MarcusWatsons

You can practice to music without your laptop plugged into USB, but you’ll need to route the audio differently than the usual Helix‑to‑PC setup: most people either plug a phone/tablet audio output into the Aux In or Return jacks on the Helix (watching levels since Aux In is more like a low‑level mixer input) or click here to see how some use a small audio interface to combine your guitar and Spotify audio into headphones or speakers, and some folks use a camera‑connection/OTG adapter on iPad/phone to get audio in via USB. The key is making sure the Helix preset is set to accept the external audio source, or using the Helix’s analog ins instead of the USB route.

It's worth noting that firmware updates can indeed affect the tones and models available on instruments like the Variax. If you're considering rolling back your firmware, it's important to carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid any potential issues or unintended consequences.