Helix Effects quality vs M Series

[jedwardzellers]

Hello,

 

I'm sorry if this has already been asked. I searched but did not find the answer. Did the effects (delay, reverb, mod, DRIVES) get an update along with the amp modeling? I had an M13 and liked it, but the effects could have sounded a little more robust and 3 dimensional. 

 

Are they all new, lush sounding effects and authentic sounding drive models, or are they the same models put into a different box?

[Digital_Igloo]

All effects except for the reverbs and 8 of the 10 wahs were created in Helix from the ground up. The HD/M-Class reverbs and wahs were rebuilt in HX tho', so they sound better and in some cases, have more nuance and control. Also, the analog front end and A/D/A conversion is superior in Helix, so the raw sonic quality has improved as well, even with no modeling active.

[amsdenj]

It's a mixed bag. Some effects appear to have been translated from the HD series to Helix (e.g., reverb effects), while others are new. I find the HD distortion effects to be of limited use, but the Helix distortion effects seem wonderful. What this means in practice is that Helix can actually replace a traditional analog pedalboard, while I never thought the HD effects could. They're ok, but just not that great.

 

There are a lot of other HD effects that haven't yet been included in Helix. It's unknown if, when or how this might be done.

[bobguido]

All effects except for the reverbs and 8 of the 10 wahs were created in Helix from the ground up. The HD/M-Class reverbs and wahs were rebuilt in HX tho', so they sound better and in some cases, have more nuance and control. Also, the analog front end and A/D/A conversion is superior in Helix, so the raw sonic quality has improved as well, even with no modeling active.

Thank you Digital Igloo.  I appreciate the honesty.

 

This explains why the Reverbs in Helix sound the way they do.  I would put new reverb algorithms at the top of the to-do list.

 

Check out the Strymon Big Sky reverb pedal.  Espeically the Cloud algortihm and the Plate algorithm.  The Big Sky sounds nothing like their Blue Sky pedal which I personally felt was a big dissapointment.  The Big Sky is in a league of it's own though.  To my ears, it blows away anything in the Eventide H9 which doesn't hold a candle to Strymon's best reverbs, delays and modulations.  Pete Celi Strymon was one of Line 6 and Alesis' former engineers.

 

Lexicon 224 and PCM92 and Bricasti Halls and Concert Hall algorithms are also great reference points.  All originally developed by genius scientist David Griesinger.  

 

http://www.davidgriesinger.com/

 

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar00/articles/dave.htm

 

 

These original Lexicon units blow away the later PCM80 and 90 and 960L which do not have the dense and lush signature Lexicon sound because they were develoepd by a new and different team, when Lexicon was purchased by Harmon.  That team changed the structure of the algorithms which changed the sound and texture to something far less musical and lush.  The PCM70 was like a baby 224 so it's pretty great as well.  Especially the concert hall algorithm.

 

Some breathtaking reverbs in Helix would be a welcome addition and hopefully, allow those of us with Strymon pedals to be able to go all in the box with Helix.

 

Have a good one,

Bob