Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[EOengineer]

The last of my current gen Helix hardware left the building this weekend. Maybe this is what empty nesters feel like…at least until the Stadium XL lands.

 

[Mongillo19]

I imagine tomorrow has the potential to have some movement on shipping information! Although my SW rep would let me know what wave I was in when he had more info and I still haven't heard

 

[Jarick]

The last of my current gen Helix hardware left the building this weekend. Maybe this is what empty nesters feel like…at least until the Stadium XL lands.

If everyone's over the moon on the Stadium I may considering moving the Axe 3 for one next year sometime.

 

[wharf rat]

Happy launch Eve y'all!!!

Hoping to see a change from “processing” to “shipped”.

 

[EOengineer]

If everyone's over the moon on the Stadium I may considering moving the Axe 3 for one next year sometime.

FWIW I can’t imagine Stadium being a fractal killer…certainly not right out of the gate, if ever. It likely depends on your needs though. If you want to try different tubes or bright caps, fractal is probably still the king of that castle.

 

[molul]

FWIW I can’t imagine Stadium being a fractal killer…certainly not right out of the gate, if ever. It likely depends on your needs though. If you want to try different tubes or bright caps, fractal is probably still the king of that castle.

Is that something people really consider when buying a modeler? I mean, it sounds fun or curious, but I hardly find it more important than audio quality or UX.

 

[EOengineer]

Is that something people really consider when buying a modeler? I mean, it sounds fun or curious, but I hardly find it more important than audio quality or UX.

For the types of users I specifically called out in my post, yes.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Is that something people really consider when buying a modeler? I mean, it sounds fun or curious, but I hardly find it more important than audio quality or UX.

 

[wharf rat]

Is that something people really consider when buying a modeler? I mean, it sounds fun or curious, but I hardly find it more important than audio quality or UX.

I’d imagine the normal people don’t need or want something like that.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I’d imagine the normal people don’t need or want something like that.

AKA never played a real amp crew

 

[dean701]

FWIW I can’t imagine Stadium being a fractal killer…certainly not right out of the gate, if ever. It likely depends on your needs though. If you want to try different tubes or bright caps, fractal is probably still the king of that castle.

I disagree with this. From an effect standpoint I think Fractal holds it's own. From an amp perspective, I think Tonex and NAM are better, and many are on par (in fact Helix has some great amp models already) . From a UI perspective, almost everything beats Fractal and I do own an AXE3. Like @Jarick , if Stadium can reach Tonex/NAM levels, and improve some of its effects, my AXE3 will be departing. There's a lot to be said for a great UI and a company that you really want to support.

 

[Mooselake]

Hoping to see a change from “processing” to “shipped”.

Mine was one of the GC oopses. It's been statused as shipped since 11/1. I hope Line 6 putting the brakes on things didn't cause it to get lost. GC took my money, FedEx is saying they never received it. I'll keep checking it as the week goes on.

 

[EOengineer]

I disagree with this. From an effect standpoint I think Fractal holds its own. From an amp perspective, I think Tonex and NAM are better, and many are on par. From a UI perspective, almost everything beats Fractal and I do own an AXE3. Like @Jarick , if Stadium can reach Tonex/NAM levels, my AXE3 will be departing.

We can debate Tonex and NAM and its merits vs white box modeling, but that doesn’t change the fact that Stadium won’t have capture tech at launch. I qualified my original statement that way for a reason.

 

[ian_dissonance]

AKA never played a real amp crew

I’ve played and owned lots of real and never once thought that I should change tubes or mod the amp. That group is a niche within a niche.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Hi, guys. Sorry if my question is dumb and already discussed... i've looked for an answer but i'm still uncertain. In the new Stadium the old amps will be in a subcategory "legacy amps". Ok, fine. What about the effects? I've read something about some missing eq, replaced by the new one) so i'm warried about the legacy effects from old M13. Will be still in the new hardware? I've some of them in my presets and not shure if i will loose them or not.

Tx for your attention!

Legacy effects from XX4 and MXX are still in Helix Stadium.

Also note that HX amps aren't all going into a Legacy subcategory. Amps only get moved when an Agoura version supplants them. So given that we started re-modeling our newest and best HX amps in Agoura, amps in the Legacy subcategory on average sound better than the non-Legacy HX amps. Weird now, but it'll make sense later.

 

[wharf rat]

I’ve played and owned lots of real and never once thought that I should change tubes or mod the amp. That group is a niche within a niche.

Same. It’s just a big flex.

 

[Digital Igloo]

FWIW I can’t imagine Stadium being a fractal killer…certainly not right out of the gate, if ever. It likely depends on your needs though. If you want to try different tubes or bright caps, fractal is probably still the king of that castle.

Here's the thing. We don't expect—nor would we want—Helix Stadium to be a Fractal killer. We want Fractal to do well because they're a good company who designs and develops on their own terms. They're good for the digital market.

 

[dean701]

We can debate Tonex and NAM and its merits vs white box modeling, but that doesn’t change the fact that Stadium won’t have capture tech at launch. I qualified my original statement that way for a reason.

I don't separate modeling vs profiling/capturing. If a modeler or capture specifies an amp model and it sounds and feels true to form then its fine to me.

 

[ccc118]

Mine was one of the GC oopses. It's been statused as shipped since 11/1. I hope Line 6 putting the brakes on things didn't cause it to get lost. GC took my money, FedEx is saying they never received it. I'll keep checking it as the week goes on.

Mine is the same, but is MF/UPS. While having the status stuck like that does make me a little nervous, I wouldn't worry about it yet. I'm sure all the ones from the early mistake shipping batch are like that.

 

[Jarick]

Here's the thing. We don't expect—nor would we want—Helix Stadium to be a Fractal killer. We want Fractal to do well because they're a good company who designs and develops on their own terms. They're good for the digital market.

Exactly, I don't care if Line 6 can out Fractal the Fractal, I'm more interested if it's a big step forward in terms of tone and UI. As the Fender TMP has essentially replaced the Fractal for every day use for me, the Fractal is more expendable. Realistically though I'd want to see what Fractal offers down the road as a replacement for the FM9 but I think that may be a long ways off.