The ABSOLUTE Best Way To Record The Line 6 Helix? | Helix In The Studio: Outboard Audio Interfaces

[@NickHillMakesMusic]

I’ve been using spiff for years now. It’s just so simple and I get the flexibility I prefer. Also, if you have an interface that has global phantom power, this helps alleviate the issue of running phantom power to the helix if you used xlr from said helix to the interface. Great video Jason

[@TechyTimM]

You always peak my curiosity. So I ordered a SPDIF for my helix to Presonsu 1824. I really like the suggestion to add an additional unprocessed analog input, which I'll use with Native in case I need to do some post-recording patch tweaking. Love it!

[@MAINHEADSKULL]

Thank you Jason 🙂👍! Once again I was able to find the needed info from your channel.

[@adamburger858]

So cool.. i have the same interface.. and a Warm Audio Tone beast mic pre..this will help alot.. im fairly new to the Helix.. thanks for this video.. your a badass

[@jaltsch1]

I’m new to Helix so please excuse my naivety, but I have a Clarrett 4 pre thunderbolt and latency is pretty much undetectable. Buffer is set at 64 in Logic and my M1 Mac mini easily handles this. So I’ve been plugging right into the clarrett and using Native, no issues no noticeable latency, no need for a Helix as an interface I think. And I get a DI recording underneath the Native plugin. Am I missing something? Thanks for all you do so helpful especially for new people like me.

[@picksalot1]

I couldn't hear any differences between the digital and analog blind test comparison of Tone A and B. I have a general question about DACs I hope you can help me with. I've heard that new AD/DA Converters are "better" than old ones. Yet, I've read and heard dozens of times that the "Nyquist theorem proves there is one and only one way to draw a band-limited continuous signal through a set of samples." This requires that the Sample Rate is at least twice the highest audio frequency. Accordingly, one should be able to "perfectly" reconstruct the analog signal that was captured using a DAC with that specification, whether it's brand new or 20 years old. I know there are things like newer/better Preamps, etc. that will affect how the processed signal ultimately sounds. But, according to the Math, the recorded digital signal should be perfect. If that's not correct, could you please explain. Thanks

[@sheldonfernandes]

Got the Clarett+ 8Pre. I love it. Great choice. I run the clarett into native. Never thought to use the sdpif! Great suggestion

[@ThomasHourlier]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks for the video!

[@BrianStreckfusClassicalGuitar]

Thanks so much for the videos! I'm learning a lot. It is possible to have multiple interfaces simultaneously using all USBs. I can only speak for Mac though not Windows. I had to create a custom input and output device that adds all my inputs and outputs together. Figured I would mention it since for many years I thought that was impossible to do. So I have: Focusrite 18i8 - Tracks 1-10 Focusrite ADAT expansion - Tracks 11-18 Helix - Tracks 19-26 All working at the same time. I have to select "EXP6 All in Out" as my interface and "Experimental MO2" as my output device. Of course these are what I personally named them, but I am not selecting an audio interface in my DAW, I'm selecting a custom thing that combines them all together. That being said, I've used analog and spdif as well, and that way can make sense for certain circumstances, often I use it that way when Re-amping or something.

[@iamtobler]

Curious, why did you set Send 1 to send an INSTRUMENT level signal? I thought if it's going into mixer or interface it's supposed to be set to LINE level? If I am going from Helix to Apollo x8p for example should Send 1 be set to Instrument or Line I wonder...

[@Roland-Bach]

Hi Jason. I'm using a Variax Standard with the Line 6 digital cable (AES) connected with my Helix. Is it true that i can't use SPDIF then, to connect my new Scarlett 8i6 with my Helix over SPDIF? You make a great job, thanks for that. Greetings from Germany Roland

[@HammyHavoc]

Did you ever figure this out?

[@Roland-Bach]

@@HammyHavoc Hi, i don't try it. I would not destroy anything. I remember that i read this somewhere.

[@G-Rockmusic]

The one question I keep asking others and no response is can I just use the left, mono 1/4 inch out into my interface to record? Or should I be using bothe left and right outs? 1/4 inch balanced or not?

[@timsellsted521]

Digital to digital. I'm going to have to give this a try Jason!

[@ctsguitar]

Great video. My UA Apollo interface however does not have a S/PDIF input, but rather an Optical input. What would be the best solution here do you think? I’ve tried simply using USB, but there is a clash between HELIX and APOLLO drivers which is causing numerous latency glitches! I want to be able to record Stereo from Helix? Thanks

[@srwaite7]

Good stuff, JS! 👌🏻🤘🏻

[@rsdguitarstories]

Hi Jason your channel is helping me a lot not only to understand Helix but also the signal chain... I own a Helix LT..my question is.Can we connect microphone through external phantom power block into Helix LT? Please help

[@WordupG]

The sound quality obviously isn’t an issue. How about latency? Is it faster to go digital into the Focusrite, vs USB direct from Helix? How many output channels can be sent over SPDIF at once (like using guitar and mic at the same time)?

[@mjKlaim]

I have questions ^^ So I have a Clarett 4i Pre for a few years now and initially setup my Helix with the audio setup Helix -> Audio Input 1 , with the double translation of the signla. Indeed it was nice, not complicated, because the sound quality translation on both side is excellent. I however used a Y Box to splitt the signal and get the DI, I didn't even though about the Send trick XD (I'll come back to that later). Last summer I realized that there is a SPDIF output on the Helix, so I tried the setup you have now (except with the Y box) and it worked well. Now I also removed the Y-Box because I didn't need it much these days. My Questions: 1. In your video you do not talk about the actual reason I switched to SPDIF: latency. The digital->analog->digital transformation added something like 1ms in the capture of the audio, which was not perceptible most of the time but in super tight sounds it was a bit (and in particular when I try to record with 96kHz in which case I might hit the buffer latency limitations easier). Basically any solution to capture with the less latency possible I will take. So now I'm happy (I did a comparison using a DAW and capturing the same DI signal both ways using my Y-box and comparing by zooming a lot). Did you consider or notice that too? 2. As said I used a Y-Box to get the DI separate and capture it through the audio interface. I was wondering: if my understanding is correct, using a Send block in the Helix to achieve the same is not actually exactly equivalent: the Send can send the signal AFTER having been processed through the buffering system (am I right? I have a doubt) and any other settings in the input node (at least the noise gate). So when reusing the DI recording into, say, Helix Native, you actually feed the buffered signal (if I'm right XD). I don't think it's a big issue in most cases but I would like to check with you if I'm right and if there are situations where there sill be issues, or more exactly change in sounds.

[@leftymike5625]

What if you record over helix USB but monitor out of a separate audio interface. Does that compromise the signal in any way? Thanks

[@TordenGudenTor]

I have connected my line 6 into a focusrite scarlet AI, and when im gonna record through ableton, there is a loud buzzing. Do you know what might cause that?

[@watchthebeveragedude]

I used the SPDF with my Focusrite 18i20 and it worked, with pros and con. Pro: it expanded the amount of inputs to my interface as I ran out with a full band. the cons were that its a terrible connection, it always came undone if the cable was bumped, which would cause other major issues. also it was a bit to dependant on bit rate with software. I have since gone to a Tascam model 24 Just using analog stereo and all is good

[@andrewventham]

If only they could add / have added the option to send 8-channel ADAT over the digital output, then it could mirror the USB audio and avoid the need for D/A-A/D compromises. An alternative in the mean time might be to focus on capturing the dry signal digitally and use the Helix Native plug-in to recreate the wet sound in software, with the hardware's wet sound coming into the DAW via analogue as a guide / backup.

[@santbits]

Tone A which I think is the helix

[@dirkbrom3948]

Man, so it's not as simple as taking the XLR out to my 2i2? I'm new to this world.

[@JasonSadites]

Oh yeah you most certainly can use it with another audio interface if that is your preferred way of working 😀 Hope that helps!

[@dirkbrom3948]

@@JasonSadites it does. Maybe I could use the Helix for guitar and bass and the 2i2 for vocals. Maybe even set up a preset for vocals.

[@andreajem7v]

what about recording via USB? Even there would you skip the conversion D/A A/D?

[@Elassar72]

Right, The only reason I can think about to add one further cable is when you run out of USB ports

[@brentjeanneret]

@@Elassar72the issue is that you cannot generally use more than one interface. If you use the Helix USB out, you forego the use of the main interface (unless you use ASIO4ALL on pc, or set up an aggregate interface on a Mac). If you use these workarounds, you're basically bypassing the (generally) very good drivers that come with your interface. I've tried and tried to find a way... short of running the helix usb through an intermediate computer, and rerouting it digitally to the main interface, I can't think of anything better than a send block in the first position. (I am open to ideas though, as this has stumped me...)

[@StratsRUs]

I use an Aggregate Device and USB works a treat in Logic X. Set Output Block of Helix of any preset to USB 3-4. Set Logic X stereo track to that too. And that's it.Make the preset ' in house' since you'll hear it all together in your Studio Speakers.Logic X Software Monitoring is ON. In Global Settings you can choose to Send USB 1-2 to another speaker or set of speakers (amp/cab) in the room but I don't.I can experiment with it though, to have a low level ' cab in the room' vibe as well as the main monitors..But the studio monitors that outputs all Logic is great enough, to hone in on the guitar sound.Make the Agg Device , with your main audio interface as the ' master' and Helix to fuse with it.

[@nathanallen9291]

4min until you reveal the thesis. Very annoying. Good info but dang dude. A brief mention of the point at the top of the video would be great in the future. You make a lot of helix content that Is solid and nobody else is doing and man I wish they would…