Waiting For Helix Stadium?

[EOengineer]

Why are we talking about Fractal? Cliff already threw in the towel. They’ve pivoted. They’re making game boys now.

 

[Orvillain]

I do like a good Gamer Boi.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I do like a good Gamer Boi.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that

 

[ChordInversion]

I haven't pre-ordered, as I am still working out my job situation. But I'll probably end up selling my TMP and keeping my FM9 to go along with the Helix Stadium. The TMP is a good piece of gear. I do like it for plug-in-and-dial-in simplicity but...I don't know.

It just kind of feels half cooked at times, and Fender shows little sense of urgency about the product. Maybe that's because the company has a big name and a broad product range, so they can't or don't want to put any focus on their high end modeler.

I'm not saying the team isn't working or doesn't care. They clearly are and do. Fender just has a blithe, "do a little bit of everything at our own pace, sit back and smile confidently, elucidate very little specific, and say 'all things in time'" approach that isn't doing it for me personally. The unexplained and odd choices of amps at release and slow pace of expansion of that range also gave me a "this is for us, not for you" feeling. Their comms strategy of focusing on a little Discord with not much traffic (that they don't post to all that much) feels kinda flat. There's very little discussion of the TMP...anywhere. Here, TOP, wherever. IMO, they do not behave like a company that really needs to scramble to build and maintain a customer base. Line6 and Fractal do.

 

[Tanax]

I'm still in the waiting boat. To be fair, I'm not even sure digital is the way for me. I just like the workflow of twisting physical dials. That said, I'm waiting for all next gen versions to see if either of them can work for me. That's Kemper Mk2 (with the new software updates), Helix Stadium and whatever next gen Fractal does. I've given up on NDSP..

 

[timbuck3]

I'm still in the waiting boat. To be fair, I'm not even sure digital is the way for me. I just like the workflow of twisting physical dials. That said, I'm waiting for all next gen versions to see if either of them can work for me. That's Kemper Mk2 (with the new software updates), Helix Stadium and whatever next gen Fractal does. I've given up on NDSP..

This is probably the most intelligent post that’s been posted here as well as in other areas. Why? Because it makes the most sense.

 

[Fireproof]

I'm still in the waiting boat. To be fair, I'm not even sure digital is the way for me. I just like the workflow of twisting physical dials. That said, I'm waiting for all next gen versions to see if either of them can work for me. That's Kemper Mk2 (with the new software updates), Helix Stadium and whatever next gen Fractal does. I've given up on NDSP..

Speaking of “twisting dials” - one thing I really like about Line6’s approach with Stadium is that they included plenty of knobs/encoders, in addition to the touchscreen. So you can choose your own experience. For me - i picture using a little of both depending on what I’m editing. Best of both worlds.

 

[laxu]

Speaking of “twisting dials” - one thing I really like about Line6’s approach with Stadium is that they included plenty of knobs/encoders, in addition to the touchscreen. So you can choose your own experience. For me - i picture using a little of both depending on what I’m editing. Best of both worlds.

You will likely use the knobs 99% of the time for adjusting parameters, and then tapping on screen to do things that make sense to tap.

I do agree that Line6 including so many encoders is an excellent move. I just hope their eventual HX Stomp successor won't gimp that too heavily.

 

[Tanax]

Speaking of “twisting dials” - one thing I really like about Line6’s approach with Stadium is that they included plenty of knobs/encoders, in addition to the touchscreen. So you can choose your own experience. For me - i picture using a little of both depending on what I’m editing. Best of both worlds.

Yep, that's why both Line6 and Kemper have great UX IMO, they both have a good amount of good sized knobs and the way the knobs interact with the onboard UI is great on both (regardless of what you may think of the quality of the Kemper screen). I'm eagerly awaiting next-gen Fractal, but to be honest, I'm not very hopeful. Their stance on these matters (including their fan base) hasn't been to put much focus into it, saying that it's a pro-device and as such, you have to accept and "learn" their way of doing it. We'll see though. Maybe Line6 is putting some pressure on them! Let's hope!

 

[banned]

Someone remind me - what's the first Stadium coming out - the XL or the regular sized?

 

[Lysander]

Someone remind me - what's the first Stadium coming out - the XL or the regular sized?

XL, by fall in the US.

 

[dk_ace]

I finished reviewing the stuff in Helix that I needed to revisit to see if I might want to jump on the stadium train early, and it just didn’t work out. Dynamic plate is more my speed than dynamic hall, but it still doesn’t compare to my current reverbs.

Amps, delays, and reverbs are the things I use most, and on all of them I prefer my FM9 by a pretty solid margin.

The easy usability of helix is always what keeps me interested though. I suspect the new amp modeling will probably close the gap enough or eliminate it on the amp side. While I prefer the fractal delays, it’s by a slim margin and I could be happy with L6 stuff. I’d prefer to be in the box, so maybe they’ll address the reverb in future updates and I’ll be back.

For now, I’m gonna try to get more comfortable editing on FM9 hardware and see if I can get over that. If not and it becomes a real problem for me, I can always go to stadium later with an outboard reverb.

Or maybe the other new stadium features start to become more important to me than reverb. Who knows, we’ve yet to see what proxy and some of the other stuff will do in the real world.

D

 

[Fireproof]

XL, by fall in the US.

Do we know how much later the regular Stadium might be?

 

[Lysander]

Do we know how much later the regular Stadium might be?

Oh, do i wish we knew... My wallet is so ready.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Do we know how much later the regular Stadium might be?

Frank and I don't even know.

 

[Jarick]

IMO 10 years is a great run for a company to sell and actively support/upgrade a piece of technology. That includes Kemper and Helix, with Axe FX 3 nearing that decade mark as well.

5 years is a minimum; if a product is "abandonware" under that time I'd be wary of buying from that company. Note that the AX8 was released in October 2015 and last firmware was September 2018 so that was really only supported for about 3 years! Luckily the FM3 has been a much better platform.

 

[Fireproof]

Frank and I don't even know.

Well I just switched my preorder to the XL.

Might as well go all in and want for nothing. Haha.

 

[Mongillo19]

Well I just switched my preorder to the XL.

Might as well go all in and want for nothing. Haha.

 

[Orvillain]

I finished reviewing the stuff in Helix that I needed to revisit to see if I might want to jump on the stadium train early, and it just didn’t work out. Dynamic plate is more my speed than dynamic hall, but it still doesn’t compare to my current reverbs.

Right?! They're not terrible but when you put the HX verbs up against the competition, there is a very palpable difference in thickness, body, overall impact.. quality... incept dates... those things...

Even so... I'm pretty sure I'll get a Stadium XL. I'm pretty sure the amp modelling is going to impress everyone, and I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of life in the platform for years to come. I cannot imagine they won't add improved reverbs in the future.

 

[dk_ace]

Right?! They're not terrible but when you put the HX verbs up against the competition, there is a very palpable difference in thickness, body, overall impact.. quality... incept dates... those things...

Even so... I'm pretty sure I'll get a Stadium XL. I'm pretty sure the amp modelling is going to impress everyone, and I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of life in the platform for years to come. I cannot imagine they won't add improved reverbs in the future.

Yeah that’s exactly how I see it.

I would be shocked if they didn’t improve the reverbs though at some point, and I’m sure it’s more a matter of when I get a stadium than if I get a stadium… I’ll be later on the curve than other people, but they’ll probably pull me in eventually