Can I load third-party or my own custom IRs (Impulse Responses)?
Yes. IRs are loaded into Helix via the Helix Mac/PC software. They will then be available from special IR blocks that can be placed anywhere on your signal paths. Helix can store up to 128 1024 or 2048-point IRs, and a preset can run up to four IRs simultaneously (DSP permitting).
Fourteen LCDs… Really?
Yes, really. All that feedback makes a huge difference in the heat of the gig, especially when you custom label and/or custom color your switches. It also means we have more feature design flexibility in the future, because functionality isn’t restricted by chassis silkscreen.
Where are the tonestack knobs?
Under the big LCD. Since Helix can run up to four amps simultaneously (DSP permitting), pressing the AMP button quickly cycles through the tonestacks of any Amp+Cab, Amp, and Preamp blocks in a tone.
Where’s the Looper switch?
The Looper block is treated like any other effect—It can be placed anywhere on any of the four paths, or even routed to its own output. You can assign it to a footswitch or ignore it completely.
Where are the FX Loops?
Helix has four sends and returns that can be used separately, used together as an FX loop, or stereo linked. They can also act as additional inputs and outputs for processing keyboards, drum machines, or even other modelers—simultaneously.
Can I reamp?
Yes. You can reamp two instruments simultaneously. You can even choose which two physical inputs will be sent dry to your DAW.
This all sounds pretty deep. Is Helix easy to use?
STUPIDLY so. Nearly all day-to-day tonesculpting—from Variax string tuning to deep amp parameters to output routing and everything in between—is accomplished from one unified home screen. Just touch the desired footswitch (they’re capacitve touch) and turn the knobs. There—that’s 90% of your tweaking. Read the included one-page Helix Cheat Sheet and you’ll be a power user before you open the box.
More advanced features such as footswitch and controller assignment have shortcuts to get you the results you want at nearly the speed of thought. For example, you can assign your Variax’s tone knob to control delay feedback in roughly three seconds. Want expression pedal 3 to control looper playback level? Three seconds. The mod wheel on your MIDI keyboard to control rotary speaker speed? Three seconds. In many ways, it’s actually faster to tweak from the hardware than it is the editor.
Helix also has this cool Pedal Edit mode, which lets you adjust all of your amp and effects parameters without taking your hands off the guitar.
How’s the build quality?
Helix’s top panel is extruded from a solid block of aluminum and its side panels and treadle are solid aluminum as well. There’s no metal protection bar because our lead tester kicked the crap out of the metal knobs and they worked flawlessly. (I’m trying to convince Line 6 to upload the video.)
What’s the difference between Helix and Helix Rack?
Along with the Helix Control remote, Helix Rack’s workflow and feature set is virtually identical to that of Helix. Plus you get duplicate expression pedal jacks, a 1/4” analog bypass (buffered) output, AES/EBU in, and Wordclock in with terminator switch. Presets can be freely shared across both units with no file conversion required.
Why is Helix Rack 3 spaces? Couldn’t you have crammed it into 2 spaces?
No, but we tried. The color screen is far too large and there are too many ins and outs to fit into 2RU.
