neonjohn

Well, I've been a Helix user back to the initial release of the floor. I have also owned an Axe FX III as well as an FM3 with the 6 switch unit and a Mission pedal. Twice I've gone over to Fractal, and twice I've come back to Helix. The Fractal stuff is really incredible. Truly superb units. But so is Helix. Don't buy into the hype (as I did twice). Perhaps Fractal has marginally better modeling, though using both, I'm not convinced. For the clean-to-crunch zone I live in, preferring IRs on BOTH, I find them totally equal, with the Helix way easier to find the sound I want. Fractal effects are beautiful, BUT - I was never able to dial in the realistic self-oscillation on the Fractal echoes that I can do on the Helix. Also, I'm a big Timmy user. On the Helix, the settings on the Teemah match my real Timmy v2 to a T (so to speak), and A/B perfectly with the real Timmy in a Send. On the Fractals, I couldn't get either of the Timmy emulations to sound and act like the real one. Same with the pedal compressors. And the all time most annoying thing about the Fractal for me - the switching system. Having the footswitches that don't change with the program (without specific detailed per-patch programming - a royal PITA) is insanity-making. I took the plunge twice, and I'm back with the Helix to stay. Fractal makes SUPERB units, but superior to Helix? Maybe in some ways, but Helix is better in others. Quality of sound? Maybe on the factory patches, but overall I don't think so. No one at my shows or hearing my recordings (including me) would notice a quality difference. I don't really believe there is one - mostly that Fractal perhaps has better factory patches. I found 99% on both units out of the box NG for me. If you enjoy spending long hours chasing down rabbit holes tweaking (and some folks do, and that's cool), or if your a rich star and hire someone to do all your programming, Fractal may appeal. If you're a player, Helix is far friendlier. I want to spend hours playing music, not programming minute details and switch insanity. Sound? Equals in my book- and I have extensive experience in both. Love your Helix. Especially with the latest update, it is a monster.

Everyone has their own preference. On my analog board and now on my Helix, I always have my noise gate first (get rid of Fender hum), then my compressor, then my volume pedal . . . and then OD, fuzz, etc . This way the volume pedal increases volume as well as drive into the ODs and amp, like using the volume knob. However, I always place the compressor BEFORE the volume so my cleaner quieter sounds still sound full and smooth. Thus, it replaces the volume knob on my guitar, but after the compressor. I don't like simply pulling back the volume knob on the guitar, which pulls back level to the ODs/amp, but also to the compressor, negating its effect on my clean sound, which is where I really like it. YMMV of course.