How do I.. (Beat Buddy + Helix to ProTools)

[ColonelForbin]

Trying to record jams with Helix and BeatBuddy, but have them each on their own tracks in ProTools.

 

Helix part is easy; USB7 for dry guitar, USB 1/2 for Helix tones.

 

How can I route the Beat Buddy into Helix, so it gets monitored to the Helix hardware audio outputs, but not sent to USB 1/2, instead send (mono) to USB 3 or something?

 

Currently using L6Link out of Helix to L3m, but that can be whatever if it makes this work!

 

Messing with send/return blocks, trying different splits and such, haven't got it figured out yet.

 

Thanks!

[ColonelForbin]

Ok; here's my work around, got it going for now - would still like to make this happen with just Helix if possible?

 

I just grabbed a passive direct box. Sent the Beat Buddy 1/4" to the DI, then 1/4" from the DI to the Helix return #3.

Also sent the XLR from the DI to the Helix mic in. Had to turn up the mic input gain to about +12; (not monitoring the mic input signal to the L6 link)

 

Here's why that works. I took a regular Helix patch, and added return #3 at the end of the signal chain, and dragged it down to a split, then dragged the output down to it's own out, and made that digital AES, since that is the output I am using.

 

Made sure USB 8 is still assigned to the dry mic signal, and recorded that into Pro Tools using USB 8, while monitoring the Beat Buddy to the speaker system on that last split output path. Kinda cool, lets me turn up or down the drum machine pedal send to the L6Link (to the speakers) out without doing anything to the recording level. Might even set up an expression pedal to control some sort of min/max to make the BeatBuddy drums more fluid in the monitor mix since the record send is tapped off prior to that point with the DI going to mic input.

 

Idea was to avoid doing any kind of software monitoring, latency and all that horrible stuff! This way everything going to the speaker has the same latency, and minimal from pick attack to sound. Routing the monitoring through Pro Tools adds just a little lag; just enough to make you crazy.

 

Overall, this is what I'd like to do. Route return 3 to the line6 link output and to USB 3, but not to 'multi' so it doesn't get sent to USB 1/2.

I'd like to be able to assign any input to the 'dedicated' USB 7 or 8. Is that an option for any of the other USB outs? Seems like I am missing some really simple step here!! Like, assign return 3 to USB 3?...

 

I think this might be another RTFM moment.. :)

 

Until then, using the DI box. Thanks! Jam on.

[bsd512]

Could you create a separate path like path 2B, set the input to Return 1/2, feed the Beat Buddy stereo out into those, set the output of Path 2B to USB 3/4.  For monitoring, you could then monitor from the DAW?  That way USB 1/2 would be your processed guitar, USB 7/8 would by your dry guitar, and USB 3/4 would be your Beat buddy.  Your DAW would collapse those into a single stereo channel for monitoring but each would go to a separate track.

 

That would also let you add a little reverb or whatever depending on the situation for your drum track, too.

[ColonelForbin]

Could you create a separate path like path 2B, set the input to Return 1/2, feed the Beat Buddy stereo out into those, set the output of Path 2B to USB 3/4.  For monitoring, you could then monitor from the DAW?  That way USB 1/2 would be your processed guitar, USB 7/8 would by your dry guitar, and USB 3/4 would be your Beat buddy.  Your DAW would collapse those into a single stereo channel for monitoring but each would go to a separate track.

 

That would also let you add a little reverb or whatever depending on the situation for your drum track, too.

 

I should have been more specific; I have the BeatBuddy 'mini' or whatever it's called; just seems to have single mono out.

 

I was going to ask the question, on Helix how do I make a 2B path that has AUX as the input and Digital/AES as the output?

Because then I can assign AUX to USB 8 and still hardware monitor it, while also recording it direct.

 

I guess I had a different understanding from reality of how the Helix can assign in and out to audio outs while also sending signal to USB out. At the moment, it doesn't for example let you assign return#3 to USB8 (or to be more specific, I don't know how to do that! it *might* be possible, and I'd love to be wrong!)

 

Not sure what this would involve in terms of firmware, but It would be nice to be able to assign any input to any USB output independent of any other output assignment. Similar to how the dry guitar is set to USB 7 and the dry mic input to USB 8 - I would like a screen where you can just assign any input to any of the USB ouputs. I realize there are likely some limits on the fact it probably sees them as 'pairs', so in reality I am assigning return #3 to USB 3/4. Would be nice to be able to split them out as mono assignments, IE, return#3 = USB3 and so forth.

 

I think I will try your 2B idea tonight after work! It seems like that I got part way there with the split dragging the return #3 to the 2B path, but it is still feeding from the end of the main 2A input path, coming from path 1. I think I am in need of knowing how to make an entirely discrete path 2B for the BeatBuddy, then should be good to go without using the DI. Sounds like I need to RTFM!!!!!!!!!!!! (again) 

 

thanks! :)

[bsd512]

 

I think I will try your 2B idea tonight after work! It seems like that I got part way there with the split dragging the return #3 to the 2B path, but it is still feeding from the end of the main 2A input path, coming from path 1. I think I am in need of knowing how to make an entirely discrete path 2B for the BeatBuddy, then should be good to go without using the DI. Sounds like I need to RTFM!!!!!!!!!!!! (again) 

 

thanks! :)

 

No problem!

 

I've attached a screen shot of something similar - to create a separate input for path 2B, create a block on 2A and drag it to 2B.  If you pull the split-point down to 2B, that should create a separate input to 2B as shown.  Then selectthe input point, and then rotate the selector to be the input you want.  In the case above, I'm using Return 1.

 

And in the case above, I have the merge going out the normal multi-out.  But to separate that, select the far right merge-point, and drag it down to 2B also, and that should create and entirely separate 2B path with its own input section and output section.  Then select which output you want it to go to at the far right.

 

So the attachment isn't exactly what you want, but it's very close - just a few tweaks and it should get you close to what you want.

[ColonelForbin]

Thanks again, worked perfectly!

 

I figured out that action button move the split down, way cool.

 

Used the AUX in for the mono BeatBuddy output, which allows me to assign AUX to USB 8 while also sending path 2B to L6link.

 

Cheers!

[bsd512]

Excellent!  The routing on the Helix has been extremely well thought out.

 

You mentioned in your first post you are using L6 link to an L3M.

 

I am sooooo close to pulling the trigger on a pair of L3T's it's not funny.  I don't plan to need to move them around too much, so that's why I'm leaning toward L3's instead of L2's but I'm sure L2's would be adequate but from the prices I've seen, L2's and L3s are basically the same price or so close that the difference is not significant.  And I was thinking the L3's would have a little better low end with the extra 10" speaker and crossover for stuff like bass and drums and synth.

 

Are you liking the L3M?  Are you feeding it exclusively using L6 link?  Any issues?  Still sound decent at lower volumes as well?

 

I'm wanting the pair for stereo.