2.0 OWNER’S MANUAL 90-20-0370 - C (For use with Helix Rack Firmware 2.00) 0•1 ©2016 Line 6, Inc.
Contents The Blocks Welcome to Helix 4 What’s In the Box? 4 Common Terminology 4 Helix Rack Front Panel / Helix Control Top Panel 6 Helix Rack / Helix Control Back Panel 8 Home Screen Quick Start 10 11 24 Controller Assign 45 Input 24 Quick Controller Assign 45 Output 25 Manual Controller Assign 45 Effects Clearing a Block's Controller Assignment(s) 47 Amp+Cab 29 26 Clearing All Controller Assignments 47 Amp 30 Customizing a Controller Footswitch Label 47 Pr
Please Note: Line 6, POD, StageSource and Variax are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. L6 LINK, DT25, DT50, and Helix are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. All rights reserved. James Tyler is a registered trademark of James Tyler, used under license. Apple, Mac, OS X, iPad, iPhone, Logic, GarageBand, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Welcome to Helix 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. Thank you for purchasing Helix Rack, one of the most powerful and flexible 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. Home The Home screen is your primary workspace for creating and editing tones.
FRFR FRFR (Full Range, Flat Response) speakers, such as Line 6 Stage- Source monitors, have the ability to amplify a modeler without adversely affecting its tone, ensuring great detail, a wide sweet spot, predictability, 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) used for audio recording.
Helix Rack Front Panel / Helix Control Top Panel 5 6 16B Dream Rig Duet 1 2 10 11 BYPASS SAVE ACTION VOLUME PHONES 14 15 PRESET 1 4 9 Delay Harmony Delay 1/16 GUITAR IN 7 8 Time D Feedback Minor nor 40% 0.
Helix Rack SHORTCUT: Controllers can be assigned to most parameters. Press and hold a parameter’s knob to quickly jump to the "Controller Assign" page for that parameter. 1. Main Display This large color LCD is your window into the power of Helix. 2. Power Switch It's alive! 14. VOLUME Turn this knob to control the Helix main output volume. 3. GUITAR IN Connect your primary guitar or bass guitar here. This jack provides 15. PHONES Turn this knob to control volume from the PHONES output.
Helix Rack / Helix Control Back Panel WARNING / AVIS: SHOCK HAZARD – DO NOT OPEN. RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE – NE PAS OUVRIR. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO COMPLY WITH THE LIMITS FOR A CLASS B DIGITAL DEVICE PURSUANT TO PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES.
Helix Rack 33. VARIAX Input This input provides power, digital audio, effects control, and instant recall between Helix and a Line 6 Variax guitar. See "What is Variax?" 21. AUX IN (10kΩ) Connect a secondary, active-pickup equipped guitar or bass 34. WORDCLOCK IN Receives a clock signal from an external audio interface or here. digital mixer, synchronizing the Helix digital output to your system. If Helix is the last device in your BNC wordclock chain, press the TERMINATOR switch in (ON). 22.
Home Screen 90% of your daily tone building is accomplished from the Home screen. Press at any time to return to the main Home screen. Select an input block and turn the joystick to set the input source. Each path can have one or two input blocks Each of the two signal paths can be either parallel (A and B) or serial (A only) PATH 2 Turn the joystick to select a model; press the joystick to open the model list.
Quick Start 3. Connect the Helix outputs to your playback system. Connect Helix Rack and Helix Control OR 1. Using the CAT-5 cable (included with Helix Control), connect Helix Rack's HELIX CONTROL port to Helix Control's HOST port. NOTE: Helix Control receives power from Helix Rack. Helix Control's DC IN jack may be required for very long CAT-5 cable runs. In such case, use only a Line 6 DC-3G power supply (purchased separately - see the Line 6 Store). 2. Turn on both Helix Rack and Helix Control.
8. Using Knobs 1 and 2 under the display, set levels according to the table below: Output Are you connecting to...? 1/4” XLR Navigating the Setlist menu is straightforward: Turn the joystick (or move it up and down) to select items in a list. From the Setlist column, press the joystick (or move it right) to load its first preset.
Preset Footswitch Mode Stomp Footswitch Mode Preset mode is used to navigate presets in the current setlist. While in Stomp mode, each of the middle eight footswitches can do a number of things: 1. If not already there, press FS6 (MODE) to select Preset mode.
Snapshot Footswitch Mode Looper Footswitch Mode Similar to the snapshots feature in some high end digital mixers, each of the Helix eight snapshots stores and recalls the state of certain elements in the current preset, including: Looper mode is only available if a Looper block has been assigned to a footswitch in Stomp mode. Nearly all factory presets in Helix have a Looper block assigned to a footswitch, but your custom presets may not.
2. Press the footswitch displaying the block you want to edit. IMPORTANT! You may change presets while looping, but loop playback will stop unless the preset you select includes the same type of looper block (mono or stereo) on the same path (1 or 2) and is assigned to a footswitch. The block's first page of parameters appear at FS1—FS6.
Selecting Blocks/Adjusting Parameters Bypassing a Block Blocks are objects that represent various elements of a preset, such as amps, cabs, effects, splits, loopers, and even inputs and outputs. If a footswitch is assigned to the block, press the switch. Alternatively, select the block and press BYPASS to toggle the block on and off. 1. From Stomp footswitch mode, briefly touch (but don’t press) the footswitch assigned to the desired block.
Choosing an Input Most model categories include subcategories. For example, effects can generally be mono or stereo (stereo models display the icon). Amp+Cab and Amp models have Guitar and Bass subcategories. Cab models have single and dual subcategories. Move the joystick left to select an Input block and turn the joystick. Turn the joystick (or move it up and down) to select items in a list. Normally you should select “Multi,” which includes three simultaneous inputs: Guitar, Aux, and Variax.
If Path 2 has two input blocks, you may select either Path 2A or 2B, or even split your signal further to both 2A and 2B. See "2 into 1" for an example. NOTE: Inputs, Outputs, Splits, Merges, and Loopers can also be copied and pasted. However, if you, for example, try pasting the Looper into the Split block's location, Knob 2 (Paste Block) will be grayed out.
Saving/Naming a Preset Serial vs. Parallel Routing 1. Press SAVE to open the Save Preset screen: For many guitar tones, a serial (one stereo path) signal flow is more than adequate. For example, our 8 TEMPLATES > 01A Quick Start preset has a volume pedal, wah pedal, Amp+Cab, reverb, and looper, but there's still room for distortion, modulation, and delay blocks: Save Preset J K L M ‘ L a d y N e c k b e a r d For more sophisticated tones, a parallel (two stereo paths) signal flow can be created.
Moving Split & Merge Blocks for More Parallel Routings ...or maybe a single Amp block splitting into two separate Cab blocks... 1. Use the joystick to select the point where paths A and B split or merge. "Split" and "Merge" blocks only appear when selected, but can be adjusted and moved like any other processing block. ...or two separate Amp and two separate Cab blocks... 2. Press ACTION to pick up the Split or Merge block for moving. Choose one of the following parallel routing options: ...
Super Serial True Parallel Move both the Split and the Merge blocks down to path B. A serial path has eight processing block locations. If that’s not enough, you can use parallel path B to create one big “super serial” path. Duplicate Input and Output blocks are created: 1. Move the Merge block down to path 1B. A duplicate Output block is created. 2. Move the Split block all the way to the right, past the last processing block on path 1A. 3.
Dynamic DSP Tips to Optimize DSP • Like nearly all modern audio processors, the Helix engine is based on DSP (Digital Signal Processing). Some models require many times more DSP horsepower than others, so it makes logical sense that fewer of those models could exist in a tone. To work around this, some processors restrict you to one amp, one reverb, one delay, etc. With Helix, we feel it's important to let you keep adding whatever you want to your tone, even if you may eventually run out of DSP.
What is Variax? Line 6 Variax guitars feature special electronics that model the sound of other specific guitars and instruments, as well as allow for instant retuning of each string. Helix and Variax work together in powerful and flexible ways.
The Blocks All input blocks have a dedicated noise gate. Threshold and Decay parameters are grayed out unless the Input Gate parameter is turned on: Input Multi (Guitar, Aux, Variax) Off –48.0dB Input Gate Threshold Input 500 ms Auto Decay Guitar In-Z Input > Multi and Input > Guitar blocks have an additional Guitar In-Z parameter. Helix has an impedance circuit on its Guitar Input that affects tone and feel by loading your guitar's pickups as they would by an effect pedal or amplifier.
Page Knob Parameter SHORTCUT: Press Knob 1 (Pan) to return Pan to center. Press Knob 2 (Level) to return Level to unity (0.0dB). Description 1 Variax String 6 2 Variax String 5 3 Variax String 4 4 Variax String 3 5 Variax String 2 6 Variax String 1 Choose the amount of half-steps, positive or negative, for which you want to raise or lower the pitch of the selected string.
Effects Dynamics Models Many Helix effects blocks can be either mono or stereo. Stereo effects display the model name. after Select an effects block and turn the joystick to change its model.
Modulation Models Reverb Models Model Subcategories Based On* Model Subcategory Based On* Dynamix Flanger Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Plate Stereo Line 6 Original Chorus Mono, Stereo Line 6 Original Room Stereo Line 6 Original 70s Chorus Mono, Stereo BOSS CE-1 Chamber Stereo Line 6 Original Trinity Chorus Stereo DyTronics Tri-Stereo Chorus Hall Stereo Line 6 Original Bubble Vibrato Mono, Stereo BOSS VB-2 Vibrato Echo Stereo Line 6 Original Vibe Rotary Stereo Fender V
Wah Models Parameter Description Rate Adjusts the rate of the effect, with higher settings providing faster rates. Press the knob to toggle between numeric and note values. Not all Rate parameters can be synced to note values, as they may be non-linear and highly interactive. Time Adjusts the delay/repeat time, with higher settings providing longer delays. Press the knob to toggle between ms and note values.
Amp+Cab Amp Models Amp+Cab blocks are convenient in that when you select an Amp model, its matching Cab model is automatically loaded. To change the amp model in an Amp+Cab block, press until the cab icon is white and turn the joystick. The first page of Amp+Cab parameters is called the tonestack, and represents the knobs you would see on the real amp's panel: Amp+Cab Stone Age 185 3.4 2.5 5.0 3.4 2.
Tonestack and deeper amp parameters found on subsequent pages may differ depending on the amp model selected.
Cab Cab Models There are two subcategories of Cab blocks—Single and Dual. Not surprisingly, dual Cabs take twice as much DSP as single Cabs. To change the first cab model in a Cab > Dual block, press until the right cab icon is white and turn the joystick.
Impulse Response (IR) Mic Models Model Based On* 57 Dynamic Shure® SM57 409 Dynamic Sennheiser® MD 409 421 Dynamic Sennheiser® MD 421-U 30 Dynamic Heil Sound® PR 30 20 Dynamic Electro-Voice® RE20 121 Ribbon Royer® R-121 160 Ribbon Beyerdynamic® M 160 4038 Ribbon Coles 4038 414 Cond AKG® C414 TLII 84 Cond Neumann® KM84 1. Connect Helix to your computer via USB and open the Helix application. 67 Cond Neumann® U67 87 Cond Neumann U87 2. Click the Impulses tab.
Impulse Response Settings Send Settings Knob Parameter Knob Parameter 1 IR Select 2 Low Cut 3 High Cut 4 5 Mix Level Description Selects one of the 128 available IR locations. If a location contains an IR, the inspector header displays its name; otherwise, it reads "." Filters a portion of the IR's bass and/or treble frequencies, which can help remove rumble and/or high-end harshness. Description 1 Send Adjusts the level sent to your external devices.
Looper Split > A/B Settings Knob Parameter Helix can add one mono or stereo Looper block per preset. 1 Looper Settings Parameter Description Playback Adjusts looper playback level. You may find it useful to turn this down a bit so your live guitar can be slightly louder. 2 Overdub Relatively sets the level of your loop while overdubbing.
U.S. Registered Trademarks All product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These product names, descriptions and images are provided for the sole purpose of identifying the specific products that were studied during Line 6’s sound model development. Klon is a registered trademark of Klon, LLC. Timmy is a registered trademark of Paul Cochrane AKA PAULCAUDIO. Fulltone is a registered trademark of Fulltone Musical Products, Inc.
Tuner On Helix Control, hold the TAP footswitch until the Tuner screen appears: Sharp Flat In tune 1. On Helix Rack, hold TAP/TUNER until the Tuner screen appears: –3 –50 B 2. Pluck an individual string on your guitar. When a box left of center is lit red, your string is flat. When a box right of center is lit red, your string is sharp. When the center box on the lower row is lit green, the top row of smaller bars can be used for more precision.
Snapshots • Tempo—The current system tempo, if "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" > Tempo Select is set to "Per Snapshot." (By default, it's set to "Per Preset") Depending on how you set them up, snapshots can act as eight variations of the same tone, eight drastically different tones, or any combination thereof—all within the same preset. In many cases, a single preset's snapshots may accommodate all the various tones required for a song. With Helix firmware 2.
Snapshots > Parameter Control The parameter's value appears white and in brackets, indicating a controller's assigned to it—in this case, the Snapshots controller: In addition, parameters can be set to jump to specific values with each snapshot. [37%] Here’s an example where seven parameters (out of a possible 64) are updated instantly with each snapshot: Snapshot Variax Model Amp Gain Delay Mix Split A/B Pitch 1 INTRO Spank-1 4.5 35% Path A 100 0 #27 -7.2dB 2 VERSE Spank-1 4.
Snapshots > Command Center Using Snapshots Snapshots also store and recall the following MIDI, CV, and Ext Amp messages sent to external devices from the Command Center: Okay, sick of reading and ready to jump into snapshots? Here we go... • • • The value of any Instant 1. Press BANK and BANK footswitch mode.
Copying/Pasting a Snapshot Swapping Snapshots Instead of creating a new snapshot from scratch, you may want to copy an existing one to another snapshot location and tweak just a few things. There are actually two ways to do this: 1. Touch (but don't press) the two snapshot switches you want to swap until the following dialog appears: Quick Copy/Paste Snapshot from Footswitches 1. Press BANK and BANK footswitch mode. Swap Snapshots 1 and 5? simultaneously to enter Snapshot Cancel 2.
Saving Snapshots The camera icon on the home screen shows you the Snapshot Edits setting at a glance—When set to “Recall,” the camera is gray; when set to “Discard,” the camera is red. Press SAVE twice to save the preset. Saving a preset stores all of its 8 snapshots automatically. 1 NOTE: Selecting a preset recalls the Snapshot that was active when the preset was saved. Determining Snapshot Edit Behavior SHORTCUT: At any time, hold BYPASS and press SAVE to toggle this setting.
• • • • Tips for Creative Snapshot Use Snap/Preset—Snapshots 1-4 on the top row, one bank of presets on the bottom row • Snap/Stomp—Snapshots 1-4 on the top row, switches from stomp mode on the bottom row (see image below) Stomp/Snap—Switches from stomp mode on the top row, Snapshots 1-4 on the bottom row • 8 Snapshots—Snapshots 1-8 SNAPSHOT 1 SNAPSHOT 1 2 SNAPSHOT 2 • 3 SNAPSHOT 3 4 SNAPSHOT 4 • CANCEL • SNAPSHOT Teemah! Dual Pitch Tremolo/Autopan Start Reaper TAP • HOLD FOR TUNER •
Bypass Assign 2. Press Knob 1 (Bypass Assign). The Bypass Assign screen looks very similar to the Home screen: Bypass Assign 16B Dream Rig+Vocals 1 Quick Bypass Assign 1. From the Home screen, use the joystick to select the block you wish to assign to a footswitch. Input, Output, Split > Y, and Merge blocks cannot be assigned to footswitches. Split > A/B or Split > Crossover blocks can be assigned to a footswitch; when bypassed, they behave exactly like Split > Y. Delay Harmony Delay None 2.
5. Turn Knob 2 (Type) to select "Latching" or "Momentary." 2. Press Knob 6 (OK). Momentary The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) for as long as you hold the switch. SHORTCUT: Once any item has been assigned to a footswitch, touch and hold (but don't press) the footswitch, and a duplicate Customize button appears above Knob 5. Latching The block is bypassed (or enabled, if already bypassed) every time you press the switch. This is the default.
Controller Assign 2. Press Knob 6 (Learn Controller). The button’s brain icon glows blue and the header reads “Move/use controller to learn...”: Helix provides a wide variety of tools for controlling your tone during a performance.
2. Press Knob 2 (Controller Assign). Variax Vol, If you have a James Tyler Variax or Variax Standard guitar, its Variax Tone volume and tone knobs can be used to adjust a wide variety of parameters in Helix. The Controller Assign screen looks very similar to the Home screen: Controller Assign 1 Footswitch Stepping on a Stomp mode footswitch can toggle between a pa1-5, 7-11 rameter's min and max values.
Clearing a Block's Controller Assignment(s) Tips for Creative Controller Assignment • • • • • • • • • • • If you assign a footswitch to more than one controller or other item, "MULTIPLE (X)" on the scribble strip isn't very descriptive. Don't forget to custom label it - See "Customizing a Command Footswitch Label" 1. From the Controller Assign screen, select the block whose controller assignments you want to clear and press ACTION.
Command Center 4. Turn Knob 1 (Command) to select the type of command you wish to transmit. Not all command sources can send the same types of commands. Select "None" to remove any command assignment. Helix Rack also just so happens to be a world-class master remote control for your entire touring or studio rig.
Bank/Prog Knob Parameter IMPORTANT! Connect EXT AMP 1/2 only to amplifiers that utilize "shortto-sleeve" footswitch inputs. Connecting to any other sort of input could cause permanent damage to both your amp and Helix! If you're not sure if your amp has short-to-sleeve inputs, contact the manufacturer. Description 2 MIDI Ch Sets the Bank/Program message's MIDI channel (1-16). When set to "Base", Helix follows the Global MIDI channel, which is set from the "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" page.
Copying and Pasting a Command Customizing a Command Footswitch Label 1. Select the location containing the command you wish to copy and press ACTION. 1. From the Command Center screen, select Footswitch 1-5, 7-11, or Exp Toe with a command assigned and press Knob 6 (Customize). 2. Press Knob 1 (Copy Command). The Customize screen appears: 3. Select the location to which you want to paste the command— even in a different preset—and press ACTION. Customize 16B Dream Rig+Vocals K L M 4.
Global EQ Resetting Global EQ Resetting the Global EQ returns its settings to factory default (flat). 1. From the Global EQ screen, press ACTION. The Helix Global EQ has three fully parametric bands plus variable low and high cut filters, and is used for compensating for the wide disparity in acoustic environments on tour or when traveling from studio to studio. Global EQ is applied to all setlists and presets, and can be heard from the 1/4" outputs, XLR outputs, or both. 2.
Global Settings Resetting All Global Settings The Global Settings menu contains additional parameters that apply to all setlists and presets, such as input and output levels, custom footswitch mode settings, etc. The upper right corner displays the Helix Rack device's current firmware version. Visit line6.com/support for information on the latest Helix firmware updates. 1. From any Global Settings submenu, press ACTION. 1. Press Resetting the Helix Global Settings returns them to factory default.
Global Settings > Ins/Outs Page Knob Parameter Description 1 Guitar In Pad If your guitar or bass has active or really loud pickups, you may want to turn this on. There's really no rule; use what sounds best. 2 Mic In 48V Phantom When on, Helix provides 48V from the XLR Mic In jack to power studio condenser microphones. 3 Mic In Gain Sets analog gain for the XLR Mic In jack. 4 Mic In Low Cut Sets the frequency of the Mic In's dedicated, variable low-cut filter.
Global Settings > Preferences Knob Parameter Description 1 Determines whether or not any edits made to a snapshot (block on/off, parameter control, Command Center, tempo) are remembered when returning to that snapshot. When set to "Recall," any snapshot edits are recalled when jumping from snapshot to snapshot, and appear as you last left them. When set to "Discard," any snapshot edits are discarded when jumping from snapshot to snapshot, and appear as the preset was last saved.
Global Settings > Footswitches Knob Parameter Description Touch Select If you don't want Helix to automatically select assigned blocks or items when you touch a switch top, or engage Quick Bypass Assign when you touch a switch top for 2 seconds, set this to "Off." If you play barefoot, you might want to turn this off as well. 2 Preset Mode Switches By default, Preset footswitch mode displays eight presets (four on each row).
USB Audio Helix functions as a USB 2.0, multiple-input/output, 24-bit - 96kHz, low-latency audio interface for Windows® and Mac® computers, as well as for iPad and iPhone (with optional Apple Camera Connection Kit adapter), and is compatible with all major DAW software. NOTE: For USB audio operation on Windows® computers, it is necessary to download and install the Line 6 Helix ASIO® driver (see page 59).
Hardware Monitoring vs. DAW Software Monitoring Global Settings 16B Dream Rig Duet Use of the Helix default "Multi" settings for both the Input and Output blocks provides hardware monitoring, which allows you to hear your live input signal at all times, independent of your DAW software's monitor settings.
4. Set both tracks' outputs, as well as the DAW Master output, to Helix USB 1/2 to allow all tracks to play back through Helix. USB DRY DI GUITAR TRACK 1 (Dry DI Guitar) TRACK 2 (Processed Guitar) TRACK 3 (Re-amped Guitar) RE-AMPED GUITAR NOTE: Setting the stereo track's output to Helix USB 1/2 allows you to hear your Helix-processed tone via the Helix hardware monitoring while recording. For this configuration, disable software monitoring on all DAW tracks. 16B Dream Rig Duet 5.
ASIO® Driver Settings (Windows® only) Default Bit Select the Bit Depth at which Helix will operate for recording and Depth playback with your DAW software. 24 bit or 32 bit are recommended for quality audio production. When using Helix as an audio interface for Windows® DAW applications, it is highly recommended to configure the software to utilize the "ASIO®" Helix driver. The Line 6 ASIO® driver offers the superior, low-latency audio performance required for DAW recording.
MIDI MIDI CC Helix has reserved specific MIDI CC messages for global functions; these CCs cannot be used as controllers. If you attempt to learn a CC message reserved for global functions (see "Controller Assign"), the following dialog appears: NOTE: Helix transmits and responds to MIDI messages over USB in the same manner as via its MIDI connectors. For USB MIDI operation on Windows® computers, it is necessary to download and install the Line 6 Helix ASIO® driver, available from line6.com/software.
MIDI CC# Value Function 66 0-63: Full; 64-127: Half Looper Full/Half Speed switch (FS10) 67 0-63: Off; 64-127: On Looper block on/off (if available); also enters/exits Looper footswitch mode Additional Controls 0 0-7 Bank MSB 32 0-7 Bank LSB—Setlist select 64 64-127 Tap Tempo 68 0-127 Tuner screen on/off 69 0-7 Snapshot select 70 0-127 71 0-127 72 0-127 73 0-127 74 0-127 75 0-127 76 0-127 128 0-63: Oh; 64-127: Nooo Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for
