User manual

4
Welcome to Helix LT
Thank you for purchasing aHelix™LTmulti-eectspedal, one of the most powerful
and exible audio processors ever created.Wehope it helps drive your searchfor
tonal bliss and spawns years of creativity, both on stage and in the studio.
What Have I Gotten Myself Into?
Although your Helix LT devicemayappearcomplicatedatrstglance,it'sdesigned
in such a way that once you learn a few basic concepts and shortcuts, you'll be able
to construct both simple and complex tones at nearly the speed of thought, with very
little menu diving required.
Although you’re likely anxious to rip open the plastic and plug in, wait! At the very
least, check out the big color Helix LT Cheat Sheet that came in the box, and keep it
handy. Then read the "Home > Performance View" chapter of this manual and we’ll
have you up and shredding in no time.
NOTE: If you prefer to edit tones from your Mac or PC, download the free Helix
editor application from line6.com/software.
TIP: Be sure to also visit line6.com/videos where we're always adding new
video tutorials covering the latest Line 6 gear!
What’s In the Box?
• Line 6 HelixLTmulti-eectspedal
• Full-color Helix LT Cheat Sheet(readthatonerst!)
• USBashdrivecontainingtheHelix LT Owner's Manual you’re reading right
now
• AC power cable
• USB cable
• Hex wrench for adjusting the expression pedal's resistance
• Warranty card
Common Terminology
While reading this manual, you may encounter several unfamiliar terms. It’s important
to know what they mean. Don’t worry—there’s no math.
Home
The Home screen is your primary workspace for creating and editing
tones. If you ever get lost, press to return to the Home screen.
Block
Blocks are objects that represent various elements of a preset, such
as amps, cabs, eects, splits, loopers, inputs, outputs, and impulse
responses.
Path
A pathrepresentsthesignalowofyourtone.Helixhastwoseparate
paths, 1 and 2, each with its own input(s) and output(s). Paths can be
serial (single) or parallel (dual). Path 1 can be routed into path 2 for
more sophisticated tones.
Preset
A preset is your tone. It consists of all blocks on the Home screen,
snapshots, footswitch assignments, controller assignments, and Com-
mand Center messages.
Setlist
A setlist is a collection of presets. Helix LT has eight setlists containing
128 presets each.
Model
Each processing block can accommodate one model (or in some
cases, two models). Helix LT includes 49 guitar amp models, 7 bass
amp models, 30 cab models, 16 mic models, and 95eectsmodels.
Controller
Controllers are used to adjust various parameters in real time. For ex-
ample, the expression pedal can be used to control wah, or the tone
knob on a Variax guitar can be used to control amp gain and reverb
depth.
Send/
Return
Sends and Returns are used to connect additional equipment to Helix
LTforeectsloopsorprocessingmultipleinstrumentssimultaneously.
Helix LT has two mono sends and returns, which can also be paired for
stereo operation.
IR
IRs (Impulse Responses) are mathematical functions representing
the sonic measurements of audio systems (in the case of Helix LT, its
speaker cabinet and microphone combinations). Helix LT can store up
to 128 custom or third-party IRs at a time. See "Impulse Response (IR)"
Variax
®
Variax isn't just a great guitar, its special electronics recreate the sounds
ofotherspecicguitarsandinstruments,andallowforinstantretun-
ing of each string. Helix and Variax communicate with one another in
unique and powerful ways. See "What is Variax?"
L6 LINK™
L6 LINK provides easy, single-cable, digital audio connectivity between
Helix and Line 6 StageSource
®
monitorsand/orDT-Seriesampliers.
See "L6 LINK Output"
FRFR
FRFR (Full Range, Flat Response) speakers, such as Line 6 Stage-
Source monitors, have the ability to amplify a modeler without adverse-
lyaectingitstone,ensuringgreatdetail,awidesweetspot,predict-
ability, and consistency from studio to stage. You could almost think of
FRFR monitors as very loud, gig-ready studio monitors.
DAW
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) refers to any computer (or iPad device)
used for audio recording. The components of a DAW include an audio
interface, audio recording software (such as Cubase
®
, Logic, Garage-
Band, Pro Tools
®
,etc.),andmonitoringsystem(amplier&speakersor
headphones). Helix LT functions as a high-performance USB 2.0 audio
interface with all major DAW software - See "USB Audio"