hx stomp LOOPER MODE as a footswitch mode for HX Stomp

[bartwitiak]

Hello,

 

I recently thought about an idea that could increase the flexibility and functionality of the HX Stomp. I posted the idea on the Idea Scale. I would greatly appreciate any feedback or suppor for the idea if you like it. Here is the link to the post on the Idea Scale:

 

https://line6.ideascale.com/c/idea/103088

 

And here is the idea itself:

 

Adding a LOOPER MODE as a footswitch mode to the HX Stomp would be cool.

 

It could be accessible as other modes or via MIDI (0=Stomp, 1=Scroll, 2=Preset, 3=Snapshot, 4=Next footswitch mode, 5=Previous footswitch mode, 6=LOOPER MODE).

 

In this mode, you could have the 3 footswitches on the Stomp dedicated to the looper functions of the 1-switch looper, expanding on its functionality to a full 6-switch looper:

 

FS1 - REC/OVEDUB (long press UNDO)

FS2 - PLAY/STOP (long press HALF SPEED)

FS3 - PLAY ONCE (long press REVERSE)

 

LINE 6 has introduced LOOPER MODES in the past (M9, POD HD-500X), so maybe it is possible with the Stomp as well.

 

This would greatly expand the functionality of the Stomp in my opinion, since one could be more flexible with assigning the footswitches in STOMP MODE.

Edited January 17 by bartwitiak
typo

[datacommando]

On 1/17/2024 at 1:20 PM, bartwitiak said:

LINE 6 has introduced LOOPER MODES in the past (M9, POD HD-500X), so maybe it is possible with the Stomp as well.

 

Hi,

 

You are probably not going to like this, but here we go! Considering that the HX Stomp was released back in October 2018, I cannot really see this as being an added option after more than 5 years.

 

The Looper functions of both the Stomp and larger units have been discussed at length, over and over, in these forums, right from the launch of the Helix Floor in June 2015. The built in looper is very basic and has not been designed as a "performance" looper. For that sort of functionality you really should purchase a dedicated hardware looper. The built in Looper is generally more useful for practice, or placed as the first block in the signal chain for capturing short snippets of sound, to play through while setting up presets "hands free". Even though I own a Helix floor, I still have 4 other  loopers, each with many more and wide ranging functions (much longer record times, dual loopers, backing tracks etc.) than are available in the HX range.

 

Do you really think that Line 6 would be willing to take someone from the programming team to spend time and resources developing additional looper functions to the HX Stomp when you can buy a very cheap complete stand alone Looper that you can patch into your Stomp. Far too many HX users in here are a lot more interested in what Line 6 may have in the pipeline for the future, rather than an unnecessary modification to a 60 second Looper, when other alternatives already exist.

 

Nah, it ain't gonna happen.

 

[bartwitiak]

Hello @datacommando, thank you for your reply. I disagree with regards to the HX looper not being a performance tool. It is a different beast than most "standard" loopers, but it is perfectly capable to be used in a performance. Think Dave from Minus the Bear, Gerry Leonard (guitarist for David Bowie, Suzanne Vega), Ed O'Brien from Radiohead, Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos to name a few, have all used the line 6 looper to great effect live. Adding a dedicated mode to the looper would improve functionality and flexibility of the Stomp.

 

I don't understand, why be so dissmisive. The device is constantly being updated in all sorts of areas, from basic to more complex, so why not consider this. After all, Line 6 had dedicated looper modes on their devices in the past, so they know how to do it. It is especially useful on a smal devise like the HX Stomp. I don't know what Line 6 pipeline is, and frankly, I don't care - there is an option to pitch an idea for them to consider, so I use it. If enough people like the idea, Line 6 may implement it. If not, thats fine too.

 

But just because there are other devices on the market that do something better, does not mean that things in the HX Stomp cannot be improved. People constantly ask for Line 6 versions of EHX stuff (POG, HOG, the 9 series), or Boss stuff (OC-3/5). By your logic, why bother doing that, since there already are pedals on the market that do that stuff.

 

The Line 6 looper is unique with the very straight forward and easy implementation of reverse/half speed/oneshot functionality, which is very good for creative use. That functionality is already in the HX Stomp. I only ask for a dedicated footswitch mode to access it quickly and easily. We can already do it using the Command Center, but we sacrifice the footswitches in the Stomp Mode by doing that. Think about it this way, there is a Snapshot Mode, but if you want, you can asign a footswitch in Stomp Mode to Snapshot functionality using the Command Centre. I'm asking for something the other way around - we already can do something in the Command Centre and I'm asking for a dedicated footswitch mode for it for those of us who use the looper extensiely.

 

Again, Line 6 may or may not consider the idea, but there is no need to discourage people from pitching their ideas, because you don't like it. That's what the Idea Scale and this forum are for.

 

 

Edited January 23 by bartwitiak
typo

[datacommando]

On 1/23/2024 at 8:51 AM, bartwitiak said:

Hello @datacommando, thank you for your reply. I disagree with regards to the HX looper not being a performance tool. It is a different beast than most "standard" loopers, but it is perfectly capable to be used in a performance. Think Dave from Minus the Bear, Gerry Leonard (guitarist for David Bowie, Suzanne Vega), Ed O'Brien from Radiohead, Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos to name a few, have all used the line 6 looper to great effect live. Adding a dedicated mode to the looper would improve functionality and flexibility of the Stomp.

 

I don't understand, why be so dissmisive. The device is constantly being updated in all sorts of areas, from basic to more complex, so why not consider this. After all, Line 6 had dedicated looper modes on their devices in the past, so they know how to do it. It is especially useful on a smal devise like the HX Stomp. I don't know what Line 6 pipeline is, and frankly, I don't care - there is an option to pitch an idea for them to consider, so I use it. If enough people like the idea, Line 6 may implement it. If not, thats fine too.

 

But just because there are other devices on the market that do something better, does not mean that things in the HX Stomp cannot be improved. People constantly ask for Line 6 versions of EHX stuff (POG, HOG, the 9 series), or Boss stuff (OC-3/5). By your logic, why bother doing that, since there already are pedals on the market that do that stuff.

 

The Line 6 looper is unique with the very straight forward and easy implementation of reverse/half speed/oneshot functionality, which is very good for creative use. That functionality is already in the HX Stomp. I only ask for a dedicated footswitch mode to access it quickly and easily. We can already do it using the Command Center, but we sacrifice the footswitches in the Stomp Mode by doing that. Think about it this way, there is a Snapshot Mode, but if you want, you can asign a footswitch in Stomp Mode to Snapshot functionality using the Command Centre. I'm asking for something the other way around - we already can do something in the Command Centre and I'm asking for a dedicated footswitch mode for it for those of us who use the looper extensiely.

 

Again, Line 6 may or may not consider the idea, but there is no need to discourage people from pitching their ideas, because you don't like it. That's what the Idea Scale and this forum are for.

 

Hi,

 

I did say right from the start - “You are probably not going to like this, but here we go!” 
 

Seems that I was correct about that.

 

Anyhow, I’m not denying that the catalogue of artists you listed use the HX Looper perfectly adequately. If you can live with the 60 seconds (120s mono), no fade etc, that’s fine. In fact, prior to Helix, many professionals used the old DL4 which only had 28 seconds available. All well, and good.

 

The thing is, the discussion about various onboard Looper functions has been done to death over the many years since the release of Helix, which was a couple of years before the stripped down HX Stomp arrived. Here’s an example (link below) from 2016, but I would recommend you see this comment from “Digital_Igloo” (Eric Klein - Chief Product Design Architect at Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc. / Line 6 / Ampeg) 

 

”I'm hesitant to alter Helix's existing workflow, however. For example, letting people add any switch from any mode to any switch in any other mode would make things more difficult for everyone, including people who avoid loopers like the plague.”

 

 

 

For a 6 switch looper you need a Helix, or as you already are aware, use Command Centre.

 

You say:- “If enough people like the idea, Line 6 may implement it. If not, thats fine too.”

 

I would estimate that people here, and over on TGP, have more interest in speculating on a Helix Mk2 than making a mod to 6 year old device that has managed, as is, this far down the road. Maybe in HX Stomp V2? You might get a few votes for that.

Hope this helps/makes sense.