How to correctly set up my Helix Rack

[357mag]

I read that the first thing you should do when setting up the Helix Rack is to install HX Edit. After I do that, what do I do next? I mean do I power on the Rack while the USB cable is already plugged in? Or do I power it up while the USB cable is not plugged in?

 

Reason I ask is I remember when setting up my POD X3 and Gearbox, there were messages that said "If your POD is hooked up with the cable, unplug it so installation goes smoothly..." or something to that effect.

 

So I'm wondering about this.

 

Thanks

[datacommando]

On 9/11/2025 at 11:19 PM, 357mag said:

I read that the first thing you should do when setting up the Helix Rack is to install HX Edit.

 

Hi,

 

From the Owner’s Manual page 5

https://line6.com/data/6/0a00051afd4e673ccaf2d15b4/application/pdf/Helix Rack and Control 3.80 Owner's Manual - English .pdf

 

“First, install the latest HX Edit software version on your Mac or PC (available at line6. com/software), connect Helix Rack to your computer’s USB port, and HX Edit will check online and let you know if a newer firmware version is available. If so, HX Edit will then walk you through performing a full device backup and firmware update, all within minutes. Please see the HX Edit Pilot’s Guide for full details.”

 

HX Edit Pilots Guide - here:
https://line6.com/data/6/0a00051aff0e673cd37585ccd/application/pdf/HX Edit Pilots Guide 3.80 - English .pdf

 

Note: Both the Helix Rack and PC need to be connected, and powered ON, via USB or you will not be able to update the firmware, or remotely edit your presets. They have to communicate! Just plug ‘em in.

Hope this helps/makes sense.

 

[357mag]

Do I absolutely have to update to the latest firmware? Can't I just use whatever is already present in my Rack?

[357mag]

About Restoring Factory Presets. To just check it where it says "While holding the Rack's knobs 3 and 4 the two knobs directly under the middle of the screen, power your device on. They must mean push both knobs in and hold them in. Then turn the Rack back on and let go when you see the Will restore... sign." Correct I guess?

 

Does it show these steps/instructions while you are in HX Edit and doing the firmware update? Because up above from that it says HX Edit will walk you through performing a full device backup and firmware update within minutes.

 

Just wondering if everything that you need to do is presented to you while HX Edit is doing it's thing. The impression I get though is you have to do the restoring factory presets on your own after after the firmware has already been updated.

[silverhead]

No you don’t need to update, however you may find some useful features depending on your current firmware. Check the release notes for firmware releases since the version you currently have installed and decide whether you want to. I don’t know why you wouldn’t though. The update procedure is pretty robust and well documented. There’s lots of help here if something unexpected happens. The likelihood that you will end up being unsuccessful is small.

[357mag]

Also, I'm on a 30 trial period from Sweetwater with this Rack. Maybe not a good idea to update the firmware until I decide to keep it? Or maybe that really doesn't matter?

[silverhead]

On 9/11/2025 at 10:42 PM, 357mag said:

About Restoring Factory Presets. To just check it where it says "While holding the Rack's knobs 3 and 4 the two knobs directly under the middle of the screen, power your device on. They must mean push both knobs in and hold them in. Then turn the Rack back on and let go when you see the Will restore... sign." Correct I guess?

 

Does it show these steps/instructions while you are in HX Edit and doing the firmware update? Because up above from that it says HX Edit will walk you through performing a full device backup and firmware update within minutes.

 

Just wondering if everything that you need to do is presented to you while HX Edit is doing it's thing. The impression I get though is you have to do the restoring factory presets on your own after after the firmware has already been updated.

Yes, correct.

 

Yes, instructions are complete and detailed, including restoring your device from the mandatory backup created during the update procedure.

Updating the factory presets is optional. I always do it. I find the easiest method is to restore them using knobs 3 and 4 immediately after the update, and before restoring your backup file. Then when restoring the backup file choose not to install/overwrite the just-installed new factory Setlists (1, 2, and 8). You do this clicking on the arrow beside the word Presets and then deselecting/unchecking 1, 2, and 8.

  

[357mag]

There is a slight discrepancy. In the Line 6 Helix Rack Manual, it says hold in knobs 3 & 4. But on Line 6 website, it says hold in knobs 5 & 6. I saw that under Helix/HX 3.80 Release Notes.

[357mag]

Also at what point do I install the Helix drivers? Do I install those right after I have installed HX Edit?

[silverhead]

Either 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 will do for your purposes. Here’s the relevant doc:

The Helix drivers are installed along with HX Edit. The HX Edit download is an installation package, not just the Edit program. Install all components.

[datacommando]

On 9/12/2025 at 2:52 AM, 357mag said:

Do I absolutely have to update to the latest firmware? Can't I just use whatever is already present in my Rack?

 

Nope, it’s not mandatory, but the latest version of the firmware will be full of extra goodies, and general bug fixes that make life a lot more fun.

 

On 9/12/2025 at 3:51 AM, 357mag said:

Also, I'm on a 30 trial period from Sweetwater with this Rack. Maybe not a good idea to update the firmware until I decide to keep it? Or maybe that really doesn't matter?

IIRC, I have seen mention that it is not unusual for retailers,(eg. Sweetwater) to have loaded the latest firmware into HX products before they are shipped out. The usual clue that this has occurred is that people have fired up their new device, only to panic when all the slots seem to be blank and are populated with “New Preset” as the name.  Factory reset fixes that. Anyhow, if you did return the unit after installing the latest FW, you will have saved someone else from having to do it.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[357mag]

It doesn't look like there is a way to simply delete a preset. I kinda wish Line 6 would have included that.

[datacommando]

On 9/12/2025 at 11:08 PM, 357mag said:

It doesn't look like there is a way to simply delete a preset. I kinda wish Line 6 would have included that.

Copy and paste a blank preset over whatever you want to delete - simple! 
 

Most of us have been doing that for the past 10 years. 
 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[silverhead]

On 9/12/2025 at 6:08 PM, 357mag said:

It doesn't look like there is a way to simply delete a preset. I kinda wish Line 6 would have included that.

There is also the option to Clear All Blocks as described on pg19 of the manual. 

[357mag]

Okay now I have another question. I downloaded about 70 user presets from Custom Tone. I want to try each one of them out to hear what each one sounds like. If I find any I really like I will rename them and save them to a specific folder on my external drive. What I would like to do when I am all done is completely blank out all 70 presets spots, so when I look at the preset library all presets are blank and empty.

 

If I restarted the Helix while holding in either knobs 3 & 4 or knobs 5 & 6, whichever is correct, would that accomplish what I want?

 

Or is there another method I would have to use to accomplish this?

[datacommando]

On 9/13/2025 at 3:51 AM, 357mag said:

Okay now I have another question. I downloaded about 70 user presets from Custom Tone. I want to try each one of them out to hear what each one sounds like. If I find any I really like I will rename them and save them to a specific folder on my external drive. What I would like to do when I am all done is completely blank out all 70 presets spots, so when I look at the preset library all presets are blank and empty.

 

If I restarted the Helix while holding in either knobs 3 & 4 or knobs 5 & 6, whichever is correct, would that accomplish what I want?

 

Or is there another method I would have to use to accomplish this?

I’m becoming more, and more confused by some of your questions. A little research before diving into the deep end is always a big help.
 

You say it is a box fresh HX Rack, in which case you should have available:- 8 Setlists each containing 32 banks of four presets (A, B, C, and D). Grand total of 1,024 locations for you to store presets. Possibly, on a new unit, the first 2 Setlists will be populated with the regular factory presets, and Setlist 8 containing various Template configurations for you to experiment with. 
 

Working with this information you should find that the stock Setlists 3 through 7 comprise of nothing but “New Preset” (blank preset) slots giving you 128 places to load any CustomTone presets in each set list. Also, you don’t always need to save each individual preset, because you can arrange presets into whatever order you wish and then export the Setlist. Note: you can export a Setlist containing only blank “New Preset” slots which means you can effectively blank out 128 presets in one go. I seriously advise that you sit down and read the Rack Owner’s Manual, and the HX Edit Pilot’s Guide, regarding file management, backup, restore etc.

 

Next - regarding CustomTone downloads, a word of warning. Many people find they are very, very disappointed to discover that the supposedly perfect recreation of (insert guitar hero of choice here) legendary tone does not live up to expectations. There are many, many reasons for this, for example:- different guitar model, pickups, strings, playing technique, environment and playback system. It has been discussed at length in here. Consider this, a tone created in a studio with large monitors, or for live work through a PA system, isn’t really going to hit the mark through headphones in a bedroom. I’m not saying they are all bad, and there actually some very good commercial presets available, but not everything works for everybody, otherwise we would all sound the same. Let’s face it, Eddie Van Halen sounded like EVH, simply because nobody else did. The best thing is to learn how to sculpt your own tones for your particular use.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

This is worth reading too!

https://blog.line6.com/2023/09/15/eric-klein-at-least-half-of-your-modelers-sound-is-determined-by-your-playback-system/

 

[357mag]

I'm completely aware that some or many of the presets might not sound great. I've experienced that with my X3. So I could export a blank setlist and when I'm done experimenting with all presets I could import the blank setlist and effectively all presets would be blank in the preset librarian?

[datacommando]

On 9/13/2025 at 4:57 PM, 357mag said:

So I could export a blank setlist and when I'm done experimenting with all presets I could import the blank setlist and effectively all presets would be blank in the preset librarian?

 

Hi,

 

Yup - export the empty Setlist and give it a name such as "Empty Spaces", that way it will always be available to to re-import and overwrite all your test presets in one go.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[357mag]

I have saved several presets to a specific folder on my external hard drive successfully, but there have been like maybe twice it's happened, then when I go to export the preset, HX Edit does not go to the proper folder. Instead, it shows my documents folder.

 

Don't know why.

 

I wish you could set a setting in HX Edit that would tell it to always save to this specific folder, like the X3 has.

[datacommando]

On 9/13/2025 at 11:14 PM, 357mag said:

I have saved several presets to a specific folder on my external hard drive successfully, but there have been like maybe twice it's happened, then when I go to export the preset, HX Edit does not go to the proper folder. Instead, it shows my documents folder.

 

Don't know why.

 

I wish you could set a setting in HX Edit that would tell it to always save to this specific folder, like the X3 has.

Hello again,

 

I did advise you earlier that it would be a good idea to spend some time reading through the Owner’s Manual along with the HX Edit Pilot’s Guide where on page 10 it explains this detail - I have highlighted the relevant bit in red italic type, so it’s easy to find!

 

To Export a Preset File - Select the preset by single-clicking on it in the Librarian - Presets panel and select the Export Preset command. This creates a copy of the preset in its last-saved state from your Helix or HX device's memory and saves it to your computer. The familiar "save" window is presented, in which you can edit the filename and choose a destination folder. By default, .hlx preset files are exported to the following directories.
• Mac - /Documents/Line 6/Tones/Helix folder
• PC - \My Documents\Line 6\Tones\Helix folder”

Also found on page 10.

Drag and Drop Presets 

 

Please read, study and inwardly digest!

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[357mag]

If you have already saved a preset to a certain folder in a specific location on your drive, then HX Edit should remember that specific path for next time you save a preset. That just simply makes sense.

[datacommando]

On 9/14/2025 at 2:11 AM, 357mag said:

If you have already saved a preset to a certain folder in a specific location on your drive, then HX Edit should remember that specific path for next time you save a preset. That just simply makes sense.

Well, now I know that you haven’t read the guides as I suggested, because you would have realised that the reference to page 10 is incorrect. That quote is from Rev F (2.70) from back in 2018, which I opened by mistake.

 

Having said that, it still remains valid, as of the current version, Rev Y (3.80) - 2024 on page 14 - “Importing and Exporting Preset Files”.

 

The most important thing to note about saving presets is - ‘The familiar “save” window is presented, in which you can edit the filename and choose a destination folder.‘ which has remained unchanged from the previous section that I highlighted in red.

 

That indicates that you are free to save your presets to whatever folder, directory, or disk you wish. It’s not complicated and it would appear that many thousands of happy Helix users have managed to navigate this system over the past 10 year of file saving.

 

I hope this makes sense!