Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[Foxmeister]

Sadly, it seems UK retailers aren't receiving stock until next week at the earliest - Andertons originally had a date of the 20th Nov, but that has now slipped to the 25th. Guitarguitar were initially saying they expected stock yesterday, but now they just say "Stock coming soon".

It is particularly painful for me, as I'm going to Cape Town for work for a couple of weeks next week.

 

[BenIfin]

I really did not have "The Worship Tutorials guys putting out the best high-gain showcase at launch" on my bingo card, but here we are.

I mean, to be fair, they had a ringer helping them out, but still....

I'm just going to say and be damned with the shit-waterfall that will be unleashed upon me.

In these demo's what really strikes out at me is how much body and heft and depth there is to the tone whist remaining totally clear and articulate - this is not something i have herd demonstrated in any other *current* modeler ... and I do mean any other current modeler.

L6 have hit the Amp modeling out of the park with the new Agoura models .... and its only Day 1 of an 8-10 year lifecycle ! :)

Oh yeah ..... best demo so far of the new high gain Amps.

 

[PorcinePicker]

I'm just going to say and be damned with the shit-waterfall that will be unleashed upon me.

[…]

Oh yeah ..... best demo so far of the new high gain Amps.

I had a different reaction to that video. For my taste, those tones were just a little too naked. Reminded me of the one and only time I tried to play through a VHT amp (miserable experience). There’s potential for sure, but I’d have to play the thing myself before making any grand pronouncements.

 

[Orvillain]

I’d have to play the thing myself before making any grand pronouncements.

Qouted for truth.

 

[timeblock]

Meanwhile in Europe...

I have just received an email from my reseller in Italy; shipping in 5-7 working days… i have enough time to watch videos and reading the manual!

 

[laxu]

In case you missed it, here's the thread for discussing the functionality etc of the HX Stadium: https://thegearforum.com/threads/line6-hx-stadium-talk.10275/

This can be left for...nonsense I guess. Maybe could be renamed to "HX Stadium Pre-release thread" or something.

 

[StarF666]

In case you missed it, here's the thread for discussing the functionality etc of the HX Stadium: https://thegearforum.com/threads/line6-hx-stadium-talk.10275/

This can be left for...nonsense I guess. Maybe could be renamed to "HX Stadium Pre-release thread" or something.

Well let's do another 137 replies and call it a day...

 

[Orvillain]

In case you missed it, here's the thread for discussing the functionality etc of the HX Stadium: https://thegearforum.com/threads/line6-hx-stadium-talk.10275/

This can be left for...nonsense I guess. Maybe could be renamed to "HX Stadium Pre-release thread" or something.

Hey! This is a high class bureau de change!!

 

[Mooselake]

Everyone will be happy to know there will be no more hand wringing from me in this thread. Things updated for me overnight and my GC preorder is now reflecting UPS status with an estimated delivery date tomorrow. Guess I better make sure I export my setlists.

I didn't watch the entire glut of vids that dropped yesterday, but I did watch a few. Nothing struck me as a negative about the unit. I guess I'll know more tomorrow.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Checked a few video demos last night (purely focussing on tones rather than features/useability). Thought I’d check again on studio monitors and headphones again today on fresh ears just to really give things a fair shot.

I really had high hopes, and full expectation that the high gain guys tones would sell me on it. And complete faith that Line 6’s modelling would be the new benchmark for others to catch.

So far I don’t think I’ve heard a single tone that I even partially like and I’m feeling kind of gutted now. There’s a character in the distortion that reminds me of Line 6, and it’s in every gainy clip I’ve heard. It’s there regardless of using onboard IR’s or 3rd party ones. I’m not getting the dynamic heft/bloom, or fuzzy snarl I was hoping for - too often it’s bloated/fuzzy/stuffy/papery. The one caveat is Agoura amps don’t feature any of my favourite amp models yet (Uberschall, Peavey 5150, Recto, Mark, Friedman).

It’s really odd for me to have this view because I’m pretty platform agnostic and have enjoyed modelling from basically all companies. Been a Helix user for years and while I think it had a bit of a “Helix sound”, I didn’t expect to be hearing it still here.

I’m still going to try and give the benefit of doubt that when more users spend time with their units and get to grips with new parameters and getting things dialled in, the tones will get better. Likewise when more amps get added (although I’d have still thought I’d have heard tones I liked from the amps that are there).

One other issue I have, is that it still seems far too easy to get bad tones. Initial settings and cab pairings just sound wonky, so you’re almost fixing tones from the get go. The showcase stuff just looks like it’s dragging tones in 5 different directions all at once without a clear direction (I can see the use for this if you choose the settings and behaviours yourself though).

No slight intended to anyone involved, just kind of bummed that it’s so far from what I was expecting. Hoping some demos will come along that have me eating my words, and at the very least, I’m sure Proxy will scratch the itch if the modelling doesn’t.

FWIW heard several Plexi tones that sounded great, and all the lower gain stuff doesn’t bother me. It’s when the gain gets higher, or stacks up that is where I’m having issues.

 

[ccc118]

Everyone will be happy to know there will be no more hand wringing from me in this thread. Things updated for me overnight and my GC preorder is now reflecting UPS status with an estimated delivery date tomorrow. Guess I better make sure I export my setlists.

I didn't watch the entire glut of vids that dropped yesterday, but I did watch a few. Nothing struck me as a negative about the unit. I guess I'll know more tomorrow.

Same here. My tracking finally updated. Mine's supposed to come Saturday.

 

[MIJLOVER]

Hoping some demos will come along that have me eating my words

I think if you have the opportunity, you should order one and test yourself. You can always return it, if it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

I haven’t heard a demo with sounds that are exactly like what I’ll want to use, but I’m positive there in there, and what I’ve heard so far, doesn’t make me worried about the quality being there or not. Glass half full from my perspective

 

[EOengineer]

I’m surprised Leon hasn’t put anything out. Is he too closely affiliated with the Fractal camp to get a test unit?

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I think if you have the opportunity, you should order one and test yourself. You can always return it, if it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

The plugin (and maybe Stomp) would be the products for me, I'm not gigging and a floorboard is not really what I'm after.

I think Stadium absolutely has TONS of merit based on features and workflow and I don't think me being unimpressed with high gain tones so far would have any negative bearing on someone else's uses for it. Helix modelling constantly evolved and improved, hopefully by the time my favourite amps get added they'll benefit from the same kinds of evolutionary improvements.

 

[GLiDE-BPM]

I just sent an email to American Musical for an ETA on my Stadium XL order. Hoping for good news soon!

 

[GLiDE-BPM]

I’m surprised Leon hasn’t put anything out. Is he too closely affiliated with the Fractal camp to get a test unit?

I would be shocked if he didn't at least get his hands on one to at a minimum do a review!

 

[EOengineer]

I would be shocked if he didn't at least get his hands on one to at a minimum do a review!

Yeah I’m just surprised to not see anything from him. He’s one of those guys that I think creates genuinely useful content and dials in great tones. I sort of expected him to be amongst the others who shipped release day content yesterday.

 

[Stone]

By now i think everyone thats ordered one and has been looking at all the demos and pretty much know what it's capable of, as for tones you will be the judge once it's in your environment with your guitar, your playback system/monitor, your hands and how "you" like to dial in your tones

 

[DanRad]

I was really excited to get my tracking info from Musicians Friend. It will arrive Thursday afternoon! Then I started thinking about my weekend schedule, and my enthusiasm dimmed:

I have a work event about an hour away Thursday night, followed by dinner with my son in his first semester away at college.

Work all day Friday. Saturday, I'm helping my wife with a community meal she helps organize every year before I leave early to get ready for a Saturday night gig.

That leaves me very little time before Sunday to try things out, and nowhere near enough time to think about transferring the set list over and actually using the Stadium for the Saturday gig. Which I'd love to do — but would feel nervous about without having even ever used it at a rehearsal.

Oh, well. It will be waiting for me Sunday!

 

[banned]

So far I don’t think I’ve heard a single tone that I even partially like and I’m feeling kind of gutted now. There’s a character in the distortion that reminds me of Line 6, and it’s in every gainy clip I’ve heard. It’s there regardless of using onboard IR’s or 3rd party ones. I’m not getting the dynamic heft/bloom, or fuzzy snarl I was hoping for - too often it’s bloated/fuzzy/stuffy/papery. The one caveat is Agoura amps don’t feature any of my favourite amp models yet (Uberschall, Peavey 5150, Recto, Mark, Friedman).


FWIW heard several Plexi tones that sounded great, and all the lower gain stuff doesn’t bother me. Ir’s when the gain gets higher, or stacks up that is where I’m having issues.

I'm not a high gain metal guy but I had the same observation and I hear almost exactly what you described. No issues up until Plexi (which sounds great...albeit slightly papery) but past that...it does have a bloated, fuzzy, dry quality.

In fact, on the high gain metal amps, I think Helix may sound better. But it's very, very early - I'm sure the models will continue to be refined. Plus, worse comes to worst, all they need to do is use this base tone as input into an AI model and bam, you're there.