rx7carl Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 The website shows out of stock, but it is available at dealers. Looking to pull the trigger and buy one. My only concern is over this possibly meaning they are not producing them anymore, and are gonna release something to replace it. Is there any info regarding the future of the Helix? Thanks Carl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 Line 6 is always developing the next-generation flagship product. So undoubtedly Helix will eventually be discontinued. But right now it is still being manufactured. Line 6 does not disclose product development activities or new product release plans or timing. So nobody knows the answer to your question except Line 6, and they’re not disclosing their long term plans. Short term Line 6 has announced (on TGP) that firmware v3.80 is under development and will likely be available late summer or fall this year. You may hear lots of speculation here about answers to your question, but that’s exactly what it will be - speculation. The situation you’re in is always the case with any purchase of a new electronic device. Is a next-generation release imminent? Should I buy now or wait? You can purchase today’s flagship now or wait an unknown duration until the next-gen is inevitably available. Your new Helix, if you get it, will continue to do what it now does for a long time. It won’t suddenly stop working when the next-gen is available. Meantime, it is now still being manufactured and will continue to be technically supported after it is no longer being manufactured for as long as Line 6 decide to support it. My personal speculation is that Helix will continue to be supported for several years after its successor is released, and will continue to operate for years after that. But eventually it will fail, like all electronic products including its successor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 On 6/30/2024 at 7:51 AM, rx7carl said: The website shows out of stock, but it is available at dealers. Looking to pull the trigger and buy one. My only concern is over this possibly meaning they are not producing them anymore, and are gonna release something to replace it. Is there any info regarding the future of the Helix? Thanks Carl L6 has a long and glorious history of being more tight-lipped than the NSA. The only thing anybody outside the mothership knows is that there will eventually be a Helix successor as nothing lasts forever. We can all guess until we turn blue whether it'll be next week, next month, or next year, because the only ones who actually know ain't talking. Enjoy the mystery... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rx7carl Posted June 30 Author Share Posted June 30 Thanks for the replies. Kinda what I was figuring but no harm in asking. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicLaw Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 @rx7carlAs far as the consumer marketplace is concerned the family of Helix products is ever growing and there is no current indication of a replacement to the Helix Floor. At some point in the future, there will likely be a successor. At this time it remains the flagship! Sibling Twin of the Helix Rack & Controller. If the Helix Floor suits your needs, grab one from your local retailer. Should it fail to exceed your expectations you can always return or exchange it as most offer that ability. Just be certain to update the hardware to the latest firmware version (currently 3.71, as I recollect) using the Helix Edit software and precisely following the download, installation and update procedures as the software guides you through the process. It's essentially painless. If you're considering buying a used unit, check the condition and run the serial number by Line 6 to determine if it the one time Helix Native discount purchase has been used. Otherwise, based on the condition and price of a used unit, it could be a screaming deal or a nightmare. YMMV. Hope you like the Helix Floor. I've had one for several years and it's a blast! Keeps improving with every Firmware update. Also have a HX Stomp and it's also fantastic. Post back with what you ultimately do, to share the info with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 There’s at least one more firmware update coming. As per the Line 6 chief architect interview. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rx7carl Posted July 4 Author Share Posted July 4 Great info. I've been usong a POD xT Live for a few years I bought used to dip my toes in this world and I love it. No more noisy effects, dead batteries, patch cables etc. It's gotten a bit wonky lately and I knew it was time to upgrade from a flip phone era unit. So I pulled the trigger on a new one from Sweetwater (2year free warranty). Just got it. Wow it looks impressive, but before I even plug it in I'm going to get familiar with it and make sure I do the initial setup correctly. One quick question about the Helix native. My understanding is that it's meant for a DAW, like for studio recording. Which isn't a need I have at the moment. Would it be of any use for me, who's just a bedroom player, live thru an amp? One I did modify to be an FRFR setup. I do make live recordings, but just mic'd up, or direct to a Zoom recorder Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted July 4 Share Posted July 4 On 7/4/2024 at 3:07 AM, rx7carl said: One quick question about the Helix native. My understanding is that it's meant for a DAW, like for studio recording. Which isn't a need I have at the moment. Would it be of any use for me, who's just a bedroom player, live thru an amp? One I did modify to be an FRFR setup. I do make live recordings, but just mic'd up, or direct to a Zoom recorder Hi, You are correct about Helix Native - it is designed to run as plug-in inside a DAW, although some users have managed to get it to function as a “stand alone” within a VST host application. As for if it would be any use to you as bedroom player, the answer is maybe. Consider this - You can hook up your Helix via USB to the DAW of your choice (lots of free ones out there) and record directly into your computer. You would then have the chance to record your fully processed guitar audio without the hassle of have to use your mic’d up amp. No noise, or annoyance others in the house, or picking up the sound of passing traffic, or whatever. Plus you can also record a DI, dry audio signal alongside your processed guitar. Using HX Native as a plug-in then gives you the facility to re-amp and modify your tone. Example if your original “wet audio” has a delay that is slightly out of sync, or a reverb that is too high in the track. Play back the DI through Native and correct whatever is required. In fact you could change the entire signal chain for a completely different take on your track. You now have a home recording studio. There you have it - you’re not stuck with the sound of your amp and single mic being captured into the Zoom. You can change you recording to be any of the available amps, cabs, microphones and effects which you have in your hardware, but in software inside your computer. Imagine - you think you have captured the perfect take into your Zoom, then a couple of days later you wish you didn’t have that flanger switched on the verse. Yep, you’re stuck with it. Not with a DI track that you can reprocess through Native as many times as you wish. As you are the owner of a new Helix you probably qualify for a discount on Helix Native - it’s worth the investment. Having said all this about HX Native, I should point out that everything I mentioned about re-amping is possible using your hardware Helix, to me it just seems that using Native is quicker and more convenient - YMMV! Hope this helps/makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiganderton Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 Disclaimer: The following is pure speculation. In my experience, companies often prioritize dealers over direct sales. If inventories run low due to parts availability, supply chain issues, shipping delays, etc. it's important for companies to maintain good relations with their dealers. Dealers don't like it turning customers away. As to the future of Helix, the future is that I'll keep using it :) I'm sure something new will come along at some point, but Helix is so ingrained in my setup I would see it being supplemented rather than replaced. Quick comment about Helix Native: It's an outstanding plugin for vocals, drums, synths, etc. I often have multiple instances in a song, but only one or two of them are for guitar or bass. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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