® PILOT'S GUIDE A guide to the features and functionality of the Line 6 HX Edit application Rev. G (v2.71) www.line6.com/manuals © 2018 Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents Working in the Editor Workflow 2 Naming & Saving the Preset Configuring & Managing Snapshots Editing the Tap Tempo Creating & Restoring Complete Device Backups 14 15 15 16 16 What’s in it for Me? Marketplace Workflow Overview Computer Connectivity Multi-Device, Multi-Window Support 2 2 2 2 3 Preset Compatibility 4 Preset Compatibility with Helix Native Plug-in 4 GUI Overview 6 Resizing the Application Window Application Menus 6 7 Selecting Models Editing Model Paramet
Workflow Workflow Overview Once the HX Edit app is launched, it automatically syncs all presets and IRs from your Helix or HX device's internal memory. You'll see your device's presets & IRs displayed in the Librarian panels at the left. This allows you to export presets and IRs to create a virtually unlimited library on your computer, and then import them onto your device at any time.
Exit any other Line 6 applications that may be running. With your Helix device powered on, launch HX Edit. • • You'll see an indicator at the bottom of each application window displaying its connected Helix/HX device type and the device's firmware version - or a warning that no device is detected.
Preset Compatibility TIP: If you also own Helix Native plug-in, be sure to reference the “Helix compatible” version number (found in the Helix Native software's About box - see page 32) to determine the recommended Helix family device firmware version you should use for maximum preset compatibility. It is highly recommended to always use the latest available device firmware and HX Edit and Helix Native software. This guide covers version 2.71 of the HX Edit application.
Input & Output Block Settings MIDI In Bypass & Controller Assignments When Importing a Helix Native-exported Preset into Helix Hardware - All input and output blocks that were set to “Host” will default to the “Multi” setting within the Helix family devices. Any input block set to “None” will remain as set to “None” within the hardware.
GUI Overview HX Stomp & HX Effects Device Owners: With an HX device connected, its application window displays the single signal flow, just as on your HX hardware screen. As covered in this chapter for Helix devices, you can utilize the application's signal flow to bypass, move, clear, copy & paste blocks, create split paths, and more. HX Edit has a very intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
Application Menus • At the top of your computer screen (Mac) or top of the application window (Windows), you'll find the familiar application menu bar for the current device. Note that the available commands differ within the File and Edit menus depending on the application window, tabbed panel and/or specific control that currently has “focus.” The window focus is indicated by a blue outline appearing around the Librarian, Signal Flow or Inspector windows.
Help When the Signal Flow window has focus: • Cut Block - Copies the currently selected block and its settings to the clipboard and removes the block from the Signal Flow. • Copy Block - Copies the currently selected block and its settings to the clipboard. • Paste Block - Pastes the last-copied block's model and its settings to the selected block location. When an existing block is selected as the paste location, this replaces the existing block.
Presets Panel Premium Marketplace presets are otherwise able to be utilized just like any other Helix presets. When imported, these premium Marketplace presets are indicated by a guitar pick “badge” to their right within the Presets panel. The Librarian's Presets tabbed panel provides functionality for importing, exporting, and managing presets & setlists.
Importing and Exporting Preset Files Drag and Drop Presets It is possible to drag and drop any preset (or multi-selected presets) directly from the Presets panel to perform the following actions. Presets are able to be exported to your computer as individual (.hlx) files, allowing you to create a limitless collection of tones that can be imported back onto your device's internal preset library at any time.
To Export a Setlist - Select the Export Setlist command to display the Save As dialog. By default, setlists are saved to: • • The Import Bundle and Export Bundle options are found in the application's Preferences > General window (see “The Preferences Window” on page 32). Mac - /Documents/Line 6/Tones/Helix/Setlists folder PC - \My Documents\Line 6\Tones\Helix\Setlists folder Changing Setlists To change the active setlist shown in the Presets panel, click on the Setlist menu and choose from among your de
Impulses Panel TIP: Line 6 offers a free pack of excellent IRs from Allure - you can grab them now at http://line6.com/allure/. You can also find a great selection of IRs, specifically created for Helix products, on the Marketplace - see page 33. The Librarian's Impulses tabbed panel provides a list of all Impulse Response files (along with respective ID numbers in the left column) that currently reside on your Helix or HX device.
When premium Marketplace IRs (.hir files) are imported, they are indicated by a golden guitar pick “badge” to their right within the Impulses panel. • Export - Select one or more IR index locations and drag from the Impulses list view directly to your computer to export the IR files to the selected hard drive folder. NOTE: When exporting IRs from the HX Edit IR panel, any Marketplace purchased IR is saved to your computer as a Helix IR (.hir) type file. The .
Working in the Editor The Editor portion of the HX Edit user interface consists of the Signal Flow and Inspector windows. The Signal Flow Window is where you'll see the signal paths for your currentlyloaded preset, appearing much like the Home screen of your Helix, or Signal Flow screen of your HX device. The Inspector Window below contains 2 tabbed panels, Edit & Bypass/ Controller Assign, where you can select models, tweak parameters, configure controllers and more.
Naming & Saving the Preset Once your desired destination snapshot has been selected, us the following steps to configure your settings. The Preset Name field at the top of the Editor displays the title of the currently loaded preset. Double-click on the text here to optionally rename the preset. For Helix devices, whenever you see your preset's title appearing in italicized text at the top of the Signal Flow window, it indicates that the preset has been edited from its last-saved state.
Entering a Tempo Value To Rename a Snapshot - (Helix and HX Effects devices only) Right-click the desired snapshot from the Snapshots menu and select Rename Snapshot. Type in your new name, then press Enter/Return on your keyboard. To Customize a Snapshot's LED Color - (Helix and HX Effects devices only) When your device is set to Snapshot footswitch mode, each footswitch LED defaults to a red color.
2. Description - Optionally, you can type in some descriptive notes about this backup. All text added here is saved with your backup, and viewable during the Restore From Backup process. 1. Backup Folder - The default or most-recently used Backup folder is selected here. If you want to find a backup file in a different folder, click the folder button to browse to the desired location. 3. Where - By default, your Backup file (.
The Signal Flow Window Show/Hide Block Labels Option If you prefer a cleaner look within the HX Edit app's Signal Flow window, you can “hide” the descriptive text labels that appear below each block using the Show/Hide option within the Preferences > General window (see page 32). When set to hide the labels, you'll only see a block's label appear when hovering your mouse over the block.
Cutting, Copying, Pasting & Clearing Blocks This functionality is how you can potentially create up to 4 individual signal paths within one preset, each with its own input and output settings, as shown below. Once converted to Input & Output blocks, you can drag the inactive Split or Merge-Mixer block back up to the main Path A to restore each back to an active Split or Merge-Mixer block (or use the right-click options to Restore them).
Drag and Drop Blocks Cut Block - Clears the block from the Signal Flow and copies the block and its current parameter settings to the clipboard. You can also use “drag and drop” to copy/paste a block within the current preset, as well as between separate HX Edit and/or Helix Native windows, as follows. Copy Block - Copies the block and its current parameter settings to the clipboard. Paste Block - Pastes the most recently cut or copied block to the selected destination.
The Edit Tab The Inspector window's Edit panel provides access to all models via its multi-level Model Browser, where you can choose from numerous categories of models to make up your tone. This panel also displays all available parameters for the block that is currently selected within the Signal Flow window, providing easy access for editing. HX Device Owners: HX Edit functionality described in this chapter is the same for all Helix and HX devices, except where noted.
Editing Model Parameters Impulse Response Block Options - When an IR block is selected in the Signal Flow, you'll see IR block parameter sliders here in the Edit panel, just like for any other block. Use the IR Select parameter to choose the index number for the desired IR from your IR Library. Remember that you'll need to import IR files into your Helix or HX device using the application's Impulses tab for an IR block to utilize them - see “Importing and Exporting Impulse Responses” on page 12.
The Bypass/Controller Assign Tab Editing an Existing Assignment When working with Factory Presets, you'll see that most already have some existing assignments, and they appear within the Assignments List at the left of the Bypass/ Controller Assign tab (see previous image). Once you create your own Bypass & Controller assignments, you'll see them appear within this list as well. At any time you can select an assignment within the list to see and edit its options, as described below.
Creating a Bypass Assignment MIDI CC In Selector For assignments that offer remote control via external MIDI, this parameter is where you need to define the specific MIDI CC value (CC 0-127) to match the MIDI CC value being transmitted from your external MIDI controller device or MIDI software. Your MIDI hardware or software must be capable of sending MIDI CC messages via 5-pin MIDI cable or USB to your Helix or HX device.
*NOTE: Your Helix or HX device can receive MIDI from either its 5-pin MIDI IN or over USB. Use the device's Global Settings - MIDI Tempo options to configure its receiving MIDI channel and other MIDI options. 1. Click on the block within the Signal Flow for which you want to create the MIDIIn Bypass assignment. 2. At the right of the Bypass/Controller Assign panel, if not already selected by default, click the Assignment Menu and choose Bypass as the parameter to control. 3.
Bypass Assignments for Multiple Blocks 3. For Helix & HX hardware, you can only assign the Bypass toggle of any particular block to one footswitch at a time. If a block already has an existing Bypass assignment and you change the assignment, this will move the assignment to the newly selected footswitch or controller. But it is possible to assign the Bypass function for multiple blocks to one common footswitch or controller for simultaneous switching.
If you have chosen a Footswitch as your controller rather than an EXP Pedal or Variax Knob, you'll have a few more options, as described below. 2. Configuring options for a footswitch controller assignment • • • • Configuring a MIDI CC assignment's options Type - Choose the footswitch behavior: • Latching - Press and release the footswitch to toggle between the “On/Off” states. • Momentary - Press and hold and the footswitch. While held down, the “On” state of the switch is active.
TIP: Click on the desired slider within the HX Edit Edit tab and use the “Alt+click” or “S” keyboard shortcuts to instantly create a Snapshots controller assignment. 3. Unlike with other controller types, you won't see any options in the right of the Bypass/Controller tab for a Snapshots controller assignment.
The Command Center Window Creating a Command Center Assignment Click directly on any Control Selector item (Instant , Footswitch, EXP Pedal or Variax Knob) for which you want to map an assignment. Then, in the inspector pane at the right portion of the window, click on the Command menu to choose the type of message you wish to transmit from this control. Once a command type is selected, configure its options using the parameter sliders that appear.
You can customize text in this field to determine what is displayed on the hardware's footswitch scribble strip (Helix Floor, Helix Control, and HX Effects devices), or on the footswitch display block when in Stomp Mode (Helix LT devices). To clear your text and return to the default label, click the Clear (eraser) button to the right of the field.
Global EQ Window Adjusting Global EQ Parameters The Global EQ window offers two methods in which you can view & adjust its settings: by dragging any band's edit “node” within the graph, or by adjusting the selected band's parameter sliders within the lower inspector portion of the window. The EQ processing is functional whenever its Bypass button is set to “active” in this window (or via your device's Bypass button when viewing its Global EQ screen).
The Preferences Window Stereo IR Import - When a stereo IR .wav file is imported by a Helix or HX device, it must be converted to mono. This preference lets you choose whether to take the left or right channel of the source IR file, or to sum both channels to mono. The default is to import the left channel. The HX Edit Preferences window is available for all Helix and HX devices. It includes three selectable screens to edit application settings and to reference version & legal info.
Marketplace & Account Options To download your purchased assets, click on the Manage Account command within HX Edit app's My Account menu (or go directly to https://line6.com/account/), sign in to your account, and select Helix Marketplace from the Hardware & Software section at the left.
The My Account Menu Options At the bottom left of the HX Edit application window, you'll see the My Account menu and account status indicator. Initially, before you've signed in to your Line 6 online account and/or authorized your computer for Marketplace premium assets, you'll see this menu displayed with the My Account label.
License Synchronization Note that you will need an Internet connection to be able to sign in again to access the Deauthorize and Authorize options from the menu, as well as to initially synchronize with your online Line 6 account after making any new Marketplace purchase (see “License Synchronization”). Whenever you make a purchase from Marketplace, a license for each product you purchase is deposited into your online Line 6 account.
Keyboard Shortcuts The following keyboard shortcuts are available to speed up tasks when working in the HX Edit application. Where indicated, some shortcuts require that “focus” be placed on a window, panel or specific control to be able to trigger its function. To place focus within the desired window, press your Tab key to cycle focus between the Librarian, Editor and Inspector windows - you'll see the window outlined in blue to indicate it now has focus.
File Menu Commands - Shortcuts Command Mac Import Bundle (Helix devices) Shift Export Bundle (Helix devices) Shift ⌘ Command ⌘ Command PC + Ctrl + I Shift + Ctrl + E Shift Presets Tab Focus Impulses Tab Focus + Imports a bundle, replacing all No function setlists and presets + Exports all setlists and their presets as a bundle file to your computer + I + E Signal Flow Panel Focus Inspector Tab Focus These shortcuts are functional whenever the Presets tab is currently displayed withi
Snapshots Menu Commands - Shortcuts Command Copy Mac Shift ⌘ Command Paste Shift ⌘ Command Rename Shift PC + + + Pastes the last-copied snapshot contents from the clipboard into the current snapshot + Allows you to enter in a new title to rename the current snapshot Shift + R Ctrl Shift + Ctrl + C + V ⌘ Command + R Snapshot 1 ⌘ Command + 1 Ctrl + 1 Loads Snapshot 1 Snapshot 2 ⌘ Command + 2 Ctrl + 2 Loads Snapshot 2 Snapshot 3 ⌘ Command + 3 Ctrl + 3 Loads Snapshot 3 Snap
Librarian Window - Shortcuts Command Presets Tab Focus Impulses Tab Focus Displays the context menu for selected preset location Displays the context menu for selected IR location (Navigate an open menu using Up/Down Arrow keys and ENTER key to make selection. Use ESC key to dismiss menu.) (Navigate an open menu using Up/Down Arrow keys and ENTER key to make selection. Use ESC key to dismiss menu.
Signal Flow Window - Shortcuts Command Mac PC Function - These shortcuts perform the following functions when the Signal Flow window has focus Navigate Selection Selects and cycles through blocks within the Signal Flow Edit Tab Display Block Context Menu Activates the Edit tab, displays the edit options for the selected block, and gives focus to the Model Category of the selected block's model Enter Return + Shift or Enter Return + Ctrl + Shift Enter Return Displays the block's context men
Inspector Window - Shortcuts Command Reset to Default Mac ⌘ Command PC + Ctrl + Edit Tab Focus* Bypass/Controller Assign Tab Focus Click on any parameter slider to reset it to its default value (or, when a parameter slider has focus, press D).
Edit Tab: Category List or Model/Grid List Focus Shortcuts Mac or PC Edit Tab: Category List or Model/Grid List Focus Shortcuts Function Mac or PC Changes category or model selection Moves focus between Category List, Model List and Parameter Sliders (If Model Grid view is visible, Shift must be used to advance focus out of Model Grid) Shift + Shift + For navigation when the Model Grid View is in use - Moves focus to the first parameter slider For navigation when the Model Grid View is in use - Disp
Edit Tab: Parameter Slider Focus Shortcuts Mac or PC Function N For “Note Sync” capable parameters (indicated by the button to the right of the slider), this toggles the functionality between Note Sync and Absolute Time D Sets the selected parameter to its default value S For model parameters, assigns parameter to a Snapshot controller Double-click Enters edit mode for numerical parameter value (tap Enter/Return key to accept edited value) 43
Command Center, Global EQ & Preferences Window Shortcuts (Helix and HX Effects devices only) Focus within these windows is indicated by the turquoise colored outline surrounding a control, or by the vertical line at left of any parameter slider.
Command Center Window - Shortcuts Command Mac PC Function Open Command Menu Enter Return When the Command Menu has focus, but the menu is not opened - use the ENTER key to open the menu, and then use the following shortcut keys to choose a command from the open menu list.
Global EQ Window - Shortcuts (Helix and HX Stomp devices) Command Mac Adjust Edit Node Coarse PC Function + Adjusts the selected edit node in large increments Use the numbered keys above to select the desired node, then use Up/Down keys to edit Gain and Left/Right arrow keys to edit Frequency Shift Increment Q Value - Fine Tab Increments the selected node's Q parameter value by 0.1 Q Increment Q Value - Coarse Shift + Q Increments the selected node's Q parameter value by 1.
Additional Mouse Behaviors But wait, there's more! To follow are additional time-saving gestures using your mouse buttons or mouse wheel. • • • • • • • • • • Hover your mouse cursor over any block within the Signal Flow to access the block’s Bypass and Clear buttons. Hover your mouse cursor over any parameter slider and adjust its value.
Line 6 Updater & Additional Resources You'll see the firmware's Release Notes and special instructions displayed before update begins. Be sure to read all screens and prompts carefully and the Line 6 Updater software will assist you in performing the update in minutes.
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