NEW SERIES: Line 6 Helix - IN THE STUDIO - Episode 1: Helix As An Audio Interface

[@BlackfeatherAlexander]

Dude... I just want to thank you for posting this video. I almost sent my helix back because the recorded sound quality sucked in comparison to the live sound from the headphones. Didn't realize I should have been recording in Stereo instead of Mono and that I needed to change the input and output settings on the Helix Edit. THANK YOU!!!! -reaper user.

[@timchoong4557]

Wow! I had no idea I could use the Helix to do so much. I had watched this video when it first came out but didn’t realize what a gem this is because I wasn’t doing any home recording at that time. Since then, many recordings later, after hitting so many roadblocks, I wished I had paid more attention the first time round. After rewatching, I think this video addresses every issue and problem I had encountered as a recording newbie, and should be required watching for anyone starting out recording. Very practical advice borne out of a very deep understanding of the technology and what the Helix is capable of, from the knowledge & real life experience of a practicing professional musician. Thanks for sharing this, Jason. I am truly grateful.

[@JasonSadites]

My pleasure Tim! Really glad the video was helpful 😀

[@bobbykanemusictube]

I've only just got my HELIX. But I've been watching for some time. Thank you for all the great information. I've been happier than I think I would have been without all the insight. I'm experimenting like a madman.

[@Webb819]

I just recently got a Helix LT and am using it as an audio interface and running it into Ableton Live. This video came out with perfect timing 👌

[@sjsphotog]

Enjoy your LT. I have one as well

[@RockinSG]

I didn't realize my Helix Rack had all of this power! I'm thinking of getting a floor model for recording while I am traveling. Very helpful. Thanks!

[@dancleaton]

Thank you! I have spent a bunch of time today trying to learn how to record my Helix LT in Cakewalk (by Bandcamp) - your Reaper instructions, but also just the general principles of HX Edit and the Helix's global settings made it all so clear and got it sorted in minutes. Lovely, clear explanations and easy-to-follow.

[@cccs777]

Jason, Thank you Thank you Thank you.... I've been banging my head on the wall trying to figure this out and in your usual easy to understand teaching :) I'm now on my way to unlocking this beast within!

[@maxpower975]

Thanks so much Jason, I just got my Helix and a free copy of Cubase and now thanks to you I'm ready to start recording. Thanks very much for such a clear explanation

[@kaljan]

You da best Jason! Thank you very much. For us home jammers, its essencial to do everything with Headphones.

[@mondragon9282]

Just got my PC yesterday. Downloaded Reaper, and will be getting my Helix stuff going today. This video is so incredibly helpful in showing me exactly how to get guitar tracks recorded properly with the Helix. Thank you so much!!

[@thebarcodestv]

I was confused on this same topic and now I'm clear. Thanks Jason for another much needed smart topic on the Helix. Another HOME RUN.

[@EnkiDenki7]

At 14:38, this is the thing that confused me the most. Does it matter if I choose output one or two at this point? Are they the same exact sound? Because when I look at the frequency as I record stereo, output 1 looks slightly different than 2, even if I choose "mono" in the helix effect preset. Would appreciate the help. Thanks.

[@Nicky-T]

20:06 Some pretty fast licks there, Jason. 🎸😮🎸

[@deonchase3167]

Awesome job. Best explanation yet on setting up the Dry DI track in a DAW and for multi-tracking with input assignments. Big help. Just what I was looking for. Keep this series going!

[@fernandosantanna]

Finally someone post something like that. Dude, you unlocked (my) the universe. Thanks a lot Jason. Nailed it!

[@andrewelliott1462]

Ayy! Helix and Yamaha SLG! Love them both!

[@nickmurphy4032]

I was using my scarlett up to 3 or 4 days ago, the difference in everything when i switched over was incredible, Now, thanks to you Jason i can have my 2 guitars set up at once on seperate paths. this is mindblowing. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this stuff. Also on a side note, i'm now using your new template and its amazing. My friends are asking me where i'm getting my tone lol so thank you again. you are a Legend. stay safe!

[@ryanjguidry]

This was mostly helpful but I'm a little confused about monitoring. Do you have monitors attached to the XLR outputs of the Helix and the using the 1/4" output to send to something else for direct monitoring?

[@cliffschannel2521]

great video Jason , Is your only input literally just the USB out from the Helix into a USB port on your computer , no other otputs are necessary ? Thanks alot and yes , you were very clear . I read the manual regarding this process and am just not sure of the actual physical connections but the rest was very well explained . Thanx again .

[@andreginho]

This is just great Jason. Thank you so much for the time you take to help all of us.

[@marstudios7879]

Great tutorial Jason, can you please make a tutorial about re-amp microphone 🎤 using both process and dry signal. Thank you

[@TandisJenhudson]

Thanks for this video. Do you know if it’s possible to use Helox as interface, a Variax guitar connected with VDI cable and route that guitar audio over USB directly into the DAW? That way you don’t need to use any 1/4” standard guitar cable at all with a Variax. Hope that makes sense. Thanks.

[@marstudios7879]

Excellent tutorial master Jason.

[@Nicky-T]

22:40 What are we hearing the monitoring on here? Not headphones. Helix plugged into a physical amp? I can't get the latency on my computer to an acceptable level no matter what settings. I assume that you would need an exceedingly fast computer to do this. So I used the Phones output from my LT into headphones. Can that output be used properly into a mixer or external monitor? This video explains a LOT, I wish it had been up two months earlier as I was struggling with this. Now I will have a much clearer picture of the proper setup. And the explanation about where the DI outputs and how to use them are will be helpful. Thanks, as always for your work on these videos.

[@picksalot1]

Very helpful even for the HX Stomp. Thanks

[@j.r.fitzgerald2133]

This was a great video. Just what I was working on. You explained it very well. Thanks

[@adirondackmoose]

Wow Jason, this is like the bona fide one-stop site for all things Helix. Videos just keep getting better, thank you for all the work you put into these! I was going to ask, as others have, how do you use re-amping in your Helix workflow?

[@felipealonso8409]

I am running HX Stomp as Interface and Path A (Effects and Amp ONLY) into DAW Logic, with the GGD Cali plugin for IR simulation. But I am getting fizzy sound, using Input 1 on HX Stomp... Not sure what's going on, because when I run a plugin for Amp sim before GGD, it works fine. Thoughts? thanks

[@a.l.1044]

Your content is invaluable, Jason.

[@johneldredge5419]

Excellent tutorial Jason. I assume on the various paths, you can add an effects loop send/return for addition processing outside the Helix, like a haromoizer on the mic track, and then add a di track for the mic so you have a dry signal coming in for some post processing in the DAW. Thanks ........

[@Johnny.nikolaisen]

Great video Jason. About the latancy problem. If you record with latancy, caused by a slow PC, and listen with no input monitor as you descripe. Then what about the sync to the already recorded track? Could this be a problem? Or do you fix this out of sync in the post processing? Thank you again for your great service. 👍😊🎸

[@JasonSadites]

Hey Johnny, thanks so much! Great question...almost all modern DAW software automatically compensate for the latency as the track is recorded so things line up alright :-)

[@gonepickin990]

I love Caress of Steel. Perhaps my favorite Rush album. I can't count how many times I listened to that on my turntable and followed along with the words written in rock in the inside covers. "Draw another goblet...".

[@kidlargo1]

Yeah man, I was watching a different episode the other day and after staring that album cover for about 30 minutes I gave it a good listen through headphones the whole way through. Intense!! Last time I did that was Permanent Waves. Fantastic through phones.

[@gonepickin990]

@@kidlargo1 Glad to hear someone still digs this cornerstone in the development of my heroes. While listening I would float into memories of that time in my life when this first grabbed me. All part of the experience of that particular time I listened to that album. Laughing, crying, screaming along with Geddy. Air drumming with Neil, head back eyes closed as the solo from No One At The Bridge played. A lot of different emotions for me. Sorry, I blather on...

[@kidlargo1]

@@gonepickin990 Last time I saw Rush was Moving Pictures @ the Boston Garden, 1st row just left of center. AWESOME!! And if that wasn't awesome enough you ask? Rory Gallagher was the opener. Peace brother!!

[@kztex]

I sold my Helix to simplify my stuff, but now I have audio interfaces and effects processors. May need to sell all that and go back to Helix. You may cover this in later videos, but can you use the Helix to push audio from Logic out to the Line and XLR outs (ie Studio Monitors and Powered FRFR Speakers)?

[@nataliebluemusic]

Wow!! Thank you so much for this! I have been wanting to start using my Helix as an interface but had no idea where to start. I will be using Reaper so this really came at the perfect time for me! 😊

[@JasonSadites]

You're very welcome!

[@sjsphotog]

Big Thumbs up Jason just for the "Caress of Steel" album cover swap out for this video! :) More Rush is always good. A much maligned album but underrated for sure. :)

[@chaos4316]

If my humble beginnings to home recording started with an avid pro duo (I think), and GarageBand. 7 years later… I’m still using GarageBand 😬. Which I agree was a great place to start, but probably not to stay. Can I get some recommendations on what I should advance to? Also, I have a helix floor, with helix edit… (which as far as I can tell is just an ease of use program for viewing/interacting with helix.) Man I love this thing! Recently I started to use it as a processor, rather than the avid duo sound card I had for all these years. That alone has made things so much simpler. But where I’m stuck is, I use the XLR out to a Roda NT1a. I want to learn how to use this as a vocal processor too, as I’m told it’s excellent. Appreciate any advice I get. 🤙

[@fedeelpibe]

great video... maybe you should explain if theres is some configuration in global settings on the helix

[@andrasandras6645]

Hi there. Super awsome video, clears up a lot of purple haze 😉. I do have a question though: where can i set up the input gain when recording a DI track? My DIs are clipping like crazy, no matter what guitar i use. Thanks again!

[@jerryreff1857]

Nice informational video. Thanks Jason

[@paulmiller1803]

Not only was it helpful, but you have “Screaming for Vengeance”, “Caress of Steel”, and “Wired” in your collection. Tops blooby!

[@tavoo1340]

Thank you very much!

[@marstudios7879]

One question Master Jason. What is the purpose to record two guitar tracks one mono and another stereo? Can you please explain me that. It confuse me a little bit. Thanks in advance for your patient. Great lesson.

[@gabrielfrison]

I just bought a Helix LT and I find your videos very useful. Keep it up! Any recommendations on IR's I can purchase?

[@stephengoh4270]

Thank you Jason for running this through. Could we get some explanations for the stomp? Was trying to run a microphone on path B and the guitar in path A. Doesn’t seem to help as the signals are ‘bleeding’ into each other somehow,...

[@morphin8008]

Awesome and helpfully video!What about guitar and backing tracks?How I can do that with Helix audio interface?Thank you!

[@epiphonevermelha]

Great video. How do you compare the helix audio interface with Powercab audio interface?

[@gregwhite3195]

Hi Jason. Your videos have been hugely helpful with making presets in the Helix LT thanks. Just a question about connecting a mic. I use a powered condenser mic. Is there phantom power through the Helix LT for this? Thanks again.

[@ShatzThe]

Very cool! Thanks for the great info!

[@never2late451]

This is a great new series Jason. I have never recorded vocals but have been curious how using Helix EQ and Compression effects stack up compared to what recording studios use for vocals.

[@johnx38x]

Hi Jason, thanks for the video. I have a question for you. Is it possible to use my studio monitors, which are connected to my Steinberg UR816C interface, together with the Helix as recording interface ? So, I want to use the Helix USB recording possibilities, while listening through my studio monitors on the UR816C. I haven't been able to do this, so I hope you have a solution for my "problem". Thanks ahead.

[@Sabre-X1]

Excellent !!

[@patriekvd]

Hi Jason, Great video (as always ;-))! At home I definitely like to record directly from the Helix over USB. It's just so much easier and I really like to record the DI signal as well and use Helix Native to 're-amp', if you will. However, sometimes you cannot do this, because you are in someone else's studio for instance, and I am having a hard time getting my sound right in these circumstances. I find that if I connect my 1/4" OUT directly into my audio interface (tried my Behringer UMC404HD and my friend's Audient) the sound out of the Helix sounds very compressed as if it is clipping. Neither the audio interface nor Cubase show the clipping, though. I face the same issue when I connect my headphones directly to the Helix and listen to my live patches (which I'm happy with during live performances). I read that this could have something to do with the impedance of the headphones, so I bought a brand new set of Beyerdynamics DT770 Pro (250 Ohm) headphones, but I am still experiencing the same issues. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. How can I configure my Helix so that it will sound good directly through an audio interface (or through headphones for that matter) as well?

[@ChristopherBuenviaje]

Hi Jason! Are your speakers connected to the output of the helix?

[@mohammadfaisalrahman7682]

It was a nice detailed video. I didn't realize that Helix can be used as an audio interface for multiple instruments until now. I do have a question. When I record my guitar through Helix, I hear clipping sound although my gain is not high at all. My monitor level shows less than -12db. This is happening on Cubase and Audacity both DAWs. Any advice what could be the issue?

[@jeromelavigne5456]

Hi Jason your videos are my new Bible today. Thanks. I'm stuck with my protools today to use helix lt as an interface. The helix's protools preset do comand the rec and play but l've got issues with the inputs. I set up Helix as device but when l go to l/O l only see my mbox interface can't see helix. Any idea? Is my protools version too old? Should l install older drivers of helix? Desperate for infos. Thanks

[@eharding40k]

If you had a Helix floor for your guitar a HX Stomp for a bass and a microphone and wanted to jump back and forth without plugging/unplugging cables while coming up with different guitar, bass and vocal ideas, would I plug the HX Stomp and mic into the Helix floor which would then USB into the computer? Is there a better way for me to accomplish this?

[@patrick764]

Thanks, this has helped a lot already.

[@robmlisanti]

So you can use the USB and record with out the "DRY" track too, that's the way I prefer, im trying to make a decision on getting the POD Go so I can save CPU Power, some of the plugins I use use too much CPU and it results in bad clipping and pops

[@AlexBradyMusic]

Great video. One issue I have is that the output from the USB is extremely low volume in my DAW. Has anyone else experience that, and have you found a solution?

[@ivanfeaguirre]

You can adjust the level if you click the output at the end of the signal path. I add a couple of dB until I reach the level I want in my DAW.

[@GUIGUI139]

I can not get the Helix to work well with Zoom. I teach guitar virtually and use it as an audio interface into zoom via USB. It mutes through compression slowly until they are muted. It is meant for in and out but bouncing between a received and sent signal it is not good at is what I can gather; thus a Scarlett into Zoom instead. I don't love this setup because I was in love with the idea of using the noise suppressor on my mic as I have a freestanding AC in the same room. It started all of this when I switched from Macbook to a high end PC and upgraded to 3.15. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@ghost79ish]

Good stuff to know, thank you. I have an unrelated question so hopefully you'll see this. Would putting one or more footswitchable gain blocks before the amp model on the helix achieve the same effect as having multiple gain settings on the amp model itself?

[@thingfish5271]

What's the significance of Screaming for Vengeance, Street Survivors, Caress of Steel in the background?

[@paultheriault7627]

Great vid...how about using native, or 3rd party plug-ins such as Neural DSP for example (i use some of their cleans) how does one hear the plugin tones and audition those before you record?..might be a good episode 2?

[@bruceniblett959]

I just got Helix Native, and I own Reaper. I also bought a Focusrite Scarlett solo as an interface. But when I go to Reaper options I see no Helix listed. I am not that computer savvy and it seems so complicated to me to do anything. Should I set up the focus scarlett first? Sorry I have no idea

[@paulmyfinger]

Hi Jason, I have a massively underused Helix floor and an Apollo twin but im torn between which to use, i guess the helix wins on IO so i could route my TV through it, which would you favour?

[@freedomforall6662]

Fantastic!,!!!! cleared a lot of stuff.

[@Hillgaard84]

Where du you get the output sound from? Do you have monitors in another interface?

[@GP-mk5tj]

Jason, I want to be able to play my Guitar through a Looper in the HX edit and just be able to adjust the parameters and effects to get to Tone I want. The only problem I have is I only have a laptop and I have no external speakers. One do you recommend me buying additional speakers because I really don't want to spend the money? More importantly how do I set it up. Is it that simple and use the USB cable and that it? Later down the road I might record which I downloaded Reaper but I haven't even experimented with that yet. For now I just like to keep it simple cuz I'm tired of plugging into an amp every time I want to edit something on the computer.

[@McDeathSausage]

Great tutorial Jason. I've owned Reaper for a year now and was intimidated by it but this got me started. One question I have about the Helix rack...is it possible to use the Helix rack as an interface with other guitar software. I also own Amplitube 4 and Revalver 4 and would like to use my Helix instead of switching to my old Line 6 UX2. When I connect through the Helix and try to get audio from Amplitube or Revalver I only hear the preset on my Helix. Any of your additional Helix wisdom is appreciated. Thanks!

[@CradleInTheCrater]

Definitely possible. I've done it quite a few times. The rack version actually has a dedicated USB DI set to input #7. The way I handled this was to basically just re-amp that DI signal, record both tracks, but with the DI muted. I had to open my DAW's I/O settings and assign #7 as a mono input. Create a track for the DI and set it to input #7. Then make another track that i always name "Re-amp" and set the input of the Re-amp to the DI's track. So you'd be playing a clean, unprocessed signal into the Helix and then you apply whatever plug-ins you like to the re-amp track.

[@mastermachetier5594]

I want to see you using the fm3 as an interface to see it’s limitations as such

[@bintang_sakti]

Hey man great video! I have some question though,my di channel from channel 7 the signal is too low i cant barely see the waveform in my DAW how do i increase the input gain ? Sorry for my english.

[@blazing6string]

Great idea 🤘🎶🥰

[@MadMagicPaul]

Hi Jason - how are you setting the large volume control? Have you bypassed it in the global settings so the control doesn't affect the USB signal strength? Thank you.

[@JasonSadites]

Hi Paul, I have it set to full almost all the time.

[@MadMagicPaul]

@@JasonSadites Thank you! I think I had it very low. I was getting some glitches just on USB 7 (not on the recording of the Helix processing) and the signal did look very small on the Reaper track. I'll try it at full and see if the glitches disappear. Thanks again.

[@tekinmustafamusic6223]

Wow. So much easier on a mac with Logic. All done for you when you plug in. You can assign inputs in track header.

[@SlipperyDucky]

How do you set up the helix stomp as an audio interface to use with helix native? I am getting my di signal mixed with my processed signal. Can I turn off direct Monitoring?

[@jSattJamboree]

I’d love to see some ideas on using an LT as an audio interface for a microphone. XLR to 1/4” adapter? What kind of budget mic would you recommend? Any blocks you’d add to a vocal mic in the Helix? I’m going to enjoy this series!

[@sjsphotog]

there are multiple preset templates in the Helix on the different tabs in HX Edit for Mic, Guitar, Bass, etc. Check them out

[@jSattJamboree]

Stephen Soukup Thanks! The LT doesn’t have an XLR input like the floor, so I’m looking for ideas such as an adapter to still make a vocal mic work.

[@sjsphotog]

@@jSattJamboree there is also a transformer xlr to 1/4" that is 200ohm to 50k Ohm that you can use. or get a mic preamp that uses XLR and then the output of the preamp can have 1/4" connections to go into the LT inputs

[@orangepapya]

are there any benefits to using this method instead of just going DI and using Helix Native?

[@rsvette123]

Awesome job :)

[@Lucas-KnifeHands]

Important to note. I just checked my Line 6 Helix Global Settings and in the Ins/Outs menu I had the re-amp 7 & re-amp 8 set to Variax by default. Not sure why. Changed from Variax to Guitar and then worked fine.

[@UtwoBed]

I am using an Apollo SOLO as my interface and I would like to disable the interface in the Helix because I prefer using the SOLO interface. Since these are all ASIO based interfaces you can only use one at a time. When I plug in the HELIX USB cable it takes over and disables the SOLO interface, Is there a way to disable the Helix interface so I can continue to leave the USB plugged in and use the Helix Edit App, and use my SOLO interface for the audio?

[@mrfender5001]

The only issue I see is if you do have to reamp using the DI track, then the DI was in mono and your original effected track was stereo. How would you fix that?

[@Ricardo_Rosa]

My patches sound so different when I switch between MULTI / Digital / USB1 (with the track duly armed) Sometimes MULTI sound way louder than other outs. I wonder what you have going on there that makes your MULTI out sound exactly as the USB going to the cubase track.

[@luischacon9500]

Nice video bro

[@JasonSadites]

Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed :-)

[@chris_and_music]

Jason, may i ask you for your help on this: I have two tracks: Guitar L, and Guitar R, with no FX's on them, because my idea is to send both to a guitar bus, where I put helix native (so I can tweak settings and affect both tracks simoutanesly). But unfortunately Helix resolves that bus into a mono bus, so guitar pan is lost. PD: Im using Reaper as DAW. I'd be very grateful if you or anyone can help me with this :) Thanks for all your content, it's super helpful !

[@emanueleventurini3486]

Is it possible to do the same with the Pod Go? I followed along but there is no USB 1/2 choice on the output (with pod go edit). Any suggestions?

[@Lucas-KnifeHands]

Also - coming from an absolute newbie - is the DI signal suppose to be so low ? Is this something we need to or should adjust separately with a gain plugin if we are planning to re-amp later ?

[@ivanfeaguirre]

Yes the DI is supposed to be that low. Don’t adjust it because it is exactly the way it is going for reamping if you’re using a plugin like Helix Native or even your HX device. On the other hand, the wet signal can be adjusted since that is a "final" signal that you are recording. I adjust the level clicking on the output at the end of the signal path. I add a couple of dB.

[@17th_Street_Preacher]

Is it easy to use helix as outboard effects for mixing tracks?

[@dazref]

Thanks for the tips they are great. I set up the Helix and my patches sound kinda somewhat like they should on the speakers but when I record they sound distorted. What am I doing wrong Jason?

[@XHuntinatorX]

I have my headphones plugged into Helix Floor but I can’t get any sound in Cubase. I am getting a good signal and I can record to the track but nothing is coming through the headphones when either monitoring the track or with monitoring disarmed for playback.

[@uktmaxx]

hey Jason... i have tried everything to get midi drums from my buddies Roland TD 12 into my DAW.... is there a midi setup you can recommend for the Helix? cheers from the UK

[@ac30helix44]

Hey Jason, awesome video. I use USB 8 to record direct vocals when doing KZbin vids. I have a lapel mic. Even with the gain ramped in global settings it’s barely audible. Any ideas ?

[@fearofnone2]

I am a little confused on the HX stomp all the videos have been using usb 5 for the DI is it different on the stomp or the helix as to the assignment of the DI signal?

[@Hrafnaflokii]

Matt Bellamys .. dad? Either way, thanks for the video, very informative!

[@muurimc]

Reaper is really cool DAW

[@borgan1964]

can you please help me with where the paper sound can fix in the helix

[@mrfender5001]

What could you use the 8 ins and 8 outs for? Like could you actually record 2 guitars, a bass, keyboard, and electric drums all at the same time through the Helix?

[@Lucas-KnifeHands]

I think 8 = mic signal.

[@nickmurphy4032]

If i'm plugging a second instrument or mic into path 3/4 and setting up HX Edit as you did to run it on a seperate path in the same preset, Can i set this to record a dry track also? Obviously it would be re directed from path 1/2. Hope that makes sense, Thanks.

[@rafaelgiuliani]

What do you do about the low output volume?

[@tf39500]

I'm using an LT, I'm just connecting it from USB entry to my PC, and it does not sound:( Do I need to use the PHONES output necessarily? I don't have any headphones with 1/4 size plug:(

[@riff540]

Jason, any help greatly appreciated, great videos by the way. Helix into Reaper, my usb output volumes are way to high and clipping horribly, I can't seem to find anything to lower the outputs, any ideas? Thanks

[@dazref]

I had the same problem and this helped: go to the output right at the end of your signal chain and reduce volume by -8DB

[@riff540]

@@dazref thanks will give it a try