Line 6 Helix Stadium

[ChordInversion]

It's not unfortunate, it's just better (that a company focuses on more than one thing or else you'd only have the amps on a Helix One).
In the same way they are also hopefully focussing on other features such as bettering their reverbs etc.
100% of dev time needs to go to where it is needed, not just 'this component in this amp is right, and is easily controllable'.

People wanting modelling of other kinds, like black box modelling, also deserve the very best.
People will enjoy it, just like they enjoy using IRs.

I find it unfortunate, because I prefer modeling. I'll get over it. But I don't care to use captures for a lot of reasons all down to usability.

 

[Tito83]

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

They never said that they really done absolutely ground breaking as far as modeling goes. In reality both Fractal and Line6 describe their products using hyperboles... And actually everyone else. It's just how it goes. Nobody will ever be excited to buy a product the company calls "it's sort of ok sounding" or "it's not exactly like a real amp, but it does ok in the mix".



About the new product, I was anticipating that. Now for the first time since January of 2016 I don't have a Helix product, I just sold my Stomp last week. Feature wise seems impressive. I'm still disappointed about quite a few things with Helix, yet it still is IMO the best all in one solution for the gigging musician. Full featured, easy to use, workable tones. If the tones get close to the UA stuff, I may be set for life. If I end up getting the Stadium soon, after ten years I may be just too old to give a damn about learning anything new as far as gear goes

 

[paisleywookiee]

Guys, DI said "Morph"! Gee, I hope it's as ground-breaking as it is on Kemper!

 

[Orvillain]

Doug C's dreams tonight.

 

[molul]

Is there a list of the first 16 new engine amps?

 

[banned]

I don’t know straight up tone wise fractal is pretty strong
I would have to hear Agoura XTC. Plexi etc
But I think FAS will hold their own

Helix as is is fantastic on amp and drive tones (try playing into a guitar cab and comparing to a physical amp). I think Agora can maybe be a 5% improvement. The real battle is in speaker modeling for those that wish to do the "FRFR" thing.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

The competition isn’t just competing against 2 new products either - it’s going to be 10+ years of different products (and peripherals/accessories/software) built off this tech and concept. Catching up with these first two gets you to the starting line. And that’s a tall order in itself.

Seriously, does anyone see another company announcing a product that will make this one seem dated? Kemper didn’t exactly bring anything groundbreaking or interesting to the table. I can’t even imagine what it would take to do something more advanced and impressive that overtakes this.

 

[eggpl@nt]

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

I had some of these same thoughts listening to the keynote. And there were a couple points where I was like “Fractal gets shit for this exact thing,” specifically the new marketecture and the whole “our golden ears couldn’t tell the difference before but now they really can’t tell!”

 

[banned]

Cliff notes? (can't watch vid rn )

Cliff's notes - 'not enough charts.'

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

I find it unfortunate, because I prefer modeling. I'll get over it. But I don't care to use captures for a lot of reasons all down to usability.

Do you also complain like this when people recommend a restaurant they like?

"it's unfortunate that there are multiple choices of main dishes"
"why don't they put all of their resources in to only making the main I want?"

 

[Mongillo19]

Seriously, does anyone see another company announcing a product that will make this one seem dated?

I can't fathom what that would look like

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

Just placed my preorder at SW

DONT LAUGH AT ME DOLORES

@mbenigni

I was laughing at myself. I immediately opened a tab and did a search at Sweetwater.

Laugh it up, folks. I actually DID place my pre-order at Sweetwater within minutes of the reveal.

 

[Funk Soul Brother]

Oh shit. I just realised I won't be able to go anywhere near youtube for days now. Way too many geartubers who are going to need to talk.

 

[DrewJD82]

Was just chatting to @MirrorProfiles on Facebook and we both idly pondered whether this would have us selling our Axe3's !

Yeah, but you've sold yours like 3x now, that's not too surprising.

 

[Mongillo19]

Laugh it up, folks. I actually DID place my pre-order at Sweetwater within minutes of the reveal.

Same that's what they get for laughing at us

 

[Whizzinby]

Doug C's dreams tonight.

 

[DLC86]

They never said that they really done absolutely ground breaking as far as modeling goes. In reality both Fractal and Line6 describe their products using hyperboles... And actually everyone else. It's just how it goes. Nobody will ever be excited to buy a product the company calls "it's sort of ok sounding" or "it's not exactly like a real amp, but it does ok in the mix".

Yeah I get that. I just find that kind of hyperboles "meh" (regardless of the company) and out of place in relation to the otherwise excellent and informal presentation. Just that.

Surely he couldn't say "we finally catched up with Fractal on these things"

 

[ChordInversion]

Do you also complain like this when people recommend a restaurant they like?

When they enter every discussion about restaurants and say that every restaurant should have BBQ, and every restaurant would be dumb not to serve BBQ, then yes, I would.

"it's unfortunate that there are multiple choices of main dishes"
"why don't they put all of their resources in to only making the main I want?"

"Every restaurant should do ribs and brisket and pulled pork. There's no reason not to serve them if you already have a grill, and already have deliveries coming from the butcher."
"People who want Italian should stop complaining about my advocacy that every restaurant serve BBQ."
"Every restaurant serving BBQ is inevitable, and they will differentiate on ambiance, table setting, and service."

Over and over again in threads about Line6 and Fender and every other modeling device. Err, I mean threads about Italian restaurants and Thai restaurants and Greek restaurants. Until the heat death of the universe. Yes, that would make me complain.

 

[Orvillain]

Yeah, but you've sold yours like 3x now, that's not too surprising.

I've sold 6 Kempers!!

 

[DLC86]

I had some of these same thoughts listening to the keynote. And there were a couple points where I was like “Fractal gets shit for this exact thing,” specifically the new marketecture and the whole “our golden ears couldn’t tell the difference before but now they really can’t tell!”

Yeah, Line 6 amps got "realer" too now!