Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

Richard_G said:
Not yet, really, but I’ll definitely give it a go. I’ll probably start with the newest amps that were added, though—getting to know the pedal and amp sims through the latest iteration before Stadium.
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The ones of the Catalyst amp series that were added in the last updates are a pretty good start IMO as they are easy to deal with.
My other two favourites are the Super Reverb and the mentioned Grammatico GSG, even if the latter is a bit tricky to dial in.
Personally, I think that some of the cabs chosen as defaults don't exactly do the amps justice too well. As an allround testing cab (I usually don't use combined amp&cab blocks but separate them) I really like the 2x12 Mandarin30 cab (default settings are fine, sometimes I switch to a 57 mic), which is working fine for both cleans and dirts.
Out of the dirt pedals, I really like the Top Secret OD (DOD 250 clone), but I typically pair it with an EQ following, as the TSOD at lower gain settings doesn't have enough output volume to boost an amp. The drive itself sits nicely between overdrive and fuzz, when you push its frontend with a Kinky Boost, it's even more fuzzy and cleans up great (in case these kinda sounds are your thing). Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD and Voltage goes like this:
 
ian_dissonance said:
I definitely get a lot of crossover between mixing education videos and dialing in guitar tones. A lot of what I learn there is the same regardless of the hardware it’s translating back to, though.
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A modeler gives you basically the experience of a recording studio just for guitar. It's great to have Slash talking about it, but I think - because of the very nature of the product - it would be great to also hear from Eric Valentine, the guy who actually captured his tone and made it work in the mix. I'd even say the opinions of the later cares more weight in this matter. That's all I'm saying.

banned said:
Your recorded tones are fine ... even great. If you're able to get those sounds live, I can't imagine wanting anything more. You may be overthinking some of this.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, this really doesn't have to do with the original post that ended up in this string of messages.

Thanks. But I think I sometime just stumble into something OK after many many hours of tweaking. A lot of the time it feels like I'm blindly trying to catch something. But live, specially working with different bands with different monitoring systems it can be a problem. Even set flat, two completely different systems can sound different enough to really mess with my sound even through I have the same IEM's. Standium having full mix control for different outputs sounds great actually for this reason.

Richard_G said:
I don't know, @Tito83... I sold both my UAFX Dream and Ruby pedals. I preferred my Tone King preamp pedal and various Tonex captures over the Dream, and also preferred various Tonex captures over the Ruby. So far, I've kept my UAFX Enigmatic, though.

I recently picked up an HX Stomp, and to be honest, I'm a bit underwhelmed so far. Probably not a popular opinion on this board ("Do not sell your Stomp," etc.). And I do think it's probably user error—i.e., I haven’t spent enough time dialing things in yet.
Click to expand...

Their amp sims are the best IMO. The cab portion is the weak link in the sense they are fixed. If you don't happen to like any of them, there's really not much you can do, you can't move or change mics around. I understand the spirit behind the idea, I don't know if I'm fully onboard. There could be a simple EQ like on the OX, I think that would help a lot. I understand how that can be a deal breaker for some. And don't get me started on the "no midi" part :bonk

Never tried the Tone King, but I had the Tonex and it can be easier for most. The fact there are so many captures available makes it more likely to find something that sounds in the ballpark of your preference. The thing for me is that every capture has this compression that I don't really like. A softness that I can even see some people liking. It was the same with the QC I borrowed for a while. I personally don't care for it.

I had a Helix months after release up until a couple of months ago. I spent A LOT of time dialing it in.The amps in the Helix line are underwhelming in general IMO. Some are workable, the later Bassman was the one I used last before selling my Stomp. Sort of ok, but every amp on Helix just feel off IMO. Some I really don't like (read below). Funny enough I'm probably buying another HX Stomp, part of the plan I came up with to use my Dream live.

sashimi said:
Have you played with the Grammatico GSG yet? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on how it compares to the Enigmatic.
Click to expand...

I really don't like it. Can't use it, the tone sounds wrong and it feels just wrong under the fingers. I found some tones of the actual amp I wasn't really crazy about. Dumbles varied, maybe this wasn't really in the ballpark of what I like, but as a fan of the Dumble tone from Lowell George, Eric Johnson, Carlton and specially Robben Ford, I just really really don't like that model.
 
Tito83 said:
A modeler gives you basically the experience of a recording studio just for guitar. It's great to have Slash talking about it, but I think - because of the very nature of the product - it would be great to also hear from Eric Valentine, the guy who actually captured his tone and made it work in the mix. I'd even say the opinions of the later cares more weight in this matter. That's all I'm saying.
Click to expand...
For sure, I’m just saying seeing him dial it on the Stadium or having him make a preset is most likely going to use his “standard” guitar tone approach that you could extrapolate to any piece of modeling gear from interviews or videos of him talking about his general approach to guitars.
 
Sascha Franck said:
The ones of the Catalyst amp series that were added in the last updates are a pretty good start IMO as they are easy to deal with.
My other two favourites are the Super Reverb and the mentioned Grammatico GSG, even if the latter is a bit tricky to dial in.
Personally, I think that some of the cabs chosen as defaults don't exactly do the amps justice too well. As an allround testing cab (I usually don't use combined amp&cab blocks but separate them) I really like the 2x12 Mandarin30 cab (default settings are fine, sometimes I switch to a 57 mic), which is working fine for both cleans and dirts.
Out of the dirt pedals, I really like the Top Secret OD (DOD 250 clone), but I typically pair it with an EQ following, as the TSOD at lower gain settings doesn't have enough output volume to boost an amp. The drive itself sits nicely between overdrive and fuzz, when you push its frontend with a Kinky Boost, it's even more fuzzy and cleans up great (in case these kinda sounds are your thing). Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD and Voltage goes like this:
Click to expand...

Not sure If it’s what you are going for that that’s phat
Probably the type of tones that would fit in a hippopotamus documentary
 
I do not look at a modeller like a replacement for a studio, or an engineer. I simply look at it as a virtual chain that I might build in the real world, if I had enough cables, pedals, amps, cabs, and patience!
 
Sascha Franck said:
The ones of the Catalyst amp series that were added in the last updates are a pretty good start IMO as they are easy to deal with.
My other two favourites are the Super Reverb and the mentioned Grammatico GSG, even if the latter is a bit tricky to dial in.
Personally, I think that some of the cabs chosen as defaults don't exactly do the amps justice too well. As an allround testing cab (I usually don't use combined amp&cab blocks but separate them) I really like the 2x12 Mandarin30 cab (default settings are fine, sometimes I switch to a 57 mic), which is working fine for both cleans and dirts.
Out of the dirt pedals, I really like the Top Secret OD (DOD 250 clone), but I typically pair it with an EQ following, as the TSOD at lower gain settings doesn't have enough output volume to boost an amp. The drive itself sits nicely between overdrive and fuzz, when you push its frontend with a Kinky Boost, it's even more fuzzy and cleans up great (in case these kinda sounds are your thing). Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD and Voltage goes like this:
Click to expand...


Sounds great!

The Top Secret OD is my favorite alongside the Kinky Boost and the KWB! I also like the Voltage Queen - glad to find someone else with similar tastes!

The Top Secret OD is made to meld with slightly cranked Marshall amps. It's a match made in heaven.
 
That little hippo in the Kansas (Utah? Some other midwestern hellscape?) zoo is such a little buddy! I'd go visit him but he'd probably gnaw my face off!
Silence Of The Lambs Hannibal GIF
 
Orvillain said:
I do not look at a modeller like a replacement for a studio, or an engineer. I simply look at it as a virtual chain that I might build in the real world, if I had enough cables, pedals, amps, cabs, and patience!
Click to expand...
Honestly it’s just so damn convenient. I’ve migrated back to pedals and tube amps, and now I’m realizing the reason I don’t constantly twist knobs with my analog stuff is because I’m constantly chasing ground loops, noise issues, bad switches, bad cables, power supply issues, etc.

A good modeler like the Helix or Fractal stuff just makes it so effortless to put together great sounding chains without all the cruft of the analog world. I honestly can’t wait for Stadium and to see what the next ten years look like on this platform.
 
I’m noticing even in the latest high gain video that Plexi is sounding pretty wooly. I’d love to hear a clip of that amp with the mid and treble really pushing. That’s one model that would really benefit from a switchable bright cap.
 
Tito83 said:
A modeler gives you basically the experience of a recording studio just for guitar. It's great to have Slash talking about it, but I think - because of the very nature of the product - it would be great to also hear from Eric Valentine, the guy who actually captured his tone and made it work in the mix. I'd even say the opinions of the later cares more weight in this matter. That's all I'm saying.



Just to be clear, this really doesn't have to do with the original post that ended up in this string of messages.

Thanks. But I think I sometime just stumble into something OK after many many hours of tweaking. A lot of the time it feels like I'm blindly trying to catch something. But live, specially working with different bands with different monitoring systems it can be a problem. Even set flat, two completely different systems can sound different enough to really mess with my sound even through I have the same IEM's. Standium having full mix control for different outputs sounds great actually for this reason.



Their amp sims are the best IMO. The cab portion is the weak link in the sense they are fixed. If you don't happen to like any of them, there's really not much you can do, you can't move or change mics around. I understand the spirit behind the idea, I don't know if I'm fully onboard. There could be a simple EQ like on the OX, I think that would help a lot. I understand how that can be a deal breaker for some. And don't get me started on the "no midi" part :bonk

Never tried the Tone King, but I had the Tonex and it can be easier for most. The fact there are so many captures available makes it more likely to find something that sounds in the ballpark of your preference. The thing for me is that every capture has this compression that I don't really like. A softness that I can even see some people liking. It was the same with the QC I borrowed for a while. I personally don't care for it.

I had a Helix months after release up until a couple of months ago. I spent A LOT of time dialing it in.The amps in the Helix line are underwhelming in general IMO. Some are workable, the later Bassman was the one I used last before selling my Stomp. Sort of ok, but every amp on Helix just feel off IMO. Some I really don't like (read below). Funny enough I'm probably buying another HX Stomp, part of the plan I came up with to use my Dream live.



I really don't like it. Can't use it, the tone sounds wrong and it feels just wrong under the fingers. I found some tones of the actual amp I wasn't really crazy about. Dumbles varied, maybe this wasn't really in the ballpark of what I like, but as a fan of the Dumble tone from Lowell George, Eric Johnson, Carlton and specially Robben Ford, I just really really don't like that model.
Click to expand...
I think some people just don’t like the helix tone. I don’t know. I may be one of those people, but doesn’t mean they’re bad or anything. It’s just some people just don’t get wowed by it.
I mean, just like other companies some people don’t get wild by their tones either
But I am loud by the display and the touchscreen and everything it does
 
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