Top Panel and Footswitches

The Top Panel of your Helix Stadium XL or Helix Stadium includes most of the device’s controls, including the touchscreen and multi-function footswitches. These items are described below.

The Top Panel Features

Main Display: This large, vibrant color touchscreen is your primary access portal to the power of Helix Stadium. Please see the Display page for details.

Knobs 1-8: Turn one of the eight knobs below the main display to adjust the parameter’s value above.

• If a rectangular button or selector appears above a knob, press the knob to engage its function.

• Press the knob to reset the parameter to its default value. Alternatively, tap the parameter and then tap Reset Value.

• For a Delay or Modulation block’s Time, Rate, or Speed parameter, press the knob to toggle between ms/Hz and note division values.

• Press and hold the knob to open the Quick Controller Assign dialog, which lets you assign the parameter to a controller (stomp switch, trigger, expression pedal, incoming MIDI Note/CC, or X/Y Controller axis) in 2 seconds. Alternatively, tap the parameter and then tap Learn Controller. Please see the Bypass and Controller Assignment page for details.

• Press and turn the knob to quickly assign the parameter to snapshot control. Alternatively, tap the parameter, then tap the Snapshot Ctrl toggle switch on. Please see the Snapshots page for details.

Output Buttons: Press the Main 1/4”, XLR, or Phones output button to select it and turn the Volume knob (4) to adjust its individual volume level. Please see the Main Volume and Matrix Mixer page for details.

• Press the currently lit button to view its Matrix Mixer screen—The 1/4”, XLR, and Phones outputs each have their own dedicated Matrix cue mix layer and Global EQ.

  • Press and hold two (or all three) Output buttons to “link” their Volume knob control and Matrix cue mix. Press and hold all linked Output buttons to unlink them again.

  • Press and hold the currently lit Output button to completely disable Volume knob control. (Say, you don’t want anyone messing with it.) Press the button again to re-enable Volume knob control.

Volume: Turn the Volume knob to control the selected output’s volume—as assigned via the Output Buttons ( ).

Transport: Reserved for future use.^*

Home: Press the Home button to display the Home > Edit View for building and editing your presets. If you ever get lost, press this button to exit your current screen and return to the Home > Edit screen instantly.

• For Helix Stadium Devices: Press the Home button to select between the Home > Edit and Home > Play views. Play view displays footswitch labels for the current Footswitch Mode. Please refer to The Home > Play View section for details.

Upper Knob: Turn the Upper Knob to perform the following actions:

• When in the Home View: Turn to select a preset, then press to load it. Or, press to open the Preset List.

• When in the Preset List: Turn to select a preset, then press to load it.

Song View: Press the Song View button to display the Song screen.*

Amp: Press the Amp button to quickly jump to the Amp or Preamp block's tonestack parameters. Press the button repeatedly to cycle through multiple Amp and Preamp blocks within your preset. Note that while in Focus view, pressing the Amp button stays in Focus view—it doesn’t exit out to the Home > Edit screen.

• Press and hold to quickly jump to the Cab block or cycle through multiple Cab blocks within the current preset.

Save: Press the Save button to open the Save Preset screen. Press twice to quicksave the current preset.

XY Controller: Press the XY button to display the XY Controller screen, where you can slide your finger around the screen to adjust a wide variety of parameters (or control external devices via MIDI CC). Please see the XY Controller section for details.

Page Left / Page Right: If the selected block or item has more than one page of parameters within the Inspector, press or to view the previous or next page of parameters.

Lower Knob: Turn the Lower Knob to perform the following actions, depending on the current view:

• Home > Edit: Turn to change the selected block’s model. Press and turn to quickly skip model subcategories. Press to open the Model List. From an empty block location, turn to instantly scroll through any favorites.

• Model List: With the category column highlighted, turn to select a model category, then press to load that category’s first model. With the model category highlighted, turn to select and audition models. Press and turn to quickly skip subcategories within the selected model category. Press to exit back to the Home > Edit screen.

Scribble Strips: The twelve scribble strips show each footswitch’s current assignment. Several Footswitch Modes are available, as covered below.^* Footswitch labels can also be customized for Stomp A and Stomp B switches.

Footswitches: The capacitive, touch-sensitive footswitches have colored LED rings to inform you of the assigned block or item’s current state. See the following Capacitive Touch section. Six Footswitch Modes provide hands-free access to a wide variety of functions.

• FS6 is dedicated to the Mode switch. Press FS6 to toggle between the two primary footswitch modes (by default, Stomp A and Preset, but these can be changed). Press and hold FS6 for More Mode, where you can access the other four footswitch modes as well as additional helpful functions.

• Press the TAP/Tuner switch repeatedly to tap in a tempo for time-based effects (such as Delay and Modulation) to follow. Touch FS12 (but don’t press) to briefly display Tempo/Click settings. Press and hold FS12 to open the Tuner.

Expression Pedal: Move the onboard Expression Pedal to control volume, pan, wah, pitch wham, or a combination of custom-assigned amp and/or effects parameters. Push the pedal forward firmly to activate the hidden Toe Switch to toggle between EXP 1 and EXP 2 (the Expression 1/2 LEDs [ ] indicate which is active.) Note that the Toe Switch can also be custom-assigned for other functions.

• For Helix Stadium XL, up to four additional expression pedals can be connected via the Control A/B and C/D jacks.

• For Helix Stadium, up to two expression pedals can be connected via the Control A/B jack.

Expression 1/2 LEDs: These two colored LED bars indicate which EXP controller is currently in use with the onboard pedal; the violet (left) LED indicates EXP 1, and the teal (right) LED indicates EXP 2. Press the pedal fully forward firmly to toggle the Toe Switch between EXP 1 and EXP 2 pedal control.

👆 Capacitive Touch Footswitches

Helix Stadium devices' onboard footswitches offer capacitive touch functionality, letting you lightly touch a footswitch with your finger (or, if you’re gross, other body parts) to instantly jump to its assigned block, parameter, or command. Capacitive touch is on by default, but can be toggled off via Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > Capacitive Touch. You’ll find details on using capacitive touch functions throughout this manual, but here are a few handy tips to try:

• In Stomp A or Stomp B footswitch mode, briefly touch a switch to instantly jump to its assigned item, whether that’s an amp, cab, effect, or split block, parameter min/max toggle, or Command Center command.

  • No menu diving or even traditional page navigation necessary—just touch a stomp to instantly access its parameters, which is barely one step away from treating Helix Stadium like a pedalboard full of stompboxes. (This is especially handy while in Focus View, where you can instantly jump to each effect’s Focus view without having to return to the Home > Edit screen.)

  • If the switch includes multiple assignments, tap it repeatedly to cycle through all assigned items.

• Touch-hold a Stomp A or Stomp B mode footswitch to open the quick-assign dialog, which lets you assign the currently selected block, modify its latching/momentary operation, relabel the stomp’s scribble strip, recolor the stomp’s LED ring, or clear the switch entirely.

• Simultaneously touch-hold two Stomp A or Stomp B footswitches to swap their locations.

• Simultaneously touch-hold two Snapshot footswitches to swap their locations.

• Briefly touch the TAP/Tuner switch to display Tempo/Click parameters.

Footswitch Modes

About Footswitch Modes

Helix Stadium devices offer several different footswitch modes, accessible via FS6 (MODE), making it easy to access Stadium’s various functions. These include Stomp A, Stomp B, Preset, Snapshot, Combo, and Transport Modes. By default, FS6 (MODE) quickly toggles between Stomp A and Preset modes, but you can change it to the two modes you use most often. To follow, we cover the available footswitch modes and functions for both Helix Stadium device types.

Footswitch Labels

Helix Stadium XL includes scribble strips to display each footswitch’s current function, but Helix Stadium shows these labels on the Home > Play screen. Press the Home button to toggle between Home > Edit and Home > Play.

Changing the Footswitch Mode

By default, pressing FS6 (MODE) quickly toggles between Stomp A and Preset modes, but this can be changed to any two modes you like via Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > FS6 (Mode) 1 and FS6 (Mode) 2. Press and hold FS6 (MODE) to enter More Mode, where you can access the additional four footswitch modes not already on FS6 as well as engage additional functions.

More Mode

Press and hold FS6 to access More Mode. Switches FS1 through FS5 and FS7 offer helpful shortcuts, and switches FS8 through FS11 access the additional four footswitch modes not already assigned to FS6 (MODE).

Click to view More Mode

More Mode Switch	Function
FS1 (Preset Info)	Press FS1 (Preset Info) to open and close the Preset Info screen. All factory presets contain tips on how to best use them. Freely type in info for your own presets, like guitar/pickup/playback system used, creative controller assignments, tips/tricks, self-affirming platitudes, taco recipes, etc.
FS2 (Stopwatch)	Press FS2 (Stopwatch) to change the main display’s clock to a stopwatch, which begins counting immediately. On Helix Stadium XL , the stopwatch is also displayed on the FS2 scribble strip label. On Helix Stadium, the stopwatch is also displayed on the Home > Play screen. Press FS2 again to pause the stopwatch. Press and hold FS2 to reset the stopwatch to 0:00:00. To change the stopwatch back to a clock, tap on the main display’s stopwatch and then tap “Clock.”
FS4 (Quicksave)	If the current preset or song has unsaved changes, the top panel’s Save button appears bright white. Press FS4 (Quicksave) to quicksave changes to the current preset or song (the same as pressing the Save button twice).
FS5 (Mute All)	There can be a lot of audio going through Helix Stadium at any given time, and you may not want to track down every signal during an emergency or set break. Instead, press FS5 (Mute All) to instantly mute all outputs. Press FS5 again (or tap the green Unmute button on the display) to unmute.
FS7 (Clip)	Press FS7 (Clip) to open the Preset Clip screen and begin clip playback; press again to close the Preset Clip screen. Please see Preset Clip for more info.
FS8~FS11	Press to access one of the four footswitch modes not already assigned to FS6 (MODE). Tip: To swap out the primary footswitch modes on FS6 (MODE), press and hold the desired mode on FS8~FS11; it replaces the most recent (highlighted) mode on FS6. You can also set this from Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > FS6 (Mode) 1 and FS6 (Mode) 2.

Stomp A and Stomp B Modes

Stomp A and Stomp B footswitch modes are most commonly utilized like a traditional pedalboard—that is, turning individual effects on and off. In fact, adding a new effect block automatically assigns it to the first empty Stomp A/B switch. (You can disable this behavior from Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > Assign FX to Stomps.) However, Stomp A and Stomp B are much more powerful and flexible than that, as they can, via the Command Center, combine functions from most of the other footswitch modes.

• Block Bypass: Stomp A and Stomp B switches can toggle one or more blocks on (LED bright) and off (LED dim). In fact, when Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > Assign FX to Stomps is set to “Automatic,” all newly added effects blocks are automatically assigned to the next available empty Stomp A or B switch.

• Parameter Control: Stomp A and Stomp B switches can toggle one or more Home screen parameters between any two values (min and max). For example, a Stomp could toggle an Amp block’s Gain between 2.3 and 5.6, toggle a Delay block’s Feedback parameter between 35% and 90%, or toggle a Split block’s routing from Path A to Path B. See Quick Controller Assign for more info.

• Command Center commands: Via the Command Center menu, Stomp A and Stomp B switches can be assigned to a wide variety of additional functions and commands. These include MIDI CC messages for controlling an external pedal, Ext Amp commands for switching channels in your real amps, or even preset, snapshot, looper, transport, and other functions from different footswitch modes. See Command Center for more info.

What’s nuts is that a single stomp switch can do all of the above things at the same time. For example, Stomp A1 could turn on a delay block, turn off a reverb block, increase the Compressor block’s Output parameter, decrease the Amp block’s Treble parameter, transmit a middle C note to your synth via MIDI, and start a Quicktime video on your laptop. We have no idea why you’d want to do this, but it’s nice to know you could. Couple this with the fact that you have 20 Stomp switches (or more if you connect external momentary switches to the rear panel Control jacks), and you can quickly see how powerful Stomp A and Stomp B footswitch modes can be.

Deluxe Looper Footswitch Mode

Though not selectable via the FS6 MODE switch or More Mode, the Deluxe Looper has its own special footswitch mode. When a Deluxe Looper is added to your preset, just as when adding any other effect model, a Stomp switch assignment is automatically created. Press the Deluxe Looper stomp, and looper-specific functions appear on footswitches 1~4 and 8~10. See Deluxe Looper for more info.

Preset Mode

As its name suggests, in this mode, the switches are assigned to the current Factory, User, or Setlist folder’s presets, organized by Bank. Press FS1 (Bank Up) to display and cue the next two banks of presets A~D, and FS7 (Bank Down) to display and cue the previous two banks. Then press the desired preset switch to load it.

• While in Preset, Snapshot, or Combo mode, press and hold FS1 and FS7 together to change them to Bank up/down, Preset up/down, Snapshot up/down, Song up/down, or Marker up/down switches. This can also be set from Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > Up/Down Switches.

  • When set to Song Up/Down, FS1 and FS7 cue the next/previous song in the current playlist.

  • When set to Marker Up/Down, FS1 and FS7 cue the next/previous marker in the current song.

• If the USER PRESETS folder (or any Setlist) contains no presets, the preset switch scribbles appear dim and are named “Empty.”

• Press the currently lit Preset switch to reload the last saved version of the preset. (Note that this will clear any edited settings.)

Snapshot Mode

To enter Snapshot mode, press and hold FS6 (MODE) to enter More mode and then press the SNAPSHOT switch. Alternatively, press FS1 and FS7 together from Preset or Combo mode. Please see Snapshots for details about their many useful functions.

• From Snapshot mode, press any switch, FS2~FS5 or FS8~FS11, to load one of the current preset’s snapshots.

Combo Mode

Combo Mode lets you combine two different footswitch modes (Stomp A, Stomp B, Preset, or Snapshot) into one, along with Up and Down switches on FS1 and FS7. To enter Combo mode, press and hold FS6 (MODE) to enter More mode and then press the COMBO switch. By default, Preset switches appear on the top row, Snapshot switches appear on the bottom row, but this can be changed via Global Settings > Switches/Pedals > Combo Top Row and Combo Bottom Row.

Transport Mode

Transport mode is used to cue and play songs and markers on Helix Stadium’s Showcase automation and playback engine.^* To enter Transport mode, press and hold FS6 (MODE) to enter More mode and then press the TRANSPORT switch.