Line 6 Helix Stadium

[JiveTurkey]

Here's the best way to think about it:

We have been making a bunch of new effects while developing Stadium. Except they also happen to work in Helix/HX boxes (and most in POD Go), so we already gave them to everyone, without having to make everyone wait until this fall.

Not sure where this started, but we've never said anything but "FALL" for XL and "WINTER" for Stadium. Even I don't have a date for when they'll finally ship.

I thought I heard someone say it during the presentation or in an interview(?). It's also on the Stadium website

 

[JiveTurkey]

Are these dimensions/specs correct?
"The Helix Stadium has specific dimensions that were mentioned in a Reddit discussion. The Helix Stadium XL measures 19.4" x 10.1" and weighs 11.5 lbs, while the smaller Helix Stadium model measures 16" x 9.5" and weighs 7.5 lbs."

 

[laxu]

I’ll admit that Proxy is one of the features I’m most excited for. If the captures are done through the Helix hardware, it solves a big translation problem for basically anyone using the L6 hardware. It will help with consistency.

I like to capture my amps. I have some great ones. I’ll be excited to share them with you dumbasses.

My understanding of it based on what @Digital Igloo said is that it could work something like this:

1. You use Helix to send the test signals to your amp.
2. You use the Helix mic and/or line inputs to capture the signal back from your amp.
3. You then send the recorded audio to the cloud.
4. The cloud services process the signal and generate a capture out of it.
5. The cloud service informs your Helix that the capture has been created.
6. Helix downloads the capture.
7. Helix informs you that the capture is ready to play.

How it works on a technical level could be something like this:

1. You send the file to be stored in e.g Amazon S3 file storage. Your user storage area is just some AWS object ID for anonymity, might even be a one-time use thing.
2. A pipeline detects that a new file has been added.
3. The pipeline takes the file, and feeds it to e.g Amazon SageMaker AI for use with e.g Pytorch or Tensorflow frameworks. This is where the machine learning takes place.
4. The machine learning system is already aware of the input signal data, so all it needs is the output data to start creating a capture.
5. The machine learning creates the capture, and outputs the file back to S3.
6. Another pipeline detects a new capture, and sends your Helix the download URL for it.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Here's the best way to think about it:

We have been making a bunch of new effects while developing Stadium. Except they also happen to work in Helix/HX boxes (and most in POD Go), so we already gave them to everyone, without having to make everyone wait until this fall.

Not sure where this started, but we've never said anything but "FALL" for XL and "WINTER" for Stadium. Even I don't have a date for when they'll finally ship.

Idk where I got it from, there’s been a lot of info out there. I didn’t make it up haha! I retract my statement.

 

[EOengineer]

My understanding of it based on what @Digital Igloo said is that it could work something like this:

1. You use Helix to send the test signals to your amp.
2. You use the Helix mic and/or line inputs to capture the signal back from your amp.
3. You then send the recorded audio to the cloud.
4. The cloud services process the signal and generate a capture out of it.
5. The cloud service informs your Helix that the capture has been created.
6. Helix downloads the capture.
7. Helix informs you that the capture is ready to play.

How it works on a technical level could be something like this:

1. You send the file to be stored in e.g Amazon S3 file storage. Your user storage area is just some AWS object ID for anonymity, might even be a one-time use thing.
2. A pipeline detects that a new file has been added.
3. The pipeline takes the file, and feeds it to e.g Amazon SageMaker AI for use with e.g Pytorch or Tensorflow frameworks. This is where the machine learning takes place.
4. The machine learning system is already aware of the input signal data, so all it needs is the output data to start creating a capture.
5. The machine learning creates the capture, and outputs the file back to S3.
6. Another pipeline detects a new capture, and sends your Helix the download URL for it.

To clarify, I don’t care if the captures are processed externally. I just meant using the Helix hardware IO solves some problems. I trust L6 to get that right.

 

[Chocol8]

Again, not trying to suggest it isn't important. Just saying it's only one part of the whole package.

I agree, but here is why I think it may be bigger than it might seem at first:

Line 6 has long been a leader in user experience. Most of the other really cool features extend that lead.

The two main downsides for Helix vs. the competition have been it doesn't have a good model of XXX and or the models don't sound/feel as good as YYY. Well, adding a capture tech that is Tonex level or better can pretty much eliminate those gaps for most users and do it with less latency and more elegantly than having a Tonex One in the loop.

 

[norminal]

 

[SillyOctpuss]

View attachment 46586

That's my favourite thing I've seen today.

 

[Chocol8]

The sad thing is that stupidity is driven by Youtube's shit algorithm that shows more people your video if you include a completely cliche click bait thumbnail. So, everyone who wants their videos seen starts making the same shit thumbnails...and it works. Fucking dumb ass AI bull shit. /Rantjustgettingstarted...

 

[laxu]

Helix Stadium non-XL sizing versus other modelers, if it is indeed 16x9.5".

Top: GX-10, GX-100, Helix Stadium, FM9, GT-1000, Kemper Stage
Right: Nano Cortex, HX Stomp, GT-1000 Core, Ampero 2 Stomp, Ampero 2 Stage, Helix Stadium

It's definitely in the "chunkier than many others" territory, but still smaller than the other flagship large floor units.

 

[dws2384]

For the Showcase functionality, it would be great if it would also stream (since it has wifi).

So you can stream a backing track from youtube or a song from spotify without out needing to download and send it to the Stadium.

You can stream via Bluetooth

 

[Richard_G]

One advantage the Helix Stadium will have compared to a new Fractal product here in Europe is the lack of the considerable but questionable G66 markup.

 

[HotRats]

so here is a few questions for Igloo

The update process , obviously it will not be USB at launch , will be it wifi ?

Regarding CPU. is it 2X the power of Helix roughly speaking?

Do the foot switches basically act like a virtual A/B state like you can have 2 amps or 2 drives or a chorus/ flanger on one switch and go back and forth between them ?

Igor made mention about a ton of stuff under the hood that you could expose more parameters but chose not too is it possible some of there more common ones , like Bright Cap , Power tube choice , NFB will be available or this is a big one that people are asking for years
the ability to take a preamp and mate it with a different power amp , like 5150 pre to jcm800 power amp topology

I bet there will be separate preamp and power amps because the new engine allow blocks to interact with each other (digital igloo said that in the presentation).

 

[laxu]

One advantage the Helix Stadium will have compared to a new Fractal product here in Europe is the lack of the considerable but questionable G66 markup.

Even the Stadium XL might end up cheaper than current FM9 if Line6 does USD price -> EUR for a rough VAT included price.

 

[EOengineer]

I bet there will be separate preamp and power amps because the new engine allow blocks to interact with each other (digital igloo said that in the presentation).

I’ve also wondered about that. Do we know for sure that L6 is going to continue with the separate preamp blocks in Agoura? I hope so. I use them, but I get the sense few others do.

I’m really crossing my fingers for a breakout power amp solution in the Hx ecosystem. I hope that’s part of this thing.

 

[Richard_G]

separate preamp and power amps

I'd love that. Both in the Helix Stadium and in the next generation Fractal device.

 

[dws2384]

Here's some perspective for you-



That video is 13 years old and the content running Garageband on an iPhone4. I don't know if they had automation available on it then but I know they were doing it 6 years ago, so if outdated iPhone can run multiple tracks of audio and VST, accept/send MIDI, automate effects/volume/EQ, I'm quite certain an app written by Line 6/Yamaha group in 2025 could pull it off just fine.

As for the stem splitter, there are websites that do it for free now using AI and there's sites you can pay for that'll do high quality splitting-


I think it's safe to say Line 6/Yamaha has the resources to pull this off. Especially considering Eric's reply to my hopes for the ability to alter the speed of songs in Showcase and how it currently sacrifices the audio quality, I'm going to assume that there's a barrier they won't drop below if they're going to put it on this.

If you can't see the usability of some of these features, I don't even mean this in a dickish way, but I'm going to assume you have little experience outside jamming in the house. And even IF jamming at home is your thing, one of the most highly requested features is some kind of way to play audio through a modeler so people could jam along with songs, being able to remove all the guitars in your favorite songs to jam with at home, while your fancy pedalboard switches all your effects, I'm sure there's going to be more than one dude standing in front of a mirror when a solo section comes up and the wife isn't home so they can really crank the lead preset.

From a live performance perspective, that thing is fucking nuts.

Don’t worry Tim will finally be dipping his toes in the water on a used FM9 in 2034

 

[the swede]

One advantage the Helix Stadium will have compared to a new Fractal product here in Europe is the lack of the considerable but questionable G66 markup.

Only fractal market I’ve seen reasonable is the used market. They show up now and then. I can get a fm3 for 1055 usd or 914 euro. The only one in Sweden…(probably not, but it’s only one up for sale)

 

[laxu]

Only fractal market I’ve seen reasonable is the used market. They show up now and then. I can get a fm3 for 1055 usd or 914 euro. The only one in Sweden…(probably not, but it’s only one up for sale)

800-900 € seems pretty common for used FM3 Mk1 in Finland.

The new prices are hard to justify against the competition.

 

[dws2384]

I don't understand why they also removed the scribble strips from the HXS, it could have been just a 0.5" taller and have the scribble strips.
Is the HXS more akin to the og LT in the new gen?

View attachment 46509

Need a way to differentiate between them and have incentive for people to pony up for the big boy. It if was just the pedal then pretty much nobody would. I agree though…I want the stadium with the strips. But I guess it worked on me as I’ll likely shell out for the XL. Mission accomplished.