Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[jmcecil]

Eeek!

On the front where? We were worried enough with HX Stomp's Phones jack on the left side. In the front on rack or tabletop form factors? Sure, but never on something you repeatedly step on.

yeah, I get there are "reasons". But, in my "studio" I'm moving between headphone jacks on keyboards, the helix, and the audio interface. The biggest PITA is the Helix because the damned cable always ends up dangling over the parts I want to edit. Also, in the live arena you typically don't have headphones on coming off the unit. In a studio (I) tend to have it up on a pedestal to appropriately worshi.... errr I mean edit..
Anyhow, back = bad IMO :)

 

[ian_dissonance]

yeah, I get there are "reasons". But, in my "studio" I'm moving between headphone jacks on keyboards, the helix, and the audio interface. The biggest PITA is the Helix because the damned cable always ends up dangling over the parts I want to edit. Also, in the live arena you typically don't have headphones on coming off the unit. In a studio (I) tend to have it up on a pedestal to appropriately worshi.... errr I mean edit..
Anyhow, back = bad IMO :)

Unless you’re using the mixer matrix for a personal IEM setup.

 

[Richard_G]

1/4"

 

[sashimi]

I’m always plugged into my audio interface. Makes it easy to control speaker volume, connect headphones, and record.

 

[Vic Winters]

Can the new Control Jacks be used for additional foot switches or are they expression only?

 

[Sascha Franck]

What's everyone's take on 1/4" vs. 1/8" phone jacks?

1/4, simply because you can easily adapt to 1/8 but not so easy the other way around.

 

[paisleywookiee]

We now have our first Helix Stadium XL Limited Edition:
View attachment 53641

What's funny is not only your post, but just thinking about the bed wetters at ToP, if you had made a joke like this there. Remember that meltdown over a joke preset you guys did?

I'm a 1/4 kinda guy

Yeah, I too like them thick, round and long.

You can get rid of the headphone jack altogether. Never ever used it. Bluetooth headphones are the modern replacement.
Room for another input

Yeah, that way you don't have to use up a block for delay. It's built into your headphone signal!

 

[Digital Igloo]

yeah, I get there are "reasons". But, in my "studio" I'm moving between headphone jacks on keyboards, the helix, and the audio interface. The biggest PITA is the Helix because the damned cable always ends up dangling over the parts I want to edit. Also, in the live arena you typically don't have headphones on coming off the unit. In a studio (I) tend to have it up on a pedestal to appropriately worshi.... errr I mean edit..
Anyhow, back = bad IMO :)

I get it, and if every part of your design can accommodate every use case, bonus! In this case, however, a 1/4" phones plug sticking out the front of something most users constantly step on isn't just asking for disaster—it absolutely would result in numerous broken jacks. Not to mention all the "what is Line 6 smoking? It's gonna break off!" comments from the interwebs. To be honest, if I saw a front-facing phones jack on a floor-based unit, I'd question what else the company might've dropped the ball on.

So the "reasons" are:

• We actively try to avoid self-sabotaging ourselves
• We already make two "studio" versions—Helix Rack (with a front-facing Phones jack!) and Helix Native

 

[JiveTurkey]

Get a headphone extension cord. Problem solved.

 

[GTR37]

Was that really necessary,

And so concludes another season of “Who wants to be a products designer “
Stay tuned. For a preview of next season with such exciting topics as “ How to get LEDs to show up in direct sunlight “

 

[Gary_W]

Faaaaaar too slow for realtime playing/recording.

I don’t even use Bluetooth headphones in the gym. Which is crazy really because that’s one situation where they’re much faster than what I’m doing.

Big chunky old fashioned Jack for me. But adapters exist and aren’t an issue

 

[Sascha Franck]

however, a 1/4" phones plug sticking out the front of something most users constantly step on isn't just asking for disaster

That's why it'd be the best idea to place it on top. No stepping on it. No additional friction such as often happening when connecting it to the back, easy going when you have the unit on a stand, etc.

 

[Digital Igloo]

That's why it'd be the best idea to place it on top. No stepping on it. No additional friction such as often happening when connecting it to the back, easy going when you have the unit on a stand, etc.

• Added cost (often requires a breakout board and cabling)
• Added complexity in assembly
• Added noise
• May affect compliance
• Still has a higher risk of breakage than when on the back
• Higher risk of the headphone cable messing with buttons, knobs, etc.
• Kinda ugly

If it's designed for the floor, jacks should always be on the back—or sides, if everything won't fit in the back. Cable extenders are cheap.

 

[bucephalus]

1/4, simply because you can easily adapt to 1/8 but not so easy the other way around.

I'd argue that's actually the other way around isn't it? Nearly all my 3.5mm headphones come with a 6.5mm adaptor.

 

[Fireproof]

I know it's too late .. but in the future the headphone jack belongs in the front IMO. The back panel placement seems to be becoming more common on physical units. Even audio interfaces, which is mind blowing. There's probably a noise/build/optimization reason for putting it on the back. But the damn thing belongs on the front.

Ooh no, not for a FLOOR-based unit. I can’t imagine having to worry about stepping on a plug sticking out the front.

 

[Frodebro]

I'd argue that's actually the other way around isn't it? Nearly all my 3.5mm headphones come with a 6.5mm adaptor.

His post is a bit awkwardly written, but he’s saying 1/4” because it’s far easier to adapt a 1/8” plug to 1/4” than it is to step down from a 1/4” plug to 1/8”.

 

[Sascha Franck]

His post is a bit awkwardly written, but he’s saying 1/4” because it’s far easier to adapt a 1/8” plug to 1/4” than it is to step down from a 1/4” plug to 1/8”.

Yeah, this.

 

[laxu]

What's everyone's take on 1/4" vs. 1/8" phone jacks? 1/8" makes the most sense on something like POD Express—where people aren't likely connecting their Sennheiser HD800s—but it is 1/8" better or worse for something like HX Stomp?

I don't mind either. Headphones tend to come with an adapter. If 1/8" allows for better position or internal configuration, I'd go for that. It's also easier to avoid plugging into the wrong jack.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I don't mind either. Headphones tend to come with an adapter. If 1/8" allows for better position or internal configuration, I'd go for that. It's also easier to avoid plugging into the wrong jack.

Nobody likes plugging into the wrong jack.

 

[Desertdweller]

Nobody likes plugging into the wrong jack.