Line 6 Helix Stadium

[LCW]

XL preordered! Thanks to MF. 15% engage!

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I think with 10 years of updates ahead of us that they'll get around to some new effects.

 

[eggpl@nt]

Didn’t DI specifically mention that some of the recent Helix effects were effects designed for Stadium that happened to be able to trickle into Helix in the meantime? That may not feel like it’s development for Stadium, strictly speaking, but it does make me wonder what, if anything, they already have prepared that couldn’t trickle down.

 

[Lysander]

Didn’t DI specifically mention that some of the recent Helix effects were effects designed for Stadium that happened to be able to trickle into Helix in the meantime? That may not feel like it’s development for Stadium, strictly speaking, but it does make me wonder what, if anything, they already have prepared that couldn’t trickle down.

That was the implication, from what i could gather. "Whichever new effects we can port back to Helix, we will".

We'll likely also get Agoura-modeled ODs and distortions in the future.

 

[OneEng]

At this point there's been zero (as far as I know) word about new effects. Fair assumption they'll happen soon, but at this point it very much is a said top tier unit costing 2k+ at launch that, again, as far as we know, will come out from factory with only last gen effects. You may disagree, I personally think it's lazy. They might be holding stuff in about this, they even probably are, but at this point, with the information I have, no assumptions made, I don't really like it.

Anyway you are not 100% wrong here. I was expecting some new reverbs because they are still considered a "weakness" of the OG Helix fx offering.

There is still time for L6 to make more announcements; however, I agree with this. The "base tone" of a modern "all-in-one" guitar processor is the amp tone, reverb, and delay. Nailing that along with the convivence features for different markets (which appear to be in very good shape so far) would seem to be prudent.

 

[ccc118]

I was going to ask about when we can find out about which amps made it onto the list of Agoura models so far, but saw this quote from Eric on TOP:

"I just approved a Paul Hindmarsh video where he shows the 1.0 amps. No idea when it's going live."

 

[I S]

Stadium XL preordered (no discount on this end of the world)…

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

"I just approved a Paul Hindmarsh video where he shows the 1.0 amps. No idea when it's going live."

Define "shows". I hope this also means "demonstrates".

 

[timbuck3]

In a sense the precedent is already there with the fairly long list of pre-Helix legacy effects in the OG. I have a feeling it's pretty inexpensive to port the OG Helix stuff into Stadium and beyond, so why not? I definitely don't see it as L6 trying to minimize new development. And with effects, there might continue to be a lot of overlap between OG and Stadium onward. I can think of a few areas where a lot more DSP muscle in Stadium might cause them to diverge (e.g., reverb and pitch effects), but I think for a lot of simple pedal emulations the full might and fury of Agoura might not be required.

But wouldn’t they want eventually all shouts tones in it if it’s a new and improved engine? Like the x amps in the boss units that ARE much nicer to my ears. Maybe shouts is only a new engine on the amps side of things vs effects or cabs?

 

[mikah912]

There is still time for L6 to make more announcements; however, I agree with this. The "base tone" of a modern "all-in-one" guitar processor is the amp tone, reverb, and delay. Nailing that along with the convivence features for different markets (which appear to be in very good shape so far) would seem to be prudent.

Helix has several different generations of reverb and delay in it already. It also launched with no Helix-exclusive reverbs.

I'm surprised that people are looking back on their development over the last 10 years and fretting about this.

 

[dk_ace]

Don't get me wrong, some stuff is pretty cool... but all of it? I dunno. Even if something would come from last at least if expect some kind of improvement/tweek aside from "taking advantage of the newer converters". Some of the more original/identifiable sounds like the growler or the particle getting revamped would be really cool, but aside from that it just ends up feeling a bit lazy IMO.

That’s kinda how I felt about the helix when it came out. We all see what it developed into. Same can be said for fractal products I think. New more powerful hardware, a few interesting redesigns and new features, but the differences from the last gen aren’t huge.

I think you have to take the long view with next gen modelers. What came out is the new platform they’ll be building on for years to come and will develop (hopefully) into something much cooler than current gen.

When (and if) to buy it is a totally different thing though. I tend to not buy a next gen unit until it meets the upgrade desires I had or comes out with something so mind blowing that I just had to have it. If it’s missing something I think is necessary, I wait until the development gets to that point. Others want the new thing right away.

D

 

[timbuck3]

I think with 10 years of updates ahead of us that they'll get around to some new effects.

I think the stadium is a unit between the helix and the next gen flagship. The og helix once the stadium is more mature will be maybe ended and the next non helix named flagship will arrive with full shouts everything? Or agoura2.0? And stadium will be the new og helix?
Who knows the plans really? On the stadium as a home player I see a slick touchscreen and sleeker unit with clearer scribbles strips and it seems a new engine called shouts for the amps . And maybe a nicer longer looper?

 

[timbuck3]

That’s kinda how I felt about the helix when it came out. We all see what it developed into. Same can be said for fractal products I think. New more powerful hardware, a few interesting redesigns and new features, but the differences from the last gen aren’t huge.

I think you have to take the long view with next gen modelers. What came out is the new platform they’ll be building on for years to come and will develop (hopefully) into something much cooler than current gen.

When (and if) to buy it is a totally different thing though. I tend to not buy a next gen unit until it meets the upgrade desires I had or comes out with something so mind blowing that I just had to have it. If it’s missing something I think is necessary, I wait until the development gets to that point. Others want the new thing right away.

D

I usually wait too but that 15% off is tempting

 

[dk_ace]

Oh and it case it isn’t clear, I don’t disagree with you @Tito83 about wanting to see some more stuff in this box before I’m convinced to buy it. For now, they lost me at “no new reverbs”. I’m not dropping 2K on an all in one floor unit unless it has truly top shelf reverb, delay, and amp modeling. The reverb came up short for me in Helix, and Stadium won’t interest me unless that gets a lot better.

Plenty of others are gonna buy it as it comes out, and that’s totally cool too. Just not compelling enough for me to abandon FM9 right now.

D

 

[synthpenguin]

Helix has several different generations of reverb and delay in it already. It also launched with no Helix-exclusive reverbs.

I'm surprised that people are looking back on their development over the last 10 years and fretting about this.

Yeah, I think Line 6 has proven themselves pretty trustworthy on support and updates, but I don't blame people for being cautious in general. I just think that if new effects are a dealbreaker or major issue for someone (which is fair!), they should wait to get one until they're added, especially since Line 6 has been pretty transparent about it and has lowered expectations for a bunch of new or redone ones at launch.

 

[Lysander]

I usually wait too but that 15% off is tempting

 

[GTR37]

But wouldn’t they want eventually all shouts tones in it if it’s a new and improved engine? Like the x amps in the boss units that ARE much nicer to my ears. Maybe shouts is only a new engine on the amps side of things vs effects or cabs?

I think they delivered exactly what many wanted
New next Gen unit touchscreen
Proxy capture tech
More CPU
Better user experience
New Agoura amp engine
Wifi wireless Bluetooth
Presumably and IOS app which people have been asking for forever

And who knows what in the future
I think based on line6 track record compared to NDSP you should feel pretty safe and confident about a pre order

 

[molul]

I think the stadium is a unit between the helix and the next gen flagship. The og helix once the stadium is more mature will be maybe ended and the next non helix named flagship will arrive with full shouts everything? Or agoura2.0? And stadium will be the new og helix?
Who knows the plans really? On the stadium as a home player I see a slick touchscreen and sleeker unit with clearer scribbles strips and it seems a new engine called shouts for the amps . And maybe a nicer longer looper?

Any device is an unit between the previous and the next flagship.

The rest seems like overthinking just for the sake of it Line6 could disappear in an earthquake next year, could be acquired by Kemper as a result of unexpected huge sales of mk2, could pivot to making the best wine in California... But today they have Stadium.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I think the stadium is a unit between the helix and the next gen flagship. The og helix once the stadium is more mature will be maybe ended and the next non helix named flagship will arrive with full shouts everything? Or agoura2.0? And stadium will be the new og helix?
Who knows the plans really? On the stadium as a home player I see a slick touchscreen and sleeker unit with clearer scribbles strips and it seems a new engine called shouts for the amps . And maybe a nicer longer looper?

I mean, that’s how it works. I don’t think Stadium is a stop-gap and we’re 2 years from a new flagship or anything.

 

[timbuck3]

I mean, that’s how it works. I don’t think Stadium is a stop-gap and we’re 2 years from a new flagship or anything.

Yea just spitballing… go will match mf plus I have 240 in credits with gc so it would be 330+ 240 discount so it’s like a no brainer