sb77

quite honestly I dont see much of substitute for trying it anyway. Measurements and profiles dont give the whole story away - been surprised before. It looks wonderful and I have been after a baritone for a while - it would have to be pig uncomfortable not to get on with it.

be my guest.... :D

Thanks but I dont have a Facebook page. I am on the verge of putting a deposit down and I guess if I really cant get on with the neck I would send it back but based on what I see so far I might find returning it rather difficult! Very subjective thing is neck profile anyway...

Thanks for the reply. Hmmm. Vintage SG? The 50s profile neck? And "thinner like the strat"? I dont usually associate a thin neck with a strat but they vary... Chunky neck would not suit me so I am glad to hear that. Thin is good. Any glue as to fingerboard radius? Thanks again.

Hi, Very interested in Shuriken - was looking for a baritone anyway and I already own Helix so...... Tell me about the neck profile please? I am very fussy and like slim Gibson SG necks and ESP which I dont think are going to be a match with what I see described as a C profile. Any dimensions or comparisons to other guitars you could share? Thanks.

Thanks for this - I hadn't heard of this and had completely given up on guitar to MIDI after a VG-99 failed to deliver satisfactory stability. This ACTUALLY WORKS! I have bought it after trying the eval for a few hours as I reckon for the money it is well worth it. A few things that need sorting with it such as not saving important defaults in the stand alone version and I am a little screwed using an E string tuned to C as it only goes as low as Drop D. So hows this relevant here? Well it finally for me gets the benefits of the available signal routing in Helix to deliver a clean signal via USB to MIDI Guitar 2 and also a switch (Volume pedal block tied to a bypass switch) to turn external synth on and off. Until now I had used Helix in the simplest Guitar in to Stereo Out and adding this no-brainer functionality was neat. I would urge anybody that still hankers after MIDI guitar to go take a look at Jam Origin's product - major improvement on any previous efforts that were expensive and largely unsuccessful. Thanks again for the tip.

Couple of artefacts during the update - 1) the garbled text in the middle of the screen as seen by others. 2) straight after rebuilding presets it hung (helix graphic stopped twisting) - power cycled - all good. Has done this just once before. 3) Rebuilding presets twice. But net effect is 100% functional. And massive + with MIDI sync.

The tap light colour change was a good idea - helpful visual feedback.

but the darn RC-300 wont slave to MIDI (only act as a master). :( . If only.... But at least the Helix becomes part of the tempo chain.

I too have been desperate for this feature just hoping it would get added so this update is more than welcome. I too use a drum machine but also play with Live and a bunch of stand alone synths with built in sequencers. I either need to get Helix delays (an effect I use extensively and in a rhythmic context) to follow a master MIDI tempo (best option) or use Helix as a master clock for everything else (bit unwieldy but workable). So slave to a MIDI clock is critical for me too.

I have a couple of Cube 30x's. They work OK but they really dont bring out the best from Helix. Limited response and not exactly flat. I think you could do better...

Absolutely! ****** yay! That's a very pleasant surprise this morning =- thanks for attending to this.

I'd except either! Master or slave. Personally slave would be best tho.

I am pretty certain there is nothing missing in hardware to add MIDI support - it has the prerequisite 5 pin / usb and just requires updates to firmware. Responses from Line 6 confirm this, but as & when this will get added is anyone's guess - there is no sign it is even on the list AFAIK. For many, it is a glaring omission and the reason why I use an AX-8. Just got to hope they get this back in the spec to at least equal older Pod products.

This "Archetype Lead" amp = Fractal worrier! Nice job Line 6.

Yes. Be true to say that. But I also need MIDI sync to drum box & sequencers.

I too have both and yes they do sound very different. Not so much about the DSPs more the firmware to generate the models I think? Either way , I use mine in parallel but I rely on the AX-8 for MIDI tempo sync still sadly absent from Helix. I also far prefer the high gain amps in AX-8. The Helix Engl does do well tho. Ultimately there is already well discussed pros & cons but personal preferences are just that. If I was absolutely forced to sell one I am afraid it would be Helix.

The comparison you made was between Axe FX and AX-8? Point of fact I don't actually know (or much care!) what processors are in Helix & what speed they are clocked at -its what comes out that counts. The way each device processes audio is manufacturer specific - such as the algorithms utilised and the conversion chips employed. There are plenty of differences. Plenty. And no AX-8 doesn't have an audio interface - not everybody wants one I guess. I have access to both.

AX-8 Two dual-core Analog Devices SHARCâ„¢ 450 MHz ADSP-21469s and two micro controllers. One is dedicated to amp modelling, the other to effects and housekeeping. Axe FX Two 600 MHz dual-core Analog Devices TigerSHARCâ„¢ Digital Signal Processors working in tandem Different processors. Different market point, so yes it is economics, but they aren't the same product and build cost is significantly higher on the Axe FX They are different devices and priced according to component and therefore feature cost. That said, for me its about the resulting sound.

Couldn't agree more. I bought an AX-8 because of this.

Please. Just such a significant backward step from the Pods and even if only for a minority it really should be capable of receiving MIDI clock by default. Any time soon?

"or or rack unit have MIDI clock sync yet." So that rather implies it is going to get it???! Any degree of certainty on this? This, to date, has stopped me buying Helix.

Yep, no purchase till it gets MIDI in & out - backward step from 500x and I cant live without it either.

Got a little catty here... :mellow: Never mind. Some level headed responses too so thanks for them. For what its worth I decided to go AX-8 for now. I think it will suit my needs better for the time being mainly for the reasons I sighted at the start. If Line 6 want to tidy up some of the less complete itinerary (especially lack of MIDI sync) and add some more quality high-gain models which I am well sure it is capable of supporting I will look again. And that does not mean that I consider the Helix inferior - its just the AX-8 is a better fit for me. At the moment. :)

Always were going to be some fun replies... There are a few that are a ) wealthy enough to own both ( & good luck to them) and b ) can be objective. My particular preferences are specific - "best" high gain amps & MIDI tempo on quality delay models. I am not into quantity, I dont need yet another USB audio interface. Both devices have pros & cons. Its difficult to be objective but its a lot easier not to be biased. i don't fancy my chances asking this on the FA forum though - seen way more intelligent stuff here.