Fender Tonemaster Pro vs Line 6 Helix User Interface

supplemental touch screen is key. It's nice to have the option, but nothing is better than physical knobs and buttons. Having to solely rely on a touchscreen is not great.

Tranquila Helix… los que de verdad te conocemos y sabemos lo mucho que te has esforzado por adaptarte a los nuevos tiempos y a darnos todo tu potencial no te vamos a dejar por la nueva/o de la clase y que encima llega a mitad de curso…
Fiabilidad, compromiso con el cliente y resultados esos puntos solo se consiguen con tiempo, así que relájate Fender :) " él movimiento se demuestra andando "

Can't kick my Helix to the curb. It's mind blowing how intuitive the HX system is still after 10 years.

I am pretty happy that I own a Helix. I agree that that realistic graphics would be great, but the functionality of the Helix appears to be a slam dunk winner. Also, I have more confidence in Line 6 support as they have proven that they can and will keep making the unit better.

Touch screens are passe. They make things seem like a toy. Give me a crisp, usable screen and hardware knobs. The Helix changed the modeling world with their UI, like iphone changed the smartphone world. Also, I don't need a pic of a tube screamer to know its a tube screamer... also toy like. Maybe I'm a grumpy old man, but I don't like this race to the bottom so to speak. The great dumbing down of everything to accommodate people that can't be bothered to read a manual or learn a UI. With great power come a learning curve. IMO, nothing beats the Fractal in terms of depth and breadth of models, effects and the killer software editor. But it comes at a cost of having to learn it. I would rather have features that I might not currently need, than have the product be dumbed down for me to make it 'easier'. I also don't understand why so important to build a preset so quickly. Are people building presets at a gig? Probably not. Most pros build stuff at home, and test them out/dial them in at rehearsal and at stage volume. Then all you really need to worry about is how to make some quick edits at gig - if needed. I do love Helix's touch footswitches and the way you can just touch it to bring up the appropriate menu. Can we get a Helix Fractal hybrid LOL?

We need a HeadRush Prime vs the Fender Tone Master Pro shoot out. The HR Core would be a closer match but believe you have a Prime.

Not completely sure about this comparison. I know you’ve been a Helix user for years and really know how to navigate. I think it would be much better to get someone who is new to both units and try and make a preset. Then we could see the real differences ;) I think I may ask my wife to try this to see how far she gets with each modeler. Enjoyed the video showing the differences! Definitely different workflows for different types of users. 👍🏻

i have a helix LT - not even close. i am not going to use a touch screen that much anyway. Helix has better amps, cabs, reverbs and delays by a long shot

Thanks for this Steve!

Thank you for the very true to life use demo. Agreed on many points

One thing I've not seen yet on the new ToneMaster, and the manual doesn't touch on in detail, is MIDI integration

How simple is it to set up footswitch controls to send midi ccs/pcs to outboard gear?

I get where you're at and I agree the Helix is the standard by which others are measured, but Helix is like 8 years in and we haven't even had one update for ToneMaster yet. I'd love to compare TM now with the first release of Helix just to see if all the Helix things are still all ahead.
I always create basic presets then copy it and just add the stuff that would change (different reverb, delay, chorus to rotary etc.)

Would agree with many of the commenters here that the Helix despite its age is still faster and easier to program than the TMP. I have never really liked touch screens for a UI in general. That being said, the TMP does look cool while adjusting parameters on the amp and affect's that look on the screen like the real thing. Fender may sort some of the issues with updates and new features which may prove better than how it works now as far as workflow etc. I have both an HX Stomp and an fractal FM9 so not really looking at replacing them but still interested in new modeler developments.

For a modern device the touch screen seems pretty unresponsive.

Good review thank you. But surely seeing the "lame" icon turning on and off on the helix is the same as seeing the pedal switch light on and off on the TM Pro. It seems more what you're used to than a real drawback?

Hi Steve Hope you and the family are well. — I’m keeping my Helix’s. Can’t see anything earth shaking enough with the Tonemaster Pro to make a switch or purchase one.

I’m with you on the touch screen. I think they are overrated and also think the Helix is super well though out and easy to use. Tonemaster definitely needs to display 2 paths on their screen. I like to see everything.

From what I can make out the mustang gtx100 has the same modelling (actually more amps ) and user interface (with a tablet connected) as the tone master but like 1000 pounds cheaper and an actual cabinet. Therfore use that with your helix and you have everything? My LT still feels new!

Love this guy and love this video.
I can definitely appreciate the comparisons.
Sure…in all fairness…he has far more hands on experience with navigating through the Helix than the Fender. Familiarity = speed at times.
But all in all…this was a great video to give anyone who’s entertaining that idea of jumping ship…a bit more to think about before doing so. 👍🏼

skeuomorphism is for kids.

Great hands on content for us to see. Thanks! I own a helix floor so this was very interesting.

"touch screens are overrated". Nail on the head.

Hi there brother, thanks for making this video. It’s really informative and I think it illustrates a lot of the main interface differences between the two units …….as they stand ‘now’.
However what I think, if I may, gets lost are the following key factors;

1. The Helix has been out for ten years, the TMP a week.
2. The way that people interact with these devices has changed during that period. You are coming from years of experience with the Helix and are therefore a ‘creature of habit’ to some degree. For someone coming to the TMP with no previous experience with a multi effects processor, I’m pretty sure they’ll find it highly intuitive. For someone coming from let’s say a QC, it’s refreshing.
3. Yes I concede that on the face of it, the Helix seems quicker and perhaps more simple to get to certain results ‘but’ the TMP is smaller, lighter, more portable and if you dig deeper you’ll find that there are at least three different ways to achieve the same results. In short it is infinitely more flexible.
4. I’ve realised that the way some of these brilliant designers work nowadays is that they leave certain things open so that they can update based on user feedback which I think is admirable.
5. The TMP has a total of 8 cores compared to something like the QC which has four.

The possibilities of the TMP are mind blowing and I think it will be very interesting to revisit this video in a few months from now which is when I believe there will be a major firmware update that will add more amps/cabs among other things.
All in all I’m so impressed with this first release and Fender’s commitment to this project. I for one am all in because it’s Fender and unlike other manufacturers, I feel that they will keep good on their promise to the TMP user base.
Again thanks for this great video, it really helped me, a newb, understand the differences between the TMP and the rest of the pack. I’ve previously worked with a number of other processors and this is by far the best experience with the most satisfaction to date.
✌🏾&💜

About the bypass/lit status; if you have two blocks assigned to the same switch, one can be off and the other on, and the led will indicate one or the other. Useful if you switch from one drive to another, you just have to remember which one corresponds to the lit led. Setup for this involves assigning both to a switch, then select one block, and bypass using the bypass button. Now the footswitch will swap between one and the other.

Flavor of the month loses out to well-established veteran of the market. I'm not surprised 😎

Yes, encoders need to stay. The way we can assign it and touch to bring details to see them is so smart. Well done whoever came up with this. Holds true in 2023.
I do not think Line6 can skip touch in the future though, market has it. It needs to be done for guitarist so no back/confirm buttons in corners. Imagine dusty or wet setting.
TMP has issues with software and all that can be changed by a version so they will eventually get it (or move on :))

I prefer the Helix icons; I've always thought that pictures of the pedals looked a little cheesy. Just my opinion, of course.

Helix have only 8 year old.

Great demo, thanks Steve.

maybe sound battle wit hthe seme units? :) cheers

Sooo Steve, help me out here 😅 As a long time Helix user, what should I get next to backup/replace my Helix LT for gigging.. Headrush Prime, QC, Tonex, Tonemaster Pro? You seem to have tested them all. I really wouldn’t know what’s the next step for me.😊

I have a Helix Floor for the 6 years. Never fail and Line 6 keeps adding amps, effect, models, cabs etc during all this years. I still feel Helix is way better.

Great content. I have been gigging exclusively with a Helix since 2018 and done many many gigs since then. I would like to point out that although I am convinced newer units like a QC, TM or FM9 have better/different amp sounds, the useability and functionality of a modeller is equally important. A far as that AND having an all-in-one package (including the expression pedal and a great desktop editor) is concerned, the Helix is a well designed product and still suits my needs best. But I must confess that conclusion is a bit disappointing, because some of these units really sound great... 😅

I think you owning Helix a decade makes you quicker to create a patch.

I already tuned you out at 4 minutes. Sorry, man. I’m a preset player. I couldn’t care less about this for what I do.

Your video was the final push that helped me decide between the TMP and Helix Floor; I went Helix. The user interface on the Fender seemed to be the answer as I'm not fond of deep-dive units. But you're absolutely right-- the Helix is simple & straight forward. The only thing missing is pictures of the units in the signal flow. Your video, and the fact that Line6 has continued to support the Helix (and Pod, etc) for many years. After spending a few weeks with the Helix I'm really glad I passed on the Fender. Thanks for the excellent videos!

They’re both great, I love Line 6 and Helix but too many people on here are showing their age not Helix’s lol ,people get used to certain gear I understand , but I think Fender did a good job with this unit , svelte size , good sound , and I like touch screen,I’d buy it,great video Steve as always 👍

This is such a weird, skewed take. Literally no one anywhere has said "the interface of TMP is faster to use than any other interface". They've said it's the most INTUITIVE. The helix has a great design for someone who wants to take the time, manual open, learn how to go through all of the settings and options. The TMP is trying to reach the VERY tentative 'live-amp holdouts' who don't believe in modeling by giving them an interface that feels simple and familiar. There isn't even a manual in the box, and there doesn't need to be.

There are definite misses with the TMP, but the UI ain't one of them if you understand what the goal is. I love the helix, but fanboys making these "takedown" videos are so cringe.

Gotta say, it seems like you went into it with a lot of practice on the hx stomp and barely any on the tone master… clearly your ability to use either of them is based on practice not intuitive user interface. It kind of reminds me of an old schoolers view of real amps vs models…

2 things I don't like about the Helix... 1) It's f-in gigantic, and I prefer units without the expression pedal. 2) I always accidently touch one of the foot switches while doing something, and it messes other stuff up. Then I have to go back and figure out what I just messed up.

Helix all day

It's preset spillover vs. none with more DSP in a single preset. It really comes down to how you prefer to organize. there is something orderly about cramming everything you want for one song within one preset with scenes on the Helix. The Tone Master's song mode can function much like having scenes. The best part is that its songs are like playlists of presets. So if you have say a go-to edge of breakup sound with a particular lite delay and touch of reverb that you use a lot, you can include that preset in many Songs. If you edit that preset, it's edited for all the songs that use it. This has a lot of live advantages. When you feel the need to tweak that go-to preset that you'll use in mosts songs, you don't have to go to each and every song and edit it and hit save over and over again.

Really interesting video. One observation though, it's going to be impossible for you to unprogram your years of Helix experience. You clearly know your way around it, so things you take as being obvious or simple likey wouldn't be for a less experienced/new user. Not a criticism though, just testament to the level of experience you have with one platform. I'd love to see a video of a new user trying this exact process with TMP, QC, Helix, Kemper, Fractal, etc. I suspect the TMP would fare better. Kudos to Line 6 though, they got a lot right with a lower level of tech, the Helix replacement should have a supreme UI with what they will have available this time around.

The Helix floor sounds superb and has it all...period

Helix wins

As I don't own a Tonemaster, I'm unaware if it has the same facility as the Helix, whereby you can adjust parameters on the fly using just the footswitches and the expression pedal. This, to me, is an incredibly useful facility and one that can be an absolute lifesaver. Can anyone tell me if the Tonemaster Pro is capable of this?

Super helpful! Thx so much. I really am looking for any excuse to buy the tone master pro but you make a compelling argument for the Helix!

Are Helix users missing out?! The Tonemaster Pro is supposed to be the new king of the user interface, but is it really? I wanted to compare the old bull to the young calf side by side to see which is easier to build and edit a preset on...