Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[molul]

Guitar Amps

• WhoWatt 103
• US Tweedman
• US 5W Tweed
• US Princess 76
• US Luxe Black
• US Double Black
• Essex TB30CC
• Brit Plexi
• Brit 2203MV
• German Xtra Blue
• German Xtra Red
• Solid 100
• EV Panama Blue
• EV Panama Red
• Revv 120 Purple
• Revv 120 Red

So glad to see my crunch (2203) and hi-gain (Revv Red) amps there.

Is there any great clean amp in that list? I used the Jazz Rivet and then went for the Line6 Clarity.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Is there any great clean amp in that list? I used the Jazz Rivet and then went for the Line6 Clarity.

You could still use them.

 

[molul]

You could still use them.

I know, I know. I was just wondering if there would be an Agoura alternative in that list.

 

[laxu]

Full list of Agoura launch models announced:




Guitar Amps

• WhoWatt 103
• US Tweedman
• US 5W Tweed
• US Princess 76
• US Luxe Black
• US Double Black
• Essex TB30CC
• Brit Plexi
• Brit 2203MV
• German Xtra Blue
• German Xtra Red
• Solid 100
• EV Panama Blue
• EV Panama Red
• Revv 120 Purple
• Revv 120 Red

Bass Amps

• Ampeg SVT 50th
• Ampeg B15NF 66
• US Drip Bass
• Agua 751
• Mandarin Plus 200
• Brit MegaBass

Amp model	Based on real amp	Channels/modes
WhoWatt 103	Hiwatt DR103	3: Normal/Bright/Jumped
US Tweedman	Fender Bassman	3: Normal/Bright/Jumped
US 5W Tweed	Fender Champ	2: Low/High input jack
US Princess 76	Fender Princeton Reverb	-
US Luxe Black	Fender Deluxe Reverb	2: Normal/Vibrato
US Double Black	Fender Twin Reverb	2: Normal/Vibrato
Essex TB30CC	Vox AC30 Top Boost	2: Normal/Top Boost
Brit Plexi	Marshall Superlead 100	3: Normal/Bright/Jumped
Brit 2203MV	Marshall JCM800 2203	2: Low/High input jack
German Xtra Blue	Bogner Ecstacy 101B	-
German Xtra Red	Bogner Ecstacy 101B	-
Solid 100	Soldano SLO-100	2: Normal/Overdrive
EV Panama Blue	EVH 5150 III 100	-
EV Panama Red	EVH 5150 III 100	-
Revv 120 Purple	Revv Generator 120	-
Revv 120 Red	Revv Generator 120	-
Ampeg SVT 50th	Ampeg SVT	5: Ch1 Normal/Ch1 Bright/Ch2 Normal/Ch2 Bright/Jumped
Ampeg B15NF 66	Ampeg B-15NF Portaflex	-
US Drip Bass	Fender Bassman	3: Bass/Normal/Jumped
Agua 751	Aguilar DB751	-
Mandarin Plus 200	Orange AD200 Mk III	2: Passive/Active input jack
Brit MegaBass	Marshall Superbass	3: Normal/Bright/Jumped

Mesas are sorely missed here. I hope they bring in Recto, Lonestar and Mark IV soon after release.

 

[HotRats]

I'm 100% with sasha on this, "global" blocks or any other solution to the same need are a must have for those who play live.

One of the reasons I still prefer using a real amp is that I have access to amp control at any time and across all presets.

I know nothing but to me if there was new favorite list, called globals (with sub folders would be awesome) where you save all the blocks you want to be global would be enough.

Then every time you tweak a parameter in a global block Helix will automatically update it (there might be a preference for that) and every time you load a preset Helix will update all the parameters.

In order to be updated between presets blocks might be have the same same snapshot, footswiches assignment

Full list of Agoura launch models announced:




Guitar Amps

• WhoWatt 103
• US Tweedman
• US 5W Tweed
• US Princess 76
• US Luxe Black
• US Double Black
• Essex TB30CC
• Brit Plexi
• Brit 2203MV
• German Xtra Blue
• German Xtra Red
• Solid 100
• EV Panama Blue
• EV Panama Red
• Revv 120 Purple
• Revv 120 Red

Bass Amps

• Ampeg SVT 50th
• Ampeg B15NF 66
• US Drip Bass
• Agua 751
• Mandarin Plus 200
• Brit MegaBass

Amp graphics on that beautiful screen don't reflect amp channel selection or jumpering!

That's unacceptable!

 

[Sascha Franck]

I know, I know. I was just wondering if there would be an Agoura alternative in that list.

For me, the current Super Reverb is a most excellent clean amp. Pretty much no need for anything else.
And then there's Agoura versions of the Princeton and Deluxe, both absolutely excellent clean machines, too (I'm not much of a fan of Twins, but the new one might deserve a testrun).
If you however prefer solid state amps, I think Agoura might not bring too much to the table anyway.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Amp graphics on that beautiful screen don't reflect amp channel selection or jumpering!

That's unacceptable!

Defenitely! Also: just imagine the nice UX experience of plugging virtual jumper cables, Reason-style!

 

[molul]

Then every time you tweak a parameter in a global block Helix will automatically update it (there might be a preference for that)

Why adding a preference? If you're using a global block, you've already established that you want that block to be automatically updated whenever it's changed anywhere else. If you might not want it, just use a regular block.

In order to be updated between presets blocks might be have the same same snapshot, footswiches assignment

That sounds messy. Not updating parameters with assignments would be easier to implement and to use. If you set an assignment to a parameter, it only means that you want to override the global control on that parameter. If you remove the assignment, then it loads the global block value again.

 

[molul]

For me, the current Super Reverb is a most excellent clean amp. Pretty much no need for anything else.

I still haven't tested the Super Reverb. I hope I have some time this weekend to update to 3.80 and give it a go. So many good comments on it.

 

[HotRats]

Why adding a preference? If you're using a global block, you've already established that you want that block to be automatically updated whenever it's changed anywhere else. If you might not want it, just use a regular block.

Because you might don't want to update everything every time you touch a parameter - without an explicit confirmation, even if you used a global block. Like the snapshot reacll/discard preference, same situation.

That sounds messy. Not updating parameters with assignments would be easier to implement and to use. If you set an assignment to a parameter, it only means that you want to override the global control on that parameter. If you remove the assignment, then it loads the global block value again.

Yes that's messy. We've discussed other solutions in the other thread.

 

[molul]

Because you might don't want to update everything every time you touch a parameter - without an explicit confirmation, even if you used a global block. Like the snapshot reacll/discard preference, same situation.

I see now. Well yes, maybe global blocks should only update when you save the preset and never in real time, so you can tweak it without having to remember the previous values in case you don't like the changes. Modified parameters should be colored differently so you know what has been modified and might be lost if you don't save.

And a parameter in the save screen to choose whether to also save changes in global blocks might be handy too. If you choose not to update them, parameters would stay with a different color or whatever indicator, and if you load another preset you'll loose those changes.

Yes that's messy. We've discussed other solutions in the other thread.

Oops sorry. I don't remember with whom I've already talked about this XD

 

[Sascha Franck]

Because you might don't want to update everything every time you touch a parameter - without an explicit confirmation, even if you used a global block. Like the snapshot reacll/discard preference, same situation.

Well, in this case I think I have to agree with molul (unless I'm misunderstanding your point), global blocks are global blocks. It should however be possible to very quickly "un-globalize" a block.

And as far as snapshots vs. global blocks and the implications coming along with that issue are concerned, as I wrote in the other thread, I still think that at least for a start, it should be "blocks can either be global or snapshot controlled" (the only exception being the on/off status, which you obviously want to be able to control via snapshots in many, possibly most, cases).

Fwiw, this would also cover any MIDI controller assignments. Once a global block is controlled from an external MIDI controller, these assignments would be valid globally, too. In fact, it's the foremost thing I'd make intense use of, by mapping all the most important parameters I'd want to access globally to an external knob box (something that I already did and drooled over like a little child over a birthday present, just that I had to cancel things due to some shortcomings already explained).

Needless to say: Whenever you decide to turn a snapshot controlled block into a global one, there should be a clear warning: "Setting the block to global mode will discard all snapshot assignments!"

I still think that introducing offsets for snapshots would be a nice idea - but it might not be possible too easily with the general software framework and there's certainly chances for confusion to emerge.

 

[EOengineer]

Is there any interest out there in a JCM800 2205 as a future inclusion? A much maligned amp, I know, but it's something off the beaten track and would be a point of difference

I wouldn’t kick a 2205 out of bed, but prefer the 2203 head and shoulders above the 2205. Since you can move between the 2203 low and high inputs in Helix that kind of negates the only advantage I see with the 2205 with its channel switching. I doubt I’d ever use the 2205, but perhaps others would.

I still haven't tested the Super Reverb. I hope I have some time this weekend to update to 3.80 and give it a go. So many good comments on it.

The Fender Bassman AB165 (dripman under the bass amps) is a great clean and EOB amp worth checking out.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Defenitely! Also: just imagine the nice UX experience of plugging virtual jumper cables, Reason-style!

The nightmares return.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I still haven't tested the Super Reverb. I hope I have some time this weekend to update to 3.80 and give it a go. So many good comments on it.

It’s actually the reason to update.

 

[molul]

It’s actually the reason to update.

Not my case, but some might say it's the 5150 xD I still want to try it just for fun, but I don't think I'll ever use it in my music.

 

[HotRats]

Well, in this case I think I have to agree with molul (unless I'm misunderstanding your point), global blocks are global blocks. It should however be possible to very quickly "un-globalize" a block.

Having an option to enable/disable an auto save is always a good option in my opinion.

Just like snapshot discard/recall, you can have a shortcut to easily lock or unlock your parameters as needed or you can have the helix to ask if you want to propagate changes to the other global blocks when you load a different preset. A yes/no question you can answer using footswitches would be perfect

 

[[Nathan]]

I can’t remember what they said but when the new amp models are agoura-fied, will there still be access to the legacy versions or is it just replaced? If they’re still kicking around as legacy it’ll be pretty cool to A/B them

 

[Lysander]

I can’t remember what they said but when the new amp models are agoura-fied, will there still be access to the legacy versions or is it just replaced?

The original HX amps will remain available.

 

[mikah912]

I can’t remember what they said but when the new amp models are agoura-fied, will there still be access to the legacy versions or is it just replaced? If they’re still kicking around as legacy it’ll be pretty cool to A/B them

The old versions still exist in the Legacy category. And yes, people are DEFINITELY going to A/B them. I just hope they do so for picking response, note sustain/decay, volume knob manipulation and the like.