Holding out for (hopefully) a revised Helix with twice the DSP and touchscreen. 🤞

Having played with mostly all of the modelers/profilers, we are in the age where they all sound good. It's easy to make them all sound good. I think it's coming down to workflow, apps and how it works for your needs. What none of them have mastered yet, is the amp in the room feel for home players. Fender is the closest to me so far, exceeding my line6 helix/powercab combo for this. Whoever gets that right first, will sell alot more to home players. It would be a big selling point to have 20 different amps that sound like an amp in the room, not a recording/IR of that amp. I did an initial impression video on it.

One small thing I appreciate about this comparison: you have the QC and TMP side-by-side for long periods of time. Yes, that obviously compares the sizes, but that will impact how you interact with it live. Do you notice the “more compact” arrangement of the QC’s footswitches?

Hi Steve. Great video. You do great work, don't change a thing!!! Btw, I saw in the comments you're looking for an frfr cab. I got the fender fr-12, and I LOVE it...

In terms of User Interface - for me: Helix >> Quad Cortex >> Tone Master Pro. The Helix is so much better thought through - the Line6 crew did an amazing job and it seems like thy actually put the unit in the hands of working, gigging musicians and gave it enough time to mature. Now, give us captures and more DSP to up the modeling quality and I take the Helix over anything else.

This makes me think I’ll wait for a touch screen helix.

Worth saying if you accidentally change some parameters unintentionally or change your preset while in “edit” mode, the QC has an “undo option” up there right corner…actually it’s there until u save any changes you’ve made till that point.

Great points from each side 👏 I've used all of the helix and qc products and recently acquired a tmp. The only criticism I can give and please take it constructively; quad cortex has had several software revisions to improve efficiency and workflow, same with units like the helix... dozens of updates to polish it..the fact that the fender is slower 😑 yeah we all wish fender learned and implemented more lessons from other products, but I'm willing to give them time. Their first firmware update added tons of new features, and their planned Christmas release has me excited. I also never build a preset at a gig 😮 so I'm not sure if I care about saving a few seconds or a minute when building a preset...

Great, informative video - along with the Helix vs TMP, I feel like you've presented the pro's and con's of the TMP, relative to the other modelers, about as well as it can be done. Hope you do one with the FM9, as well! I do disagree that gapless preset switching has made snapshots/scenes unnecessary - for me, they still have a lot of value for organizing a preset. Just my opinion, of course - your statement could well be true with the way you use your modeler on a gig.

Headrush Prime/Core units are the best in terms of user experience and functionality. Metronome and practice tools come in clutch for me. Plus you can tap the preset name then scroll to change presets 😂

Yeah, the QC has a better UI. Got to say that Line 6 Helix Modelers got a lot of UI right, making them fast and easy to use.

Soooooooo useful video ! Hardly wish Fender TM or NDQC developers will soon cast an eye on it, for their future firmware updates 🤔 I've been using Quad Cortex for 3 months. It's a great sounding unit, but the ergonomics on stage sucks, due to the proximity of footswiches, and there's some imperfections you mentioned in your detailed comparison... Very interested in Tone Master for its so explicit screen, IEC power and sturdy looking. It's a new product, with probably upcoming updates...

One thing I’d like to see in all these units is room mics as opposed to room verb…and preferably theyre assignable to a separate output

Had mine for a few weeks and really pleased with it. Great for Cleans and even better for Ambient Guitar. Already created Guitar Synth and Ambient guitar patches and video's. Best Wishes 🎶🎶🎶🎶😎😎😎😎

5:29 on QC, add a splitter at the end of lane 1 to the beginning of lane 2. Now you have 2 full lanes for guitar in lane 1 and 2.

hi nice video, I think the TMP is out of the question for me, certainly nice pictures on the display. But somehow it's not really important, the disadvantages in terms of operation outweigh the disadvantages. At least I find the operation of the QC better and easier, more intuitive than the Helix and that's more than enough for me. The FM3 also has quick, good operation without colorful images. For me that leaves L6 Helix.. and FM3

@12:50 the TMP bottom left foot switch says bypass and bypasses the block while editing parameters.

Great insight mate. Workflow is often overlooked in these machines by people who make reviews, and it's so important. It's all about UI and your "relationship" with the machine. Thanks for this.

Sounds like Fender just needs to do a nice io Firmware Update and add those options in the future , Great review Thanks 😎✨🤙🏽

It would be great hearing your comments about how they compare to each other in terms of latency and "feel"

At 12:56 you simply don’t see the "bypass"-button down left🤷‍♂️ maybe it’s too big 😅

The quad cortex wins for me. It’s smaller. Better screen. Workflow is better. And it’s sounds better. Also you have the capture features.

I read in the manual that the first two rows run on 2 cores and the bottom two run on the other two cores. I think they think that pushing everything in two cores would be too much. Maybe that's why they decided to only allow you to move from row 1 to row 3.

Sold my QC becauase of the grounding issues and the empty promises from Neural about getting a propper replacement. I'd get another if they ever address the issue. In the mean time, Axe FX III it is!

It is important that the QuadCortex is small. It can be taken anywhere. The lack of PC software (which will be introduced, it seems) can also be seen from a different perspective: the QuadCortex can be completed using only the main unit. However, as you say, there is not much difference in sound quality among current high-end multi-processors, so I think it is a matter of taste. I think it would be best to prioritize your needs, taking into consideration your intended use, environment, ease of use, cost performance, etc., and choose the one that you want to use and that seems easy to use.

Steve, you do such a great job of demystifying the complexities of the various modelers. I’ve been learning about my Helix Floor by watching you and was seriously considering buying the Tone Master Pro, until I watched this episode. Thanks for saving me $1,700, which I think I will likely invest in lessons with you.

Thanks for this. I've learned I can get serviceable sounds out of even the most trash gear, so my main concern at this point is ease of use, especially in a gig or jam situation. Although fractal seems to be the king, I could never use one because I can't be diving into menus when a bandmate calls for a tune not on the set list.

They had a tone master out on the floor yesterday. I goofed around with it. Not a fan of the touch screen. I much prefer joystick access and being able to have full control over my chain. It sure looks cool though but it's the same price as a helix. I'm gonna stick with Line 6 for now. I haven't had the opportunity to try the DSP

someone did demo that color button brightness adjustment, pretty sure I saw them show it. in the settings.

You don’t have to go “add block” with the TMP… just click the left or right ‘+’ icons on the signal path!

Call me naive. I just like the tmp best because of its look and the cool graphics. I am shure it sounds good too.

I think you’re better served with a computer and software… I watched the whole Video start to end and I just think these units give apples when all you want is oranges.

I use QC and recently figured out that you can set parameters changes like Helix Snapshots by holding down the parameter I want to change per snapshot.. I hope that makes since. It’s possible in scene mode but not stomp :/

Not your mistake. There should be an editing mode. Always used to be with processors.

TMP workflow will improve as time goes on but really not liking the touch screen contactivity. IMO fractals FM9 still leads the pack despite its more complex UI. These modelers should all have an external virtual FX type knob controller pedal option for live use.

QC is way more flexible, but it’s also easier to mess up and pass unprocessed signal with the amp/cab signal.

I prefer quad cortex, the only think better from Fender is the UI and screen, but both of them are great gear

I currently have both I don’t know what one I want to keep, I like the bluetooth on the tone master pro so I can practice to backing track with no computer. Quads cortex is awesome but dam it’s a hard choice

Can't believe they don't have a supersonic in the tone master pro.

I thought the Bassman was on helix as Tweed Blues model. Right? You should compare that model with your Bassman

Just my opinion but I personally don't worry about how easy a modeler is they are all pretty much easy to use. I only worry about how it feels under my fingers and if it inspires me to play. I love my FM9 and tried L6 and the Quad. The Fender at the price point it's at does not impress me at this point.

In terms of the unit itself I think the Fender takes the win by farrrrr. Seems way more gig ready and solid, better on the floor, more foot space, sexier, even the power supply is nice and solid and not some stupid radio shack plug. QC has had years to roll out updates, I think Fender will catch up to them pretty quick.

My personal opinion…the DSP tone wins hands down (though 95 out of 100 people listening through a mix won’t be able to tell the difference). The TMP UI is miles ahead of the DSP. Reminds me of the Headrush setup. It’s just better. It’s really not even close. Just pick what works best for you at the end of the day.

I was annoyed with both of these workflows scenarios. I’ll will stick with my Friedman IR-X and OX stomp.

Those big screens on a busy stage. Seems not wise. Just asking, home guitarist here 😌

Nice 👍

Honestly, to me, they both have things that seem like dealbreaker flaws in their workflows. The thing you showed on the QC where you can’t change banks while in Preset Mode in Play View, or whatever, is still one of the biggest head scratchers to me. And then if you’re in normal view in Preset Mode and you change banks, you can’t see the preset names in the bank before you select them… Just so freaking dumb, I can hardly believe it. The Fender just looks slow as all get out. I don’t know how I feel about being able to assign the same block to different switches. I guess it kind of gives you a version of snapshots, but it seems like it would be confusing. Some of these choices are just puzzling. It’s like these companies decide they’re going to copy the Helix, but they’ve never really used one, so they don’t understand the actual important elements they should copy.

Please test aliasing❤

What if they made modellers that only had 5 or 6 amps models but allowed really in depth tweakablity.

More gig vlogs Steve!

cool slippers bro

what about vs the fractal?

People that are dissing the TMP have not spent the night with it. I have a Fractal and Kemper. The TMP blows the user experience away on both. Sound? The only amps the Kemper or Fractal do better are high gain (other than the 5150). Fx? Nothing touches the Fractal…period. The question is this. Do you want to play guitar or tweak? Fractal is tweaked heaven…at the cost of making music. Kemper..not as bad but it’s up there too. The TMP allows you to do both. Keep your money. Don’t get one. It’s your choice. You’ll never “get it” though until you sleep with the girl and feed her breakfast. At that point, you’ll understand. The TMP will cause other companies to raise the bar on their crappy interfaces. Count on it. The TMP is a baby. Wait till they slam some updates on it if you’re uptight. They are coming.

you have to be an engineer to understand those gears...

Comparing TMP to other flagship units is an insult to them. I don't get why anyone with any experience with modelers would take this thing seriously and considering the price is the only flagship thing TMP has, who would buy it is an even bigger mystery.

I suppose if you want to find deficiencies you will.

This guy never plays guitar in his videos 😩. Does anyone know why?

Still Helix is the King!!!!😄

If you’re making presets at a gig then that’s ridiculous. Your nitpicks are because you have spent far more time with the QC so you know it and its tricks.

The TMP is a very immature machine that has been launched being almost still in beta. Fender really did an incredible mistake. In 2023 we as digital machine user all know what's, the meaning of being competitive and open to the market in terms of performances sound and ease of use. This Fender is only easy to use. For the rest is a complete disater. it could have been revolutionary 10 years ago but these days such a machine can only compete with the low end of the market but the price is out of this world. Fender is on good way of destroying its reputation in the guitar digital domain.