Are you trying to decide between buying a fractal audio ax8 and a line 6 helix. Join the facebook helix users group too loads of advice. However, setting up tones patches initially can take a bit of time. Axefx 2 vs helix lt dilemma over fractal audio systems forum. Im a longtime kemper user, and a former axefx2 and fx8 owner. Axe fx vs helix vs kemper vs amplifire modelling amps. Warning about downloaded tones, patches and presets. I also already own 2 of the line 6 stage source l2t speakers, so again the upgrade to helix just made sense. If you can afford axe fx then more power to you, but for me i just have a hard time being able to j. Get our free ac30 patches this is what we used in this demo here. If fractal doesnt meet the new challenges of helix, theyll almost be forcing bassists to consider other options for ampcab sims. Its so intuitive you already know how to use it and it will let you integrate and control an entire rig of internal and external gear. I would never bash the axe ii as i recognize that it is indeed pretty awesome. The difference between the line 6 helix hx stomp and the hx multi effects is that the stomp has got amp and cab modelling which means you plug it directly into an interface or pa system and get great guitar amp sounds.
Specifically dialed in for worship music, and designed to be used in either stomp or snapshot mode. Fractal audio ax8, line 6 helix floor, and headrush. This was done using axefx 2 as the audio interface so the only real difference is the modeling and a bit of additional latency using the vst. Mar 09, 2017 line 6 helix, fractal fx8 or ax8 which one do you prefer.
Ive played the axefx series since the axefx standard and now use an axefx 2 mk i. Boss gt vs line 6 helix vs fractal ax8 shoot out by. Record to your mac, pc or ios device with extremely low latency. As an owner of both a helix and an axe fx ii i have to say that at this point the. Thats my understanding of the product, but please correct me if im wrong. I seen that line 6 sales artist patches for hd500x and that wouldnt bother me on the helix. Just dont sale amps an fx s if this is updated like it should be and fractal doesnt put in a touch screen with a operating system easy as the helix. Click here to read about the differences between the line 6 helix, line 6 helix lt and the hx multieffects unit. To me the line6 helix hardware ui is exactly how i would want the axefx front panel to be done. Includes patches based on the prs archon and line 6 litigator dumble style amps, and a dualamp patch with both. How i switched frome axe fx ii to helix helix line 6 community. I like the helix due to dual dsp chips and multiple amps per patch. Usually i build my presets during night, so most of the time i find myself using headphones, so as far as i put a stereo block at the end of the chain, the sound reaching my ears is wonderful, deep, with no harshness or noises. Line 6 helix patch with snapshots that mimics the tones from hosanna by hillsong united.
I was not new to programming presets so i jumped right into it. Not only that, but it has both a global eq and global cabinet modeling. However, both are excellent solutions that are way better than something like the mid market pod hd500 series. After almost one year my patches were still not finished and i felt like i am unable to. I have to start by saying, respectfully, that the assertion that a helix is nothing more than a pod xt with a slick interface couldnt be more wrong. While company reps are not necessarily as accessible or as patient. These making editing patches really easy and the axeedit software is definitely better than the one line6 offers. In this article, we look at 4 of the main candidates available the fractal axe fx, line 6 helix, kemper profiler and atomic amplifire. Actually id say maybe even used 11 rack but im biased ive not played the helix but from what i hear on the web the problem is still the distortion algorithms. Ive only been able to try axefx 2 and helix native side by side and while the axefx sounds just a little bit better, the difference is not night and day and i would be happy with either. My opinion on the axe vs kemper is what you have acsess to. Given its superior sound, extensive number of available models, and strategically small footprint, this unit provides a fantastic value for anyone looking to get into the axe fx family, assuming you can live without a headphone output. We sat down with both units, tested them thoroughly, then took them home and played with each one for about a month to figure out which one is the better buy. And when youre ready to hit the road, firehawk fx delivers the bulletproof build quality that makes line 6 multieffects the top choice for professional touring guitarists.
I quickly bought the patches available along with the custom artist patches you started working on. If the relatively grainy, lodef modeling of older line 6 products disappointed you, its time for a fresh listen. Note this is not to bash helix or line 6, i have been line 6 customer for many many years. Hosanna hillsong united line 6 helix patch worship. Note attack is nuanced, and responsiveness and character vary from model to model. Jan 10, 2017 if fractal doesnt meet the new challenges of helix, theyll almost be forcing bassists to consider other options for ampcab sims.
The reason i ask this recently i was playing listening to helix while another person was playing axe fx ii. Ive never seen a company support their products the way line 6. Our vetta ii amplifier includes a digital connection for the variax that lets you store settings for both your amp and your guitar in the vetta ii so that when you call up a vetta channel memory your amp and guitar can change sounds together. Axe change the official site for fractal audio presets. When they released it originally, they didnt have a computer app to set up patches, supposedly because it was so easy to use from the actual unit that it was completely unnecessary. Line 6 helix, fractal fx8 or ax8 which one do you prefer. Line 6 helix gearslutz gearslutz pro audio community. I recycled the dry tracks from the amplitube officially licensed amp models vs axe fx ii video. Its about as fair as we could make it since the line 6 guy dialled in the line 6 and the fractal guy dialled in the fractal, so no scope for bias sabotagelack of understanding on a unit as was raised in another thread regarding comparisons. From what ive heard, the kemper is easier to dial and is more.
Variax is the uniquely flexibile guitar from line 6. Its quite straightforward using the software editor on a pc but the sounds are worth it. All axe fx models and the helix have a short dropout when switching presets. With the iii, axe fx accepted line 6 s challenge, creating their most streamlined ui yet and marrying it to their best simulations and effects. The differences are subtle but worth knowing and you choose the one that best suits your rig or your needs whether youre a professional or amateur player. Jun 08, 2012 line 6 pro hd vs axe fx ii stick for me. Good on line 6, though, showing the bassists some love. While the axe fx redefined the professional modeler, the line 6 helix revolutionized the user interface players could expect from a highend modeling unit.
So patches are not as flexible, but being able to switch between them quickly is a real benefit. My honest experience with line 6 gear can be summed up fairly simply. Helix does do some things that the axe fx cannot do yet. Wow just got helixsound study vs fractal helix line 6 community. I currently own a helix floor and axe fx ii, and for obvious reasons controlling everything through the helix is a lot easier. The main difference in my older axefx 2 is that it has less preset and ir memory, which is a total nonissue for me as i can still put in 100 user irs and have 383 presets. I do not have this problem with my gt10 high gain patches. Line 6 helix vs fractal audio axe fx ii high gain amps with same. To start viewing posts, click the forum link in the menu bar above. I have had line 6 products since 2001, i have had my axe fx ii since late 2011 so i. Im pretty new to this type of technology so forgive my ignorance haha. To me the helix sounds like its that tool that you take with you to a gig that you dont feel like bringing your entire rig to.
In any case, hardware is a different ball game to software and only the helix lt of the two units featured here really seems to have effortlessly balanced the two halves of the equation. The axe fx ii is powered by a pair of analog devices tigersharc dsps some. Sep 25, 2017 in some ways, this all started with the line 6 pod, and so it seems appropriate that line 6 is attempting to reclaim its seat at the big boys table. Discussion axe fx 2 vs fractal fx8 vs kemper vs bias amp. Im gigging helix friday with the same butter presets with scenes ive been. Nab one of the best multieffects pedals and you can ditch your pedalboard and multiple pedals to enjoy a more streamlined setup. Apr 25, 2016 helix hosts a more powerful processor than previous line 6 products, providing tactile, threedimensional tones. The new ones did add new features and such but the core dist algorith for the 5150 which is what most high gain folks use has not changed much. Jeez, even the budgetminded zoom has stepped things up with the b3n offering a b7k emulation, a trace elliot model, and urei 1176demeter compressors. Download presets and cabs, or upload your own creations. Fractal audio systems ax8 and line 6 helix a model. In this video we compare the line 6 helix and the fractal audio axefx iii. At home i tend to use axeedit for any tweaks i want to do to my patches. Our mutual has tried both and settled on the kemper with native for.
The helix hx fx will be 100 times more simple to program than the fx8. Hook up external effects, speakers and other gear using an array of essential connections. Over the last few years, digital modelling amps have become so advanced that they can now convincingly match the sound of real tube amps, effects and cabinets. Our pick for the top multieffects pedal is the line 6 hx effects, a cracking unit thats small but mighty. I know that i can get a good or bad patch on both so i really not talking about the patches. Dunno, i might be crazy would be interested in your thoughts. Kemper is the only one with seamless preset switching. Discussion axe fx 2 vs fractal fx8 vs kemper vs bias amp vs. How do you like it compared to axe fx 2, fx8just comparing fx and kemper.
I had owned an axe fx in the past and i honestly think this is way. The line 6 helix hx stomp is the smallest in the range is incredibly powerful for what it is. With all due respect to line 6, though, the hd500 is the first amp modeler ive truly enjoyed playing, and the first to suck me down the rabbit hole of transcendent playing, at that. However, that may be because you cant seem to find any axe units in the uk to trial. In this article, we look at 4 of the main candidates available the fractal axe fx, line 6 helix, kemper profiler and. And the thing that makes it quite obvious for me is the the axe fx had no feel and hearable latency, otherwise i maybe havent noticed it at all because, like i said teh helix and the kemper were very similar. Line 6 helix patch mf luke based on soldano slo100 steve lukather style impro. Line 6 firehawk fx guitar multieffects musicians friend. This compares the helix with the axe fx2 and my 5150iii 50watter. Havent heard the boss or vox up close, but i consider these new line 6 verbs the best ive heard yet. The official source for presets and cabs for your axefx. I can dial in patches with the helix screen pretty easily.
Helix hosts a more powerful processor than previous line 6 products, providing tactile, threedimensional tones. Helix mono vs stereo sound quality you can browse forums as a guest but you have to register before you can post. Kemper since those are the two ive owned and used extensively. Fractal audio axefx iii vs line 6 helix comparison and.
I agree on this, i come from line 6 hd500x, helix native, helix floor, now to axe fx ii mark 2. Here i compare the big 3 guitar units and will hopefully help you decide which one will be best for you. Development has slowed significantly over the last 18 months or so as the new axe fx iii has been released. The axeedit software for your computer on the other hand is really good and intuitive to use.
The reverb and delay effects in the two units are different specifically the. Explore the various tonal possibilities of helix floor, lt and native with custom choptones irs or the great tone matching from the best amplifiers. I have had line 6 products since 2001, i have had my axe fx ii since late 2011 so i think i can speak on the products. Feb 03, 2016 the new helix is about the price of the used axe fx. Here are a few bullet points to consider, just off the top of my head. Discussion in beginnersfaq started by universeofthemind8, sep, 2016. When i first bought the helix rack i was a bit disappointed with the default patches provided by line 6 but then i found your youtube channel and all the amazing sounds that are possible with the helix.
I would say that they codeveloped firehawk and helix, since helix was a complete groundup redesign of all aspects the aptlynamed hxmodel incarnation. The axe fx is really worth a look also, they have a nice software editor for your to edit patches even the oldest axe fx, the first ones, sound very good and very similar to the newer ones imho. The main features of the fractal audio axe fx, line 6 helix, kemper. Line 6 helix vs fractal axe fx 2 vs evh 5150iii amps. I had an axe fx ii and it was a fantastic piece of gear. Line 6 helix vs fractal axefx iii how do they compare using the. But if i put a mono block and make the whole path mono, it starts to sound awful, and not clean and smooth anymore. Using helix xlr digital out to power cab plus i was so worried it would be so complicated it really isnt, thanks too youtube, lots of line 6 support and the line 6 community is great, and i had been researching the helix for about 2 yrs. Line 6 helixfx vs fractal fx8 page 5 the gear page.
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