Helix Bug Reports

[phil_m]

On 1/13/2021 at 12:20 AM, realtwang said:

I have the same issue, and the reset and restore of the Helix did not help.  It still seems to select whatever the hell preset it feels like selecting, not the one I programmed.  This needs to be fixed!  Right now this setup is completely useless for gigging.

Go to Global Settings>MIDI/Tempo>MIDI PC Send and make sure it’s set to Off.

[AbstractSnow]

Firmware 3.01, HX Stomp: When there's a split / A and B path, the HX Edit seems to spasm out. It won't display the preset properly and if there's more than just an IR block in path B it will crash. Sometimes bricks the HX Stomp too which then needs to be powercycled. Attatched image contains a preset with an IR in path B, which starts just after the disabled cab block and ends after the IR in path A.

[phil_m]

2 hours ago, AbstractSnow said:

Firmware 3.01, HX Stomp: When there's a split / A and B path, the HX Edit seems to spasm out. It won't display the preset properly and if there's more than just an IR block in path B it will crash. Sometimes bricks the HX Stomp too which then needs to be powercycled. Attatched image contains a preset with an IR in path B, which starts just after the disabled cab block and ends after the IR in path A.

 

You need to download and install HX Edit 3.0. This is a symptom of having the older version of HX Edit with the newer version of firmware.

[realtwang]

On 1/16/2021 at 8:15 AM, phil_m said:

Go to Global Settings>MIDI/Tempo>MIDI PC Send and make sure it’s set to Off.

Many many thanks. Phil!  That solved it.  You rock, sir!

[AbstractSnow]

On 1/17/2021 at 11:15 PM, phil_m said:

 

You need to download and install HX Edit 3.0. This is a symptom of having the older version of HX Edit with the newer version of firmware.

Huh.. I thought I had already updated HX Edit.. Guess not, thanks!

[jcspirited]

On 1/2/2021 at 8:44 PM, phil_m said:

Your wav file seems to be blank.

I have uploaded the audio file again. Seems to be there now

[phil_m]

13 minutes ago, jcspirited said:

I have uploaded the audio file again. Seems to be there now

That noise is related to the Tempo Pitch parameter under Global Settings>Preferences. Set it to Transparent if you don’t want to hear it.

[jcspirited]

Thanks Phil m, I will look into that, I appreciate the input. Logically thinking about this. With firmware 2.95, the one before 3.0. Tempo pitch on or off, it didn’t happen. With firmware 3.0 or is it 3.2, it does. That would lead me to think there is an issue, bug if you would. I would think that when pressing a preset button. The only thing that would happen is no sound. That is why snap shots are so popular. There is no Millisecond delay you would get when changing from preset to preset. 

[GuitarRedneck]

I'm a new user on a Stomp 3.01 and HX edit 3. Switched from a POD XT Live to modular pedals and amp a while ago, and now coming back. 

 

It seems to me like the tap tempo functions are buggy. I can't figure out the rhyme or reason to it, but very rarely is the increment I choose actually played. The tempo fo the flashing light does adjust when I tap it, but the rate of repeats doesn't change. And the rate does change if I move from, say, 1/4 to 1/8, but not in line with the tempo I tapped. 

[phil_m]

1 hour ago, GuitarRedneck said:

I'm a new user on a Stomp 3.01 and HX edit 3. Switched from a POD XT Live to modular pedals and amp a while ago, and now coming back. 

 

It seems to me like the tap tempo functions are buggy. I can't figure out the rhyme or reason to it, but very rarely is the increment I choose actually played. The tempo fo the flashing light does adjust when I tap it, but the rate of repeats doesn't change. And the rate does change if I move from, say, 1/4 to 1/8, but not in line with the tempo I tapped. 

Some of the delays have maximum delay times that are lower than others. The Memory Man (Elephant Man) model, for instance, has a max delay tome of 500ms. If you tap in a time that would result in the delay time being longer than that with the note value you have selected, the Helix will automatically shorten the delay time to the next longest value that’s still in time with what you tapped but is still within the max delay time limit.

 

Ben Adrian, the lead sound designer for the Helix, explains it here: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line6-helix.1586637/page-1701#post-23642314

 

There’s only a few delays that behave this way. Most have much longer max delay times.

[jcspirited]

On 1/20/2021 at 4:36 PM, phil_m said:

That noise is related to the Tempo Pitch parameter under Global Settings>Preferences. Set it to Transparent if you don’t want to hear it.

I have reloaded 3.01 firmware, set Tempo Pitch parameter to transparent, didn't change anything, still have the modulation effect.

[GuitarRedneck]

Ok, I’m diving deeper and starting to have some real problems. In addition to the delay tempo problem above, I’m experiencing stark tone change when using it as the last pedal before my amp. I’ve been swapping it out with comparable pedals in my chain, and the difference is noticeable. 

 

with a buffer engaged, then drives, then stomp into amp: harsh highs. Replace the stomp with an echosystem or poly digit and all is fine. 
 

Without buffer, just drives into stomp into amp: very dull highs, and the drive pedals behave very strangely. They add 10 or so Db to the chain and sound different. Replace the stomp with another pedal and all is fine again. 
 

none of these problems happen when using the headphones. Sounds great there. 

I’ve changed around bypass settings and line/inst settings. They do affect the sound, but don’t solve the problem. 

 

between this and none of the tap tempo delays working, I don’t know how I can use this pedal. Can anyone help me out? Could this be a dud unit? 

[abstractocaster]

On my Helix LT, the 1 switch looper acts very weird sometimes. I don't even know how to explain it, it just doesn't operate as it should.  It's playing, I hit the footswitch to overdub, nothing happens. I stop it, long press to delete, and it starts playing again.  I think I've had it spontaneously start recording without having pressed the FS.  That's my beef.  I did see something about an update for the 1 switch looper in HXFX.  maybe it's the same.

[HonestOpinion]

3 hours ago, abstractocaster said:

On my Helix LT, the 1 switch looper acts very weird sometimes. I don't even know how to explain it, it just doesn't operate as it should.  It's playing, I hit the footswitch to overdub, nothing happens. I stop it, long press to delete, and it starts playing again.  I think I've had it spontaneously start recording without having pressed the FS.  That's my beef.  I did see something about an update for the 1 switch looper in HXFX.  maybe it's the same.

 

It could be a dirty or failing footswitch. The "spontaneously start recording" you describe in particular would have me looking at the footswitch as a possible source of the issue. You can always do the backup, global reset and/or firmware update thing if you suspect it is not hardware related.

[GuitarRedneck]

On 1/22/2021 at 11:02 PM, phil_m said:

Some of the delays have maximum delay times that are lower than others. The Memory Man (Elephant Man) model, for instance, has a max delay tome of 500ms. If you tap in a time that would result in the delay time being longer than that with the note value you have selected, the Helix will automatically shorten the delay time to the next longest value that’s still in time with what you tapped but is still within the max delay time limit.

 

Ben Adrian, the lead sound designer for the Helix, explains it here: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line6-helix.1586637/page-1701#post-23642314

 

There’s only a few delays that behave this way. Most have much longer max delay times.

Thanks. That makes sense, in line with the real Memory Man's limitations. 

 

What I'm experiencing is a little more strange, and is happening on short delay times. I may not understand how it works. Most recently I experienced the same delay time when selecting 1/8, dotted 1/8, and triplet 1/8. Then another time at 1/4, dotted 1/4, and triplet 1/4. I couldn't discern any connection between those times and the flashing of the tempo light. At other times it doesn't work that way, though. 

 

Sometimes I could set it where I wanted it, switch to milliseconds, then switch back to tempo, and it would work properly. Something about the switching got the message across. 

[phil_m]

37 minutes ago, GuitarRedneck said:

 

What I'm experiencing is a little more strange, and is happening on short delay times. I may not understand how it works. Most recently I experienced the same delay time when selecting 1/8, dotted 1/8, and triplet 1/8. Then another time at 1/4, dotted 1/4, and triplet 1/4. I couldn't discern any connection between those times and the flashing of the tempo light. At other times it doesn't work that way, though. 

The tap tempo light corresponds to the current BPM setting, not necessarily the delay time. It will actually only correspond to the delay time when you have the delay time set to 1/4. The delay time note values reference the BPM, so no matter what note value you choose, the tap tempo flashing rate will remain the same.

[HonestOpinion]

4 hours ago, MGW-Alberta said:

I'd like to make a suggestion related to stage performance use.  You know ... for when we can go back to doing that.  

 

I personally like to use the Stomp/Snap mode for the foot-switch buttons but regardless of which mode is selected when I press the bank up/down buttons I always want to see both rows displaying presets.  Or at least have the option.  I feel this would make banking up/down operations much more convenient as well as faster.  If this feature is already available and I have somehow missed finding it please accept my apologies and point me in the right direction. Thx.

 

If you fast-click both Bank buttons simultaneously briefly you can then press either bank switch and the presets show up on both banks of switches.

 

I agree with your suggestion 100% though and I am fairly sure that the Helix used to work the way you describe. Not positive on that though. Either way, I agree an option to do this would be most welcome.  That would certainly be my preferred behavior.  

 

I might not expect to see that option available any time soon though as you will notice that the global settings 'Footswitches' --> 'Up/Down Switches' setting which allows you to assign FS 1&7 to change either banks, presets, or snapshots also operates the same way with "Snapshots" selected. Might be worthy of mention that simultaneous long-pressing of FS 1&7 will actually cause the 'Up/Down Switches' setting to alternate between the banks, presets, or snapshots value.

 

Btw, this is the "Bugs" topic. This is more of a feature request, even if it is one that used to exist. You might want to submit this to IdeaScale and post the link for your idea in the "Helix IdeaScale Community Submissions" topic.  Hopefully people will vote it up in droves.

[GuitarRedneck]

7 hours ago, phil_m said:

The tap tempo light corresponds to the current BPM setting, not necessarily the delay time. It will actually only correspond to the delay time when you have the delay time set to 1/4. The delay time note values reference the BPM, so no matter what note value you choose, the tap tempo flashing rate will remain the same.

 

Thanks. A hard reset (switches 2 and 3 on startup) fixed the issue. Now it's working like you describe. 

 

So far, the other issues I've posted about don't seem to be a problem after the reset. It'll take a while to make sure, though, as I can only play through the amp when I'm not and work AND no one is in sleeping!

[aklein]

Helix Tuner issues!!
I would like to report a new bug found with 3.01 Helix Firmware on the hardware itself.

It seems random however, after swapping a few patches and re-tuning for Drop-D the tuner stops working properly. It seems like it Laggs behind the played note by 10 seconds.

At first, i thought it was me or my guitar/cable etc however, when i chek with my ears, all works properly.

 

Then my Bass plyare noted the SAME issue with his Helix-LT
"I’ve had to restart it as it was lagging 10 secs behind the note I was tunig after 2 hours use and updating/saving some patches."

 

I went back to my Helix, turned it off at the power and back on, and yes, the issue went away, only to come back around 20 mins later this time.

Sometimes it can be a hour or nto at all but gigging with this thing is becoming harder and harder. I will be packing another tuner tonight :-(

 

Just an FYI, that's now confirmed on Helix and Helix LT since the upgrade.

I am wondering if this is related to the same delay bug the Looper sometimes has that I posted earlier.

 

I really hope Line-6 looks at these posts :-(

[lauwing]

I discover on my hx stomp with 3.01 that 1) snapshot is changing parameters assigned to footswitch. I.e. amp drive assigned to footswitch 1 but also affected when changing snapshots.

 

2) I also experienced that the block on/off status was not updated on the hx stomp screen when the block is toggled on and off, either by physical switches or in HX Edit. Issue resolved after reboot.

 

thanks

[phil_m]

51 minutes ago, lauwing said:

I discover on my hx stomp with 3.01 that 1) snapshot is changing parameters assigned to footswitch. I.e. amp drive assigned to footswitch 1 but also affected when changing snapshots.

 

Can you give a little more detail on this? If you have parameters assigned to a footswitch, you can also change those parameters per snapshot as well.

[lauwing]

Yes, I want those parameters assigned to footswitch not affected by snapshot (acting like a block with snapshot bypass disabled). Is that intended to have snapshot affecting parameters assigned to footswitch?

8 hours ago, phil_m said:

 

Can you give a little more detail on this? If you have parameters assigned to a footswitch, you can also change those parameters per snapshot as well.

 

[phil_m]

6 hours ago, lauwing said:

Yes, I want those parameters assigned to footswitch not affected by snapshot (acting like a block with snapshot bypass disabled). Is that intended to have snapshot affecting parameters assigned to footswitch?

 

Parameters assigned to any controller will have their value recalled by snapshots. So if you change that parameter in a snapshot and have the Snapshot Edits parameter set to recall, that parameter would be at the value you set it at when you go back to that snapshot.

[takezo1979]

Bug with my Stomp: The general volume is like beyond the maximum. Result: noise, cracklings, saturated sound (even clean).

 

After restarting and switching between different presets, it disappears...

[rizzy]

Editor/Firmware: 3.01 / 3.01 Helix LT

OS: Windows 7

 

Hi,

 

the USB levels sent to the Helix for reamping get attenuated by 6 dB once they enter a signal chain. As a result,  a reamped track is quieter and doesn't sound the same as a reference live track. This does only happen if a signal chain is involved, with no chain involved (input > output) there's no level attenuation happening. Also this is just happening during reamping via USB. The level stays as it should using the old school method (signal + 4 dBu send from audio interface to Helix input set to instrument).

 

The via USB reamped track is not sample accurate regarding track placement in a DAW compared to a reference live recorded track from the Helix's USB out 1 + 2.

 

At a sample rate of 48 kHz, there is a negative latency of 91 samples or about 1.9 ms for the reamped track.

 

 

 

 

 

[fricia]

Hey everyone

 

I've found a strange bug with the tails of the Elephant Man delay. If you insert the effect, turn tails on and switch between snapshots it works as expected. But start adding snapshot control to paramteres (of any block) and after about 10 to 25 added snapshot controllers the tails simply don't work anymore. Not even if you switch to an identical snapshot that doesn't have the delay bypassed. It just cuts out immediately. If you then switch the elephant man to another delay type the tails work, but switching back to the elephant man, it is still bugged. The only way I found to get it working again is to clear a seemingly random amount of snapshot controllers (if you clear all of them it definitely works again).

 

Can anyone reproduce this? I've been going crazy for the last 90 minutes trying to get my tails to work.

 

Helix Floor Firmware: 3.01

[tragomago]

Hi. my HX effects freezes with the deluxe phaser when recalling it from favorites.  even when i clear it  from favorites and i make it again.

 

is it a known bug?

[PierM]

Helix Native 3.0.1

 

Seems the block Shuffling Looper isn't fully deactivated in Native, so when you import an hardware preset from Rack/Floor/Whatever, that has a Shuffling Looper in the chain, it will still work in Native, which would be great if totally unlocked, but this way you have no control on it, so it does its glitchy things even if virtually bypassed.

 

I'd say, since I believe this would work fine in Native, just unlock it. :)

 

[Guitarmaniac64]

Helix Floor Tuner 
When i choose offset tuning and change the setting to TT Thidell Formula 1

E = -1

A = 0

D = +2

G = +4

B = -1

E = -1

And then do a backup so when i restore the backup the D is always set to = 0 instead of +2

It happens every time i do a backup (I have lots of backups as we have so few IR slots :( )
Luckily i am aware of the bug so i change the D to +2 immediately after the backup is restored.
 

[Guitarmaniac64]

On 12/28/2020 at 12:52 PM, datacommando said:

As Line 6 posted a notification at the top of this page in a bright orange banner, which reads:

 

“MacOS 11 Compatibility with Line 6 Software”

it goes on to explain - Currently, Line 6 software products are not compatible with macOS 11 Big Sur.

 

Major PITA for those who didn’t bother to read it.
 

Well that disconnect issue happens on Win 10, Win 8, Win 7, and many OSX versions aswell it is a well known problem so it is not a particular OS problem so it doesnt matter if it is not compatible with Big Sur 

[HonestOpinion]

15 minutes ago, Guitarmaniac64 said:

Helix Floor Tuner 
When i choose offset tuning and change the setting to TT Thidell Formula 1

E = -1

A = 0

D = +2

G = +4

B = -1

E = -1

And then do a backup so when i restore the backup the D is always set to = 0 instead of +2

It happens every time i do a backup (I have lots of backups as we have so few IR slots :( )
Luckily i am aware of the bug so i change the D to +2 immediately after the backup is restored.
 

 

Nice catch and I suppose anyone who alters the tuning on their 'D' string should be aware of this until it gets included in the global settings backup.

 

I am familiar with "True Temperament", have been wanting to get a guitar with TT frets for years, but thanks for acquainting me with the "TT Thidell Formula 1".  "Bugs" is not really the right topic for me to ask this, wish they still had the direct messaging on the forum, but I am curious. If this blows up into a discussion maybe we can pull it out into a topic of its own. Do you use this tuning for a true temperament fretted guitar or on your standard fretted guitars? If you use it on standard guitars how do you find it in comparison to standard tuning? Is it worth the change? 

[Guitarmaniac64]

On 3/7/2021 at 6:51 PM, HonestOpinion said:

 

Nice catch and I suppose anyone who alters the tuning on their 'D' string should be aware of this until it gets included in the global settings backup.

 

I am familiar with "True Temperament", have been wanting to get a guitar with TT frets for years, but thanks for acquainting me with the "TT Thidell Formula 1".  "Bugs" is not really the right topic for me to ask this, wish they still had the direct messaging on the forum, but I am curious. If this blows up into a discussion maybe we can pull it out into a topic of its own. Do you use this tuning for a true temperament fretted guitar or on your standard fretted guitars? If you use it on standard guitars how do you find it in comparison to standard tuning? Is it worth the change? 

Its for my TT guitar its essential to have an offset tuning otherwise it doesnt compensate correctly and it will sound out of tune
You can tune every string to the note A if you dont have a tuner that can be programmed.
I havent tried it on any of my straight fretted guitars hmm well i might have forgotten to switch from offset sometimes when i switch gtr from my TT to a straight fretted guitar 
But those sound so bad anyway compared to a TT fretted so it usually take 1 day or so to get use to it :)

[Schmalle]

HX Edit 3.01, HX Stomp 3.01

Exported patches miss command center settings.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Schmalle
Confused version number

[datacommando]

10 minutes ago, Schmalle said:

HX Edit 3.1, HX Stomp 3.1

Whoa, is this something from the beta test? 

[silverhead]

I expect he made a typo. 

[geetar_geek79]

I could not find anything about this after doing a quick search here, but my LT seems to exhibit this weird behavior when using spillover mode.  I am on 3.01 and I am using the snap/preset footswitch layout.

 

I can change presets without issues.  But when I am changing scenes, the sound changes but footswitch LED seems to be stuck with the last chosen scene.  The color display screen does not update either.  However, when I move the joystick (just move it randomly, like moving a mouse to wake up a computer screen), the footswitch LED updates and goes to the correct scene.

[chugchug]

Hey all,

 

Brand new Helix LT owner here running into a really frustrating problem.

 

After opening my LT for the first time, I connected it to my Mac (running OS SIerra), and attempted to update through the Line 6 Updater. About halfway through, it told me that the update failed.

 

I did read the prompts prior to beginning the installation that said I would receive error messages and helix would reset, but mine never did. Instead, it's stuck on an update screen that reads "Updating UI MCU Firmware, please wait. Do not power off the unit."

 

I waited about 40 minutes from this point to decide that something was wrong, so I started powercycling, attempting factory resets etc and nothing! It just returns to the same update screen. I'm incredibly frustrated. Has anyone dealt with this issue?

[HonestOpinion]

5 hours ago, chugchug said:

Hey all,

 

Brand new Helix LT owner here running into a really frustrating problem.

 

After opening my LT for the first time, I connected it to my Mac (running OS SIerra), and attempted to update through the Line 6 Updater. About halfway through, it told me that the update failed.

 

I did read the prompts prior to beginning the installation that said I would receive error messages and helix would reset, but mine never did. Instead, it's stuck on an update screen that reads "Updating UI MCU Firmware, please wait. Do not power off the unit."

 

I waited about 40 minutes from this point to decide that something was wrong, so I started powercycling, attempting factory resets etc and nothing! It just returns to the same update screen. I'm incredibly frustrated. Has anyone dealt with this issue?

 

You first want to start by downloading and installing the 3.0.1 version of HX Edit with all boxes checked. 

 

You are probably going to have to do a global reset, you can find the various combinations here  https://helixhelp.com/tips-and-guides/universal/reset-options  .  Then you can hopefully get back to kicking off the firmware update again from HX Edit. If these steps don't get you updated you can do the process manually with the Line6 Updater utility.

 

It is fairly common for people to experience update issues, particularly their first one. The back & forth posts that can be required to diagnose and fix it would quickly overwhelm this "Bugs" topic. If you need more assistance I would open either a new topic or better yet post in one of the thousand that exist on this subject already, for example,  the topic below has a lot of good tips, just a little long in the tooth now as you definitely want to download and install the latest 3.0.1 version of HX Edit.

 

 

 

 

 

[geetar_geek79]

On 3/24/2021 at 10:52 AM, geetar_geek79 said:

I could not find anything about this after doing a quick search here, but my LT seems to exhibit this weird behavior when using spillover mode.  I am on 3.01 and I am using the snap/preset footswitch layout.

 

I can change presets without issues.  But when I am changing scenes, the sound changes but footswitch LED seems to be stuck with the last chosen scene.  The color display screen does not update either.  However, when I move the joystick (just move it randomly, like moving a mouse to wake up a computer screen), the footswitch LED updates and goes to the correct scene.

 

I think I may have solved my own issue. Bottom line is I re-flashed using L6 Updater, not Edit. I suggest trying this if your Helix has any quirky behavior, especially if your last update using Edit experienced a Boot Failure.

1. Download the latest firmware

2. Check and ensure the hash matches (Google...)

3. Put the Helix in Update Mode and flash using L6 Updater

4. Factory reset using FS9+FS10 (or applicable knobs for Rack)

[geetar_geek79]

On 3/26/2021 at 8:48 PM, geetar_geek79 said:

 

I think I may have solved my own issue. Bottom line is I re-flashed using L6 Updater, not Edit. I suggest trying this if your Helix has any quirky behavior, especially if your last update using Edit experienced a Boot Failure.

1. Download the latest firmware

2. Check and ensure the hash matches (Google...)

3. Put the Helix in Update Mode and flash using L6 Updater

4. Factory reset using FS9+FS10 (or applicable knobs for Rack)

 

Well, I thought I was able to resolve but it is still happening. This time I had Edit connected when I ran into the problem and was able to see what the error message was.  It says, "The Helix device failed to recall the snapshot data properly."  After researching the actual error message, it seems like this issue has been around since 2.81:

https://line6.com/support/topic/49417-the-helix-device-failed-to-recall-snapshot-data-properly/