Should you buy a Fractal FM9 or Line 6 Helix - an in depth user experience comparison

What do you want to see next vid? I am thinking "Snapshots vs Scenes"
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Great video as always Steve - thank you. Well, I have owned the Helix Floor (since 2016) and the Stomp. I also have owned an AX8, Axe FX III, FM3 and FC6. At first listen, I thought the Fractal stuff sounded way better. Certainly the factory presets do. But for the stuff I play (NOT massive slick produced sounds - basic clean and crunch), I actually found the Fractals to be too sparkly and pristine. Also, I'm a long time Timmy user on my analog board. I can dial up the sound and feel of my real Timmy v2 (A/B in a send) exactly on the Helix Teemah. On the Fractals, even with multiple Timmy versions and endless rabbitt-hole editing, I could never make any of the versions match it. I also much prefer sound and feel of the compressors on the Helix (I'm a 35 year sound production engineer/educator - not being arrogant - just saying I know compressors). I can get the Helix Deluxe comp to feel like my Barber Tone Press - not so the Fractal Comps. And believe it or not, I even prefer the Line 6 Delays as well. The Fractals sound beautiful, but I have never been able to get self-oscillations on the Fractals tweaked to warp, distort, decay the way I like, even after hours rabbit-holing. The Helix just does it. And Switching layouts? Switching independent from Presets (other than limited and confusing Per Presets) just doesn't work. It gets insanely complicated and what works for one preset doesn't work for others. With my Fractals I spent literally days chasing down rabbit holes planning and tweaking and testing complicated layouts, never quite finding the right combination. So in the end, after several years of owning both, both Fractals are gone and I'm back with my Helixes. For my uses, they actually sound better (though I do mostly use IRs), they're way easier to use, and let me focus more on playing than endless programming. This is me, and I'm often weird. But for me, after sinking $$$ and endless time into Fractals, I'm back with Helix. I don't hate the Fractals at all - they're fabulous units. Brilliant and innovative. And the Axe III was made in New England like me! I WANTED to prefer it. But for my uses, the Helixes just work, and even sound better. And at 63, I need to use my time to make music, not chase literally endless rabbits. :)

You can actually tell Output 2 to mirror Output 1 so you don't have to create a separate path on the FM9. Thanks for the video.

I played with the FM9 and was consider getting because I sold my Helix. Well I just got my new helix floor last week. I just love the thing and I have no problem with the stock cabs. They sound amazing. I always get the sound I am looking for.

I picked the helix LT as with another $100 you can also get the VST version (Helix Native). That combination (For recording) is unbeatable. Yes, the AXFX stuff is incredible... maybe you can even nit pick it sounds better here, or not as good there... But as an overall package for studio stuff Helix + Helix Native is pretty unstoppable.

Been a while since I've seen a break down video from you. I love the visual you were able to show for the fr9 and with the helix. A lot of my buddies have lived by the fractal life. The helix just feels like home.

On Helix I found the best way to get rid of any high end harshness in clean tones and to some extent dirty tones is to simply move the mic in the cab section back past 3 or 4 inches even 5 or 6 inches and it rounds it off nicely and sounds sweeter. Just adjust the amp EQ after that to correct and it's nice.

That was super useful. I received my FM3 today and am a bit overwhelmed. I'm a geek, so it's fun though. Have 15 day window to decide. The other option was an Helix LT or Stomp XL. Not owning one your vid is the best I can do.

you said two things that many people underestimate about multifx units, but they're instead very important: Ease of use for stage tweaking AND replacement units availability in case you send your current unit back for repair or in case it breaks!

Great video. I have had this year the Helix Floor, QC and FM9. All three are amazing units. QC still need to improve in terms of functionality to be at the same level of Helix and FM9, I would say. I decided to keep just the FM9 with me (even when I hate that crappy Ui). Helix left some time ago and now it’s the time for the QC to leave. I will save cash for when Line 6 releases the new flagship, because I’m pretty sure will be outstanding.

I have the Helix and the AX8. After a battle back and forth, I rather not be spending a lot of time tweaking. I just got put on the Fm9 waiting list. The sound I am getting from the AX8 playing throught two tube amps is amazing!!!

Great comparison. Thanks. Your videos helped me decide on the Helix Floor to replace my heavy ass pedalboard and a 1/2 stack which has made moving around a lot more enjoyable. I imagine I'll checkout the FM9 and the Quad some day. Cheers.

I think I will go back to a traditional pedalboard, with additional MIDI capabilities...after selling everything for a Helix.. I miss all those knobs so much 😁. Thank you for this very interesting video!!!

Great review. Thanks very much for this. A useability comparison between these units was much needed. I've seen plenty of tone comparisons between Helix and Fractal and I agree that they both have the ability to sound great. For playing live with a band, I'd argue it's more important to be able to easily select the functions you need while playing, or between songs, than it is to achieve that last 5% of tonal perfection so thanks for the great comparison on this topic. I'd also say that high-end harshness you mentioned in the Helix probably helps it cut through in a mix better. Let's face it....most of the great tube amps have some kind of harshness in their texture and high-end which is hard to listen to when playing by itself but which is important for cutting through when playing with a band.

Great video as usual. Love the part at the beginning about the sound being pretty much equal for both, I feel the same way.
I was really torn and almost switched back to the helix, I still might.
You said you can only use two amps in the helix definitely had presets with 4 Amps In them.

I am a multi-effects Virgin. I have never bought any! This video was great for making me decide which environment I would be most comfortable with. I am not much of a tweaker so my decision rests with the FM9 to get great sounds with minimum tweaking. I know the helix has an easier GUI on the unit and that would be important for a tweaker. Great video Steve since you use both units! Merry Christmas 🎄

I am very comfortable with my Helix.Even after playing my tube amps for weeks on end .I was expecting a downer when returning to the Helix ...but no....I still enjoy it to the max.I just have to learn the nth degree of button control !! Have a Great, Safe, Happy Christmas and Thank You for all your videos !

I think you also need to factor in how future proof each device is. The FM9 is new and the Helix is now old. Fractal made some interesting, and apparently wise, design decisions with the FM9 like giving the reverbs their own core so you can run multiple hi res reverbs without affecting the overall dsp use. Though perhaps Line 6's dynamic dsp is better? But L6 is putting out some great new blocks but they take up SO much of the unit's dsp, they become less useful. I think if buying today, I'd buy the FM9 or wait for the next gen Helix, however long that takes. OR, buy a used Helix or LT cheap if you don't want to wait for an FM9. Then, of course, is the question of the Quad Cortex which will hopefully be updated enough to meet our expectations and needs. Unfortunately, they're still fixing poor design decisions.

Sounds comparison videos for modelers are stupid. This is WAY more informative! Great video 👏👏👏 I'll probably always stay with helix but now I know what I am or am not missing. Can't wait for more of these videos!

Also, I noticed a huge difference in tone and feel between the Helix and the FM3. I mean like day and night.

I went from a Helix to a Headrush. They are all comparable at this point. The headrush is a bit more dynamic, it doesn't have the routing the Helix has but it just sounds (a touch) better and the touchscreen interface is killer. Its all personal choice as they all do it well.

I have a Helix and an Axe-Fx III and I love them both. I look at it like this. You go to the music store and there's two identical amps. Same manufacturer, same model yet they sound different. That's how it is for me. I don't think one is better than the other. As you said, there are pluses and minuses to both units. Another thing is that the tones of the amps I think are a little better in the Fractal but on a gig no one is going to notice the difference. Either way you can't go wrong it's just a question of how much you need. BTW I also have an HX Stomp and a couple of pedalboards I made and I won't be selling any of it if that's any indication. The more tools in the toolbox the better off you are.

Awesome video. Thanks for the info. I recently bought a Helix LT, and I'm looking forward to learning it.

Love you videos Steve , they’re meat and potato , I always learn so much 👍

I have both and was surprised how easy the FM9 is to navigate. I went from an Axe Fx II to a Helix cus the Axe Fx II was a nightmare to program or use from someone who never used a multi-effects unit before. I was hesitate that the FM9 would be user friendly, but so far its been pretty easy. Some things are actually easier to use and program than the Helix, while I miss some things about the Helix like having a knob per effect (bass, treble, rtx.) Without having to scroll over or assign them in performance mode.
But in terms of everything else like stock cabs/amps, number of cabs/amps, tuner, looper, computer editor, and number of effects, it's not even close, the FM9 kills the Helix. The tuner on the Helix actually isn't that great I've noticed and unless it's something I'm doing wrong, usually sound a little sharp or flat. The FM9 is spot on. The FM9s looper is also very usable where I found the Helix's looper pretty bad. I think if you use third party IRs, the Helix gets much closer, but the stock amps and cabs on the FM9 are all good and when you play a string on thr FM9, it reacts way differently and more realistic than it does on the Helix.
Also, I used to think the Helix's onboard foot controller was a benefit until mine recently broke. Mine is a Helix Floor too, not an LT, so it was supposed to be more durable. I think I prefer saving on size with the FM9 and just using separate Mission expression pedals which have a better sweep than the Helix's pedal anyways.
However, one thing I do miss about the Helix Floor is the giant volume knob right in the middle, dedicated headphone volume knob, and also the toggle switch. I feel the switches and knobs to access things on the FM9 are kind of clunky and could have benefitted from the way the Helix has a knob that can be both a toggle switch and enter button.

Excellent comparison! Thanks from those of us who don't have the resources to do our own comparison.

Completely agree that in a mix,FOH,you couldn’t pick one from the other…I personally think the Fractal sounds much better in the room,but that comes down to personal preference…My biggest thing with the Helix,is power….The Helix is knocking on the ceiling of its DSP capabilities…The AxeFXIII will do more than the Helix without breaking a sweat….another thing for me,is the Fractal stuff lets you choose what to do with your dry signal when running a parallel path..also the Pitch block in the Fractal is better than Helix…The cab section,IR length resolution is miles better on the Fractal….the routing in the Fractal..meters…there are too many things for me to count that I like better in the Fractal….for me,the Fractal just suits my needs more than the Helix does….now,the next generation of Helix may be a different story,which given Helix’s age,is coming at some point…..all this stuff comes down to what you want or need….They both sound very good though…..Whatever works and inspires you to play guitar,that’s the one you pick…

I think I'll stick with the Helix. Everybody in my band plays keys, drums, bass, guitar. So any of us can come to rehearsal with a new tune, and sometimes I make a new preset on the spot that fits the vibe. Making a new preset and assigning switches is so easy with the Helix.

i tweak a lot on my presets on gigs, and i find the fractal workflow really hard to deal with

Both good . Love the Helix .

Thanks for the great video! I’ve been a Helix user for a few years now and really like it. I got the FM3 & FC6 & of course they come out with the FM9 a few months later, lol. I also have a FX8 that I used for quite a while. I like the flexibility of the Helix & the FM3 but I think the Helix is definitely more user friendly when it comes to adjusting on the fly. I also really don’t like how the FM3 ( same on my FX8) does the switching on the ‘up’ as opposed to on the ‘down’ on the Helix. It’s really kind of annoying to me. I know I have to adjust to it whenever I use my Fractal units. That said, I just keep my FM3 in my studio for now. Trying to work a few more things out with it before I can’t feel free to use it live, & I do play out regularly.

I took a break in the middle of the video to play my tweed Deluxe because my head was spinning a bit. Seriously though I think they're both fantastic units. I've got an HX Stomp and will probably add either a full Helix, or an FM9 in 2022, but I wouldn't mind if there was a new stomp that had the same DSP power as the full Helix. I'd rather have that than one of the bigger units.

Great comparison, I've had the Helix for 1.5 years and had the AX8 for half of last year. You did an excellent job outlining how some things are just tedious with the Fractal ecosystem. BUT the Helix tones are missing a sprinkle of special magic that Fractal has in everything they do, that I don't have the patience, maybe the knowledge, or DSP to replicate.
Tweaking or setting up a patch is SO easy with Helix, even with your foot in pedal edit mode during a song. It passed the gig test for me already too, and sounds great through a real cab. So it will always win in ease of use, just brilliantly designed!

Excellent review Steve. I can now see which one is best for me.

So the lag, or delay, that you talk about when changing the bypass state (at approx 11:24)...is that just in the editing software? Or when you're playing that out in the real world, do you have to step on the switch earlier than you want a given sound? Or does the lag not exist on the hardware itself?
Merry Christmas, happy whatever you celebrate, btw!

Very very Informative video👏 Thank you so much for this video, Nobody had done a comparison video with the Helix vs Fm9 yet. I would love to watch your thoughts on The Amp model quality with both units, in terms of Dynamic response, Tone feel and instant result for the tone when you quickly through in a Amp and a Cab block etc..... Would love to watch how good does both unit sounds by not having them dailed in a very complex routing.

Been using the helix for almost 6 years now. I love the interface and the workflow. Sounds decent and have more that I need in one unit.
The bad.
Reverbs suck!!! I hate the sliders in HX Edit and some effects controllers are confusing. Flangers suck too!! Is not that easy to dial the amps. Some cheaper units sound good out of the box with minor tweaking, with the Helix is not that easy.
When compared to my friends Fractal the Fractal sounded better in my opinion.
In the end, I’ll stick with my Helix for now until the Helix II. The Helix is super versatile like a swiss army knife.

Has your mind changed on preferring touring with the Helix over the Fractal?

I have the Helix floor and the power cab 1x12. My band has been playing alot and I have been wishing for something smaller. I was looking at the Helix xl because I finally know how to use the Helix and have it dialed in. I saw the Ampero for cheap at the music store and bought it just to try it. So far I like it better than my Helix. The Marshall 800 & 900 are so good without any tweaking. We have a gig once a month that is live streamed on Clip-Share and the Ampero sounded great. Sounds and feels better than the Helix and very little tweaking. I had to get creative because it only has 4 foot switches but they have duel functions with a long press. I also set the expression pedal to control multiple parameters. There are drawbacks but my main tones that I use the most sound better on the Ampero. There is a bit more tap dancing but I think I can work around it. I love that it fits in my gig bag.

While the price for both are pretty much the same, almost better deal to get a helix LT and FRFR amp for about the same price as the big units that would still need an FRFR of sorts on top. As a casual cover band guy, that was the deal breaker not going to a kemper either. Most of the audience wouldn't know or care about the sound difference. Good informative video Steve.

I totally agree. I would keep my Helix that FM 9 isn't very user-friendly.

Fair review, thank you sir.

Good video. Thanks. One thing though. It is possible to have more than two amps in a Helix preset, not that need to of course. I have presets where I use three (usually the three SLO's). Obviously that means having less effects in that preset but, it is doable.

I feel like you should explain that the lag is only on the display of the computer going over a USB cable but when you click the switches, the audio is instantaneous with no gap or lag when switching scenes

Helix wins for ease of use. The tone differences are so minimal and or barely existent in most cases. Especially if you tweak and spent time building your patches. I don’t see spending an extra grand for just dsp. Love the channel. Hope you and yours are great!

Really good video Steve, thoroughly enjoyed and learned some new stuff on the fractal side. Merry Christmas to you, Jessica & Audrey.

I’m so jealous of your life haha.
I’m still on my helix because I can’t afford and or even get my hands on the quad or the FM9.
Carry on my friend. You are an inspiration

Steve, one of your best videos! Thanks for the clear and comprehensive comparison. I had a similar experience with QC and Helix. The QC is easier to edit and the amps and cabs do sound better (they don’t have that high end issue that Helix has). But by the time I added an MC8 and expression pedal, and put them is a pedal board, I ended up with something larger and more complex than Helix. Ultimately I love them both for different reasons and am happy to have the choice to use either one on different gigs.

Both are great options. I had a Helix for nearly 6 years and it’s great. I’ve been onboard with Fractal for about 18 mos with FM3 & FM9. This was a great review, I think it really just comes down to workflow. Helix is the GUI champ. Way ahead of it’s time. But I prefer the tones, workflow and depth of the Fractal. I could never bond with the helix editor, and really didn’t need to, since it was so easy. Fractals editor is fantastic. It’s great to have such amazing options. Guitarists are spoiled lol.

Great video!!! Steve you rock!!!

i dont have fractal but i have an helix and a some tube amps (AC30modified to BM greg fryer spec, JVM410 and 410HJS, Mesa Mark V, Orange tiny terror, evh 5150 and peavey 5150). For me helix is really convenient live with snapshot. you can get sound identical to my amps but with matching eq (ozone). I did and use only IR of my mesa cab and my marshalls cabs (G1265, G12T75, V30 slash), my rivera, my 5150 block letter and my ac30 67 blue. I find it to sound better with my own IR
On the Helix Marshall plexi's are pretty bad, too much power amp distortion. i can't get smoothtone even with OD or treble booster, that I get with my JVM on plexi setting. that always sound quite spongy and mushy. Though, I can get ANY marshall sound with the placater, any EVH5150 with the revv purple and red, and any AC30 Brian may sound with fawn normal channel with my hardware treble booster. Fender deluxe and twin are very very good. Delay are great, chorus just ok, reverb so so (though i dont use verb).
Quite honestly on the helix with only revv, fender twin, ac30 and placacter and mesa mark IV is more than enough for me. no need to have 1000amps. better chorus would be great lika cold tc gmajor.

pretty much bang on with my thoughts, I sold my Helix to fund the Axe-FX3 purchase and kinda should'a sold my kemper maybe but my logic is that Helix and Fractal are digital modellers so I was never gonna go back to the Helix once I owned the Axe FX. Anyway I digress ... good comparison.

Wow. I wouldn't want spend so much setup time on the Fractal unit. Sounds would seem to be good but spending too much time editing cuts down on playing time. Love the Helix LT.

Honestly, I think the tone difference between a Helix and a Fractal are going to be lost on everybody but the user which does matter to some degree. For me? No. I am an approximalist. If it's close then I a happy. Helix is close enough to the quality of its best competition and so I am not itching to pay premium for something that's not enough better for me to care. Plus, the community around the Helix platform is massive. That is huge for me

Hi thanks for the video! I would like to know if i can have 2 signal out for 2 different amp. I use a bass and i split the signal out in 2. one signal goes to a guitar amp with an octaver up,the other signal goes to a ampeg vst. can i do it with the helix 6? thanks for the help!

Great video!

Dear Steve Sterlacci ,
We guitarists need in depth user reports from
- Technically knowledgeable users
- Power users who use mfx as a tool of their trade
- Reliable, unbiased users who can be believed by all
- Users who can explain things in an easy to understand manner
You are all four simultaneously !
Hence your viewpoints are valuable to the community.
Thanks for taking the time to make such informative reports.

8 years a fractal user 2 year helix rack !
On fm9 wait list
Could give you 15 reason right away most probably 20
This is base on the fact that the helix is older technology !
More and better pedal replication especially drives
Better amps more functions more detail and deeper editing
More and accurate irs
In room sound feel and sound
The editor has dials not crappy sliders
Easier to allocate pedals to effects
(Helix has easier workflow but if your picking workflow over sound well 🤪)
Effects hundreds more - strymon eventide quality if not better ! The effects in the helix rack !! Mmm I use 3rd party vst Valhalla as substitute for some reverbs on helix
Regular updates and forum input direct into product and new products
More processing power and routing
Fractals midi is rubbish midi commmand I’d great I’ll miss it
But overall the fm9 is 2020 helix is old tech
I will be interested in helix 2
But Fm9 is king - just have to wait till 2024 for it !!!
😎😎❤️🙏🏻🎸

Thanks Steve, now i need both LOL. JK, for me, I think I would go Helix having had one already but got rid of it (long story) but thinking about buying again one of these two but if I di, i will be Helix. Thansk for your comparrison.

Hi! does anyone know if the Helix Floor edit works with the new MACOS Monterey ?? thx!

great job Steve

How many effects can be assigned per preset? until DSP runs out?

Steve is your steel player like mine where he has the best tone in the band and you just can't beat it no matter what you do

I have a big question, I have Helix Floor version and when I want to to add a specific clean headstock it comes with DRIVE, if I lower it there is no more sound, HOw can I achieve a clean clean sound sound from a specific headstock, .. what am I doing wrong?? I come from the analog world AC30 plus Pedals and guitar , no more so I want to fully understand how to configure it right.

I hate line 6… that said the Helix is almost exactly the same as the real life amps and that’s why You hear it in the high frequencies.
The F - FM9 or 3 is like the ideal processed sounds of the real amps - eg after you low pass the amps in a good studio or - after you saturate the sound of the amp via tape or console transformers into DAW from good console or to tape.
As I said I hate line 6 and I’ve owned line 6 in the past as a effects option for shows. But I was completely shocked when I first heard the Helix via a prs - I know it was exactly the same sound as my prs into Mesa boogie rectifier and Mesa cab. Identical!
This is why it doesn’t sound out of the box as good as F FM9 or 3 - as when you mic up my gear in the best studio you can go to and use a Neve console with 1073s punched hard & recorded to DAW or tape it also doesn’t sound as good as the F FM9
So really that’s the situation. I think it’s not hard to rec guitar in a studio with good gear but there is a lot of processing and mixing that happens after the fact that makes it great. Whereas F FM9 & 3 is just perfect without a thing done to it. It’s cheating really which is what you want if you are going to modulate & fake a real amp or effect, may as well have it perfect yeah!😎
Just for reference plugins are a good generation away from either being the same as a real console or console module or being better.
No UAD Neve plug-in sounds 99.9% the same as the real thing it’s more like 70% it’s clearly not the same thing, and it also doesn’t sound better it just sounds different.
Same as N Engin plug-ins for guitar except 1 or 2 examples (Soldano) is very close and the capture feature from the pedal is really close at capturing the sound of a real amp.

I only play real amps and when I tried the fractal emulation of my actual amps I was blown away like what I felt when I tried the Kemper profiles of actual amps I ab'ed with. The helix/boss/headrush felt one step lower.
I still think fractal and to a certain extent Kemper are one step ahead and the rest are playing catch up, especially with the depth of tweaking you can fine tune your fractal to actually mimic your own gear.

Merry Christmas ☃️🎅🎁to you and yours Steve.. I love my Helix.👍😎

I have been trying amps for ages,i havent played for 25 years,due to a accident,the new reissues stink,exept for the Marshall bass and treble 20 what,but that was sold,i tryed the helix next to a fender delux reverb reissue
Verry near,then i pluged the helix into a fender blues amp the small onset everything flat,bxxxx hxxxx it sounded excellent,i have tried side by side,
In Birmingham shop, the fender tweed deluxe,£2400 cris Stapleton Princeton,£1700,the fender tweed champ,verry lack lustre,the hand wired 20 w Marshall was incredible,but it was sold,but here is the thing from a grumpy old penshioner, who has had the sixtys baseman’s deluxe reverbs
Twins and super reverbs,the helix into a valve amp sound and feels excellent,how reliable are the helix,i have a tc hellicon voicelive 3 extreme
That just keeps braking down,can you reassure me abbout the helix reliability, if so i will get one tomorrow,

On the 1/4 stereo out on helix can't you add a Walrus Audio Canvas Stereo Direct Injection Box
To add xlr to front of house ?

How does the Kemper Stage compare?

FM9 or 3 nuff said.

So you would choose helix or fractal over quad cortex i take it>

I think they're equivalent in terms of tones but for me helix wins hand down in terms of support and policy...i don 't like the policy of fractal It doesn't male sense at all..

i have listened to so may modellers side by side on youtube, and the helix to me alwys always sounds better, even in a real amp vs helix i thought the real amp had to be the helix.....helix sounded better than a real amp.... then i watched a blind helix vs pod and i said helix HAD to be 2 4 6 and that was the pod. the pod i thought sounded best in a blind test lol.

Lol. Guys, I've been reading all these great comments about Helix, Fractal, and Quad Cortex. It's great. But then I just realized, .....lol, I don't think I want to buy another pedal anymore. "Today's new phone is tomorrow's old. " Lol. I do not want to continue buying pedals anymore. Now I know what I need to do. I'm going to buy a real amp I've been wanting for years. Thanks everyone's opinions. Peace.

Fractal drives kinda stink (I think you said)? Whaaaat? I'd like to see a vid comparing Helix drives to Fractal's.

oooh, whats in that Heir Apparent setting?
Edit: NVM its not what I thought lol

You are conflating the lag in the software with lag in the hardware. These are two different things and the hardware does not lag.

Looks like he’s doing everything on a laptop or computer setting his tones and knobs can you do the same thing right on front of the FM9 Front panel

Look, I get it if u are gigging live, A you tuber, or a pro guitar player. But for an old guy like me that plays every day in his guitar room, It's a little too much. How do I know, I bought one and was not Impressed for that kind of money.