HXView updated to Helix 3.60 "The Grammatico Update"

I have updated HXView with support for Helix 3.60. You can access the app here: https://hxview.vercel.app/ . I have also made some optimization to the app so it runs little bit faster and use less bandwith.

This version includes the new amp Grammatico GSG, based on the Grammatico GSG100.

If you want to try the app you can download the Helix 3.60 factory setlists here: https://line6.com/support/topic/66316-helix-v36-factory-setlists/

Helix 3.60 Release Notes

New version of HX View and support for 3.50

The old version of the app was hosted on a free service no longer available. I have made a new version which run completely on the browser so I don't need a server anymore.

I have also updated it with a more modern UI.

I updated it with support for the new amps and effects Helix 3.50.

The new url for the app: https://hxview.vercel.app/

I'm not really sure how many people use it so if you find it useful I would appreciate if you can leave a comment here.

HELIX 3.15 in HLX View

Like every new HELIX version, I have updated HLX View to 3.15 so you can visualize presets with the new Line 6 Ventoux AMP, Bronze Master Distortion, etc

HLX View updated to support 3.0 presets

I have updated my HLX View app to display the new models included in Helix/HX 3.0 and Helix Native 3.0 which includes new amps, cabs and effects like: US Princess, Das Benzin Mega, Das Benzin Lead, Horizon Drive, Acoustic Sim, Poly Detune and many more.

The most exciting new feature for me is that now I can use 8 blocks on the Stomp, is perfect for adding a looper at the end without sacrificing a modulation o distorion in the chain. 

I haven't tested all the new effects but wanted to update the app right away because I'd like to check the new Artist Presets which are not available for the Stomp. This could be the right moment to add the functionality to load .hls files but that would need to wait until I'm finished trying the new sounds.

I have tested a preset with 8 blocks:

And some presets with new models:

This one downloaded from FluidSolo.

As always, this app is for my own personal use but I hope you find it useful.

Helix/HX Stomp preset-snapshot online viewer

I have implemented a Line6 Helix/HX Stomp online preset viewer, is hosted on a free heroku server here: https://sensationnel-gerard-26922.herokuapp.com/# . The app needs javascript to work.

It can display block state and parameter values for each snapshot, the active blocks have a white border and the inactive blocks have a grey border, and the parameters affected by a snapshot are in white text.

Motivation

I have the HX Stomp and I have purchased some presets that make good use of snapshots to have different sounds in the the same preset, this is important in the Stomp beacuse of the limited number of blocks available. I wanted to learn how to make my own presets but I find difficult to visualize the difference between snapshot when it changes a lot of parameters so I decided to implement a visualizer that can display all the parameters at once.

Once I had it working for the Stomp presets I adapted it to visualize the Helix presets, this way I can learn from all the presets avaliable from CustomTone.

How-To Use

To use it simply drag and drop your hlx files or click and select the files you want to visualize:

Click "Upload files":

Click "Finish" or select one preset from the list:

The preset list can be toggled with the = button to the left of  "Presets"

You can add more presets at any moment using the + button to the right of "Presets"

Technical info

The app is developed in javascript using Node.js and Express for the backend and Vue.js for the front end. The preset graphic paths and blocks are drawn in SVG.

The files are uploaded to the server but never written to disk, they are parsed in memory to build a json model ready for display. The .hlx files are json files but the parameters values lack unit information, are in different scales than displayed in the hadware and some are discrete value codes. This values are parsed in the backend and transformed to the correct display values. In the parse process the snapshot information is also transformed and embedded in the display model.

VulcanoFX MC6 Midi Controller for HX Stomp

I have gone full digital and bought a Line6 HX Stomp, it has everything I want: small form factor, amp and cab models for guitar and bass, usb audio interface with reamping capability, stereo input, output and send/return loop. Lots of effects and Line6 has updated it since its release with new effects, amps, etc. It has a lot of functions with only 3 footswitches but it also has a TRS FS/EXP input so you can expand it. But it also has MIDI input (and output/thru) and thats what I'm using to control it adding 6 more footswitches.

I found this post https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/338238-build-your-own-midi-controller-i-did/ from Stoo who should receive the credit here. He explained everything you need to know to build a midi controller using an arduino nano board, he even shared his code. I had an Adafruit Feather M0 Adaloger in a box which is arduino compatible so bough the 128x64 lcd screen and tested it on the breadboard. If you use the Feather M0 you need to use pull up resistors for SLC and SDA ports.

If you want the code just clone it from github:

https://github.com/yeraym/vulcano_controller

Once I was sure everything worked ordered a 1590J box, 6 SPST momentary footswitches and started wiring. You can find the micro usb panel mounted extension cable on ebay

I didn't want to mount the board permanently and came up this solution.

This is how it looks inside:

I 3D printed this model https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2283223 to frame the screen.

I'm very happy with the result: