shawnt113

I never said the Helix sucks. I said, truthfully so, that the amp distortion modeling needs improvement. I also never said it sounds “THAT” bad, I did however say that the amp distortion modeling is not in the same league as the Axe FX, also saying that I notice it most when I go back to the Axe FX from the Helix. If I never had an Axe Fx then maybe I wouldn’t k is better but I do and I do.

I am running 3.0 When I say dark I should have clarified, its not the overall tone of the Helix but its the tone and behavior of the Drive/Break up or virtual input, like the input is too dark or something, its almost like the same effect when you take a Mesa Mark series and turn up the bass knob. . Its hard to explain really, it got a little better once I messed with the impendence settings but only a little better. As for real world amps I have reference to from in person quality experience: 5150, JCM 800, Diezel VH4, Uberschall, Shiva (which no one has gotten that one right), Dual Rec, Soldano (though limited and a while since). These are the ones that from experience I feel need attention in the way the amps distort. I get what you are saying and you are right that our opinions are subjective but there is still something about the way Helix does amp distortion and Fractal does that aren't in the same league. Its just not close, I notice it most when I go back to the Axe fx from playing the Helix, and when it comes to Native, forget about it.The Line 6 Helix algorithms for amp distortion both pre and power just aren't as realistic as Fractal Audio. I also get what its like to have a vested interest in wanting your gear to stand up, I would LOVE the Helix to be good enough for me to sell my Axe Fx II while I still could get some money out of it, while its sufficient for live use, especially given the floor units convenience when it comes to recording, its just not. I know more than a fair share of Youtubers who highlight both units that privately admit that the while the Helix is great kit, its not on the same level as the Axe Fx. I am pretty sure by how you worded your original reply you are going to come out swinging but I am not looking a fight, I am just being honest, so anything I am saying that is contrary is with respect. I can speak on this matter as I have the first hand experience with both, and if anything, my bias leans towards the Helix because I WANT it to replace the Axe Fx, and I have owned and still do many L6 pieces of gear since 2001 and on so L6 has a special place in my heart. The last thing I would say about your take on subjective, math, DSP etc is that by your rationale A.I. music mastering should be as good as if not better than tracks mastered my mastering engineers with training, experience and the right room. I think we can all agree that is not the case.

Herbert!

What I would love to see in the Helix is improvement to the amp modeling. I feel the amps are a little dark but aside from that the overall “tone” tones are close (enough), but where they really could use some attention is the characteristics of how the amp breaks up. I know I’ll take some heat for this but the amp breakup isn’t there, it’s not the same as the real world amps I’ve had experience with and it doesn’t compete with my Axe Fx II which is now a legacy product. I really think this is something that keeps the Helix from being in then next tier of modeling units.

Well that IS the name of the game there right? :) But seriously DSP is exactly why I am looking for an external solution.

You’re right. It’s the inability to go up that also turned me off. The Ricochet is the pedal that won’t do 1/2 steps but will go up or down (polyphonically ai believe). The Whammy DT will do both but damn it’s pricey (if you don’t need the whammy) and the worse part it’s big . I wish it was in the standard Whammy footprint.

The name on it doesn’t matter. I had said further up that the reason I didn’t go with the Drop is because I need to be able to go up as well as down, and to my knowledge you cannot do 1/2 steps with the Drop. While the full step would also come in handy I think the inability to do 1/2 steps is the deal breaker.

DSP hogging is the reason I’d like a stand-alone pedal. But I am excited about the prospect. I wouldn’t even worry about it if Digitech made a pedal that could go up or down 1/2 and whole steps. The Pitchfork does it but like I had said it ads this weird “thing” to the tone, almost like a metallic 10ms reverb, but kinda akin to the old Variax Resonator or Banjo sounds. It’s hard to explain.

I also posted this in the stomp section but thought I would post here also. I think it would be awesome for L6 to make a pedal to rival the EHX Pitchfork, Digitech drop etc... I already use the pitch shifter in the Helix LT to detune my guitar up or down 1/2 step. Its not perfect, it can be a bit artifacty but its not horrible, and gets me through in a pinch. I hear the digitech drop is about the best for this but I need to ne able to go up or down by 1/2 step increments so I tried the EHX Pitchfork. Its ok but adds a weird resonance to the tone like the resonator on my old variax 300. As well as the Helix does I'd think a dedicated pedal could probably nail it.

I think it would be awesome for L6 to make a pedal to rival the EHX Pitchfork, Digitech drop etc... I already use the pitch shifter in the Helix LT to detune my guitar up or down 1/2 step. Its not perfect, it can be a bit artifacty but its not horrible, and gets me through in a pinch. I hear the digitech drop is about the best for this but I need to ne able to go up or down by 1/2 step increments so I tried the EHX Pitchfork. Its ok but adds a weird resonance to the tone like the resonator on my old variax 300. As well as the Helix does I'd think a dedicated pedal could probably nail it.

I’ve been away from the chats for a while. Are we at a point for the LT where we can use the bottom row of FS to select presets and the top to select effects?

I try to! Mostly a metal head, So I don’t play like a normal worship guitarist. I don’t noodle near as much, I try to keep the music sounding full but give it room to breathe when it needs to.

Their presets have been invaluable for playing with the worship team at church. I tweak them, but they save me so much time. I could just load them in and go on a Sunday morning with no tweaks if I wanted. A lot of worships guys have been going through this boutique snob thing for a while but, I’ve been seeing more and more looking into or going with platforms like the Helix and for good reason. I can carry my LT in a bag On my back, guitar in hand, in ears in my pocket... done!

Thank you for the reply. I think I agree wholeheartedly with you. I’ve purchased a couple of individual presets from Worship Tutorials but mostly for the fx and they were only like 2.99 a piece. Ive had my Helix for a couple of years now and I still struggle with it, for me it’s not the tone as much as the distortion and feel. My Axe FX feels like you’re playing the real thing and the way the amp breaks up and the overall distortion/gain structure is like the real amp, I feel that is missing in the Helix, along with realistic sustain, and clarity and note separation (same thing I know) of the real amps. If there was an update that addressed that and improved it I’d be Helix all the way!

So I was looking through some Helix related stuff, til now I’ve not considered Helix a viable option for quality recording, but lately I’ve been pondering selling my Axe FX and going the vst route. I’ve had Helix + Native for a couple of years now, and keep seeing people that are selling “Helix Preset Packs” for example the ML Plexi pack. Other than the IR, what can they really offer that makes the price worth it? With the Axe FX is can get it because Tone Matching and advanced parameters but the Helix has neither.