mikah912

Think about the sequence of events here, tho. Helix Native 1.0 is essentially aligned to Helix 2.21. If they release a new firmware before Helix Native, they're resetting everything to then bring the engine improvements and everything else up to parity. So, Native gets delayed even more and people get pissed off about THAT. The development is multi-threaded, which is why there is a backlog of finished models just waiting. But they're never released in a vacuum. They come with DSP changes and tweaks to fix existing issues and to make the new models possible. Those changes and tweaks must be tested, but that can only be done once there is a single firmware target across all of the platforms. The alternative to all of this is that we get piecemeal releases like Fractal does where there is a public beta for the Axe-FX, but not for the AX8. Then, the AX8 gets the latest official version, but not the Axe-FX, and so on and so forth. And they don't even have a VST plugin to code for.

To be fair, there have been two major architectural developments that are months apart that have necessitated the delays. The first was Snapshots. The second is Native (and a new editor shortly thereafter). After Native, it should be relatively downhill from there. The new models for 2.3x are supposedly just about done and sitting around.

You're going to read lots of thoughtful opinions here, but my best advice would be to IGNORE what "people are saying....". I know that sounds contradictory on a public forum where we specifically try to share perspectives and opinions, but once you make a decision for you.....what "they" say is irrelevant.

Sheehanje, If you're looking to creat a single Helix patch to make the Mark IV behave like a multichannel amp, may I suggest you hunt down the Mark IV Helix patch video on YouTube done by Nic Cutroneo. He builds in clean, crunch, high gain and lead snapshots into a single patch. Good stuff, and he gives it away freely.

There is an auto-engage that was added in one of the most recent firmwares, but I never figured out how to get it working to my satisfaction. I'm sure you'll get some helpful comments here. This is beyond subjective, but I had an AX8 twice, and both times....the Helix pulled me back and made me send it packing. Fractal models sound great, but there is just a huge range of sounds available with the current lineup. The "sound quality" is there.

Wow....you may be the first person I've ever seen who describes the bottom end of 5150s, JCM800s, and Dual Recs (!) "as sharp as a knife". I've used all three in the past, and they ALL needed a boost pedal in front for tight, percussive tones. ESPECIALLY the Recto, but the 5150 is a close second. Most high gain amps do get muddier as you turn gain up. That's authentic behavior. The most modern ones like the Archon, or ENGL amps or Randall Thrasher/Satan amps are voiced to be pretty tight without one. Some like the Driftwood Purple Nightmare or Misha Mansoor's new Peavey Invective have a boost circuit built in (switchable) the gain channel circuit. But for the most part....high gain amps get tightness from boosts in front with gain low so that you can drive the preamp without overcompressing. Anyway, that's how you should have your high gain amps set up on Helix as well. Put an overdrive (The Compulsive Drive/OCD is my favorite) in front with Gain low, Level cranked and Tone to taste.

It's interesting that you reference good metal tone as being Testament, Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer, but then are trying to achieve it with. Rectifier....which none of those bands use. In any case, I think your best bet is to go simple. The Mark IV model is good for Metallica. Testament has used 5150 IIIs for quite awhile. Slayer and Megadeth are Marshall, so 2204 Mod. Start with the factory patches for any of those amps. Change the cabs to Bogner or Mesa V30, then mix in the new Mark 1x12. Add 808 or OCD in front set to clean boost. That should do it.

I'm a high gain fiend, and I truly don't get what's so great about the tone referenced or how it's so unachievable with the Helix Mark IV model. It's super basic. Fremen has a way better Mark IV tone in this tweaking video here:

I had a Helix, sold it for an AX8, and went back to Helix after the 2.0 update. I have no regrets doing so. You'll always be able to fins someone who tells you the Helix amp modeling is "not on the same level" as Fractal or Kemper, and it's up to you whether you want to believe that or not. With my firsthand experience, I feel I'm missing nothing, amp modeling-wise, going from AX8 to Helix. I like high gain, and between the new Mark IV, Fatality and 2204, I feel like I can cover almost every high gain amp model I really liked on the AX8. I feel like the Mark IV and Soldano cleans are everything I want in a clean tone too. But I honestly rely on Ownhammer IRs more for my tone than any given amp model. The only area I feel Line 6 is lacking when it comes to Fractal is reverbs. Helix needs some new, deep lush reverb algorithms. Fractal has them for days. Aside from that....Helix is everything my AX8 was and more.