Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[Digital Igloo]

Without divulging too many trade secrets, I'm curious why? Was it a quality thing? A storage thing? Lack of DSP meaning you had to go one way rather than another with the inherent convolution techniques?

It's not DSP, because the new cabs take up way less horsepower. It was simply the way we decided to do things back in 2012, which at the time was fine. But as our amp modeling improved, we needed a better cab engine to do it justice.

@Digital Igloo

1. Can you enable/disable the preamp and/or power amp sections of the Agora models? (Im assuming so, but just checking)
2. When manual?
3. Are you guys planning some sort of video manual or companion?

1. Not at launch. Also note that 1.1 won't have Agoura preamps, only full amps. Those are coming a bit later.
2. It's done but I need to dig in and make sure it's accurate, as it currently reflects our TRD, which overserves. The whole thing is web-based so we'll be able to update and improve things at any time.
3. We're talking about stuff.

 

[timbuck3]

Yeah I didn’t really like the Helix, I bought the HX Stomp twice because I just loved the form factor, and I had the HX effects for awhile too. Comparing the models in the HX to fractal amps and effects, it was just night and day better on Fractal. The Fractal amps sounded like my real tube amps and the effects put you in a space in a way I didn’t get from the Helix effects. I will say I love the functionality of the HX effects over the VP4, but the effects quality of the VP4 keeps it on my board in place of a HX effects.

I’m interested in the Stadium now because that brief demo with Ola sounded very good and it feels like Line 6 really stepped up their game with this one.

Interface wise: definitely… sound and effect wise: unsure yet… the stadium seems more like just the OG helix with a very nice touchscreen that incorporates a few new tricks

 

[JiveTurkey]

"Hardcore studio interface" seems to be the sticking point here, though. There are plenty of home studio types for whom their high end guitar modeler is perfectly adequate, who might not want to add another piece of hardware, more cables, more configuration software, etc. Helix and QC have both been great for me as studio hubs, they just tend to get almost permanently embedded.

(That said, I get that it makes good business sense for you to focus on your core user group.)

There was a guy at the other place who's entire "studio" ran on a device you have owned but did not mention in your post. He created a multipage thread on how his "studio" was "down" and it was crucial that said device get fixed because of this. It was probably one of the dumbest threads I've ever read but still laughed myself hoarse on because of how inherently ridiculous it was

 

[timbuck3]

Some cool ideas here (and keep 'em coming), but just like how we're actively eschewing the notion of Showcase ever becoming a proper DAW, we'll probably also actively eschew the notion of Stadium being one's primary hardcore studio interface. Line 6 needs to focus on what we do best, and "Oh, if you just do this big lift outside your wheelhouse, I can sell this other piece of gear" doesn't generally motivate us to pivot from our long-term goals.

Digital igloo can maybe Yamaha higher cliff to run line 6 or maybe just buy his whole company fractal so you guys can basically make a fractal unit with your slick interface?

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[dean701]

It's not DSP, because the new cabs take up way less horsepower. It was simply the way we decided to do things back in 2012, which at the time was fine. But as our amp modeling improved, we needed a better cab engine to do it justice.

1. Not at launch. Also note that 1.1 won't have Agoura preamps, only full amps. Those are coming a bit later.
2. It's done but I need to dig in and make sure it's accurate, as it currently reflects our TRD, which overserves. The whole thing is web-based so we'll be able to update and improve things at any time.
3. We're talking about stuff.

I think the addition of room related parameters within the Cab block would help Line 6 out further. Tonex has the VIR with resonance parameters. Fractal with an abundance of room variables. It takes 'flat' cabs and gives the option of further depth.

 

[Mongillo19]

Digital igloo can maybe Yamaha higher cliff to run line 6 or maybe just buy his whole company fractal so you guys can basically make a fractal unit with your slick interface?

DI going need to put an asterisk asking to keep the questions coming

 

[GTR37]

I think the addition of room related parameters within the Cab block would help Line 6 out further. Tonex has the VIR with resonance parameters. Fractal with an abundance of room variables. It takes 'flat' cabs and gives the option of further depth.

Well , Metallurgy had some room mics and further controls in the cab block maybe stadium will be the same ?

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

Digital igloo can maybe Yamaha higher cliff to run line 6 or maybe just buy his whole company fractal so you guys can basically make a fractal unit with your slick interface?

 

[Digital Igloo]

"Hardcore studio interface" seems to be the sticking point here, though. There are plenty of home studio types for whom their high end guitar modeler is perfectly adequate, who might not want to add another piece of hardware, more cables, more configuration software, etc. Helix and QC have both been great for me as studio hubs, they just tend to get almost permanently embedded.

(That said, I get that it makes good business sense for you to focus on your core user group.)

I'd like to think we're pretty good about predicting how people will react to certain features, specs, workflows, etc. At several times, we've discussed certain features but in the end, didn't implement them specifically because they'd trigger a massive influx of related requests that would distract us from what Helix/HX is supposed to be.

Fender could maybe pull off a hat trick because they own PreSonus (StudioOne DAW [including a Linux-based version!], StudioLive digital mixers, and Quantum audio interfaces), but I suspect they'd end up with a bunch of esoteric "Oh, TMP now has a DAW? When are you going to add custom groove templates and a step sequencer?!" requests which would either frustrate users or pull the development team into a million different directions, losing focus on TMP's multieffects capabilities. But they have a boatload of money, so anything possible.

 

[Chocol8]

View attachment 52670

It's a higher cliff. I am not sure if that is a sharp drop off that is higher from the ground or if he wants Cliff to get higher, and if so on what.

 

[AlbertA]

Digital igloo can maybe Yamaha higher cliff to run line 6 or maybe just buy his whole company fractal so you guys can basically make a fractal unit with your slick interface?

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

It's a higher cliff. I am not sure if that is a sharp drop off that is higher from the ground or if he wants Cliff to get higher, and if so on what.

definitely possible to get a bit high-er

 

[Desertdweller]

There was a guy at the other place who's entire "studio" ran on a device you have owned but did not mention in your post. He created a multipage thread on how his "studio" was "down" and it was crucial that said device get fixed because of this. It was probably one of the dumbest threads I've ever read but still laughed myself hoarse on because of how inherently ridiculous it was

Considering all of the high-end emulation in the Stadium or the Axe FX, you could conceivably run vocals, bass, drums, etc. through these devices now and replace a whole studio digitally for more than just guitar. We’re at an insane level of gear right now.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Digital igloo can maybe Yamaha higher cliff to run line 6 or maybe just buy his whole company fractal so you guys can basically make a fractal unit with your slick interface?

Let's say there's an alternate dimension where this could ever be possible. From my perspective, Fractal's value is less their world class IP and more Cliff himself. Post acquisition, I could see him getting frustrated with Yamaha's more corporate environment and how slow things move here, cashing out, and we'd be left hanging with amazing IP, but nowhere to go with it. No doubt Fractal has other brilliant engineers, but without Cliff?

Acquisitions are about the people, not the products.

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[Orvillain]

View attachment 52670

*higher

 

[Orvillain]

Acquisitions are about the people, not the products.

Having gone through two of them, I can absolutely concur.

 

[banned]

Let's say there's an alternate dimension where this could ever be possible. From my perspective, Fractal's value is less their world class IP and more Cliff himself. Post acquisition, I could see him getting frustrated with Yamaha's more corporate environment and how slow things move here, cashing out, and we'd be left hanging with amazing IP, but nowhere to go with it. No doubt Fractal has other brilliant engineers, but without Cliff?

Acquisitions are about the people, not the products.

I can't believe you answered that question

 

[mbenigni]

There was a guy at the other place who's entire "studio" ran on a device you have owned but did not mention in your post. He created a multipage thread on how his "studio" was "down" and it was crucial that said device get fixed because of this. It was probably one of the dumbest threads I've ever read but still laughed myself hoarse on because of how inherently ridiculous it was

So what exactly are you trying to say?