Fearless Gear Review: Line 6 HELIX NATIVE

Fearless Gear Review: Line 6 HELIX NATIVE
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About Spectre Sound Studios:
I'm Glenn Fricker, engineer here at Spectre Sound Studios. I love making records, and after doing it for sixteen years, I want to pass on what I've learned. On my channel you can find tutorials on how to record guitar, bass, real drums and vocals. There's reviews and demos of tube amps, amp sims, drums, mics, preamps, outboard gear, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, and plugin effects.
We've covered Moon on the Water, played Bias FX, given you the absolute best in Stupid Musician Texts, ranted & raved about bass guitar, and this channel is where The Eagle has Landed.
Everything you've wanted to learn about recording Hard Rock & Heavy Metal can be found right here on this channel!
I also respond to your comments & questions: The best make it into the SMG Viewer's Comments series of videos. Loads of fun, lots of laughs.
Thanks for checking out my channel & please subscribe!

[@FacePomagranate]

I'm glad that your Fearless Gear Reviews don't automatically mean "Negative gear reviews"

[@SWEAVER]

Holy shit, no dislikes on Glenn's video. I've gotten here before the bass players

[@toad15fan]

Sam Weaver Studios Please, become top comment.

[@FlyingTurtle1202]

Sam Weaver Studios Bass players are never on time

[@dedket7777]

Make that 4

[@RJW14]

Ugh, 5 have gotten in between us :)

[@LasseHuhtala]

Nah, us bass players click the thumbs up icon twice because we like the video so much. #DoubleThumbsUp #SläpDëBäss

[@stephengoss4489]

This is why I respect the heck out of Glen. His review is honest, and he doesn't sugar coat. Thanks for the great review

[@bloodswarms]

Helix Native has come so far since this review. The latest few updates brought better oversampling, and a ton of new stuff. The update to the oversampling brought it up to the level of anything Axe-Fx and Kemper offer. Makes the Guitar Rig stuff feel like the old junky POD stuff from back in the day.

[@TrevorHelt]

Agreed! It kicks ass now days especially

[@neoconnor4395]

Helix sucks

[@darkriff777]

Just started trying it out because most amp sims don't give the sound I want and straight out of the box it has a solid djent preset that sits so well in the mix.

[@therealdavegrohl1098]

A positive L6 review?!?! Who are you, and what have you done with Glenn?

[@dantredogborsa7048]

On the next video, Glen will appear with his mouth open and a black smoke will come out of it

[@denisarte419]

its Line6, its wierd to say but they really stepped their game with Helix, new line of amps

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

@@denisarte419 Can confirm. The Helix actually sounds good and is a useful piece of equipment. Whatever the dude was smoking when designing this, he should keep smoking that shit!

[@SpawntheFuries]

I had already been looking into the Helix for my live rig, and had pretty much made the decision to do it, so Glenn giving it the thumbs up even from a studio perspective has pretty much sealed the deal for me.

[@seanhuntley6722]

Well, hell just froze over.

[@martyfriedman2672]

B Mo Lol facepainters

[@tymongoji]

Fuckin Canadians.

[@KaisuiSTFC]

The Spider V sounds like it has the impulse response of a walkie talkie speaker or something like that instead of a proper cab.

[@MHZHellGuitar]

dude I laughed sooo hard when I read this comment :))

[@remyzero1991]

As a sound recordist for television and film, your dialogue audio is top notch. My ears thank you!

[@hamonthecob]

I've owned several pieces of Line 6 gear in the past, and could never fall in love with any of them, but the Helix changed all that. Since I play electric bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and sing, I wanted something versatile, and the Helix is the only multi effect that's useful for all the above. The mic preamp in it is pretty good (definitely good enough for live performances), and the effects are incredible for anything you're trying them on. And you can run independent signal chains from 2 different inputs at the same time! It's truly amazing. I also use my Helix as the primary USB interface for my recording setup, so it doubles as my everyday sound card for watching videos like this one, Glenn! Thanks for the review.

[@januszmanoz3433]

Blink twice on the next video, if you were saying all those good things about Line6 at the gun point.

[@RealHomeRecording]

Watched the whole video. I am glad you gave it a fair shake, Glenn. For me, $400 is too much for the Helix. For that much I'd rather have Scuffham S-Gear for crunches, Kuassa Vermilion for cleans and either Joey Sturgis Toneforge or Mercurial Tube Amp Ultra 530 for high gain.

[@NDEEZMiata]

It's not a great metal amp sim in my experience, I prefer a lot of free ones. The space lead setting is fantastic for metal guitar leads though. The clean amps are great too. It's not worth $400 IMO, but Line 6 had it on sale for $250 IIRC and at that price I think it's worth it. Especially when you consider it has a lot of really nice effects and buying the physical pedals alone would cost well over that. (though I still prefer physical pedals the majority of the time) It's good software for $250, the metal sounds leave a lot to be desired though. I bought it for the cleans and effects and for that I love it.

[@dirtyhannie]

Glenn, good to keep it honest and not being biased!

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

Probably the best likes to dislikes ratio on your channel, it's refreshing hearing good things about line 6 coming out your mouth

[@sethcenterbar]

Can't agree more. If you watch Ola Englund compare axe fx with the helix, it's so obvious that the quality difference lies MOSTLY with the cabinet emulations. The fact that they're all getting smart and allowing IRs it's fantastic for everyone.

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

This makes me very happy to hear. I was waiting to hear if Line 6's biggest critic would like it. I will get one!

[@KevinGsWK]

But when will Glenn play a super sick fast technical solo

[@thrasherfan9636]

Kevin Gs WK I think you have to awaken the beast within first.

[@martyfriedman2672]

James Scott Technical isn't music? So I'm guessing Rush and Dream Theater aren't music.

[@AscentToZenith]

You don't have to be the best guitarist to make music.

[@TheDogPa]

Marty Friedman - Rush has not been music since 1976

[@JoseHenrique-xg1lp]

he's actually admitted a few times he's not that good

[@bioburden]

The huge advantage to Helix Native is that the same tones I dial-in in the studio can be easily transferred over to a Helix LT floorboard and can be used live, replacing the need of a lot of extra gear. I tried to do the same with Bias FX (running it on an iPad and controlling it with a midi floorboard), but it's just got too many bugs and limitations to be used as an Axe-FX alternative in a live setting.

[@jasonstallworth]

Man, the tones sound pretty awesome! Love that Soldano lead...super smooth. I'm definitely a fan of the Line 6 effects. The HD500 (I know that's old and I ended up giving mine away) has this particle verb effects that's really hard to find anywhere else. And their effects in general are just cool and extremely usable.

[@diabolicwaste]

the particle verb is added into helix hardware and vst. its in the legacy category i know what you mean its really incredible

[@peripheraldevotee94]

That particle verb's become a staple palette choice for the guitarists in my church's music team (myself included) who use the HD 500X that's onsite. I can't get over how much atmosphere that effect can inject into a song.

[@Charlessandberg2]

The coolest thing heard with a helix is that with the floorboard you can run external midi and with one of the midi controlled mesa heads you can run out of the preamp into the helix and back to the power section and via midi switch between the different mesa preamp channels or the onboard sims and use the helix effects and have it come out of the power section and back into cab. So your amp is running the power and it's like the amp and whatever effect pedals you have just become a part of the helix as well. That was impressive as hell to me.

[@KapowBand]

I love the fact that fearless gear reviews means that we're getting an honest opinion, even if it's a great product from a company that hasn't put out great stuff before. Thanks Glenn!

[@xMasterxRazorx]

I've heard nothing but good things about Helix, and now I hear that even Glenn likes it. Definitely going to download the demo!

[@stlchucko]

I must have taken the brown acid, because I think I just heard Glenn give Line6 a good review.

[@albertvankrieg5548]

I like how you keep the remnants of the Spider V back there, just like a trophy of war.

[@timolebeck6405]

I just sold my kemper and got the Helix Floor :) I love it! The user interface and software is so far ahead of kemper and the tone (with custom IRs) is just amazing.

[@SuperMetalhead96]

I really like how this has exemplified the other half of the idea of fearless. It reminds me a lot of the cab clone review but in reverse. Taking a product from a company that usually produces lack luster products that's actually pretty good. Well done

[@GizmosGameLounge]

The prophecy has been fulfilled. It is stated in ancient texts that the angry one shall only find piece with his mortal enemy after darkness covers the sky. Eclipse happens and Glen gives a positive review on a line 6 product. Quickly everyone prepare for battle, the bass players will rise up into their ultimate form.

[@JohnSheehan72]

I have a Helix Floor - got it originally as a way to upgrade my M13 to put in front of a Mesa Mark V and use a mini amp gizmo to change channels/patches on live gigs. Worked great that way. A year after purchasing, I gave the amp sims a chance with an FRFR I lugged around as a monitor - haven't looked back. I will probably end up getting native to reduce wear and tear on my floor model eventually - but this is by far the best product line Line 6 has ever put out.

[@some1jones]

Glenn when do you do a fearless gear review on the sledgehammer of truth?

[@Ghost17110]

I haven't spent much time on guitar tones, but I will say it has given me some of the best bass tones from a plugin I've ever heard. The inclusion of a Darkglass B7K model (Obsidian 9000) is SUCH a good feature and puts it miles ahead of other plugins like TH3, POD Farm, BIAS FX, and single effect plugins like TSE BOD. I haven't had any experience using Pro Tool's SansAmp PSA-1 model, but I've heard nothing bad about it. However, I'd expect it to be more suited towards metalcore/Brian Hood/Joey Sturgis-style bass tones than more "musical" distorted tones.

[@StavrosStavrouBackingTracks]

that guitarist is the definition of a pokerface

[@HiredGoonage]

dude can play despite looking like a stoner

[@Keysounds0]

Yeah I couldn’t tell that he enjoyed one more than the other.

[@lordmanshaft1112]

@@Keysounds0 I think glenn recorded a straight DI guitar signal and reamped into the two amps

[@gimmickmusic8827]

I actually have been messing around with Helix Native to see if i want to buy a Helix and replace my live rig. Lets be honest, a singular floor board is way easier to transport than an amp, cab, and pedals. So far I'm really liking it. I do think that the price for the plugin is pretty high if you don't already own a Helix though. I feel like Bias still competes with it for almost a third of the price.

[@metallion0738]

Samuel Emmett Have you thought about the Headrush pedal board multy effects?

[@AaHo0102]

Join the Helix Facebook group and ask some questions. 8000+ members and growing every day, full of people willing to help with any and all questions/issues. Even a Line 6 Support rep is in the group and will answer whatever he can.

[@cursetheserpent]

Lol till you go to play a gig and the sound guy doesnt have a clue how to run direct signals

[@AaHo0102]

Tyler Rosal that's when you unplug the xlr from the mic and put it in the xlr out.

[@cursetheserpent]

Aaron Hooper yeah, i doubt the sound guy at the bars your playing can pull off a live mix without you saying fuck this guy and cranking a real amp so you can actually hear yourself

[@mikei5104]

Fuck I waited for this for so long lol. You are pretty much one of the only guys in the internet doing honest reviews. I've tried it myself and had mixed feelings so I was really eager for you to test this or the Helix itself. And you delivered big time.

[@GusBounas]

Got the Helix LT a couple of months back. It's an insane machine. Like all modellers you need to do loads of twicking to get it right to your ears; but the whole thing is so easy to use; you can create a descent metal sound in 1 hours. Didn't knew they made a software. Definitely awesome review

[@ronbarzilai5705]

Never in my life have I clicked a new video notification this fast.

[@artvasch147]

Honestly spent weeks seeking a tone I'm looking for. Only way I can explain is that I was looking for something not crushing, something with some dynamics that tightened up on light pick palm muting, but opened wide into a wall of tone with chords. Only response that got what I wanted was Helix (including attemping bias amp/bias fx and guitar rig) but the most realistic amps is by Vadim Taranov, imo. I juts run into latency issues setting up the effects list, but he's still working on some. His recto take is killer and his work on a vh4 sounds promising to match.

[@PlasticCyborg]

The Helix definitely has a pretty full range kind of tone. The Spider V has no bottom end and sounds like a cocked wah sound. And in my opinion, cocked wah only sounds good in very specific places in music. And at least with more bottom end on the tone than the Spider V's tone.

[@PedalingPrince]

Holy shit! Comparing the Spider with the Helix, the Spider sounded like you added an amped AM radio over the whole mix... 😖 Nice to finally see Line 6 stepping up their game...

[@harrywarren3684]

Hi Glennnnnn Would love so see a video comparing different amp sims like this, Bias, Kemper and more. Same goes for drum software like EZ, Superior and GGD. These are the big things I'm missing from my bedroom studio! Love the channel, keep it up!

[@shred_YT]

I think Line 6 is starting to get it now! Hopefully they will improve more in the near future! Awesome review Glenn!

[@MoonlitRitual]

I dont ever comment on videos often but this review was 👍👍 comparisons on the line spider 5 was good to see back to back. Another high quality video!

[@slavex7]

As a helix floor owner, the ability to show up to a gig with just the board and nothing else is a back saver. Plus tone is pretty close to the real thing, I'd say like 85%. And I'd agree use custom impulses, as they are usually miles better then the included ones.

[@tcrane8630]

Great review Glen. The fact you used the same tracks as the other review was smart and shows what you were after.

[@shutupandpracticeyerbass8349]

O crap, it's a sign of the apocalypse! Glenn actually liked a Line 6 product.

[@Jankovic21412]

This is why we need fearless reviews and occasional bashing of shitty products- it's just so that manufacturers pull their shit together and actually try harder. Same as in any other aspect of life.

[@davidfuller581]

Even on a phone speaker I can tell how good the Helix modeling is. It sounds like an amp!

[@freepadz6241]

That young dude doing the tappy arpeggio runs. Fucking hell.

[@AmberAge]

Never thought I'd see Glenn give a Line 6 product a positive review. I'm impressed.

[@theaudioprocess343]

I was really looking forward to this one. Thanks Glenn for your fearless gear reviews!

[@RavenFly1232]

You should test the ease of use with a bass player. If he can use it, it's gotta be the best UI ever!

[@kevinwhite6172]

I just downloaded the 15 day trial and wow is it awesome. I have mooer ge 200 and it sounds great but I’m going to have to buy a helix lt now.

[@Shovlaxnet]

Hell just got a Canadian winter, because LINE 6 MADE A DECENT PRODUCT

[@marcsee4072]

considering all the pain going thru Spider reviews - Glenn proves he is not biased. great review... will he ever change his opinion for bass players... only time will tell.

[@mrmagpiepromotions]

I have to say even going back to my old v1 guitar port, I always thought they did a cracking job on Soldano. It was always my go to for classic 80's metal.

[@dannychane]

Helix is just comfortable to use. You can leave your Helix unit in your rehearsal room, get Helix Native for 90 bucks and play with the same sound at home via interface and do some tweaking. So far this is only possible with Helix. Yes, AxeFX and Kemper are closer to the real deal, but as long as it sounds good in the mix, it doesn't matter which one you use.

[@aleks83542]

Holy fuck that clean riff was absolutely beatuiful

[@rxdoctordaddy1795]

It sounds Great!

[@PabloThaGreat]

helix native with proper pre/post plugins and IR's sounds like a good setup if you already have a decent custom build or laptop. if you're buying HN, better plugins and a new Computer to run it right, get the tried n true axe fx.

[@StuartHetzler]

Downloaded the demo and fucked around with it for a couple hours and just bought the actual version. The interface is super user-friendly and the tones aren't bad at all.

[@Kcducttaper1]

Hopefully, someone from Line 6 will see this and send Glen a Helix to play with. I'd seriously consider selling a bunch of my bass and electric guitar gear just to have my whole rig in one 'little' board. Provided it sound good that is.

[@aadityagoswami]

I haven't watched the video yet, but you should know that that you can get the Line 6 Helix LT for about a thousand US dollars, making practically no compromise in sound quality whatsoever. The differences are mostly in build and I/O.

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

+Aaditya Goswami link to Helix LT included

[@newishperson9]

Hope y'all brought your coats, it's about to get real damn chilly.

[@kembooo000]

downloaded the free trial. I have a horrible background noise. reminded me of my amplitube days. thanks god for kemper

[@justinTime077]

Wow man, getting a positive review out of you makes me actually stoked for a piece of gear I want 😂

[@TomPark1986]

Sounds good. The tones are more round, smooth, and full.

[@jeffwood3929]

Yea...i support both your channels

[@UnstableInLINY]

I use a helix but its mixed in with a Randall RG3003h and some Fortin boost pedals. The models are really good for the most part but nothing crushes like the RG (model wise) so my helix is mostly for all other effects.

[@gormygorm]

I am actually gonna give the Helix Native a try after seeing this. That was interesting, and because I don't have access to a huge library of real tube amps, I rely on amp sims and cabinet impulses.

[@JimSlimjimCassi]

My problem with L6 is the build quality, about the time the warranty runs out, something will go bad on the amp, happen to me a few years ago. For the cost to repair it, was damn near the price of the product new.

[@TheLambLive]

I was surprised by the lack of a tuner. I know there are free tune plugins etc, but it seems like this would have been the easiest feature out of them all. I really don't understand Line6 sometimes.

[@pedrocerda6574]

Personally I liked the rhythm tone of the spider and the lead tone of the helix. Well, "liked" personally I wouldn't use one but I could see someone using them for those functions and having them work well

[@5urg3x]

Doesn't sound half bad, but I wonder how it compares to Bias...I've already dropped money on Bias and I'm pretty happy with it.

[@dwheel502]

Love the fearless gear reviews! Keep them coming! I hate to see other reviewers say how great some piece of gear is for the sake of trying to sell it or sponsorship or what have you, even if it sounds like garbage.

[@solitude208]

Glenn, I made the huge mistake spending almost $2k on the line 6 vetta ii when I was ready to buy a real amp. This was at guitar center & I was talked out of the JVM, because the Line 6 had it with more. Plus I didn't have to drop extra $$ on FX. It sounded like shit. I bought it because my cousin sang for Divine Heresy at the time and Dino (DH, Fear Factory) used one. Goes to show that theirs are custom programmed cause mine didn't sound like his. However, for live gigging 98% people didn't even notice or care what amp I used. If you're curious, I sold it and proudly own a JVM & couldn't be happier.

[@olimoreau1]

I've heard good things about Helix but was skeptical because of what I heard from Line 6 in the past. Gotta say, now that I've got a professional's input on the matter I might look into the pedalboard Helix. Thanks for your review, it's always very useful since most "unbiased" reviews online are from people who bought the thing and want to feel good about it.

[@AuburnnSkies]

God, I'm not an expert on tone, but I've recently helped my Guitarist sibling out on buying a Helix (floor), and am supremely happy with the decision. He'd been using Bias for the last year and a half, and yeah, for the price he'd been getting really competent sound from it, absolutely better than a cheapo amp, and for someone on a budget, and looking for casual use, can't recommend it enough. But the Helix blows it out of the water to my ear, through whatever we run it out of. It's not totally perfect in regards to quality analog kit, but it's nice finally having some genuinely rich sound, with versatility, and none of the quirks that comes with running Bias (which is as much a general DAW/any-vst problem as it is Bias itself, sure). Gets two thumbs up from a happy consumer.

[@GaryGenzelGenzelHouseMedia]

I really appreciate your honesty Glenn. It truly makes me come to this channel before any other for reviews. Question: have you tried the Boss Katana?

[@AlistairMaxwell77]

ive had my helix rack for a while and its very useful in the studio and sounds pretty good , 8/10 compared to the real amps , which i still have a heap of tube heads . im recording a new project and helix does guitars , bass and vocals. the multiple dsp paths for separate concurrent signal chain and instrument processing and the stack of i/o are great . very handy tool live and in the studio .

[@nicolasvillamil7523]

Why have you not reviewed the Peavey Vypyr series yet!?

[@deathmetalmachine]

Do review on amplitude 4 no one ever talks about them

[@gamethogic3751]

I use the Pod HD 500X....worth the $400....eh no......but does it have some really freat custom stuff....yes....I play a 57 Reissue Black Beauty straight in to the processor straight out to my monitors or sometimes a cab....love it....never run digital into digital though...

[@jesseprice7705]

1:16 Gotta love that deglay effect.

[@gabbo9795]

Glenn is the best gear reviewer

[@alastor1052]

Indeed, he is really good for caring about his viewers spending their hard earned money on good gear instead of selling a load of crap whilst calling it "great".

[@mikee6666]

hmmm . . . . imo second best, but I'd be up to conceding first place equals. When it comes to pedal demo's and reviews, Shane at intheblues is pretty damned good.

[@YanDoroshenko]

Glenn is the gest beer reviewer!

[@thorinpierce]

The native does seem a bit pricey considering you can get bias amps and bias fx for about half as much. I'm sure Line 6 would eventually drop the price on that if it doesn't sell well. I personally own a Line 6 Helix (the foot board version) I have to say it's pretty good. Compared to say an axe fx it is a little less aggressive on the mids. Which if you're a Djent player that may be a turn off lol. All in all though the helix is normally a couple hundred dollars cheaper than the alternatives offered by axe fx, Kemper, and even the bias head. As well the interface is pretty intuitive. Ola made a video comparing all four of these so if you are in the market, check it out.

[@atomicgrape33]

Love your channel Glenn, please do more fearless gear reviews

[@lfox02]

OMG, Line 6 actually did something RIGHT? I'm going to have to listen on my MDR-7506s (listening on my Samsung Level Us) but it sounds great! Will definitely try it out for myself.

[@dntinker]

I know a lot of prog kids who use it as a cheap alternative to a Kemper or a Fractal. With good results

[@AsmusThomsen]

Nice review (as always), but I don't see the point in comparing it to a Kemper or Axe, the vast difference in price considered. Not unless it REALLY destroys both.

[@m_e_h6874]

The guys at Line 6 finally stopped sniffing glue!

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

It's fucking good boys. Dropped $520 Australian and no regrets.

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

I am getting the IK Multimedia Amplitube MAX bundle.

[@rbilleaud]

Sounds really awesome with clean tones. Maybe a little less so with the heavier ones, but still perfectly acceptable.

[@rjester21]

Awesome review! Thanks for always making cool videos that are entertaining and super informative! 🙂

[@OmniusDWorgen]

Sounds pretty awsome, but at more than double the cost of BIAS I'm not sure it would be wise to go the Helix way. One thing's for sure, they got their sound game up to snuff - at least they have that going for them

[@deathmetalmachine]

Do the Eleven rack next

[@RockU2Death5150]

I was fairly shocked by the difference between the Spider V and Helix Native. Fisher-Price "My First Guitar Amp" vs "Warm, crunchy, slammin' amp sims + fx". For those who cannot afford the hardware Helix, I've been told the Firehawk setup is awesome -- at 1/3 the cost. I wonder... hmm... Glenn?

[@HankCScorpio]

Been playing with helix native for a few days. Can't yet justify purchasing. Sounds like Bias FX. Not a knock, as Bias is pretty good, but $399 is a bit over the top.

[@ciddax754]

This thing sound decent and in direct comparision I can understand glenns rambling.

[@davidmallon4435]

I'm sold. Just like that i'm proud of owning something by Line6

[@Ledjent]

Great vid Glenn! I would love to see/hear a comparison between a real deal / kemper/axe and the helix native sims. That would be interesting to judge the difference is the physical unit versus a program.