Help me decide on a Helix, please...

[agentprinting]

Hi, first timer here.

 

I'm on the fence on the Helix, so I'm hoping some of you can give me some advice.  My current setup is an Eleven Rack with a GT-100 in the effects loop running into a Focusrite Clarrett.  I recently bought both the Clarrett and GT-100 and can return both.  My thought is I can simplify my recording rig by just using the Helix.  So my questions are:

 

1) Are you guys having success recording direct with the Helix?  I have tried with the Eleven Rack and it worked fine, but I liked using an interface better.

 

2) I still have a Scarlett 6i6 and was thinking I could record direct-in with the helix and monitor with the Scarlett via the DAW.

 

3) Can anyone give me an opinion of the Helix vs Eleven Rack regarding the Amp modeling?  I do clean Ambient stuff and a little harder alternative style (and a little Hendrix, blues, etc for fun)

 

4) Last question - Actual effects on Helix compared to GT-100?  It sounds like the Helix wins here, but it's hard to tell on youtube sometimes.

 

Thanks in advance for the help.  I think I'm sold on the Helix, but I just don't want to hassle with yet another return, and figured some of you guys would have had similar choices/questions.

[duncann]

1) Yes. It's simple and there's no clutter.

 

2) Another interface would be redundant. Helix has 8 inputs and outputs via USB. Monitoring can be done directly from Helix's array of outputs. But there's nothing preventing you from using another interface either.

 

3 & 4) I can't say anything about Eleven Rack or the GT-100. But Helix can do quite well with cleans, ambients, and both at the same time. As far as core tones, anything you can imagine, Helix can likely duplicate, and easily too. However, currently, Helix does lack some effects in the filter category. It does have a couple of autowahs, another filter similar to an autowah, and a 3 OSC synth. It also currently lacks an auto-volume. The rest of the effects categories are pretty well covered.

 

There have been rumors on some forums of some really nice stuff coming next year sometime in an update. By stuff, I would take that to mean more than just added effects and amps, but functional additions.

[hideout]

Just me, but unless you never take the Helix out of the studio, I personally would keep the Clarrett.  Yes, the Helix can act as the sole audio interface for your DAW but I feel that having a dedicated discrete interface has its advantages - one of which is easy access to oft used controls.  There's also the distinct possibility that the Clarrett might offer better sounding audio output. I'd have a listen to material you're very familiar with and compare the two.

[Dshow]

Hi, first timer here.

 

I'm on the fence on the Helix, so I'm hoping some of you can give me some advice.  My current setup is an Eleven Rack with a GT-100 in the effects loop running into a Focusrite Clarrett.  I recently bought both the Clarrett and GT-100 and can return both.  My thought is I can simplify my recording rig by just using the Helix.  So my questions are:

 

1) Are you guys having success recording direct with the Helix?  I have tried with the Eleven Rack and it worked fine, but I liked using an interface better.

 

2) I still have a Scarlett 6i6 and was thinking I could record direct-in with the helix and monitor with the Scarlett via the DAW.

 

3) Can anyone give me an opinion of the Helix vs Eleven Rack regarding the Amp modeling?  I do clean Ambient stuff and a little harder alternative style (and a little Hendrix, blues, etc for fun)

 

4) Last question - Actual effects on Helix compared to GT-100?  It sounds like the Helix wins here, but it's hard to tell on youtube sometimes.

 

Thanks in advance for the help.  I think I'm sold on the Helix, but I just don't want to hassle with yet another return, and figured some of you guys would have had similar choices/questions.

1) One of the reason I decided to upgrad from Hd500 was the recording options with reamping ...

2) I agree with duncann here. Althoug it works very well using another interface (I have the Fousrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd generation).

3) Another world in my opinion but I only had Eleven Rack for about 2 weeks or so. I still had the HD500 back then and even prefered the sound of that. Helix is a few step above regarding sound and feel.

4) Can't tell because I never owned a GT-100 but I'm pretty sure Helix wins here too.

[billlorentzen]

You could certainly use helix as your single audio interface. I've found the challenge is to adjust to it conceptually, but it can prolly do most, if not all, of what you may need. For sure, you're going to like the amp sounds.

I haven't done a comparison of converters vs my audio interface, and although I am an experienced audio engineer, I also know after 40 years as a working musician, my ears are no longer trustworthy for full frequency shootouts, but I can say I don't hear anything faulty about the helix converters.

[hideout]

Oh, as a longtime Boss GT-x user and even though admittedly I've not spent a lot of time with a GT-100, my impression is that the level of audible detail and amp feel that the Helix offers is not within the Boss GT's reach. Those pedals only marginally improved over their previous models and most of the improvements were to the interface and added features. I've owned every GT-x pedal from the GT-5 through to the GT-8. I didn't buy the 10 or the 100 because to me, they didn't improve much sonically. They just had newer features and "better" interfaces.

[soundog]

Re 2) --- if you can get close to latency-free monitoring from your DAW, you're fine without separate interface monitoring. I like need zero latency, so monitor Helix through my Apogee Duet for tracking while listening to other recorded DAW tracks. Having both the Helix and your Scarlett will give you plenty of flexibility.

[PeterHamm]

1. Yes, recording with the helix is such a joy that my Ultralite Mk 3 is on the selling block. Want it?

 

2. Yes, you can. That will work well. But if you monitor through Helix and turn off monitoring in your DAW while you record, you have true zero latency monitoring.

 

3. Never used Eleven Rack, but Helix's monitoring is just unbelievably great.

 

4. LOVE the FX in Helix. Love love love them, but haven't compared these two.

[spikey]

To me the Eleven Rack (Pro Tools exclusive Interface) sounded good, and I loved the Fenderish tones in it. But Helix is just miles ahead on flexibility of hookup, and on many patches tone wise. And u can switch between interfaces in most DAWs with a click or two of the mouse. So if you are running Pro Tools you can use other Audio interfaces (Like Helix, MOTU,Apollo, etc), but the Eleven Rack drivers for its audio Interface will only work with Pro Tools. I plan on using them both (for audio / guitar tones) as needed. You will like Helix if you decide to get it, as most do.. 

[agentprinting]

Thanks for the responses, I'm pretty much sold!  One more question... When using the Helix as your interface, how do you set input levels (I'm referring the aux inputs)?

[DunedinDragon]

Thanks for the responses, I'm pretty much sold!  One more question... When using the Helix as your interface, how do you set input levels (I'm referring the aux inputs)?

 

I'm not really sure what you're asking here.

 

When using the Helix as the recording interface I simply plug it into the PC with the DAW via USB and as long as you have the ASIO driver configured you get a good, decent signal at the DAW on the various USB channels as described in the documenation.  The USB level can be adjusted on the Helix, but I've never found the need to do so.

 

There's only one Aux input on the Helix which is typically used for active pickup equipped guitars or bass and controlled as part of the Helix signal chain..But since you referred to inputs (plural)  I'm not sure what you are talking about.

[agentprinting]

It was my understanding that the return/sends can also be used as recording inputs.  So, in my case, I will use the guitar input for recording electric guitar and bass.  But I would like to record acoustic also, and I like to use a 2 mic setup.  I run those through a preamp and then I run the 2 lines into my interface.  I set levels at the preamp, but I usually have control at the interface too.  So that what I was referring to, if the Helix has trim control on those other inputs (send return)  If not, I can work around it.

[EvilPhish]

To me the Eleven Rack (Pro Tools exclusive Interface)...

 

...the Eleven Rack drivers for its audio Interface will only work with Pro Tools.

 

These things aren't true in the slightest.

 

Not that I'm arguing in favor of the 11R over the Helix (a friend just sold his 11R to fund his Helix, in fact) but the 11R is by no means an Avid-only interface.

[spikey]

These things aren't true in the slightest.

 

Not that I'm arguing in favor of the 11R over the Helix (a friend just sold his 11R to fund his Helix, in fact) but the 11R is by no means an Avid-only interface.

 

http://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/using-avids-eleven-rack-with-asio-compatible-programs

 

I stand corrected. Please forgive as I always just assumed this was the case.

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[EvilPhish]

Nothing to forgive!

Have a Merry Christmas too. :)

[agentprinting]

Just bought the Rack version and it will be here Saturday.  I'll update with my findings incase anyone is curious and in a similar situation!

[MusicLaw]

It was my understanding that the return/sends can also be used as recording inputs.  So, in my case, I will use the guitar input for recording electric guitar and bass.  But I would like to record acoustic also, and I like to use a 2 mic setup.  I run those through a preamp and then I run the 2 lines into my interface.  I set levels at the preamp, but I usually have control at the interface too.  So that what I was referring to, if the Helix has trim control on those other inputs (send return)  If not, I can work around it.

In Helix's Global I/O Settings you may set the individual I/O to Line Level or Instrument Level, as you desire. If I recollect correctly (I'm not in front of the Helix at the moment), each FX Return Block has it's own Level adjustment parameter. This will be visible and accessable above the rightmost parameter knob when you select each FX Return Block.

[agentprinting]

Well, Santa came early in his Fedex Truck and I'm the proud owner of a Helix Rack.  I have to say, it exceeds my expectations.  So clean and brilliant sounding.  The effects absolutely blow the gt-100 out of the water and the amp models are leaps and bounds better than the 11r.  As for using it as a full on USB recording interface, I'm not sure.  I get such a great sound recording the acoustic through the Clarett (using the "Air" function) I think I'm keeping the Clarett as my main interface for ins and outs for everything else and will record the Helix direct via USB.  If you're reading this and on the fence about the Helix, just buy it!

[shanecgriffo]

yes, i'd keep that existing device for acoustic , for me the helix doesn't do acoustic so well.. but for the electric yes it is a winner 😉

[PeterHamm]

yes, i'd keep that existing device for acoustic , for me the helix doesn't do acoustic so well.. but for the electric yes it is a winner

 

 

if you HAVE to record acoustic direct, with the IR capability on Helix (although you SHOULD use a real mic on acoustic, and Helix is a GREAT interface for a mic), it's a total winner. I no longer use my acoustic preamps and processing and have sold most of that stuff.

 

Here's acoustic and electric at the same time.

 

[MusicLaw]

Very Nice! And, suits the Holidays' soundscape!

[zooey]

Yes, very nice :)