Helix Application is available for download

[Elkinz]

Everyone needs to take a chill pill. Its a small price to pay for a short wait till a computer based editor :P you guys really get serious over this stuff!

We are early purchasers of the Helix, and with that comes some early testing and waiting :) Nothing to panic about!

 

[Charlie_Watt]

OMO this product isn't finished until there is a nice PC based editor.  I am not going to spend time on the floor even if the editing using the display is easy to understand.  We have a nice editor for HD500x and this is supposed to be a step up.  I am waiting until there is an editor before I consider upgrading from my HD500x.

[TLF2007]

I bought the Helix for the IO , sonic upgrade and interface so I didn't HAVE to be tied to an editor. Don't get me wrong, I want it as well but it was awesome last weekend to be able to QUICKLY and confidently tweak a patch during sound check. The thing is made for such stuff.

[mileskb]

As an IT professional, to those holdouts with older operating systems... I get it.  I totally do... but please, please DO NOT hook any computer with less than Windows 7 to the internet.  I know of NO legit anti-malware or anti-hacking software that supports the giant gaping wholes left in those systems, and now more than ever, the intruders are specifically looking for those machines on the internet to use and exploit.  You may think you have nothing worth anything on your PC, but generally you'd be wrong if you are a typical user, and fairly security aware, you are likely vulnerable on some level for information that could be used by someone especially for identity theft.  I have even seen where malicious software does nothing more than use the XP machine as a conduit to monitor other things on your network, or a favorite of mine..  "Oh I just use it to burn CD's" and every CD either has a nasty virus on it, or worse yet Ransomware.    How would you feel if all the work you did, all the music you created was now unavailable to you ?   Unavailable that is until you wire your hard earned income to some 14 year old in Pakistan or China... and "hope" they actually  give you the code to unlock your computer.  

 

I don't mean to sound scolding, nor do I mean to sound like the sky is falling.   Just providing professional advise for free to my fellow community.   The move to Windows 10 was a legit endeavor by Microsoft to get back on top and ahead of the malicious software industry and get away from having to support operating systems they no longer produced.   So far, they have succeeded.  As value added, they got rid of most of the bloat that was even in XP and it's a good solid system.   However, the downside is the millions of people who were protected and reasonably safe from malware in the past, are now targets, especially of ransomware because it's so easy, with little effort to detect a non-Windwos10 machine on a network.  And additionally while hacking and the spread of malware can be prosecuted if caught....  most ransomware is "technically" legal if they are smart about it.  

 

I realize this is not the forum to go into details so if someone wants to discuss with me or ask any questions, feel free to contact me.   I just couldn't live with myself if someone here, just making some music, got nailed (not in a good way) and I hadn't spoken up.  

 

Now... LETS GET THAT EDITOR FOR THE HELIX ONLINE !!!!!!  (FWIW, I did see it at NAMM.  It exists, it just wasn't quite ready yet.)

[PeterHamm]

As an IT professional, to those holdouts with older operating systems... I get it.  I totally do... but please, please DO NOT hook any computer with less than Windows 7 to the internet...

 

Even better, just switch to a Mac. Much safer...

[mileskb]

Even better, just switch to a Mac. Much safer...

 

Unfortunately that's not as true as it used to be. Still true to an extent.. but the attacks on Mac's are getting more frequent.  Generally ransomware.. which unfortunately while mostly exists via porn, torrent and other darker sites...  has moved to more mainstream sites when possible because... well..   profit.

[PeterHamm]

Unfortunately that's not as true as it used to be. Still true to an extent.. but the attacks on Mac's are getting more frequent.  Generally ransomware.. which unfortunately while mostly exists via porn, torrent and other darker sites...  has moved to more mainstream sites when possible because... well..   profit.

 

It's still way way safer than using Win 7 or earlier... Never had a single infection here. Haven't run antivirus since System 7 or 8 I think, either.

[d0stenning]

Where the Editor ( I hope ) will really become useful to me - is when the Helix is not in the same room - or near me.  For example normally my Helix is connected to the music iMac sitting on the baby grand - the normal "production rig". And with the USB from the iMac connected to the Helix all the time its not outside the house. 

 

But for many ergonomic reasons I prefer to work from my laptop in other rooms- to maybe the adjoining room and use Apple Remote Desktop to remotely access and control the iMac. 

 

So ideally i could be switching patches, changing settings - outs etc and controlling my DAW and Helix remotely.  For such situations an Editor - like the one in the Pod HD  is indispensable. 

 

In other words there are situations potentially where an editor app would be a key part of the production/tracking or just music-making process - when NOT on the road,

 

Just my tuppeneth. 

[mileskb]

Where the Editor ( I hope ) will really become useful to me - is when the Helix is not in the same room - or near me.  For example normally my Helix is connected to the music iMac sitting on the baby grand - the normal "production rig". And with the USB from the iMac connected to the Helix all the time its not outside the house. 

 

But for many ergonomic reasons I prefer to work from my laptop in other rooms- to maybe the adjoining room and use Apple Remote Desktop to remotely access and control the iMac. 

 

So ideally i could be switching patches, changing settings - outs etc and controlling my DAW and Helix remotely.  For such situations an Editor - like the one in the Pod HD  is indispensable. 

 

In other words there are situations potentially where an editor app would be a key part of the production/tracking or just music-making process - when NOT on the road,

 

Just my tuppeneth. 

 

I agree, although for this type of setup for studio and live I actually like to use MIDI. 

[VicKlonin]

In response to post # 24 from phil_m the UberGuru who posted the following response . . . . .

 

 When it's available it is really just going to mimic what's on the Helix's screen.

 

Here's the deal Phil !  I have terrible eyesight even after my Cornea transplant & Cataract removal 3 years ago.  So I figure my 27" monitors are substantially larger then the LCD screen on my Helix rack which should help me immensely, Ya' think?

 

' nuf  said! It's Christmas in the middle of March thank you Santa! Thanks to everyone @ Line 6, I just brought my Helix Rack home yesterday & I think it is fantastic! Good job guys, good job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gkinder]

In response to post # 24 from phil_m the UberGuru who posted the following response . . . . .

 

 When it's available it is really just going to mimic what's on the Helix's screen.

 

Here's the deal Phil !  I have terrible eyesight even after my Cornea transplant & Cataract removal 3 years ago.  So I figure my 27" monitors are substantially larger then the LCD screen on my Helix rack which should help me immensely, Ya' think?

 

' nuf  said! It's Christmas in the middle of March thank you Santa! Thanks to everyone @ Line 6, I just brought my Helix Rack home yesterday & I think it is fantastic! Good job guys, good job!

 

Having had two major back surgeries in the last five years the new editor is going to save me a lot of pain from having to try to bend down to tweak things....others, such as yourself, have other physical issues that make using the excellent on-board editing of the Helix LESS than ideal....the same interface in a scalable software editor is going to make using the Helix perfect for many...

[nippyjun]

It would be really nice if the editor showed actual pedals like Amplitube

[zooey]

It'd be really awesome if Amplitube had scribble strips like Helix too! Just sayin'.

[Guitarmaniac64]

It's still way way safer than using Win 7 or earlier... Never had a single infection here. Haven't run antivirus since System 7 or 8 I think, either.

Havent have an av installed for some 7-8 years on my two win machines both running win 7 never had any viruses

Go figure

Skip your mac propaganda bs plz

B.t.w i have a mac pro also a lollipop overpriced overrated piece of crap worst buy ever.

[Presonid]

The Editor is not complete in my opinion, I can't program and operate the Footswitches properly from the PC, could be a great help to have another tab with the FS in the PC screen, in order to assign and simulate the FS hardware (POD HD has this, so I'm not happy to pay 3 times more to lose some basic features). Please vote in ideascale!!!!!

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Editor-Selectables-Footswitches-with-the-PC-mouse/824325-23508

 

[PeterHamm]

The Editor is not complete in my opinion, I can't  program the Footswitches properly, because we need another screen with the FS in the screen, in order to assign and simulate the  FS hardware (for instance, how do you can activate FS4 with the editor?), POD HD has this and it is very important for me, when I use the Editor instead of the unit itself. To be clear, since I have the Unit for home use (not close to me PC chair), I don't use it too much for this reason, and I miss POD HD500. Without that, maybe i prefer to sell Helix and keep the POD HD (after the Helix GAS period I realize POD HD is a good piece of gear, after all (using IRs from DAW).

I don't know if the idea is clear enough, but actually is the priority number one for me, and very easy to get. Please vote in ideascale!!!!! Thank you

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Editor-Selectables-Footswitches-with-the-PC-mouse/824325-23508

 

I am sure they are working hard on this. There are a couple things (don't recall now) that I find either wanting on the Editor or just so much easier on the unit that I wouldn't ordinarily bother trying on the Editor.

 

With the rack, it doesn't matter, because I can sit up at the unit without bending over all the time (although I have to if I want to use the touch sensitive footswitches, of course...)

[duncann]

 

The Editor is not complete in my opinion, I can't program and operate the Footswitches properly from the PC, could be a great help to have another tab with the FS in the PC screen, in order to assign and simulate the FS hardware (POD HD has this, so I'm not happy to pay 3 times more to lose some basic features). Please vote in ideascale!!!!!

http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Editor-Selectables-Footswitches-with-the-PC-mouse/824325-23508

 

 

 

As a temporary workaround, you might be able to assign keyboard shortcuts - or some other method -  in your DAW to toggle the switches via midi. Hopefully they'll have this functionality in the editor in the future though. Voted.

[TheDaveDaveDave]

Havent have an av installed for some 7-8 years on my two win

 

machines both running win 7 never had any viruses

Go figure

 

How do you know?   

 

Skip your mac propaganda bs plz

B.t.w i have a mac pro also a lollipop overpriced overrated piece of crap worst buy ever.

 

 

But you're trolling for it! :P  

 

Not trying to stalk you or anything like that, but a quick Google of your username shows a lot of risky activity - promiscuity without protection?    Even this post here is tempting fate - you're painting a target on your back!  I hate to sound like a paranoid nag here - so please interpret the tone of this message as friendly, helpful and serious: you need get some anti-virus software ASAP, especially because you've declared to the whole world that you don't use any!

 

 

Sincerely, 

Dave

[HonestOpinion]

How do you know?   

 

 

 

But you're trolling for it! :P

 

Not trying to stalk you or anything like that, but a quick Google of your username shows a lot of risky activity - promiscuity without protection?    Even this post here is tempting fate - you're painting a target on your back!  I hate to sound like a paranoid nag here - so please interpret the tone of this message as friendly, helpful and serious: you need get some anti-virus software ASAP, especially because you've declared to the whole world that you don't use any!

 

 

Sincerely, 

Dave

 

Don't know whether to believe this or not but a Canadian research team is claiming that many antivirus/security programs are actually opening some security holes and putting your PC more at risk than just using an up to date modern browser. Seems dubious to me but interesting and maybe points out some issues that antivirus program developers need to address.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3574724/Is-antivirus-software-putting-risk-Programs-offer-lower-levels-security-browsers.html

[jshoenfelt]

I still find it annoying that the Helix Editor will not support Atom based processors.  I have a Dell Venue that would be awesome to run the editor, altho I am using another laptop to run it currently.

[glideman]

Is it the USB chipset in the Atom machines or something???

[DunedinDragon]

Is it the USB chipset in the Atom machines or something???

 

What operating system is it running?  There's no support for Android.

[HonestOpinion]

I still find it annoying that the Helix Editor will not support Atom based processors.  I have a Dell Venue that would be awesome to run the editor, altho I am using another laptop to run it currently.

 

The Editor runs on my Nextbook 10 with a Windows 10 OS and an Atom processor. What issue have you been encountering?

[spikey]

The editor wont run on my Commodore 64. 

[jshoenfelt]

Running Windows 10 Pro on a Dell Venue.  There doesn't seem to be any logging to troubleshoot the issue.

[jshoenfelt]

So I restored windows 8 pro onto the pc and all of a sudden the editor works.  Must be a usb driver conflict with Windows 10..........thanks guys.

[pete1975]

am i missing something here?just trying to find a windows7 based editor for this thing.

 

downloaded the application 2.01 and when i open it up i get a black page and nothing else.

 

helix is connected by usb and i have updated firmware so know usb is working,nothing shows up in device manager tho

 

any ideas?

 

cheers guys

[LaineIngalls1983]

Is there a link to the physical download URL for the editor app? All the links take me to the pull down menu that I apparently can't find the editing software link. Or maybe I'm just missing something.

PC win 7 and helix is latest firmware.

[silverhead]

In the Downloads area select Helix in the Software, not Product, field. That is the editor program installer file. It also includes the driver and the Line 6 Updater program. After installing these components you run the Updater program to install the firmware.

 

But I'd wait until tomorrow when new firmware/software is expected to be released.

[spikey]

Microsoft doesn't even support XP anymore. How can other companies be expected to?

 

Damnit don't confuse them with logic or facts Phil ! LOL I remember when we had to run a memory manager in DOS to extend the Ram passed 640k so Falcon would even run. I wonder if Helix editor might need the same...?  :P

[TYancy]

Wtf??? I refuse to budge from XP... My DAW works flawlessly with XP and I don't plan on ever upgrading, which would require a whole new build. I better at least be able to update the Helix firmware on my machine or I will be some pissed.

 

Buy a virtualization app from VMWare, Parallels, or wherever, buy an OEM version of W7 or later on eBay. Fire it up when you want to edit, then shut it down. This should make no difference with your standard setup.

[gmcambra]

Where is the Helix application? It could not be more difficult to find

 

[reginaldStjohn]

Its called "HX Edit" and can be found in the downloads section of the website.

 

https://line6.com/software/index.html

[larryashurst]

There are a few ways to edit on an iPad on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRNXEwpEDM

[larryashurst]

...and this   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGoOf3YynqY

[datacommando]

4 hours ago, larryashurst said:

There are a few ways to edit on an iPad on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRNXEwpEDM

 

Excuse me, but that is not showing how to edit a preset. What you have there is MIDI control. Different thing. 

 

27 minutes ago, larryashurst said:

...and this   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGoOf3YynqY

 

...and this!
Well it is very slick, but not exactly what people are talking about when asking for HX Edit to be available on a Tablet or iPad.
What's happening in this example is the iPad is wirelessly accessing an instance of HX Edit which is running on a regular desktop/laptop Mac and that is connected to Helix via USB.
It's not the same a being able to control the Helix unit directly from an iPad or Tablet, it's similar to Logic Remote which when run on and iPad or iPhone allows access certain functions of Logic Pro X running on a Mac.

 

The guy who posted the vid even states:

 

"Would you like to use your iPad for wireless editing of your Helix parameters and presets?
Let me show you how to do it.
All it takes is to install the Splashtop streamer application on the computer attached to your Helix
and install the Splashtop client app on your iPad and you're ready to go!"

 

Hope that makes sense!

[manix1979]

15 minutes ago, datacommando said:

 

Excuse me, but that is not showing how to edit a preset. What you have there is MIDI control. Different thing. 

 

 

...and this!
Well it is very slick, but not exactly what people are talking about when asking for HX Edit to be available on a Tablet or iPad.
What's happening in this example is the iPad is wirelessly accessing an instance of HX Edit which is running on a regular desktop/laptop Mac and that is connected to Helix via USB.
It's not the same a being able to control the Helix unit directly from an iPad or Tablet, it's similar to Logic Remote which when run on and iPad or iPhone allows access certain functions of Logic Pro X running on a Mac.

 

The guy who posted the vid even states:

 

"Would you like to use your iPad for wireless editing of your Helix parameters and presets?
Let me show you how to do it.
All it takes is to install the Splashtop streamer application on the computer attached to your Helix
and install the Splashtop client app on your iPad and you're ready to go!"

 

Hope that makes sense!

 

The idea itself is not bad so far but a much easier way if a tablet could communicate directly with the helix. Possible via bluetooth or wlan. None if them is located in the helix. Maybe L6 plans some kind of additional dongle for helix to make it possible? I dont know if it’s possible in the software to activate and communicate with such a dongle.

[manix1979]

BTW: I used the firehawk for a few weeks... it‘s cool and it works... bad thing, editing was ONLY possible on ipad. 

[PeterHamm]

35 minutes ago, manix1979 said:

BTW: I used the firehawk for a few weeks... it‘s cool and it works... bad thing, editing was ONLY possible on ipad. 

 

Line 6 did EXTENSIVE research and found that pros (their target market for HX products) wanted computer editing WAY more than a tablet.

They made the right call.

[manix1979]

3 hours ago, PeterHamm said:

 

Line 6 did EXTENSIVE research and found that pros (their target market for HX products) wanted computer editing WAY more than a tablet.

They made the right call.

 

Maybe some people don‘t agree but the choice is better indeed.