Line 6 HX Effects

107
June 2018 Guitarist
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Multi-FX pedal
FEATURES: Selectable
buffered or true bypass,
128 preset locations
(each with four
snapshots) in 32 banks of
four, computer-based
editor (coming soon),
impulse response loading
for stage/FOH routings
and acoustic guitar body
resonance, tuner
CONTROLS: Big knob, 3 x
soft knobs 6x buttons, 8 x
footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard inputs (L/Mono,
R), standard output (L/
Mono, R), Sends 1&2,
Returns 1&2, 2 x Exp
pedal, MIDI In, MIDI Out/
Thru, USB
POWER: Supplied 9VDC
DC-3G adaptor 3000 mA
DIMENSIONS: 275 (w) x
195 (d) x 70mm (h)
9
IN USE
Setting things up is extremely easy with
just a few intuitive controls. At the HX’s
most basic you can just use a mono input
and output and have six footswitches
for six effects, but if you want to get
deeper there’s so much more complexity
to explore here.
Not least, you can set it up as the
command centre of your system: you can
arrange blocks in any order (including
parallel signal paths), assign tasks to the
footswitches (including assigning multiple
blocks to the same switch, changing
parameter values, etc), create snapshots
(recallable variations of the same preset),
utilise the extensive MIDI capability and
set up external controllers – there are two
inputs to add expression pedals and these
can, alternatively, be used for switching
an amp’s channels or effects. With wah,
whammy and other foot-controlled effects
onboard, some might wonder at the lack of
a built-in treadle but not everyone needs
one, so, for those that do, using external
expression pedals makes perfect sense
and keeps the unit at a manageable size.
The effects here are of uniformly high
quality. Digital modelling these days can
provide recreations of classic effects that
in many cases are all but indistinguishable
from the original and our A/B testing
showed plenty of that going on here, with
quite possibly all the modulation, pitch
and spatial effects you’ll need plus an
eclectic range of drives/distortions. All this
comes with massive flexibility – with 128
onboard ‘pedalboards’ there’s nothing to
stop you having six different distortions on
the same ’board or a modulation monster
with chorus, phaser, flanger, rotary,
tremolo and vibe.
VERDICT
The HX Effects excels both as a self-
contained compact pedalboard or
a constituent part of a bigger ’board
where it could be a starter unit in
building your system or used to expand
your existing rig with a range of quality
effects to cover all sonic eventualities.
At a street price of under £500 there’s
not a lot you need to ask yourself before
parting with your cash.
01. MODE SWITCH
The Mode footswitch really
unlocks the HX Effects’
onboard versatility –
toggling between two
modes to configure the
footswitches to either call up
presets or individual effects.
To completely bypass the
pedal you can press Mode
and Tap switches together
02. GENERAL
FRONT PANEL
The six footswitches’
scribble strip LCDs and
colour-coded LED rings let
you see exactly what you
need to with high visibility
03.KNOBS 1, 2 & 3
Instant access here to
editing parameters of an
effect when in Pedalboard
mode – just touch any
footswitch and the first
three will appear in the
scribble strip
04. REAR PANEL
Two mono or one stereo
send/return loop can
connect external pedals
and/or facilitate amp
connection by the
four-cable method
3
2
4
PROS All the Helix effects and more, workable
size, external loops, easy editing
CONS May not work with your standard
pedalboard power supply unit
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GIT433.peds_line6_hx.indd 107 17/04/2018 13:44