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Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 12:50 pm
by twelvepoint
benadrian wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 11:01 am
twelvepoint wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 8:05 am
not bullshit at all in terms of quality of sound and range of options. I have zero judgement on those for whom modeling works.
For me, there are 2 big turnoffs, and I wonder if this is particular to my own preferences and idiosyncrasies. First, I do not like screens and menus when playing music. That whole thing kinda messes with the enjoyment of working with my hands. Screens in general are very distracting and take me out of my creative space.
The other thing is multi-effects/amp-sims introduce some choice paralysis for me and having fewer options, I'm spending more time playing and less time auditioning virtual doodads. I could probably be happy the rest of my life with tele>4-5 regular-ass boss pedals>princeton reverb.
I feel compelled to reply to this. For some reason, modeling seems to incite commentary and stron reactions (either pro or anti) from many guitarists. We certainlyhave some people at the company with a competitive mindset. However, most of us who make the stuff use and love a bunch of gear. We've all bought and sold stuff over the years, and we know that certain things work for certain people.
Players like you are whey we also make things like the DL4, more straigforward amps, and a number of other more traditional guitar things. Even with the Helix, there are effects loops, CV out, MIDI, a mic input, etc. We know that people are going to use it with other gear, and we encourage it. Hell, I mostly use it as a pedalboard with my favorite old amps. Yet there is always the small subset of usually very vocal people who presume that players are supposed to use ALL THE FEATURES. Strangely, these players can be either very much pro modeler or very much anti modeler.
TLDR. Modelers bring out extreme feelings, but I just want people to use whatever gear makes them happy. If I made it, awesome. If not.. also pretty cool
I don't mean to be some analog blowhard with extreme feelings, I promise. I hoped my first line made that clear. Perhaps it did not. I've followed your posts with interest for a number of years and obviously you and Line 6 are providing great services and options for the community.
I think a discussion about tools, options and features working either for or against an artist's creative goals is a worthy discussion, but probably not here.
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:02 pm
by benadrian
twelvepoint wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 12:50 pmI don't mean to be some analog blowhard with extreme feelings, I promise. I hoped my first line made that clear. Perhaps it did not. I've followed your posts with interest for a number of years and obviously you and Line 6 are providing great services and options for the community.
Not a blowhard at all. The internet is just a place where the vocal minority often carries more weight. In some forums, your "I just like to plug Boss pedals into a small amp" comment would be construed as fighting words or disapproval of all other methodologies. The internet is dumb.
Actually, your feedback is great. The company wants to make cool guitar stuff for all kinds of guitarists.
Anyway, my job is cool and has taken me to unexpected places...
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:05 pm
by penningtron
As far as keeping things tidy and focused on the music, the average musician with a board full of ho hum pedals and iffy patch cables is probably better off getting an HX or Stomp at this point.
I'm not so much of a '50 vintage emulated amp tones' person myself, though I can get lost making crazy effects chains. Sometimes a song can be built around that new sound, then save it and come up with something completely different on another bank.
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:24 pm
by motorbike guy
ChudFusk wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 9:13 am
We’re all super proud of you and always have been. Get your flowers!
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:26 pm
by four_oclocker_2.2
The HX Stomp is something that I do find myself tempted by from time-to-time. Orion brought one out from Montana during a round or two of Blank Banker and I was impressed with the ability that the thing could not only be your pedalboard, but with the cab sims, your practice amp in a hotel room as well.
I don't know if/when I'd take the plunge into experimenting w/ something like that, but it's fascinating to watch from over here! Go Ben!
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:57 pm
by twelvepoint
Does Line 6 or any other tech-forward companies make, like a multi fx unit, but then use small breakout boxes, each with like switches and rotary encoders which would, say, be the tactile interface mimicking the analog fx they were modeling? Like, I buy the HX-Five package that comes with a core modeler, and five 1590 size boxes with the equivalent control sets for a Janglebox, Fuzz Face, SD-1, AD-9 and CE-2? That way I'd have my ideal small setup of just want I want, and nothing else, with all controls at the top level and tactile?
Is that an absolutely stupid idea? I am super hierarchal-menu-averse and I don't know if that's common or if I just have some brain damage.
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:47 pm
by mdc
motorbike guy wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:24 pm
ChudFusk wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 9:13 am
We’re all super proud of you and always have been. Get your flowers!
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:49 pm
by mdc
twelvepoint wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:57 pm
Does Line 6 or any other tech-forward companies make, like a multi fx unit, but then use small breakout boxes, each with like switches and rotary encoders which would, say, be the tactile interface mimicking the analog fx they were modeling? Like, I buy the HX-Five package that comes with a core modeler, and five 1590 size boxes with the equivalent control sets for a Janglebox, Fuzz Face, SD-1, AD-9 and CE-2? That way I'd have my ideal small setup of just want I want, and nothing else, with all controls at the top level and tactile?
Is that an absolutely stupid idea? I am super hierarchal-menu-averse and I don't know if that's common or if I just have some brain damage.
I believe the Zoom stuff like the G11 is generally set up like that.
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:52 pm
by mdc
That rig rundown was pretty fun! Quite funny to see Kurt being Kurt and simultaneously talking intensely about Helix presets for 20min while also talking about getting to a place where gear doesn't really matter, and then switching over to Nate being the embodiment of not caring about gear.
Re: The Fearsome & Mammoth Helix / HX / BenAdrian BS thread
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 4:27 pm
by twelvepoint
mdc wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:49 pm
twelvepoint wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:57 pm
Does Line 6 or any other tech-forward companies make, like a multi fx unit, but then use small breakout boxes, each with like switches and rotary encoders which would, say, be the tactile interface mimicking the analog fx they were modeling? Like, I buy the HX-Five package that comes with a core modeler, and five 1590 size boxes with the equivalent control sets for a Janglebox, Fuzz Face, SD-1, AD-9 and CE-2? That way I'd have my ideal small setup of just want I want, and nothing else, with all controls at the top level and tactile?
Is that an absolutely stupid idea? I am super hierarchal-menu-averse and I don't know if that's common or if I just have some brain damage.
I believe the Zoom stuff like the G11 is generally set up like that.
Hey look at that! That’s kinda cool, in theory, at least.