Line 6 Helix Floor Processor

I have been with Line 6 for many years. My very first amp from Line 6 was a Line 6 AXSYS 212. I also have the POD 20, POD XT Live, POD HD 500, the Spider 3-120, the Spider 4-150, and the practice amp 15 watts. While on tour I used the Flextone 3-2x12 amp.THE REVIEW: First and foremost tone and sound are most important to me. The models are definitely rich and pure in tone.The well thought out connectivity and the ability to maneuver the effects chain in any order that I desire is a plus and the ability to have unlimited effects in a chain is superb! I like the touch sensitivity to the switches that allows access to parameters for on the fly editing. Additionally, there is better processing with all of the effects. The headphone volume is a great option that adds ... MoreI have been with Line 6 for many years. My very first amp from Line 6 was a Line 6 AXSYS 212. I also have the POD 20, POD XT Live, POD HD 500, the Spider 3-120, the Spider 4-150, and the practice amp 15 watts. While on tour I used the Flextone 3-2x12 amp.THE REVIEW: First and foremost tone and sound are most important to me. The models are definitely rich and pure in tone.The well thought out connectivity and the ability to maneuver the effects chain in any order that I desire is a plus and the ability to have unlimited effects in a chain is superb! I like the touch sensitivity to the switches that allows access to parameters for on the fly editing. Additionally, there is better processing with all of the effects. The headphone volume is a great option that adds to this already exceptional unit. Also, the stomp box mode allows the Helix to be used as a peddle board rig. Thumbs up for the large screen display and the scribble strips. Last but not least, the unit is very sturdy which makes it easy to travel with.There are so many BELLS & WHISTLES included in the Helix unit that it's too much to put into one review. So with that being said, I am COMPLETELY satisfied with my Helix!

I've been playing guitar since the late 80's and had one of the original kidney bean Pods. Passed a gen2 Pod onto my oldest son, so I'm somewhat familiar with modeling as a concept. I dont consider myself a purist by any means, Ive heard horrible tube amps, crappy effects, and enough poorly intonated guitars to look at all instruments as tools, some just are much more enjoyable to use.The helix has a lot of depth but that doesnt automatically mean great sounds...I really feel like you have to work at it. There tends to be either an in-the-can sound, blanket over the speaker or ice pick in my ear type thing..not very pleasant, but then again Ive played some horrible live gigs too.So you have to get in there and futz with it, change the speaker, try an i.r., use ... MoreI've been playing guitar since the late 80's and had one of the original kidney bean Pods. Passed a gen2 Pod onto my oldest son, so I'm somewhat familiar with modeling as a concept. I dont consider myself a purist by any means, Ive heard horrible tube amps, crappy effects, and enough poorly intonated guitars to look at all instruments as tools, some just are much more enjoyable to use.The helix has a lot of depth but that doesnt automatically mean great sounds...I really feel like you have to work at it. There tends to be either an in-the-can sound, blanket over the speaker or ice pick in my ear type thing..not very pleasant, but then again Ive played some horrible live gigs too.So you have to get in there and futz with it, change the speaker, try an i.r., use an e.q., compression, presence on the amp...its a lot of tweaks and it becomes a deeper and deeper time suck away from the guitar but thats progress I guess.I did find a couple of presets I liked plus purchased a few to make a running start, so we will see how it goes once I start gigging with it. I do like the Fender presets not too crazy about the Marshalls, the Archon is probably my fav clean

I've had my Line 6 Helix for about 2 weeks now. Having used a processor in the past, the learning curve was very minimal. When diving into the usages and possibilities for creating a perfect tone, I became overwhelmed on where to start! There could be worse problems, right? So far, I'm still in the beginners' stage of getting my presets and snapshots set up, but it appears that my initial complaints on having to dial things in manually (or copy/pasting) with the knobs can be alleviated with the HX Edit app for PC or Mac (which is free).I'm still trying to dial in my idea of a perfect tone, but the abundance of presets that come out of the box are excellent starting points. In addition to that, one of the coolest things about this is that Line 6 has a "Customtone" ... MoreI've had my Line 6 Helix for about 2 weeks now. Having used a processor in the past, the learning curve was very minimal. When diving into the usages and possibilities for creating a perfect tone, I became overwhelmed on where to start! There could be worse problems, right? So far, I'm still in the beginners' stage of getting my presets and snapshots set up, but it appears that my initial complaints on having to dial things in manually (or copy/pasting) with the knobs can be alleviated with the HX Edit app for PC or Mac (which is free).I'm still trying to dial in my idea of a perfect tone, but the abundance of presets that come out of the box are excellent starting points. In addition to that, one of the coolest things about this is that Line 6 has a "Customtone" section on their website that has threads of people offering free downloads of patches they've created, based of particular tones people are seeking. There are other paid patches you can download from third parties, but the fact that there are seemingly endless resources to capture your perfect tone is a great thing to have!

Helix does not rule for me

I was hoping that the latest firmware 3.50 would result in a better sounding Helix. But I still can't identify with the amp, distortion and cabinet sounds.I am used to a DVMark Raw Dawg EG with a Boss MS-3. With IK Multimedia Tonex I was able to make a super good profile of the DVMark that sounds almost identical.Now I thought I could still use the Helix with Tonex via the USB ins and outs. That works in principle, but then the sterile distortion effects throw a spanner in the works. As analogous as the distortions on the Boss MS-3 sound, as sterile and digital as the distortions sound on the Helix. So the Helix didn't appeal to me there. The latter is a pity because the rest of the functionalities and effects work very handy. Tastes differ, but the Helix will ... MoreI was hoping that the latest firmware 3.50 would result in a better sounding Helix. But I still can't identify with the amp, distortion and cabinet sounds.I am used to a DVMark Raw Dawg EG with a Boss MS-3. With IK Multimedia Tonex I was able to make a super good profile of the DVMark that sounds almost identical.Now I thought I could still use the Helix with Tonex via the USB ins and outs. That works in principle, but then the sterile distortion effects throw a spanner in the works. As analogous as the distortions on the Boss MS-3 sound, as sterile and digital as the distortions sound on the Helix. So the Helix didn't appeal to me there. The latter is a pity because the rest of the functionalities and effects work very handy. Tastes differ, but the Helix will not work for me and is therefore registered for return.

I've been a fan of LINE 6 for a long time.

With all of the wannabes out there, LINE 6 gear will always be the real deal for me. Being a partner with Yamaha you get the best of both worlds. I started with a LINE 6 Flextone III X-LARGE as my very first purchase. I sold it after owning it for 10 years and it worked like the day I purchased it. I owned the HX STOMP and traded up to a Helix LT. Most of the brands today are great but a lot of times you're paying for a name with less quality. Line6 to me is the real deal. I'm planning on purchasing a Variax soon. I know I'll have no regrets.

Incredible possibilities with 3.5; cheap construction; unr

Helix is fantastic for all studio musicians. You can construct so many different sounds with it. Since 3.0, the Helix is a complete package as far as guitar processors go: you have all different amps, cabs, effects, acoustic sim, synths, polyphonic transposition, harmonization, oversampling. Lots of in/outs, lots of ways to route it.The workflow is great: you have the computer editor. You can back up/restore your Helix, email the backup to yourself, etc. The Helix can absolutely replace your entire signal chain and be used as the only piece of gear to process your guitar sounds. The same could not be said about the Helix when it was on earlier firmware versions.Now, the Helix itself is very cheaply made. I thought I'd purchase one and never need to use anything ... MoreHelix is fantastic for all studio musicians. You can construct so many different sounds with it. Since 3.0, the Helix is a complete package as far as guitar processors go: you have all different amps, cabs, effects, acoustic sim, synths, polyphonic transposition, harmonization, oversampling. Lots of in/outs, lots of ways to route it.The workflow is great: you have the computer editor. You can back up/restore your Helix, email the backup to yourself, etc. The Helix can absolutely replace your entire signal chain and be used as the only piece of gear to process your guitar sounds. The same could not be said about the Helix when it was on earlier firmware versions.Now, the Helix itself is very cheaply made. I thought I'd purchase one and never need to use anything ever again-- wrong! After about a year of light use, the buttons stopped working reliably, then an LED stopped working. Helix is assembled using cheap Chinese parts that are tiny! For example, the footswitches are not what they appear to be--there are tiny tactile microswitches underneath.The Helix will not withstand nonstop gigging for more than a year, unless it's regularly serviced/cleaned, etc. It's a real shame because it can sound great, but something is always failing, or about to fail.

Perfect for the weekend warrior musician

I play in a couple of different bands and we occasionally do live performances. I was getting really tired of transporting my half stack between practices and shows, so I wanted something that was not only going to be easier to move, but also was going to give me everything that I need in a much more portable package. The Helix is a powerful tool that allows you so many different tonal options that span across any genre all in one convenient foot pedal. It comes with factory default scenes that you can immediately start playing with or you can customize your own right from the pedal itself. It offers a lot and with that comes a bit of a learning curve, however, it's not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. It's actually quite easy to get started and the ... MoreI play in a couple of different bands and we occasionally do live performances. I was getting really tired of transporting my half stack between practices and shows, so I wanted something that was not only going to be easier to move, but also was going to give me everything that I need in a much more portable package. The Helix is a powerful tool that allows you so many different tonal options that span across any genre all in one convenient foot pedal. It comes with factory default scenes that you can immediately start playing with or you can customize your own right from the pedal itself. It offers a lot and with that comes a bit of a learning curve, however, it's not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. It's actually quite easy to get started and the user manual is helpful. There are also tons of videos online via Youtube that can help you get started. I pair this with the Line 6 Powercab Plus 212 cab and it works excellent. I always dreaded the need for complex pedal boards that were a headache to connect and I would have to tap dance around to get the sound I wanted. Now, I can program it all in this pedal and with one touch I can command the exact sound I want on the fly. The sounds the Helix provides are great. It may take some tweaking but I'm sure anyone can find what they're looking for with this product. It has very sound construction that feels quality so I'm sure it will hold up from constant use and you have several connection options from plugging into a PA system or cab and adding more pedals. There is also a plethora of online help from a very dedicated community of fellow Helix users that provide IR's and other downloads to help you find that sound your want. All in all, this product has made hobby much easier and much more enjoyable but don't think that it's just for hobbyist. It can be used by all including professionals. I would definitely recommend this product.

Potentially very complicated, but worth the effort

This is an amazing little device. Always a little scared to look at pedal/footswitches since there are so many options, I didn't know where to start and what to get. I got the Stomp because I realised you could download (free) and try settings that clever people have already created, and then I could just amend them as needed.Unfortunately the Line 6 videos are no use as a starter guide. I found myself looking at many videos online, and eventually the terminology and controls starts to make sense. Initially I found setting up via the computer the easiest option, and more intuitive.After a week, I now have about 4 presets that will be my base for most things, and a couple of other downloads that I might use for particular bands/songs (e.g. Queen). Because these ... MoreThis is an amazing little device. Always a little scared to look at pedal/footswitches since there are so many options, I didn't know where to start and what to get. I got the Stomp because I realised you could download (free) and try settings that clever people have already created, and then I could just amend them as needed.Unfortunately the Line 6 videos are no use as a starter guide. I found myself looking at many videos online, and eventually the terminology and controls starts to make sense. Initially I found setting up via the computer the easiest option, and more intuitive.After a week, I now have about 4 presets that will be my base for most things, and a couple of other downloads that I might use for particular bands/songs (e.g. Queen). Because these devices are so flexible, I don't think there is a right or wrong way to setup the foot switches, so I am still contemplating how best to setup the snapshots and/or stomp mode. But I think Snapshots are the easiest way to go.One of the big advantages is that I can adjust all the levels of the different presets to be the same, so my idea is that in the end I should never need to touch the volume control on the guitar.I have also now Brough an FRFR speaker, which means the Stomp can generate sounds from all sorts of different well known amps, and I can sell my old amp, and would never need to look at other amps again.I’ve gone from being scared of it to really looking forward to our next band practice. Well worth the price, and the free bag was a good bonus.

Pros and cons...

I've been playing guitar since 1983 and primarily play 70s/80s hard rock/metal. I bought the Helix strictly for use in home recording/YouTube projects. I've owned it for roughly 7 months and bought it to replace my POD HD500, which I used for 7 years. To start off, the Helix is easily a step up from the HD500 and is capable of much more natural sounding tones. However, if you do not have experience with amp modelling processors, the learning curve can be steep. The basics are easily mastered, but really understanding some of the critical tone-shaping factors such as the amp models' sag/bias, and fine tuning in general, take time and commitment. There are plenty of people selling patches for it but beware - what you hear on YouTube is not always what you get LOL, and ... MoreI've been playing guitar since 1983 and primarily play 70s/80s hard rock/metal. I bought the Helix strictly for use in home recording/YouTube projects. I've owned it for roughly 7 months and bought it to replace my POD HD500, which I used for 7 years. To start off, the Helix is easily a step up from the HD500 and is capable of much more natural sounding tones. However, if you do not have experience with amp modelling processors, the learning curve can be steep. The basics are easily mastered, but really understanding some of the critical tone-shaping factors such as the amp models' sag/bias, and fine tuning in general, take time and commitment. There are plenty of people selling patches for it but beware - what you hear on YouTube is not always what you get LOL, and finding good tones for free on the Line 6 CustomTone site is challenging too. I also don't care for the built-in presets, but still much better than the HD500. Back to the tone shaping, the low-end response and feel is GREATLY improved over the HD500 but they may have over-compensated there as the low-end can be overbearing. Fortunately, it's nothing some EQ'ing can't fix. The bigger challenge is replicating that wonderful crunch and responsiveness you can only get from an actual high-gain tube amp. For reference, my real amp is an EVH 5150iii. The blue (crunch) channel on that amp is what I strive for. While again we see improvements over the HD500, the Helix doesn't quite get you that crunch perfectly (but it's close). For my direct-recording purposes, I'm happy enough with it, but in the end simply nothing compares to a real tube amp. As for the effects, I have no complaints there and really like the versatility allowed. If you can do without the LCD labels (or "scribble strips") next to the footswitches and don't need a lot of output options, I highly recommend checking out the LT version. You get the same tone for quite a bit less money. All of that said, I'm excited to see where Line 6 goes next.

Review of Line 6 Helix

It has so many useful feature for a home studio guitarist (including being a decent Audio Interface). I'm still learning how to get the best out of it in terms of recording. Eg SPDIF, AES, Line Out etc. How to get DI and affected tones. And how best to utilise my Shuriken (piezo pickups are great for recording at home)But most importantly the sounds are great. There's nothing like standing in front of a Dual Rectifier cranked. But there nothing like tinnitus either. So i wish this had been around 30 years ago!Being able to edit / create patches with the HX Edit app makes things easier than having to bend down for long periods of time.. Saying that i have managed to edit a few patches on the fly with my feet. But i've really only scratched the surface. There are ... MoreIt has so many useful feature for a home studio guitarist (including being a decent Audio Interface). I'm still learning how to get the best out of it in terms of recording. Eg SPDIF, AES, Line Out etc. How to get DI and affected tones. And how best to utilise my Shuriken (piezo pickups are great for recording at home)But most importantly the sounds are great. There's nothing like standing in front of a Dual Rectifier cranked. But there nothing like tinnitus either. So i wish this had been around 30 years ago!Being able to edit / create patches with the HX Edit app makes things easier than having to bend down for long periods of time.. Saying that i have managed to edit a few patches on the fly with my feet. But i've really only scratched the surface. There are tons of videos on YT that i'm working my way through. But for anyone wanting the most flexible home set up, great usability out the box, without the complexity of a Kemper this is it.