Line 6 Helix
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6095 posts since 5 Jul, 2001 from Just about .... there
I am not a modeling fan, but I got to play one of these and I was impressed. The editor and routing setup are just about perfection. And it sound pretty damn good. It doesn't have that compressed/constricted sound PODs have. Anyone else thinking of taking the plunge on one?
Uncle E, you guys going to get some in any time soon?
Uncle E, you guys going to get some in any time soon?
If you have to ask, you can't afford the answer
- KVRAF
- 23103 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
Yeah, I'm very deviously thinking about getting one in due time. It looks like it's a freaking tank, and all those displays and lights... awesome.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6095 posts since 5 Jul, 2001 from Just about .... there
I was expecting to go hohum like I do with pretty much all the modeling boxes. Kempers are great if not a bit overly complicated. But, the models on the Helix sound really good and dynamic. It still has a tiny bit of the constricted/hairy thing ... but by the time you dial it in, it disappears under the noise floor. You could probably get solid studio grade recording DI for a crap load of tones.
For live I'm not sure you could tell. At least based on the 45 minutes Ibeat on the thing it seems that way.
For live I'm not sure you could tell. At least based on the 45 minutes Ibeat on the thing it seems that way.
If you have to ask, you can't afford the answer
- KVRAF
- 23103 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
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- KVRian
- 705 posts since 9 May, 2005
At first, I completely wrote off the Kemper thinking it was just too expensive for yet another simulation.
After talking to some locals who were using it (and hearing the results), I started thinking of the gear it could replace (both live and studio), how much it would reduce my live cartage, and the convenience of recording guitar/bass. All those things factored in, (for me) the Kemper was easily worth the cost.
I saw/heard the Helix at Sweetwater's Gearfest 2015.
It was so busy... I never got to actually sit/play thru it.
Based on what I'm seeing/hearing, I'm definitely interested.
The control and FX alone are very nice.
If the models feel/respond as well as quality profiles on the Kemper, Line-6 will have a runaway success.
After talking to some locals who were using it (and hearing the results), I started thinking of the gear it could replace (both live and studio), how much it would reduce my live cartage, and the convenience of recording guitar/bass. All those things factored in, (for me) the Kemper was easily worth the cost.
I saw/heard the Helix at Sweetwater's Gearfest 2015.
It was so busy... I never got to actually sit/play thru it.
Based on what I'm seeing/hearing, I'm definitely interested.
The control and FX alone are very nice.
If the models feel/respond as well as quality profiles on the Kemper, Line-6 will have a runaway success.
- KVRAF
- 2134 posts since 11 Oct, 2007 from Almanya
This can't be the best new thing yet.
BIAS hasn't finished being the best new thing yet.
BIAS hasn't finished being the best new thing yet.
I don't work here, I just feed the trolls.
My sales thread @ Market Place
My website with lots of free stuff:
Sampled drums and instruments | Clipping plugin | Shure SRH840 EQ correction presets | SFZ syntax mode for Coda2
My sales thread @ Market Place
My website with lots of free stuff:
Sampled drums and instruments | Clipping plugin | Shure SRH840 EQ correction presets | SFZ syntax mode for Coda2
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- KVRAF
- 6804 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I really like the Helix+FRFR setup. I think it's smart.
I'm actually opposed to "reamping" of which I've done with many multi-effect dsp > amp situations in the past. On my yamaha THRC the godsend is that I can record dry and wet into my daw using separate channels yet what I'm hearing is the wet signal only. Afterwards I can choose to go with the original thrc amp sim sound or having a clean signal introduce various other vst effects/amp sims. (mostly I just go with the THR and I'm happy)
I would have died for an FRFR back in my gigging days
I'm actually opposed to "reamping" of which I've done with many multi-effect dsp > amp situations in the past. On my yamaha THRC the godsend is that I can record dry and wet into my daw using separate channels yet what I'm hearing is the wet signal only. Afterwards I can choose to go with the original thrc amp sim sound or having a clean signal introduce various other vst effects/amp sims. (mostly I just go with the THR and I'm happy)
I would have died for an FRFR back in my gigging days
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6095 posts since 5 Jul, 2001 from Just about .... there
I actually reamp back through real amps because sims just sound like crap in comparison. It's just too damn convenient to use sims. And in a mix, it's not a problem. If you multi-track a bunch of times, it's not a problem. But a single guitar that has to carry the song ... ick.tapper mike wrote:I really like the Helix+FRFR setup. I think it's smart.
I'm actually opposed to "reamping" of which I've done with many multi-effect dsp > amp situations in the past. On my yamaha THRC the godsend is that I can record dry and wet into my daw using separate channels yet what I'm hearing is the wet signal only. Afterwards I can choose to go with the original thrc amp sim sound or having a clean signal introduce various other vst effects/amp sims. (mostly I just go with the THR and I'm happy)
I would have died for an FRFR back in my gigging days
If you have to ask, you can't afford the answer
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- KVRist
- 55 posts since 30 Aug, 2014
Feature wise they nailed it, as a Kemper owner since the beginning I'm happy with my choice especially for the studio, but if this was around at the time and the sound and feel stacked up I would be all over it.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6095 posts since 5 Jul, 2001 from Just about .... there
Kemper was on my short list for studio use. I know several people who swear by them. But, for live use I don't know how you could beat this setup if it actually sounds as good as it seems it does.afcollett wrote:Feature wise they nailed it, as a Kemper owner since the beginning I'm happy with my choice especially for the studio, but if this was around at the time and the sound and feel stacked up I would be all over it.
If you have to ask, you can't afford the answer
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- KVRian
- 705 posts since 9 May, 2005
The Kemper remote is $600.
I'd rather put that toward the Helix.
If the Amps are in the realm of Axe-FX and Kemper... Helix will be super popular.
I'd rather put that toward the Helix.
If the Amps are in the realm of Axe-FX and Kemper... Helix will be super popular.
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- KVRAF
- 6804 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
In that situation I would take the amp sim out of the mix and just use the standard FX. My best live years were using a Traynor YBA clean. One setting works all night for Jazz and Blues the rest is in your fingers.SJ_Digriz wrote:I actually reamp back through real amps because sims just sound like crap in comparison. It's just too damn convenient to use sims. And in a mix, it's not a problem. If you multi-track a bunch of times, it's not a problem. But a single guitar that has to carry the song ... ick.tapper mike wrote:I really like the Helix+FRFR setup. I think it's smart.
I'm actually opposed to "reamping" of which I've done with many multi-effect dsp > amp situations in the past. On my yamaha THRC the godsend is that I can record dry and wet into my daw using separate channels yet what I'm hearing is the wet signal only. Afterwards I can choose to go with the original thrc amp sim sound or having a clean signal introduce various other vst effects/amp sims. (mostly I just go with the THR and I'm happy)
I would have died for an FRFR back in my gigging days
Even today I barely use anything past a crunch. I find attempting to reamp after a sim to push aliasing artifacts out over the top and it requires something like a noise gate and additional eq / multiband compression to bring things inline. I hate noise gates.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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Mister Natural Mister Natural https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164174
- KVRAF
- 2834 posts since 28 Oct, 2007 from michigan
I seriously think anyone who doesn't embrace modern "modeling" has their head in the sand
yes, TOOB amp tone-snobs, I'm looking at you
yes, TOOB amp tone-snobs, I'm looking at you
expert only on what it feels like to be me
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
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- KVRAF
- 6804 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I'm not opposed to the current amp sim technology. I embrace it. I just prefer not to send a guitar line into an amp (or sim) pre and post stages then through another amp (and or sim) to reshape (reamp) the same signal
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6095 posts since 5 Jul, 2001 from Just about .... there
reamping to me is to use a dry track, not to send an already processed track out to an amp. I can't imagine doing so would sound very good.tapper mike wrote:I'm not opposed to the current amp sim technology. I embrace it. I just prefer not to send a guitar line into an amp (or sim) pre and post stages then through another amp (and or sim) to reshape (reamp) the same signal
If you have to ask, you can't afford the answer