Line 6 Helix Stadium Talk

[dean701]

Stadium builds its Cab IR database the first boot after loading new IRs. If you've added thousands, it'll take a while to build that database, but 10 minutes seems excessive.

Nested folders are definitely the main issue. multiple hangs and crashes with folders. With 2000 irs in a flat structure, no crashes

 

[Melodioso]

I know what you mean - I'm kind of in the same boat.

Lots of niggles with usability and the effects are quite a bit more limited compared to the AFX3 (and the routing is nowhere near as advanced, as you say). I would say that the 'feel' of the amps on the whole is better for me in Agoura vs. Fractal, but there's definitely something missing in the top end as I know you've mentioned before.

I really want to love it, as it would make gigs a lot easier to setup and pack down - will be interesting to see if Line 6 can fix the issues with darkness etc.

I once did a comparison of the pure DI tone between Helix, Fractal, RND Shelford Channel and a RME UFX III. Nothing else in the chain, just guitar (full volume) - cable - device - DAW.

All are supposed to have 1M Ohms impendence but there were clearly audible differences between all units (kind of a surprise as I was exiting them to behave/sound similarly tbh). The Helix was the darker sounding one of them all. Not sure if this is where this "veil/darkness" is coming from. It would be interesting if other people could perform the same test (just strumming the same chords at the same dynamic and tempo).

 

[EOengineer]

I once did a comparison of the pure DI tone between Helix, Fractal, RND Shelford Channel and a RME UFX III. Nothing else in the chain, just guitar (full volume) - cable - device - DAW.

All are supposed to have 1M Ohms impendence but there were clearly audible differences between all units (kind of a surprise as I was exiting them to behave/sound similarly tbh). The Helix was the darker sounding one of them all. Not sure if this is where this "veil/darkness" is coming from. It would be interesting if other people could perform the same test (just strumming the same chords at the same dynamic and tempo).

It would not surprise me to find that each platform has its own special sauce as far as how input signal is treated. Likely very minor differences.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

It would be interesting if other people could perform the same test (just strumming the same chords at the same dynamic and tempo).

I did this test too. I’d done it previously as well, but once I properly accounted for level differences, they sounded much more similar. Still some subtle differences for sure but most were quite close:

 

[Foxmeister]

just my 2 cent opinion. I think you should wait a few weeks for Proxy and then continue as needed. I think you will punch yourself for not waiting to try it if it turns out well.

I concur - Proxy should be out by the end of the month, and it may give you some additional data points to consider - given you're looking at selling rather than returning, unless you need the money it probably makes sense to wait a while longer.

 

[GTR37]

I wish I knew or had his IR. I'd like to dial this in on the Stadium.

I think you should be able to get pretty close as it’s an IR recording not an amp in a room , if you get the Marshall V30 , you should be able to get 90% there
Now I don’t know how much if any post production is in his recordings you would have to ask him

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I think you should be able to get pretty close as it’s an IR recording not an amp in a room , if you get the Marshall V30 , you should be able to get 90% there
Now I don’t know how much if any post production is in his recordings you would have to ask him

Blake sounds like Blake because he has excellent playing technique. There’s no magic in his IR or recording methods, unfortunately.

 

[Orvillain]

I thought there was acknowledgment here from DI that some tweaks were coming where they did find a very slight (1-2 db) attenuation in the top end that was being worked on, but honestly I forget if it was limited to the 5153 or more broad.

Given how much roadmap there is in front of this product I couldn’t imagine bailing on it this early, but I understand everyone’s risk tolerance varies.

I can always come back at a later date, if new features in the future just blow my socks off.

Part of me is thinking.... the £1600 I could sell it for.... and the £1600 I just got for a freelance job recently..... that's a fair chunk of change, and almost puts me in FM9+QC territory.... or Bogner Uber Uber territory.... or Badcat territory... or a swish custom guitar from Feline guitars or something like that.

 

[EOengineer]

I can always come back at a later date, if new features in the future just blow my socks off.

Part of me is thinking.... the £1600 I could sell it for.... and the £1600 I just got for a freelance job recently..... that's a fair chunk of change, and almost puts me in FM9+QC territory.... or Bogner Uber Uber territory.... or Badcat territory... or a swish custom guitar from Feline guitars or something like that.

FWIW I struggle with several thousand dollar digital gear too unless I’m using it for paid production work that it helps streamline.

In 20 years Stadium will be a paperweight but a 2203 or IIC+ will still kick a whole lot of ass. Totally get it.

 

[dean701]

I think you should be able to get pretty close as it’s an IR recording not an amp in a room , if you get the Marshall V30 , you should be able to get 90% there
Now I don’t know how much if any post production is in his recordings you would have to ask him

oh I can get things close. It would just be cool to start with the exact same IR so I could hear the amp differences. I am an Impulse Wh*re.

edit
I can't believe they sensor Wh*re (hore goddammit)

 

[SillyOctpuss]

a swish custom guitar from Feline guitars or something like that.

That's a bucket list item for me for sure. I've played loads of Jonathan's guitars when I've dropped stuff off to get work done and they're fantastic. A purple feline lion FTW.

 

[laxu]

I can always come back at a later date, if new features in the future just blow my socks off.

Part of me is thinking.... the £1600 I could sell it for.... and the £1600 I just got for a freelance job recently..... that's a fair chunk of change, and almost puts me in FM9+QC territory.... or Bogner Uber Uber territory.... or Badcat territory... or a swish custom guitar from Feline guitars or something like that.

What about sensible investments in index funds or ETFs?!

 

[EOengineer]

What about sensible investments in index funds or ETFs?!

At this point maybe just shove the cash in a mattress.

 

[aviraleada]

Thanks for that, I’m glad all those words actually helped someone. Did you happen to catch which firmware version that device was running? Knowing GC it’s probably still an older version but perhaps not if it had the IIC+ model.

I was actually hoping to sit down with the IIC+ model again today to see how I was feeling about the higher gain tones after being away from it for a bit.

Yeah that happens lol. When you come back to high gain after a few days it sounds like it's got a lot more snarl to it. Hope you enjoy it!


Not sure if it was updated but did have the iic+ I was able to play around with.

 

[Danelectro]

One thing though, I don't like the new tuner too much. The needle jumps way too nervous back and forth.

The tuner is somewhat jumpy, but it seems to work okay. What really annoys me the most are the flashing arrows. I don’t see where they aid in tuning at all. They’re just distracting flashing lights on a screen where all I want to see is a smooth acting tuner.

 

[Orvillain]

I think the tuner is really damn good to be honest. It is so much better than the OG Helix's.

 

[Foxmeister]

I don't have an issue with blind test videos, nor do I have an issue with the "reveal" coming in a separate video - you can always wait until the reveal video is posted before watching the blind test!

 

[Sascha Franck]

I don't have an issue with blind test videos, nor do I have an issue with the "reveal" coming in a separate video - you can always wait until the reveal video is posted before watching the blind test!

Wrong thread maybe?

 

[CrazyD]

I think the tuner is really damn good to be honest. It is so much better than the OG Helix's.

Interesting to see that the perception can be so different. The tunning itself is accurate, but on stage trying to quickly tune before the next song started drove me crazy. That needle jumped left to right, right to left, green to yellow and back... I never had this issue with the OG Helix Floor, ever. On OG Helix I always used the tuner type "fine"