2.0 OWNER’S MANUAL 90-20-0358 - D (For use with Helix Firmware 2.00) 0•1 ©2016 Line 6, Inc.
Contents The Blocks 21 Controller Assign 42 Input 21 Quick Controller Assign 42 Output 22 Manual Controller Assign 42 Effects Clearing a Block's Controller Assignment(s) 44 Amp+Cab 26 23 Clearing All Controller Assignments 44 Amp 27 Customizing a Controller Footswitch Label 44 Preamp 27 Command Center 45 Assigning a Command 45 Copying and Pasting a Command 47 Copying and Pasting All Commands 47 Clearing a Command 47 Clearing All Commands 47 Customizing a Comma
Please Note: Line 6, POD, StageSource and Variax are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. L6 LINK, DT25, DT50, and Helix are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. All rights reserved. James Tyler is a registered trademark of James Tyler, used under license. Apple, Mac, OS X, iPad, iPhone, Logic, GarageBand, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Welcome to Helix Block Blocks are objects that represent various elements of a preset, such as amps, cabs, effects, splits, loopers, inputs, outputs, and impulse responses. Path A path represents the signal flow of your tone. Helix has two separate Thank you for purchasing Helix, one of the most powerful and flexible audio processors ever created. We hope it helps drive your search for tonal bliss and spawns years of creativity, both on stage and in the studio.
Top Panel 3 4 16B Dream Rig Duet 8 9 1 SAVE BYPASS ACTION VOLUME PHONES 12 13 PRESET 1 2 7 EXP 1 EXP 2 14 Delay Harmony Delay 5 6 1/8 [37%] D Minor 40% 0.
1. Main Display This large color LCD is your window into the power of Helix. 13. PHONES Turn this knob to control volume from the PHONES output. 14. Scribble Strips The thirteen Helix LCD scribble strips tell each footswitch's 2. PRESET Turn this knob to select a preset. Press the knob to open the Setlist current assignment, so there are never any surprises during a show.
Back Panel EXP2 EXT AMP GUITAR IN AUX IN MIC IN -1- SENDS / RETURNS XLR OUT -3- 1/4” OUT PHONES VARIAX MIDI LEFT/MONO S/PDIF PUSH RIGHT IN EXP3 CV -2- DIGITAL LEFT/MONO PUSH GND LIFT -4- OUT/THRU AES/EBU L6 LINK OUT USB POWER IN RIGHT OUT SEND RETURN SEND RETURN speaker(s), studio monitors, or other playback system. When using a single amp or speaker, connect only the LEFT/MONO 1/4” jack. 17.
Home Screen 90% of your daily tone building is accomplished from the Home screen. Press at any time to return to the main Home screen. Select an input block and turn the joystick to set the input source. Each path can have one or two input blocks Each of the two signal paths can be either parallel (A and B) or serial (A only) PATH 2 Turn the joystick to select a model; press the joystick to open the model list.
Quick Start 4. Press to open the Menu. 5. Press Knob 6 (Global Settings). The Global Settings screen appears: Global Settings Setting Proper Output Levels 1. Make sure the VOLUME and PHONES knobs are turned down. Firmware Version 2.00.0 Ins/Outs Preferences MIDI/Tempo Footswitches EXP Pedals Displays PHONES Ins/Outs 2. Connect a guitar to the Helix GUITAR IN jack. Off Off 0dB Off Multi 0.
Selecting Presets and Setlists 4. Press to return to the Home screen. You should see something like this: 1. Turn PRESET to select presets within the current setlist. 01A Quick Start Helix stores eight setlists, each containing 32 banks of four presets (A, B, C, and D). As we promised, no math - that’s a grand total of 1,024 preset locations. If that's not enough, your cover band should be asking for more money. 1 2.
Stomp Footswitch Mode Snapshot Footswitch Mode While in Stomp mode, each of the middle eight footswitches can do a number of things: Similar to the snapshots feature in some high end digital mixers, each of the Helix device's eight snapshots stores and recalls the state of certain elements in the current preset, including: • • • • Toggle one or more blocks on and off Toggle between two values of one or more parameters • All of the above, even simultaneously • Generate a MIDI, External Amp control,
Looper Footswitch Mode IMPORTANT! You may change presets while looping, but loop playback will stop unless the preset you select includes the same type of looper block (mono or stereo) on the same path (1 or 2) and is assigned to a footswitch. Looper mode is only available if a Looper block has been assigned to a footswitch in Stomp mode. Nearly all factory presets in Helix have a Looper block assigned to a footswitch, but your custom presets may not. Looper Type Max.
Selecting Blocks/Adjusting Parameters 2. Press the footswitch displaying the block you want to edit. The block's first page of parameters appear at FS1—FS6. 500 ms 50% 20 Hz 84% 0° 25% Time Feedback Mod Speed Mod Depth Mod Phase Mix Blocks are objects that represent various elements of a preset, such as amps, cabs, effects, splits, loopers, and even inputs and outputs. 1. From Stomp footswitch mode, briefly touch (but don’t press) the footswitch assigned to the desired block.
Bypassing a Block Most model categories include subcategories. For example, effects can generally be mono or stereo (stereo models display the icon). Amp+Cab and Amp models have Guitar and Bass subcategories. Cab models have single and dual subcategories. If a footswitch is assigned to the block, press the switch. Alternatively, select the block and press BYPASS to toggle the block on and off. Turn the joystick (or move it up and down) to select items in a list.
Choosing an Input If Path 2 has two input blocks, you may select either Path 2A or 2B, or even split your signal further to both 2A and 2B. See "2 into 1" for an example. Move the joystick left to select an Input block and turn the joystick. TIP: To view a list of available outputs, press the joystick. Normally you should select “Multi,” which includes three simultaneous inputs: Guitar, Aux, and Variax. Moving Blocks 1. Select any block (other than Input or Output) and press ACTION.
Saving/Naming a Preset NOTE: Inputs, Outputs, Splits, Merges, and Loopers can also be copied and pasted. However, if you, for example, try pasting the Looper into the Split block's location, Knob 2 (Paste Block) will be grayed out. Furthermore, if the destination path’s DSP cannot accommodate the copied block, the header will briefly read “Cannot Paste—Path 1 [or 2] DSP full!” See "Dynamic DSP" 1.
Serial vs. Parallel Routing ...or maybe a single Amp block splitting into two separate Cab blocks... For many guitar tones, a serial (one stereo path) signal flow is more than adequate. For example, our 8 TEMPLATES > 01A Quick Start preset has a volume pedal, wah pedal, Amp+Cab, reverb, and looper, but there's still room for distortion, modulation, and delay blocks: ...or two separate Amp and two separate Cab blocks... For more sophisticated tones, a parallel (two stereo paths) signal flow can be created.
Moving Split & Merge Blocks for More Parallel Routings 1 into 2 Move the Merge block down to path B. The Merge block shifts right and a duplicate Output block is created: 1. Use the joystick to select the point where paths A and B split or merge. "Split" and "Merge" blocks only appear when selected, but can be adjusted and moved like any other processing block. In this example, the Input block is split to paths A and B, each with its own Output block.
Dynamic DSP Super Serial A serial path has eight processing block locations. If that’s not enough, you can use parallel path B to create one big “super serial” path. Like nearly all modern audio processors, the Helix engine is based on DSP (Digital Signal Processing). Some models require many times more DSP horsepower than others, so it makes logical sense that fewer of those models could exist in a tone. To work around this, some processors restrict you to one amp, one reverb, one delay, etc.
What is Variax? Tips to Optimize DSP • • • • • • • Each of the Helix device's two primary paths utilizes its own DSP. If all of your blocks are on paths 1A and 1B, you're only using half its horsepower! If you plan on creating tones with two or more amps and more than a handful of effects, expect to use both paths 1 and 2 Line 6 Variax guitars feature special electronics that model the sound of other specific guitars and instruments, as well as allow for instant retuning of each string.
The Blocks All input blocks have a dedicated noise gate. Threshold and Decay parameters are grayed out unless the Input Gate parameter is turned on: Input Multi (Guitar, Aux, Variax) Off –48.0dB Input Gate Threshold Input 500 ms Auto Decay Guitar In-Z Input > Multi and Input > Guitar blocks have an additional Guitar In-Z parameter. Helix has an impedance circuit on its Guitar Input that affects tone and feel by loading your guitar's pickups as they would by an effect pedal or amplifier.
Page Knob Parameter 1 Variax String 6 2 Variax String 5 3 Variax String 4 4 Variax String 3 5 Variax String 2 6 Variax String 1 All output blocks display Knob 1 (Pan) and Knob 2 (Level): Description Output Multi (1/4”, XLR, Digital, USB 1/2) Choose the amount of half-steps, positive or negative, for which you want to raise or lower the pitch of the selected string.
Effects Dynamics Models Many Helix effects blocks can be either mono or stereo. Stereo effects display the model name. after Select an effects block and turn the joystick to change its model.
Modulation Models Reverb Models Model Subcategories Based On* Model Subcategory Based On* Dynamix Flanger Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Plate Stereo Line 6 Original Chorus Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Room Stereo Line 6 Original 70s Chorus Mono, Stereo BOSS CE-1 Chamber Stereo Line 6 Original Trinity Chorus Stereo DyTronics Tri-Stereo Chorus Hall Stereo Line 6 Original Bubble Vibrato Mono, Stereo BOSS VB-2 Vibrato Echo Stereo Line 6 Original Vibe Rotary Stereo Fender V
Wah Models Parameter Description Rate Adjusts the rate of the effect, with higher settings providing faster rates. Press the knob to toggle between numeric and note values. Not all Rate parameters can be synced to note values, as they may be non-linear and highly interactive. Time Adjusts the delay/repeat time, with higher settings providing longer delays. Press the knob to toggle between ms and note values.
Amp+Cab Amp Models Amp+Cab blocks are convenient in that when you select an Amp model, its matching Cab model is automatically loaded. To change the amp model in an Amp+Cab block, press until the cab icon is white and turn the joystick. The first page of Amp+Cab parameters is called the tonestack, and represents the knobs you would see on the real amp's panel: Amp+Cab Stone Age 185 3.4 2.5 5.0 3.4 2.
Common Amp Settings Amp Models Model Subcategory Based On* German Mahadeva Guitar Bogner® Shiva German Ubersonic Guitar Bogner® Überschall® Cali IV Rhythm 1 Guitar MESA/Boogie® Mark IV (channel I) Cali IV Rhythm 2 Guitar MESA/Boogie Mark IV (channel II) Cali IV Lead Guitar MESA/Boogie® Mark IV (lead channel) Cali Rectifire Guitar MESA/Boogie® Dual Rectifier® ANGL Meteor Guitar ENGL® Fireball 100 Solo Lead Clean Guitar Soldano SLO-100 (clean channel) Solo Lead Crunch Guitar Soldan
Cab Cab Models There are two subcategories of Cab blocks—Single and Dual. Not surprisingly, dual Cabs take twice as much DSP as single Cabs. To change the first cab model in a Cab > Dual block, press until the right cab icon is white and turn the joystick.
Impulse Response (IR) Mic Models Model Based On* 57 Dynamic Shure® SM57 409 Dynamic Sennheiser® MD 409 421 Dynamic Sennheiser® MD 421-U 30 Dynamic Heil Sound® PR 30 20 Dynamic Electro-Voice® RE20 121 Ribbon Royer® R-121 160 Ribbon Beyerdynamic® M 160 4038 Ribbon Coles 4038 414 Cond AKG® C414 TLII 84 Cond Neumann® KM84 1. Connect Helix to your computer via USB and open the Helix application. 67 Cond Neumann® U67 87 Cond Neumann U87 2. Click the Impulses tab.
Impulse Response Settings Send Settings Knob Parameter Knob Parameter 1 IR Select 2 Low Cut 3 High Cut 4 5 Mix Level Description Selects one of the 128 available IR locations. If a location contains an IR, the inspector header displays its name; otherwise, it reads "." Filters a portion of the IR's bass and/or treble frequencies, which can help remove rumble and/or high-end harshness. Description 1 Send Adjusts the level sent to your external devices.
Looper Split > A/B Settings Knob Parameter Helix can add one mono or stereo Looper block per preset. 1 Looper Settings Parameter Description Playback Adjusts looper playback level. You may find it useful to turn this down a bit so your live guitar can be slightly louder. 2 Overdub Relatively sets the level of your loop while overdubbing.
U.S. Registered Trademarks All product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These product names, descriptions and images are provided for the sole purpose of identifying the specific products that were studied during Line 6’s sound model development. Klon is a registered trademark of Klon, LLC. Timmy is a registered trademark of Paul Cochrane AKA PAULCAUDIO. Fulltone is a registered trademark of Fulltone Musical Products, Inc.
Tuner 2. Pluck an individual string on your guitar. 1. Hold the TAP footswitch until the Tuner screen appears: 3. To exit the Tuner, step on any footswitch. –3 –50 B When a box left of center is lit red, your string is flat. When a box right of center is lit red, your string is sharp. When the center box on the lower row is lit green, the top row of smaller bars can be used for more precision. When both arrows are illuminated, your string is perfectly in tune. All tuner settings are global.
Snapshots • Tempo—The current system tempo, if "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" > Tempo Select is set to "Per Snapshot." (By default, it's set to "Per Preset") Depending on how you set them up, snapshots can act as eight variations of the same tone, eight drastically different tones, or any combination thereof—all within the same preset. In many cases, a single preset's snapshots may accommodate all the various tones required for a song. With Helix firmware 2.
Snapshots > Parameter Control The parameter's value appears white and in brackets, indicating a controller's assigned to it—in this case, the Snapshots controller: In addition, parameters can be set to jump to specific values with each snapshot. [37%] Here’s an example where seven parameters (out of a possible 64) are updated instantly with each snapshot: Snapshot Variax Model Amp Gain Delay Mix Split A/B Pitch 1 INTRO Spank-1 4.5 35% Path A 100 0 #27 -7.2dB 2 VERSE Spank-1 4.
Snapshots > Command Center Using Snapshots Snapshots also store and recall the following MIDI, CV, and Ext Amp messages sent to external devices from the Command Center: Okay, sick of reading and ready to jump into snapshots? Here we go... • • • The value of any Instant 1. Press BANK and BANK footswitch mode.
Copying/Pasting a Snapshot Swapping Snapshots Instead of creating a new snapshot from scratch, you may want to copy an existing one to another snapshot location and tweak just a few things. There are actually two ways to do this: 1. Touch (but don't press) the two snapshot switches you want to swap until the following dialog appears: Quick Copy/Paste Snapshot from Footswitches 1. Press BANK and BANK footswitch mode. Swap Snapshots 1 and 5? simultaneously to enter Snapshot Cancel 2.
Saving Snapshots The camera icon on the home screen shows you the Snapshot Edits setting at a glance—When set to “Recall,” the camera is gray; when set to “Discard,” the camera is red. Press SAVE twice to save the preset. Saving a preset stores all of its 8 snapshots automatically. 1 NOTE: Selecting a preset recalls the Snapshot that was active when the preset was saved. Determining Snapshot Edit Behavior SHORTCUT: At any time, hold BYPASS and press SAVE to toggle this setting.
• • • • • Tips for Creative Snapshot Use Preset/Snap—One bank of presets on the top row, Snapshots 1-4 on the bottom row • Snap/Preset—Snapshots 1-4 on the top row, one bank of presets on the bottom row Snap/Stomp—Snapshots 1-4 on the top row, switches from stomp mode on the bottom row (see image below) • Stomp/Snap—Switches from stomp mode on the top row, Snapshots 1-4 on the bottom row • 8 Snapshots—Snapshots 1-8 SNAPSHOT 1 SNAPSHOT 1 2 SNAPSHOT 2 • 3 SNAPSHOT 3 4 SNAPSHOT 4 CANCEL • • SN
Bypass Assign 2. Press Knob 1 (Bypass Assign). The Bypass Assign screen looks very similar to the Home screen: Bypass Assign 16B Dream Rig+Vocals 1 Quick Bypass Assign 1. From the Home screen, use the joystick to select the block you wish to assign to a footswitch. Input, Output, Split > Y, and Merge blocks cannot be assigned to footswitches. Split > A/B or Split > Crossover blocks can be assigned to a footswitch; when bypassed, they behave exactly like Split > Y. Delay Harmony Delay None 2.
5. Turn Knob 2 (Type) to select "Latching" or "Momentary." SHORTCUT: Once any item has been assigned to a footswitch, touch and hold (but don't press) the footswitch, and a duplicate Customize button appears above Knob 5. Momentary The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) for as long as you hold the switch. Latching The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) every time you press the switch. This is the default.
Controller Assign 2. Press Knob 6 (Learn Controller). The button’s brain icon glows blue and the header reads “Move/use controller to learn...”: Helix provides a wide variety of tools for controlling your tone during a performance.
2. Press Knob 2 (Controller Assign). Variax Vol, If you have a James Tyler Variax or Variax Standard guitar, its Variax Tone volume and tone knobs can be used to adjust a wide variety of parameters in Helix. The Controller Assign screen looks very similar to the Home screen: Controller Assign 1 Footswitch Stepping on a Stomp mode footswitch can toggle between a pa1-5, 7-11 rameter's min and max values.
Clearing a Block's Controller Assignment(s) Tips for Creative Controller Assignment • • • • • • • • • • • If you assign a footswitch to more than one controller or other item, "MULTIPLE (X)" on the scribble strip isn't very descriptive. Don't forget to custom label it - See "Customizing a Command Footswitch Label" 1. From the Controller Assign screen, select the block whose controller assignments you want to clear and press ACTION.
Command Center 4. Turn Knob 1 (Command) to select the type of command you wish to transmit. Not all command sources can send the same types of commands. Select "None" to remove any command assignment. Helix also just so happens to be a world-class master remote control for your entire touring or studio rig.
Bank/Prog Knob Parameter IMPORTANT! Connect EXT AMP 1/2 only to amplifiers that utilize "shortto-sleeve" footswitch inputs. Connecting to any other sort of input could cause permanent damage to both your amp and Helix! If you're not sure if your amp has short-to-sleeve inputs, contact the manufacturer. Description 2 MIDI Ch Sets the Bank/Program message's MIDI channel (1-16). When set to "Base", Helix follows the Global MIDI channel, which is set from the "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" page.
Copying and Pasting a Command Customizing a Command Footswitch Label 1. Select the location containing the command you wish to copy and press ACTION. 1. From the Command Center screen, select Footswitch 1-5, 7-11, or Exp Toe with a command assigned and press Knob 6 (Customize). 2. Press Knob 1 (Copy Command). The Customize screen appears: 3. Select the location to which you want to paste the command— even in a different preset—and press ACTION. Customize 16B Dream Rig+Vocals K L M 4.
Global EQ Resetting Global EQ Resetting the Global EQ returns its settings to factory default (flat). 1. From the Global EQ screen, press ACTION. The Helix device's Global EQ has three fully parametric bands plus variable low and high cut filters, and is used for compensating for the wide disparity in acoustic environments on tour or when traveling from studio to studio. Global EQ is applied to all setlists and presets, and can be heard from the 1/4" outputs, XLR outputs, or both. 2.
Global Settings Resetting All Global Settings The Global Settings menu contains additional parameters that apply to all setlists and presets, such as input and output levels, custom footswitch mode settings, etc. The upper right corner displays the Helix device's current firmware version. Visit line6.com/ support for information on the latest Helix firmware updates. 1. From any Global Settings submenu, press ACTION. 1. Press Resetting the Helix Global Settings returns them to factory default.
Global Settings > Ins/Outs Page Knob Parameter Description 1 Guitar In Pad If your guitar or bass has active or really loud pickups, you may want to turn this on. There's really no rule; use what sounds best. 2 Mic In 48V Phantom When on, Helix provides 48V from the XLR Mic In jack to power studio condenser microphones. 3 Mic In Gain Sets analog gain for the XLR Mic In jack. 4 Mic In Low Cut Sets the frequency of the Mic In's dedicated, variable low-cut filter.
Global Settings > Preferences Knob Parameter Description 1 Determines whether or not any edits made to a snapshot (block on/off, parameter control, Command Center, tempo) are remembered when returning to that snapshot. When set to "Recall," any snapshot edits are recalled when jumping from snapshot to snapshot, and appear as you last left them. When set to "Discard," any snapshot edits are discarded when jumping from snapshot to snapshot, and appear as the preset was last saved.
Global Settings > Footswitches Knob Parameter Description Touch Select If you don't want Helix to automatically select assigned blocks or items when you touch a switch top, or engage Quick Bypass Assign when you touch a switch top for 2 seconds, set this to "Off." If you play barefoot, you might want to turn this off as well. 2 Preset Mode Switches By default, Preset footswitch mode displays eight presets (four on each row).
USB Audio Helix functions as a USB 2.0, multiple-input/output, 24-bit - 96kHz, low-latency audio interface for Windows® and Mac® computers, as well as for iPad and iPhone (with optional Apple Camera Connection Kit adapter), and is compatible with all major DAW software. NOTE: For USB audio operation on Windows® computers, it is necessary to download and install the Line 6 Helix ASIO® driver (see page 56).
Hardware Monitoring vs. DAW Software Monitoring Global Settings 16B Dream Rig Duet Use of the Helix default "Multi" settings for both the Input and Output blocks provides hardware monitoring, which allows you to hear your live input signal at all times, independent of your DAW software's monitor settings.
4. Set both tracks' outputs, as well as the DAW Master output, to Helix USB 1/2 to allow all tracks to play back through Helix. USB DRY DI GUITAR TRACK 1 (Dry DI Guitar) TRACK 2 (Processed Guitar) TRACK 3 (Re-amped Guitar) RE-AMPED GUITAR NOTE: Setting the stereo track's output to Helix USB 1/2 allows you to hear your Helix-processed tone via the Helix hardware monitoring while recording. For this configuration, disable software monitoring on all DAW tracks. 16B Dream Rig Duet 5.
ASIO® Driver Settings (Windows® only) Default Bit Select the Bit Depth at which Helix will operate for recording and Depth playback with your DAW software. 24 bit or 32 bit are recommended for quality audio production. When using Helix as an audio interface for Windows® DAW applications, it is highly recommended to configure the software to utilize the "ASIO®" Helix driver. The Line 6 ASIO® driver offers the superior, low-latency audio performance required for DAW recording.
MIDI MIDI CC Helix has reserved specific MIDI CC messages for global functions; these CCs cannot be used as controllers. If you attempt to learn a CC message reserved for global functions (see "Controller Assign"), the following dialog appears: NOTE: Helix transmits and responds to MIDI messages over USB in the same manner as via its MIDI connectors. For USB MIDI operation on Windows® computers, it is necessary to download and install the Line 6 Helix ASIO® driver, available from line6.com/software.
MIDI CC# Value Function 66 0-63: Full; 64-127: Half Looper Full/Half Speed switch (FS10) 67 0-63: Off; 64-127: On Looper block on/off (if available); also enters/exits Looper footswitch mode Additional Controls 0 0-7 Bank MSB 32 0-7 Bank LSB—Setlist select 64 64-127 Tap Tempo 68 0-127 Tuner screen on/off 69 0-7 Snapshot select 70 0-127 71 0-127 72 0-127 73 0-127 74 0-127 75 0-127 76 0-127 128 0-63: Oh; 64-127: Nooo Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for
