Helix Viewer

Version 0.11

This is a utility I wrote to show the content of a Line 6 Helix preset. It is currently a work in progress, but it should work fairly well. Please let me know if it doesn't work correctly at all (helix-viewerjamesots.com).

Please note that as I only have a Helix Floor I'm unable to make this software work for HX Stomp, HX Effects or Pod Go devices.

You can either view one of the included test presets (which are fairly random, and are not intended to be used for actually playing guitar!), or load your own presets, setlists or bundles (.hlx, .hls or .hlb files). Files are kept on your computer — nothing is sent to the server.

New features in v0.11

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.80

New features in v0.10

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.70
• Added a link to 'buy me a coffee'.

New features in v0.9

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.60

New features in v0.8

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.50

New features in v0.7

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.15

New features in v0.6

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.1

New features in v0.5

• Added new amps and effects from Helix v3.0

New features in v0.4

• Parametrics EQs now show a graphical representation of the filter in parameters area when selected. Please note that the calculations I have used are just an approximation of how the EQ will respond, and is not intended to be accurate.

New features in v0.3

• 'Show IR Usage' button shows which IRs are in use, and by which presets. It currently only shows the IR number, not its name, as the name isn't stored in the setlist or bundle file.

New features in v0.2

• You can now load setlists and bundles.
• Improved formatting when printing.
• If you have a change preset command assigned to a footswitch it now shows the preset name if you have a setlist or bundle loaded.
• Lots of little defect fixes.

Original Features and Limitations

• Displays a Helix preset's blocks, as you might see them on the Helix screen or in HX Edit.
• Displays two sets of footswitches — one for stomps, one for snapshots. You can turn blocks on and off using the stomps, or switch snapshots. Any changes you make are not saved. This is completely a read-only viewer and I have intention of making it into an editor.
• Shows the MIDI commands that would be sent in the log window at the bottom of the screen.
• This was developed using a Helix Floor. I don't have any other Helix devices to test against. I have also completely ignored the DT25 and Powercab settings for now, as I don't have either of them.
• Although it is possible to assign a command to footswitch 6, I don't show footswitches 6 or 12 in the application.
• If you have a change preset command assigned to a footswitch, it can't show its name or switch to it, because we only have a single preset loaded at one time.
• The footswitch doesn't switch the footswitches into looper mode, and when you have individual looper commands assigned to footswitches they don't toggle their states in the way you would expect on the actual device.
• This was developed in Chrome. It should work in modern browsers, but I haven't tried it. It almost certainly won't work in Internet Explorer, and again, I haven't tried it.

Planned/Considered Enhancements

• Add a command centre, like in HX Edit
• Display expression pedal name somewhere
• Handle the tempo properly. The displayed tempo at the moment is the global tempo setting for the preset.
• Handle all the little bits I've missed.
• Write a standalone electron app
• Write some useful utilities. But what?

Small Print

Helix Viewer was written by James Ots, and has no connection to Line 6 in any way (except that it shows Helix presets). Helix is a trademark of Line 6.