Line 6 Helix Native Plug-in Review

[@willfrank961]

I like that he speaks fast. Keeps my ADD in check.

[@HRodMusic]

hahah forreal right!

[@incongruous4]

One of the few videos I don't have to 2x speed

[@newstuff1107]

2023 update here. Using Native THROUGH MY HX Stomp, I manage to get the same exact tones of the new Tonex modeler software, using the Tonex cabs. Using flat studio headphones/ monitors, I get the same character/ quality/ greatness, dynamic range.

[@mdp303]

One of the best reviews I’ve watched. Thanks👍🏻

[@Svatopluk]

Really well done. Clear and succinct. I also liked that I could hear lots of different guitar sounds. This looks like a good amp emulator option!

[@teerexness]

Now all we need is Line 6 to make a corresponding, reasonably priced audio interface with 1/4", XLR and a powered VDI port for us Variax users!

[@nvn25]

I always enjoy watching your videos! Love Helix Native

[@patricetrahan7287]

Line6 should make this free for Helix owners

[@RinaldoJonathan]

but why?

[@patricetrahan7287]

because it appears to be software part of what already is in our Helix that we've paid for

[@RinaldoJonathan]

but then, you buy the native, you get virtually as much helix as you want. hell, you can plug the whole behringer X32 and have them all helix-ed.

[@marcosrfarias]

They really should

[@robertascio8342]

They had a $99.00 sale...since I have both Helix LT and Rack, I got two licenses.

[@PoundSound]

Just trying the demo out, hands down beats Guitar Rig, Amplitube and all the rest. My only reservation is it seems to be fairly CPU intensive on some presets.

[@ProcashFloyd]

just tried out helix native and i think line 6 got themselves a winner here!

[@GJSolo]

Who did the percussion for his loop? It's a nightmare

[@starpaolo]

This review is very well done and really helpful. Thanks!

[@leoetine]

*****I have purchased my Helix Native via Sweetwater after I purchased my Helix from there as well......PROBLEM: I wish I could show you my screenshot, but I can't here. The text is EXTREMELY small and I can barely see everything. Your Helix Native window in Studio One, which is the same DAW I use, is super large and the text is perfectly readable. What did you do to get that window to look that way? (and note, I have ALREADY used the little expanding thing at the bottom right of the Helix Native window; all that does is make the window bigger; it does not change the text size). I'm using Studio One from a laptop. Your help is greatly appreciated. I'm a 10+ year Sweetwater customer; wouldn't purchase anything anywhere else, and my sales engineer Kenny Stratton is awesome!

[@thelowmein9143]

I wish Sweetwater would do a tutorial on how to, install and hook up a product like this. Especially for folks like me who only have ever just plugged a guitar into an amp. Some questions you might answer... Line 6 helix plug in has to be in daw? What does that mean? It’s part of another software? Which ones work with he helix plug in? How do you get the sound from the software to a speaker? Or record it? How do I move the tones from the floor into to the pc and vice versa? Thanks for the great videos they are awesome.

[@joshuahartman2335]

Every single question you asked is very beginner stuff which is why it's not mentioned in the video, I don't mean that in a bad way either! Every question you have can be answered if you type each of those questions into Google

[@shredderofstrings3223]

A daw is a digital audio workstation, also known as a type of audio recording software that people use to record whatever their little hearts desire

[@Smokinduckz]

You ever figure it out? Pretty simple stuff

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

I wonder can you use the line 6 floor controller with midi so you can actually have an expression pedal or a mini physical version of the helix

[@earthelder2065]

Why didn't they make it standalone? I don't want my DAW running using processing power!

[@colek-98]

Great demo Mitch. Thanks a lot.

[@HiredGoonage]

I find the UI refreshing. Tired of the silly little graphical representations of gear. I'll probably pick it up used on KVR in a year or so.

[@RinaldoJonathan]

Hired Goonage you would need to beat me for that second hand helix native.

[@HiredGoonage]

Too late my friend, already got it used for $200

[@HiredGoonage]

Well check out the KVR sell and buy forum. You can buy previously owned licenses. The nice thing about "used" software is it's exactly the same as "new" but a lot cheaper.

[@musicalpurpose2566]

What is the difference between Native and HX Edit? Am I missing something?

[@Triumphinchrist1]

Great review! How many amps can I stack per rig? Dual tones or more?

[@phantumgrey]

So I guess with this program I can't set the speak mic position like I can in Amplitube 4? That's very important

[@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133]

Impulse responses simulates cabinets, no mic positions.

[@RapttorX]

@@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133 an IR simulates both cab AND mic position

[@flavanthensome]

Mitch, would you be willing to use this at church rather than your ampless pedalboard?

[@TheHackersboss]

FX COMPANIES HATE HIM! Watch this man use thousands of dollars' worth of plug-ins with minimal CPU usage.

[@JohnConnasRealFatha]

On studio one nonetheless…

[@user-rb3ey4gh3g]

It has finally arrived...thanks sweetwatersound

[@DatAnydex]

I’ve been using 2 Eleven Racks for years. When it comes to plugins vs. outboard hardware, one must remember that with plugins one can tweak to heart’s desire in the DAW with other plugs such as EQ, Eventide Fission, Air Kill, etc, etc....which is virtually limitless. Mitch is the best with knowledge and presentation. Yes...plugins can be pricey, but constant innovation is where processing is headed, and Factory Presets will only improve over time. I may enter the “Helix world” at some point, as they seem to have risen to the top crop of processing. Guitarists will almost pursue anything for tone...that said...plugins are here to stay. I’ve listened to other KZbin vids reviewing this Helix Native plug, and I must admit that Mitch makes it sound great imho.

[@dgarrett1962]

Can you tell me how to set up native inside studio one 5.5. I get no sound.

[@champ10ns08]

Great review, Mitch.

[@berndkiltz]

Professionally made - but how does it sound compared to Bias FX, Guitar Rig and the other players on the market? Is the very high price justified? All the real questions I had are still there...

[@ianmansell6326]

Hi Bernd, my son has been playing around with various modeling software. I think the conclusion was each one does certain amps/tones well... trying to get an Andy Timmons tone with any of them was challenging. Aidan ended up having to use patches developed by Glenn DeLaune, which save hours of tweaking!! Deliver Us - Andy Timmons kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ2ylXWfrtqqitE

[@berndkiltz]

Hey Ian, that is probably true - but i have the helix native now and I think it is more than a notch better than Bias, Guitar Rig or everything else Software-Wise I have tested. Only the (Hardware) AxeFx/AX8 and the Kemper are on the Same Level. I really like the Helix, especially when you add you own IRs it gives me every sound I need.

[@TheJTRstudios]

how is the delay with this plugin?

[@Llam1nator]

This is amazing

[@gurushetty9552]

What is that box next to the Mac?

[@Sam-rz3rd]

What sound interface are you using here? EDIT: Audient iD4 2-in/2-out USB

[@Mathi7052]

Thanks

[@piotrbalmusic]

Awesome presentation. I wish you included jazz sound sample.

[@robertsimpson5801]

If you have the hardware and you are using Native to create presets, can you use the hardware as a controller for the software?

[@Paullaskovids]

I'd like to know this as well. Like does it send Midi CCs or something? I don't have a Helix hardware yet but I'm interested. Being able to control your wah is really important.

[@pedrockjesus]

Comparing to the helix hardwares... It's exactly the same thing? Have all the fx, amps, cabs of the hardwares?

[@sweetwater]

Hey, Pedro! Yes, it’s the same layout, fx, amps and cabs as the hardware, but just in a plug-in format for your DAW. It’s really useful in a recording setup because you can simply record a dry guitar track and then work out the tone and effects in real time while you loop the riff in your DAW. Let me know if you have any questions! Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1793, [e-mail]

[@SerterSerter]

Anything like the Pod Farm string synth in there? or a amp feedback simulator?

[@klkdc]

what is that silver box that you used to plug the guitar into the Mcintosh? and Can I get it from sweetwater?

[@kelldammit]

it looks like it might be an audient iD4 (www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ID4). I'm not for sure, but the knob layout seems to match pretty well (and it has DI input)...

[@davemccall9594]

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ID4

[@R0BL68]

How do you port the sounds you created on Native to your hardware (Helix Floor) ?

[@squidskunk]

is there a tuner in the plugin..?

[@iann8733]

I have it, no tuner

[@Smokinduckz]

All Neural dsp Sims come with tuners

[@gumtree7177]

Hi What interface did you use for guitar input on this video and is it C or USB 3 to the mac ? Please link and tell me what interface it is. Thanks.

[@rockyfolksy8639]

What is that interface you are using?

[@SUPERAggressiveAngryAfrikanMAN]

POD HD Owners, can the (Helix Native Amp & Effects Plug-in) somehow integrate with a POD HD Pro Rack Mount? Here me out on this guys…. In any way, will a rack-mount HD Pod ProX benefit with using the Line 6 Helix plugin? Anything, even the ability to use the physical knobs on the rack-mount? Will the rack-mount simply be a audio interface (guitar hosting equipment) for the Helix plugin and nothing else?..... To be more specific by using a analogy, I'm wondering if there's some kind of 3rd party hardware support. Same as what Omnisphere software plugin owners have when it comes to the Omnispheres lists/software integration support of various MIDI keyboard controller's physical knobs, sliders and so on that can controll Omnisphere's plugin software. Will a POD HD Pro be able to controll Helix's Native software plugin in anyway when it comes to the knobs and such on the rackmount's hardware or will it simply be a guitar interface host?

[@debabratasikder9448]

I don't have any guitar now. I have some recorded files of my guitar. Now how can I play them through the Helix?

[@tolisgamer]

Nice and clean sound!

[@VivaZeBone]

This was incredible. I hope it works with Cubase 8.5

[@IndyRockStar]

I have the Helix. I don't know why you'd need this plug in. My Helix is connected to my Scarlett now, so I already have all of this. I make the presets to record with and then use the same preset to play through live. Everything stays in the same unit. I don't see a reason to have 2 copies of the same thing. Feels like another way to squeeze you for another $70.

[@headboom7230]

I still don't get it. Is this just a software? If so, then how do you connect your guitar to your pc or mac? Do you need to pay some $$ to buy another Line 6 product so that this software hand shakes with your guitar and it actually works? Does the sound come from the laptop speaker or from an amp? I don't get it at all.

[@zuboski5859]

It's a plugin. Connect your guitar to the computer with an audio interface. The sound will come from whatever output you've set on your computer.

[@Claimjumper55]

This is really cool. Helix capabilities at a more affordable price point. One thing I'm excited about is that you can have multiple instances of Native loaded into your DAW simultaneously.

[@stageblastrecords]

Darrell McMillan you can

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Hi everyone, I have the HX Stomp and I am loving it! However, I already filled up all the preset banks on it. If I buy the HX Native can I use that with the HX Stomp so that I can have more presets? Can I run HX Native through the Stomp and use the Native Presets? Thank you.

[@sweetwater]

Hi, Angel. Great question! Helix Native will not give you any additional preset slots on the Stomp, but will allow you to create and manage presets outside of it. If you have further questions about integration it will be best for you to give us a call, as it is a bit more complicated than we can get into here. Thanks! Jason Filloramo, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1281, [e-mail]

[@philf4086]

Line 6 should figure a way to compile down a Helix Floor patch from Native (16 blocks) down to a single block that could be imported as a locked patch into the HX Stomp. Think of the flexibility and added value...

[@amused2death775]

the interface is a bit too minimalist for me. I prefer BIAS/Amplitube layout and graphics. but the main thing is the sound sure.

[@NathanHarrisStudio]

You think that's minimalist, check out thermionik amp sims, about as barebones as you can get!

[@amused2death775]

that's just straight out crap interface Kazrog's

[@JaFoste_Studio]

Now, will this be replacing Pod Farm 2.5?

[@NathanHarrisStudio]

Pretty much

[@harmonyvegan]

What if you just plugged the Helix into an interface?

[@jumpingman8160]

Same thing

[@rendyhan777]

Can i use helix native with pod gx?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Rendy. Thanks for reaching out. You can most definitely use the Pod GX as your guitar interface. Once inside, you can process you signal with the Helix Native Plugin. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you want to discuss it a little more. Thanks for the interest! Alex Campos, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] (call or text)

[@CasualFridayLive]

great sounds! just dont like the "too clean" graphics layout :/

[@phinestro]

That lead sound like Eric johnson straight up!

[@chrisw1462]

Wow.. the comment I was replying to disappeared while I was typing this.. ah well, still relevant so: If you have a DAW and are even considering amp modelling VST's, you probably already have a nice computer. Last year's Core i7 PC's and Macs are plenty fast enough for good sound without a dedicated DSP accelerator. Even a Core i5, if you don't push too many VST's at once.

[@Quallaballa]

Hey guys, I am starting to produce poppunk. Can anyone recommend any amplifier plugin for bass and guitar? Thanks!

[@sweetwater]

Hi! The Helix Native plug-in works great for bass and guitar. It will give you access to a ton of different presets specifically configured for either instrument, and you can tweak them as necessary to dial in the sound you're looking to acquire. If you have any additional questions feel free to give us a call. Thanks! Jozy Franco, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 3015

[@Rehmoss]

Great review! I'd just recommend slowing down a tiny bit haha :)

[@guitarvibe75]

Free 15 day trial available for those who signed up for Line 6 Newsletter.

[@guitarvibe75]

For $400, you are getting the single greatest sounding and largest collection of guitar gear today. Sweetwater has financing plans for those who still think it's a bit steep! DO NOT pirate software! This is a miracle on earth to home recording!

[@kenkreisel6890]

guitarvibe75 Do you own it? I tried downloading the demo with a ton of compilations. I got the pkg file to open, but couldn’t get the rest to open.

[@Barefoot67]

does this really sound better than Guitar Rig? Not in my ears

[@Sky3RN]

I also did a review (in French) of Helix Native !

[@kenkreisel6890]

Tried downloading the demo....you might need a doctorate to get the demo to work. Even after I downloaded a program to open .pkg files it still doesn’t work. Granted I cannot afford it, it’d still be nice to try, but it’s too complex.

[@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133]

. Pkg it's native in OSX, like. exe on Windows, no need to install 3 party programs to run .Pkg files.

[@rayseely7]

If you bought your Helix used you will have to pay full price for the native plug-in.

[@duppykitoon]

Too many options for me. I'd never get around to actually playing my guitar.

[@JMGMusic]

You've got a point. I have a family and work 11 hours a day, so there isn't much time to play as it is. Finding a tone with all this would take up most of my actual playing time. It sounds amazing though. I'll just run through some presets.

[@usafirefly7967]

Amazing what can be done today. Problem, not getting enough 'clean' guitars that we hear in recordings thru the decades. That 'right' type of sound used.

[@bobwilkinsonguitar6142]

Amazingly easy on most plugins with a light chorus pedal and some decent production

[@justinTime077]

Why did I buy a computer for guitar when I have a better computer? I’m returning the helix for a guitar!

[@jamescuttsmusicjcm5013]

After having a little play around with this... I can honestly say... it is like going back in time to the Pod X3 (which I own, and use as an input interface - all bypassed). None of the amps feel in the slightest like an amp. Well... they sound as much like an amp as the Pod X3 sounded and reacted like an amp. Flat... sterile. The pedals might have some merit, and sound good through a decent amp modeller... but I expected ALOT more from Line6 after all these years. There are better free VST amp emulations out there for grabbing. The amp modelling as I say... is sterile and characterless compared to say... BIAS AMP/FX which I expected to hate but ended up loving (especially with some post processing from something like... Soundtoys Radiator to warm it up). The dynamic response is so much better with Bias. And... for that matter, I even love Amplitube 4 soooo much more than this. I am bitterly disappointed, and it is very difficult to recommend this to anyone as a full software package. Sorry Line6... I was a huge fan years ago... but times are changing. An IR or two might fix it up a bit... but I'm just not feeling it man.

[@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639]

Exactly the dilemma I have right now. Tested Helix side by side with headrush and the amps are much much better in the headrush. Helix has more tweeking capabilities that I will never have enough time to tweek on a shop floor.

[@IndyRockStar]

push your signal from your DAW into a Powercab Plus and you will get the amp 'feel'. That's what I do.

[@moosey62]

MORE METRONOME!

[@mastersoul4239]

I tested it and I didn't think it was better than the competitors... Sorry Line 6

[@phantumgrey]

What didn't you like? I don't like the fact that I can't set my mic position in front of the cabinet.

[@reneosvaldo6516]

Since eric johnson tone videos, i dont believe in this guy

[@PipeJream]

Djentrified.. E standard..

[@jacekksiazek]

It's too expensive...

[@omid5689]

you cant reach that sound without a preamp and good interface ...dont try this at home

[@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133]

You only need a good Interface, like a Scarlett 2i2 for instance.

[@nickthompson9661]

pirating as we speak

[@BrionSwansonAmeture]

th3 sounds better at half the price