I play w Katana Artists in stereo and will stick with them. Tons of headroom and lots of tweakability if required. However… your playing John is simply staggering. Thank you
I didnt hear any spikiness on my end :D i still wanna get one and give it to a go for sure. Thanks for the demo John, youre the only person I really trust on line 6 products haha.
Hi Johnathan, I just got a Helix stomp (love it) and new to modeling. I’m super confused what to get to play out with it/ practice at home. (Currently using studio monitors) I just want a consistent tool to use at home/ rehearsals/ small gigs. Not looking for a ton of volume. What’s your opinion on the frfr speakers option(alto ts series ect) traditional guitar amp or something like this? I thought this sounded great. Is it designed to complement the helix? I apologize if this isn’t right place for this question or if previously covered. Thank you for the great playing, videos and content. It’s really helpful and you sound great. - Phil
I have a powercab 212+ on backorder but was contemplating dropping the order for one of these. The 212 interested me because of all the flexibility it offers paired with the helix but if one of these sounds just as good then why not get the catalyst. Thoughts?
Thinking about the 2x12 catalyst myself for pairing with my helix. But my concern is will I have to turn the cab blocks off in the helix. That would be a deal breaker for me.
Suspect the described differences between Power cab and Catalyst come down to them being closed and open back respectively. “Oomph” and “darker” = closed back.
Friend, I follow your work and helix videos and I would like to ask a question. I currently use the helix lt on the return of the Marshall Dsl40cr, it looks really cool. But, I want lighter and less sensitive equipment to carry around during shows and rehearsals. Would the Catalyst 100 deliver something with similar quality? I would use helix in return or Power in. 
I bet if you spend some time dialing it in it will sound and feel great (hoping). Does the attenuation apply to the power amp in as it does on the Katana? I like having that 1/2 watt setting. I like my Stomp into the power amp in on my Katana (no IR or Cab) for the in the room thing but not being able to use cabs limits the tonal possibilities. Put in an IR / cab block and it sounds muffled. Selecting a preamp alone seemed weak. I haven't tested it well though.
Are you able to use the Catalysts built in delay and reverb in this mode? I have an iridium and would be interested in using it this way, especially if I can still use the Catalyst for delay/verb post Iridium.
After ten months of experimenting with Catalyst and Helix what is your verdict? Have you tried the amp in option on Catalyst over time with the Helix or effects loop? I’ve heard mixed reviews and lack of videos with the pod go or helix into amp in on Catalyst. I was interested in this for lower cost solutions versus buying Powercab but I can’t get a definite answer nor any in person examples. I’ve been told periodically it sucks and too dark and stick with Powercab or a HD monitor but they cost over $600 but you demo sounds good so far.
Just caught at the end about using the powercab in LF raw.....do you have a video for this I'd be curious because I just use default (FRFR mode?) and have never investigated other settings. You got my wheels turning now....🤔
You can turn the impulse response off in the catalyst editor app but by default it's more like a cabinet with a power amp and you use the amplifiers in the helix with the cab turned off in the helix.
do you recommend this as an alternative to the powercab to power my POD GO ? powercab is way expensive so looking for cheaper alternative without losing too much quality
Can I use my line 6 fbv 3 pedalboard via USB midi to control the Catalyst? There is remarkably very little information about how the MIDI in this thing functions. I have a 60 and it's USB only, so I need to buy the right thing. Line 6 just wants to push an optional footswitch on me, which is fine but I want to be able to do more.
Mr Cordy, any chance you could do a video with some tips/settings for using a Helix with the Boss Katana using the Katana as a power amp only? I have both, but being a bit senior of years, I'm easily confused by all this tech stuff. I struggle to get any tone that I'm that happy with.
I also have a katana for the living room, and a helix lt and power cab upstairs, I opted for a helix to get good tones at low volumes. I also found it quite confusing, and spent too much time fiddling rather than playing. I’ve recently bought a tone king gremlin. Two knobs, and a built in attenuator, sounds truly amazing at all volumes, and at all settings.
So I’m looking for something simple for jamming at home. Should I get the catalyst and a Pod Go or the catalyst and a stomp? Your playing sounds great. I’m not a high gain guy so this stuff is perfect.
I’m running the catalyst with the HX Stomp running into the power amp in. Great tones and very versatile for just jamming at home. Easy to set up presets as well. I have the 100 watt combo and it’s super loud if needed. Good luck!
I own an hx stomp,play guitar and sing. would you recommend this or an frfr speaker like the headrush 108? I will also combine these with a small mixer. Can anybody enlighten me? Which one would be better for giging
Hey! At the moment I'm still very much trying to settle in with both units before I come to any firm conclusions. Katana is louder. Katana has more effects and flexibility in effects. Catalyst Editor is simpler (but more limited) Catalyst has Midi. Catalyst cabinet is slightly larger. Tone for tone, I think I'm slightly edging toward Catalyst being a bit more "valve" amp like - but that's totally subjective and both units can get some really pleasing tones. Sorry I'm not able to be super confident on this at the moment!
I can not directly reply to your question but I sometime play bass on my helix with Ownhammer high end IR simulation cab, with my powercab plus. It is a totally OK sound for gigs or small live. But you will not have the full feeling of a 15" or 10" speaker. so it is working well but the feeling is a bit strange. pray for a Powerbasscab or a Bass Catalyst !!! (excuse my English)
Wow really!! you’d take a helix and two studio monitors to be heard over a band at rehearsal rather than a power cab or catalyst ?? Not at all what I expected you to say
Been totally looking at the pair of em. So which catalyst did you get the 60 or the 100 and which was the katana model ? One big question - can you actually share catalyst settings with the outside world from the app or any sort of editor? Is there a desktop editor ?
Hi john ! Great playing as usual and it sound great. How is the catalyst with the helix compare to the powercab (that i find à little bit muffled...). My catalyst 100 arrives in few days. Can't wait. Greetings from France.
He said for this he turned off the cab (presumably the IR too) and is using the power cab in, so the cab is the Catalyst amp itself, 100 W solid state 1x12.
I'd guess you'd get extra flexibility that way on effects and possibly switching as well. I have the LT which I do like and recently bought the Cat 60w. I really like it on its own tonally,totally, I'll try adding in the LT one day.
Hey! At the moment I'm still very much trying to settle in with both units before I come to any firm conclusions. Katana is louder. Katana has more effects and flexibility in effects. Catalyst Editor is simpler Catalyst has Midi. Catalyst cabinet is slightly larger. Tone for tone, I think I'm slightly edging toward Catalyst being a bit more "valve" amp like - but that's totally subjective and both units can get some really pleasing tones. Sorry I'm not able to be super confident on this at the moment!
Hmm, it might not be super easy as I'd have to remove the speaker, find another etc - and I'm rubbish at actually positioning mic etc so it might not be very easy to get across if there's a tonal difference anyway?
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Helix has NEVER Sounded This Good [Yes it has, you just haven't been using it]](/img/1.gif)
I play w Katana Artists in stereo and will stick with them. Tons of headroom and lots of tweakability if required. However… your playing John is simply staggering. Thank you
Sounds like the Catalyst has lots of clean headroom. I also liked the Drive tones - sounded great on headphones.
I didnt hear any spikiness on my end :D i still wanna get one and give it to a go for sure. Thanks for the demo John, youre the only person I really trust on line 6 products haha.
Yeh I think it translates across not spikey through the mic, which is a good sign?
I’ve been worried about the world being on the brink of war but I can rest a little easier knowing john’s thoughts on the catalyst.
Dunno much about Ukraine, but I bet Ukcrave to hear some of these tones from the Line6 Catalyst
@@Johnherold121 is that a Sam Cooke lyric
Jim I've long been accused of warmongering but in this case I hope I can be a catalyst for peace
@@johnnathancordy peacemaker was good though, mate
@@johnnathancordy see what you did there
I don't know.. I thought the Orange Rockerverb tone into the Catalyst mic'ed sounded pretty darn good!
Plug an acoustic guitar in to the catalyst and throw some effects on, how will it sound?
Hi Johnathan,
I just got a Helix stomp (love it) and new to modeling. I’m super confused what to get to play out with it/ practice at home. (Currently using studio monitors)
I just want a consistent tool to use at home/ rehearsals/ small gigs.
Not looking for a ton of volume.
What’s your opinion on the frfr speakers option(alto ts series ect)
traditional guitar amp or something like this?
I thought this sounded great. Is it designed to complement the helix?
I apologize if this isn’t right place for this question or if previously covered.
Thank you for the great playing, videos and content. It’s really helpful and you sound great.
- Phil
I have the same question
I also have this same question.
Same…
Very nice playing there!
I have a powercab 212+ on backorder but was contemplating dropping the order for one of these. The 212 interested me because of all the flexibility it offers paired with the helix but if one of these sounds just as good then why not get the catalyst. Thoughts?
Thinking about the 2x12 catalyst myself for pairing with my helix. But my concern is will I have to turn the cab blocks off in the helix. That would be a deal breaker for me.
Can you teach us the lick that starts at 7:05 ? It's awesome
how would you say this compares to the powercab as a speaker for the stomp?
Just filming this video now Mike!
Suspect the described differences between Power cab and Catalyst come down to them being closed and open back respectively. “Oomph” and “darker” = closed back.
Friend, I follow your work and helix videos and I would like to ask a question. I currently use the helix lt on the return of the Marshall Dsl40cr, it looks really cool. But, I want lighter and less sensitive equipment to carry around during shows and rehearsals. Would the Catalyst 100 deliver something with similar quality? I would use helix in return or Power in.

I bet if you spend some time dialing it in it will sound and feel great (hoping). Does the attenuation apply to the power amp in as it does on the Katana? I like having that 1/2 watt setting. I like my Stomp into the power amp in on my Katana (no IR or Cab) for the in the room thing but not being able to use cabs limits the tonal possibilities. Put in an IR / cab block and it sounds muffled. Selecting a preamp alone seemed weak. I haven't tested it well though.
Yeh the attenuation does more or less the same thing, just the Catalyst is quieter in general (more of a linear taper to the master volume)
I was thinking about buying a catalyst for that purpose to run my helix through
Are you able to use the Catalysts built in delay and reverb in this mode? I have an iridium and would be interested in using it this way, especially if I can still use the Catalyst for delay/verb post Iridium.
After ten months of experimenting with Catalyst and Helix what is your verdict? Have you tried the amp in option on Catalyst over time with the Helix or effects loop? I’ve heard mixed reviews and lack of videos with the pod go or helix into amp in on Catalyst. I was interested in this for lower cost solutions versus buying Powercab but I can’t get a definite answer nor any in person examples. I’ve been told periodically it sucks and too dark and stick with Powercab or a HD monitor but they cost over $600 but you demo sounds good so far.
I discovered your other video comparing the Powercab to Catalyst. I’m leaning toward Powercab but Catalyst is ok.
Can you saw us the Catalyst with a Midi controller on a Live setup? .-.
I can try
@@johnnathancordy Αwasome Fingers cross
Love the Videos either way :)
Just caught at the end about using the powercab in LF raw.....do you have a video for this I'd be curious because I just use default (FRFR mode?) and have never investigated other settings. You got my wheels turning now....🤔
I may have missed it but how are you running the helix into the Catalyst? Was wondering if the catalyst can essentially serve as the frfr speaker.
You can turn the impulse response off in the catalyst editor app but by default it's more like a cabinet with a power amp and you use the amplifiers in the helix with the cab turned off in the helix.
do you recommend this as an alternative to the powercab to power my POD GO ? powercab is way expensive so looking for cheaper alternative without losing too much quality
from the HX into the return of the catalyst, do you make the outputs of the helix line or instrument?
Can I use my line 6 fbv 3 pedalboard via USB midi to control the Catalyst? There is remarkably very little information about how the MIDI in this thing functions. I have a 60 and it's USB only, so I need to buy the right thing. Line 6 just wants to push an optional footswitch on me, which is fine but I want to be able to do more.
Mr Cordy, any chance you could do a video with some tips/settings for using a Helix with the Boss Katana using the Katana as a power amp only? I have both, but being a bit senior of years, I'm easily confused by all this tech stuff. I struggle to get any tone that I'm that happy with.
I also have a katana for the living room, and a helix lt and power cab upstairs, I opted for a helix to get good tones at low volumes.
I also found it quite confusing, and spent too much time fiddling rather than playing.
I’ve recently bought a tone king gremlin. Two knobs, and a built in attenuator, sounds truly amazing at all volumes, and at all settings.
@@giddyrightonup I haven’t got the money for another amp, I've just spunked my wedge on an AZ 7 string!
Hey David, I'm planning to do some stuff on this but I need to spend a bit more time with both units before coming to any firm conclusions!
@@johnnathancordy thanks Mr Cordy, I look forward to the video.
So I’m looking for something simple for jamming at home. Should I get the catalyst and a Pod Go or the catalyst and a stomp? Your playing sounds great. I’m not a high gain guy so this stuff is perfect.
I’m running the catalyst with the HX Stomp running into the power amp in. Great tones and very versatile for just jamming at home. Easy to set up presets as well. I have the 100 watt combo and it’s super loud if needed. Good luck!
@@chrisday5341do you turn off the IR from the stomp?
@@pb25193 yes
SO HAVE YOU USED your olds presets and simply removed the CAB block?
Do you update your purchased patches? No one gets the helix to sound as good as you do man.
Sounds great. What pickups are in that guitar?
Lollar dirty blondes!
What patch are you using for the tones at around 8 mins?
It's just the Cali Texas Ch1 with no cab - I may have the settings saved
Sounds fantastic!
The fact that the speaker probably isn’t very broken in probably has something to do with that perkiness.
we can hear the camera focusing , a lav mic fixes that
I own an hx stomp,play guitar and sing. would you recommend this or an frfr speaker like the headrush 108? I will also combine these with a small mixer. Can anybody enlighten me? Which one would be better for giging
Did you bypass the cab when using in Poweramp mode?
Hi and thanks for the videos, which one would you recommend to buy Catalyst or Katana?
Hey! At the moment I'm still very much trying to settle in with both units before I come to any firm conclusions.
Katana is louder.
Katana has more effects and flexibility in effects.
Catalyst Editor is simpler (but more limited)
Catalyst has Midi.
Catalyst cabinet is slightly larger.
Tone for tone, I think I'm slightly edging toward Catalyst being a bit more "valve" amp like - but that's totally subjective and both units can get some really pleasing tones.
Sorry I'm not able to be super confident on this at the moment!
@@johnnathancordy Thank you very much for your comments, they are always useful to all of us 😉
If your Using the catalyst as a flat response speaker. How well do you think it would work with Bass IR’s?
I can not directly reply to your question but I sometime play bass on my helix with Ownhammer high end IR simulation cab, with my powercab plus. It is a totally OK sound for gigs or small live. But you will not have the full feeling of a 15" or 10" speaker. so it is working well but the feeling is a bit strange. pray for a Powerbasscab or a Bass Catalyst !!! (excuse my English)
So in your honest opinion for rehearsal live and practice would you take a helix and power cab or catalyst at this point ??
Hey Scott, studio monitors - JBL LSR305
Wow really!! you’d take a helix and two studio monitors to be heard over a band at rehearsal rather than a power cab or catalyst ??
Not at all what I expected you to say
Been totally looking at the pair of em. So which catalyst did you get the 60 or the 100 and which was the katana model ? One big question - can you actually share catalyst settings with the outside world from the app or any sort of editor? Is there a desktop editor ?
There's a great desktop editor yes, and you can share settings.
This is the 100w model
Hi john i hope you're well. Can use my iridium strymon pedal with this?
could you tell if the cab modeling in the catalyst was bypassed when using the poweramp in?
The catalyst doesn't have cab modelling coming out the front, just out of the XLR/phone outputs
Hi john ! Great playing as usual and it sound great. How is the catalyst with the helix compare to the powercab (that i find à little bit muffled...).
My catalyst 100 arrives in few days. Can't wait.
Greetings from France.
If you find the powercab a bit muffled, I found the Catalyst to be a bit brighter I think, so you could be in luck
@@johnnathancordy thanks john ! Tommorow the delivery of the catalyst 😇.
Hey brother, which IR are you using? And which other ones do you use also?
He said for this he turned off the cab (presumably the IR too) and is using the power cab in, so the cab is the Catalyst amp itself, 100 W solid state 1x12.
Exact tone I hear on Brett Garsed Big Sky albumn!
Wonder how my Hx effects would work with this amp?? Probably pretty cool 😎
I'd guess you'd get extra flexibility that way on effects and possibly switching as well. I have the LT which I do like and recently bought the Cat 60w. I really like it on its own tonally,totally, I'll try adding in the LT one day.
@@kenthhamner2641 I went to the store physically to compare Katana with CAT 100W :D... Outstanding difference for me. I got CATALYST :D
Katana vs Catalyst....If you had to keep one, which would it be and why?
Hey! At the moment I'm still very much trying to settle in with both units before I come to any firm conclusions.
Katana is louder.
Katana has more effects and flexibility in effects.
Catalyst Editor is simpler
Catalyst has Midi.
Catalyst cabinet is slightly larger.
Tone for tone, I think I'm slightly edging toward Catalyst being a bit more "valve" amp like - but that's totally subjective and both units can get some really pleasing tones.
Sorry I'm not able to be super confident on this at the moment!
@@johnnathancordy That's fine. I have a Katana Head going through a 1X12, but I'm curious about getting the Catalyst as a smaller portable setup.
Is this the 100w?
Yes
One of mine 60W arrived on monday..I Hope is more like plug and Play compare to helix stomp..
Hey Herman! I think it does get great sounds with ease especially low/mid gain stuff
@@johnnathancordy thanks for the answer,I was wondering about katana mkII 50W but I go for catalyst I Hope this was a good choice ..
@@Herman138 so was it a good choice ?
@@STF_YVR no,I sended back to shop after 10 minutes of use-Im prefer helix stomp and studio monitors TBH..
@@Herman138 Thx … it did not sound good ?
Can you do this with a speaker swap?
Hmm, it might not be super easy as I'd have to remove the speaker, find another etc - and I'm rubbish at actually positioning mic etc so it might not be very easy to get across if there's a tonal difference anyway?
Seems like you might need a break my man... Go to wherever the euro version of Hawaii is!
Portugal?
You should try micing the amp next time, micing the camera whilst blocking half the screen sounded pretty good too though
I did mic the amp...
@@johnnathancordy Next time you should mic the camera, might get some interesting results...
@@johnnathancordy mate it was a joke about that black thing on the right side of the screen, looks like a mic cover
The Catalyst is just an upgraded Flextone II. Line 6 excels at recycling their tech and getting folks to buy it.
They're both crap.