HX Stomp XL - Why no metering?

[berimbolofred]

Hey there fellow Line 6'er!
I've been using a HX Stomp XL for the past few months and eventho I really like the sounds, there's a few things I don't understand why it's missing. Or maybe it is that I'm missing something?

So, in terms of digital products, we REALLY don't want digital distortion caused by the signal beeing to hot coming into the HX.
Sometimes I've run a few external pedals earlier in the chain, and some of those can be cranked up quite a bit in volume, making the input signal to the HX too hot.
Is there anywhere I could monitor the input signal on the HX?

Same goes for master output of each preset/snapshot.
For now, everytime I make a preset I have to connect it to a DAW to monitor the levels going out of the stomp to make sure different presets don't differ too much in volume.
I guess this is doable but annoying when you have to make a preset on the spot for a specific song and once it changes there's a significant change in volume.

Since we are on the topic, I would also really like to see gain reduction for the compressors, something more high end compressors often offer and seeing as the HX is a digital product, I feel this could be implemented fairly easy.

Or am I missing something here?
Thankfull for any and all feedback.

[rd2rk]

This is a user-to-user support forum.

No one from Line 6 hangs out here.

 

Input/output/compression level indicators are present on the larger, full-featured products - Helix Floor, LT and Rack.

This is likely due to design considerations (how much tech can we jam into this tiny box) and production cost considerations (how much are the people willing to PAY for all that tech?).

 

NO amp sim that I know of has preset auto-levelling functions, likely due to the difference between ACTUAL volume in decibels (SPL) and PERCEIVED volume as in the difference between high gain (compressed) sounds and clean (full range) sounds. Robots are good at measuring things like SPL, but fall short in the area of perception, an annoying advantage possessed by the meat-sacks they're forced to serve.

 

[TobiasLancaster]

On 8/12/2025 at 8:27 PM, rd2rk said:

This is a user-to-user support forum.

No one from Line 6 hangs out here.

 

Input/output/compression level indicators are present on the larger, full-featured products - Helix Floor, LT and Rack.

This is likely due to design considerations (how much tech can we jam into this tiny box) and production cost considerations (how much are the people willing to PAY for all that tech?).

 

NO amp sim that I know of has preset auto-levelling functions, likely due to the difference between ACTUAL volume in decibels (SPL) and PERCEIVED volume as in the difference between high gain (compressed) sounds and clean (full range) sounds. Robots are good at measuring things like SPL, but fall short in the area of perception, an annoying advantage possessed by the meat-sacks they're forced to serve.

It’s surprising the HX Stomp XL doesn’t include proper metering, since precise monitoring is so useful for players. That attention to detail reminds me of strategy games like https://www.spintokens.com/games/blackjack, where keeping track of every decision and outcome matters. Just as accurate audio metering helps musicians make better choices, tracking each hand in blackjack highlights the importance of precision and awareness. Both require careful observation to get the best results.

Thank you.