Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[Fireproof]

My take right now is that it’s a dynamics/punch thing more than the tone being way off. I think that stuff doesn’t show up so much in shootouts or blind tests, but you feel it when you play. Some models are better than others.



Is it just the angle or do those footswitches look closer together compared to the current hardware? I’m thinking it’s the angle.

I think I remember reading that they are ever so slightly closer together than OG Helix.

Someone was asking him in the comments how it was reaching the second row of footswitches and such and he said even with his size 12 foot - he had no problems with any of them.

 

[Hapless]

View attachment 54346

Oi. That's the getaway driver? What the fuck is he gonna get away from, eh?

 

[Dez]

You sold the VP4 already? That was fast.

Yeah, it was lol nothing against the VP4, just my insanity

 

[Richard_G]

I’ve always been puzzled by the fact that I seem to find it easier to get satisfying amps than drive pedals when using modeling.

 

[Digital Igloo]

I have holes in my ears too! How else are you going to listen to stuff?

Grandfather in Sioux Falls, SD: Hey Eric, you have a hole in your sock.
6-year-old me: No I don't, Grandpa!
Grandfather: Oh yeah? Well how'd you get your foot in, then?

 

[Sascha Franck]

I’ve always been puzzled by the fact that I seem to find it easier to get satisfying amps than drive pedals when using modeling.

Same here. Which is why I'm still using a bunch of analog dirt pedals on my main board.
Actually, I find some of the ones in Amplitube to be quite decent. The fuzzes, while not exactly authentic sounding (from all I know at least), behave better than pretty much any others, the HX ones included (even with the impedance lowered).

There's some gems in the HX ecosystem, though, such as the KWB and the Top Secret OD (no idea how well that compares to the original, but it's my absolute favourite, I wish it had bass/treble controls and more output, though, always running it in tandem with an EQ because of that lack).

 

[banned]

Same here. Which is why I'm still using a bunch of analog dirt pedals on my main board.
Actually, I find some of the ones in Amplitube to be quite decent. The fuzzes, while not exactly authentic sounding (from all I know at least), behave better than pretty much any others, the HX ones included (even with the impedance lowered).

There's some gems in the HX ecosystem, though, such as the KWB and the Top Secret OD (no idea how well that compares to the original, but it's my absolute favourite, I wish it had bass/treble controls and more output, though, always running it in tandem with an EQ because of that lack).

Top Secret, Kinky Boost and KWB are...

For something grittier, I like Alpaca Rouge

 

[banned]

A good look at the unit

 

[Sascha Franck]

Kinky Boost

Yeah, that's another of my go-tos.

Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD into Voltage (sorry, posted that before somewhere, but hey...):



I just love how it works with picking, volume pot and different pickups. Could possibly play entire gigs with that and just switch the delay on/off.

 

[mikah912]

Yeah, that's another of my go-tos.

Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD into Voltage (sorry, posted that before somewhere, but hey...):



I just love how it works with picking, volume pot and different pickups. Could possibly play entire gigs with that and just switch the delay on/off.

Sounds sweet, syrupy and a little spicy. Good stuff, man!

 

[banned]

Yeah, that's another of my go-tos.

Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD into Voltage (sorry, posted that before somewhere, but hey...):



I just love how it works with picking, volume pot and different pickups. Could possibly play entire gigs with that and just switch the delay on/off.

Sounds great! Great playing!

I play in a similar vein - I'm just getting into recording - can you share your recording chain?

 

[Fireproof]

A good look at the unit

View attachment 54351

It looks like the second row of switches is slightly raised. Like… ahem… stadium seating.

 

[Orvillain]

I more or less do think the Helix's drives are better than Fractals. Xenomorph Fuzz is also something else. NOTHING else in digital does what that thing does.

 

[Gary_W]

Yeah, that's another of my go-tos.

Kinky Boost, Top Secret OD into Voltage (sorry, posted that before somewhere, but hey...):



I just love how it works with picking, volume pot and different pickups. Could possibly play entire gigs with that and just switch the delay on/off.

Loving the sound of that :)

 

[Gary_W]

I more or less do think the Helix's drives are better than Fractals. Xenomorph Fuzz is also something else. NOTHING else in digital does what that thing does.

This is good to hear - my only experience with Helix was a two week Native trial and, whilst I loved it, I didn’t get time to try everything. I’m excited for all the new stuff in Stadium but I’m also excited for all the old stuff I haven’t played with. It’ll be interesting to try the variable input impedance on there with the fuzz as that’s something I obviously couldn’t test with Native.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I more or less do think the Helix's drives are better than Fractals.

I think they're just different. Helix drives are more like modeling the whole pedal reasonably accurately. Fractal is like, eh, this is in the ballpark but here are 20 other very useful tools to make it sound however you like. Graphic EQ block per drive? Hell yeah. Extended tone controls? Cool. Change the clipping diodes? Okay. Slew rate, high and low cuts, deeper params, etc.

Where Helix kinda misses out is in the boost department. Several great dedicated boost pedals in the Fractal lineup that I so wish Helix had.

 

[Roncore]

A good look at the unit

View attachment 54351

Dude is def raving about it lol.

 

[JiveTurkey]

This comment

 

[guyonthefox]

Instructions unclear. Johnson stuck in input jack.

1/4" or headphone?

 

[Mongillo19]

1/4" or headphone?

XLR