Line 6 HX Effects

[dannybuoy]

@fivestringgecko nice work, shame you didn't have an Octabass to hand as that's what it's supposed to be based on! Mine died and I returned it for a refund so unfortunately I can't do a comparison.

I can hear a slight bit of latency between the clean attack and the octave thump in the digital model, but it's minimal and the quickest I've heard from a digital octaver. With a darker clean sound you wouldn't even notice it at all.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Or you can use one block to program one setting, then use snapshots to program other settings.

5sg.

Totally I agree but looks like I'll be using 2 of the 4 allotted snapshots to mute A and B paths and Im used to using an expression to blend the 5th up in. Makes it really easy to switch between single notes and power chords. Thanks for your replies man!

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Pitch Wham: Position, HeelPitch, ToePitch, Mix, Level
Dual Pitch: Interval 1, Cents 1, Delay 1, V1 Level, Interval 2, Cents 2, Delay 2, V2 Level, Mix, Level

Guess what, my HX finally arrived

Thanks man! So if I'm read in correct I can use just the dual pitch set one octave up and assign expression to control the 5th up? Maybe lol? No biggie if I need to use both and use 2 blocks but using only 1 would be better. Cheers!

 

[fivestringgecko]

@fivestringgecko nice work, shame you didn't have an Octabass to hand as that's what it's supposed to be based on! Mine died and I returned it for a refund so unfortunately I can't do a comparison.

I can hear a slight bit of latency between the clean attack and the octave thump in the digital model, but it's minimal and the quickest I've heard from a digital octaver. With a darker clean sound you wouldn't even notice it at all.

Thanks @dannybuoy ! It was actually quite an interesting exploration. It also helped me realize that I don't need to necessarily keep the MXR and Aguilar octavers around, so I added them to the growing pile of stuff that the HX has reminded/convinced me I can sell. ha ha

Agreed, definitely a shame about not having an Octabass. I did have one a while back, but sold it in favor of other octavers.

I also agree about the digital-ness of the HX Bass Octaver. It's slight, but it's there. I also noticed the same thing when comparing to the OC3.

Totally I agree but looks like I'll be using 2 of the 4 allotted snapshots to mute A and B paths and Im used to using an expression to blend the 5th up in. Makes it really easy to switch between single notes and power chords. Thanks for your replies man!

Happy to help, hoping I'm not just confusing things. ha ha!

5sg.

 

[SirMoak]

Thanks man! So if I'm read in correct I can use just the dual pitch set one octave up and assign expression to control the 5th up? Maybe lol? No biggie if I need to use both and use 2 blocks but using only 1 would be better. Cheers!

I checked it. You have to set up the effect, then go into the Controller Assign menu and you can assign an exp pedal to any parameter, so yeah, you can do that.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

I checked it. You have to set up the effect, then go into the Controller Assign menu and you can assign an exp pedal to any parameter, so yeah, you can do that.

Sweeeet!! Thanks man!!

 

[gregmon79]

Exciting to see more of y’all getting one. I’m excited to hear what the rest of you think as you get some time with the HX. I know when I first got it I liked it. Then I liked it more. Then as time went on and I messed it more and more, the more I liked it. Is it perfection? Nah. I guess it depends on what your definition of perfection is. But for the money and what it offers, I think the HX is very hard if not almost impossible to beat for what it is and for what it’s up against.

 

[Challanger2]

Exciting to see more of y’all getting one. I’m excited to hear what the rest of you think as you get some time with the HX. I know when I first got it I liked it. Then I liked it more. Then as time went on and I messed it more and more, the more I liked it. Is it perfection? Nah. I guess it depends on what your definition of perfection is. But for the money and what it offers, I think the HX is very hard if not almost impossible to beat for what it is and for what it’s up against.

I think the Helix family in general offers an amazing value package. If you listen the the helix bass octaver vs the OC2 is isolation, the OC2 will probably win. But in a full mix setting on stage, 99% of people would not be able to notice a difference. Same thing with the amp models on the full helix. If you compared a real SVT blueline to the helix model, the real thing will sound better in a bass isolated 1 on 1 comparison. But in a full band context, those subtle differences won't be audible to the audience. You as a player might hear some slight differences, but the vast majority of the audience won't notice.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Thanks @dannybuoy ! It was actually quite an interesting exploration. It also helped me realize that I don't need to necessarily keep the MXR and Aguilar octavers around, so I added them to the growing pile of stuff that the HX has reminded/convinced me I can sell. ha ha

Agreed, definitely a shame about not having an Octabass. I did have one a while back, but sold it in favor of other octavers.

I also agree about the digital-ness of the HX Bass Octaver. It's slight, but it's there. I also noticed the same thing when comparing to the OC3.




Happy to help, hoping I'm not just confusing things. ha ha!

5sg.

Not at all.. Was only confusing till I fully understood everyone's replies. Sall good now and know how I'm gonna set it up now.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Exciting to see more of y’all getting one. I’m excited to hear what the rest of you think as you get some time with the HX. I know when I first got it I liked it. Then I liked it more. Then as time went on and I messed it more and more, the more I liked it. Is it perfection? Nah. I guess it depends on what your definition of perfection is. But for the money and what it offers, I think the HX is very hard if not almost impossible to beat for what it is and for what it’s up against.

+1.

There's been some good discussion in this thread, but I think the HX is one of those pieces of gear that one doesn't truly understand until you get it in front of you and start exploring the extent of what it can do. I read the manual, but it didn't click until I actually got one and started messing with it. I've found some features I didn't know I wanted, and there are features I still haven't explored. It's pretty slick.

5sg.

 

[gregmon79]

+1.

There's been some good discussion in this thread, but I think the HX is one of those pieces of gear that one doesn't truly understand until you get it in front of you and start exploring the extent of what it can do. I read the manual, but it didn't click until I actually got one and started messing with it. I've found some features I didn't know I wanted, and there are features I still haven't explored. It's pretty slick.

5sg.

Exactly

 

[Digital Igloo]

1: In preset mode how does it work having two effects assigned to one footswitch. Like is it literally the footswitch toggles between the two?

You can assign up to 8 things to a switch. A thing could be an effect block, a parameter min/max toggle, or a Command Center message (MIDI or amp control). Only one Command Center message can exist on a stomp switch, but the others don't have a limitation (except, of course the 8 items total limitation). To toggle between two or more blocks, you need to turn off blocks from within Signal Flow view, as per this video. So for example, if you assign delay and reverb to one switch, pressing the stomp switch will turn them both on and off. However, if you assign delay and reverb to one switch—and then bypass one of them from Signal Flow view—their states will be opposite and then pressing the stomp switch will toggle between them.

2: When inserting an effect in the send/return loop does this count as a block and what else counts as a block other than effects, volume, IR etc?

Yes, Sends/Returns/FX Loops count as one of your 9 simultaneous blocks, as does a Volume pedal, Wah, IR, or Looper block.

3: Could I potentially put a volume pedals in the send/return loops to act as a kill switch for path A and B or is there a better way to do this?

You could always change the Split block to a Split > A/B and then assign the Route To parameter to a stomp switch (or expression pedal if you want to dynamically blend between Paths A and B). No additional blocks necessary.

Is the looper on the HX midi synch able?

Yes. HX Effects slaves to incoming MIDI clock by default, but you can turn it off from Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo. Crap! Read too fast; sorry, guys. HX Effects slaves to MIDI clock but its looper currently does not. We do, however, happen to have the guys who created the best looper ever made (which did sync to MIDI clock... with timestretch... from audio impulse... in real time) on staff now, however, so it's not like we can't pull it off.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

You can assign up to 8 things to a switch. A thing could be an effect block, a parameter min/max toggle, or a Command Center message (MIDI or amp control). Only one Command Center message can exist on a stomp switch, but the others don't have a limitation (except, of course the 8 items total limitation). To toggle between two or more blocks, you need to turn off blocks from within Signal Flow view, as per this video. So for example, if you assign delay and reverb to one switch, pressing the stomp switch will turn them both on and off. However, if you assign delay and reverb to one switch—and then bypass one of them from Signal Flow view—their states will be opposite and then pressing the stomp switch will toggle between them.Yes, Sends/Returns/FX Loops count as one of your 9 simultaneous blocks, as does a Volume pedal, Wah, IR, or Looper block.You could always change the Split block to a Split > A/B and then assign the Route To parameter to a stomp switch (or expression pedal if you want to dynamically blend between Paths A and B). No additional blocks necessary.Yes. HX Effects slaves to incoming MIDI clock by default, but you can turn it off from Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo.

That’s great and thanks for the info! On way home with my new HX!!

 

[fivestringgecko]

Nice work!

My favorite octave boxes are the Octabrve (and the OC-2 tone in general) or the Aguilar Octamizer. When I was A/Bing the Bass Octaver in the HX to my Octabrve, I felt that the Bass Octaver sounded more similar to the Octamizer from what I could remember of it. I haven't had one on my board for a few years now but I may stick it back on just to get a better feel and what I seem to remember of it.

The felt the Bass Octaver in the HX was pretty good. It's always going to be a compromise if you prefer something else but as a standalone octave tone it was very good.

Thanks @Dave W , I agree on all your points. I do prefer the Octabvre as well, but the Bass Octaver is no slouch.

5sg.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Home with the HXFX now yaya!! Quick question I think might have been mentioned earlier in this thread but should I update firmware before I start diving in? I’m not sure if the recent update is working and think I read somewhere someone had to delete their custom presets or something to make the update work. Thanks!

 

[254 stringer]

Home with the HXFX now yaya!! Quick question I think might have been mentioned earlier in this thread but should I update firmware before I start diving in? I’m not sure if the recent update is working and think I read somewhere someone had to delete their custom presets or something to make the update work. Thanks!

Yes update first.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Yes update first.

Cool thanks!

 

[gregmon79]

Cool thanks!

Let us know how it goes post update!!!

 

[Digital Igloo]

Home with the HXFX now yaya!! Quick question I think might have been mentioned earlier in this thread but should I update firmware before I start diving in? I’m not sure if the recent update is working and think I read somewhere someone had to delete their custom presets or something to make the update work. Thanks!

If you've already made a bunch of presets with 2.40, try this:

1. Using Line 6 Updater, update HX Effects to 2.50. This only updates the firmware, not the presets.
2. Install HX Edit and open it. Drag any HX Effects presets you want to keep—one by one—to your desktop.
3. Turn off HX Effects. While holding the last two footswitches on the bottom row, turn it back on. This will load new 2.50 presets.
4. Drag the HX Effects presets on your desktop back to the desired locations via HX Edit. If you don't want to overwrite the factory presets (who cares? All presets suck anyway), drag them to empty locations.

 

[Seanbassplayer]

Let us know how it goes post update!!!

Ok np waiting for my son to get home so I can use his laptop cause mine bit the biscuit couple weeks ago. Did your update go smooth?

Edit: great my son isn't home for another hour or so I guess I'll just look at it...