It's 2025, I already own a Quad Cortex... so why did I just buy a Line 6 Helix Floor? In this video, I break down the surprising real-world reasons why the decade-old Helix platform earned a spot alongside the cutting-edge Neural DSP Quad Cortex in my setup.
This ISN'T a "Quad Cortex is bad" video (far from it). Instead we are covering:
Workflow Differences & Ergonomics (Footswitch spacing matters!)
Build Quality & Roadworthiness (Can you trust your gear on stage?)
The "Anxiety Factor" of using expensive gear live.
Unique Sounds & Effects only found in the Helix ecosystem.
Cloud Dependence vs Local File Management for presets
Why the Helix might be my touring workhorse & the QC my studio brain.
If you're debating between the Line 6 Helix and Quad Cortex, own one and are curious about the other, or just love practical discussions about guitar modelers for gigging and studio use, this video offers a unique perspective.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Why buy a Helix in 2025?
2:08 Helix demo
2:38 The reasons go beyond the spec sheet
3:16 The Helix is still competing
5:26 The QC is tiny but mighty
6:15 The modelling quality
7:20 The real-world factors
9:50 Underfoot ergonomics
11:53 Helix scribble strips
14:25 QC demo lead tone (sorry for the low volume)
15:05 Build, roadworthiness and "precious" factor
23:58 Sound palette and flavours
28:15 Ecosystem philosophies
32:47 Split responsibilities
37:15 The real tone difference is in the fingers
38:02 Wrapping things up