Updated 11/15/22, because now I like the new IRs a lot more…
Line 6 just released a new firmware update for the Helix family (including HX Stomp) and of course I downloaded it and played with it as soon as I could. What are my thoughts? Well…
I mean…
OK, I want to give Line 6 massive credit for redoing their speaker cabinet emulation system. Everyone has known for a long time that you can get superior results in Helix by using third party IR files. The built-in cabinets weren’t all that great. Some YouTubers went out of their way to kiss Line 6’s ass and make videos saying “Nuh uh, the built-in cabs rock, you don’t need IR files,” but they were wrong. And now Line 6 has moved to using IR files for their built-in cabinets (in addition to the previous cabs). Well done! Bravo!
And though they’ll likely never see this column, to the YouTubers who said you didn’t need IR files, well, I’m not going to gloat…
…but you were WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
OK, a little gloating. So everything is great, right? There’s no longer a need to any third party IR files, right?
Uh.
After spending time with the new IR-based cabs, here’s what I’d say. The new Line 6 cabs may or may not be good enough so that you don’t need to buy IR files. I’m shooting a video on this topic. I’m not sure if they’re better or worse than my own IR file or the Ownhammer IR files I bought… I’d say they are different.
It should be stated that the Line 6 cabs are way more tweakable than a regular IR file that you can’t tweak at all. And I do think they’re a welcome improvement and they do sound better, and the new dual IR function is VERY cool. I will use them. I will also use my own IR file and the Ownhammer stuff.
What else is in this update?
Well, there’s also some new bass amps (yawn) and the new MOO)))N T amps, described as JTM45-ish, and I’d agree. Not my cup of joe, but some will like them. Put a pedal in front of them or you’ll be disappointed.
The PV Vitriol Crunch and Lead amps are cool – a smooth, pleasing distortion, I’d say. A nice new flavor.
There are two new overdrive/distortion pedals that aren’t as good as what’s already in the HX Stomp, but they’re slightly different so there’s that. Do we really need more overdrive and distortion pedals? How about giving us a Bad Cat amp model instead? On the other hand, I will not complain about a FREE update!
The 4-Voice Chorus and FlexoVibe are both definitely cool – I dig them.
I also like the Dynamic Ambience – it’s sort of like a small room reverb that uses few CPU cycles, so that’ll be useful for HX Stomp owners.
The Boctaver… um… works. I don’t know that it’s better than the various octave pedals we already have, but some people will love it.
I’m happy with this update. Line 6 has taken the important step of moving to the IR model, and that is indeed a big deal. The HX Stomp already does pretty much everything I want, yet Line 6 still continues to make updates and release them for free. I am a lifelong Line 6 fan at this point.
Thanks, Line 6!
