I own both -- the AxeFX II, and the Helix. Agree that the Helix doesn't *quite* match the AxeFX in terms of tone, but for the gigging guitarist who needs a stage tool rather than a studio one, the trade-off is worth it for one simple reason: USER INTERFACE. I'm not a complete idiot, but in 4 years of owning an AxeFX, I barely managed to scratch the surface of what it can do--because it's impenetrable. Some of you are probably very technically minded, and that's great. AxeFX is an astounding tool for you. But I can say truthfully that I am already sounding WAY better live with the Helix than I ever did with the AxeFX, and it all boils down to how easy the thing is to use.
That being said, now that Helix has taught me a thing or two about signal path design, I'm tempted to go back into my AxeFX and see what I can do...but the ease-of-use case for Helix can't be overstated. For $1500, I have a powerful signal processor that--while it might not meet the high standards of the Axe community--fools a LOT of people into thinking it's a tube amp, and a remarkably intuitive control center for my entire rig. AxeFX demands $2k+ just for the box...and then, if you dare to use a controller other than Fractal's...bad times abound.
Like I said, I'm sure the engineers here can manage in the live setting with the AxeFX. But even given the [modest] tradeoff in sound...I doubt I'll go back.
yupDon't really get this... you don't *have* to dig deep into all the controls of the AxeFX... I'm a recording engineer, and pretty picky about tones... I have taken factory presets, added the *right* ( for me ) IR, and left the AxeFX amp sims at default... added some of my favorite FX ( Chorus and Delays ) and have amazing tones... clean tones I could never get previously. It seems people who have had a tough time getting good tones have either had poor IR choice, or most likely poor Monitor choice...
If you have issues getting a good tone with the axe, your guitar is crap or you haven't changed your strings... Or you have unrealistic expectations on how amps should sound in a recording...
i just don't understand why having a static layout is an issue, especially with scenes. i've never, in years of gigging this rig, felt constrained by how the MFC works...tbh with scenes i hardly ever even need to switch individual stuff in and out...
If you have issues getting a good tone with the axe, your guitar is crap or you haven't changed your strings... Or you have unrealistic expectations on how amps should sound in a recording...
i dont think i will ever record with helix, use it in my studio etc....it will get here soon and i seriously dont expect it to sound as good as Axe Fx. It cant sound better any way, i dont know after this point how and why axe fx could sound better...there need to happen things about music first which would lead to totaly different guitar tones and expectations...at the end, axe is just a tool and its all about music
my 2cents...
If the tones the axe provides are not for you, then all in-axe amps are not for you either, as the axe sounds very close to them. If the Axe sounds unique, that means the amp modelling is not perfect yet...Or the Axe FX is simply not for you. Buy an alternative device. No sarcasm.
I find it weird that a foot controller (MFC) is that expensive. It's just a pretty looking pedal board. There's nothing special about it.i sold my pedal board (MFC rig), which was listed here on the sales section. and got an helix
That is not really valid when what you are listening to your reference tone and your axe tone through the same monitoring device...Or your choice of monitoring device isn't a good match.
I've heard AxeFX users saying there's no way the Axe could sound any better for years and that it sounds just like a real amp and all they wanted were more amp models and effects. Until the next firmware when it sounded more real. And the next firmware. And the next. And then Quantum is either the final HUGE leap (if it was so perfect, how could this be such a huge leap?) or really wasn't that much of an improvement, depending on who you ask. I find it all to be quite funny actually.
Here's the thing; if it is all so perfect and can't sound any better anyway, why would Cliff continue to work on improving it? If Cliff thinks it can be better, then he hears something he thinks can be improved and he'll work on it.
As for Helix, it's in its very early stages. There were issues when it was released to the world and they've been pretty responsive and the firmware has been coming to fix issues and improve the sounds. More drive pedals coming shortly as well. I'd suggest you go into it with an open mind. You may just be pleasantly surprised.
Somehow, all of this stuff will just keep getting better.
Do you like em? LOL.The amp models in the Helix don't sound like those in the Axe-Fx. They are very different, sometimes drastically. Whether that appeals to you or not is up to you.
I watched an Adrian Belew video on how he got the Elephant Man sound, which was done with a flanger at a high intensity and a high rate, had nothing whatsoever to do with echo.I really like some the delays on the Helix. I would actually like to duplicate the Adriatic and Elephant Man delays on the Axe, but I'm not sure how to do it.
I watched an Adrian Belew video on how he got the Elephant Man sound, which was done with a flanger at a high intensity and a high rate, had nothing whatsoever to do with echo.
I
I watched an Adrian Belew video on how he got the Elephant Man sound, which was done with a flanger at a high intensity and a high rate, had nothing whatsoever to do with echo.