Waiting For Helix Stadium?

[Jarick]

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!

Honestly I really want something like a Soldano X88 IR and Axe 3 rack setup. I can do the poor man’s version though with an IRX.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I wasn’t planning on buying anything new. I’ll be using my FM9 for a good while as primary device while I get the Stadium up to speed. The FM9 stays even after that because I’ll surely want both a backup and change every so often.

 

[timbuck3]

But will u buy the fm-12

 

[Fireproof]

Yep. Sold my FM9 and waiting for the Stadium. Can’t wait.

Primary reasons.
- Looking forward to the agoura models. I’m sure they are going to be awesome.
- Love the form factor of the non-XL. It’s the Goldilocks size for me.
- I always got a long with the editing flow / methodology of Helix. Fits the way I think better than Fractal.
- Looking forward to Showcase. Should be fun to play with.
- Looking forward to the Focus and Hype features. I’ve never been one who needed to get “accurate” sounds of particular amps. Just tones that sound good - so those features should work well for me.
- And probably most of all - I love editing on the device and away from the computer. And with touchscreen. I was never going to be able to do that on the fractal (although I know you can). And it was my favorite feature of the QC. So that big touchscreen is gonna be a lot of fun for me.

 

[laxu]

Yep. Sold my FM9 and waiting for the Stadium. Can’t wait.

Primary reasons.
- Looking forward to the agoura models. I’m sure they are going to be awesome.
- Love the dorm factor of the non-XL. It’s the Goldilocks size for me.
- I always got a long with the editing flow / methodology of Helix. First the way I think better than Fractal.
- Looking forward to Showcase. Should be fun to play with.
- Looking forward to the Focus and Hype features. I’ve never been one who needed to get “accurate” sounds of particular amps. Just tones that sound good - so those features should work well for me.
- And probably most of all - I love editing on the device and away from the computer. And with touchscreen. I was never going to be able to do that on the fractal (although I know you can). And it was my favorite feature of the QC. So that big touchscreen is gonna be a lot of fun for me.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. While I prefer many Fractal effects...I just don't see them deliver in the workflow department the way Line6 will, and who knows when Fractal's next gen boxes will come out.

 

[BenIfin]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. While I prefer many Fractal effects...I just don't see them deliver in the workflow department the way Line6 will, and who knows when Fractal's next gen boxes will come out.

With the unmentionable "T" word economic situation, its anybody's guess when the next Fractal box will release.

Then there is the question of price and features.

Given their very small size, their competitive edge is going to have to be focused on "sound" ... but that is an ever diminishing well in 2025/2026 ... the differences are already so miniscule that another 0.02% is irrelevant.

The real problem as I see it will be features / functionality / UI at a sellable price point ...... re:- features / functionality per $$, a small minnow like Fractal simply cannot compete with YGG.

And L6 - and others - are already so far ahead in terms of UI and useability that Fractal would need to ground-up re-design a brand new user-centered UI .... and I just cannot see that happening given Fractals history.

.... but we already know it will have the power of a small "super computer" which will make the Stadium look like a "Gameboy" <- snuck that one in for a certain member here :)

 

[HomespunEffects]

.... but we already know it will have the power of a small "super computer" which will make the Stadium look like a "Gameboy" <- snuck that one in for a certain member here :)

If Line 6 doesn’t include Tetris on the Stadium then they’ve missed a huge trolling opportunity.

 

[HomespunEffects]

With the unmentionable "T" word economic situation, …

 

[EOengineer]

With the unmentionable "T" word economic situation, its anybody's guess when the next Fractal box will release.

Assuming you’re referring to the lasting economic impact caused by the loss of Theo Huxtable earlier this week, I’m fairly certain the impact is already waning and Cliff will resume work on Fractal’s next gen offerings as soon as he’s done sobbing into his Fractal branded pillow. He seems pretty resilient. I think he’s gonna be ok.

 

[laxu]

With the unmentionable "T" word economic situation, its anybody's guess when the next Fractal box will release.

Then there is the question of price and features.

Given their very small size, their competitive edge is going to have to be focused on "sound" ... but that is an ever diminishing well in 2025/2026 ... the differences are already so miniscule that another 0.02% is irrelevant.

The real problem as I see it will be features / functionality / UI at a sellable price point ...... re:- features / functionality per $$, a small minnow like Fractal simply cannot compete with YGG.

And L6 - and others - are already so far ahead in terms of UI and useability that Fractal would need to ground-up re-design a brand new user-centered UI .... and I just cannot see that happening given Fractals history.

.... but we already know it will have the power of a small "super computer" which will make the Stadium look like a "Gameboy" <- snuck that one in for a certain member here :)

I agree.

IMO Fractal pricing in the EU is already very high. VP4 costs more than a Helix LT, FM3 costs more than a Helix Floor, FM9 costs likely more now than the HX Stadium will cost. With new Fractal products likely being even more expensive, they might be pushed to a price bracket that is totally unpalatable for anyone but US buyers. The volatile US economic situation is not going to help.

There will be a group of people who will want what Fractal offers, but I might not be in that group. I found it hard to justify even Axe-Fx 3's capabilities for my uses, let alone something even more powerful. It's much easier to sell me on workflow improvements so that to me is what Fractal needs to truly focus on.

I believe the HX Stadium range will be the new price-performance-usability king for a long time. I can't fault the non-XL Stadium for pretty much anything but losing the scribble strips.

Even if Fractal is able to make "even better" modeling and whatnot, we are already splitting hairs where lots of products sound/feel great to play, accuracy be damned.

Line6's challenges will be these:

• Provide new stuff for HX Stadium. More Agoura models, new/updated effects, all the promised features.
• Plugin version.
• Better editor, possibly even mobile editors.
• HX Stomp successor. This is probably their biggest seller and doing it right is key. To me the flaw of HX Stomp is how much it gimped the original Helix user interface. From the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp I know the Helix UI will work fine even in a small 4" touchscreen display. Give me something like that.

 

[GTR37]

Assuming you’re referring to the lasting economic impact caused by the loss of Theo Huxtable earlier this week, I’m fairly certain the impact is already waning and Cliff will resume work on Fractal’s next gen offerings as soon as he’s done sobbing into his Fractal branded pillow. He seems pretty resilient. I think he’s gonna be ok.

But will it end up being a Gordon Gartrell or Vanessa Huxtable GUI

 

[BenIfin]

Assuming you’re referring to the lasting economic impact caused by the loss of Theo Huxtable earlier this week, I’m fairly certain the impact is already waning and Cliff will resume work on Fractal’s next gen offerings as soon as he’s done sobbing into his Fractal branded pillow. He seems pretty resilient. I think he’s gonna be ok.

.... now that was a sad loss

I've no doubt Fractal are going to be "ok". I.m.h.o, any entity of their relatively small size, producing similar goods, simply will not be able to absorb the Theo Huxtables .... and that can only mean one thing .... a substantial up-movement at the other end of the chain.

 

[Fireproof]

I agree.

IMO Fractal pricing in the EU is already very high. VP4 costs more than a Helix LT, FM3 costs more than a Helix Floor, FM9 costs likely more now than the HX Stadium will cost. With new Fractal products likely being even more expensive, they might be pushed to a price bracket that is totally unpalatable for anyone but US buyers. The volatile US economic situation is not going to help.

There will be a group of people who will want what Fractal offers, but I might not be in that group. I found it hard to justify even Axe-Fx 3's capabilities for my uses, let alone something even more powerful. It's much easier to sell me on workflow improvements so that to me is what Fractal needs to truly focus on.

I believe the HX Stadium range will be the new price-performance-usability king for a long time. I can't fault the non-XL Stadium for pretty much anything but losing the scribble strips.

Even if Fractal is able to make "even better" modeling and whatnot, we are already splitting hairs where lots of products sound/feel great to play, accuracy be damned.

Line6's challenges will be these:

• Provide new stuff for HX Stadium. More Agoura models, new/updated effects, all the promised features.
• Plugin version.
• Better editor, possibly even mobile editors.
• HX Stomp successor. This is probably their biggest seller and doing it right is key. To me the flaw of HX Stomp is how much it gimped the original Helix user interface. From the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp I know the Helix UI will work fine even in a small 4" touchscreen display. Give me something like that.

Yeah. I mean, it's impressive how Fractal has continued to innovate their core products, while adding new products to their overall offering. And at a reasonable pace considering their size, and without ticking off current customer base by offering next gen stuff 'too soon.'

BUT - as was mentioned - the "tone gap" in the market is getting smaller and smaller, while the "UX/usability gap" is getting wider. And there's just such a history with "the fractal way" whether that's Cliff's stubbornness or preference or just the way he thinks, that unless they do something wild like hire some UX experts to give them the reigns on a redesign from a UX standpoint, I don't see that changing any time soon.


As far as Line6 challenges - I think for now they will be focused on making the Stadium / Stadium XL a huge success. So that means - probably not worrying too much about a plugin or a Stomp version for now. So their main challenge is more Agoura models and new/updated effects, and I bet they come out swinging to show the market they are serious. I certainly would bet on them to overachieve here, in contrast to someone like Neural saying "more coming soon," LOL.

 

[timbuck3]

With the unmentionable "T" word economic situation, its anybody's guess when the next Fractal box will release.

Then there is the question of price and features.

Given their very small size, their competitive edge is going to have to be focused on "sound" ... but that is an ever diminishing well in 2025/2026 ... the differences are already so miniscule that another 0.02% is irrelevant.

The real problem as I see it will be features / functionality / UI at a sellable price point ...... re:- features / functionality per $$, a small minnow like Fractal simply cannot compete with YGG.

And L6 - and others - are already so far ahead in terms of UI and useability that Fractal would need to ground-up re-design a brand new user-centered UI .... and I just cannot see that happening given Fractals history.

.... but we already know it will have the power of a small "super computer" which will make the Stadium look like a "Gameboy" <- snuck that one in for a certain member here :)

Who knows. Maybe fractal will hire some magical gui innovator

 

[Orvillain]

Yeah. I mean, it's impressive how Fractal has continued to innovate their core products, while adding new products to their overall offering. And at a reasonable pace considering their size, and without ticking off current customer base by offering next gen stuff 'too soon.'

BUT - as was mentioned - the "tone gap" in the market is getting smaller and smaller, while the "UX/usability gap" is getting wider. And there's just such a history with "the fractal way" whether that's Cliff's stubbornness or preference or just the way he thinks, that unless they do something wild like hire some UX experts to give them the reigns on a redesign from a UX standpoint, I don't see that changing any time soon.


As far as Line6 challenges - I think for now they will be focused on making the Stadium / Stadium XL a huge success. So that means - probably not worrying too much about a plugin or a Stomp version for now. So their main challenge is more Agoura models and new/updated effects, and I bet they come out swinging to show the market they are serious. I certainly would bet on them to overachieve here, in contrast to someone like Neural saying "more coming soon," LOL.

TBH... call me ridiculous, but the Line6 team have made such a massive impact over the last 10 years and generated so much goodwill, that I think Stadium is already a slam dunk.

I also think it is incredibly smart how they've done two variants as well.

If you look at Helix Floor, LT, FX, Stomp, Stomp XL, HX One... there's a product for everyone. I can only imagine where Stadium will be in 10 years. Looking very much forward to looking forward to it very much, muchly.

 

[mikah912]

To be fair to Fractal, usability means different things to different people.

Their UI is efficient and more-than-usable for a good number of their fans. The foot switching is super versatile, and the routing even moreso. You do all your work in Axe-Edit, and you probably never feel the pain.

Certain types of people welcome the complexity, and in some ways... it's THE signal to them that this is a "serious" or "professional" product. Same for the way you can only buy it through direct sales.

I just don't think it has to be a binary choice between professional quality and approachable usability.

I do know I don't want to have to shunt across a lane to create a new patch or select "Shift Right" from a menu to move a block in a signal chain.

 

[Orvillain]

The foot switching is super versatile, and the routing even moreso.

One of the reasons I'm thinking of flogging my Axe3 to get Stadium is because the Helix already has better footswitching than the Fractal, and the routing on Stadium looks like it will essentially support a similar multi-lane multi-split paradigm... and I strongly suspect Stadium will kick major chunks of booty.

 

[texhex]

By the time it drops I’ll have the money saved up to get one.

I was kinda pissed when I saw the TMP launch with what to me looked a lot like what I envisioned a Helix 2 would launch as. Especially after Max Gutnik left Line 6 to go to Fender in 2018.

Line 6 crushed it with this thing and I hope it does well at launch. I would think they know enough now to meet expectations and it looks like a really innovate product. A truly version 2.

Can’t wait! I’m stoked to try the amp copy Proxy. The Sheep icon for that feature cracks me up.

 

[Digital Igloo]

By the time it drops I’ll have the money saved up to get one.

I was kinda pissed when I saw the TMP launch with what to me looked a lot like what I envisioned a Helix 2 would launch as. Especially after Max Gutnik left Line 6 to go to Fender in 2018.

Max left for Seymour Duncan in 2014 and joined Fender in 2021.

 

[texhex]

Max left for Seymour Duncan in 2014 and joined Fender in 2021.

Thanks. I was going off of this article.

Fender strengthens team with key appointments | Music Instrument News

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has announced the appointment of four new key executive positions designed to lead electric guitar product development and lifestyle product licensing, as well as the addition of two new master builders to its Fender Custom Shop. Max Gutnik (ex-Seymour...

www.musicinstrumentnews.co.uk