silverhead

The acoustic models changed in v1.8

I’m not certain it will work. Just suggesting that it’s worth a try. Can’t do any harm.

A Global Setting for this would be nice. Have you posted the suggestion in Ideascale, which is the official way to get feature requests to the Line 6 development team?

Did you perform the recommended factory reset and then restore your data from the backup file?

Unless the next thing you want to do is switch to another preset. Some players don't use snapshots and don't turn FX on/off. They go from one preset to another. The minute Line 6 modified things to your preference there would a chorus of complaints from those who like it the way it is now.

Have you tried using Line 6 Central instead of Monkey to roll back the firmware?

Is your HX Stomp powered directly by the Line 6 power supply it came with? Is that connection secure? If not I would look at power supply rather than heat as the issue.

No it doesn’t. If you have access to the backing track in file format (wav, mp3, …) then you can simply import the audio file into any track in Audacity. If you don’t have access to a file for the streaming backup track that probably means you don’t have a license for it. Your streaming service allows you to listen to it, not copy/record it and Line 6 doesn’t help you get around that..

If you have upgraded the firmware recently you will likely have a complete system backup file. That is a mandatory part of the upgrade process. You can use the editor’s Restore from Backup feature (under the File menu) to determine this. If a backup file is available it will be listed when you invoke that feature.

While connected to the editor did you ever export a copy of the preset to a folder location in your computer? If so you can locate it and import (or drag/drop) it into any preset slot in the editor. If not it is lost with no way to recover it except from your memory. The editor does not retain any preset information.

Is there any actual performance issue or is it just a display issue for you? This may also be affected by the state the preset was in when last SAVEd. Try experimenting with different saved states. Or, could also be affected by the Global Settings for Snapshot Edits if you happen to turn on/off any FX manually while in any given snapshot..

Have you looked into the 4-Cable Method (4CM)? This setup is not Line 6 specific; you will find info on it with a Google search.

I don’t think the EXP pedal is an analog audio input.

Check the associated Global Settings. Also, you may be in Stomp mode with no footswitches assigned.

For alternate tunings in a stored Variax Model I use Workbench but you’re right - you can also define alt tunings directly using only the guitar. It won’t matter how it was created; if the Variax Tuning knob is not set to Standard any alt tuning defined in a Helix preset relative to Standard tuning will be affected. I believe Helix applies the specified relative pitch shift to the incoming string signal whether that is in standard tuning or not. I believe ithis would also apply to the other alt tuning knob positions in the Variax factory settings. For instance if the Variax factory alt tunings are being used and the knob is set to Drop D, while the Helix preset also specifies Drop D tuning, I expect the low E string would produce a C note. My habit, which has never failed in my memory, is to keep the Variax alt tuning knob set to Standard when using Helix alt tunings.

There’s a subtle thing with alt tunings that sometimes catches people out. I don’t think this is what you’ve encountered but I think it’s worth mentioning in case. When storing alternate tunings in Helix presets it’s important to have the Alt Tuning knob on the Variax set to Standard. In particular if that knob is set to Model then any Workbench-created alternate tuning stored in the Variax Model is applied and the Helix alt tunings are ignored.

Probably using 4CM would be best, assuming you have the combo Katana amp and not just the head. If you’re not familiar with 4CM you can find the setup in the Helix manual.

The special jack is for the Variax Digital Interface (VDI). It supports communication with a computer for a guitar model editor called Workbench, and supports firmware updates which you probably won’t need since there haven’t been any for many years and won’t be again. It also supports communication and interaction with certain old Line 6 guitar amp and FX processors. Search for Line 6 VDI if interested.

Glad it’s working for you. Enjoy!

Inexplicable but true! Maybe I haven’t gone crazy after all. Witches and gremlins…. Thanks for letting us know - might be useful for others in similar situations.

I agree. If your Blackstar preamp sounds different in 4CM that would be a setup or preset issue. Double check the cabling and make sure you have the Helix Send, Return, and Main Out Levels set to Instrument. To test, turn off all FX in the Helix preset, including amp and cab as well as Noise Gate on the Input block. Leave only the Send/Return blocks active. The sound you hear in this arrangement should match the sound of connecting your guitar directly to your Blackstar, with no connections to Helix.

Nothing is completely future proof. However, you can expect that a working used Variax guitar will continue to work as is for some time period. How long is completely speculation. Everything electronic device fails eventually. However, the Shuriken also has magnetic pickups and they should last as long as any regular guitar. The software will no longer be updated. You don’t say where you read the software has issues. if it was here, recognize that this is a user support forum. People come here to get help with problems. The many more satisfied users don’t come here to describe their satisfaction and lack of problems, so the overall perspective here is heavily skewed. There is a banner near the top of this page that describes Line 6 policy re: support of discontinued products. It is updated periodically and I haven’t checked it re: Shuriken but you can do so. Parts will also become more difficult to find over time since they are no longer being manufactured. Bottom line: you can expect it to work as it does now for some time, perhaps a long time. Eventually it will fail like all electronic devices. It’s your decision. You’re probably already leaning one way or the other and are looking for advice that supports your leaning. Don’t listen to it; go with your gut.

What Line 6 product do you have? Once I know that I can move your post from the Lounge area to the appropriate product forum for greater visibility and more responses. it’s probably not a firmware issue. Try using an electronics contact cleaner (avoid anything like WD-40) and stomp the switches repeatedly. If that fails open a support ticket.

Try Global Settings-> Ins/Outs -> USB In 1/2/Trim. Lower this value until comfortable.This does not adjust your PC volume but lowers the signal level as it enters the Stomp.

Use HX Edit to export your preset file. The filetype will be *.hlx; note the destination folder. Then make another post in this thread. Below your text you will see a paper clip icon. Select the hlx file to attach it to your post.