Struggling to connect helix to new ARM Windows 11 Laptop

[arjayess]

Hi, hoping for some assistance. 

 

I have recently got a new Windows 11 Laptop and have tried, unsuccessfully, to get it to talk to my Helix Floor.

Windows seems determined to recognise the helix as a generic USB audio device and will not allow me to apply the installed Line6 drivers to the Helix, even on a manual install. I have uninstalled and reinstalled HX edit multiple times. I have installed the drivers as a standalone, I have tried installing HX central as well. All land with the same issue with Windows not recognising the Helix at all, so no connection with HX EDIT, Central or the updater either. 

 

Helix currently running 3.700 Firmware.

 

I am 2 nights into trying to get this to work. I even factoried windows and started over in case I'd done something dumb from that side. Exact same issue after windows reinstall.

 

I am thoroughly stumped!

 

Thanks

 

Roger

[craiganderton]

Well...maybe there's a solution, but my sense is that ARM Windows has still too new. It has few native applications, and drivers may need to be re-written to be compatible. It's like when Apple Silicon came out, and ReWire died because its library wasn't compatible with Apple Silicon and Propellerheads didn't think it was worth the effort to re-write it.

 

I took a serious look at getting an ARM laptop but most everything I'd want to run would have to run under emulation. They're fantastic machines for running native apps (Adobe, Office, etc.) all day with high speed and excellent battery life. But for DAWs and music software in general, I think it may be a while before ARM is ready for prime time.

 

Sorry...I hope I'm wrong!!!

[arjayess]

So it does appear to be an issue with either ARM or Microsoft Surface laptops specifically. I had opened a support ticket with Line6 who suggested most of what I had already tried, but I duly did as I was told. I also purchased a USB-C to USB-B cable since one of their suggestions was to try another cable or USB slot on the machine. The Surface only has 1 USB-A slot so no chance to change slot here. All to no avail.

 

I installed HX Edit on my wife's laptop, plugged the Helix in and all worked perfectly in seconds. 

 

I have no idea if this will be being addressed in future driver updates, but for now I have something usable albeit not on _my_ machine.