Line 6 Helix Stadium

[dk_ace]

Stadium just keeps sucking me back in. I may have to get one just to see what I think.

The clips sound great. I wasn’t unhappy with the amps in helix though. They weren’t all amazing, but there was plenty there for me to work with.

Sonically, I just prefer almost everything in FM9. It can do instant preset changes, has crazy horsepower, etc. It is so much fun to play once you’ve got all your toys set up and ready. But it isn’t fun to create stuff on unless it’s connected to a laptop. The Helix was always fun to just sit down and create new things with right on the hardware. That’s what sucks me in to the stadium idea.

They added a second level of switching and multiple parallel paths which would add a lot to what I could get out of it.

I just still prefer the FM9 sounds. Pulled out helix to see if the difference was really that big thinking they were pretty close sonically. They just aren’t. Even things I remember liking in Helix didn’t hold up as well as I thought they did. That’s not what I wanted to find…

I thought about adding external effects like one of my reverbs or the vp4, but I did that with helix and didn’t like the downsides of external units.

The big question is does the fun of using the unit make up for the sonics not quite holding up to what I’ve been using…

May just have to get one and decide with it in person.

D

 

[paisleywookiee]

Honestly, I can get a fucking fantastic sound out of the lowly POD Express I just got. I’ve got no concerns with Agoura. I just need flexibility. I think implementing a modeler with a VG-800 and GM-800 will be easier too.

 

[Mongillo19]

The big question is does the fun of using the unit make up for the sonics not quite holding up to what I’ve been using…

As you mentioned, I think you will need to try the new modeling methodology to determine this. However, I do agree. If it was simply traditional Helix amps with a revamped UI and the additional Stadium features, I wouldn't be as interested.

To me Tone >>>>>> Everything else

UI is a huge plus as the audio quality between units gets smaller but I agree with you that I much prefer fractal models (and QC models) over most of the current Helix lineup (not all). I do think the new modeling will make it very close where the Stadium is just the better total package.

But time will tell!

 

[dk_ace]

As you mentioned, I think you will need to try the new modeling methodology to determine this. However, I do agree. If it was simply traditional Helix amps with a revamped UI and the additional Stadium features, I wouldn't be as interested.

To me Tone >>>>>> Everything else

UI is a huge plus as the audio quality between units gets smaller but I agree with you that I much prefer fractal models (and QC models) over most of the current Helix lineup (not all). I do think the new modeling will make it very close where the Stadium is just the better total package.

But time will tell!

When I say I prefer the fractals sonics, I’m mostly thinking of the effects. I was happy enough with the helix amps and drives. I prefer the fractal amps but I could get where I wanted to go with enough helix models.

Reverbs, delays, and mods - that’s where I felt like the fractal really kicks the most.

D

 

[JiveTurkey]

When I say I prefer the fractals sonics, I’m mostly thinking of the effects. I was happy enough with the helix amps and drives. I prefer the fractal amps but I could get where I wanted to go with enough helix models.

Reverbs, delays, and mods - that’s where I felt like the fractal really kicks the most.

D

Helix equivalent of the Plex Delay would be quite nice.

 

[mikah912]

Helix equivalent of the Plex Delay would be quite nice.

Heliosphere delay/reverb combo. They added it in one of the more recent firmwares.

 

[timbuck3]

I use an older version of this stand for my Helix Floor.

Amazon.com: OnStage On-Stage MIX-400 V2 Mobile Mixer Stand: Rolling platform for mixers, laptops, controllers. Height adjustable (28"-38"), rackmount compatible, headphone hanger. Portable, black finish. : Musical Instruments

Buy OnStage On-Stage MIX-400 V2 Mobile Mixer Stand: Rolling platform for mixers, laptops, controllers. Height adjustable (28"-38"), rackmount compatible, headphone hanger. Portable, black finish.: Racks & Stands - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

View attachment 52754
View attachment 52755

Wow, that stand is heavy duty for sure

 

[mikah912]

I'm not going to sit here and say that Helix in its current form is a 1:1 to FM9 in either amps or effects.

It's not. Stadium won't be at launch either. Fractal has years and years of reverb/delay algorithms that they've developed to cover almost every conceivable usage. They have an amp library that is beyond compare. And even if you get past all of the variety, Cliff is laser-focused on the granular details of every component that goes into amps, and has the leeway to be able to develop firmware changes at will.

It makes for a great product, and the FM9 is that, full stop. I care about all of those things, but I also care about how enjoyable it is to use the product and how much it hinders or enables my creativity.

As much I crushed gigs and recordings with my FM9, it was often a hindrance to being spontaneous or creative in the room with the on-unit UX. So I sold mine without a single regret.

Stadium promises to me a lot of the sound quality of FM9, but sooooo much more creativity and fun. I think Proxy also promises to be a cool addition, and I expect it will go beyond just amp/cab/drive cloning. But any owner of a FM9 or Stadium is winning. It just depends on which aspects they value and how much.

 

[Chocol8]

But any owner of a FM9 or Stadium is winning.

 

[timbuck3]

I'm not going to sit here and say that Helix in its current form is a 1:1 to FM9 in either amps or effects.

It's not. Stadium won't be at launch either. Fractal has years and years of reverb/delay algorithms that they've developed to cover almost every conceivable usage. They have an amp library that is beyond compare. And even if you get past all of the variety, Cliff is laser-focused on the granular details of every component that goes into amps, and has the leeway to be able to develop firmware changes at will.

It makes for a great product, and the FM9 is that, full stop. I care about all of those things, but I also care about how enjoyable it is to use the product and how much it hinders or enables my creativity.

As much I crushed gigs and recordings with my FM9, it was often a hindrance to being spontaneous or creative in the room with the on-unit UX. So I sold mine without a single regret.

Stadium promises to me a lot of the sound quality of FM9, but sooooo much more creativity and fun. I think Proxy also promises to be a cool addition, and I expect it will go beyond just amp/cab/drive cloning. But any owner of a FM9 or Stadium is winning. It just depends on which aspects they value and how much.

I don’t think Cliff wants to adapt a slick interface like this helix is maybe because of the manpower involved or he has to hire some people to do it or the fractal system is just too complicated to actually involve a touchscreen maybe? But I know this if that helix interface was on a fractal FM nine or whatever There’s no way Cliff could keep up with all the orders so maybe that’s part of it. He doesn’t wanna create something that he knows he can’t produce fast enough.

 

[mikah912]

I don’t think Cliff wants to adapt a slick interface like this helix is maybe because of the manpower involved or he has to hire some people to do it or the fractal system is just too complicated to actually involve a touchscreen maybe? But I know this if that helix interface was on a fractal FM nine or whatever There’s no way Cliff could keep up with all the orders so maybe that’s part of it. He doesn’t wanna create something that he knows he can’t produce fast enough.

Fractal complexity doesn't fit within a Stadium-like UI, but it doesn't need to.

Cliff could just make an FM9 where the push encoders do what you expect them to, block libraries are live on the device and easily selectable and creating patches from scratch is much easier.

Just those simple things would move mountains for people who've used the platform and left.

 

[timbuck3]

Fractal complexity doesn't fit within a Stadium-like UI, but it doesn't need to.

Cliff could just make an FM9 where the push encoders do what you expect them to, block libraries are live on the device and easily selectable and creating patches from scratch is much easier.

Just those simple things would move mountains for people who've used the platform and left.

I think most of the hesitation on the helix stadium will be because they know something is coming from fractal to replace what’s already there probably next year so going along with the economy thing. People really don’t want to spend five grand or four grand on modelers most people that is they wanna just pick one brand and go with it so they can learn that one system so that’s probably where the hesitation will be with the stadium purchases a lot of people will just wait to see what fractal comes up with because really you don’t need both and from what I believe fractal is way ahead and affect an amp just your numbers and qualitywhereas the stadium will have its whole interface going for it which is pretty slick

 

[mikah912]

I think most of the hesitation on the helix stadium will be because they know something is coming from fractal to replace what’s already there probably next year so going along with the economy thing. People really don’t want to spend five grand or four grand on modelers most people that is they wanna just pick one brand and go with it so they can learn that one system so that’s probably where the hesitation will be with the stadium purchases a lot of people will just wait to see what fractal comes up with because really you don’t need both and from what I believe fractal is way ahead and affect an amp just your numbers and qualitywhereas the stadium will have its whole interface going for it which is pretty slick

I had the FM9 and greatly enjoyed, but again.....I didn't "hesitate" to go Stadium.

I not only really like where it is now, but I'm really excited to see where and how it grows in the next however many years. Just didn't have the same excitement for the future of Fractal.

 

[timbuck3]

I had the FM9 and greatly enjoyed, but again.....I didn't "hesitate" to go Stadium.

I not only really like where it is now, but I'm really excited to see where and how it grows in the next however many years. Just didn't have the same excitement for the future of Fractal.

I hear you…cliff seems stubborn to adopt an easier touch screen gui. I get it. He is more concerned with tones and effects

 

[ispunk]

Just that none of them will help at all with the impact of a thrown beer bottle. Or a falling mic stand (a lot more likely).

And this is why I like rack gear

 

[dws2384]

Fractal complexity doesn't fit within a Stadium-like UI, but it doesn't need to.

Cliff could just make an FM9 where the push encoders do what you expect them to, block libraries are live on the device and easily selectable and creating patches from scratch is much easier.

Just those simple things would move mountains for people who've used the platform and left.

VP4 is already way easier to use than any of their other products so I think they’re on the right track and realize they need to step up.

The next 10 years of these products will have less to do with accuracy and more to do with user experience as they are all good and getting better al the time. It matters to a lot of people. Everytime I pull out my pedalboard and it’s all just simple stuff it really is a breath of fresh air. Stadium seems to be closest to that experience from what I’ve seen and why I pre-ordered one. It has the simplicity of pedals without the downsides of having to cable and power them all. I love my FM9 but it’s pretty much only filled with ‘pre-built’ sounds and I only use it for that case. For me I’m hoping stadium can replace my traditional pedalboards and FM9. Prebuilt sounds for when I want them and quick workflow for when I want to just ‘twist knobs’ and get creative

 

[GTR37]

As you mentioned, I think you will need to try the new modeling methodology to determine this. However, I do agree. If it was simply traditional Helix amps with a revamped UI and the additional Stadium features, I wouldn't be as interested.

To me Tone >>>>>> Everything else

UI is a huge plus as the audio quality between units gets smaller but I agree with you that I much prefer fractal models (and QC models) over most of the current Helix lineup (not all). I do think the new modeling will make it very close where the Stadium is just the better total package.

But time will tell!

I am the same , I love the UI and Proxy captures will be cool but I am most interested in Agoura and the fact that they are adding 2 new amp in the next and DI says they are already working on amps for 1.3 have me optimistic that they have a decent number of Agoura amps by this time next year, of course if it turns out Agoura isn't quite as good as hoped that a moot point

I still love my Fractal but after being at recent sessions , recording and rehearsal its honestly just very time consuming to change things up on the fly at least for me , now the tones are stellar as are the effects so nothing to complain about there

 

[sashimi]

I don’t think Cliff wants to adapt a slick interface like this helix is maybe because of the manpower involved or he has to hire some people to do it or the fractal system is just too complicated to actually involve a touchscreen maybe? But I know this if that helix interface was on a fractal FM nine or whatever There’s no way Cliff could keep up with all the orders so maybe that’s part of it. He doesn’t wanna create something that he knows he can’t produce fast enough.

So you’re saying Cliff is intentionally gimping the GUI so he sells less Fractals

 

[timbuck3]

VP4 is already way easier to use than any of their other products so I think they’re on the right track and realize they need to step up.

The next 10 years of these products will have less to do with accuracy and more to do with user experience as they are all good and getting better al the time. It matters to a lot of people. Everytime I pull out my pedalboard and it’s all just simple stuff it really is a breath of fresh air. Stadium seems to be closest to that experience from what I’ve seen and why I pre-ordered one. It has the simplicity of pedals without the downsides of having to cable and power them all. I love my FM9 but it’s pretty much only filled with ‘pre-built’ sounds and I only use it for that case. For me I’m hoping stadium can replace my traditional pedalboards and FM9. Prebuilt sounds for when I want them and quick workflow for when I want to just ‘twist knobs’ and get creative

vp4 is only effects and far less complicated sub menu wise though

 

[Richard_G]

There’s no way Cliff could keep up with all the orders so maybe that’s part of it. He doesn’t wanna create something that he knows he can’t produce fast enough.

That is NOT it.