Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[EOengineer]

This one is a little frustrating to watch because he seems to not fully understand that all the fx are the same and the majority of amps are not yet in Agoura. He also seems to not realize the new cabs are available in current gen Hx boxes.

The guy could at least do his homework first.

It's funny how opinions can differ. I never truly was happy with the amps on Helix, but the Fuzz stuff, specially the Fuzz Face - IMO - is the best digital recreation of the effect, behaving remarkably close the real ones. The way it reacts to the volume pot of the guitar is quite amazing. Of course we need to take into consideration how different the circuit can differ, but it does have all the stuff that makes me recognize the Fuzz Face thing. And you need to also be careful about the input impedance. Years ago I made this video to showcase the fuzz and the importance of the input impedance.

While I do think something is off with the fuzz character, the cleanup behavior has always impressed me for a digital product. The same was also true of the HD series before helix. Definitely curious to see what Agoura could do for fuzz in Stadium.

 

[Jarick]

Congrats DI and team on the product release!

I'll have to sift through the video reviews. Hopefully @2112 got one as I like his tones the best.

I'm not feeling any FOMO yet...Fender TMP honestly killed so much of my modeler GAS. But we all know GAS never truly dies...

 

[banned]

The few tones he had the Silver Sky sounded pretty cool.

The 335 sounded great with the Marshall as well. So much is dependent on pickups - but that sounds very much like many 335s through that amp would.

 

[banned]

It's funny how opinions can differ. I never truly was happy with the amps on Helix, but the Fuzz stuff, specially the Fuzz Face - IMO - is the best digital recreation of the effect, behaving remarkably close the real ones. The way it reacts to the volume pot of the guitar is quite amazing. Of course we need to take into consideration how different the circuit can differ, but it does have all the stuff that makes me recognize the Fuzz Face thing. And you need to also be careful about the input impedance. Years ago I made this video to showcase the fuzz and the importance of the input impedance.

Yes - I guess what we're saying is that it's still not as good as it could be on ODs, distortions and fuzzes. Not saying it isn't good (it's probably some of the the best out there right now)

 

[AlbertA]

The embargo has been lifted. YouTubers have opened the floodgates.

@GuitarJon delivered all the chugs we were waiting for - sounds fantastic.

 

[StarF666]

It's funny how opinions can differ. I never truly was happy with the amps on Helix, but the Fuzz stuff, specially the Fuzz Face - IMO - is the best digital recreation of the effect, behaving remarkably close the real ones. The way it reacts to the volume pot of the guitar is quite amazing. Of course we need to take into consideration how different the circuit can differ, but it does have all the stuff that makes me recognize the Fuzz Face thing. And you need to also be careful about the input impedance. Years ago I made this video to showcase the fuzz and the importance of the input impedance.

Nice Video, it never worked for me really. That's way I'm really happy about the new form factor because I can bring a few analog boxes but keep the footprint. But maybe I should give HX Fuzz another try.

 

[DanRad]

It's web-based. Here's a link.

I think he was asking about the editor, not the manual.

I think that's here. You have to select Helix Stadium in the Choose Software pulldown.

 

[GuitarJon]

@GuitarJon delivered all the chugs we were waiting for - sounds fantastic.

Thank you! I feel like I only scratched the surface. I'll definitely make more specialized videos soon!

 

[Rock Chalk]

This one is a little frustrating to watch because he seems to not fully understand that all the fx are the same and the majority of amps are not yet in Agoura. He also seems to not realize the new cabs are available in current gen Hx boxes.

The guy could at least do his homework first.

Huh....I thought he made it sound pretty good.

 

[Digital Igloo]

@Digital Igloo is there any info on shipping in the EU? People over here are confused by thomann shipping dates jumping back to 1-2 weeks. People gonna be patient but would like to know for how long.

Sorry, no idea.

Thanks.

By the way, take a bow dude. Well done.

Thanks! The manual was all Steve F, our illustrious technical writer—I just went in and wordsmithed a bit. Now that's it's web-based, it's much easier to go in and tweak stuff.

 

[LP59]

I think he was asking about the editor, not the manual.

I think that's here. You have to select Helix Stadium in the Choose Software pulldown.

Yeah, I figured it out. There is no editor app download like there is for Helix. There's just a Stadium app which I believe does other things besides just being an editor. The section in the manual gives a link, but for anyone looking in the downloads for an editor app like I was, it might be confusing.

 

[banned]

So the tone and feel are there, the workflow couldn't be better, the connectivity is easy, everything is centered around you the player....what's left now? Practice and make music??

Whatever will we do?!

 

[EOengineer]

Huh....I thought he made it sound pretty good.

I had no issue with the tones at all. I just thought some of his criticism of the unit was misinformed, which unfortunately now goes out and gets repeated all over the net.

 

[mikah912]

Sorry, no idea.

Thanks! The manual was all Steve F, our illustrious technical writer—I just went in and wordsmithed a bit. Now that's it's web-based, it's much easier to go in and tweak stuff.

Kinda weird, but I'm jealous of Steve F.!

I do more marketing content and agency coordination than technical writing these days, but projects like these are soooooo fun for me.

 

[EOengineer]

Shipping notice received! Scheduled for Friday delivery.

 

[sashimi]

Thank you for joining the ranks of Line 6® Helix®Stadium users; it's an elite group of musicians from rock stars touring (ahem) stadiums to weekend warriors to a veritable army of armchair producers who debate online the merits and deficiencies of guitar gear more than they use it. (We're not one to judge.)

Hey @Digital Igloo we appreciate the shout out in the manual!

 

[Rock Chalk]

I had no issue with the tones at all. I just thought some of his criticism of the unit was misinformed, which unfortunately now goes out and gets repeated all over the net.

I think his main problem with it (gain staging) was actually found to be a bug, which was squashed.

 

[EOengineer]

So the tone and feel are there, the workflow couldn't be better, the connectivity is easy, everything is centered around you the player....what's left now? Practice and make music??

Whatever will we do?!

Wait nobody told me we were eventually going to have to make music with this stuff. I just like the pretty lights.

 

[GuitarGorilla]

I got a shipping notice from MF. After all the flip-flopping about whether they do or don't have stock and whether they're shipping today or not I'll believe it when it's on my doorstep. I paid for overnight because I'm impatient, so we'll know tomorrow.

Chuck Levin's is also confirmed as having stock for new orders and shipping today. I canceled my order with them to keep the 20% MF discount after I got the shipping notice. That being said, Chuck Levin's has been more straight with me than SW or MF during this process. If it wasn't for the discount I'd order with them.

 

[mikah912]

Thank you! I feel like I only scratched the surface. I'll definitely make more specialized videos soon!

Yeah, I thought you killed it just as I expected. I will say that everyone seems to be allergic to the Agoura Bogner Ecstasy for some reason, especially the Red channel. I wanna hear some Lukather/Cantrell/80s hard rock riffing, dagnabit.

Guess I'll have to do it myself next week.....