Line6 Helix Stadium

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I will wait and see... but Cliff's post about the next gen makes me certain Fractal would be the way to go... if something like a FM5 or FM6 would surface around the same price as Helix Stadium or even a bit more, it would be a no brainer for me.
 
sprint said:
It probably takes significant time to do. We're kinda going through that here now where Fractal has been re-mastering existing models over the last few releases. But ya, I get yur point, if coming out with a whole new hardware platform, I'd've thought thy'd bite the bullet and remaster all their existing models under the new engine to include in the new hardware, instead of just a few at a time.
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I just worry they will get lazy and slow like fender and the tmp. I returned my helix 10 yrs ago after being one of the 1st to get it within 45 days it went back. I know that in 10 years they’ve progressed their tones better supposedly but I never re-bought it as it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I’m just wondering if this new iteration will go the same route? I mean, like I said when I had the GT 1000 I bought it for the x amps as I liked them, but there was way too few and I thought it should be released with all x amps as it was new
MayPRS said:
I will wait and see... but Cliff's post about the next gen makes me certain Fractal would be the way to go... if something like a FM5 or FM6 would surface around the same price as Helix Stadium or even a bit more, it would be a no brainer for me
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The stuff about controlling lights, is very cool.

The scribble strips being OLED is cool, the Bigsky MX has a similar OLED in green which is nice.

The scribble strips not being on the smaller version is not cool, but would be cool as an option.
Maybe those who don't have the money don't need them, but to be forced into the bigger option just for them is not cool.

I wish Fractal was "96k 32 bit" like the BSMX that feels future proofed to me.

I wish it was analog dry though, in some collaborating with Lehle would be nice.

Otherwise not really much interest in Line6 ever, feels like a toy in a lot of ways.

I do think the delays in the Timeline sound better immediately (more 3D, more audible) than the Fractal, even though we know that's not possible that they are better. I don't understand why that is but then that is a thing, it is a thing... that makes those who can hear stuff like that hesitate.

Touchscreen is a must whether anyone likes it or not. I don't care but a lot of people do.

Things like recording and multitrack options to SD card is potentially a big deal also.

Fractal should go for the Grand Slam next.... Stomp on Everything.
 
Adding all of the features for controlling the show differentiates the Helix from the rest of the modeler pack. Having to shlep less gear can help the wallet and back as a ‘do it all’ jack of all trades device. However it creates a giant single point of failure for guitar, bass, vocals, lights, etc… that would make me extraordinarily uncomfortable.

I like Fractals laser focus.
 
Dr.Lee said:
Adding all of the features for controlling the show differentiates the Helix from the rest of the modeler pack. Having to shlep less gear can help the wallet and back as a ‘do it all’ jack of all trades device. However it creates a giant single point of failure for guitar, bass, vocals, lights, etc… that would make me extraordinarily uncomfortable.

I like Fractals laser focus.
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Thats why users buy backups :)
 
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AtomicJeff said:
We gear guys should be delighted about a company striving to improve their product line and come up with something new.
Doesn't mean I'm going to get it, but I'll eventually test drive it once the Guitar Centers of the world put it out on the demo floor.
If I thought it met my needs and sounded better than Fractal, then I'd get it. But I left the Helix world for the Fractal.

But no matter how nice my gear is, it doesn't matter if I don't practice more.
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At the moment, I have a FM9T, Axe2, and a Quad Cortex. I saw the promo for the new Stadium and I have to say, it looks awesome. I have no idea what the new modeling tech will sound like but I do believe L6 is a forward thinking company that took there time for this release. 10 Years I believe...
I am really hopeful that it will deliver. I may sell the QC and go for it. I may keep the QC and just bite the bullet. I look at modelers in the same way I use to look at tube amps. They are all different but offer their own unique perspectives. I was a Mesa guy back in the day. No one could convince me that Mesa wasn't the absolute best of the best!
Well, then my buddy, Chris sat me down to play his Axe2. I scoffed at him and truly felt offended that he thought so little of my ears Humph
Well, he fired it up and pulled a Recto patch up.
I thought, it sounded awful!!! "This sounds like sack, man..." we argued briefly and he handed me his PRS Custom24 and said "here" just give it a shot and an open mind.
Well, I grabbed the guitar and immediately started tweaking on AxeEdit. Turns out he just didn't know how to dial in the recto. Great guy but he would tell you that he's trash at dialing in good tones. I immediately created a patch that was seriously indistinguishable from my amp. I immediately fell in love with Fractal. I put the Triple Rec in storage 12 or so years ago and have been running with Fractal/chasing the tone in my head ever since.

So, all that to say, I am eternally great full for Fractal Audio and their dedication to their craft. I also love some of the things NDSP has done. They have a terrible business model, but I love there pitch shifting algorithms. Im jaded by NDSP atm, but Im still pushing along for the time being...

We try different things and keep the ones we like, and sell the ones we don't.
Im not cheating on Fractal just because I own competitor gear. Im not a dim-witted fanboy either. I don't mind stepping out when something peaks my interest.
I will always have a soft spot for Fractal, and I'll always own Fractal gear - it's Tier 1 model tech and at the top of the list IMHO. In the same way Mesa was back when I first played the Triple with the Oversized Slant -- Boom! Love at first Djerrrrnt-Djrnt. Didn't keep me from owning a Fender Deluxe, an Orange, and a couple Peaveys along the way (Others too but you get the gist).

We should always keep an open mind to new things. That's what keeps progress moving forward! Ideas will come from L6's latest iteration. Its possible Cliff is already cooking up the future thanks to competitors pushing and moving the ball of progress forward.

I look forward to playing L6 Stadium. I also continue to look forward to what's in the future with Fractal! Maybe even NDSP's QC tho I'm no longer holding my breath... (could be another 5 years before they do another update tho)

Happy playing, Everyone!
 
meat said:
Is that really different than shleping around two Axe3 or FM9 setups? You still have to have a back up and a laptop.
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You are asserting that you need two identical units to keep a show going. I disagree. You don't NEED to have two identical fractal units for a backup. Traditional guitar rigs are only responsible for a single task: To amplify your guitar. If you have a catastrophic failure, You could migrate to an amp sim or a couple of cheap small pedals to get you through a gig. If you are setup appropriately, the song doesn't even have to end.

With the Helix Stadium "workstation" concept, you have the preverbal basket that you are putting almost all of your eggs into. Outside of electrical events, it will be fairly rare that you would lose your vocal mic, tracks, lights, and whatever else your performance includes simultaneously. Using the Helix Stadium fully as designed will dramatically increase the risk of full show stoppage if your big pedal has an unplanned event. So now you HAVE to figure out either how to keep the show happening.. do you shlep redundant gear anyway and try to get it to fail over (unlikely) or purchase a second Stadium. Again, the value proposition is weakened.

I am an IT guy. I know better than putting your databases onto your web server onto your authentication server onto your fileserver onto your print server. Although I have had very lucrative service calls where some other IT guy did that to "save money" and the server went down taking the entire business with it. Same goes for loading a show onto one single device as far as I see it.
 
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Dr.Lee said:
Using the Helix Stadium fully as designed will dramatically increase the risk of full show stoppage if your big pedal has an unplanned event.
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Problems like loose cable connections happen more frequently than catastrophic failures of devices like the Helix. That’s point number one.

Maybe even more importantly, when I am the one who still needs to switch backing tracks, midi events and all that, AND have to deal with multiple devices, human failure is even more likely to occur. And it’s annoying as hell.

So that’s okay, I can certainly accept that risk of a single device failure while lowering higher risks.
 
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vangrieg said:
Problems like loose cable connections happen more frequently than catastrophic failures of devices like the Helix. That’s point number one.

Maybe even more importantly, when I am the one who still needs to switch backing tracks, midi events and all that, AND have to deal with multiple devices, human failure is even more likely to occur. And it’s annoying as hell.

So that’s okay, I can certainly accept that risk of a single device failure while lowering higher risks.
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Don't get me wrong, I am not saying "Don't do this". Only pointing out the risk of the entire show grinding to a halt. To be fair, my shows are completely non-choreographed as there is a heavy emphasis on spontaneity and improvisation. Automated changes between control systems are too rigid for that type of performance. Good luck with your new Helix Stadium!
 
Dr.Lee said:
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With the Helix Stadium "workstation" concept, you have the preverbal basket that you are putting almost all of your eggs into...
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Good point that I'm not sure many are thinking about. It also begs the question of what exactly is this even? Seems like it's becoming a "jack of all trades" sort of thing. Not sure how many would use something like this to it's full potential.
 
fcs101 said:
Good point that I'm not sure many are thinking about. It also begs the question of what exactly is this even? Seems like it's becoming a "jack of all trades" sort of thing. Not sure how many would use something like this to it's full potential.
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My opinion is that the product is a tad unfocused. However the modeler space is becoming congested and they need to try to stand out somehow.
 
Dave Merrill said:
Maybe. But Line 6 actually does have a long history of delivering products that work, and have the features advertised.
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I'm sure it will be a great product. I started out my modeling journey with a POD bean and later.. a Johnson Millennium and then a HD500. It's the natural progression of the tech.

I just think there are a lot of unanswered questions about the programming and the tone of the new algos. But lots of glossy photos.
 
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