Just bought used one, hoping to replace most of my pedals with it. I only had a small pedal board and for the price I might as well sell my board and have a HX effects that gives me much more tonal options.
Nice video Leon. I have had one of these for a bit now and it really is an awesome solution for getting an all in one effects processor to work with your amp.
When you just played the clean sound, before Snapshot 1, it sounded like something was noise gating it, or choking it. That wasn't the effect of the Helix being on (but no patches selected) was it?
Hello everyone, my HX Effects does not work with my Engl Sreammer 50. The TRS jack puts some extra voltage on the amplifier, the lead led always has a dim light even when the channel is off. The polarity of one button is right and the other is inverted. Changing from EXP to Amp in the preferences also does not solve the problem, however, using EXP we can change the polarity (strange).There is also an increase in the gain of the amplifier. Using a Boss FS-6 pedal works fine. Also with Behringer FCB1010. I reported the problem to Line6 who replied: "Hi, HX Effects ability to control external amp channel and/or reverb switching has been tested with many popular amps and heads. Unfortunately this does not guarantee compatibility with all products. Note that, depending on the circuitry of the channel switching jack in the guitar amp used, the EXT Amp function may not operate as expected. Best regards, Technical Support Line 6 Support Europe" This is a copy/paste from the manual. Therefore, you buy the equipment and if you are lucky it works with your amplifier. I find out there are 3 Volts at the tip of the EXT Amp jack, Line6 support does not confirm if this is normal or a defect. No replay from then, very poor suport.
Mine died after 1 1/2 to 2 years. Only played it in my living room, I still had the plastic film on LCD . I loved the helix but at $1500 for two years of use, not sure if I would buy again. Took it to authorized repair shop, 90 miles away, they requested I drop it off, wouldn't accept me shipping it. Dropped it off on 8-18-2018. They basically said a month in shop - minimum. Played unit one afternoon, direct to front of amp as always, unit worked as usual. Came in next day powered on, unit would not detect guitar input, no output. Shop guesses Mobo died, but have to wait and find out. Probably a $300 or more repair charge. Will know in a month. Will definitely look at other brands after this for better repair options.
Great video ! I'd like to buy a multi effects to control my amp as well. I really like the sound and possibilities of the hx. However I heard people got issues while using it with the 4 CM method. .. tone suck, loosing the sound of the amp etc... did you notice anything? Would you still recommend it today or do you have something else in mind ? Thank you for your videos !
hi leon i messaged u the other day about drive pedals cos the OD-200 i bought was a huge disapointment, u suggested a few for me :) anyways turns out it wasnt the OD-200 but it was cos i was running in the fx/loop of the hxfx :( which it should be fine with! but isnt! have u herd of anyone or did u have any major tone loss when running ur drive pedals in the hxfx fx/loop? ive check that the loop is set to instrument for the level not line, but yer any advice?
Great video !! 10:30 : when you switch snapshot 2 to snapshot 3, the marshall lead chanel toggle automaticaly or you must switch manually ? Thank you in advance for your answer.
Should be automatically, you can run a cable to the footswitch input of your amp to channel switch and in snap shots you can edit things to be on or off.
Great video Leon! I’m a little confused on the routing. If I want to use this with my amp via the 4CM along with a built in IR to FOH, what would be the proper way to route it? Bear in mind, I’m using the Bluguitar Amp 1 and it does not need a load. I’m familiar with how to do a traditional 4CM with my amps fx loop but what if I just want to keep everything in the HX and not use my amps loop. Thanks.
I am really interested in buying this unit to use in front of a clean Fender HRD (my go-to amp for clean tone, that I use at least 50% of the time). My big concern is: does the Helix HX changes the basic tone of the amp when bypassed? Or should I use a buffer, specific settings, change the amp EQ etc?
Loved your vid man! Hey I got a Randall rm-100 that’s 3 channel switcher is midi. Will the hx effects let me switch to either 3 channels with added effects with just one stomp using snapshot?
Do you have this in the 4CM and using it as a midi controller? How do you have snapshots of clean and dirty with the lack of amp modelling from the HX?
Hey man, fellow West Australian here. I think your vids are great. I have a question for you regarding the HX Effects. I have been using my HD500x in a Dual H&K tubemeister stereo rig (7CM) but I have found the 500 really takes away from my tone in comparison to straight or using Boss equipment. Can you please tell me if the HX coloured your tone or if you lost transperency ?
Hey Leon, unfortunately, I sold my AXE FX III + FC-12... I'm looking for something like Line 6 HX effects or Headrush Gigboard... Any recommendations? I'm mostly playing Lead guitar at Church (Worship).
Hey Leon, I play & record mostly digitally through my audio interface (Focusrite 2i4) with NI Guitar Rig 5, any idea i can plug my guitar to HX Effects and then to my interface? I wonder if it will sound better than Guitar Rig...
Artjom Šatalin You’ll need an amp simulation or something, less your guitar sounds sterile. You might want to take a look to the Stomp or the full Helix, both sport amp simulation.
hello friend. im planning to get just the hx, was wondering whether the dry signal of my amp will be lost when i dime the reverb mix since ill be running the fx in front of my actual amp. is there a way to preserve the dry signal and just add the reverb on top of it?
is the dry through same as the mix option? sorry im confused. what i meant was, is there a way to get the effects level or mix to 100 without losing the dry signal?
Aravis I’ll mess with mine today and see if I can replicate what your asking, but... in general 100% wet would seem to mean no dry signal going through. You can definitely run the HX in stereo to have a wet/dry setup with 2 amps.
i mean this is a really cool toy folks ^^ but this is so much over compressed in terms of dynamic that IMO it's almost unusable ....im trying my best for years to convince myself to buy one of these killer-on-the-paper Line6 products but no way every time i listen to a demo (from whoever it might be on YT) i end up with the same conclusion 🤓
@@zoomzoom3950 what is the purpose of YT videos (especially from great musicians like Todd) if you'll still need to try every single device to find out how it sounds ....it sounds as it sounds maybe you can tweak it like hell during days to find a decent tone by i still prefer to focus on music than tweaking ....i've been already doing that for extensive amount of time since 90's .....so i'm over with GAS !!!
@@lushkordz6643 the purpose of YT videos is to demonstrate features, capabilities, use, and results. Those should be enough for anyone to determine if a piece of gear is worth trying themselves. Many YT gear vids are just an advertisement for gear, whether you like it or not, or if it works / doesn't work for you is up to you to decide. I purchased my first pedal as a kid in the '70s (EHX Big Muff Pi, new), I've been through tube amps, solid state amps, racks, modelers, etc. You had to try or buy gear to try it in person back in the day. These days, it's much easier to see gear demos, buy and try, return, but there are many more choices, so you have to know what you want. My current gear gives me the sounds I want and need, and has more options to get other sounds if I want or need something different. I still have a few tube amps and pedals around, but mostly use modelers because they do everything I need in a small, convenient form. Cheers!
@@zoomzoom3950 i don't understand why you R so prone to convince folks that what you consider as relevant should be relevant for everyone ...i have the right to have my opinion N you yours ....that's so simple !!! if you consider the purpose of a YT video is to explain you what is already available in a manual ....then it's ok 🤣 i don't mind it's your business not mine !!! i prefer to read manuals in order to have a more in depth approach 💪(coz most of the time this is just explantions 4 noobs) N then watch some demos in order to find out how it sounds in real world //// 2 me a YT video is to grab what is not available in a manual ....which means the sonic aspect 🚀 2 me the only guy whom i heard was able to make a Helix sound good is Matteo Mancuso (a sicilian Jazz Fusion virtuoso from where i live in Sicily) but even with him it still sounds very compressed (BTW Matteo is a Yamaha endorsee 💰) ...some guy like this type of sound ...some don't !!! i prefer the Boss feeling which is less compressed nowaday (not back in the late 90s) or a Fractal AX8/Axe-FX2 is way more natural IMO N the best processor on the market (but too expensive N useless for my daily use)
@@lushkordz6643 well Lush, if people are interested in a piece of gear because of a YT video, maybe they should try it for themselves to see if it works for them? Instead, they list all the reasons why it won't work for them so I suppose if they actually tried the gear it probably wouldn't work for them since that is already their thought, especially if they have to learn how to use it, and spend time with it. That's why we still have tube amps and simple pedals, for those who don't care to spend the time with more complex gear such as the HX Effects. That said, the HX Effects can be approached methodically just as LT demonstrated, new patch, add one effect and tweak, repeat., just as you would with any pedal, except you have many pedal choices, routing choices, etc., in one box. My basic point was if you don't try it for yourself you'll never know if it works for you. If you base your gear decisions on YT gear demo advertisements, that's on you. I've heard many make Line 6, Fractal, Kemper, Boss, DigiTech, Zoom gear sound good because they knew what they wanted from the gear and spent the time to get it. If the majority of your listeners are enjoying your music, who cares what curmudgeon guitarists say? Cheers!
Nice effects system and it has cool sounds and features but it will never top the sound of pedals, never. And it will affect your amp's tone whereas a quality GigRig2 or RJM PCB will do a fantastic job in preserving your tone. HX sounds too digital and fake sounding.
Θανος Z you couldn't be further from the truth. I was so blown away at the sounds through my tube rigs that the pedals have been sold. The HX is staying.
"And it will affect your amp's tone". Sure, while having lots of pedals and their ins and outs and the connections and the different power supplies and everything will definitely IMPROVE your tone. "Too digital" doesn't mean anything, stop saying that.
Thank you good sir. Clear, concise and to the point. PERFECT! I've watched a grip of other videos and all they did was confuse me.
Line 6 aughta just hire you after making this demo! This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
Just bought used one, hoping to replace most of my pedals with it. I only had a small pedal board and for the price I might as well sell my board and have a HX effects that gives me much more tonal options.
Nice video Leon. I have had one of these for a bit now and it really is an awesome solution for getting an all in one effects processor to work with your amp.
That's it, selling my boss es 8 and getting this today!
So awesome to finally find a RUclipsr from Perth! love knowing what music stores you're talking about! haha
Cheers! Mega are a great crew, I'm lucky to have somewhere here that stocks cool new stuff and let me try it.
Thank you! Good review as always! You are such a good guitarist...
When you just played the clean sound, before Snapshot 1, it sounded like something was noise gating it, or choking it. That wasn't the effect of the Helix being on (but no patches selected) was it?
The
@@tommypowell3471 ?
“Rival companies, but it’s all good tone at the end of the day,”
Awesome video!! I bought one a few days after Namm.. Love it!!
Thanks so much! It's a really handy unit, pretty hard to beat at the price point.
exactly!!!
Cool thanks
17:00 killer tone!
King’s X “Dogman”. He has great taste.
Hello everyone, my HX Effects does not work with my Engl Sreammer 50. The TRS jack puts some extra voltage on the amplifier, the lead led always has a dim light even when the channel is off. The polarity of one button is right and the other is inverted. Changing from EXP to Amp in the preferences also does not solve the problem, however, using EXP we can change the polarity (strange).There is also an increase in the gain of the amplifier. Using a Boss FS-6 pedal works fine. Also with Behringer FCB1010. I reported the problem to Line6 who replied: "Hi, HX Effects ability to control external amp channel and/or reverb switching has been tested with many popular amps and heads. Unfortunately this does not guarantee compatibility with all products. Note that, depending on the circuitry of the channel switching jack in the guitar amp used, the EXT Amp function may not operate as expected. Best regards, Technical Support Line 6 Support Europe" This is a copy/paste from the manual. Therefore, you buy the equipment and if you are lucky it works with your amplifier.
I find out there are 3 Volts at the tip of the EXT Amp jack, Line6 support does not confirm if this is normal or a defect. No replay from then, very poor suport.
Mine died after 1 1/2 to 2 years. Only played it in my living room, I still had the plastic film on LCD . I loved the helix but at $1500 for two years of use, not sure if I would buy again. Took it to authorized repair shop, 90 miles away, they requested I drop it off, wouldn't accept me shipping it. Dropped it off on 8-18-2018. They basically said a month in shop - minimum. Played unit one afternoon, direct to front of amp as always, unit worked as usual. Came in next day powered on, unit would not detect guitar input, no output. Shop guesses Mobo died, but have to wait and find out. Probably a $300 or more repair charge. Will know in a month. Will definitely look at other brands after this for better repair options.
there $599 everywhere. Where did you pay $1500?
I loved the "helix" but at $1500 for two years of use, not sure if I would buy again
I was mad my Helix died... didn't look at what video I was posting this under. Thought it was a Helix video
theres a million axe fx ultras that are going on over 10 years old working like a charm that are like 600 used and still sound better than helix imo
Amazing demo Leon. Sounds so natural and smooth aaaaaand professional.
Thanks so much, it's an impressive unit
Thank you for this amazing demo!!
Thanks for watching, it was an absolute pleasure to make.
Great video ! I'd like to buy a multi effects to control my amp as well. I really like the sound and possibilities of the hx. However I heard people got issues while using it with the 4 CM method. .. tone suck, loosing the sound of the amp etc... did you notice anything? Would you still recommend it today or do you have something else in mind ? Thank you for your videos !
Has anybody figured out how to save more than six effects at once? It's not in the manual.
I wanted to know if line 6 HX is compatible with mission SP-1 (red) I used it in my fractal ax8
i see no reason why it wouldn't, but perhaps drop either Mission or L6 support a line about it.
Need your opinion! This unit or plethora x5, and why..?
I'll get back to you when I try the plethora!
hi leon i messaged u the other day about drive pedals cos the OD-200 i bought was a huge disapointment, u suggested a few for me :) anyways turns out it wasnt the OD-200 but it was cos i was running in the fx/loop of the hxfx :( which it should be fine with! but isnt! have u herd of anyone or did u have any major tone loss when running ur drive pedals in the hxfx fx/loop? ive check that the loop is set to instrument for the level not line, but yer any advice?
PLEASE tell me how to turn the blinking light on the tap/tuner OFF, it’s driving me crazy.
I have no idea, sorry. Contact L6, their support is good.
Great video !!
10:30 : when you switch snapshot 2 to snapshot 3, the marshall lead chanel toggle automaticaly or you must switch manually ?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Should be automatically, you can run a cable to the footswitch input of your amp to channel switch and in snap shots you can edit things to be on or off.
Great video Leon! I’m a little confused on the routing. If I want to use this with my amp via the 4CM along with a built in IR to FOH, what would be the proper way to route it? Bear in mind, I’m using the Bluguitar Amp 1 and it does not need a load. I’m familiar with how to do a traditional 4CM with my amps fx loop but what if I just want to keep everything in the HX and not use my amps loop. Thanks.
I am really interested in buying this unit to use in front of a clean Fender HRD (my go-to amp for clean tone, that I use at least 50% of the time). My big concern is: does the Helix HX changes the basic tone of the amp when bypassed? Or should I use a buffer, specific settings, change the amp EQ etc?
Effects sound fantastic! You haven't noticed any signal or time loss with it? I've heard that is a problem people have with this pedal.
Geetar Bear UP
Hi Leon. Could you possibly tell me the settings of the latch you switch on around 10:50 for the leads ?? I love it.
From memory it was the minotaur drive with gain on 0, level at 10 and tone at around 6/7 with the tape delay set for around 450ms of delay
Line 6 Hey Chex😆 Nice review by the way❤
New Chex mix flavour!
Leon what distortion and effects were you using on Snapshot 3 and 4. Thanks
I want to use my distortion pedal, with this hx effects, Could I place it anywhere in the chain (signal flow)?
The HX has a loop so that will work fine.
It seems quite similar to the TC nova system.
Loved your vid man! Hey I got a Randall rm-100 that’s 3 channel switcher is midi. Will the hx effects let me switch to either 3 channels with added effects with just one stomp using snapshot?
It should be able to do that over midi
Do you have this in the 4CM and using it as a midi controller? How do you have snapshots of clean and dirty with the lack of amp modelling from the HX?
DRIVE PEDALS STACKED
Hey man, fellow West Australian here. I think your vids are great. I have a question for you regarding the HX Effects. I have been using my HD500x in a Dual H&K tubemeister stereo rig (7CM) but I have found the 500 really takes away from my tone in comparison to straight or using Boss equipment.
Can you please tell me if the HX coloured your tone or if you lost transperency ?
It was pretty clean sounding when bypassed which I liked. If you can test it with your rig though definitely do it to see if it works for you.
Am I watching a demo for the HX or for something else called the Hache X
HAYHCHAAAEEEEXXX
@@LeonTodd hahahaha
Should watch one of his haytche neyne videos! Still probably my favorite demo dude because he just shows what he likes... Not a straight sales pitch.
Hey Leon, unfortunately, I sold my AXE FX III + FC-12... I'm looking for something like Line 6 HX effects or Headrush Gigboard... Any recommendations? I'm mostly playing Lead guitar at Church (Worship).
HX or Atomic Amplifire IMO. Not a big fan of the HR.
Hey Leon, I play & record mostly digitally through my audio interface (Focusrite 2i4) with NI Guitar Rig 5, any idea i can plug my guitar to HX Effects and then to my interface? I wonder if it will sound better than Guitar Rig...
Artjom Šatalin You’ll need an amp simulation or something, less your guitar sounds sterile. You might want to take a look to the Stomp or the full Helix, both sport amp simulation.
Can I play without amp?
Direct in mixer for gigs?
You would either need a preamp to use with the IR's, a loaded down head or another modeller. The Helix or AX8 will do that better.
Dude GREAT demo.
Thanks so much :)
Please show the efects parameters
Do you know guys if I can use the this unit like a recording interface? Just like the hd Pod 500x?
It's not an interface. The Helix is though.
Leon Todd thank you for your response. But can I record through it to a computer using backing tracks and so on?
hello friend. im planning to get just the hx, was wondering whether the dry signal of my amp will be lost when i dime the reverb mix since ill be running the fx in front of my actual amp. is there a way to preserve the dry signal and just add the reverb on top of it?
Aravis most of the reverb options have a dry through/mix option.
thank you so much friend
is the dry through same as the mix option? sorry im confused. what i meant was, is there a way to get the effects level or mix to 100 without losing the dry signal?
Do you mean the wet signal as loud as the dry signal?
Aravis I’ll mess with mine today and see if I can replicate what your asking, but... in general 100% wet would seem to mean no dry signal going through. You can definitely run the HX in stereo to have a wet/dry setup with 2 amps.
Nice shirt
hi Leon , do i c adam AX series in a background ? :)
Very well spotted! They're Adam A7X speakers, I've had them for at least 5 years now.
Leon Todd )) there is so many options in market right now , and then your video came out ))) just ordered my first monitors ) ty mate ))
Can you stack delay pedals in this unit?
Yes
@@LeonTodd Cheers! Then it is very tempting! Cool video. Maybe the best i stumbled upon so far, for this unit. Very explanatory!
How do I download 3rd party ir's
There's several third party IR manufacturers who offer IR's in multiple formats; I loaded them up over USB using the HX edit software.
Love my HX…..but hey, line 6, it wouldn’t put you out of buisness to put a couple amp sims in the next update!!
S U B B E D 👌
Cheers!
Shut up and take my money 😱🤬
10:39 no. just no. this is where Tube Amps still shine boys.
Well maybe your mic technique and mix for this video just blows then. That distortion sounded awful.
1st one to like )))
Feel free to let me know your thoughts on the vid ;)
Stick on beard?
i mean this is a really cool toy folks ^^ but this is so much over compressed in terms of dynamic that IMO it's almost unusable ....im trying my best for years to convince myself to buy one of these killer-on-the-paper Line6 products but no way every time i listen to a demo (from whoever it might be on YT) i end up with the same conclusion 🤓
won't know until you try it for yourself instead of basing opinion on YT videos of others.
@@zoomzoom3950 what is the purpose of YT videos (especially from great musicians like Todd) if you'll still need to try every single device to find out how it sounds ....it sounds as it sounds maybe you can tweak it like hell during days to find a decent tone by i still prefer to focus on music than tweaking ....i've been already doing that for extensive amount of time since 90's .....so i'm over with GAS !!!
@@lushkordz6643 the purpose of YT videos is to demonstrate features, capabilities, use, and results. Those should be enough for anyone to determine if a piece of gear is worth trying themselves. Many YT gear vids are just an advertisement for gear, whether you like it or not, or if it works / doesn't work for you is up to you to decide.
I purchased my first pedal as a kid in the '70s (EHX Big Muff Pi, new), I've been through tube amps, solid state amps, racks, modelers, etc. You had to try or buy gear to try it in person back in the day.
These days, it's much easier to see gear demos, buy and try, return, but there are many more choices, so you have to know what you want.
My current gear gives me the sounds I want and need, and has more options to get other sounds if I want or need something different. I still have a few tube amps and pedals around, but mostly use modelers because they do everything I need in a small, convenient form.
Cheers!
@@zoomzoom3950 i don't understand why you R so prone to convince folks that what you consider as relevant should be relevant for everyone ...i have the right to have my opinion N you yours ....that's so simple !!! if you consider the purpose of a YT video is to explain you what is already available in a manual ....then it's ok 🤣 i don't mind it's your business not mine !!! i prefer to read manuals in order to have a more in depth approach 💪(coz most of the time this is just explantions 4 noobs) N then watch some demos in order to find out how it sounds in real world //// 2 me a YT video is to grab what is not available in a manual ....which means the sonic aspect 🚀 2 me the only guy whom i heard was able to make a Helix sound good is Matteo Mancuso (a sicilian Jazz Fusion virtuoso from where i live in Sicily) but even with him it still sounds very compressed (BTW Matteo is a Yamaha endorsee 💰) ...some guy like this type of sound ...some don't !!! i prefer the Boss feeling which is less compressed nowaday (not back in the late 90s) or a Fractal AX8/Axe-FX2 is way more natural IMO N the best processor on the market (but too expensive N useless for my daily use)
@@lushkordz6643 well Lush, if people are interested in a piece of gear because of a YT video, maybe they should try it for themselves to see if it works for them?
Instead, they list all the reasons why it won't work for them so I suppose if they actually tried the gear it probably wouldn't work for them since that is already their thought, especially if they have to learn how to use it, and spend time with it.
That's why we still have tube amps and simple pedals, for those who don't care to spend the time with more complex gear such as the HX Effects.
That said, the HX Effects can be approached methodically just as LT demonstrated, new patch, add one effect and tweak, repeat., just as you would with any pedal, except you have many pedal choices, routing choices, etc., in one box.
My basic point was if you don't try it for yourself you'll never know if it works for you. If you base your gear decisions on YT gear demo advertisements, that's on you.
I've heard many make Line 6, Fractal, Kemper, Boss, DigiTech, Zoom gear sound good because they knew what they wanted from the gear and spent the time to get it. If the majority of your listeners are enjoying your music, who cares what curmudgeon guitarists say?
Cheers!
Nice effects system and it has cool sounds and features but it will never top the sound of pedals, never. And it will affect your amp's tone whereas a quality GigRig2 or RJM PCB will do a fantastic job in preserving your tone. HX sounds too digital and fake sounding.
What exactly do you mean by "sounds digital and fake" ? Keep in mind you're listening and watching through a digital medium.
Θανος Z you couldn't be further from the truth. I was so blown away at the sounds through my tube rigs that the pedals have been sold. The HX is staying.
"And it will affect your amp's tone". Sure, while having lots of pedals and their ins and outs and the connections and the different power supplies and everything will definitely IMPROVE your tone.
"Too digital" doesn't mean anything, stop saying that.