Using Helix's Sends To Route Backtracks

[ninolucarelli]

Does anyone know of a successful way to route the USB Channels to Helix's sends for backtrack use?

 

From ableton I'm trying to send click out 1, bass out 2, guitars/production out 3/4, and BG vocals out 5/6. I can't seem to get any of the routing to happen without manually creating a path on the second open chain in each patch. This only results in two active outputs.

 

Is it not possible to make this happen?

[Digital_Igloo]

You don't mention which paths are being used for realtime processing (if any), but the following lets you use Paths 1A and 1B for amps and effects while using 2A, 2B, and the USB In 1/2 pass-through for routing backing tracks:

1. Set Global Settings > Ins/Outs > USB In 1/2 Destination to 1/4". This is your secret "pass-through" routing that doesn't require a path.
2. In Ableton, pan your click hard left and your bass hard right. The Click will now come from 1/4" Left and the bass will come from 1/4" Right
3. Select 8 TEMPLATES > 04B Gtr+Vox+Bas+Keys. It has four stereo parallel paths—1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B.
4. Set the paths' Input and Output blocks as follows:
   • ​Path 1A—Input: Multi, Output: XLR (amps and effects)
   • Path 1B—If you want to use Path 1B for parallel processing, move the dark circular Split and Merge blocks up to connect 1A and 1B back together. If you don't need parallel processing, remove all blocks on 1B and the whole path'll disappear.
   • Path 2A—Input: USB 3/4, Output: Send 1/2 (Guitars/production)
   • Path 2B—Input: USB 5/6, Output: Send 3/4 (BG vocals)
5. Remove unneeded blocks from the template preset, but note that at least one block must exist on Path 2B; otherwise, it disappears

​OPTIONAL: Set Global Settings > Ins/Outs > Headphones Monitor to hear what's coming from either the 1/4" Outputs, XLR Outputs, or both (Multi).

 

EDIT: This was my favorite question yet, by the way. B)

[willis0511]

I used these instructions to set up nearly the same thing using Ableton and the Helix; unfortunately, however, I keep getting frequent audio "dips" and "dropouts." Do you know what could be causing this? 

[gunpointmetal]

You don't mention which paths are being used for realtime processing (if any), but the following lets you use Paths 1A and 1B for amps and effects while using 2A, 2B, and the USB In 1/2 pass-through for routing backing tracks:

1. Set Global Settings > Ins/Outs > USB In 1/2 Destination to 1/4". This is your secret "pass-through" routing that doesn't require a path.
2. In Ableton, pan your click hard left and your bass hard right. The Click will now come from 1/4" Left and the bass will come from 1/4" Right
3. Select 8 TEMPLATES > 04B Gtr+Vox+Bas+Keys. It has four stereo parallel paths—1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B.
4. Set the paths' Input and Output blocks as follows:
   • ​Path 1A—Input: Multi, Output: XLR (amps and effects)
   • Path 1B—If you want to use Path 1B for parallel processing, move the dark circular Split and Merge blocks up to connect 1A and 1B back together. If you don't need parallel processing, remove all blocks on 1B and the whole path'll disappear.
   • Path 2A—Input: USB 3/4, Output: Send 1/2 (Guitars/production)
   • Path 2B—Input: USB 5/6, Output: Send 3/4 (BG vocals)
5. Remove unneeded blocks from the template preset, but note that at least one block must exist on Path 2B; otherwise, it disappears

​OPTIONAL: Set Global Settings > Ins/Outs > Headphones Monitor to hear what's coming from either the 1/4" Outputs, XLR Outputs, or both (Multi).

 

EDIT: This was my favorite question yet, by the way. B)

So how 'bout some mixing sofware in the next Editor that lets us use the I/O like many other audio interfaces where we can assign each output i.e. - 1/2 are guitar, 3 is click, 4 is LFE, 5 is keys from separate tracks in a DAW...

[rolandro]

It is really complicated to set up HELIX to hear a click from the computer on the headphones (but no other output). We shouldn't be forced to waste one of the four DSP paths for something simple like that.

So please Line6, give us better routing possibilities in the global settings of HELIX.

There's already a good suggestion on ideascale:
https://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Add-USB-3-4-to-a-Headphones-Monitor-in-Global-Settings/958806-23508#idea-tab-comments

Everyone interested to see improvements, go ahead an vote up.