Surrealistic Brillo
Inspired
I'll post a more detailed review and comparison (maybe even a few direct AxeFx II XL+ and Helix clips using the same model types...Twin, JCM-800, AC-30, etc.) after I've spent some more time with it over the weekend but my initial impressions seem to echo some of what I've been reading.
It's a sturdy piece of equipment...definitely a step up from previous Line 6 products. The scribble tags and display are super helpful...I mainly got this unit to replace my Boss GT-100 in my songwriting room (the AxeFx is my rehearsal room/live rig) and to use as an external effects unit for sit-in and session gigs where I'm going to need to be able to edit effects quickly and easily without an external editor. I have an FX-8 and it sounds awesome but I prefer it for live use where all my editing and tweaking is done beforehand. I think the Helix is a great step up from the GT-100 in terms of ease of use and editing, but the Fender amp models on the GT-100 (which I feel were it's bread and butter) sound better to me than the Helix. I got the GT-100 because I liked it's models a lot better than the HD-500 (which I returned after a few weeks). The Helix models are better than the HD-500 but the GT-100's Fender models still sound better. Of course neither of them hold a candle to the AxeFx Fender models which I was able to create spot on versions of my Fender amp collection with (including the modded ones).
The effects like modulation, delay, reverb, etc. are very good and are very easy to use. The distortion effects are better than the M-Series with the cleaner ones like compression and low to mid gain sounding the best of the lot. The distortions are nowhere near as good as the ones in the AxeFx though. AxeFx distortions compare very favorably to the pedals they actually model. The Line 6 distortions that do sound good do so without really sounding like the boxes they have set out to model...the ones that don't sound good sound really bad to me.
The modeling, as I've already mentioned, is a noticeable improvement over the HD series but still sound off and feel unnatural. There are definitely usable tones in there that you might want to overdub with, but nothing in there you'd want to base your entire sound on. With the AxeFx I feel I get the tones and feel I want for live performance and recording.
So in my mind and for a specific task I have the Helix so far seems like a great device...I see it as a really great effects unit with a few good clean amp models thrown in as a courtesy for direct recording, song writing sessions, headphone practice, etc. that is super easy to use and that you can edit on the fly without much hassle. As an effects unit it may seem like a lot of money but when you factor in the cost of three Strymon MIDI enabled pedals or three or four Eventide pedals (and some of the effects in here easily compare to those units), and a controller the cost doesn't seem so high...especially when you factor in the ease of use and setup, the Helix really starts to look like an exceptional value. The ability to plug a Variax directly into it with a CAT5 cable and save and control it's settings from the Helix is also very cool and it may prompt me to pick up a Variax Standard to further simplify songwriting sessions where I frequently use different guitars and alternate tunings.
People needing really great amp modeling as the foundation of their sound or who want to have a library of really accurate amp models will probably want to look elsewhere. Folks in need of a solidly built, easy to use, high quality effects unit with decent sounding courtesy amp models when they need them will find a lot to like here.
It's a sturdy piece of equipment...definitely a step up from previous Line 6 products. The scribble tags and display are super helpful...I mainly got this unit to replace my Boss GT-100 in my songwriting room (the AxeFx is my rehearsal room/live rig) and to use as an external effects unit for sit-in and session gigs where I'm going to need to be able to edit effects quickly and easily without an external editor. I have an FX-8 and it sounds awesome but I prefer it for live use where all my editing and tweaking is done beforehand. I think the Helix is a great step up from the GT-100 in terms of ease of use and editing, but the Fender amp models on the GT-100 (which I feel were it's bread and butter) sound better to me than the Helix. I got the GT-100 because I liked it's models a lot better than the HD-500 (which I returned after a few weeks). The Helix models are better than the HD-500 but the GT-100's Fender models still sound better. Of course neither of them hold a candle to the AxeFx Fender models which I was able to create spot on versions of my Fender amp collection with (including the modded ones).
The effects like modulation, delay, reverb, etc. are very good and are very easy to use. The distortion effects are better than the M-Series with the cleaner ones like compression and low to mid gain sounding the best of the lot. The distortions are nowhere near as good as the ones in the AxeFx though. AxeFx distortions compare very favorably to the pedals they actually model. The Line 6 distortions that do sound good do so without really sounding like the boxes they have set out to model...the ones that don't sound good sound really bad to me.
The modeling, as I've already mentioned, is a noticeable improvement over the HD series but still sound off and feel unnatural. There are definitely usable tones in there that you might want to overdub with, but nothing in there you'd want to base your entire sound on. With the AxeFx I feel I get the tones and feel I want for live performance and recording.
So in my mind and for a specific task I have the Helix so far seems like a great device...I see it as a really great effects unit with a few good clean amp models thrown in as a courtesy for direct recording, song writing sessions, headphone practice, etc. that is super easy to use and that you can edit on the fly without much hassle. As an effects unit it may seem like a lot of money but when you factor in the cost of three Strymon MIDI enabled pedals or three or four Eventide pedals (and some of the effects in here easily compare to those units), and a controller the cost doesn't seem so high...especially when you factor in the ease of use and setup, the Helix really starts to look like an exceptional value. The ability to plug a Variax directly into it with a CAT5 cable and save and control it's settings from the Helix is also very cool and it may prompt me to pick up a Variax Standard to further simplify songwriting sessions where I frequently use different guitars and alternate tunings.
People needing really great amp modeling as the foundation of their sound or who want to have a library of really accurate amp models will probably want to look elsewhere. Folks in need of a solidly built, easy to use, high quality effects unit with decent sounding courtesy amp models when they need them will find a lot to like here.
