Line 6 HX ONE Owner's Manual

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Line 6 HX ONE. This device is packed with a vast array of world-class effects models. We hope it aids your creative process on stage or in the studio.

It is recommended to review the included HX ONE Cheat Sheet and this manual's 'Quick Start' section for immediate use. Additional video tutorials are available at line6.com/videos.

What's in the Box

• Line 6 HX ONE unit
• HX ONE Cheat Sheet (Read this first!)
• 9VDC, 500mA Power Adapter
• Adhesive Rubber Feet
• Registration, Safety & Compliance, and Warranty Information

Common Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms:

• Model: Each loadable effect is called a model. The HX One includes over 250 models from HX Effects, DL4, DM4, MM4, FM4, M13, and M5 devices.
• Preset: A preset consists of the currently loaded model, its title, parameter settings, and footswitch/controller assignments.

Controllers

Controllers allow real-time remote operation of various parameters. The HX One lets you assign controllers to parameters, such as using an expression pedal for wah or pitch shift, or the FLUX footswitch for 'ramping' between two speeds on a chorus effect. MIDI keyboard modulation wheels can also control parameters like delay feedback or reverb depth.

Send/Return

The Send/Return jacks allow you to insert other stompboxes into your signal chain or connect to your guitar amp via the '4-cable method', offering flexibility in signal routing.

Attaching Adhesive Rubber Feet

To ensure secure placement, follow these steps:

1. Clean the chassis surface where the feet will be applied with a mild solvent like isopropyl alcohol.
2. Apply the feet at room temperature (around 21°C / 70°F).
3. Peel the backing and press the rubber feet firmly onto the chassis for several seconds. Allow 72 hours for the adhesive to fully bond.

Updating HX One Firmware

Regularly check for and install firmware updates using the free Line 6 Central application, available at line6.com/software. Connect your HX One to a computer via USB, launch Line 6 Central, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Managing HX One with Backup and Restore

The free Line 6 HX One Librarian application (available at line6.com/software) is essential for organizing your sounds, backing up all HX One sounds, settings, and user-defined defaults. You can save an unlimited number of backups to your computer and restore them quickly.

Quick Start

Setup Examples

In Front of the Amp:

The simplest setup involves connecting the HX One directly to your amp's input, similar to traditional pedals. You can also connect to a second amp for stereo operation.

Diagram Description: Guitar connected to HX ONE 'Input L/MONO'. HX ONE 'Output L/MONO' connected to Amp Input. Optional connections include HX ONE 'Output RIGHT' to a second amp for stereo, and additional pedals between the guitar and HX ONE or between HX ONE and the amp.

In the Amp's Effects Loop:

For time-based effects like delay and reverb, placing them in the amp's effects loop is preferred. This setup also accommodates pedals placed before the amp (overdrives, fuzz, compressors).

Diagram Description: Guitar connected to Amp Input. Amp FX Send connected to HX ONE 'Input L/MONO'. HX ONE 'Output L/MONO' connected to Amp FX Return. Optional pedals can be placed between the guitar and amp.

4-Cable Method:

This method is particularly useful if your amp has an effects loop, allowing individual preset configuration for placing the HX One within the loop ('Pre') or before the amp ('Post').

Diagram Description: Guitar connected to HX ONE 'Input L/MONO'. HX ONE 'Output RIGHT (SEND)' connected to Amp Input. Amp FX Send connected to HX ONE 'Input RIGHT (RETURN)'. HX ONE 'Output L/MONO' connected to Amp FX Return.

Note: The 'Insert Position' setting in the 'Settings View' determines whether the HX One's effects loop is placed 'Pre' or 'Post' relative to the current effect model.

HX One Operation

Engaging and Bypassing HX One

Pressing the footswitch toggles the HX One between engaged and bypassed states. When engaged, the ON LED is brightly lit, and the effect name appears solid on the display. When bypassed, the ON LED is dimly lit, and the effect name appears in grey text.

Bypass Types:

• Buffered DSP Bypass (Default): Signal passes through without A/D conversion, routed directly from input to output.
• True Bypass: Signal is not processed by the HX One's DSP. Delay repeats will decay naturally, and reverb tails will fade out.

Bypass type can be changed in the 'Settings View'.

ON LED Colors

The ON LED indicates the category of the currently selected effect:

• Orange: Distortion
• Yellow: Dynamics, EQ
• Green: Modulation
• Blue: Delay
• Dark Orange: Reverb
• Purple: Pitch, Filter/Wah
• White: Looper

Selecting Effects

To select a different effect model within the same category, turn the EFFECT knob. To browse through effect categories, press and hold the EFFECT knob to open the Effects Carousel.

Steps:

1. Press and hold the EFFECT knob to browse categories. Select a category and release the knob.
2. Turn the EFFECT knob to select an effect model, then press the knob to load it.
3. From the Home view, pressing and releasing the EFFECT knob displays the current category's effect list.

Editing the Current Effect

Press the [button-on] switch to view the current effect and its parameters. Use knobs 1-3 to adjust the displayed parameters. Turning a knob displays its current value. Pressing a knob resets the parameter to its default value.

Use the [button-page-left] and [button-page-right] buttons to access additional parameter pages.

Shortcuts: For time-based parameters (e.g., Delay Time, Modulation Speed), pressing the knob toggles between ms/Hz and note divisions (e.g., 1/4 note, dotted 1/8 note). Other parameters reset to default when the knob is pressed.

Saving Model User Defaults

If you frequently tweak an effect model's settings, you can save these adjustments as its new default. Load an effect, adjust parameters, assign controllers, and set the bypass state. Then, press both [button-page-left] and [button-page-right] buttons, select 'User', and confirm to save.

Preset Mode

Press and release both the ON and TAP|FLUX switches to enter Preset Mode. Navigate presets using the TAP|FLUX or ON switches, or by turning the EFFECT knob. Long-pressing a footswitch scrolls through presets.

Note: The 'Preset Select' global setting determines if presets load instantly or are queued.

Saving Sounds/Naming Them

Press and hold the [button-home] button for one second to enter the Preset Save screen. You can save the current sound to its existing location or choose a new one. Use the PAGE buttons to move the cursor and the EFFECT knob to select characters and values. Press the SAVE knob (or hold HOME) to save. Unsaved changes are lost if you change models or presets without saving.

Setting the Tempo with TAP

Use the TAP|FLUX footswitch to set the tempo (TAP LED flashes red) or engage FLUX mode (LED is white). Tap the switch repeatedly to set the BPM. Time-based parameters like Delay Time or Modulation Rate can sync to the TAP tempo or be set in ms/Hz. Pressing the knob toggles between note divisions and ms/Hz values.

Note: The HX One can also sync to MIDI Clock. When synced, the TAP LED flashes blue.

Using the Tuner

Access the built-in chromatic tuner by pressing and holding both the ON and TAP|FLUX switches for two seconds. Play a string, and the display shows tuning status. Tune until the 'needle' indicator is centered and the ON and TAP|FLUX LEDs turn green. Press HOME or either footswitch to exit.

Note: By default, the tuner mutes the output signal. The reference pitch is 440Hz, adjustable in the Settings View.

Effects Reference

The HX One features 26 acclaimed HX Effects models, plus selections from legacy Line 6 stompboxes and processors. Effects are organized into categories for easy browsing.

Effects Model Reference

This section provides comprehensive tables listing all effect models, categorized by type (Distortion, Dynamics, Modulation, Delay, Reverb, Pitch/Synth, Wah/Filter), and their original inspirations.

Note: Most HX One effects are stereo, with exceptions for polyphonic pitch models and mono loopers. Legacy models may be limited to mono-in/stereo-out.

General Effect Settings

This section details common parameters found across many effects, such as Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Speed, Rate, Time, Depth, Feedback, Decay, Predelay, and Scale, explaining their function and typical ranges.

Looper

The HX One includes two looper types: Simple Looper and Shuffling Looper, available in mono or stereo configurations.

Using the Simple Looper

The Simple Looper is designed for quick recording and playback. Use the ON footswitch to start recording (red LED), stop recording and play (green LED), or enter overdub mode (amber LED). Pressing ON twice saves the loop. Holding ON clears the loop.

MIDI Control: Simple Looper parameters like playback speed and reverse can be controlled via MIDI.

Using the Shuffling Looper

The Shuffling Looper allows you to slice loops into segments and control their playback order, octave shifts, reverse, and repeats. Use the Slices, SeqLength, Shuffle, Octave, Reverse, and Smooth parameters to shape your looper performance. Pressing the ON footswitch during playback can randomize the sequence. Double-pressing ON saves the loop, and holding ON clears it.

MIDI Control

The HX One supports MIDI messages via 5-pin MIDI IN and USB, enabling control over memory selection, effect parameters, looper functions, and MIDI clock tempo sync. USB-MIDI is compatible with Mac and Windows computers.

MIDI Program Change for Recalling Memories: Send MIDI Program Change (PC) messages (000-127) to recall presets 000-127.

Syncing to MIDI Clock: Connect a MIDI clock source to the HX One's MIDI IN or USB port to synchronize time-based effects. The TAP LED will flash blue when synced to an external MIDI clock.

Controlling HX One Parameters via MIDI: The HX One responds to specific MIDI Control Change (CC) commands for various functions, including emulating expression pedals and footswitches, and controlling effect parameters.

Effect Parameter Control – MIDI CC: A table lists CC numbers and their corresponding effect parameters.

Controlling the Looper via MIDI: MIDI Note-On and CC messages can be used to control looper functions like record, play, stop, overdub, reverse, and speed.

Settings View

Access the Settings View by pressing and holding the EFFECT knob for one second. Use the PAGE buttons to navigate through settings pages and knobs 1-3 to adjust parameters. Settings can be global or per-preset.

Restoring Global Settings

To reset all global settings to factory defaults, navigate to the 'Restore All Global Settings?' prompt in the Settings View (achieved by holding PAGE [button-page-left] and [button-page-right] for one second) and confirm with the OK [knob-3] button.

Setting Proper Levels

Adjust 'Input Level' and 'Output Level' in the Settings View (Page 3) to match your instruments, amps, and other gear. Options include 'Instrument' and 'Line' levels. 'Auto' is available for Input Z to match impedance.

Setting Display Options

Configure display brightness ('Screen Bright'), auto-dimming ('Auto Dim'), and TAP LED behavior ('TAP Flash').

Contact Information

For purchase inquiries, please contact the Line 6 Information Center. For repair inquiries, contact the Yamaha Repair Consultation Center. Contact details and operating hours are provided.