Helix or HX Stomp for home use?

ROOG

Dear all, I am going to visit my local PMT this weekend to play with  Helix, with a view to home use only. Initially, I discounted the "lesser units" as options but have since been told that even the HX stomp does more or less the same thing sound wise as the full Helix.
So my question is what am I missing out on if I go for the HX stomp version? 

UnclePsychosis

The amp/cab/effects models sound identical between different Helix units. They are literally the same code running on the same processors.

The differences are in form factor / switching options / number of inputs / number of outputs / how many effects you can run at once / how many parallel paths you can run at once.

This post should help:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/142161/the-helix-buying-guide

ROOG

Thanks @ UnclePsychosis , having searched for Helix in the forum I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of entries.

preston61

ROOG said:

Thanks @ UnclePsychosis , having searched for Helix in the forum I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of entries.

There has to be a minimum of 4 Helix related threads on the opening page of the FX section at any one time or the whole website goes down, it's just the way it is

ROOG

UnclePsychosis said:

The amp/cab/effects models sound identical between different Helix units. They are literally the same code running on the same processors.

The differences are in form factor / switching options / number of inputs / number of outputs / how many effects you can run at once / how many parallel paths you can run at once.

This post should help:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/142161/the-helix-buying-guide

Well I read the link above and it is very informative thank you, but I still don't know if i need a Helix or not.  The HX Stomp may be enough, I just don't know. I mean I don't really know what I want at all!

Having just realised what the rack unit looks like I am wondering if that would do what I want, (no processing limitations as compared to HX Stomp) just wondering how easy it is to use without the floor unit? 

Roland

Is your question about “Which one is easier to use when playing?” or “Which one is easier to tidy away and get out again?”

ROOG

Roland said:

Is your question about “Which one is easier to use when playing?” or “Which one is easier to tidy away and get out again?”

Hi @Roland I am used to a Yamaha TH5, I plonk it on the desk next to me and fiddle with the knobs then play for a bit, then twiddle with the knobs, repeat, etc, etc. so I'm not really into pedals or pedalboards. In fact the only pedals I have sometimes sit on the desk by the side of the little amp. 

If I were to go with a Helix, I recon it would end up on the desk anyway, there is no way i would want to 'edit' all those functions by bending down to the floor and it would take up a fair bit of space on my desk. So I thought maybe a bare 'rack' unit could sit on my desk so that I could fiddle with the controls in comfort? 

Roland

That’s what I’d do. You might even be able to use it as a screen stand.

ROOG

Roland said:

That’s what I’d do. You might even be able to use it as a screen stand.

Ah ha! so my question is is it easy to switch patches on the rack unit without the fancy 'floor mounted touch switches' , if that is possible at all?

I can see me getting odd looks from the staff in PMT if i ask this question.

thecolourbox

I use a Digitech gsp1101 rack sized modeller thing, and although it doesn't get anywhere near the Helix on sound, the physical form is fairly similar. You can skip between presets but it's a pain in the arse because you have to lean forward to press the buttons or twist the knobs, more than likely whacking your headstock into the desk in the process

sgosden

ROOG said:

Roland said:

That’s what I’d do. You might even be able to use it as a screen stand.

Ah ha! so my question is is it easy to switch patches on the rack unit without the fancy 'floor mounted touch switches' , if that is possible at all?

I can see me getting odd looks from the staff in PMT if i ask this question.

it is possible to switch between patches / presets / snap shots on the unit or with the computer editor. it is much easier to do this with a midi foot controller. and much much much easier to do with the dedicated controller.

I used a behringer fcb1010 with rack for quite a while. But the controller opens up a lot more functionality and flexibility of the unit.

ROOG

"more than likely whacking your headstock into the desk in the process" This is a real risk for me, especially when leaning down to muck about with floor-mounted thing-a-ma-jigs! 

ROOG

sgosden said:

ROOG said:

Roland said:

That’s what I’d do. You might even be able to use it as a screen stand.

Ah ha! so my question is is it easy to switch patches on the rack unit without the fancy 'floor mounted touch switches' , if that is possible at all?

I can see me getting odd looks from the staff in PMT if i ask this question.

it is possible to switch between patches / presets / snap shots on the unit or with the computer editor. it is much easier to do this with a midi foot controller. and much much much easier to do with the dedicated controller.

I used a behringer fcb1010 with rack for quite a while. But the controller opens up a lot more functionality and flexibility of the unit.

Just watching some youtube vids on this and the capacitive foor swicthes and 'scribbble strips' on the full Helix  do appear to be a  significant part of the Helix ergonomic package.   Oh well, I'll see what a demo does for the situation.

ellangus

What about the hx effects unit (not the hx stomp?)

ROOG

Cheers ellangus, I would like the amp modelling bit included.