Line 6 Helix Stadium

[DLC86]

Just to put a bit of obligatory negativity in this thread:

In the video they present some features of the new modeling engine like "measuring voltages, capacitance, currents", "modeling the interaction between power supply and power amp" or "make the amp and cab blocks communicate for the impedance curve matching" as if they were major breakthroughs or inventions and "these were not possible before"... when Fractal has been doing that stuff for years (and people on TOP were claiming years ago that helix modeling was as complex as fractal under the hood, just with "more optimized" algorithms to run on slower DSPs).

I get that it's a promotional video but... meh

 

[timbuck3]

Couldn’t sprint here fast enough seeing the reveal.

Eric gets its. The touchscreen with the dedicated encoders directly underneath it is the perfected design. The QC approach with rotary FS encoders was cool, but since the encoders didn’t match to the onscreen elements you’d get erroneous parameter tweaks. Dedicated encoders underneath eliminates this, so you can use the touchscreen for what it’s get at, block placement, block movement, file scrolling, but gives you a fast and accurate, tactile tweaking experience.

Dudes nailed it. WOW.

Wow with stereo effects loop as well

 

[ChordInversion]

Looks like it does in versatility, user experience and efficiency. The 16 guitar amps thing is super temporary.

I'll be watching with great interest the pace at which they roll out new amps.

What? No, no reason in particular.

 

[Mikael Dez]

View attachment 46369

When was the Stadium release date again?

I just called Sweetwater and "my guy" was out. I was just starting to leave a voice mail about ordering a product that doesn't exist yet, and realized I felt kind of stupid.

Nah I’m sitting on the thought before I actually list it - I don’t want to make a totally rash decision here. But 98% I’m listing this shit as soon as they drop a QC update and the hype is real on that platform lmao

 

[mbenigni]

We've been there for a couple of years now. It's just been a waiting game to see who finally understands this. It was never going to be Fractal. Kudos to Line6 for realizing where the market is in 2025.

Um. NDSP 4 years ago?

 

[timbuck3]

I thought the next thing was not gonna be called helix? Hmmmm is this an intern product before the next drop?

 

[Lysander]

In the video they present some features of the new modeling engine like "measuring voltages, capacitance, currents", "modeling the interaction between power supply and power amp" or "make the amp and cab blocks communicate for the impedance curve matching" as if they were major breakthroughs or inventions and "these were not possible before"... when Fractal has been doing that stuff for years (and people on TOP were claiming years ago that helix modeling was as complex as fractal under the hood, but with "more optimized" algorithms to run on slower DSPs)

I mean, it's true? From how it was described, Agoura is component-based modeling a-la-Fractal instead of the bulding blocks approach of the original Helix. Like everything else in life, it's a matter of compromises: sure, Fractal models are waaaaaay more complex, but they also require a dedicated DSP core to work.

I don't think anyone ever claimed anything about "complexity", but i do have a Fractal product, and they are comparable. I can tell you both platforms have models which sound/feel better than the other, albeit marginally so. Fractal does trounce the competition on sheer number of amps and original FXs, which are stellar.

 

[James Freeman]

I hope Line 6 change their approach about fixing/tweaking released models in this gen if Agoura allows it.
Oh and I REALLY hope all the reference Marshalls are reverted to stock specs.

 

[dws2384]

Wow with stereo effects loop as well

Doesn’t pretty much every flagship have that including the original helix?

 

[Jarick]

I think it’s really interesting that Line 6 didn’t just exclusively focus on the amp and effect modeling. They spent a lot of time thinking about how you could interact with the modeler and in some cases how to automate so you don’t have to directly interact. They’re playing chess while everyone plays checkers.

 

[dws2384]

I thought the next thing was not gonna be called helix? Hmmmm is this an intern product before the next drop?

Are you serious lol? Ya, they’ll probably drop a new one next year and bin this one.

 

[timbuck3]

I mean this is all fantastic and id love to nerd out with you all even though im never touching a modeler of this kind again…

But…

The most important and biggest question of all is:

Will @timbuck3 buy one?

And… I know we can have fun and all… but I’m fucking going to make popcorn and go to TOP because that place will be on fire and it’s going to be wicked

Maybe….. looks very cool

 

[mbenigni]

The last 16 pages remind me of the launch of the QC.

I feel like it's 10 years ago and I'm on TOP obsessing over the Helix announcement!

 

[Jarick]

Looks like QC will remain my desktop unit of choice, but Stadium will replace my "mobile" QC. When I tried going QC + FM3 it was just so much "serving 2 masters", but QC and Stadium should both be intuitive enough to coexist peacefully.

If there’s a Wireless editor where an iPad can basically duplicate functionality with no latency the Stadium could be both…

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

Anyway, my bias is that I want 100% of the dev resources from the manufacturer going into maximizing the modeling and associated functionality. I prefer they not establish a split mission and split interface. I admit to my bias there.

Well, they already are supporting capturing anyway.. so 100% of their development resources being used for just the component circuit modelling isn't possible.

 

[dws2384]

I think it’s really interesting that Line 6 didn’t just exclusively focus on the amp and effect modeling. They spent a lot of time thinking about how you could interact with the modeler and in some cases how to automate so you don’t have to directly interact. They’re playing chess while everyone plays checkers.

They realize that probably within another few years a lot of companies will be on par sound wise. There will be 100 dollar pedals running NAM profiles at full resolution within a year and that will sound as good as anything else at any price. You can’t get more accurate than the amp you’re modelling or profiling and we’re pretty much there. Fractal is, NAM/Tonex are, sounds like this will be too. The differentiating factor will be the entire product and other features. This is where Kemper dropped the ball. No matter how good their next gen modelling is it’s likely not going to be better than NAM and they failed to update the rest of the product.

 

[mbenigni]

Nah I’m sitting on the thought before I actually list it - I don’t want to make a totally rash decision here. But 98% I’m listing this shit as soon as they drop a QC update and the hype is real on that platform lmao

Meh. IMO QC is not likely to change substantially in the product's life cycle. The real variable here is: whether and when and how quickly used prices will fall once the Stadium (and whatever other competition might arise) hit the market? Sometimes selling gear is like buying plane tickets: you don't want to wait too long. That said, I wouldn't want to go months without my QC(s) unless I already had something wonderful to replace them.

So, seriously, when's the ETA again?

 

[ChordInversion]

I reckon another way of looking at it is the quality of modelling or capturing will soon be a given/moot, and all of the other features and usability will have more importance. I think we’re on the cusp of modelling quality not being the criteria that we seperate modellers with.

There’s already very little difference between standard NAM, Tonocracy, STL tracer, and ToneX is only marginally worse. It’s all much of a muchness, but if you bring a better experience then you’ll capture the market. If you have good I/O and automatic processes for making the models and training, you’re already ahead of most.

All if you like captures. I prefer modeling for the way the controls work when modeled correctly.

I think we're going to keep having both. NAM will find its way to devices where the manufacturers think it may provide an advantage. But manufacturers are not going to stop competing on sounds.

 

[Cactusprick]

Wow with stereo effects loop as well

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

 

[ChordInversion]

Well, they already are supporting capturing anyway.. so 100% of their development resources being used for just the component circuit modelling isn't possible.

In this case, unfortunately true, I agree. I'm hoping they keep it to a minimum.