Is focus view powerful enough to switch from fractal to helix?
I've used the original Helix in the past — overall satisfying, with great usability and an intuitive interface, though I felt it fell a bit short of Fractal in some areas. I currently use an FM3 and I'm very happy with it.
I'm considering the Helix Stadium, mainly because of the Focus View feature. My usual tone-shaping approach is to start with EQ and gain knobs at 12 o'clock and dial things in by ear from there. It works well for me, but I tend to end up in similar tonal territory each time.
What draws me to Focus View is that the people who built the amps and effects essentially walk you through what each knob does and how to shape specific sounds — like guided presets for understanding the models. As a learning tool for studying how amps and effects actually behave, it looks incredibly valuable.
But here's where I'm stuck: do I actually need this? On my FM3, I mostly live inside the CA+3 Clean and Lead channels, and honestly, I'm already getting tones I love. So is there real value in deliberately exploring tonal directions I wouldn't be trying otherwise?
If get a new helix stadium floor, it's almost double the price of my fm3(on used market). Would it be better for me to just study on my own with wiki and YouTube videos?