Firmware 2.10 problems and workarounds

[zooey]

Before upgrading to firmware 2.10, I wanted to list the known problems, and their best available workarounds, so I knew what I might need to do if any of those issues affected me. Realized it might be useful for others too, so here it is.

 

Just to be clear, this is 100% unofficial, I don't speak for Line 6 or this forum.

 

It may turn out that some of this info is wrong. By all means post back with any additions or corrections you know of, and I'll try to keep this original post updated. (That'll be slow during the work week.)

 

Please post blame, rumors, development philosophy, and general info on upgrading Helix firmware elsewhere. Keep this thread about actionable tips for working around known bugs in this release.

 

#1

SYMPTOM: Some presets don't import correctly, one or both paths are empty. I'm not clear on the scope of this, but I think it affects some presets exported from earlier releases, and may affect some exported from 2.10 too. If you actually-for-real know of problems with presets exported from 2.10, speak up.

REFERENCE: http://line6.com/support/topic/24096-import-or-export-corrupt/

WORKAROUND: None so far. Affected patches need to be recreated by hand, from the info in the preset file or other sources.

 

#2

SYMPTOM: Some stomp mode switches lose which block is selected after import into 2.10, causing their light's on/off state to be backwards. This may also have happened with some earlier firmware updates.

REFERENCE: http://line6.com/support/topic/24047-updated-and-lost-most-of-my-patches/?do=findComment&comment=184293

WORKAROUND: Touch (don't press) each of the affected switches repeatedly until the correct block is selected, save the preset, repeat for each affected preset

 

#3

SYMPTOM: (Some?) presets exported from earlier firmware lose EXP 2 from the scribble strip

REFERENCE: http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/effects-controllers/helix/pre-210-snapshot-presets-can-eliminate-exp-2-f-r844

WORKAROUND:

Step 1: Set Global Settings > Preferences > Snapshot Edits to Recall, if it's not that way already. This lets you save the whole preset at once when you repair it, instead of having to save each snapshot separately.

Step 2: Plug a 1/4 cable into EXP 2

Step 3, Short out the cable briefly, repeat for each snapshot

Step 4: Save the preset

Step 5: Repeat for each affected preset
Step 6: If you had Global Settings > Preferences > Snapshot Edits set to Discard before this, put it back like that

 

#4

SYMPTOM: (Some?) input blocks don't show the Variax model in the editor; it's correct on Helix itself. Maybe "global reset changes the "Per Preset" Variax Settings (2nd page of input block) back to "Global".

REFERENCE: http://line6.com/support/topic/24139-210-editor-not-showing-input-block-parameters/

WORKAROUND: Think you have to reselect the correct one and save, repeat for all affected patches.

CAVEAT: I don't have a Variax, and I'm not that familiar with them or Helix's integration with them, so this item is kind of vague. Any solid contributions are welcome.

[klangmaler]

Guess you shuold post this here:

http://line6.com/support/topic/16083-helix-bug-reports/

[zooey]

#3 is already reported and acknowledged by Line 6, the reference I gave is to their KB article about it.

 

For the rest, I'm pretty sure at least some of them have been reported by the people who experienced the problems. I haven't upgraded myself, so I'm not the right person to do that. But you're right, people who have experienced these problems definitely should report them to official Line 6 support if they haven't already.

 

My intent was more to gather the current workarounds, not to raise issues with Line 6.

[pilottes]

For #3 try fixing the preset export and reimport. You might still see the light on/off state switch still. It happenned to me months ago. I was sure it was the firmware and/or the editor but turn out to be the presets themselves which had a abnormal merge block. Just saying sometime it's not obvious at first.

[willjrock]

My stuff is ticketed, but i do want to reiterate the importance of getting this stuff reported to Line6. do it for sure!

[zooey]

Couple things about this thread...

 

I did end up submitting a ticket myself, pointing them to this thread, just in case some of the issues mentioned here hadn't been reported directly by the people who saw them. (I still haven't updated, don't have time to deal with this stuff, so I haven't run into them.) Today I got this reply:

 

Thanks for your inquiry. Our team is currently working on resolutions for these bugs, and they are aware of alot of what is being reported. While I can't say exactly when there will be a fix, rest assured we are trying to address the issues promptly.

 

Also, it was my intention to keep this thread updated as a reference when new issues were discovered and (hopefully) worked around, but other happenings in my life have bumped that plan into the "predictable problems" bucket. Not happening. I've seen some other issues go by, but just don't have the time or brainspace to fully document them here, especially when I'm not on 2.10 myself to work through any steps and make sure I understand the issues. Search the threads here for potential problems and solutions, there are lots of helpful folks putting it through its paces.

 

Hopefully all of this will be moot soon with a new release.

[amsdenj]

Re: #4 variax input problems: what has worked for me is to change the input from multi or variax to guitar and then change back to multi or variax and re-do the variax parameters. Looks like something isn't being migrated properly and corrupts the block. The procedure I described seems to reset it.

[jpdennis]

 

#3

SYMPTOM: (Some?) presets exported from earlier firmware lose EXP 2 from the scribble strip

REFERENCE: http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/effects-controllers/helix/pre-210-snapshot-presets-can-eliminate-exp-2-f-r844

WORKAROUND:

Step 1: Set Global Settings > Preferences > Snapshot Edits to Recall, if it's not that way already. This lets you save the whole preset at once when you repair it, instead of having to save each snapshot separately.

Step 2: Plug a 1/4 cable into EXP 2

Step 3, Short out the cable briefly, repeat for each snapshot

Step 4: Save the preset

Step 5: Repeat for each affected preset

Step 6: If you had Global Settings > Preferences > Snapshot Edits set to Discard before this, put it back like that

 

 

All my presets default to snapshot one.  For me I go to the preset then immediately go to Snapshot 8 first.  Then I go to 7,6,5,4,3, & 2 in that order following these step.  When I get to one I double tap save because one is correct.  It saves me one step.

[CBTL]

Re: #4 variax input problems: what has worked for me is to change the input from multi or variax to guitar and then change back to multi or variax and re-do the variax parameters. Looks like something isn't being migrated properly and corrupts the block. The procedure I described seems to reset it.

This is ticketed and is a bug! It will be addressed on the next update!

[jbuhajla]

Did my update yesterday. These were my steps:

 

Backed up my setlists

Backed up individual patches

Reset Helix to factory

Installed 2.10 (iOS Yosemite)

Did the online update with Line6 Updater

The Helix rebuilt the presets during the process ("rebuilding presets)

EXP2 was missing from the scribble strip, and EXP1 did not work in effects blocks

         EXP2 was gone from ALL presets, even new factory presets and blank presets

Imported one setlist. EXP2 missing there, but all my preset blocks and snapshots were present and unaffected

Rebooted Helix, it showed "rebuilding presets" again

EXP1/EXP2 were back and working on ALL presets, even on imported setlist patches

 

I think resetting to factory defaults after making backups and before updating the firmware should be a recommended step. That should help prevent imported patches/setlists from getting corrupted when importing back. Just my thought

[HonestOpinion]

Did my update yesterday. These were my steps:

 

Backed up my setlists

Backed up individual patches

Reset Helix to factory

Installed 2.10 (iOS Yosemite)

Did the online update with Line6 Updater

The Helix rebuilt the presets during the process ("rebuilding presets)

EXP2 was missing from the scribble strip, and EXP1 did not work in effects blocks

         EXP2 was gone from ALL presets, even new factory presets and blank presets

Imported one setlist. EXP2 missing there, but all my preset blocks and snapshots were present and unaffected

Rebooted Helix, it showed "rebuilding presets" again

EXP1/EXP2 were back and working on ALL presets, even on imported setlist patches

 

I think resetting to factory defaults after making backups and before updating the firmware should be a recommended step. That should help prevent imported patches/setlists from getting corrupted when importing back. Just my thought

 

Fascinating, I wonder if anyone else will confirm this. Let us know if your restored presets start displaying the 'EXP 1' bug. If not, you may have discovered a process that prevents it. That would be grand!

[jbuhajla]

Fascinating, I wonder if anyone else will confirm this. Let us know if your restored presets start displaying the 'EXP 1' bug. If not, you may have discovered a process that prevents it. That would be grand!

No, the restored presets do not have the EXP1 bug. They all had the bug immediately after the update the first time the Helix finished "rebuilding presets". After the reboot and the second time it came up "rebuilding presets" the bug was completely gone from ALL presets in all setlists. 

 

The only thing I did differently was to restore to factory defaults before I did the update, rebooted when it was complete, then it rebuilt the presets the second time and everything was perfect. 

[HonestOpinion]

No, the restored presets do not have the EXP1 bug. They all had the bug immediately after the update the first time the Helix finished "rebuilding presets". After the reboot and the second time it came up "rebuilding presets" the bug was completely gone from ALL presets in all setlists. 

 

The only thing I did differently was to restore to factory defaults before I did the update, rebooted when it was complete, then it rebuilt the presets the second time and everything was perfect. 

 

How are you testing for the bug?

[gunpointmetal]

All of my presets with two expression pedals assigned to different places lost control of EXP 1 after restoring them from backups. Not real hard to re-add the controller, as all of the switches seemed to be functioning properly, but it was still a pain in the butt.

[FlyingsCool]

Hmm, I wonder what's causing the volume pedal issue?  If it were simple, there'd be a patch out by now.  Perhaps a math thing resolving zero, or the voltage resolution around zero / 100% is too jumpy, and changing zero to be not zero to get away from the extremes causes problems elsewhere?  Given all the people talking about it, I can't imagine they haven't reproduced it yet.

[jbuhajla]

How are you testing for the bug?

 

I am going to each preset and looking at the expression pedal scribble strip. They all show EXP1 EXP2. I only had about 30 patches set up in one of my user set lists, so it didn't take long to get through all of my user patches. All the factory presets appear to be normal too (just clicked on each one to verify both expression pedals showing in scribble strip)

[HonestOpinion]

I am going to each preset and looking at the expression pedal scribble strip. They all show EXP1 EXP2. I only had about 30 patches set up in one of my user set lists, so it didn't take long to get through all of my user patches. All the factory presets appear to be normal too (just clicked on each one to verify both expression pedals showing in scribble strip)

 

To test for this bug you have to click on several of the snapshots for a preset and then go back to the first snapshot. Just clicking on the preset will not reveal the bug.

[jbuhajla]

Ok, as soon as I clicked on one of the snapshots, EXP2 disappeared from the scribble strip on all presets. Everything was good until I clicked on a snapshot. I played in stomp box mode for quite a while and all was good. 

[jpdennis]

Did my update yesterday. These were my steps:

 

Backed up my setlists

Backed up individual patches

Reset Helix to factory

Installed 2.10 (iOS Yosemite)

Did the online update with Line6 Updater

The Helix rebuilt the presets during the process ("rebuilding presets)

EXP2 was missing from the scribble strip, and EXP1 did not work in effects blocks

         EXP2 was gone from ALL presets, even new factory presets and blank presets

Imported one setlist. EXP2 missing there, but all my preset blocks and snapshots were present and unaffected

Rebooted Helix, it showed "rebuilding presets" again

EXP1/EXP2 were back and working on ALL presets, even on imported setlist patches

 

I think resetting to factory defaults after making backups and before updating the firmware should be a recommended step. That should help prevent imported patches/setlists from getting corrupted when importing back. Just my thought

 

It is the snapshots that are named that exhibit this problem.  Here is my complete method

 

  1) Backup presets individually as well as set-lists and IRs

  2) Reset the Helix to factory using FS9 & FS10 while turning unit on

  3) Uninstall all Helix software (I use IObit uninstaller on my PC based laptop)

  4) Reboot laptop

  5) Install new Helix software

  6) Reboot laptop

  7) Connect Helix and follow the Line 6 instructions to the letter (too many polkas in my younger days) to update firmware

          a) Check version of new Installer as well

  8) Make sure everything is once again turned off and disconnected - laptop and Helix

  9) Turn on Helix for third time and use the FS10 & FS11

10) Connect Helix to laptop and check Helix Editor version

11) Import set-lists and check for any anomalies in case I have to import specific presets

12) Close Editor and disconnect laptop from Helix after 1 minute wait (should have probably mentioned this earlier).

13) Turn off Helix and restart again using the FS10 & FS11 to rebuild set-lists.

14) Turn off and back on Helix for gins and giggles once more

 

So after all that for this 2.10 update any preset that does not have named snapshots (which I have several of) works fine.  Any preset that has named snapshots needs the shorted 1/4" jack trick.  As stated I have all my presets that use snapshots defaulted to start on snapshot 1 so I can save a step or two as I mentioned before int his thread.  Also, I have several presets where I only name snapshots 1 thru 4 and do not make any adjustment6s or do I name snapshots 5-8.  The named snapshots in those presets need the fix but the un-named ones do not. 

 

**** One extra note is that when I create a brand new patch in a set-list regardless of whether it is in a set-list I imported or one that is still "virgin" the FX blocks I assign foot-switches to do not light up if I am off that block with the joystick even when activated with the FS until I save, switch to another preset then come back to the new preset.

 

Anyway that is my experience so far with 2.10

 

Dennis

 

PS: I haven't used the switch-less Wah feature yet.