Helix Talk

[Sascha Franck]

I think the recently added amps just sound great. Maybe there's more authentic ones around, but IMO at least the playing feel of the HX amps is getting very, very close to a pretty decent hardware amp (sure, we could still discuss monitoring, FR vs. real cabs and what not, but let's not get into this right here). IMO the HX amps also take analog pedals like champs, amazingly enough this is true for both the hardware and the native versions (assuming you have a half-decent input path).
I certainly complain more than enough about all kinds of issues with both their hard- and software, but raw amp sound quality certainly isn't among any of these issues, I actually think they're still hanging with the best (at least partially).

 

[DieSchmalle]

[...] I certainly complain more than enough about all kinds of issues with both their hard- and software, but raw amp sound quality certainly isn't among any of these issues, I actually think they're still hanging with the best (at least partially).

 

[Lele]

I think the recently added amps just sound great. Maybe there's more authentic ones around, but IMO at least the playing feel of the HX amps is getting very, very close to a pretty decent hardware amp (sure, we could still discuss monitoring, FR vs. real cabs and what not, but let's not get into this right here). IMO the HX amps also take analog pedals like champs, amazingly enough this is true for both the hardware and the native versions (assuming you have a half-decent input path).
I certainly complain more than enough about all kinds of issues with both their hard- and software, but raw amp sound quality certainly isn't among any of these issues, I actually think they're still hanging with the best (at least partially).

I'm torn on this thing. I like some of the newer amps too (2203, GSG, Lonestar, etc.) but at the same time when I play some of the older amp sims I love (Matchstick, Mail Order Twin, etc.) it's hard imho to say that they aren't well made or that they don't respond dynamically like an analog amp.

 

[molul]

I currently use Line6 Clarity for cleans, 2203 for slightly dirty, and Revv Gen Red for hi gain (this one with a graphic EQ block right after), and all sound great.

 

[BahamaDada]

Revv Gen Red

This one sounds so fleshy. Meaty. I know most of the ppl are gloryfying the Purple more, but IMO the Red just has the best stuff out of all the high gain metal monsters. Fat like a Mesa, "squishy" like a Peavey and still it's own thing.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Is the update there yet?

 

[James Freeman]

Is the update there yet?

No, it was cancelled.

 

[molul]

This one sounds so fleshy. Meaty. I know most of the ppl are gloryfying the Purple more, but IMO the Red just has the best stuff out of all the high gain metal monsters. Fat like a Mesa, "squishy" like a Peavey and still it's own thing.

I didn't know the Purple was more popular. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the Red.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I am a fan of the York IRS. Are there any companies out there just as good?

 

[eggpl@nt]

I am a fan of the York IRS. Are there any companies out there just as good?

I really like the IRs from our very own @MirrorProfiles. You'll get plenty of mileage from the $4 Cali 2005 sample pack alone, but I've picked up several others along the way.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Saw this in a thread I made in amps about a small tube amp for the living room. I might have misunderstood one of the posters but one of them seem to say that a small tube amp on low volume is still better than a helix with monitors on low volume. Perhaps check out for the context and the literal words to see if he/she might mean it different (it’s in the “is it realistic to have a tube amp at home”).

But for the helix users .. how do you look at that?

 

[the-trooper]

But for the helix users .. how do you look at that?

I don't have any experience with small tube amps, 2×12 was always the smallest I used on tube amps, and that is what I currently also have.
But for "bedroom levels" I like Helix with headphones just as much as a tube amp. Depends on what I feel like that day.

And if that one user is from an avian family, note that his attitude about everything that has ever existed, exists and will ever exist is that everything that has ever existed, exists and will ever exist is complete and utter shit unless proven otherwise. Unless he thinks it's not.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I don't have any experience with small tube amps, 2×12 was always the smallest I used on tube amps, and that is what I currently also have.
But for "bedroom levels" I like Helix with headphones just as much as a tube amp. Depends on what I feel like that day.

And if that one user is from an avian family, note that his attitude about everything that has ever existed, exists and will ever exist is that everything that has ever existed, exists and will ever exist is complete and utter shit unless proven otherwise. Unless he thinks it's not.

What is an avian family?

 

[the-trooper]

What is an avian family?

Bird - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[BahamaDada]

I don't have any experience with small tube amps, 2×12 was always the smallest I used on tube amps, and that is what I currently also have.
But for "bedroom levels" I like Helix with headphones just as much as a tube amp. Depends on what I feel like that day.

I take Helix with some good DT770s over any tube amp and any cab on any day. I play headphones, direct to FOH and IEM since... a decade? I am so used to it the moment I hear a loud amp I am like "Turn that shit down I get hearing loss". I realize I am uncool as fuck.

But, fuck it, I am a renter and can play guitar at 3am as long as I want without the landlord and the other renters knocking on my door.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I take Helix with some good DT770s over any tube amp and any cab on any day. I play headphones, direct to FOH and IEM since... a decade? I am so used to it the moment I hear a loud amp I am like "Turn that shit down I get hearing loss". I realize I am uncool as fuck.

But, fuck it, I am a renter and can play guitar at 3am as long as I want without the landlord and the other renters knocking on my door.

But isn’t the headphones also really loud on your ears for so long?

 

[sashimi]

Has anyone checked out the Mandarin 80?

Looks like it was added in 3.7. I just tried it for the first time yesterday and I’m really liking it.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Has anyone checked out the Mandarin 80?

Looks like it was added in 3.7. I just tried it for the first time yesterday and I’m really liking it.

I think it’s neat, i struggle overall but I gravitate towards the orange models for whatever reason, that one and the rockerverb model

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I think it’s neat, i struggle overall but I gravitate towards the orange models for whatever reason, that one and the rockerverb model

I haven't used the amp modelling in my stomp in a while but I've always struggled with the orange amps in helix. There's nothing specific about them I don't like but also nothing that I really like either.

I do like that orange 2x12 cab they have in there though.

 

[BahamaDada]

But isn’t the headphones also really loud on your ears for so long?

I actually play quite silent unloud with headphones. It can occur, that I turn them loud if it's a preset I want to try live, but most of the time the DT770s isolate so good, that I don't have to turn them up loud to "feel it".