DammKid

Greetings, I can't tell if I'm overly-demanding, overly skeptical or just an old school a@@hole on this, but I'm deeply curious . . . how many of you out there would have NO problem accepting a purportedly "new" ($1400) Helix that arrived from the retailer in a previously opened (unsealed) factory box? First, some background . . . I placed an order with a well-known on-line retailer recently, and I specifically stated in the Comments section of the order form that I would NOT accept an unsealed or opened factory box, because in my mind, once that factory seal has been broken, there is no way that the consumer 'truly' knows the history of that unit. In my admittedly 'busy' mind, whether its a Helix, a PlayStation 4 or a 'new' flatscreen TV, once its been opened, its content could (theoretically) have been previously owned and returned, or deemed initially defective and subsequently serviced, etc., etc. Now, despite having violated my specific instructions beforehand, the retailer assures me that the unit is in-fact 'new', and that the only reason its been previously opened, is because they needed to open it to "upgrade the firmware" on it, which very-well could be? Unfortunately, I have no real way of knowing. However, I submit that I (the consumer) can easily upgrade firmware myself (thank you very much!), and what if the item is a gift for a family member? Perhaps more importantly, is Corporate Line 6 itself officially authorizing these various merchants to pre-open the factory packaging? That's hard for me to imagine. Anyway, what say you folks? Am I completely outta line on this? Should I request a return? Or should I simply suck it up, and accept that I'm an overly-skeptical, paranoid jarhead? NOTE: I'm perfectly good with either conclusion! ;-) ;-)

Spikey, As always, I greatly appreciate your feedback on these topics, and I'm getting closer and closer to a decision on this, but do me big favor and watch for a PM that I just sent you regarding Helix Native vs. Helix Rack. Many thanx.

O.K., so, I've since spoken with tech support folks both at Line-6 and Mackie, and they tell me that this whole business about whether I need a newer, faster, better (??) digital audio interface (DAI) to simply utilize Helix Native, with something as basic and relatively un-demanding as a single electric guitar signal input, in a small home studio, is a red herring. First off, my current connection between the DAI (a Mackie Onyx-1620 mixer with very decent Onyx pre-amps) and the CPU (or DAW), is a firewire-800 connection, and the connection between any purportedly "newer and better" DAI, would likely be USB 2.0, which isn't any faster than firewire. And more importantly, the "speed" of data transfer in this instance simply isn't an issue with a single input as simple as a lone guitar. Hence, it doesn't appear that I would benefit from any "newer and better" digital audio interface, regardless of its cost or features. And so, I think we can now close-out this thread. Many thanks to everyone who responded and contributed their insights to this topic. ;-)

Spikey, Thanks for your reply. However, I'm curious . . . if a guy already has Helix Native (and all of the FX that it includes), why would add-on FX of the types you're referring to here, be of interest to him? Aren't the FX in Helix enough, in and of themselves, without having to buy a super expensive digital audio interface, just to get some added FX?

Thanks zivdud, and yes indeed, it helps plenty. To be clear, I am NOT a professional sound or recording engineer. I'm just a simple, home-studio based, amateur guitarist/hobbyist, playing largely electric and acoustic/electric guitars (with some keyboards and/or synths), so I don't have a lot of demands in terms of multi-instrument inputs, or multi-tracking, or recording, etc., and consequently, I'm beginning to believe that I'll be perfectly fine with my present system, if I can get a decent DAW to work with it. I can purchase PreSonus Studio One 4, which will work on my present MacPro and OS without issue, and connect my guitars to the CPU via the PRS DI Box or High-Z inputs on the Mackie mixer, using a firewire 800 cable, and I should be fine to use Helix Native or any other such product. I just don't see how spending $2,000 or $3,000 on a USB 2.0/3.0 digital interface is going to improve things for me in any material way? I just don't.

Kevin, Thanks for your response, but I'm afraid I just don't get something about this whole interface business. How is a $2,000-$3,000 USB 2.0 or 3.0 or thunderbolt 2 interface from RME or MOTU or anyone else, going to be superior to a Firewire 800 connection on my Mackie mixer? Neither of those connections passes data at a significantly faster rate than a Firewire 800, so what would I be obtaining for my added $2,000-$3,000 expenditure? I just don't get it? Are we talking superior pre-amps? Or something else that is superior about them? Again, I just don't get it?

Greetings All! I'm relatively new to modeling hardware and software in-general, but I recently decided to purchase Helix Native, and I found out shortly thereafter that its not a so-called 'stand-alone' product (i.e., that it would require a DAW to use or evaluate it), and then, when I tried to identify or purchase a DAW, I found that virtually all of the mainstream offerings (e.g., Cubase, Logic Pro, Ableton, Sonar, Cakewalk, etc.), were incompatible with my older (circa 2008) Mac Pro CPU, which is topped-out at OS (El Capitan 10.11.6). However, after some added research, I determined that PreSonus is one of very few manufacturers that actually offers a DAW (Studio One 4) that is fully compatible with my current OS (10.11.6), so I'm planning on purchasing it soon in hopes of using it with Helix Native, but my question for everyone is this . . . what make, model or type of digital audio interface would be best-suited for maximizing the utility of the Helix Native software, given my system limitations? Currently (and over the past few years), I've been using S-Gear and other standalone programs without issue, by connecting the guitar to a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) DI Box, then to a microphone input on a fairly old Mackie Onyx-1620 mixer (via XLR), then to my 64-bit Mac Pro (via Firewire). But is this 10-year old configuration still the best overall approach? Or are there now superior types and makes and models of digital interface out there that will offer me better performance with Helix Native? Thanks for listening and thanks to all who choose to respond.

After spending more time here this morning researching this subject, its looking like PreSonus (specifically their Studio One 4 'Artist' or 'Professional' versions) are about the only mainstream DAW that is compatible with Mac OS 10.11.6 (El Capitan). All the rest require 10.12 (Sierra) or higher, and that includes Cubase/Element, Sonar, Ableton, Wave Lab, Motu Digital Performer, and numerous others. So, I guess I've answered my own question at this point. I'll just purchase the discounted (academic download) version of Studio One 4 Professional. Case closed.

Greetings, I recently purchased Helix Native, but I've since learned that it has no 'standalone' capability (i.e., it requires a DAW of some sort), and that none of the mainstream DAWs will work with my Apple MacPro. It seems 'nutz' to me, because my circa 2008 MacPro is a quad-core Intel Xeon desktop, with 24 GB of RAM, running at 2 x 3 GHz (well above many of the current-day machines out there), yet thanks to our friends at Apple, I can't update to OS Sierra (10.12) from my present OS El Capitan (10.11.6), and virtually ALL mainstream DAWs appear to require Sierra (10.12) or greater. Blam! I'm dead-in-the-water! To no avail, I've contacted tech support at Apple, Line-6 (now Yamaha?), Sweetwater and others in hopes of getting some sort of recommendation or work-around, and I've seen mention of 'Element', 'Reaper', 'MainStage' and 'MenuBUS Pro' here on-line, with no idea yet as to whether any of those will work with 10.11.6 (El Capitan), but is anyone here aware of any reputable, well-recognized DAW's that would positively be compatible with my system? Many thanks!

rd2rk, Righto! No MIDI Outs on my Onyx-1620, but you're right in that I am currently configured very similarly, save the MIDI option. And, much like your Scarlett, there are ample Outputs on the 1620 to allow for lots of versatility. In fact, the more I think about it, and the more that others like yourself provide such comments, I may NOT be able to part with the Mackie mixer in the end. The fact is, its probably of doubtful value on the open market anyway, and in the long run, may prove to be of more value to me to simply keep it!

Thanks Coda! It sounds like hooking-up a synth or keyboard to the Helix might be a tad complicated for a new or beginning Helix user (?), and this is kind of what I was concerned about. I currently have my synth and 2nd keyboard plumbed to a Mackie mixer, which is connected to a MacPro via USB, so I'm thinking it might be best for me to just hang-on to the mixer for a few more weeks, since I can keep both keys attached to the mixer, while sending the Helix Outputs to the mixer, and then the mixer Outs to the A7X's, without too much added delay in learning the more advanced functions and features of Helix. That's probably what I'll end-up doing. But thanks again.

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Excellent !!!! Thank you very much for the detailed responses, guys! These three posts have summed it up nicely for me. I'm glad to hear that my powered A7X's will serve my purposes well, and pleased to learn that others have used them with great results. The detailed description by DunedinDragon of how he has his various instruments and devices configured to the Helix (above), is particularly helpful to me, as I too will need to configure my Helix as the hub of my own system for use with MP3's, acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, and keyboards through a desktop MacPro. And now that I have some feel for it all, I can hardly wait. In fact, it now sounds like I'll be able to dispose of (sell) my Mackie mixer, soild-state amps and behemoth-sized JBL MPro speakers, which is great news! In closing, I should also briefly add something regarding my limited experience with my Adams A7X's for guitar. A year or so ago, I purchased S-Gear by Scuffham Amps (my first and only modelling plug-in). I worked with (and evaluated) it for several weeks using a PRS direct-inject box through my Mackie mixer to the A7X's, and although it was incredibly convenient, versatile and simple to use, it didn't really bowl me over in terms of tones. It seemed to lack the overal, power and low end that I mentioned in my earlier posting. Hopefully, when configured essentially the very same way, the newer, higher-end/higher-priced Helix will surpass S-Gear in this regard. Crossing my fingers! My thanks again to all! P.S. - However, now that I think about it, one more question does occur to me . . . how would you best connect a synth or other keyboard to the Helix? My Adams A7X's are routinely used for my two keyboards, but if I connect the Helix to the A7X's, I would still want the keys reporting to the A7X's somehow, through the Helix. Looking at the Inputs/Outputs on the Helix Rack, I'm not sure how I'd make that stereo connection? MIDI I'm guessing?

Many thanks for the feedback guys! Currently, I play MP3's and other pre-recorded music through the higher-powered solid-state (EV/JBL) setup all the time, and its awesome for that application because of the nice bottom-end provided by the 15" MPro speakers. And conversely, I routinely use the powered Adam's A7X's with keyboards and synth's, because of their wider frequency response, and the fact that higher power isn't generally needed for the keys. But as I said earlier, the bottom end is a bit lacking, especially relative to set of monster 15's. Given the narrower and generally 'mid-heavy' frequency band of electric guitar signal, I guess I was kinda hoping that the solid-state EV/JBL setup might just work well with the Helix. So I'm curious, what is it about the powered speakers that makes them better suited in this case? Is it strictly their wider frequency response? Thanks again.

Greetings and Happy New Year to All Like most others here, I've been messin' around with a legion of various amps, cabs and stomp boxes for what seems like decades now, in a largely fruitless effort to get that ever-elusive 'ideal' tone from every type of guitar I own, but I'd really like to set-up something different in the near future - an alternative, low-maintenance stereo arrangement of some sort, with fewer headaches when it comes to signal chain and FX, and more playing time. And so, I'm planning on purchasing a Helix Rack and Control floorboard here very soon. However, I don't gig or perform in public much, so I'm a bit stumped on which solid-state or tube amp/speaker cab match-up (or powered speakers?) I should look to use, to best amplify the new Helix system in my home-studio setting. Hence, I'm hoping to get some experienced suggestions from the veteran membership here. Basically, here are my choices . . . 1) HELIX to ElectroVoice CP-2200 solid-state stereo power amp to two JBL MPro 415 PA speakers (relatively high-powered) 2) HELIX to Mesa-Boogie 50:50 stereo (tube) power amp to two Mesa-Boogie Road-Ready Cabs with EVM-12L speakers (medium-powered) 3) HELIX to two Adams A7X powered monitor speakers (lower-powered) I'm guessing that of these three combinations, #3 is likely to give me the clearest (least colored), widest frequency response, but then, I suspect the overall power and bass response in that particular set-up is likely to suffer somewhat. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for me on where best to start? I'd sure appreciate it! ;-) Thanks for listening, and thanks also to all who choose to respond. Cheers!