MIDI

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. There is no driver installation necessary for an Apple Mac computer, iPad or iPhone.

Helix, Rack, LT

MIDI Bank/Program Changes

Helix responds to traditional MIDI CC and Program change messages from an external MIDI device (or from MIDI software via USB) and will recall setlists, presets, and/or snapshots accordingly.

Remotely Selecting a Setlist, Preset, and/or Snapshot

Press PRESETS to open the Setlist menu:

MIDI Setlist Menu

The dark text above Knob 2 displays the required MIDI messages for recalling the Helix device's setlists, presets, and/or snapshots from external MIDI devices or software. In the illustration above, the FACTORY 1 setlist is recalled with a CC32 message of 007, the 16B Bottle Message preset is recalled with a PC (program change) message of 005, and SNAPSHOT 1 is recalled with a CC69 message of 000.

NOTE

When navigating Presets from the Helix hardware (PRESETS encoder, preset footswitches, PRESET / PRESET , etc.), Helix automatically transmits a MIDI Program Change message corresponding to the selected preset. If you'd prefer Helix to not automatically transmit or receive PC messages, turn "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" > Knob 4 (MIDI PC Send/Receive) off.

MIDI Clock Send and Receive

Helix can send and receive MIDI clock via its MIDI 5-pin in/out, as well as via USB. MIDI Clock options can be enabled and configured within the "Global Settings > MIDI/ Tempo" options.

MIDI Clock Send: Transmit MIDI clock to synchronize the tempo of external pedals, rack gear, and software to the current Helix TAP Tempo rate.

MIDI Clock Receive: Synchronize the Helix time-based effects (such as delay and modulation) to incoming MIDI clock from external DAW software, drum machines, keyboard workstations, or other modelers. Note that the Helix TAP footswitch will flash blue (instead of the default red) to indicate the incoming tempo rate when receiving MIDI clock.

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:

MIDI CC

Pedal and Footswitch Assignments

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
10-127Emulates EXP 1 Pedal
20-127Emulates EXP 2 Pedal
30-127Emulates EXP 3 Pedal
490-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS1
500-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS2
510-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS3
520-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS4
530-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS5
540-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS7
550-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS8
560-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS9
570-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS10
580-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode's FS11
590-127Emulates EXP Toe switch

Looper Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
600-63: Overdub; 64-127: RecordLooper Record/Overdub switch (FS8)
610-63: Stop; 64-127: PlayLooper Play/Stop switch (FS9)
6264-127Looper Play Once switch (FS3)
6364-127Looper Undo switch (FS2)
650-63: Forward; 64-127: ReverseLooper Forward/Reverse switch (FS11)
660-63: Full; 64-127: HalfLooper Full/Half Speed switch (FS10)
670-63: Off; 64-127: OnLooper block on/off (if available); also enters/exits Looper footswitch mode

Additional Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
00-7Bank MSB
320-7Bank LSB—Setlist select
6464-127Tap Tempo
680-127Tuner screen on/off
690-7Snapshot select
720-63, 64-127Previous Preset, Next Preset
70-71, 73-760-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
1280-63: Oh; 64-127: NoooHelix achieves self-awareness and starts poking fun of that face you make during the solo

HX Stomp, HX Stomp XL

Preset and Snapshot Recall via MIDI

MIDI can be frustrating enough as it is without having to slog through a manual to figure out what messages your particular device needs to change presets. Conveniently enough, HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL have handy helper text to tell you exactly which MIDI messages will recall the current preset and snapshot.

  1. If not already there, press HOME VIEW to select Play view.
  2. Press the Upper Knob to open the Preset list:
HX Stomp MIDI Example

The dark text above Knob 3 displays the required MIDI messages for recalling presets and/or snapshots from external MIDI devices or software. In the illustration above, the 16B Pastor of Muppets preset is recalled with a PC (program change) message of 061, and Snapshot 1 is recalled with a CC69 message of 000.

NOTE

HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL respond to MIDI channel 1 by default, but this can be changed from "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo".

NOTE

When selecting different presets, HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL automatically transmit a MIDI Program Change message corresponding to the selected preset. If you'd prefer not to automatically transmit PC messages, set "Global Settings > MIDI/ Tempo" > MIDI PC Tx to "Off."

Block Bypass via MIDI

  1. Press < PAGE and PAGE > together to open the Menu.
  2. Press Knob 1 (Bypass Assign).
  3. Turn the Upper Knob to select the block whose bypass you want to assign to incoming MIDI.
  4. Press PAGE > and then Knob 3 (Learn). Send a MIDI CC message from your foot controller, keyboard, etc.

The CC number appears above Knob 1 (MIDI In).

Incoming CC values 0-63 turn the block off; values 64-127 turn the block on. Note that some MIDI CCs are reserved for global functions and cannot be selected (see "MIDI CC").

NOTE

To manually select a MIDI CC, instead of step 4 above, press PAGE > and turn Knob 1 (MIDI In) to select the desired MIDI CC number.

Parameter Control via MIDI

  1. From Edit view, press and hold the knob for the parameter you wish to control.

HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL jump to the Controller Assign page and displays your parameter at Knob 1 (Parameter).

  1. Press PAGE > and then Knob 3 (Learn). Send a MIDI CC message from your foot controller, keyboard, etc.

The CC number appears above Knob 3 (CC#).

NOTE

To manually select a MIDI CC, turn Knob 2 (Controller) to select "MIDI CC" and Knob 3 to the desired MIDI CC number.

  1. If desired, press PAGE > and turn Knob 1 (Min Value) and Knob 2 (Max Value) to set the range you wish to control.

NOTE

To reverse controller behavior, swap the min and max values.

  1. Press HOME when finished. Remember to save your preset to retain all assignments!

Synchronizing Tempo via MIDI

Certain Delay and Modulation parameters such as Time and Speed can be represented with fixed numeric values (ms or Hz) or note values (1/4-note, dotted 1/8-note, etc.). When set to note values, the parameter will follow Tap Tempo or incoming MIDI clock. Press the parameter knob to toggle between ms (or Hz) and note values.

HX Stomp MIDI Example

By default, HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL respond to MIDI clock received from external gear (or your DAW software via USB). HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL can also transmit MIDI clock to external gear or software (transmit is disabled by default). MIDI clock reception (Rx) and transmission (Tx) can be enabled or disabled from the "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" menu.

In addition, certain modulation effects have distinct rhythmic elements; for example, a tremolo set to a square wave (sometimes called a "slicer") not only has a tempo but a beat, where the upswing of the wave lands with relation to your song. That is, the effect may be in perfect tempo-sync with your song, but its "downbeat" may be shifted ahead or behind of your drummer's-or in the studio-your recorded song's downbeat.

Press TAP once on the downbeat of your song.

Any beat sync-based (sometimes called "LFO") effects reset from the beginning.

MIDI CC

HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL have 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:

HX Stomp MIDI CC Screen

Pedal and Footswitch Assignments

MIDI CC#ValueFunctionDevice
10-127Emulates EXP 1 PedalBoth
20-127Emulates EXP 2 PedalBoth
490-127Emulates FS1Both
500-127Emulates FS2Both
510-127Emulates FS3Both
520-127Emulates FS4Both
530-127Emulates FS5Both
540-127Emulates FS6HX Stomp XL
550-127Emulates FS7HX Stomp XL
560-127Emulates FS8HX Stomp XL

1 Switch Looper Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
600-63: Overdub; 64-127: Record1 Switch Looper Record/Overdub
610-63: Stop; 64-127: Play1 Switch Looper Play/Stop
6264-1271 Switch Looper Play Once
6364-1271 Switch Looper Undo/Redo
650-63: Forward; 64-127: Reverse1 Switch Looper Forward/Reverse
660-63: Full; 64-127: HalfLooper Full/Half Speed

Additional Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
0N/ABank MSB (unused but reserved)
30-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
32N/ABank LSB (unused but reserved)
54-590-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
6464-127Tap Tempo
670-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
680-127Tuner screen on/off
690-2, 8 and 9Snapshot select (0=Snapshot 1, 1=Snapshot 2, 2=Snapshot 3, 8=Next snapshot, 9=Previous snapshot)
700-63: Bypass; 64-127: OnAll Bypass
710-5Footswitch Mode (0=Stomp, 1=Scroll, 2=Preset, 3=Snapshot, 4=Next footswitch mode, 5=Previous footswitch mode)
720-63, 64-127Previous Preset, Next Preset
73-760-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
1280-63: Jealous; 128 64-127: CodependentHX Stomp and HX Stomp XL send late-night texts to all of your ex-significant others, professing your undying love to them and their cats

HX Effects

The HX Effects device receives and transmits MIDI messages via its 5-pin MIDI In & Out connectors, as well as via USB, providing functionality with just about any MIDI hardware or software gear you may want to use with it. USB MIDI operation is functional with Mac & Windows computers, as well as with iPad or iPhone mobile devices.* Also see "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" for MIDI device options.

Preset Recall via MIDI

To recall a preset, send a program change (PC) message to your HX Effects device on MIDI channel 1, according to the table below.

BankPreset APreset BPreset CPreset D
01PC:000PC:001PC:002PC:003
02PC:004PC:005PC:006PC:007
03PC:008PC:009PC:010PC:011
04PC:012PC:013PC:014PC:015
05PC:016PC:017PC:018PC:019
06PC:020PC:021PC:022PC:023
07PC:024PC:025PC:026PC:027
08PC:028PC:029PC:030PC:031
09PC:032PC:033PC:034PC:035
10PC:036PC:037PC:038PC:039
11PC:040PC:041PC:042PC:043
12PC:044PC:045PC:046PC:047
13PC:048PC:049PC:050PC:051
14PC:052PC:053PC:054PC:055
15PC:056PC:057PC:058PC:059
16PC:060PC:061PC:062PC:063
17PC:064PC:065PC:066PC:067
18PC:068PC:069PC:070PC:071
19PC:072PC:073PC:074PC:075
20PC:0076PC:077PC:078PC:079
21PC:080PC:081PC:082PC:083
22PC:084PC:085PC:086PC:087
23PC:088PC:089PC:090PC:091
24PC:092PC:093PC:094PC:095
25PC:096PC:097PC:098PC:099
26PC:100PC:101PC:102PC:103
27PC:104PC:105PC:106PC:107
28PC:108PC:109PC:110PC:111
29PC:112PC:113PC:114PC:115
30PC:116PC:117PC:118PC:119
31PC:120PC:121PC:122PC:123
32PC:124PC:124PC:126PC:127

NOTE

When navigating Presets from the HX Effects hardware (PRESETS encoder, preset footswitches, PRESET UP / PRESET DOWN, etc.), the HX Effects device automatically transmits a MIDI Program Change message corresponding to the selected preset. If you’d prefer not to automatically transmit PC messages, set "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" > MIDI PC Tx to "Off."

Snapshot Recall via MIDI

To recall a snapshot, send the HX Effects hardware a CC69 message according to the table below.

SnapshotMIDI CC#Value
169000
269001
369002
469003
Next69008
Previous69009

Block Bypass via MIDI

  1. Press to open MENU.
  2. Press the SIGNAL FLOW switch.
  3. Turn the Big Knob to select the block for which its bypass you want to assign to incoming MIDI.
  4. Press > and turn Knob 3 (MIDI Bypass) to assign an incoming MIDI CC message to turn the block on and off.

Incoming CC values 0-63 turn the block off; values 64-127 turn the block on. Note that some MIDI CCs are reserved for global functions and cannot be selected.

Parameter Control via MIDI

  1. From Stomp mode, press and hold the knob 1~3 for the parameter you wish to control.

The HX Effects device jumps to the Controller Assign page and displays your parameter at Knob 1 (Parameter).

  1. Press the LEARN switch and then send a MIDI CC message from your foot controller, keyboard, etc.

The CC number appears above Knob 3 (CC#).

NOTE

To manually select a MIDI CC, turn Knob 2 (Controller) to select "MIDI CC" and Knob 3 to the desired MIDI CC number.

  1. If desired, press and turn Knob 1 (Min Value) and Knob 2 (Max Value) to set the range you wish to control.

NOTE

To reverse controller behavior, swap the min and max values.

  1. Press HOME to return to the Home screen.

MIDI Clock Send and Receive

HX Effects is able to send and receive MIDI clock via its MIDI 5-pin in/out, as well as via USB. MIDI Clock options can be enabled and configured within the "Global Settings > MIDI/Tempo" options.

MIDI Clock Send: Transmit MIDI clock to synchronize the tempo of external pedals, rack gear, and software to the current HX Effects TAP Tempo rate.

MIDI Clock Receive: Synchronize the HX Effects time-based effects (such as delay and modulation) to incoming MIDI clock from external DAW software, drum machines, keyboard workstations, or other modelers. Note that the HX Effects TAP footswitch will flash blue (instead of the default red) to indicate the incoming tempo rate when receiving MIDI clock.

MIDI CC

The HX Effects hardware 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:

HX Effects MIDI CC Global Functions

Pedal and Footswitch Assignments

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
10-127Emulates EXP 1 Pedal
20-127Emulates EXP 2 Pedal
490-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS1
500-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS2
510-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS3
520-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS4
530-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS5
540-127Emulates Stomp footswitch mode’s FS6

Looper Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
600-63: Overdub; 64-127: RecordLooper Record/Overdub switch (FS4)
610-63: Stop; 64-127: PlayLooper Play/Stop switch (FS5)
6264-127Looper Play Once switch (FS6)
6364-127Looper Undo switch (FS1)
650-63: Forward; 64-127: ReverseLooper Forward/Reverse switch (FS3)
660-63: Full; 64-127: HalfLooper Full/Half Speed switch (FS2)
670-63: Off; 64-127: OnLooper block on/off (if available); also enters/exits Looper footswitch mode

Additional Controls

MIDI CC#ValueFunction
6464-127"Tap" in a Tap Tempo value
680-127Tuner screen on/off
690-3, 8 and 9Snapshot select (0=Snapshot 1, 1=Snapshot 2, 2=Snapshot 3, 3=Snapshot 4, 8=Next snapshot, 9=Previous snapshot)
700-63: Bypass; 64-127: OnAll Bypass
720-63, 64-127Previous Preset, Next Preset
71, 73-760-127Additional global MIDI commands (reserved for future use)
1280-63: Guilt; 128 64-127: RegretThe HX Effects hardware calls your family and informs them of every single poor life decision you’ve ever made