NAMM 2019: HoTone Ampero – The ‘Helix Killer’ is here at last
Everything a guitarist could need in one pedal?
I wrote all about the forthcoming HoTone Ampero back in October last year, which you can read about here. Now it looks like it is finally being released, and we also have a price and date. NAMM visitors should be able to check it out as well.
HoTone MP-100 Ampero
Touted as an all singing and dancing floor pedal unit for guitarists, the HoTone Ampero is aimed squarely at the Line 6 Helix and LT models.
I see that Thomann now has them showing up as being in stock within a few weeks and we now have a listed price of EUR 399, which is near what I projected back in October.
Everything in one pedal?
Ampero can handle up to nine effect modules simultaneously and has a built-in looper to keep you occupied as well. With CDCM HD and HoTone’s proprietary F.I.R.E modelling on board, it has 64 amp models with 60 cab models and over 100 pedal models to choose from.
The unit also models both mic position and various microphone types. Combine this with the built-in facility for loading your own IRS and it gets pretty powerful, especially at this price point.
Helix Killer?
I own a Helix LT myself and find it is great for many things, it is easy to use and good in the studio for recording as well. It links up nicely with my Macs and I can use Helix Native to easily build patches in my DAW as well. It all just works.
So is the Ampero MP-100 a Helix killer? Again, like I said last year this will all boil down to how good it sounds and how easy it is to set up. Lime 6 also a well-constructed floor unit with the Helix and I know bands touring the world with them are happy with their build quality.
So the question is, can the new HoTone Ampero MP-100 be able to match all this?
RRP – EUR 399
More Information
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Ampero Firmware 3.0 (May 31, 2019)
New Features
1. You can now manage your signal chain in Edit menu by double clicking on a module
2. You can connect external footswitch controller to EXP 2 (EXP 2/FS) jack – EXP 2/FS settings added in Global menu for setting footswitch functions and EXP 2/FS jack functions
3. Wait mode added when switching between banks (for external footswitch only)
4. You can now control USB recording level (Global > USB Audio)
5. You can now set No Cab Mode separately on either L/R channel (Global > I/O)
Improvements & Changes
1.Screen Lock function changed to Device Lock function for locking touch screen, MENU/VALUE knob (Main Knob) and Quick Access Knobs
2.Greatly optimized Tuner reaction speed
3.Improved dynamic range and sound quality of these amp modeling effects: Tweed Lux, Baseman Norm, Baseman Bright, Black Twin, Voxy 30HW Norm, Voxy 30HW TB, Superstar Clean, Superstar Drive, Glacian Clean, Glacian Drive
4.Improved the sound quality of several effects in FX1 and FX2
5.BRIGHT switch added for Black Twin and Glacian Clean
6.The Presence control of Superstar Drive changed to Drive control for more wider tonal range
7.Optimized built-in expression pedal stability
8.Optimized USB Audio performance and stability
9.General performance and stability improvements
Bug Fixes
1. When editing presets, some effect parameters may go wrong – FIXED
2. Recorded data may be lost when using Looper – FIXED
3. In some cases, Ampero may crash when setting external expression pedal (EXP 2) – FIXED
4. Factory Reset cannot be selected by MENU/VALUE knob (Main Knob) in Global menu – FIXED
5. Minor bug fixes
Updated Ampero Editor
Version 1.2.0
Released 5/31/2019
New Features
+ You can now manage your signal chain by clicking “Manage Signal Chain” button
+ You can now import user IR file with any bit depth/sample rate
+ You can now set No Cab Mode in Settings > Global
+ You can now check solution methods by clicking “Device Not Found” button when Ampero Editor cannot recognize your device
+ EXP 2/FS settings added in Settings > Global
Improvements & Bug Fixes
+ Some effects in Effect List have no image – FIXED
+ Some effects in Effect List have wrong images – FIXED
+ Optimized USB communication stability between computer and Ampero unit
from all the comparisons of the Ampero vs all the best, the Ampero smokes them all…so i bought the Ampero, and the Ampero One, and have to say that i’m done searching. that being said, the jerks at Hotone are making the Ampero Stomp