Sorry to intrude here on such a noob level. Some of this stuff makes me think I am not qualified to go digital lol.
Don't worry man is not rocket science...all is in the forums yeah!
Anyhow in layman's terms. Does this difference here mean when he compared the AX8 vs Helix with his own Hesu IR, that the IR's were each different?
We don't know, I'm sure Ola will appear and clarify, can be ( a bad wav to syx conversion ergo a bad syx file) or can not be (a bad upload of a correct SYX file).
I only say that the syx file that ola uploaded have some differences compared with the wav I found on the helix folder, but I don't know if he used this same SYX on the video or a correct one.
The procedure to introduce an IR in the helix is direct, you put the wav directly in the helix editor, I have had to search this because I'm not a line 6 lover, I confess:
http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/effects-controllers/helix/impulse-response-irs-r759
Ax8 needs a wav to syx conversion and many things may have happened on the road: a bad button presed in cab-lab or a bad upload of the syx file...a bad upload would have sense too... too many variables
I am curious because during the whole entire video the AX8 wins wins wins. But when he used his own Hesu IR, to my ears the Helix blew away the AX8 and it has had me contemplating a little more of which unit to get because I love using seperate IR's and there are some great ones out there.
Makes it seem as if the Helix handles external IR's better.
I'm agree, Ola is my friend, I think he is honest, and his video is very well done, I'm agree with him that the most important part of the video, that more than 37000 persons have seen at this moment, is the custom IR moment. I don't think Ola is using a bad syx with bad intention, I repeat I don't even know if the syx file that he uploaded is the same that the syx that sounds in the video...at the end of the day I think it would been an accident, but not using the same IR would have some impact in the viewers opinion.
I confess you I am a Fractal guy but even in the rare case that helix would sounded better with the same exact IR I would do the same effort because a fair fight is a fair fight, no second intentions here.
IR's are definitely an equalizer when comparing and show the huge effect that cabinets play on the preset.
Mmmmhhh you can see the final result as an equalizer, but the Impulse inner process takes frequency and phase (time), the file have both data, the phase thing impacts in the resultant sound because there are some cancelation and interaction at critical frecuencies, Is complex but it works
The two units are closer than many want to accept.
It would be if Helix had 249 amps, Ultrares IR capability and many other things but If you take one amp and a 1024 samples IR things can go more close, I agree.
I am skeptical of YouTube videos showing comparisons of products that don't make common adjustments to show all products in their zone.
Well, I think acomplish that is very complex, too many parameters and variables, the youtube thing is an art. Ola were trusting his ears when did the presets, and it's the best way to go for not going crazy hahaha!
I am going into hibernation for the next few weeks and playing with the AX8 and comparing it to my tube amps.
Man, you will love it
I really don't think any of the main products are worse or better at this stage.
Time will tell...few weeks are more than enough
Helix can use external IR's.
A thing to consider is that Helix can use 2048 samples IRs (1024 in economy mode), and Ax8 can handle normal (1024, 20 ms) hi (2040, 40 ms) and ultra resolution (up to 8000 samples, 170 ms). Ultra res files have more detail on the low spectrum, but you can benefit of this only if the wav source file is long and have information beyond 40 ms.
The IR Ola used decays roughly at 19 ms, so there's no added benefit from superior resolutions, 1024 is fine with this short wav.
Would be nice a video with both devices at full Ir resolution capability: helix at 2048 and Ax8 at ultrares, but someone could argue that is not fair, at 2048 for both would be OK.
Is it safe to say in Ola's video the Helix sounded better with his personal IR than the AX8 did? I know subjective but to my ears the AX8 won every time regarding sound apart from the external IR. Helix sounded much much better. (will call it a difference in sound for arguments sake)
This is subjective, I'm agree, to my ears Ax8 clearly wins with stock cabs...with the custom IR Ax8 wins too but the gap is lesser, always In My Fractalized Opinion
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So the file was corrupted, that makes sense BUT.....Was it corrupted on both?
We don't know, only Ola can tell, but I dare to say that since the Helix process to load external IRs don't need a conversion (only the wav file direct to the editor) I asume that the Wav file that I found in the Helix folder is not corrupted. Other thing that points in that direction is that when I take the wav and make my own syx conversion the sound of the IR "takes sense" to me. But is posible that ola used a good syx and we are worrying for nothing
EDIT: actually we don't know if the file that Ola used is corrupted too, there's the possibility it got corrupted only in the zip archive he shared, this can be verified only by him
Spot on!
