Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[molul]

I think that L6 has catered to the "I play around in my basement" crowd for most of its history. The only market for a rack version is live performance. Since this is my primary use, the lack of a rack + foot controller model would likely prevent me from changing my rig no matter how many other bells and whistles the Stadium had.

Still, the percentage of people that ACTUALLY gig their equipment is likely small, so this might make sense.

As I've never been (or will ever be) a pro, I'm lost on this: why is rack+foot controller better than a full floor unit?

 

[BenIfin]

I don't see how the proportion of types of users differs much between major digital units tbh.

Line 6 is a well known, easily purchasable, easy to use unit. I would venture to guess it's used live just as much if not more than any other modeler.

In terms of sheer ease of trying and buying them in a store in person just about anywhere in the world ... combined with their online ubiquity ..... and the range of units ...... the number of [just] HX L6 units used by bands at all levels, in totality, by bands at every level and every genre, would dwarf everyone else by several orders of magnitude.

Next closest would be Boss/Kemper.

Then a looooong way back to the pack.

 

[OneEng]

I don't see how the proportion of types of users differs much between major digital units tbh.

Line 6 is a well known, easily purchasable, easy to use unit. I would venture to guess it's used live just as much if not more than any other modeler.

I don't have any market data to prove my assertion; however, the lions share of live performance from touring acts (A and B level) I have seen using a digital device use Kemper (mostly) or Axe III Fx.

This is purely anecdotal though.

Line 6's original Pod series was a laughable attempt at tube amp sound, but found favor for home fiddlers due to its ability to be used with headphones so easily.

Every shootout between top performers I have seen has Kemper and Fractal trading punches, but Line 6 Helix in the "also ran" category.

I'll give you that Line 6 is very likely the most well recognized brand of the 3 and that their sales channels are the most robust (by alot). I am not suggesting that Stadium isn't going to sell, only that the types of people it is most likely to sell to may not care about a rack version.

Those that DO care about a rack and fc setup (like me) prefer it because of how easy it is to setup on stage and the lack of wire clutter at your feet. These things ONLY matter to people who gig .... and who gig ALOT. You can suffer though anything once in a while, but if you setup your gear every week and move it, these types of things become VERY important to you. In fact, the ergonomics and utility of the device far outweigh and small differences in sound for me (and others like me). In a live environment there is NO WAY anyone in the audience could tell the difference between a perfect NAM capture and even a poor Kemper capture amongst the live mix, loud, poor sound stage bar band setup.

 

[Mongillo19]

As I've never been (or will ever be) a pro, I'm lost on this: why is rack+foot controller better than a full floor unit?

The idea is that the "brain" if the rig is tucked away and then controlled by a much less expensive remote.

With an all in one, if someone breaks on the floor unit, the whole operation needs replaced.

Both have their pros and cons

 

[Sascha Franck]

but how many people are using the old ones?

I have absolutely no idea - but I could imagine that not all the world is as nerdy as folks 'round these parts, so they may as well have never updated their presets once they were happy with them.

 

[Sascha Franck]

As I've never been (or will ever be) a pro, I'm lost on this: why is rack+foot controller better than a full floor unit?

Spill some beers on just the floor controller and then spill some beers on the full thing.

Personally, I still prefer an all-in-one unit.

 

[HomespunEffects]

L6 could do an auto reassignment to a newer cab to make it easier, but how many people are using the old ones? I think a lot of old patches would be 3rd party IR’s or changes to the newer cabs.

Yeah, that’s like 2 lines of Python.

 

[Chocol8]

Yeah, that’s like 2 lines of Python.

And if anyone is deaf enough to still be using the old cabs, they won't even notice anything changed!

 

[HotRats]

As I've never been (or will ever be) a pro, I'm lost on this: why is rack+foot controller better than a full floor unit?

A rack unit + controller (more so if you also run an amp on stage and do the 4cm) makes the stage much cleaner keeping most cables short and in the back line.

A rack unit over a guitar cab is easier to access and control than a floor unit.

Having the brain separate from the switches you press every night, preserve the brain while you beat up the switches.

All that said, if you run a traditional amp + pedalboard you have to deal with the cabling, bending over your pedals and switches abuse, so that's life.
I don't think there's a better or worst solution. Is just a matter of preferences and personal logistics.

I own a floor unit.

 

[EOengineer]

Line 6's original Pod series was a laughable attempt at tube amp sound, but found favor for home fiddlers due to its ability to be used with headphones so easily.

The original POD (and ampfarm, same modeling) are on TONS of major label releases from that era.

 

[Vic Winters]

The regular Helix Stadium is probably going to be their "rack model".

-Small enough to fit on a rack shelf if you want to tuck it away like people do with the QC
-No scribble strips or on-board expression which serve no purpose in a rack
-Nexus port I/O (as well as MIDI and USB ports) opens the possibility for controlling it with a peripheral devices (updated Helix Control maybe?)

 

[Mongillo19]

Yeah from what I've gathered from Ben and Eric, the Helix Rack did not sell well at all compared to the other units

 

[ian_dissonance]

I think that L6 has catered to the "I play around in my basement" crowd for most of its history. The only market for a rack version is live performance. Since this is my primary use, the lack of a rack + foot controller model would likely prevent me from changing my rig no matter how many other bells and whistles the Stadium had.

Still, the percentage of people that ACTUALLY gig their equipment is likely small, so this might make sense.

Anecdotally, I’ve seen just as many if not more “racked” floorboards with external controllers at shows between local level and 3-5k venues in the last couple of years. The non-XL version would probably take up less space on a drawer than an AFXIII or a Kemper.

 

[mikah912]

The original POD (and ampfarm, same modeling) are on TONS of major label releases from that era.

Shhhhhh! Don't spoil his hyperbole party.

 

[ian_dissonance]

The original POD (and ampfarm, same modeling) are on TONS of major label releases from that era.

I was watching production videos for songs released in the last couple of years using Amp Farm into IRs.

 

[banned]

Shhhhhh! Don't spoil his hyperbole party.

I believe Eagle's at this party as well. It's just the two of them.

 

[Los-D]

Still catching up, but I would recommend “Hx Litigator” or “Litigator (Hx)”

 

[mikah912]

Still catching up, but I would recommend “Hx Litigator” or “Litigator (Hx)”

Honestly, I think they should just color-code the Agoura amps differently.

 

[EOengineer]

Shhhhhh! Don't spoil his hyperbole party.

I was watching production videos for songs released in the last couple of years using Amp Farm into IRs.

Yeah I don’t really get the point of the weird revisionism there. The POD was released in 1996. It’s almost universally known as the first widely successful digital modeling product. It has its limits and we can see them more clearly now because of the progress that has been made, as will be the case in 30 years when discussing current Helix or Fractal products.

 

[Mongillo19]

Yeah I don’t really get the point of the weird revisionism there. The POD was released in 1996. It’s almost universally known as the first widely successful digital modeling product. It has its limits and we can see them more clearly now because of the progress that has been made, as will be the case in 30 years when discussing current Helix or Fractal products.

Man, it's hard to keep you and OneEng sperate in my brain I know the usernames aren't that similar but....