Line 6 Helix Stadium

[laxu]

I agree, yet this is likely that presets are the only way most people will "audition" the unit ..... especially in the store. Knowing this, I am confused as to why MOST digital amp makers don't spend much more time making sure that AT LEAST the first 10-20 presets are outstanding.

It's probably close to impossible, when you don't know what output system will be used in a store etc. At most they can try.

NeuralDSP is the only one that comes to mind for universally successful presets on their plugins, but I don't remember if the QC factory presets were that interesting bar the few that did wacky things like changing pitch drones by pressing the footswitches.

 

[laxu]

I think a decent cloud and search largely negates the need for the device to have a library full of shite though.

Much better for a user to have their easiest method of preset selection to be from a cloud with thousands of presets that cater to exactly what they want (which they can even listen to audio examples of, read information about, maybe even see nice pictures), rather than just playing wheel of fortune through a load of totally unconnected random sounds with shortened names and metaphors before they get half way there. I think the whole “huge list of built in presets” is dated and not really an intuitive or quick way of achieving what those users want.

Most people want to just get going right away, hence a library of factory presets. All they need to do is be good enough to convince the person to buy, or keep the unit they bought.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Most people want to just get going right away, hence a library of factory presets. All they need to do is be good enough to convince the person to buy, or keep the unit they bought.

I’m not disagreeing, but I think a good cloud/preset search can be much faster and more intuitive than trawling a list of random presets if it’s implemented right. I don’t think the factory presets need to be saved to the device

The devices clearly have a ton more metadata and organisation advantages that can reduce the need for lists of randomly organised contextless presets.

 

[Tito83]

Since the hardware is the problem, what if there was one or two Agoura model added Native, or even as a separate plug-in with a dead simple UI so users could try?

 

[laxu]

I’m not disagreeing, but I think a good cloud/preset search can be much faster and more intuitive than trawling a list of random presets if it’s implemented right. I don’t think the factory presets need to be saved to the device

The devices clearly have a ton more metadata and organisation advantages that can reduce the need for lists of randomly organised contextless presets.

Isn't the point of that metadata to also provide the context for those factory presets, the very thing every other modeler is missing?

You want some onboard presets for a fast start to know it's working, and after you've trawled through your first 10 that cover a variety of sounds, maybe then you go searching for further factory presets, or the library of online presets. Not sure how it separates the two.

 

[Mongillo19]

Since the hardware is the problem, what if there was one or two Agoura model added Native, or even as a separate plug-in with a dead simple UI so users could try?

While it sounds great in theory, it could be a waste of resources

 

[mikah912]

Honestly; I get having no sound clips. Everyone knows what the Helix sounds like. This will be a "higher res" version of those same sounds. I don't know how you could unleash a batch of clips without the "it all sounds the same crew" chipping in with their masters on .75, presence on 1.3 presets that are dialed in to be YT friendly and nowhere near "what you would set the amp in real life" friendly. The HX is a known and proven quantity and it's really going to take getting it in the individual player's hands for them to see if it's a "step up" for them.

Bingo. They're modeling the exact same real-life amps and cabs that they own, at least initially. There won't be an ocean of difference off the jump. Just like the Helix "just" seemed like an upgraded HD500 at launch. Apparently, the Agora-modeled AC30 is a different one, so there may be more differentiation there (and perhaps in other amps), but it'll just be "higher res" iterations of whatever Helix has.

So, sound clips are both necessary at some point but also rather unlikely to change any minds.

That is until the first "Proxy" clips drop.......

 

[laxu]

Since the hardware is the problem, what if there was one or two Agoura model added Native, or even as a separate plug-in with a dead simple UI so users could try?

They'd need to add an entire new modeling engine to Helix Native. Not worth the effort

Eventually the situation you describe will exist in "Helix Studio" or "Helix Stadium Native" or whatever they choose to call the plugin.

 

[molul]

Helix Studio sounds neat, but I doubt it won't be "Helix Stadium Native", or at least "Helix Stadium something".

 

[yek]

TBH, the 'armchair engineer' attitude in this place is getting a little out of hand.

 

[ian_dissonance]

For factory presets I just want amps/cabs dialed in by people who would be actually playing music on those types of amps with the rest of crap off, but footswitchable. I was almost less impressed with the later “artist” presets because most of them felt like they gave everyone 5 minutes with some headphones at festival to make SOMETHING.

 

[Mongillo19]

TBH, the 'armchair engineer' attitude in this place is getting a little out of hand.

The attitude that companies have infinite resources is getting a little out of hand

 

[AlbertA]

TBH, the 'armchair engineer' attitude in this place is getting a little out of hand.

How so?

 

[Tito83]

While it sounds great in theory, it could be a waste of resources

It could... or it could be not

 

[AlbertA]

Even better question is why they would include any presets that are not outstanding? I would think 30 well done presets would be better than 150 mediocre to crappy ones. Heck, 10 well done ones would be better.

The issue then is, outstanding to who?

 

[Chocol8]

One person's outstanding is another person's

The issue then is, outstanding to who?

That’s why you need a number of them, but cut out all the crap that is just a showcase for effects cranked and focus on a couple dozen sounds that you know will be popular with different genres.

 

[AlbertA]

It's probably close to impossible, when you don't know what output system will be used in a store etc. At most they can try.

NeuralDSP is the only one that comes to mind for universally successful presets on their plugins, but I don't remember if the QC factory presets were that interesting bar the few that did wacky things like changing pitch drones by pressing the footswitches.

Fractal, IMO is there too with their latest rounds of Factory preset updates for latest firmware. There's many bangers in there now, again, IMO.

 

[sashimi]

For factory presets I just want amps/cabs dialed in by people who would be actually playing music on those types of amps with the rest of crap off, but footswitchable. I was almost less impressed with the later “artist” presets because most of them felt like they gave everyone 5 minutes with some headphones at festival to make SOMETHING.

Agreed, presets should showcase raw amp tones with some effects footswitchable, not just everything unrealistically slathered in delay and reverb.

 

[JiveTurkey]

FAS presets are great. Sacrilege crew checking in and this a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG caveat of you have to like Boss amp models (turd reacts incoming obviously); they had a batch of amp&cab presets dialed in for the GT Core iirc that were exactly what you would want basic out of the box presets to show bread and butter sounds to be. As long as you were OK with their batch of original turd amps

 

[yek]

How so?

I’m just allergic to the “Line 6 (or other manufacturer) should …” statements.
It was a characteristic of TOP which was absent in the early days of this forum. Just my opinion.