Headrush Amp Sim Pedalboard

[Axkoa]

[youtube]jk3EDrDUgj8[/youtube]

Just saw this really awesome pedalboard from a video at NAMM. It has a touchscreen and looks like a direct competitor to the Line 6 Helix. I'll be interested to see the price of it eventually.

 

[Logrinn]

That does look and sound awesome. On the other hand I imagine it will be pretty costly.

As a really cool alternative to this, AxeFX, Kemper, Helix and the other high-end stuff, Atomic will release a cheap box-size-no-display-version of the Amplifire. This is something I really look forward to:

[youtube]VuBMzcA2UqM[/youtube]

 

[Axkoa]

Yeah I have heard of the Amplifire products before, they look really awesome, and sound good as well. I think the Headrush system is about $900 USD?

 

[Cagey]

That's an interesting user interface. I would question the wisdom of putting such a thing on a device that's intended to be set on the floor and be stomped on by frantic 175 pound men numerous times a day, but he's right in that most user interfaces for the more complex devices available today are not as intuitive or approachable as one might hope.

 

[bagman67]

That's an interesting user interface. I would question the wisdom of putting such a thing on a device that's intended to be set on the floor and be stomped on by frantic 175 pound men numerous times a day, but he's right in that most user interfaces for the more complex devices available today are not as intuitive or approachable as one might hope.

Where I come from guitar players in my age bracket (just joined the 50-plus contingent) often exceed 175 lbs.  Perhaps they grow 'em larger here on the West Coast.

 

[Cagey]

We certainly have our share of biker-proportioned players here as well. I was sorta going for an average, so as not to offend. But, even lighter people can exert a lot more force than gravity provides for when in stomp mode, especially when enhanced by a pair of boots. I could see that screen becoming instant scrap as the result of a single misplaced hit. That, and roadies aren't always the models of caring, nurturing adults during load-in/setup/teardown/load-out.

 

[Axkoa]

I definitely get your point Cagey. I wonder how tough that screen is actually.

 

[Cagey]

If it were just a display, it could be protected by a relatively thick sheet of Lexan or some kind of polycarbonate. But it's a touch screen, which puts certain design restrictions on the type of material and how thick it can be. That's part of the reason you see this happen to smartphones...

Otherwise, they'd use a material that couldn't happen to. Would probably cost less, too.

 

[Axkoa]

I always put "Tempered Glass" screen protectors on my phone screen, I wonder if something like that would work to stop the screen from smashing.

Then again, who knows if its even possible to accidentally stand on the screen hard enough, it would be no different than standing on the screen of a Helix.

 

[Cagey]

I doubt it'll take much. The bigger the screen is, the easier it is to break it. Tempered glass can take more abuse as far as scuffs and scratches go, but it's still as brittle as glass so it doesn't give. I don't think the Helix is a touch screen anyway, is it? If not, it doesn't need to be glass.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

For a display, I just need to see the preset number/name.
All the editing features I am fine with seeing on the big screen using the editor application.

 

[Cagey]

I've been thinking about buying a cheap, low-end Windows laptop that wouldn't break my heart if it got tore up at a young age. You typically don't need much of a machine to run any of the editors for the various units that have them. No high-end graphics requirements or gaming-level processors involved. Basically, anything that could handle a browser would be capable enough. Probably could pick one up used for $100 or so.

 

[stratamania]

In terms of a Helix, if you are really concerned about screen breakage, there is the Helix Rack as the controller doesn't have the large screen.