drewdemaio Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Not sure if this was ever a topic but thought I'd throw it out anyway. What would your dream Helix look like? Personally, I've found that the Helix Floor to be a bit too large for my needs as I don't use a volume/expression pedal much and when I do, I have it on the left side of the board, not the right. I think it would be amazing if the next Helix product was modular, perhaps featuring a main unit with the processing, display, pots etc., that you can add to. Increasing or decreasing size, amount of footswitches and additional expression pedals/external switches. . I just mocked up my dream Helix using a photo of the Helix rack control. Smaller form factor with all the power of the Helix Floor. What's your dream Helix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 On 12/22/2023 at 9:27 AM, drewdemaio said: What's your dream Helix? A shiny, seamless orb... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Actually, this is about the right size for me. In fact, I hadn't thought about it until your post. Just use a MINI PC loaded with Helix Native in a standalone mode where it can be housed in a small stage box and controlled by a Morningstar MC8. Maybe a separate expression pedal. Perfect for my use!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 On 12/22/2023 at 11:04 AM, DunedinDragon said: Actually, this is about the right size for me. In fact, I hadn't thought about it until your post. Just use a MINI PC loaded with Helix Native in a standalone mode where it can be housed in a small stage box and controlled by a Morningstar MC8. Maybe a separate expression pedal. Perfect for my use!!! I’ve never tried using Helix Native for real time processing. Seems like that’s what you’re talking about. What do you mean by ‘standalone’ mode? HN is a plug-in so there must be a VST host (s.g. DAW) running on the MINI PC? What’s the latency like for playing live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 On 12/22/2023 at 11:24 AM, silverhead said: I’ve never tried using Helix Native for real time processing. Seems like that’s what you’re talking about. What do you mean by ‘standalone’ mode? HN is a plug-in so there must be a VST host (s.g. DAW) running on the MINI PC? What’s the latency like for playing live? Yeah...that's why it's a "dream" configuration. Certainly there are plenty of examples of live standalone VST libraries being run on processors with low latency, so it's not like an impossibility. And those technologies are becoming better and faster every day. But the current version of HN wouldn't probably be a good choice for it. It would probably look more like Native Instruments Kontakt where each block is a plug-in and routing is done through the plug-in manager. But you marry that with the design ideas being used by Mini PCs such that you incorporate the audio interface for 1/4" or XLR outs and inputs, USB, etc. and you've effectively got a Helix unit housed in a Mini PC type unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricstudioc Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 On 12/22/2023 at 7:27 AM, drewdemaio said: I don't use a volume/expression pedal much and when I do, I have it on the left side of the board, not the right. From the moment I got Helix, I felt that L6 was missing a bet by not making their own expression pedal in the same format as the one built in. Same heavy construction, same treadle, same angle - heck even put magnetic pads on the sides so it would lock into place. Given the number of threads early on about compatible pedals it seemed like a no-brainer to me. Esthetically pleasing, placeable on the left or right - just seems like L6 missed a "plus sell" on this - I would have bought a couple. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 For me it’s the same as Pod HD 500 x. The step design and the little rail were good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayinOcean Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 Since I use the Stomp with the HXFX, I already have the modular setup you seem to be referring to. It does require some extra steps to make them communicate to eachother, but I like having the option to just take one of them with me depending on the situation. And of course I have a seperate exp pedal plugged in as well. I don't see how the L6 stuff can get more modular than this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 Helix floor is near perfect already... If I had my choice, I'd like a more powerful version of that without a built in EXP. Just give us the connections and let us choose our own EXP and/or external switches. Make sure the external EXP TRS connections are designed the way it is for the Stomp... Tip/Ring separately assignable to EXP or Footswitch. 3 or 4 TRS connections would provide a lot of external option that nobody is forced to use unless they want them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevarius Posted December 25, 2023 Share Posted December 25, 2023 I'd like to see a touch screen style UI and form factor similar to a Quad Cortex. I think it would have to be a bit wider by comparison though. I've always used an analog pedal and wouldn't really use the one like in the floor model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 On 12/24/2023 at 9:50 PM, stevarius said: I'd like to see a touch screen style UI and form factor similar to a Quad Cortex. I think it would have to be a bit wider by comparison though. I've always used an analog pedal and wouldn't really use the one like in the floor model. I got a new car, and they replaced everything with a touch screen. IMO it sucks. When I'm driving and want to turn on the AC I don't even have physical buttons. This is the current trend to replace everything with a touch screen. I gotta say, on the old car, it was so easy to just turn on the AC without even looking. Not anymore! I wouldn't be surprised if the knobs are completely eliminated on future Helixes. Honestly, from the videos I've seen regarding Quad Cortex, the touch screen doesn't really make dialing in sounds any easier. Instead of the joystick, you have an ability to swipe and tap. Helix's layout and UI is still very good and allows users to quickly create/edit presets; and probably do so quicker on other processors with a touch screen. So touch screen is not really worth it IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashcraaft Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 A car may not be the best example because I'm pretty sure you can trigger a voice assistant and ask your cars OS to turn on the AC without touching anything. That will not be the way to go on a modeling device, at least in a stage situation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachmaninoff Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 On 12/23/2023 at 3:54 PM, MGW-Alberta said: include some memory slots so users can upgrade their DSP capacity. The outside is perfect. A memory card would expand memory... not processing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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