Helix vs Amp modeling software.

[jesuscares]

Please let me know your opinion on using Helix for recording vs using a DAW like Bias amp, Amplifikation ,Revalver, Guitar Rig etc. What are the advantages & disadvantages. 

[spikey]

My general opinion on "any" software guitar amp package (Guitar Rig, Revalver, Amplitube etc etc) versus an Axe FX II, a Kemper, or Helix,  is that the software loses big time every time. At least to my ears thats been the case.

[amsdenj]

To my ear, S-Gear is a cut above them all since it doesn't attempt to replicate existing amps but rather is a digital design of a small set of boutique amps. But S-Gear doesn't have the hardware, I/O routing and front of the amp effects options that Helix has. And the Helix tone is very good too. At some point they all just sound a little different, not necessarily better or worse. And that diversity is good.

 

I'm very happy to not use a computer with live gigs, it's complicated enough without adding a computer to the mix. I tried, and it worked, but I like Helix a lot better. I still use S-Gear for all recordings though. The simplicity, tones and feel are just fantastic.

[roscoe5]

No latency during tracking is the biggest benefit with Helix, as well as some other hardware modelers.  Helix also can send a second dry guitar signal when you track so you can reamp with Helix or DAW plug-ins later.  Now that the Helix editor has been released, your workflow can stay at the computer.

 

Of course Helix is better for live use as well.

[willjrock]

There is no difference or advantage to using the Helix modeler as opposed to a DAW modeler, speaking sonics ....other than the Helix exclusively using line 6 software.

 

For somebody to say a kemper or helix is way better just doesnt make sense...unless of course the Kemper or axe fx or helix has better sounding software...in which case it would sound just as good as a computer program.

 

IMO there is no other modeler than TH3 right now.  At the latest price ive seen $229 (?)  i guess you can make many comparisons, but i got the software early and got it for $162, and at that price it really has no competition. You get soooo many stomps, fx, amps and cabs, acoustic sim, ir loader, tuner, looper, that its hard to need anything else.The sounds are the best ive heard. VERY low latency and VERY low CPU use. Of course nothing is perfect and some find the GUI inTH3 to be a drag (i dont really) but even at $229, it may be worth your time to demo it. Good luck!

[vmoncebaiz]

I prefer to use hardware just to have one less thing for my CPU to handle.  I do feel that most of the hardware options sound better than software options I've tried. Although i did think Bias had some nice sounds.  Even a small amount of latency drives me insane though, and I need all the help i can get playing in time.    

 

My other pro for the hardware is being able to route the signal, fully processed, into a daw and at the same time have a feed into a live PA speaker (or a power amp/cab) in the room for better feel.  Its definitely a diva-ish thing on my end, but I've done it with axe fx and helix, and for whatever reason it makes me feel better about what I'm playing.

[spikey]

 

 

For somebody to say a kemper or helix is way better just doesnt make sense...unless of course the Kemper or axe fx or helix has better sounding software...in which case it would sound just as good as a computer program.

 

 

You are basing this on an equal playing field of digital ones and zeros being converted back and forth between the boxes. In that vein you would be correct, but the reality is they are not equal. One of the reasons why, and way Fractal Audio described it once IIRC was in the cost and quality of the A>D & D>A conversion chips. You see the Cheap ones sound, well cheap. Expensive Analog to Digital conversion (chipsets and design) sound better and cost more. That does make sense to me because thats one of the reasons (there are others including design costs) on why some units cost 299 dollars, and others cost 2999.00... Its not just the software that makes the sound my friend...  ;)

[Digital_Igloo]

To my ear, S-Gear is a cut above them all since it doesn't attempt to replicate existing amps but rather is a digital design of a small set of boutique amps. But S-Gear doesn't have the hardware, I/O routing and front of the amp effects options that Helix has. And the Helix tone is very good too. At some point they all just sound a little different, not necessarily better or worse. And that diversity is good.

 

S-Gear is indeed excellent. Before Helix, I recorded with it at least as often as POD HD Pro or POD Farm.

[jesuscares]

Thanks guys for the excellent response.As far as being a guitarist as opposed to being a sound engineer,what we look for is just not the sound but the natural flow that comes from playing the guitar through some special amps or systems,the dynamics & the response we get.Some amps almost 'plays before you actually play'.While softwares can take care of the sound & mix part,hardwares can actually make you play better.So I guess these are 2 aspects when it comes to guitar sound.However there are so many options to choose from these days.

I'm not sure if the Helix uses digital or analog components .I would prefer to go the analog route.I wonder why they did not include tubes into that big giant pedal.

There are so many amp modeling pedals coming out like AMT amp stomp boxes,Wampler & not to miss the cheap little Joyo pedals ! I wonder why anyone would invest on it while Line 6 has them all on one board.Are they better in anyway compared to L6 pedals such as HD,x3 & such?

When it comes to recordings,if softwares can match the sound of Helix a recording artist who is more sound conscious may opt for the easy route.I recently added Amplification Creme & was baffled by the great sounds that seem to beat Bias for a very low price.I should say it would be good for L6 to spend some of their time working on L6 softwares too,to beat the market these days & reduce the burden of artists carrying huge boards on their shoulders.

With all said,it still hard to decide which route to take on this gear buffet world we live in.Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[zooey]

Before Helix, I was an Amplitube guy, just solid loved it, better than any amp I've ever had, and it's a collection of them, plus more pedals and rack fx than I could ever afford. The newer Mesa and Marshall amps in particular just bang my thing. Scuffham is awesome too. Plus there are so many great VST FX out there, a bunch of which I have, if I'm willing to run a DAW or something else that loads them (instead of AT standalone), it's really tough to beat the possibilities of that environment.

 

But I don't want to deal with a computer at gigs or jams. As a matter of fact, I found out about Helix talking with people online about ways to do that that wouldn't suck. Yes it's possible, but there's so much I'd rather be thinking about then than all those pieces to wire up, reliability, etc. Helix means all I need is just it, a guitar, and one or two FRFRs, and I'm Done.

 

So what do I think of Amplitube now that I've spent a month w Helix? Dunno, haven't turned it on :).

 

Partly that's intentional. When I first got Helix, I tried  really hard to match the sound and feel of some of my Amplitube patches I found really special. But after a bit, I was just playing Helix, tweaking sounds there, and having a Really Good Time. I've played more in the past month than I have a long long time (ex pro musician, sound and custom electronics guy).

 

At some point, I'll go back to Amplitube and see how that feels, probably great, hopefully not so much so that I feel bad about having bought a Helix I can't really afford. But for now, I'm exploring Helix, and its incredibly practical form factor, wonderfully fluid UI, and connectivity options make it really hard to beat for anything besides sitting at home in front of a computer.

[UnbutCongee]

On 5/14/2016 at 3:27 AM, vmoncebaiz said:

I prefer to use hardware just to have one less thing for my CPU to handle.  I do feel that most of the hardware options sound better than software options I've tried. Although i did think Bias had some nice sounds.  Even a small amount of latency drives me insane though, and I need all the help i can get playing in time.    

 

My other pro for the hardware is being able to route the signal, fully processed, into a daw and at the same time have a feed into a live PA speaker (or a power amp/cab) in the room for better feel.  Its definitely a diva-ish thing on my end, but I've done it with axe fx and helix, and for whatever reason it makes me feel better about what I'm playing.

Finding that perfect sound has been a mission of mine for years. Some might call me extra, but I'm always searching for new ways to push my tone to the next level.
Hardware all the way for me - nothing beats the immediacy of stomping on a real effect. When I'm playing live, the last thing I want is any lag between hitting a note and hearing it come back through my rig.
Being able to fully process into both my DAW and PA gives me total clarity and control too. It lets me craft my tone exactly as I hear it in my head. Having that level of confidence in your sound is huge on stage.
These days I blend the best of digital and analog. A few choice pedals mixed with plugins allows me to experiment seamlessly. As long as I'm happy with what's coming from my amp, that's all that really matters in the end. It's an ever-evolving journey, but it's a fun quest for sure!