soundog
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Everything posted by soundog
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Well, I'm only gonna use their "the first one's free" download from UAD, since I have an Apollo Twin. I'm not about to get roped into their $150-per-plug-in model. I want to see how the workflow is, and how nicely LUNA plays with the UAD plug-ins I already own. It would be hard to move me from Logic, since I've used it for many a year.
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Memory. (BTW, I forgot to read this thread so am answering late. That was also memory related. Now I'm worried...)
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It's a bit maddening the assorted HXN issues that pop up on this forum. And they're not slight; they're often crippling .... and difficult for us forum folks troubleshoot. I feel lucky to have things working smoothly in my little studio. But why? Karma? A lucky combination of hardware and software? Dunno. But I think Line 6 needs to step up and invest some resources on determining if the problem is in HXN code. Re Logic 10.5.x, you're wise to wait. I had numerous problems with it and plug-ins, and after spending time learning it's new features, decided there was nothing that I really needed for the stuff I do. I finally have a stable recording/production system and plan on keeping it that way until I'm forced by "progress" or killer feature(s)to upgrade. Just for grins, I also plan on giving UAD's LUNA a spin one of these pandemic days.
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Dennis - Sorry to hear about that. I use Logic 10.4.7, so can't double-check here. But.... Do you have the problem with a fresh project using only one track, with only Native loaded for plug-ins? Or does the problem start to show up in busier projects? Also .... try seeing if the issue might be related to RAM (use Logics Control Panel Load Meters (CPU and Hard Drive). Do either of the meters spike when you're having the problem? You can also use your Mac's Activity Monitor to see what's going on with your RAM and CPU usage. We'll need to hear from other Logic 10.5.1 users to see if they have the same issue. Also, I'd open a ticket with Line 6 and see what they have in their database.
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Here here. I always use a dedicated looper (Boomerang III) in my live setup with my HX Effects. The button functions in a dedicated looper are carefully designed by the manufacturer for creative performance looping, and they are often complex. There is no way I would want to try to combine those looper functions and switches into a Helix floor pedal. Helix buttons are designed perfectly for switching presets and effects. Live looping is, in my opinion, a separate "thing" and it really helps to mentally and physically isolate the looper buttons and functions apart from the Helix amp sim and effects. In the heat of a performance during frantic button stomping and riffing, the last thing I want is having to think about buttons and what they do. One other point: there is significant variation between available dedicated loopers (price, functions, number of parallel and series loops, ability to store loops, etc). Shop for a looper that meets your needs, read the manual and earn how to use it, practice with it, and you will always have a looper friend that always does what you want. You can use it with whatever amp sim or effects pedals you use in the future. Use the Helix looper to test presets; that's what its best used for...
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You can select where you put the In/Out block for the signal. Just put the In/Out path to your looper after all of your effects. Use 1/4" patch cables. You're good to go.
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Thanks for sharing that.....nice!
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Thanks, Silverhead, makes sense. I use a lot of odd tunings and custom Workbench-created guitars when songwriting/recording. For a given song being worked on, when a DAW project is loaded I just wish that Variax was set automatically to a known state, (along with the usual Helix Native preset/settings). The "pre-recorded" Variax guitar tone could then be committed "to tape" and used for subsequent Native tweaking. Yeah, I know Workbench is the software to use to manage the Variax presets, but I change those a lot and Workbench is a royal pain to wire up and use. Trying to remember which tuning and guitar preset is where based on the Variax knob labels and pickup selection is not much help. Or ... "where did I leave that piece of paper where I wrote down which Variax setting I was using on "The Crook Who Gave Me Covid"? I love the way Helix hardware stores Variax presets and settings, and still wish Native did the same.
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Wouldn't that be cool though? Maybe through the Ethercon/USB interface Workbench dongle thingy into the Variax? I wish it were so.
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Gain staging is a tricky thing. Its good to set your audio interface so it doesn't peak on what you expect to be the loudest part of your playing for a specific track. You can then tweak your Helix input so the levels are -6 dB or so going in. Despite that, you normally don't get "buzz" if your gain is set too low. If anything you might get some noise which might present as light static or hiss. A constant "buzz" seem more likely to be coming from hardware (guitar? computer? cabling? lighting? etc?) and its such a low level that you don't hear it until its amplified or compressed on the master track or via plug-in(s) on the track. Another thought. Does your guitar preset or track use a gate? When troubleshooting, change/vary one thing at a time (example: the guitar, cable, interface input, plug-in preset, track plug-in(s), compressor level, etc) and see what changes. You can often isolate the root cause in this manner.
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I'm not hearing anything offensive in either track. Perhaps my tinnitus is preventing my hearing buzz/static, so I can't really help identify it. Is it constant? Sporadic? If it only appears after significant gain or compression is added (on the master track, for example) it could be that it is already in the signal and is just getting boosted. If its bugging you, it can be challenging to find the source of these kinds of things, but I would use typical A/B troubleshooting to see if it might be guitar pickups, USB-related, line noise, AC interference (light fixtures for example). Use a guitar signal from another source (like a stock loop or sample) and see if you hear it.
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I gotta listen to this with better speakers or headphones. Will get back to ya with any thoughts....
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Lots of words here, and likely lots of subsequent discussion. But the quote above wraps it up for me. Thanks.
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A key question is, will you also want to record vocal or acoustic guitar tracks? If so, you'll need a decent audio interface with microphone inputs. They normally also contain a guitar input(s). If you only want to record electric guitar, your Helix LT can be used as your audio interface (as well as your amp modeler with effects for recording). That (and a DAW like Reaper) is really all you'll need. But .... I you think you'll be recording a lot with your DAW, having Helix Native as a plug-in (VST) in the DAW is very handy, and frees up your hardware unit for gigging or practicing. Its up to you if you want the extra expense of Helix Native, because the Helix LT can be used to give you electric guitar tracks that will sound identical to Helix Native.
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Keep us posted on how your pickup swap goes! That's probably the next experiment I'll try on my Standard.
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HX Native doesn't receive MIDI from host (Ableton 10)
soundog replied to huzzam's topic in Helix Native
This is an excellent post re: controlling Native via MIDI. Its Logic-specific, but the basics should apply to most DAWs.... -
Hmmm .... I wonder how much difference there can be between the Hipshot ($88) and the Allparts ($35) tuners. The Allparts I'm using fit perfectly in the Standard, they don't slip, are easy to tune, geared nicely, and accurate. What's the diff?
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Happily, the wifi connectivity requirement goes away after you buy a license. Its included with the price of admission, I suppose... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I hear ya on all of that. I don't like the direction Apple is heading. I'm basically investing in 5 year old machines (a 2015 MacBook Pro and the2015 iMac for studio) becauseI think that was the last good year and I like them better than the new ones. I was tempted by Studio One and tried it for a month, but turns out I'm so invested in knowing the ins and outs of Logic that I'm efficient and fast with it and learning a new DAW was frustrating (though Studio One was excellent). But I don't particularly like the 10.5 Logic update or the direction its taking. Or Catalina, for that matter. So .... I'm planning on using my stable set up to make music with what I have. Until a killer app comes along I may just sit here with my antiques and not worry about the updates. Bah, humbugger. Good luck to you...
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Stuff like that is maddening. Its odd that it seems to be HXN specific. Are you OK on RAM (and if that's a possibility, use Activity Monitor to watch what's happening when you launch). I suppose if it were me I would 1) use Activity Monitor to see if you are bumping up against any kind of CPU or RAM ceilings when loading the Logic project, 2) reinstall HXN, and/or 3) open a ticket with Line 6 and see if their database indicates others with similar systems are having similar problems, and if there is a known solution or planned update. Otherwise I'm plumb out of ideas right now. On a side note, when I was running my previous old Mac, which was coughing and choking on large Logic projects (I was constantly freezing tracks), I sometimes ran into mysterious plug-in problems and it was driving me nuts. I ended up updating my system (to the one I mentioned, which I bought used a couple of years ago) and lo and behold lots of oddities vanished. Not to say a system upgrade should be the solution to a problem, but sometimes it is...
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Here are the results: I Created a new Logic project with 30 mono audio tracks, each containing a HXN (mono to stereo) plug-in. No other plug-ins on the tracks. I'm using Logic 10.4.7 on Mojave 10.14.6. The time to open the project after Logic had already launched was 4.02 seconds. The time to launch Logic and load the project (double-clicking the project file while Logic was closed) was 15.14 seconds. Hope thats gives you useful info....
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First, I found 10.5 and 10.5.1 to be buggy. And .... I don't like/need the new features (they seem to be Ableton copies and targeted towards EDM). When I get a chance I'll check the load times of a project. Just with HXN on a track, or what would you like me to test? FYI, my system is a Late 2015 27” Retina 5K iMac, i7 4.0 GHz. Its tricked out with lots of RAM, a SSD internal for Logic and plug-ins, and fast external drives for virtual instruments and project files.
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Failed to Connect to DSP Engine. Error code 8201
soundog replied to muffinman0302's topic in Helix Native
Congratulations! You have the plague! -
Yes, its crazy expensive if you buy it on its own. If you need a good amp sim for lower cost, I highly recommend S-Gear.
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It shouldn't, although I have seen some plug-ins that phone home and require internet access which can be problematic. I think with HXN that once the plugin has been authorized, it should be OK after that. If you are seeing it load slow on other Macs, I must one of the fortunate ones...
