Line6 Helix Stadium

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Greg Ferguson said:
When the Helix Floor was originally released they included the backpack in an introductory bundle. I wasn't impressed with the build or materials; I have some very nice backpacks and bags that I compared them to. IMO, they were so-so, and unless they've greatly improved the quality for the price, I'd go with something by Studio Slips.

But that seems to be the situation too often; Some company makes a product and offers a bag for it, slaps their logo on it, but forgets to put the quality in.

Jeez, I sound like a curmudgeon. :)
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I have the backpack since almost 10 years and still use it for the FC12. It's the only bag that I use daily that withstood the time. Not even my SKB Roto cases did hold up so long. So, sorry, having this thing in HEAVY use with even 3-4 Expression pedals, Cables and a Laptop in it, nothing failed. It's waterproof and you can even exchange the padding because there are zippers inside but the padding is still in perfect condition.
 
to me Line6 has all the ressources to perform the best in the next gen. With Proxy and NAM support (apparently Steve is working with them to see how TZ3 could be implemented inside the Helix Cloud) they will be able to crush IKM ToneX, Neural DSP and Kemper. They are everywhere in stores around the world, so if you unit just fail you can get one on tour pretty quickly and easily, and the USB/memory card will allow to clone your device so it will be very convenient (like kemper with usb stick)
They have the best engineers, and a solid base of customers.
I’m sure they will be pretty hard to beat.
That said for the modeling world, white box mode, now I found AFXIII amp models to be the best in my own experience even if I prefer black boxes NAM and ToneX overall (found the feel better)
But if Helix Stadium offers a native plugin to complete the ecosystem and a iOS app, then I’ll switch 100% on stadium.
I had a lot of fun with helix native and ToneX plugins. Sometime you want to be 100% RME+macbook and guitar and not dealing with big rack and pedals at home or studio.

I will probably wait FAS announcements about next gen product and then choose between AXF4 / Stadium / ToneX Pro / Kemper mk2.
 
swiss studio said:
With Proxy and NAM support (apparently Steve is working with them to see how TZ3 could be implemented inside the Helix Cloud) they will be able to crush IKM ToneX, Neural DSP and Kemper
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Or not!
It's clearly not about the sound for many, otherwise products will be collecting dust in the shelfs. Many things to consider. Starting with fancying, of course:)
For example, I'm travelling outside the city as I'm writing this with nothing more than headless guitar, tonex one and iPad. It will take me through the gig no problem, jazz or cover band. About than 4kg total. Unless line6 has a new product of this side, why bother?
 
unix-guy said:
It's running our full IEM rig as well as our splitters for FOH. An analog console for the same scenario would be massive and much more expensive... But I feel you!
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We're only 4 with 3 monitors and a backline amp for bass, it's really so much more easy for what we do. No IEM, just hearing protections though as during the second half of the set it can get quite loud.

Oops, I think we left the stadium subject. My experience so far with Line6 is fine but to me it never had the last "missing link", so like yek I stuck with FAS as it rocks and also thisforum is a real "amaaaaazing customer experience" in apple talk.
 

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swiss studio said:
to me Line6 has all the ressources to perform the best in the next gen. With Proxy and NAM support (apparently Steve is working with them to see how TZ3 could be implemented inside the Helix Cloud) they will be able to crush IKM ToneX, Neural DSP and Kemper. They are everywhere in stores around the world, so if you unit just fail you can get one on tour pretty quickly and easily, and the USB/memory card will allow to clone your device so it will be very convenient (like kemper with usb stick)
They have the best engineers, and a solid base of customers.
I’m sure they will be pretty hard to beat.
That said for the modeling world, white box mode, now I found AFXIII amp models to be the best in my own experience even if I prefer black boxes NAM and ToneX overall (found the feel better)
But if Helix Stadium offers a native plugin to complete the ecosystem and a iOS app, then I’ll switch 100% on stadium.
I had a lot of fun with helix native and ToneX plugins. Sometime you want to be 100% RME+macbook and guitar and not dealing with big rack and pedals at home or studio.

I will probably wait FAS announcements about next gen product and then choose between AXF4 / Stadium / ToneX Pro / Kemper mk2.
Click to expand...


Line 6 is owned by Yamaha which is a publicly held company. Publicly held companies spend minimum and try to maximize profits. They will not spend the money to make a great product. Instead, they will spend the minimum amount and try to market it to the masses.

Look at the Helix, they milked that dry with all those silly variations. Helix, HX FX, Helix Light, FX stomp, FX Stop XL, Helix One.

A good indication of quality modeling is to take a preamp model into the real power amp of that amp. It should sound the same when the controls are set like the real amp. Fractal was the first modeler that I ever found this to be true. Line 6 not even close. I have many of the real amps that Fractal models. And they are dead on.
 
baron55 said:
Line 6 is owned by Yamaha which is a publicly held company. Publicly held companies spend minimum and try to maximize profits. They will not spend the money to make a great product. Instead, they will spend the minimum amount and try to market it to the masses.

Look at the Helix, they milked that dry with all those silly variations. Helix, HX FX, Helix Light, FX stomp, FX Stop XL, Helix One.
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Those variation all have good reasons to exist IMO. Far from "milking it dry", they're meeting the different needs of different users. It's not all that different from Fractal's lineup. They're just a bigger company, more consumer oriented, so there are a few more variations. But not a ton, most of which are a similar to variations that have been requested by Fractal users too - tiny, fx only, modeling only, etc.

It's also hard to deny that when the OG Helix came out it really did advance the industry. Fractal has led in modeling quality, but Helix provided a lot of power alongside touch-and-modify usability.

Rising tide...
 
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FractalAudio said:
It's a nice looking product. People should be aware that we haven't exactly been resting on our laurels. Our next-gen products have what would've been considered super-computing power just a few years ago. ;)

It will make all these other products look like a Game Boy.
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I note you said "products", as in we can expect floor models as well? (Maybe something compact.)
 
brendanmakesmusic said:
I will say that, between this and the new Kemper stuff (lol) the only impact it has on me is making me hesitate to buy a new FM9. This generation is not showing any signs of aging, but it wouldn’t be surprising, given that the release date of the OG AxeFX III is getting up there and the competition is releasing their next gen stuff, we’d be closing in on a new Fractal release in the not too distant future.

It is awesome to see the modeling market finally in it’s maturity.
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The FM9 will still be amazing even if something new comes out
 
Chromatizm said:
Or not!
It's clearly not about the sound for many, otherwise products will be collecting dust in the shelfs. Many things to consider. Starting with fancying, of course:)
For example, I'm travelling outside the city as I'm writing this with nothing more than headless guitar, tonex one and iPad. It will take me through the gig no problem, jazz or cover band. About than 4kg total. Unless line6 has a new product of this side, why bother?
Click to expand...

I think if they can make a Stadium Stomp that has updated modeling, capturing, integration with a DAW plugin, and wireless editing, they will pretty much dominate the market.
 
Alexis said:
I have the backpack since almost 10 years and still use it for the FC12. It's the only bag that I use daily that withstood the time. Not even my SKB Roto cases did hold up so long. So, sorry, having this thing in HEAVY use with even 3-4 Expression pedals, Cables and a Laptop in it, nothing failed. It's waterproof and you can even exchange the padding because there are zippers inside but the padding is still in perfect condition.
Click to expand...
You were lucky then. One of mine had a zipper that failed with light use.
 
aflynt said:
I personally never liked the whole 'UI on a floorboard as primary means of programming unit' thing where you are hunched over the unit in the least ergonomic way possible. In the videos it seems that they have custom desktop stands for the Stadium that put it vertical. That seems like the best way to interact with the unit for an extended period of time. But how much better is that than a really well designed desktop or iPad app? I'd rather have an on-unit ui optimized for how use the unit it in performance - more durable and highly visible, and a separate desktop / tablet ui for how you use it when you're programming sounds.

-Aaron
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+1
 
sick pickle said:
Definitely but the FOMO is real and I’m sure a lot of people on these forums will be buying the new thing no matter what!
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I won't be "buying the new thing no matter what", i love my Axe 3, but i will be checking out the new fractal offerings, and considering how much i want them, if money permits.

Which it may not. Buying an Axe 3 was a big investment for me. Totally glad i did it, but it might not be doable again, and as has been said, my 3 doesn't get worse because there's a New Thing.
 
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