Line 6 HX Stomp XL Helix Effects Processor Pedal

Line 6 HX Stomp XL Helix Effects Processor Pedal Overview

The Line 6 HX Stomp XL Helix Effects Processor Pedal is essentially the original HX Stomp with 5 more touch foot switches (8 total), and all the jacks are on the back. Line 6 took into account what customers wanted, which was more switches, so they added them to create the HX Stomp XL to provide a more functional and versatile experience.

The Line 6 HX Stomp XL is a “super stompbox” that can perform as a backup or travel rig, an add-on tone expander with other modellers, an audio interface with 8-ins and 6-outs with re-amping and a portable guitar/bass rig.

Helix 3.60 Update - New Amps, Cabs & Effects

The Helix 3.60 firmware update and Helix Native plugin software update bring new additions to the Helix and HX hardware devices. Three new amplifiers, including the Grammatico GSG, seven new guitar speaker cabinets, two new bass cabs, and two new effects are included in the update. These updates add to the already extensive range of sound options available to guitarists and bassists using Helix and HX hardware devices.

Hands-Free Control

Other upgrades and additional features include a hands-free Pedal Edit mode, letting you adjust presets with your feet, 128 presets (compared to 126 on the HX Stomp), 4 Snapshots per preset (versus 3), and you can access the 6 switch loop without needing a MIDI controller. Aside from these, it has the same high-quality components, sounds, and features you come to expect from Line 6.

Flagship DSP

The Line 6 HX Stomp LX has a SHARC DSP chip found in flagship Helix products, accurately recreating the sounds of classic and modern amps and effects in high quality, and the chip also lets you run up to 8 processing blocks at the same time on two parallel stereo paths.

Footswitch Modes

The 8 footswitches have 5 different modes available - Stomp, which makes it feel more like a traditional pedalboard, as well as Preset, Snapshot, Looper, which has a 6 switch looper option, and the hands-free Pedal Edit, so the HX Stomp XL gives you more immediate control of your tones without the need for external footswitches.

Simply touch a footswitch to jump to any blocks and quickly adjust a parameter or assign controllers, and the colour-coded LED rings allow you to easily see which footswitch is in use, as well as any assignments. The TRS expression pedal/footswitch jack lets you connect up to 2 external footswitches or expression pedals for real-time control.

Snapshots

Snapshots let you create multiple versions of a single preset and you can easily switch between them without any audio dropouts. You can also you can send up to 6 commands per Preset or Snapshot, and if you have an expression pedal, MIDI, or computer hotkeys, these can be used as the command centre for any rig.

The HX Edit software lets you easily create complex signal chains, adjust settings and parameters using dedicated sliders, customize footswitch labels, and edit and move tones between different devices, making it ideal as a travel rig.

Stunning Amp and Pedal Models

HX Stomp XL comes with more than 300 amps, cabs, and effects, with 128 factory presets, including a range of vintage and modern sounds, and it’s ideal for bass players as it includes official Ampeg amps and cab models. You also have the ability to load third-party impulse responses (IRs) and can use up to 2 external pedals in your preset.

The switchable analogue bypass routes the signal at the input directly to the output without the A/D/A conversion. It allows 4-cable amp integration, which provides a pre-routed template from which you can create custom patches.