I love my 11R and will NEVER EVER part with it! But this new Helix unit has me intrigued, so I may have to get one of these someday (after I hear how the modeling sounds of course). It's got a ton of killer features.
It looks like they may be looking to get more competitive with Kemper & AxeFX???? $1499.00

They are also coming out with a rackmount version

http://line6.com/helix/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Helix






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Looks pretty cool, checked out the link on sweetwater. Doesn't look like it can do third party IRs though and at this price I would want an in the box solution (not fx loop IRs)..

Mike......


This is actually the "Eleven Rack-2" or the "11-R ii" that everybody has been waiting for!

People asked for a floor unit & or a dedicated foot controller, IR loading & much more!

Well.........This is it & Sean Healy who worked on the 11R for Avid has been working on this at Line-6 since since he left.

You can get one for around $1,300 from what I've heard and Sweetwater is also doing price matching too!

Lets change this site to the Helix Presets User forum & never look back!

I'm getting the HeliX & can't wait!

Peace! X-Mann \m/

Actually, yes, it does just that, 1024 and 2048 point custom IR's. Among about a gazillion other things.

If it sounds good, I'm getting one. It does too many things that I wish the 11r would do not to get it.

I checked both the Line 6 and sweetwater information and couldn't find anywhere wher third party IRs are referenced, I would be excited if it could do that! Where did you hear about/see that (IR loading) as part of the feature list?

Thanks!

Looks like a really cool unit! The design of the box itself looks great and what a slick marketing video on their website.

I have only demo'd L6 stuff in stores, but this unit I might just buy and bring home to play with.

I'm glad to hear that some Digidesign folks made it over to L6 and are helping them raise the bar!

This link has a lot of good info: http://line6.com/support/topic/14264-helix-faq/

It looks like a really nice piece of gear but something no one has yet brought up here... how does it sound? That Sweetwater demo has virtually no playing in it. The little I heard sounded pretty good, but let's face it - Line 6 simulators get decidedly mixed reviews, to be charitable.

My take is that I have yet to hear any Line 6 unit actually sound good. Decent, maybe, in certain situations... the clean sounds can be OK... but I've never liked the dirt sounds, particularly those hard-to-get light-, and mid-crunch tones. Still, I'm curious. I won't get one, no, but I will check it out occasionally online, as I do several amp modelers.

Cool, thanks for link, I see it has 2048 point IR loading, that's 46ms at 44.1khz..

That my friend is the $1500.00 question!!

Hey Me Likey!!! as you all know I love my Line 6 "Dreamstage" P.A. system. I kinda agree with Marc thought on the Line 6 modeling but some of the new offerings that have come up in the last year have shown some promise. It looks like the Yamaha buy out has been good for them. It dose seem that they have stopped trying to update my beloved M20D touch screen mixer.

I will see if they have the Helix at my local GC and check it out. I too anin't throwing out my 11r either:)

ANY company that builds a new digital guitar amp modeling unit in todays age has the ability to do side by side testing with some truly remarkable products!

Everyone knows what todays guitar players want & need in a modeling unit. The Axe Fx has raised the stakes & other companys have followed like the Kemper & so on.

The fact that Sean Healey is invloved in any way, shape & or form is enough for me. When I read what the Helix is capable of & see its form factor......well....That's enough for me to try it out. I also love that they built it from the ground-up & tore down the design a few times in the process! It probably took 4-years to figure out how to come even close to the Axe-Fx too. To me that means that they did it right & I just feel good about all that I'm reading, seeing & hearing so far.

I have always liked Line-6 & their products & was a big fan of the Vetta-2 amp as well.

If I can get it for $1,300 like I'm hearing that you can, then I'm all in on this one.

Plus it looks just beautiful too!

X

PS - Line-6 has been very quiet the last few years & now we know why!

PSS - Even if this is not the product for you (or I) it still helps all of us out. The devlopment of more products just raises the bar & gives us more to choices as users.

Agreed X.

I've heard some stuff with the regular old HD500x models through 3rd party IRs, and they sound great, much better than anything you can get out of the built in ones. That, plus the newly designed algo's should make this box a winner on the tones.

Cautiously optimistic about this. I'll keep my 11r for my home stuff, but this could easily be the heart of my live rig.

If you go to the http://line6.com/helix/ page, go to the "learn More" section and click on the video and listen to Sean Halley demo'ing it, it sounds pretty damn good over my computer monitors!
Now I agree that I want to hear one live to see how the tone sounds and how dynamic the response is to my playing...but it looks like Line 6 may have a solid unit on their hands!


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Well put X-ster!!!!!!!!!


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I didn't see an computer editor for it. I wouldn't want a floor model and be bending over adjusting parameters all the time. Is there a computer editor for it?

Yes Rob, as well as using the buttons and expression pedal to adjust stuff while you are playing....sick!

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from Line 6. Bought into the hype on the HD500. It sounded bearable at best and most of fx's just sucked, and the eq options were very frustrating. I wasted countless hours tweaking it, dealing wit all sorts of issues and noises. The Helix sure does look pretty cool but for $1300? If I was going to spend that much I'd probably pony up more for an axefx. I'd hate to be stuck driving a new Volkswagen when I really expected a BMW... For now I'm quite satisfied with my $335 11R I bought new a few months ago. Dumped my HD last Saturday for $250. I still own a POD 2.01. I don't need or want to pay for scribble pads, capacitive multifunction switches or 4 fx loops.. Ir loading is cool but the $599 amplifire does that. When it's released I'll go down to a big box musak store and check it out.

I'll still have to try one and get some feedback from some others before being completely sold on it.. yes.. I'm old and crusty and jaded..lol.. BUT .. that said.. since purchasing Line 6.. I've heard the new owners at Yamaha are pouring a ton of money and resources into everything.

yeah,i bet yamaha will do the difference!everything i tired from yamaha was always top for the budget

That Yamaha is involved makes me want to try a Variax Standard...it looks for all the world like a Pacifica.

I watched this and now I really has GAS!!!

Dose anyone know the difference between the rack version and the foot version?!?!?! besides the obvious.

The sound he's using in that last video sounds quite like the tone in the official promo video... like a fuzz pedal going in to a clean amp.

So far, the effects have impressed me, but the amp tone has not. I guess I'd like to hear more, and more varied, tones. Not that it matters, really, because I won't be buying one, but I do like to keep up with the news.

Im curious but after getting the pod hd pro x, i probably wouldnt jump on this just yet. The high gain amp models on the pod hd pro x are just "ok". Even with the epsi loading IRs.
The cleans and the effects are really good though.

We will see..

I wanted to add this FAQ I found on the Line 6 Forum:


What kind of modeling engine is Helix running?
Helix utilizes an all new advanced dual-DSP processor architecture we call the HX Modeling Engine. Although a few popular HD effects models have been meticulously converted (and enhanced with more control and nuance), the vast majority have been modeled in Helix from the ground up. Aside from our high-gain favorites Elektrik, Doom, and Epic, which have been rebuilt using the new architecture, all amps and cabs have been created from scratch in HX.

Can I load third-party or my own custom IRs (Impulse Responses)?
Yes. IRs are loaded into Helix via the Helix Mac/PC software. They will then be available from special IR blocks that can be placed anywhere on your signal paths. Helix can store up to 128 1024 or 2048-point IRs, and a preset can run up to four IRs simultaneously (DSP permitting).

Fourteen LCDs… Really?
Yes, really. All that feedback makes a huge difference in the heat of the gig, especially when you custom label and/or custom color your switches. It also means we have more feature design flexibility in the future, because functionality isn’t restricted by chassis silkscreen.

Where are the tonestack knobs?
Under the big LCD. Since Helix can run up to four amps simultaneously (DSP permitting), pressing the AMP button quickly cycles through the tonestacks of any Amp+Cab, Amp, and Preamp blocks in a tone.

Where’s the Looper switch?
The Looper block is treated like any other effect—It can be placed anywhere on any of the four paths, or even routed to its own output. You can assign it to a footswitch or ignore it completely.

Where are the FX Loops?
Helix has four sends and returns that can be used separately, used together as an FX loop, or stereo linked. They can also act as additional inputs and outputs for processing keyboards, drum machines, or even other modelers—simultaneously.

Can I reamp?
Yes. You can reamp two instruments simultaneously. You can even choose which two physical inputs will be sent dry to your DAW.

This all sounds pretty deep. Is Helix easy to use?
STUPIDLY so. Nearly all day-to-day tonesculpting—from Variax string tuning to deep amp parameters to output routing and everything in between—is accomplished from one unified home screen. Just touch the desired footswitch (they’re capacitve touch) and turn the knobs. There—that’s 90% of your tweaking. Read the included one-page Helix Cheat Sheet and you’ll be a power user before you open the box.

More advanced features such as footswitch and controller assignment have shortcuts to get you the results you want at nearly the speed of thought. For example, you can assign your Variax’s tone knob to control delay feedback in roughly three seconds. Want expression pedal 3 to control looper playback level? Three seconds. The mod wheel on your MIDI keyboard to control rotary speaker speed? Three seconds. In many ways, it’s actually faster to tweak from the hardware than it is the editor.

Helix also has this cool Pedal Edit mode, which lets you adjust all of your amp and effects parameters without taking your hands off the guitar.

How’s the build quality?
Helix’s top panel is extruded from a solid block of aluminum and its side panels and treadle are solid aluminum as well. There’s no metal protection bar because our lead tester kicked the crap out of the metal knobs and they worked flawlessly. (I’m trying to convince Line 6 to upload the video.)

What’s the difference between Helix and Helix Rack?
Along with the Helix Control remote, Helix Rack’s workflow and feature set is virtually identical to that of Helix. Plus you get duplicate expression pedal jacks, a 1/4” analog bypass (buffered) output, AES/EBU in, and Wordclock in with terminator switch. Presets can be freely shared across both units with no file conversion required.

Why is Helix Rack 3 spaces? Couldn’t you have crammed it into 2 spaces?
No, but we tried. The color screen is far too large and there are too many ins and outs to fit into 2RU.

Dimensions? Weight?
Helix—22.05 x 11.85 x 3.6 inches; 14.6 lbs.
Helix Rack—19 x 5.25 x 9.5 inches; 9.3 lbs.
Helix Control—17.2 x 9.4 x 2.5 inches; 7.2 lbs.

So how much is it?
Helix is $1499. Helix Rack is also $1499. Helix Control is $499.

When is Helix available?
We’re on track to ship Helix by the end of summer. Helix Rack and Helix Control should ship sometime in the fall.

Well pre-orderd my Helix today at my local GC they are getting 133 of them at the main GC warehouse ETA 9-11-15 and I am # 81 on the list... I got 20% off from my bro that works there!!! and I did the 3yr pro coverage. I can't wait... I be sure to make a video and some sound samples for you guys ASAP! ARRG!!! Thats a whole month away

waiting for your impressions!

Cool deal..congrates bro! Let us all know how it sounds once you get your feet wet with it!


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new review 1st one for production model

The impression I got was Chappers was more blown away by the Atomic Amplifire

I think its promising but after getting the pod hd pro, I'm super skeptical.
Im going to wait for Ola and Fluff to review it as they get closest to the tones I would be using.

I didnt hear him mention this in the vid.
Or are you saying his reaction is compared to another review.
The helix certainly offers a lot …more than enough for me at my level.
Great time to be a guitarist

No he didn't mention it. Just an observation from watching his reaction from the previous video.

^^ Ah.. i thought it may be that.

Ya know... I love Sean Halley. I love Line6 effects although personally don't use them much - I wish Pod Farm effects were better supported in plugins. I have a Pod HD 500 and think it's great for effects and actually a great foot controller for the eleven rack - but just don't dig the amp modeling in it.

A couple of things about Helix I find disappointing.
1.) No bluetooth - iPad/iPhone connectivity? The put it in FireHawk why not Helix? This makes no sense to me.
2.) The modeling - I haven't heard any sound examples online that sound good to me - lots of digital fizzyness and harshness - nothing that makes me feel like - oh that's a tube amp except maybe the clean sounds and, frankly, clean sounds are easy IMHO.
3.) Complicated looking. The more I hear things like "we spent hours and hours on the user interface" the more I cringe. The thing looks complicated because... well... it is complicated! Effects by their very nature are complicated. Customizing is key and they should show whatever the software editor looks like right up front.

If I were gonna buy from Line6 right now, I'd probably look at the Firehawk because of the bluetooth convenience.

But who cares... we all just want great tones and playability. Prove that to me above all else.

I can't figure out for the life of me why people are going all out for a 1500.00 unit they haven't even heard yet. If it sounds good and I hope it does great, but at 1500.00 you are really close to the original mark II ?

meh.. for right now.. I'm still good.. I can take my 11R and get on stage w/ Laryy and he's loaded to the gills with all the new toys from AxeFx.. I still like my tone better everytime..
I can see the connectivity with blkuetooth/iphone/pad/pod.. being an issue and yeah.. with everything else.. you'd think that's a bit of an oversight.. small.. BUT still way relevant IMO.. seeing as non-tech phobic/open minded guitarist (say vs any analog/tube purist) are going to be the ones snapping this up.. and those being tech minded folks.. that could be a let down.. especially if a previous model of anything had/has it. Could be viewed as a let down/compromise/cut corner to a prospective buyer who'd want to get the most out of the unit.

A waay better demo, than the previous one.

Awesome!

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuZurmlRlUM][/url]

I fixed your link bro and found another as well.... I am really getting excited now.....

I pre-ordered one and was starting to think I made a mistake, but that demo with Paul boosted my confidence again.

well see