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Just to confirm, this will only track ONE of the signals, not both? IE the Variax models if engaged on the Variax OR the Mags if switched off?

Hi there I track my JTV 89 Variax into the Helix using the VDI cable only. Which is the correct input setting to have the ability to switch between the Variax models and the natural "real" magnetic pickup sounds on the fly? Sorry if a silly question!

Hey all A number of amp sims allow you to take two hard panned guitar DI tracks routed to a Group Guitar track then apply ONE instance of the VST that amplifies them both (saving Precious CPU) Is this possible with Helix Native? I cant figure it out and multiple instances of Helix Native eat my CPU compared to TH3 Overloud for example.. Help?

Great, thanks!

Hey all Is there a universally accepted ideal string brand and / or gauge that the Variax jives with optimally? I have been using 13's of the ELIXIR brand (for longer string life) and I typically tune down a half step and to drop D a fair bit. I'm happy to change to another brand if it helps... Thoughts?

Interesting read...is the consensus then that it IS preferable to use a 1/4 inch jack INSTEAD of the VDI for the Variax (both Mags and models?) If so - can the VDI still serve to "power" the Variax modelling while the Jack carries the guitar signal IE both cables plugged in at the same time? Trying to avoid going back to batteries ;)

Hey there all I've been whittling down my Helix Floor presets for CPU economical usage in recordings via Helix Native in Cubase 9.5. My question is: Is it less CPU intensive to record a DI via USB 7 or 8 to a MONO track and then apply Helix Native to that (using in the patch ONLY mono blocks - ie: NO reverb or Delay - in fact usually only a Compressor, Drive Stomp, Amp and one IR or Stock Cab)? I don't wish to sacrifice tone of course but seems to me in a recording project double tracked guitars are usually 2 x Mono tracks left and right anyway with Reverbs etc added later to a Group track in mixing stage. Any thoughts on best practice here? Thanks!

Thank you for these informative responses guys. Clears things up a lot. I now am running Cubase 9.5 which has a 64 bit float point allowing for even more headroom apparently but I don't turn that on until mix time

Hi all Don't want to beat a dead horse but in the official Line 6 "Helix Native Quickstart - Input and Levels Setup "tutorial video:- they say to keep the input signal into Native in the Green Zone of -36db to -12db. Currently ALL my Variax models and the JTV89 Mags DI levels coming from USB7/8 are exceeding this and I would have expected the plugin to behave as the floor unit but it appears by this logic I need to LOWER the input in the plugin so it doesn't exceed -12db at it's Maximum DI level. Is this correct? I ask as recording this way is my ideal but I want the monitored (processed by Helix Floor) sound to match the Native reamped/processed sound exactly if possible as a starting point. Thoughts?

Is 10k Ohm technically "Line Level" or is there some preamplification colouring going on in the AUX path? I ask as I have a modelling mic and preamp that requires a Line Level input with no colouration for coreect use and hope to use the AUX. Currently I am using a Return (set to LINE level) to do it but it means I cant monitor with Helix verbs etc on and track dry which is what i want ideally

Hi guys Im using the Helix as the interface in my studio and its AWESOME. I just upped the anti and got the Slate VMS Mic system which has its own preamp and then connects to an interface (in my case HELIX) via a TRS - TRS cable at LINE level. Which input on the Helix - a) Do I need to connect to and b) in order to track ONLY the dry unprocessed (at ALL - ie not even by the onboard Helix mic preamp) signal for later processing thru USB 7 or 8 - what "reamp" signal do I select? There is only "Guitar", Variax, Aux and Mic - no "Line In"... the manual says the Send / Return can be set to Line level but then how does this figure into the equation? Confused, but Im sure someone has an answer out there...

Hmmm. Yes it is a JTV89, stock pickups. I will do a test recording of the Mags via VDI vs mags via 1/4inch and see what the levels are and if there is any discrepancy. Interesting!

Hey guys I have solved for the most part the best practice for tracking a quality DI through Helix Floor for later reamping with the Helix Native plugin which is AWESOME. However, when I set the USB 7 and 8 to track the Variax Modelled guitars (Lester, Spank etc) via VDI Cable (NOT the 1/4 inch regular guitar input) the levels are fine and duplicate the levels I see when tracking a blank patch (ie NO Helix processing) on USB 1 and 2 - but when set to Variax Magnetics (ie the raw real humbuckers - not the digital guitar models) the level is too hot for the plug in IE: the "input" meter is hitting above the optimum range of maximum -12db when set to 0. In theory this is how hot the Mags hit the Helix Floor processing so I'm confused as to why there would be a discrepancy? Any thoughts? BTW Im tracking a stereo DI as this seems to be the best way to duplicate what is happening in the Helix Floor inside the plugin version. Cheers

Hey guys I have solved for the most part the best practice for tracking a quality DI through Helix Floor for later reamping with the Helix Native plugin which is AWESOME. However, when I set the USB 7 and 8 to track the Variax Modelled guitars (Lester, Spank etc) via VDI Cable (NOT the 1/4 inch regular guitar input) the levels are fine and duplicate the levels I see when tracking a blank patch (ie NO Helix processing) on USB 1 and 2 - but when set to Variax Magnetics (ie the raw real humbuckers - not the digital guitar models) the level is too hot for the plug in IE: the "input" meter is hitting above the optimum range of maximum -12db when set to 0. In theory this is how hot the Mags hit the Helix Floor processing so I'm confused as to why there would be a discrepancy? Any thoughts? BTW Im tracking a stereo DI as this seems to be the best way to duplicate what is happening in the Helix Floor inside the plugin version. Cheers

Personally using Helix hardware. To get an IDENTICAL sound to that, do I record a stereo DI via USB 7 and 8 or just one mono track via USB 7? Why this is so nebulous escapes me