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Firehawk v1.20 fixes patch switching time and audio artifactsWe strongly recommend updating your firmware with the Line 6 Updater on Mac or PC.This firmware update provides much faster patch switching and fixes audible artifacts when switching between specific patches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bond19 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Sounds awesome!!!!! Let me know how the new update works out, as I may want to get another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikedub Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Firehawk v1.20 fixes patch switching time and audio artifactsWe strongly recommend updating your firmware with the Line 6 Updater on Mac or PC. This firmware update provides much faster patch switching and fixes audible artifacts when switching between specific patches. Great news! I'll update mine ASAP and report my thoughts. I had my firehawk set up next to one of these last night - http://digitech.com/en-US/products/gsp1101 The tones on the Firehawk were easily as good as the digitech... But, the patch change and delay/reverb spill over on the digitech was so so SO much better, hopefully this update puts the two units at the same level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Read my FW 1.20 experience here http://line6.com/support/topic/15814-firmware-120/?p=116088 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLDRON Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Even with the new firmware 1.20, the switching duration remains too long and unusable for rehearsals and gigs. There is a noticeable blank gap with no sound. I've bought my Firehawk in August and it is still collecting the dust waiting for a correcting firmware. I was satisfied with Line 6 products so far, but my confidence is compromised. Can't understand how a popular and reputed firm can release a product with such unacceptable defects, especially as this kind of trouble has been already faced with previous products. If no fixing firmware is released before the end of the year, I will sell my Firehawk. And be sure that I will not recommend it on purchasing websites. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddbeck Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Even with the new firmware 1.20, the switching duration remains too long and unusable for rehearsals and gigs. There is a noticeable blank gap with no sound. I've bought my Firehawk in August and it is still collecting the dust waiting for a correcting firmware. I was satisfied with Line 6 products so far, but my confidence is compromised. Can't understand how a popular and reputed firm can release a product with such unacceptable defects, especially as this kind of trouble has been already faced with previous products. If no fixing firmware is released before the end of the year, I will sell my Firehawk. And be sure that I will not recommend it on purchasing websites. I have to agree on this. I'm currently on the latest firmware (1.20) I experienced something like this delay/warp-stuff back in 2003 when I bought a V-AMP 2 (Behringer). I bought it without trying as a lot of people recommended it, but their musical style etc never required fast switching of presets so any delay/warp was never an issue for them. I hated the V-amp2. I gave it to my friend in the hope that he'll get a good use from it,, I hope I don't have to try to "give" this away cheap, aka selling it. Before I gave away my VAMP2 I bought a Vox Tonelab and I was really satisfied, no switching delay. Then in 2006 I bought a Boss GT-8, no switching delay there either, this is a unit I still have and it's a lifesaver when Murphy's law kicks in and gear breaks. I'll never get rid of it, as it's sturdy and rugged, and keeps on rocking. I've since used plenty other FX units and none have had this delay. I do regret that I bought this without testing, and silly me waited for the patch to fix this warp and the return policy at the shop has now expired. I could not imagine that patch switching latency would be something I would have to experience again, not considering we're in 2015 not 2004. Now this floorboard fx unit is more of a glorified recording unit than a live gigging rig, which sucks as I already have a good recording setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratotron Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I put my Firehawk back in to service with the new update, Right off the bat, a couple of my stock tones sounded like trash. I re-engineered and found a couple of stock tones that I used in place of. Generally speaking, I never use a stock tone, if I do it is only as a starting point. Oh yeah BTW stock tone= AC30 DD, 2 delays very ambient 3 dimension, sounded awesome in the room FOH! Very happy with switching and rig overall. No artifacts or weird latency tones in switching. I did find a better unity level with my effects loop, leave the return at 0 an slightly turn the send down. I am getting rid of my Fulltone 2 as a boost in my FX loop as it tends to color the boost when I engage it. Will be shopping a clean boost on Thursday. May try the Fulltone 3 because you are able to select where you want the boost in the pedal, in front of the drive or after the drive. In reality, I could just use the fx loop as the boost. Has anyone noticed that the Firehawk forum has become like a ghost-town since Helix shipped?? Just sayin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddbeck Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I put my Firehawk back in to service with the new update, Right off the bat, a couple of my stock tones sounded like trash. I re-engineered and found a couple of stock tones that I used in place of. Generally speaking, I never use a stock tone, if I do it is only as a starting point. Oh yeah BTW stock tone= AC30 DD, 2 delays very ambient 3 dimension, sounded awesome in the room FOH! Very happy with switching and rig overall. No artifacts or weird latency tones in switching. I did find a better unity level with my effects loop, leave the return at 0 an slightly turn the send down. I am getting rid of my Fulltone 2 as a boost in my FX loop as it tends to color the boost when I engage it. Will be shopping a clean boost on Thursday. May try the Fulltone 3 because you are able to select where you want the boost in the pedal, in front of the drive or after the drive. In reality, I could just use the fx loop as the boost. Has anyone noticed that the Firehawk forum has become like a ghost-town since Helix shipped?? Just sayin... I still find the patch changing latency quite unbearable in a live situation with the 1.20 version. I need to have switching preset with max 30-50 milliseconds latency, now it's at least 200 ms, probably more... anything more than 50-60 ms is getting way to audible in a live setting, and more than 100 is not usable. In order to be able to switch ("enable") multiple effects I often have two presets that are 100% the same, apart from one has a few settings enabled and the other doesn't. This way I can switch between flanger, delay, boost all at once with one press, instead of tap dancing in order to switch off the effects. As the unit is now it has good amp models, but I'm not able to use it in a live setting the way I can use my old 2006' Boss GT-8 in regards with changing presets. I still have an ugly aftertaste every time I look at the FireHawk, and unless this is improved I feel like I have flushed a lot of bucks down the toilet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeddall Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Does it improve if your not connected to the app? (I haven't tried yet) I admit I also wish the switching was quicker, seems crazy to have such a damning flaw in an otherwise brilliant product, even more so when every other pedal out there switches quicker, even the much cheaper ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Just wanted to mention with FW 1.20 , the Firehawk FX's patch to patch switching time is twice as fast - compared to 2011 era Roland GR-55 and 2004 era Behringer V-Amp Pro - both of those MFX suffer much longer patch to patch switching time. FWIW the new Vypyr Pro has very fast patch change time, (even faster than a Kemper), while Axe-FX II is faster still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeddall Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I doubt anything beats the zoom g5 which I paid £150 for, it switches patch to patch in 2mS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddbeck Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Does it improve if your not connected to the app? (I haven't tried yet) I admit I also wish the switching was quicker, seems crazy to have such a damning flaw in an otherwise brilliant product, even more so when every other pedal out there switches quicker, even the much cheaper ones Having my phone/tablet connected via bluetooth, or disconnected for that matter, does not have a big impact, at least having it disconnected doesn't make it as fast as it should be. I enjoy jamming with it at home, but it's not in my gigging equipment due to the patch switch latency, sadly. I was planning on replacing my old Boss GT-8 with the Firehawk, but not as it is today. Kinda regret I didn't buy the Boss GT-100, but I wanted to try the Line6-products as everyone's bragging about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal193 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Do something line6 I am bored with Firehawk FX latency problem... Please please...I even can't do gigs shows..And the expression pedal also not dynamic.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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