Line 6 Helix - pod replacement

[DeclanWhite]

Why would an HD500X be $500, but a Helix with way more DSP, a new main display, upgraded footswitches, displays above every footswitch, way more inputs and outputs, capability of controlling MIDI, amps, and your DAW plus significantly more engineering and R&D costs to recoup ALSO be $500?

I mean, really?

this. eventually none of this will be relevant anymore, and that's when it'll be a killer deal

 

[Nuno Filipe]

Why would an HD500X be $500, but a Helix with way more DSP, a new main display, upgraded footswitches, displays above every footswitch, way more inputs and outputs, capability of controlling MIDI, amps, and your DAW plus significantly more engineering and R&D costs to recoup ALSO be $500?

I mean, really?

For me could be like a pile of shit in processor form, I would buy it if had great sound quality.

Because why would I care if it has a awesome lcd with 45637856 colors, made by apple techs, more dsp, the very last technology made by NASA and all that bullshit that doesnt mean great emulation and awesome quality sound?

I mean, really? Fuck that shit.

Because I think that something is missing here. IT´S FUCKING 1500. For this price, I could buy for example 2 heads man, 2 fucking heads, in used section. I could and probably I would buy a 6505/5150 and a Marshall JVM.
Only these 2 heads can make an extensive and versatile kind of tones that I willing to bet my balls that helix can come close to this quality. At least the high gain department.

 

[mikah912]

For me could be like a pile of shit in processor form, I would buy it if had great sound quality.

Because why would I care if it has a awesome lcd with 45637856 colors, made by apple techs, more dsp, the very last technology made by NASA and all that bullshit that doesnt mean great emulation and awesome quality sound?

I mean, really? Fuck that shit.

Because I think that something is missing here. IT´S FUCKING 1500. For this price, I could buy for example 2 heads man, 2 fucking heads, in used section. I could and probably I would buy a 6505/5150 and a Marshall JVM.
Only these 2 heads can make an extensive and versatile kind of tones that I willing to bet my balls that helix can come close to this quality. At least the high gain department.

Can those two heads record direct without a load box? Can they send a DI signal for reamping? Can they control your DAW? Can they visually display your entire signal chain at your feet and let you edit them with your feet? Can they simulate cabinets being mic'd? Can they load an acoustic IR giving you a piezo-esque tone with no additional hardware on your guitar? Can they load presets if you play in a band that needs a lot of tone changes across multiple genres?

I mean, if none of that matters to you, then Helix is a horrible purchase to make. But then again, most modelers would be as well.

 

[Nuno Filipe]

Can those two heads record direct without a load box? Can they send a DI signal for reamping? Can they control your DAW? Can they visually display your entire signal chain at your feet and let you edit them with your feet? Can they simulate cabinets being mic'd? Can they load an acoustic IR giving you a piezo-esque tone with no additional hardware on your guitar? Can they load presets if you play in a band that needs a lot of tone changes across multiple genres?

I mean, if none of that matters to you, then Helix is a horrible purchase to make. But then again, most modelers would be as well.

That point of view it´s intersting for someone that knows a bit more than turning knobs but for a standard user doesnt mean much. I highly doubt that someone might choose the processor based on those things. Of course that it´s better to have those things that nothing but those things alone will not make a lot of people throw 1500 for the processor.

As for the IR´s, of course this could make all the difference but only after hearing it but then again, 1500? fuck. A kemper or a axe fx sounds a far better deal.

 

[mikah912]

That point of view it´s intersting for someone that knows a bit more than turning knobs but for a standard user doesnt mean much. I highly doubt that someone might choose the processor based on those things. Of course that it´s better to have those things that nothing but those things alone will not make a lot of people throw 1500 for the processor.

As for the IR´s, of course this could make all the difference but only after hearing it but then again, 1500? fuck. A kemper or a axe fx sounds a far better deal.

Someone who would buy a high end modeling processor but have no interest in its recording capabilities or live performance versatility (which is what all of my questions concerned) is a complete and utter fool.

They'd be wasting their time with an Axe or Kemper as well.

 

[SocialNumb]

Did you Pre-order it or something? Just trying to be the odd man out? Know something the rest here don't? Would you happen to be Christian?

 

[mikah912]

Did you Pre-order it or something? Just trying to be the odd man out? Know something the rest here don't? Would you happen to be Christian?

Ha...nope. I'm not dropping $1500 (or $1200 with a couple of preorder places with coupons) on an object unheard. I just coughed up $600 for the Atomic Amps Amplifire, which I really liked, but didn't use any more than Recabinet 4 and my Blackstar ID:TVP60.

I'm just saying the price is not outrageous when you think of all of the capabilities. If you won't use them and want to buy it strictly for tone, it may not be worth it to you subjectively. But then again, you're paying for a lot more Axe-FX than you'd be using too.

Objectively, anything that offers 80-90 percent of the functionality of a Liquid Foot Pro and an Axe-FX, but costs just a hair more than JUST the Liquid Foot Pro is a good deal.

Like, you may prefer an iPhone 6 over a high end Android phone. Or vice versa. But either - compared against separately purchasing a nice digital point-n-shoot camera, GPS unit, phone and small tablet to browse the web - is a good deal, objectively speaking.

 

[SocialNumb]

Alright. Just asking.

 

[Charlez]

Amplist:

WhoWatt 100
Soup Pro
Stone Age 185
Tweed Blues Nrm
Tweed Blues Brt
US Small Tweed
US Deluxe Nrm
US Deluxe Vib
US Double Nrm
US Double Vib
Mail Order Twin
Divided Duo
Interstate Zed
Jazz Rivet 120
Essex A-15
Essex A-30
A-30 Fawn Nrm
A-30 Fawn Brt
Mandarin 80
Brit J-45 Nrm
Brit J-45 Brt
Brit Plexi Nrm
Brit Plexi Brt
Brit Plexi Jump
Brit P-75 Nrm
Brit P-75 Brt
Brit J-800
German Mahadeva
German Ubersonic
Cali Rectifire
ANGL Meteor
Solo Lead Clean
Solo Lead Crunch
Solo Lead OD
PV Panama
Line 6 Elektrik
Line 6 Doom
Line 6 Epic
Tuck n' Go
SV Beast Nrm
SV Beast Brt
Cali Bass
Cali 400 Ch1
Cali 400 Ch2
G Cougar 800

 

[Christian WUFU]

So, in the way of high gain it looks like:

Powerball
Rectifier (dual?)
Uberschall
SLO100
5150/6505
and whatever those newer Line 6 models are

Not very interesting unless they've really amped up their modelling

 

[MoTang]

So, in the way of high gain it looks like:

Powerball
Rectifier (dual?)
Uberschall
SLO100
5150/6505
and whatever those newer Line 6 models are

Not very interesting unless they've really amped up their modelling

Pretty disappointing, but I mean, has Line 6 done anything different for the past iterations of modelling?

I think it was a bit of wishful thinking that Line 6 would model anything other than what's listed...I find it funny though how companies insist on modelling the Powerball when it's like the worst ENGL amp in the lineup. It boggles my mind that people won't model the Blackmore or Savage, or even the e570, though I heard the former two amps are hard to model due to lack of proper schematics?

 

[dominus_malas]

Someone who would buy a high end modeling processor but have no interest in its recording capabilities or live performance versatility (which is what all of my questions concerned) is a complete and utter fool.

They'd be wasting their time with an Axe or Kemper as well.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this statement. The Axe FX and Kemper are both known for their recording capabilities and live performance versatility. What other uses are there for high end modelers? (In fact, what other uses are there for low end modelers as well?)

 

[Pursuance]

Is there an actual release date for this thing?

I'm very skeptical but really, nothing is certain until we get some hands on reviews from people we trust. In my opinion having a super nice looking UI and the capability to load IRs isn't enough to make me that interested. Not being able to load IRs into the HD was a major problem, but to be honest it is not a huge pain to disable the cab and load in your own IR in a DAW if you are recording. If you were just using it live most people use real cabs and a power amp anyway so eh, the price tag still doesn't justify what i see.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Don't they already have a 5150, SLO100, ENGL Fireball, Bogner Shiva and Uberschall, and Dual Rectifier in the lineup? I definitely wanted something new in the high gain arena as well, but let's not act as if there is NOTHING for high gain players. They have at least one amp from every manufacturer you just listed except for Krank (nobody cares), EVH (definitely a glaring omission to not have a 5150 III sim), and Framus (I'd like a Cobra model, but I'm enjoying Recabinet 4's so much, I'm ok with it not being there. Plus, the Axe-FX doesn't have a Cobra either).

Would much rather have a Krank sim than a Fireball sim. Just sayin'.

 

[mikah912]

Would much rather have a Krank sim than a Fireball sim. Just sayin'.

I think you can admit, however, that a Krank Krankenstein or whatever would be a less popular choice than, say, a Mesa Mark IV or 5150 III, right?

Line 6 obviously (and somewhat puzzlingly) has limited modeling resources. So every add-on from this point forward should appeal to as many users as possible in order to maximize the impact.

 

[HOFX]

I think you can admit, however, that a Krank Krankenstein or whatever would be a less popular choice than, say, a Mesa Mark IV or 5150 III, right?

Line 6 obviously (and somewhat puzzlingly) has limited modeling resources. So every add-on from this point forward should appeal to as many users as possible in order to maximize the impact.

Doesn't stop the one man shows of TSE, Kazrog, LePou or Ignite Amps from releasing quality.

 

[mikah912]

Doesn't stop the one man shows of TSE, Kazrog, LePou or Ignite Amps from releasing quality.

Not even comparable, bro.

Line 6 has - to date - had to code to cheap SHARC chips with not a lot of memory. They have to recreate amps, cabs, pedals, and FX....ltos in each category. Then, they've had to design, manufacture, support, and refine hardware with footswitches, a display, USB port/drivers, and an expression pedal.

1-2 man VST shops, on the other hand, just have to code. They have no one to account to other than themselves, so they can take as long as they like. They don't have to worry about the DSP running their code. They don't have to worry about any hardware. And none of them have released anywhere near the amount of amount of amp or stomp models, plus most of the guys in that list don't model FX at all.

I love all of the developers you listed, and I personally use TSE X50 V2 and Recabinet 4 FAAAAAAAR more than any Line 6 product I've ever had. That being said, there's no comparison.

 

[Slicklickz]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned that there is also a rack mount version of the Helix as well,with a matching foot controller available.

 

[HOFX]

Not even comparable, bro.

Line 6 has - to date - had to code to cheap SHARC chips with not a lot of memory. They have to recreate amps, cabs, pedals, and FX....ltos in each category. Then, they've had to design, manufacture, support, and refine hardware with footswitches, a display, USB port/drivers, and an expression pedal.

1-2 man VST shops, on the other hand, just have to code. They have no one to account to other than themselves, so they can take as long as they like. They don't have to worry about the DSP running their code. They don't have to worry about any hardware. And none of them have released anywhere near the amount of amount of amp or stomp models, plus most of the guys in that list don't model FX at all.

I love all of the developers you listed, and I personally use TSE X50 V2 and Recabinet 4 FAAAAAAAR more than any Line 6 product I've ever had. That being said, there's no comparison.

Point taken and agree, except it seems they went quantity over quality. I have experience in software development, but not so much in hardware development, so can't comment much on that.

 

[JeffTD]

It's totally comparable as far as a user is concerned. If I can get better results with software then I'm not going to use hardware - I'm not going to give them a pass just because they have limitations the others don't. I don't award handicap points when shooting out gear.