Line 6 has just announced a featherweight new addition to its Helix family of floor processors. The 3-switch HX Stomp weighs in under two pounds and is just slightly larger than a paperback novel. Yet amazingly, this unit packs all the sounds and processing power of its larger Helix relatives. Let’s take a look at some highlights.
Standalone or amped operation
Like the full Helix boards, the HX Stomp makes a capable standalone fly rig. Add an instrument and a PA, and with the HX Stomp, you’ve got all you need to gig out. Onboard you’ll find over 300 amp, cab, and stompbox models from the Helix family, which can be custom-configured into six blocks and saved to any of 126 presets.
But this doesn’t mean you have to forego your traditional gear. The HX Stomp works great with your existing amp setup. It’s small enough to fit on a pedalboard, features true bypass switching to eliminate tone suck when used alongside other pedals, and even comes preconfigured for 4-cable amp setups.
Preset rigs sound surprisingly good without customization and come well organized. You can browse by instrument (guitar, bass, keys, or acoustic) and application (direct to PA, 4-cable amp setups, etc.) to cop instant inspiration for whatever mood you’re in.
Impressive I/O
You couldn’t tell it to look at it, but the HX Stomp is brimming with interconnect options. Stereo 1/4″ ins and TRS balanced outs equip this unit for low-noise stereo operation, whether you throw it on a board or inject it into a PA. An FX loop* gives you the option to run certain stomps (fuzz, drive, EQ, compression) into the front end of your amp and others (delay, reverb) after the preamp section. You also get MIDI in/out for traditional MIDI switchers, a TRS expansion jack for dual expression pedals and additional switches, and USB for computer-based patch management and firmware updates.
*Requires an FX loop-equipped amp
A streamlined recording solution
The HX Stomp is just as powerful on your studio desk as it is onstage. Connected to your workstation via USB, this modeler becomes a capable multichannel audio interface, with 24/96 headroom and clarity and re-amp capabilities to suit the choosiest players. With the HX Stomp, your gigging and recording tools are one and the same, placing all your favorite patches at your fingertips to fuel your creativity for late-night amp-less sessions.
