Line 6 Helix Stadium Talk

- Setting up snapshots can be annoying. Possibly user error, but if you have snapshots set up then add a new effect, why does it enable that effect on every snapshot? Really annoying. Is there a workaround? I seem to remember this was OG Helix behaviour too.
I always bypass the effect and then turn the snapshot-control off and on. After doing that it's bypassed in every snapshot.
 
This is probably as much a reflection of my lack of skill as anything to do with Stadium, but I've noticed I've started paying a lot of attention to my picking dynamics as I've explored Stadium. Last night I totally zoned out at one point and before I knew it 45 minutes had gone by with nothing but noodling around with short phrases picking them with as much dynamic variety as I could manage. I don't know that how Stadium responds is just like the wide world of real amps, but there's a sensitivity in how the Agoura models process attack that's different than what I remember in OG. The caveat is that I haven't swapped my OG LT back in to verify that it's not just some confirmation bias happening. Later I'll try switching to one of the OG amp models in Stadium and see how it behaves during pick navel gazing, but what I remember is the OG models being somewhat stiffer, for lack of a better word, when it comes to how meaningfully I can vary pick attack to add musical character. Maybe I'm hearing things? Dunno.

The good thing is that even if I am just tricking myself, the result is I'm motivated to spend extra time just exploring different and better ways to pull sound out of the instrument while in a very mindful state, which is an aspect of technique I should spend a lot more time on. It's getting that sort of inspiration from a device that will tend to lead me to conclude in the long run that a given device was worth the money I spent on it.
 
To me, the real amp and FAS models have a certain weight and bite to them. Slap on an 808 and you are in metalcore heaven. The Stadium model just feels a little congested in the low end but scratchy in the highs. However, perhaps they modeled the 100w EVH (I just thought of that). I dont like those on the FAS either so maybe I'll see how those compare. I go to the 50w blue, 5150 block, 6505+, or 5153 stealth in FAS land .
Glad you brought this up.

The Agora models do seem to match my EVH 100 watt non Stealth.

And since I know the amp well (my Tonex pack of it is stellar) I loaded the Blue channel, maxed the gain and dropped a Teemah! in front with some pretty high settings and it screams. Of course I used an IR. I keep the linked cab loaded but bypassed.
 
This is probably as much a reflection of my lack of skill as anything to do with Stadium, but I've noticed I've started paying a lot of attention to my picking dynamics as I've explored Stadium. Last night I totally zoned out at one point and before I knew it 45 minutes had gone by with nothing but noodling around with short phrases picking them with as much dynamic variety as I could manage. I don't know that how Stadium responds is just like the wide world of real amps, but there's a sensitivity in how the Agoura models process attack that's different than what I remember in OG. The caveat is that I haven't swapped my OG LT back in to verify that it's not just some confirmation bias happening. Later I'll try switching to one of the OG amp models in Stadium and see how it behaves during pick navel gazing, but what I remember is the OG models being somewhat stiffer, for lack of a better word, when it comes to how meaningfully I can vary pick attack to add musical character. Maybe I'm hearing things? Dunno.

The good thing is that even if I am just tricking myself, the result is I'm motivated to spend extra time just exploring different and better ways to pull sound out of the instrument while in a very mindful state, which is an aspect of technique I should spend a lot more time on. It's getting that sort of inspiration from a device that will tend to lead me to conclude in the long run that a given device was worth the money I spent on it.
There are definitely noticeable differences in dynamics with Agoura. I notice more available range from low to high strength picking, but is also seems like there are more granular stages within that range. My bad analogy is comparing it to standard definition to high definition for feel.
 
Been doing a few gigs, both direct and using it in 4cm and have a few thoughts on it, pretty similar to @Orvillain.

- It sounds great. I’ve been using the 800, Bogner Blue and Vox AC30 models. All sound absolutely stellar. I’ve always liked the effects and still think everything just sounds a bit better on the Stadium.

- 4cm is great, I’d go as far as to say it’s the best unit available for this use case now. Absolutely love it.

- There’s lots of bugs. Nothing that’s caused me any major issues, and it’s mainly been when editing, but it definitely has way more than I was expecting. The biggest issue for me has been the Setlists. Sometimes I’ll make a minor tweak, save it and then move preset only to find myself on a random preset elsewhere. I think I remember that’s being fixed soon?

- Editor is great, but it needs an option to wire it as well.

- IR’s are difficult to use, seems you can only select them from the whole library each time you want to change it? Also can’t see the full name on the editor. Could be dependant to my system though.

- Setting up snapshots can be annoying. Possibly user error, but if you have snapshots set up then add a new effect, why does it enable that effect on every snapshot? Really annoying. Is there a workaround? I seem to remember this was OG Helix behaviour too.

- I get a weird hum in 4cm when the tuner is enabled. Gets louder when the screen gets brighter and I’m tuning. Also remember that from OG Helix.

- Coming from QC, I’d really like to see some sort of selectable gig view or other information that you can choose for the screen. Maybe even a full set list or something? There’s a great screen on it, seems a waste to have the signal chain showing during a gig when you’re hardly ever going to need it.

- It survived some drunken twat falling and basically putting their full weight of their arse on it. Absolutely no damage whatsoever. Impressive.
Do you think that ass would have taken out the QC?
 
There are definitely noticeable differences in dynamics with Agoura. I notice more available range from low to high strength picking, but is also seems like there are more granular stages within that range. My bad analogy is comparing it to standard definition to high definition for feel.
That's a fair way of describing what I've convinced myself I'm sensing, something akin to more dynamic range and resolution, meaning there's more payoff in experimenting with attack.
 
Compare to your LT if you still be have it. Even the HX models sound better on the new hardware.
I still have it. Despite thinking about it a few times I've been too lazy to bring it back out and hook it up, but I'm sure I'll try that eventually. Hopefully on the stadium I can glean how much might be due to Agoura modeling versus the more generic additional performance margin from the architecture.
 
Do you think that ass would have taken out the QC?
The Office Thats GIF
 
In a bit of a slump this AM.

Have a snapshot bug with the roturdry replacement chorus block. Will not work with snapshots, no matter what I do.

Trying to see if I can import a clip to work with a preset I just created to tweak on device using the Clips feature. No way to do that that I can see currently probably because it isn't yet supported?

Trying to set up re-amping in the DAW to work on some preset sounds with a good DI I have and of course; new computer with no DAW initially installed and I am in Recording Hellscape 101. Have I mentioned I FUCKING LOATHE Reapturd? JFC talk about supreme boner killer fodder.

None of this is the Stadium's fault yet I feel like it's currently impacting today's experience. Probably should drink another cup of anger juice I mean coffee and see how much more annoyed I can get without accomplishing absolutely anything.
 
I encountered an issue today I was changing presets and everything changed, the layout, the preset loaded, switches changed status, etc but the sound remained stuck on the preset I left the unit on last night. Everything else seemed to be working though - changing the input impedance was working but changing the input trim was not.

I had Stadium running for two days straight ( :clint ), and yesterday night I left it on the clip screen of the I the oldano factory preset I think.
I also just remembered, in this state, when I went to the tuner, the tuner was not getting any input at all, needle didn't move at all.
 
In a bit of a slump this AM.

Have a snapshot bug with the roturdry replacement chorus block. Will not work with snapshots, no matter what I do.
Haven't encountered this - but Cordy seems to do a copy block and paste over to work around some snapshot thing? I forget.

Trying to see if I can import a clip to work with a preset I just created to tweak on device using the Clips feature. No way to do that that I can see currently probably because it isn't yet supported?
Yeah not supported yet.

Trying to set up re-amping in the DAW to work on some preset sounds with a good DI I have and of course; new computer with no DAW initially installed and I am in Recording Hellscape 101. Have I mentioned I FUCKING LOATHE Reapturd? JFC talk about supreme boner killer fodder.
What's the issue? <I've never had issues with Reaper so what do I know>
I use project templates to get straight to recording easily.

None of this is the Stadium's fault yet I feel like it's currently impacting today's experience. Probably should drink another cup of anger juice I mean coffee and see how much more annoyed I can get without accomplishing absolutely anything.

1 hour later


Angry Work GIF by ClickUp
 
Haven't encountered this - but Cordy seems to do a copy block and paste over to work around some snapshot thing? I forget.


Yeah not supported yet.


What's the issue? <I've never had issues with Reaper so what do I know>
I use project templates to get straight to recording easily.



1 hour later


Angry Work GIF by ClickUp
The issue is I FUCKKKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG LOATHE having to set up a DAW to do any goddamn thing I am trying to do with outboard gear. Its fucking hell on earth combined with the 49 feet of fucking snow outside I should be shoveling instead of driving myself insane trying to do this menial gear task.

My patience level for this particular subset of the gear world is MICROSCOPICALLY small.
 
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