Helix 4CM Recording with Loadbox

[jastylr139]

Hey there everyone,

 

I recently switched to using my Helix in 4 Cable Method for effects only with my EVH 5150 III and I'm loving it. Played a live gig recently and couldn't have been happier.

 

I now would like to start doing some recording but continue using the tone directly from my EVH rather than any amp sims. I would also like to use impulse responses as well so that I don't have to mic my speaker cabinet and can record silently in my condo. I'm sure a lot of people would tell me to just mic the cab and be done with it but I don't see this as an option given the noise issue.

 

I just purchased a Two Notes Torpedo Reload box which acts as an attenuator, loadbox and re-amping device all in one. I'm just trying to understand the best way to hook everything up so that I'm still using the Helix effects along with my EVH head and the Reload box? I originally was thinking that everything would remain connected the same as far as the 4CM connections and that I would connect the Speaker Out of my EVH to the Reload and take the line level output of the Reload into my interface to my DAW with Impulse Responses loaded on the tracks.

 

I've seen other posts where people talked about taking the output of the loadbox back into the Helix where you could then use IRs from within Helix itself. Right now, the Send on the back of the EVH amp goes into the Return on the Helix so I guess instead this would come from the Reload loadbox output into the Return of the Helix in this scenario?

 

Could someone give me their opinion on how to best use my Helix in 4CM with my EVH to record using the Reload? I guess in the end it doesn't matter if I use IRs in the Helix since I don't use them live anyway so having a IR block in my presets would be useless otherwise and I can simply add an IR to a track in my DAW just as easily.

 

Any input would be appreciated!

[mfalkler]

When I record my amp, I use the helix as my interface.  That way, once the amp is loaded down, I just disconnect the speaker cab and run everything else as normal.  I just record that output over USB and add the IR usually in my DAW. 

 

Since it sounds like you're using a different interface, the plan you laid out sounds right - line out from the torpedo into your interface and then IRs added in your DAW.

 

There is a little bit of a tradeoff - adding the IR in your DAW will add some latency when you're monitoring, but it will give you the flexibility to tweak the IR however you like after the fact. 

[jastylr139]

Thanks so much for the info! That actually sounds like the way to go.

 

I'm not set on using any particular interface and would gladly use the Helix as my interface. I didn't even think about it to be honest. I just happen to have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 but eliminating an extra piece of hardware sounds fine to me.

 

So with the method you described, would I simply keep my existing 4CM setup but instead of outputting sound to the speaker cab, I would just load the speaker output down with the Reload box and everything else stays the same?

 

In my current 4CM configuration, the 1/4" Output routes back to my amp head's FX Return Loop and eventually out to the cab (or my Reload box now in this case). So I assume that same signal coming out of the 1/4" Output is also coming out on the USB port? Would I need to make any other configuration changes in the Helix itself or is the signal ready to go and I simply add my IR in the DAW once I have a track setup to monitor the incoming signal?

 

Thanks again for the help!

[mfalkler]

If you have your output block on the helix set to "multi," it will automatically route that signal to USB outs 1 and 2 as a stereo pair.So you shouldn't have to change anything. If your output is set to 1/4 inch, you'd need to switch it to multi or USB.

 

It's a great setup. I've got my regular 4 cable helix/amp/cab rig together, but if I want to record silently, I just unplug them speaker thru from my load box and I'm all ready to go

[jastylr139]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the advice, I'm looking forward to trying it out.

[mfalkler]

Let me know how it works for you!