The Hx 3.9 fw thread

[Lele]

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

I could quote most of the post of @Sascha Franck above because I agree on most points!

SYNTH
I’d really love to see more reliable tracking and an expanded selection of synth sounds—especially polyphonic synths (or at least a few synth blocks that support polyphony).
I get that this might be a pretty niche request and probably wouldn’t impact overall sales much, but for those of us who use it, it’d be a game-changer.

BETTER VISIBILITY
I understand that the hardware can’t be changed on existing units. That said, I’d love if Line 6 could do more for users who play outdoors in daylight. On my Helix Floor, I really miss the large function squares from the LT version. I upgraded from the LT to the Floor, and while I love the additional small displays (can’t live without them now), I really miss that quick visual feedback the LT layout offered.

MOBILE EDITING
It would be fantastic to have the ability to connect to a smartphone via cable—not just for editing, but especially to allow music playback through the USB port from the phone. That feature would be extremely useful in my opinion.

MISSING PEDALS
There are still a few well-known pedals missing from the Helix platform. I’d personally love to see:

• A Marshall Guv’nor-style distortion (my vote goes to the Suhr Riot)
• Boss BD-2 (maybe with an extra "Lows" control for more tone-shaping flexibility)
• Boss OD-3 (with an extra “Lows” control)

PRE-AMP ADDITIONAL CONTROLS
It’d be super helpful to have additional tone-shaping options built directly into the amp block (before the amp circuit), like a simple low cut or an integrated EQ, without needing to dedicate a separate block for it.

BETTER JOYSTICK HANDLING
This is a small thing, but it drives me nuts: I often accidentally change an effect block when I’m just trying to move the pointer with the joystick. Maybe the first rotation of the main joystick knob shouldn’t trigger a selection change? Some kind of input delay or lock option would go a long way in improving the user experience here.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

allow music playback through the USB port from the phone. That feature would be extremely useful in my opinion.

This I already did with my LT and now my Stomp. I’m even running NAM captures out to the Stomp via USB plus music playback. I use iPhone so the normal cable plus a lightning-to-USB adapter works fine for me.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

And as per usual my humble request for fw 3.9 would be some separate power amp models to use with external preamp pedals and such. But it’s not something I think will happen and I can get it working with a captures when attached via USB to phone or computer. I’m very happy with the quality and breadth of fx available.

 

[Tito83]

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

Have been a Helix user since the very beginning. Purchase the Floor right after release, had an HX Effects and finally the HX Stomp. Overall as a tool the line is great. Workable sounds, easy to use, packed with features. Overall, IMO, best all around modeler out today.

But it just doesn't sound as good as the UA pedals. Got the Dream in 2022 and it took me up until the last month to give up trying to make the HX Stomp sound and feel as good as the UA. Now I'm in the process of building a board around the UA Dream.

And to be fair, in the mean time I also had an Fm3, which was cool, but the UA still sounded much better IMO. (I'm a bit skeptical about all the updates being a dramatic improvement, but when I had it was right before a so called major update /disclaimer)

 

[Sascha Franck]

to allow music playback through the USB port from the phone

As has been said, that should work already.

It’d be super helpful to have additional tone-shaping options built directly into the amp block (before the amp circuit), like a simple low cut or an integrated EQ, without needing to dedicate a separate block for it.

Oh yeah, seconded. Fractal has that thing going (so you even have additional drive boxes built into the amp block) and I think it's a great idea.

Maybe the first rotation of the main joystick knob shouldn’t trigger a selection change?

That can be switched off in your global settings.

 

[Lele]

o allow music playback through the USB port from the phone.

As has been said, that should work already.

I remember trying this on an Android phone a few years ago, but I couldn’t get it to work.
Does anyone know if it’s possible on Android-based devices? and how?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Does anyone know if it’s possible on Android-based devices? and how?

I'll try later on with the Stomp. MIDI is working fine via USB on Android, so I always thought audio should be working as well.

 

[Los-D]

One thing I would still like to see (now that 5153 is available), is the addition of MIAB pedals. This would be great for people that have a pedal platform background, especially if ported over to the POD Go (where you cannot use the Placater preamp as a pedal in front of a Fender-style amp)

 

[molul]

I could quote most of the post of @Sascha Franck above because I agree on most points!

SYNTH
I’d really love to see more reliable tracking and an expanded selection of synth sounds—especially polyphonic synths (or at least a few synth blocks that support polyphony).
I get that this might be a pretty niche request and probably wouldn’t impact overall sales much, but for those of us who use it, it’d be a game-changer.

BETTER VISIBILITY
I understand that the hardware can’t be changed on existing units. That said, I’d love if Line 6 could do more for users who play outdoors in daylight. On my Helix Floor, I really miss the large function squares from the LT version. I upgraded from the LT to the Floor, and while I love the additional small displays (can’t live without them now), I really miss that quick visual feedback the LT layout offered.

MOBILE EDITING
It would be fantastic to have the ability to connect to a smartphone via cable—not just for editing, but especially to allow music playback through the USB port from the phone. That feature would be extremely useful in my opinion.

MISSING PEDALS
There are still a few well-known pedals missing from the Helix platform. I’d personally love to see:

• A Marshall Guv’nor-style distortion (my vote goes to the Suhr Riot)
• Boss BD-2 (maybe with an extra "Lows" control for more tone-shaping flexibility)
• Boss OD-3 (with an extra “Lows” control)

PRE-AMP ADDITIONAL CONTROLS
It’d be super helpful to have additional tone-shaping options built directly into the amp block (before the amp circuit), like a simple low cut or an integrated EQ, without needing to dedicate a separate block for it.

BETTER JOYSTICK HANDLING
This is a small thing, but it drives me nuts: I often accidentally change an effect block when I’m just trying to move the pointer with the joystick. Maybe the first rotation of the main joystick knob shouldn’t trigger a selection change? Some kind of input delay or lock option would go a long way in improving the user experience here.

Some of this are either not doable on current hardware or nothing the competitors have (I would love poly synths, but we can't say it's a standard that makes the Helix look outdated for not having it).

I mean, what do the competitors have that the Helix doesn't, that should be addressed in order for the device not to get really far from the other brands devices? Not that much.

Investing time in something that won't likely push sales significantly and bring an important revenue is not something we can realistically expect.

 

[Vic Winters]

What is really Helix missing nowadays that would make someone choose any other modeler? Something that's reasonable, that is.

Capture tech.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Better hardware. Of course, that can't be added. But IMO it needs to be looked at for future products. There's zero reason why a flagship modeler would crap out once there's phantom power running on the XLR connection.

Nothing "crapped out." There was lower level and more noise if 48v phantom was added to any mic pres Helix Floor's XLR outs were connected to. And it was mitigated nine years ago.

I could give you a huge list of hardware problems discovered in other flagship products, but that'd be bad form.

 

[Perrymusica]

Nothing "crapped out." There was lower level and more noise if 48v phantom was added to any mic pres Helix Floor's XLR outs were connected to. And it was mitigated nine years ago.

I could give you a huge list of hardware problems discovered in other flagship products, but that'd be bad form.

QC is the one you fail the most by far.

 

[Perrymusica]

HX stomp + IRs Real cab for "FRFR", I don't need more. The Helix is incredible.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Nothing "crapped out." There was lower level and more noise if 48v phantom was added to any mic pres Helix Floor's XLR outs were connected to. And it was mitigated nine years ago.

Nothing was mitigated. I owned my Floor until around 3 years ago and it didn't work at all once there was phantom power supplied through the XLR line.