Line 6 Floor vs Native

[fooman84]

I have been using the free trial of Helix Native and was wondering if using the software on its own, in my DAW, would sound different to using it inside the Helix Floor (or any other physical variation of the Helix family).

Thank you!

[silverhead]

There is no perceivable difference in my experience. You can test it by simultaneously recording a dry and wet signal. Export the Helix preset using Helix Edit, and then import it into Helix Native. Apply the Helix Native preset to the dry signal and compare the audio of the two recorded tracks.

[datacommando]

On 9/15/2025 at 12:20 PM, fooman84 said:

I have been using the free trial of Helix Native and was wondering if using the software on its own, in my DAW, would sound different to using it inside the Helix Floor (or any other physical variation of the Helix family).

Thank you!

Hi,

 

Helix Native is identical. It’s exactly the same software “brain” that that lives inside the hardware. Provided that you listening the same piece of audio through the same output system there should be no discernible difference. Obviously, you lose access to various hardware features, such as wah/volume pedal, Send/Return, Looper, etc.

 

In fact, here is a quote from the Helix Native Pilot’s Guide, page 3.

 

”Helix Native truly is the same set of astounding amps, cabs & effects as included within the ground-breaking Line 6 Helix hardware multi-effects units and shares the same simple user interface and workflow as the Line 6 HX® Edit editor application for Helix family devices.”

 

You can access the Pilot’s Guide by clicking on the question mark icon the bottom left of the Helix Native plugin window.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[rd2rk]

Your physical Helix has Auto Impedance, without which certain FX such as Fuzz could sound different.

Latency could be an issue depending upon the power of your computer.

Getting the Input Levels right could affect Native's sound.

Quality of your interface could affect the sound. If you're using your Helix as interface, be aware that it's not the best quality interface out there.

 

In the end, the final result depends upon the quality of your playback system. All else accounted for, Helix and Native should sound the same through the same playback system.