Line 6 Helix
The colour display
shows your patch’s
full signal chain
The colour of the ring
around the footswitch
indicates effect type
Amp modelling has been a
convenient option for recording for
some time. The sound of a modelled
amp in a well-mixed track can be
pretty indistinguishable from a
real amp and cabinet recorded in a
room with a microphone. However,
it has had its detractors for live
work, usually because playing
through amp sims doesn’t sound or
feel exactly like playing through a
valve amp – that tactile experience
makes all the difference. Over the
past few years, however, players
embraced the latest generation of
amp modellers, typifi ed by Kemper
and Fractal, and noqw the Helix. The
difference is that the technology
has improved: the use of dual
DSP processors and the resultant
increase in detail in the modelling
means that the sound and feel are
now akin to the real thing. Brace
yourself for big changes in the
traditional backline, as more players
use amp modellers straight into a PA
or full-range fl at response cabinet.
Bye Bye Amp
Are all-in-one amp and
effects units the future?
FRACTAL
AX8
€1,699
The main
competitor
to the Helix
lacks the
routing bells and whistles but puts
some of the Axe-Fx II’s amp modelling
and e ects into a no-nonsense, stage-
ready pedalboard with 512 presets
ATOMIC
AMPLIFIRE
£469
The way to
go if you’re
on a budget
but want a
dual-DSP
processor that can load cabinet
impulse responses, but still fi ts neatly
into a gigbag
KEMPER
PROFILER
FROM
€1,705
Kemper’s
profi ling
technique
is like taking a snapshot of a mic’d-up
guitar rig – add the Profi ler Remote
controller pedal for onstage versatility
metalheads and hard rockers will
have no complaints about the
Rectifi er, Uberschall and 5150.
Among the effects, the Uni-Vibe
sim’s gloopy warble stands out,
while the Minotaur Klon clone
does a fi ne job of adding that extra
something in front of an amp.
The four years that Line 6 took to
develop the Helix were well spent,
and it’s a valid alternative to its
rivals. Kemper and Fractal both
have more amp models but, as
Line 6 tells us, “Helix is still in its
infancy and we expect big things to
come”, so more models and
features can be expected via
fi rmware updates. While Kemper’s
Profi ler has the ability to mimic the
sound of any amp, the Helix offers
a more compact and manageable
stage experience than the separate
head and controller provide. In the
same way, it’s more practical than
an Axe-Fx II, but has a serious rival
in the AX8 if you just want a set of
sounds simply delivered. However,
the Helix’s advantage lies in its
comprehensive input/output and
signal routing ability, which can
facilitate just about any guitar-
related studio or onstage task
you can think of – it’s a real
powerhouse that can be used on
its own or as the centre piece of an
extended gear system.
Trevor Curwen
ALSO TRY...
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
78 MAY 2016
LINE 6 HELIX
REVIEW
TGR279.gear_lead.indd 78 22/03/2016 11:16