Waiting For Helix Stadium?

[laxu]

Who put their modeler purchase on hold once Helix Stadium was announced, and why?

I was already on the "I'll likely buy whatever Line6 or Fractal releases next" track. I sold my Axe-Fx 3 + FC-12 last year and have been rocking the cheap Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp waiting for something new to come out from the major players.

Line6 and Fractal are the GOATs of digital modeling to me. I trust both companies to make products that sound really good and are jam-packed with useful features. All I wanted from the Axe-Fx 3 was better usability, and instead Line6 Stadium should really deliver on that front.

I am not 100% sure if I will buy the smaller Stadium at release later this year, or wait until 2026 for more updates to it. Knowing myself, I'll most likely cave and just order it.

I hope it performs better as an audio interface as well, it would be nice to make it a centerpiece of my computer rig too.

 

[timbuck3]

Had no purchases planned before Stadium because my gigging needs were mostly being met between my FM9 and my ToneMaster Pro (Helix has always been the centerpiece of my home studio and Stadium will ensure it stays that way).

I'm going to sell the FM9 and Tonemaster Pro closer to when the XL version actually drops.

Wow this is amazing to sell both?

 

[GTR37]

I am waiting for the std non XL , still love my FM9 no doubts but I have to admit the form factor to the stadium I prefer

reasons to purchase

1. the new Agoura engine the current HX is good but if the new Agoura amp models offer a better feel and better tones I am in
2. the wireless editing ability that likely to come , to be able to sit on the couch edit presets , and connect to Logic on iPad
3. proxy was looking at the nano cortex but much prefer the effects in the Line 6 , and would prefer to just have an all in one , honestly I think Line6 will likely do it better than prior and also I expect they will have quite a large community of users so getting some great captures of amps not in helix like your Badlanders, Jose, Headfirst etc should be easy
4. the GUI and touchscreen easily looks the best in the business
5. the overall FUN factor and being part of the next gen knowing how long Helix has been out and improved
6. To waste disposable income and claim to have one of everything to annoy Timbuck3
7. and last but not least trust and generally appreciation and respect for the people involved like Digital Igloo, Ben Adrian ,Sam , Igor
their humour , interactions on the forums , knowledge, and positive attitudes

 

[timbuck3]

I pre-ordered an XL, but then got an FM9 when Fractal had their summer sale. So canceled the XL pre order and will see how it goes once it launches.

I almost did the same thing however I figured since the XL is gonna be newer than the FM nine I’ll just stick with it and wait to see what the next FM series is gonna be probably maybe end of this year maybe next year

 

[EOengineer]

I hope it performs better as an audio interface as well, it would be nice to make it a centerpiece of my computer rig too.

Im really hopeful L6 can push the USB latency envelope. It doesn’t come up often but the high latency sucks for my primary HX use case (silent rehearsal).

Right now I’ve got 2 guitars and a bass player coming out of HX gear and going through an unnecessary conversion stage because that interface is ultra low latency and the HX is pretty bad.

In a perfect world we’d be able to create a low latency aggregate device in OSX and cut out that additional expensive hardware and unnecessary conversion.

Unfortunately it’s probably enough of a fringe case that it’s not anywhere near the top of their list.

 

[laxu]

In a perfect world we’d be able to create a low latency aggregate device in OSX and cut out that additional expensive hardware and unnecessary conversion.

What happens if you try to make an aggregate device out of audio interfaces? It should use them at the same time in your DAW, but I've never tried that.

 

[EOengineer]

What happens if you try to make an aggregate device out of audio interfaces? It should use them at the same time in your DAW, but I've never tried that.

When you create an aggregate device, the latency is limited to the slowest device in the group, unfortunately. If I’m running my Quantum interface I can get ~3ms RTL at 48kHz. If I introduce an HX device it climbs up to nearly 10ms.

 

[Sascha Franck]

If I introduce an HX device it climbs up to nearly 10ms.

That's only possible if you don't use it for both ins and outs. HX devices kick in with around 16ms RTL (at 44.1, 32 samples buffersize).

 

[EOengineer]

That's only possible if you don't use it for both ins and outs. HX devices kick in with around 16ms RTL (at 44.1, 32 samples buffersize).

Yeah we’re monitoring back through an Aviom system, so just unidirectional from the Helix.

 

[RGB]

All you guys that will be looking to get rid of your Helix Floors or LTs when this ships, keep me in mind...when the price gets low enough on the legacy units, I'll bite. Looking to pair one of those up with my JTV59.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I don't know what the heck I'm gonna do to be honest. I'm fairly content with the stomp xl and native atm. Fractal could sway me with a new release though. Time will tell, I'm in no rush.

 

[EOengineer]

I don't know what the heck I'm gonna do to be honest. I'm fairly content with the stomp xl and native atm. Fractal could sway me with a new release though. Time will tell, I'm in no rush.

What a great problem to have - a cavalcade of amazing companies putting out killer products that continue to grow with our needs after the purchase.

 

[Jarick]

I bought a Kemper Profiler Player and STILL waffling back and forth to keep or return. Probably need to figure that out before the weekend.

Still have the Axe FX 3 which I don't see going anywhere anytime soon. It's like the opposite of FOMO. Damn near anything you could want is in there if you spend the time with it. And it consistently sounds really good and has all kinds of ins and outs to use with other gear.

I'd like the Stadium for sure but it does look like a beast of a unit so would be relegated to floor duty and then editing on a computer which means the pretty touch screen becomes way less useful and then it's on par with every other modeler I've got. So I'll probably wait and see what all the hype is after the release and if there are other units coming down the pike.

Oh, and I'm still curious about the Fender TMP.

 

[StarF666]

I was in the market for a stomp or stomp XL for a hybrid pedalboard. I'm a long time Floor and Native user but wanted analog gain stages (more a usability thing than sound). The smaller form factor of the new units makes using even the XL with a few dirt pedals in the same old floor case possible. To me stadium feels like firmware 4.00 comes with a hardware update. I think that's just great.

 

[Orvillain]

I bought a Kemper Profiler Player and STILL waffling back and forth to keep or return. Probably need to figure that out before the weekend.

Still have the Axe FX 3 which I don't see going anywhere anytime soon. It's like the opposite of FOMO. Damn near anything you could want is in there if you spend the time with it. And it consistently sounds really good and has all kinds of ins and outs to use with other gear.

I'd like the Stadium for sure but it does look like a beast of a unit so would be relegated to floor duty and then editing on a computer which means the pretty touch screen becomes way less useful and then it's on par with every other modeler I've got. So I'll probably wait and see what all the hype is after the release and if there are other units coming down the pike.

Oh, and I'm still curious about the Fender TMP.

IMHO, any signs of cold feet are a bad sign. Return the thing, you can always grab another one if you really want one in a few months or so.

I don't see my Axe3 going anywhere really. But there is a small part of me that wonders if Helix Stadium would replace it outright or not. I always did fantasize about having a rack with Helix Rack and Axe3 in it, but that's monstrous overkill really!

 

[EOengineer]

I always did fantasize about having a rack with Helix Rack and Axe3 in it, but that's monstrous overkill really!

 

[HomespunEffects]

All you guys that will be looking to get rid of your Helix Floors or LTs when this ships, keep me in mind...when the price gets low enough on the legacy units, I'll bite. Looking to pair one of those up with my JTV59.

 

[bucephalus]

I've only just got onboard the full helix train with a used LT with backpack for £529 from a local store. Traded in an HXFX and a few other bits and bobs I had laying around for a straight swap.

Really pleased with it, though it is pretty large obviously. Can't see me spending the significant extra for my use cases at the moment but am still looking forward to seeing what the Stadium units are like.

 

[CBHScott]

reasons to purchase

6. To waste disposable income and claim to have one of everything to annoy Timbuck3

 

[CBHScott]

Having owned a Stomp (several times and variations) among others, my attention span and work schedule never really allow me to dive in and get into what the device offers. I always vacillate between the “modelers can give me EVERYTHING I need, but I like simplicity” vs. “I love the plug-and-play aspect of my simple little amp, but I wish I had MORE” battle in my head. All THAT being said, I maaaaaaaay just have to jump on a LT at the lower pricing and see if that will make me want to graduate to a Stadium down the road and after it’s been out for awhile.