OWNER’S MANUAL 90-20-0358 - B (For use with Helix Firmware 1.00) 0•1 ©2015 Line 6, Inc.
Important Safety Instructions CA UTI ON RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE SCREWS. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THE APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
You should read these important safety instructions. Keep these instructions in a safe place. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Contents The Blocks 20 Input 20 Output 21 Welcome to Helix 4 What’s In the Box? 4 Common Terminology 4 Top Panel 5 Back Panel 7 Home Screen 8 Quick Start 9 Setting Proper Output Levels 9 Selecting Presets and Setlists Preset Footswitch Mode Stomp Footswitch Mode 11 Looper Footswitch Mode 11 Pedal Edit Mode 12 Selecting Blocks/Adjusting Parameters 13 Bypassing a Block 13 Choosing a Block's Model 13 Choosing an Input 14 Choosing an Output 14 Moving Blocks
Welcome to Helix Path A path represents the signal flow of your tone. Helix has two separate paths, 1 and 2, each with its own input(s) and output(s). Paths can be serial (single) or parallel (dual). Path 1 can be routed into path 2 for more sophisticated tones. 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 8 9 16B Dream Rig Duet 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 27. PHONES Out (12Ω) Connect stereo headphones here; turn the top panel 17. EXP 2 and 3 Two additional expression pedals can be connected to Helix and PHONES knob to adjust volume.
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 Helix 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. Ins/Outs PHONES MIDI/Tempo Footswitches Displays Info Ins/Outs 2. Connect a guitar to the Helix GUITAR IN jack. Line Line Instrument Instrument Instrument Instrument 1/4” Outputs XLR Outputs Send/ Return 1 Send/ Return 2 Send/ Return 3 Send/ Return 4 6.
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. 2.
Stomp Footswitch Mode 1. From Stomp mode, press the footswitch labeled “Looper” (if available). While in Stomp mode, the middle eight footswitches can do a number of things: • • Looper mode appears: Toggle one or more blocks on and off Toggle between two values of one or more parameters • Generate a MIDI, External Amp Control, or CV/Expression message • All of the above, even simultaneously BANK If not already there, press FS6 (MODE) to select Stomp mode.
Pedal Edit Mode 3. Press the footswitch displaying the parameter you want to adjust. Most blocks can be edited without taking your hands off the guitar; if you hate having to reach down and twist knobs, Pedal Edit mode will be your new best friend. Although Pedal Edit is not intended to replace proper controller assignment, in a pinch, it can also be used to tweak one parameter at a time during a performance. 4. Use the expression pedal to adjust the parameter.
Selecting Blocks/Adjusting Parameters Bypassing a Block Blocks are objects that represent various elements of a preset, such as amps, cabs, effects, splits, loopers, and even inputs and outputs. 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. 1. From Stomp footswitch mode, briefly touch (but don’t press) the footswitch assigned to the desired block.
Choosing an Input 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. Move the joystick left to select an Input block and turn the joystick. Turn the joystick (or move it up and down) to select items in a list. Normally you should select “Multi,” which includes three simultaneous inputs: Guitar, Aux, and Variax.
Moving Blocks Clearing a Block 1. Select any block (other than Input or Output) and press ACTION. 1. Select the block you wish to clear and press ACTION. The block appears “picked up” and the action panel appears. The inspector's icon shows you the directions in which the block can be moved. 2. Press Knob 3 (Clear Block).
Saving/Naming a Preset Serial vs. Parallel Routing 1. Press SAVE to open the Save Preset screen: 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: Save Preset M N O P a s t o r o f Mu p p e t For more sophisticated tones, a parallel (two stereo paths) signal flow can be created.
Moving Split & Merge Blocks for More Parallel Routings ...or maybe a single Amp block splitting into two separate Cab blocks... 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. ...or two separate Amp and two separate Cab blocks... 2. Press ACTION to pick up the Split or Merge block for moving. Choose one of the following parallel routing options: ...
Super Serial True Parallel Move both the Split and the Merge blocks down to path B. 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. Duplicate Input and Output blocks are created: 1. Move the Merge block down to path 1B. A duplicate Output block is created. 2. Move the Split block all the way to the right, past the last processing block on path 1A. 3.
Dynamic DSP • 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. With Helix, we feel it's important to let you keep adding whatever you want to your tone, even if you may eventually run out of DSP.
The Blocks All input blocks have a dedicated noise gate. Threshold and Decay parameters are grayed out unless Knob 1 (Input Gate) is turned on: Input Multi (Guitar, Aux, Variax) Off –48.0dB Input Gate Threshold Input 500 ms Decay Multi and Variax input blocks have additional pages for Variax parameters: Each preset can have up to four Input blocks (one or two per path). James Tyler Variax or Variax Standard Page Knob Parameter None Disables (mutes) the input block. Only available on Path 2.
Output L6 LINK Output Alternatively, the digital XLR connector can be used for L6 LINK output (use of a 110Ω XLR cable is recommended). L6 LINK provides easy digital audio connectivity between Helix and Line 6 StageSource speakers and/or DT-Series amplifiers. Two StageSource speakers or DT amps can also be connected in series via L6 LINK and your stereo Helix signal is intelligently split, with the left channel going to the first StageSource/DT and the right channel to the second.
Effects EQ 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.
Delay Models Pitch/Synth Models Model Subcategories Based On* Model Subcategories Based On* Simple Delay Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Pitch Wham Mono, Stereo Digitech Whammy® Mod Chorus Echo Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Twin Harmony Mono, Stereo Eventide® H3000 Multitap 4 Stereo Line 6 Original 3 OSC Synth Stereo Line 6 Original Multitap 6 Stereo Line 6 Original Ping Pong Stereo Line 6 Original Sweep Echo Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Ducked Delay Mono, Stereo TC Electron
Common FX Settings Parameter Description Drive Adjusts the amount of overdrive, distortion, or fuzz. Bass Adjusts the bass level. Mid Adjusts the midrange level. Treble Adjusts the treble level. Speed Adjusts the speed of the effect, with higher settings providing faster rates. Press the knob to toggle between Hz and note values. Choosing a Hz value provides a specific modulation speed in cycles per second; choosing a note value provides a time based on the current tempo.
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.
Common Amp Settings Amp Models Model Subcategory Based On* Brit Plexi Jump Guitar Marshall® Super Lead 100 (jumped) Brit P-75 Nrm Guitar Park® 75 (normal channel) Brit P-75 Brt Guitar Park® 75 (bright channel) Brit 2204 Guitar Marshall JCM-800 ® German Mahadeva Guitar Bogner® Shiva German Ubersonic Guitar Bogner® Überschall® Cali Rectifire Guitar MESA/Boogie® Dual Rectifier® ANGL Meteor Guitar ENGL® Fireball 100 Solo Lead Clean Guitar Soldano® SLO-100 (clean channel) Solo Lead C
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 67 Cond Neumann® U67 87 Cond Neumann® U87 47 Cond Neumann® U47 112 Dynamic AKG® D112 12 Dynamic AKG® D12 7 Dynamic Shure® SM7 Impulse Responses are mathematic
Impulse Response Settings Return Settings Knob Parameter Knob Parameter 1 IR Select 2 Low Cut 3 High Cut Description 1 Selects one of the 128 available IR locations. If a location contains an IR, the inspector header displays its name; otherwise, it reads "." 2 Filters a portion of the IR's bass and/or treble frequencies, which can help remove rumble and/or high-end harshness. 4 Mix Blends the IR signal with the dry signal passed through the IR block.
Looper Split > A/B Settings Knob Parameter Helix can add one mono or stereo Looper block per preset. 1 Determines the amount of the signal sent to Path A vs. Path B. Press the knob to set to Even Split. Split > Crossover Settings The Looper can exist anywhere on either Path 1 or Path 2.
Tuner 2. Pluck an individual string on your guitar. 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 is lit green and both arrows are illuminated, your string is in tune. 3. To exit the Tuner, step on any footswitch. 1. Hold the TAP footswitch until the Tuner screen appears: B –50 All tuner settings are global.
Footswitch Assign 2. Press Knob 1 (Footswitch Assign). The Footswitch Assign screen looks very similar to the Home screen: Footswitch 16B Dream Assign Rig+Vocals Quick Footswitch 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.
Customizing a Footswitch Color 5. Turn Knob 2 (Type) to select "Momentary" or "Latching." Momentary The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) for as long as you hold the switch. 1. From the Customize screen, turn Knob 5 (Switch LED) to select the desired color (or turn it off). Latching The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) every time you press the switch. This is the default. Normally, you should leave this set to "Auto Color." 2.
Controller Assign The button’s brain icon glows blue and the header reads “Move/use controller to learn...”: Move/use controller to learn... Helix provides a wide variety of tools for controlling your tone during a performance.
3. Move the joystick to select the block containing the parameter to which you want to assign a controller. Footswitch Stepping on a Stomp mode footswitch can toggle between a pa1-5, 7-11 rameter's min and max values. The most recently accessed parameter appears above Knob 1 (Parameter).
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 7 8 9 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 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. 1. From any Global Settings page, press ACTION. 1. Press Resetting the Helix Global Settings returns them to factory default. Performing this reset does not affect any presets you may have created. 2. Press Knob 1 (Factory Settings). to open the Menu. The following dialog appears: 2.
Global Settings > Ins/Outs Page Knob Parameter 1 Description 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 Guitar In Impedance Helix includes 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.
Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo Knob Parameter Description 1 MIDI Base Channel Sets the system base MIDI channel that Helix uses for both receiving and sending MIDI communication via MIDI and USB. Note that MIDI messages assigned from the Command Center page can be set to any MIDI channel. 2 MIDI Thru When on, MIDI OUT also acts as a MIDI THRU; that is, it passes through any MIDI messages received at the MIDI IN jack.
USB Audio If you set your DAW software track to record from Helix USB 1/2, you'll capture your Helix-processed input signal in the DAW track - with zero-latency monitoring, since you are hearing your input from the Helix hardware outputs before it is routed through your software.
DI Recording and Re-amplification GUITAR IN 16B Dream Rig Duet Delay Harmony Delay Helix offers two special DI outputs, USB Outs 7 and 8, which appear as available options within your DAW software track input menus. These two dedicated USB Outs are tapped directly from the Helix input sources of your choice.
ASIO® Driver Settings (Windows® only) 3. On Helix, select the Input block and set it to receive from the same USB stereo pair (USB In 3/4) and keep the Output block set to "Multi." Load your choice of amps and effects on the current Helix preset. 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.
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. ASIO® Your goal is to achieve the lowest latency possible in your DAW Buffer Size software, but with glitch-free audio performance. Smaller buffer size results in lower latency, however, also increases the demands on your computer, which can result in clicks, pops or other audio artifacts.
MIDI MIDI CC# Value Function Pedal and Footswitch Assignments 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. There is no driver installation necessary for Mac® or iPad® devices.
MIDI CC# Value Function Additional Controls 0 0-7 Bank MSB 32 0-7 Bank LSB—Setlist select 64 64-127 Tap Tempo 68 0-63: Off; 64-127: On Tuner screen on/off 69 0-127 70 0-127 71 0-127 72 0-127 73 0-127 74 0-127 75 0-127 76 0-127 Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use) Line 6, Inc.
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