Can I justify going above the Hotone Ampero 2 Stage for my use case?

[navirbox]

Hello everyone, and thanks for accepting me into the forum. Let me explain a little bit my case, I'd love some Ampero users to give me their 2 cents =D

I've been needing a modeling unit for a while, but I've got a Victory Kraken and a V30 2x12 cab that I'm going to keep using. That means, I'd always deactivate the cab sim, some scenes would use the Kraken and some would have another amp. And then, in a situation where I can't carry neither the amp nor the cab, I'd use a catched tone or a similar amp and activate the cab sims. I'm pretty minimalistic in terms of FX: your usual EQ, some Reverb... I do love how the pitch shifter/whammy sounds as well. Also, turns out I also have to do some voices for my band so having that option here is interesting.

After watching so many videos, comparing so many units, considering the prices on some of the considered "elite" modelers and wondering if this one's up there... I'm a bit focused on it because I really like the design, seems to be really usable, and the amount of options it has for the price is astounding. From what I've gathered online, these would be my questions to a current A2S user:

-Is DSP limit gonna be a concern for my setup? I do plan on using some catched tones and I've read that ocupies quite some space.
-Are the footswitches in a comfortable distance? I can't use the form factor of QC or Pod Go for my life. Big feet and bad sight don't go well in hand.
-Is it that much of a mixed bag in terms of out-the-box amp/pedal quality? Getting real, I don't need a bazillion options, just the usual suspects to feel good and be decently tweakable.
-Are you worried about support, the community and/or product updates from Hotone? Seems like they're putting out some cool updates in a timely manner, but I've been in their official forums and it's like, not good, man... spam not cleaned for months and no real engagement. A lot in their catch tone library though. I guess the community is more spread out around forums like this one or reddit, mainly facebook apparently?

I don't mind going with the underdog or so to speak, if it fills my needs and provides actual quality. Looking at things right now, it would need a deal-breaker. Have you had any of those with the A2S?

Anyway, thanks in advance for your time.

 

[laxu]

-Is DSP limit gonna be a concern for my setup? I do plan on using some catched tones and I've read that ocupies quite some space.

Using captures does heavily limit what you can cram into a single preset. IMO it's a better unit when used with its own amp models.

-Are the footswitches in a comfortable distance? I can't use the form factor of QC or Pod Go for my life. Big feet and bad sight don't go well in hand.

For big feet, might be a bit cramped.

-Is it that much of a mixed bag in terms of out-the-box amp/pedal quality? Getting real, I don't need a bazillion options, just the usual suspects to feel good and be decently tweakable.

Yes. It has alright pitch, modulation and delay fx, good reverbs and cab sims. Drive models are a mixed bag and so are the amp models - some almost spot on, others perform poorly.

-Are you worried about support, the community and/or product updates from Hotone? Seems like they're putting out some cool updates in a timely manner, but I've been in their official forums and it's like, not good, man... spam not cleaned for months and no real engagement. A lot in their catch tone library though. I guess the community is more spread out around forums like this one or reddit, mainly facebook apparently?

I used their Facebook page to keep track of the updates. It's mostly lame AI slop ads though.

I ended up selling mine and part of the reason was that I expect them to put out an Ampero 3 sooner than later. The Ampero 2 Stomp has been on the market for over 4 years now, which is fairly long for Chinese companies. The capture stuff seemed like something crammed in because they could, without having the horsepower to truly support it.

They haven't really fixed some of the long term issues like a broken "virtual capo" type pitch effect, some issues in their amp models etc. But I was positively surprised how many significant updates the device got over the past year.

I think it's overall a nice box for the price, but it's no Fractal, Helix, QC etc.

 

[Sedaxel]

-Are the footswitches in a comfortable distance? I can't use the form factor of QC or Pod Go for my life. Big feet and bad sight don't go well in hand.

Welcome to the forum, mate!

This switch spacing thing is just my main problem with QC or other cramped units (PodGo, GP200, StompXL...). I´m in the "big-feet-bad-sight" group too.

In that regard, and taking into account that you´d benefit from vocal effects too, maybe the Headrush Core could be an option. There´s not a lot of info... Headrush is not too well regarded in this forum. Their capturing is in some limbo... some say SuperClones work very good, others don´t care about them. I see it comparable to the Ampero Stage, with some benefits: switch spacing, much more CPU limit, multiple captures (if I´m not wrong), arguably better effects (not sure either). Just especulating here, only giving some ideas.

 

[navirbox]

Using captures does heavily limit what you can cram into a single preset. IMO it's a better unit when used with its own amp models.


For big feet, might be a bit cramped.


Yes. It has alright pitch, modulation and delay fx, good reverbs and cab sims. Drive models are a mixed bag and so are the amp models - some almost spot on, others perform poorly.


I used their Facebook page to keep track of the updates. It's mostly lame AI slop ads though.

I ended up selling mine and part of the reason was that I expect them to put out an Ampero 3 sooner than later. The Ampero 2 Stomp has been on the market for over 4 years now, which is fairly long for Chinese companies. The capture stuff seemed like something crammed in because they could, without having the horsepower to truly support it.

They haven't really fixed some of the long term issues like a broken "virtual capo" type pitch effect, some issues in their amp models etc. But I was positively surprised how many significant updates the device got over the past year.

I think it's overall a nice box for the price, but it's no Fractal, Helix, QC etc.

Well, the fact that you sold it for the next iteration rather than another particular unit sounds to me like they're there, but not quite there. It's kinda itching me that there seems to be some inconsistency in terms of stock sound. Of course I don't plan on using the 80 or so amps, but I don't want a unit where I'm like "okay this one sounds bad, this one's good, this one's not so good" if you know what I mean. If that's the case, I would need to go for something else. Did you get something in particular to replace the A2Stage?

 

[navirbox]

Welcome to the forum, mate!

This switch spacing thing is just my main problem with QC or other cramped units (PodGo, GP200, StompXL...). I´m in the "big-feet-bad-sight" group too.

In that regard, and taking into account that you´d benefit from vocal effects too, maybe the Headrush Core could be an option. There´s not a lot of info... Headrush is not too well regarded in this forum. Their capturing is in some limbo... some say SuperClones work very good, others don´t care about them. I see it comparable to the Ampero Stage, with some benefits: switch spacing, much more CPU limit, multiple captures (if I´m not wrong), arguably better effects (not sure either). Just especulating here, only giving some ideas.

That's interesting, as it's going for a very similar price. I'll look into it.

 

[laxu]

Well, the fact that you sold it for the next iteration rather than another particular unit sounds to me like they're there, but not quite there.

It's kinda itching me that there seems to be some inconsistency in terms of stock sound. Of course I don't plan on using the 80 or so amps, but I don't want a unit where I'm like "okay this one sounds bad, this one's good, this one's not so good" if you know what I mean. If that's the case, I would need to go for something else. Did you get something in particular to replace the A2Stage?

I do think an Ampero 3 with more processing power, and maybe NAM A2 capture support with improved effects would be a great product even if they changed little else.

But my intention was to buy the Helix Stadium non-XL model. I instead ended up with the Fractal AM4 because one showed up used for an acceptable price. The AM4, while having tons more limitations than the Hotone, is just plain better sounding and Fractal has streamlined it enough that I don't lament the lack of a touchscreen on it too much. But it can't be used as a 4CM effects box which sucks.

Hotone managed to cram in stereo in/out, stereo fx loop, full size MIDI and touchscreen into a smaller form factor. Fractal probably didn't due to intended price point and not wanting to cannibalize their existing product range. Fractal tones in Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp form factor would be a "shut up and take my money" product for me.

Unfortunately there's just no goldilocks product on the market, with pros and cons to every one of them.

 

[ragingplatypi]

I’m not sure how much you want to compromise, but there are good deals on used Helix and Helix LT (in the US). I think the Helix LT is an insanely good deal right now considering the cost for what you get.

 

[ragingplatypi]

And if money is no object, I would consider the quad cortex mini with a separate midi controller

 

[laxu]

I’m not sure how much you want to compromise, but there are good deals on used Helix and Helix LT (in the US). I think the Helix LT is an insanely good deal right now considering the cost for what you get.

Yeah if the used market follows the lowered pricing of new ones, then OP could probably score a Helix LT for a few hundred euros more than a new A2 Stomp.

But it's a big board by comparison. But no issues with footswitch spacing, and it does a lot really well.

 

[FrankyFire]

Yeah if the used market follows the lowered pricing of new ones, then OP could probably score a Helix LT for a few hundred euros more than a new A2 Stomp.

But it's a big board by comparison. But no issues with footswitch spacing, and it does a lot really well.

Yep, just sold my HX Stomp. Had to realize that prices are plummeting after the release of the stadium. If you can live without NAM, Line6 Helix Family is awesome! Crazy reliable, well thought through, good switching and connectivity options and as mentioned currently extremely cheap to come by on the used market.
I was only missing my own Amp (sound) and went to Sonulab. Dimehead would also have been an option. They don't have a Pitch Shifter included yet, but you could go that route if you only need NAM. There are really good Pitch Shifting Effects Pedals out there already which you could use in front (Boss), external Control Switches with more spacing are possible too (either TRS AUX switched or MIDI through 3.5mm TRS). It has some okay internal effects which might do the job for you. But I don't know your needs enough in that case.