There's no longer as big a "I use Fractal because it's simply better than the competition for amps and fx modeling" incentive. Cheap capture boxes are nipping at the heels for amps, cheap multifx are at "these fx are pretty solid!" level for effects now, and I expect Helix Stadium will raise its delay/reverb/pitch/mod effects quality to Fractal level. Amps will probably take a bit longer since Fractal has over 100 unique amps (if we consider all the channels and mode models as one amp).
Fractal's big issue for all its products to date has been usability, so that's the #1 issue they need to solve for a next gen. They need at minimum an onboard user interface as good as Axe-Edit.
While Line6 has gone above and beyond with their "virtual roadies" in the Showcase system etc, I still think Fractal needs to go back to the drawing board after this announcement.
Line6 have put a lot of work into reducing the barrier to entry to modelers:
- Sound clips for presets so you can understand what it is meant for. This has been a big issue with lots of user and factory presets, having a reference will help a lot. I can see people saying "Hey, I made this preset based on what you are looking for, check my clip and see what you think!" on forums and FB groups because it seems like it's just very easy to do.
- Ability to easily add a sound clip to help you dial in the sound. Looper blocks can do this now but it seems Line6 has made this really straightforward where it goes from "pull up the looper controls" to "just hit record".
- Fingerpaint quick tone adjustments, that can even be user defined no less! This is probably my favorite new feature.
- Integrated parameter manual on-unit.
- Hype knob to take you from "accurate" to "sounds nicer to my ear". This can be a quick route to "behaves how I think it should sound".
- Due to the increased number of footswitches even on the smaller non-XL model, access to all your favorite blocks is just a finger tap away.
Ok, so Fractal might focus their product for the professionals only. The only things they truly need from that list are quick access to blocks (hardware design), and the integrated manual, which has been requested at least for Axe-Edit years ago. But people will appreciate things that make it easier to play with sounds whether you are a seasoned pro or a newcomer.
I expect Fractal's wishlists for their next gen product will have a number of "hey Helix Stadium has this cool feature, can you do something like that?" requests.
I just have a hard time finding the unique selling point that would make me say "You know what, I'll go for the Axe-Fx IV instead of the Helix Stadium". I hope Fractal surprises us.
OK ... Im in a ranty mood
I have an almost limitless amount of time and respect for Fractal and Cliff - what they have done and do for modeling is hard to quantify.
And I love my FM3.
-But- I posted a few pages back that with this release, the biggest mistake Fractal could make - in my mind - is to keep relying on the whole "
our modeling is the best because [insert words of your choice] .... ie: we are Fractal ...... Cliff is doing it ......we expose 3,000 parameters .... we issue a new FW every 4 days .... we've had a breakthrough in how we think component X should respond to harmonic frequencies .... our forum members have eargasms when even the smallest thing is tweaked etc ...etc....
You can only rely on an objectively un-provable proposition for so long .... pre Helix / Kemper / QC it wasn't an issue .... but that's a long time ago now
In 2025, with these units, its like debating which shade of blue is
best or most accurately blue
Like it or not, you can get Pro level tones and feel out of a $400 Ampero ... like it or not, that matters to buyers - pro or not - and lets face it .. not even the "pros" are making serious coin these days
I.
m.h.o .... they need to keep doing everything they have been doing modeling wise,
but also for f*cks sake, hire or poach some Industrial or UI designers / experts and redesign the whole user interaction experience
from the ground up ...... this shit matters.
Look at the FM3 and FM9 - both
brilliant units ... period.
Now look at this new Stadium - I'll be surprised if its not equally brilliant sounding too - we'll find out.
Whereas the Stadium - and the Helix - look like a *lot* of time went into its overall design and look etc... ..... the "FM" series, by comparison, from Day 1, look like they were designed by the old Soviet Block Polit Bureau .... and again ... rightly or wrongly, this shit does matter.
But the Stadium is for another day for Fractal .... the finalization of the US/China I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread deal today has locked in the overall I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread at %55.
That's going to jack their prices across the whole line by major, major $$$. They are too small to absorb it. So they have to hope sales wont drop at the higher prices, otherwise they go backwards in terms of profitability relative to pre-I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread.s rates ... or even worse, they are in the invidious position of hoping to sell more units at higher prices !!!! - I'd suggest, not going to happen.
I have no answers - I'm a true "lapsed Economist" ..... so I'm not really sure what my point is, but given there isn't much more known about the Stadium as of yet, my old Economist mind started to focus on these issues.
B.t.w .... just check the
Fractal Thread about the Stadium - yes, I
know its a Fractal Forum
but even allowing for that - whislt there are some sensible, accurate, balanced and factual comments, there are many embarrassing, idiotic, reality-deprived and cringeworthy posts ..... f.f.s .... its like reading a Kemper Forum !!!!
