Line 6 Helix Stadium

[paisleywookiee]

Sound > GUI, both being equal enough that it’s splitting hairs, GUI wins in my opinion. Idk if the Fractal line GUI is so terrible other than the VP4 I have but if it isn’t then I don’t see why people hate it so much. VP4 took me like 15 minutes to figure out

It’s not great, but I don’t hate it.

 

[GTR37]

Eh, I’d also argue that there’s an enormous amount of needless overlap on the Fractal. Not Cliff’s fault, I’m sure it’s absolutely accurate. It’s just that the amps themselves aren’t so insanely different that you need so many permutations.

I could easily get things done on either the Helix or Fractal. And neither of them has a goddamn Badlander.

Maybe the Mesa Badlander is the amp Di said was coming in and early firmware that never been in any L6 product to date … if the other line6 guys hang out here enough I am sure they have seen the praise

 

[GTR37]

Fractal is ahead in effect quality and diversity from what I have seen

 

[Gary_W]

After this week’s YouTube showing how many fx can be used at once, DI gave the caveat that Agoura amps take quite a bit more DSP which is understandable. So whilst multiple amps is possible it will of course hit a wall at some point - I’m not clear what that point is yet so ‘is two Agoura at once possible?’. Not an issue for me really as I’m coming from Kemper’s ‘one at a time in series’ and haven’t felt like I’m missing out but I’m still interested in what’s possible.

I know I’m asking about a future here as the Clone software won’t arrive until 2026 so it may be too early to say….. I wonder how much DSP it takes to run a clone vs running an Agoura amp? Bigger or smaller? Does the Stadium have the ability to (for example) run a cloned dirt pedal into an Agoura amp? I am guessing ‘yes’ as otherwise there would be zero point in being able to clone pedals / amps / cabs separately which I think they’ve already said is possible.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I’m not clear what that point is yet so ‘is two Agoura at once possible?’

While I have zero insight into the CPU demands of the Agoura amps, I'd say it should be possible. Being able to run - at least - 2 amps at once, with the big Helixes it's even been 4, has always been one of the strong points of the HX series (and even the Stomp can run 2), so I couldn't imagine this to be any different. Well, maybe 4 at once wouldn't be possible. Or you might have to sacrifice FX amounts, whatever - but given that the new series should be more powerful, I'd assume that you'd possibly be able to load all existing Helix patches using 2 amps max. and replace the used amps with Agoura models.
Having to give that up would certainly make some existing users worry whether things are worth it. "I'm so used to my dual amp patches and now I need to give that up?"

 

[molul]

Having to give that up would certainly make some existing users worry whether things are worth it. "I'm so used to my dual amp patches and now I need to give that up?"

Correct. I hope I'm able to have a Brit 2203, Revv Gen Red and US Super Nrm in the same preset, with some effects.

 

[Orvillain]

I am totally a gearslut, so take this with a pinch of salt.

But there is a reason I have 3 reverbs and two additional delays on my board, even though I have the VP4.

Try making the Fractal reverbs sound as horrible and characterful as the Boss RV-5. You can get close. But you can't nail it. Fractal effects are quite often too polite.

 

[laxu]

I am totally a gearslut, so take this with a pinch of salt.

But there is a reason I have 3 reverbs and two additional delays on my board, even though I have the VP4.

Try making the Fractal reverbs sound as horrible and characterful as the Boss RV-5. You can get close. But you can't nail it. Fractal effects are quite often too polite.

For me the bigger issue is getting there. Fractal offers the tools, but replicating my Volante is not quite happening because to adjust e.g the volume of a playback head requires a lot of scrolling and turning a 0-100% knob compared to "hold one button for 1 sec" on the Volante.

It doesn't help that you have those delay and reverb times that go from 10ms to 10 seconds. I've suggested some scale limiter in the past but this is Fractal, they don't do usability improvements.

I do hope Line6 improves their delay/reverbs because those have never quite inspired me in the way Fractal does. Fractal's out of the box settings for many of their effects are really good.