Hello,
first of all "Hello" and I know this is another post as of millions already, nevertheless I did not find answer to my question. Maybe you guys would be able to help me. Not sure whether my problem is with Helix or rather with my setup or myself. So.... what is my setup first:
Fender Classic Player 60s with CS69
Scarlett Solo 2nd gen
BESPECO RA300 guitar cable (ironically giving less fizz than Fender cable I had before)
headphones -> Senhheiser HD598 / AKG mk2 k240
Big Sur up to date as of today
What is my problem? Well, the issue is with sound of Helix. How do I connect?
Guitar -> Scarlett Hi - Z instrument input, gain set to around 11-12 o clock, staying with green ranges, no clipping, Direct Monitoring OFF -> GarageBand -> Helix Native
Symptoms:
1. Very low sound of factory presets and also 95% presets I download from custom tone. My Helix input and output is set as factory presets, input and output signals are within suggested range, staying with green / yellow range. I know I can adjust output volumes here and there, however I need to do this drastically to get anything I can hear. For example - I am attaching preset which sounds very good and with expected volume, so you can understand how loud it is actually set up. In comparison when I plug Overloud THU it is sounding loud enough or too loud even just out of box.
2. Factory presets sounds very bad, distorted, lack of proper dynamic response, fizzy, hizzy, very digital. I do understand they are not awesome, but I have seen couple of vids where factory presets were checked and sounds at least acceptable and I am not getting anything close. Why do I stick to compare to factory presets? Because I believe if I get them working I would use potential of Helix.
3. Most of distortion and overdrive pedals sounds clipping or very bad. For instance all Fuzz pedals are too Fuzzy even at 1/3 of the gain. I have tried to reduce Hi - Z input on Solo between what I have now to even zero, then it's lacking of volume, body, dynamic response, and it's not getting any colour (means signal too low).
Obviously I am doing something wrong, but the biggest issue is low sound of factory presets. I do not have any sound in GarageBand decreased, tried Reaper too, they sounds very low in sound, almost inaudible. I need to add around +20db here and there to hear them, but then they sounds crap.
I am considering buying something else than Scarlett Solo, which seems to be bottleneck here. I am seeing however people have good results with it, so throwing $100 for i.e. Presonus Audiobox seems to be lottery.
Or I just do not understand how I shall use Native and I am expecting something I should not? This is something I might accept too :) but hard to accept not getting even 50% of quality of sound on factory presets vs some samples on internet. Also I would expect factory presets while not great at least audible on level you can hear.
I understand it is hard to help through internet but I am desperated.
GILMOUR SOUND.hlx