FR A Helix similar to iTrack Dock but which can operate standalone as HELIX "Pod" using SHARC Chips

[d0stenning]

A suggestion for a new HELIX form factor: something like the Focusrite iTrack Dock but with internal SHARC chips so it can operate independently of iPad as a "HELIX Pod" as well as acting as an iPad/Guitar/Mic/USB interface and charger for an iPad when using an iPad. This would also relieve the iPad from DSP burdens so the iPad could be used better for other tasks such as DAW/Synths/effects etc etc.

 

https://line6.ideascale.com/a/idea-v2/898750

I recently got a Focusrite iTrack Dock. Been playing around with Bias FX along with Group The Loop etc. The iTrack works beautifully. Bias FX - good tones but no HELIX.
I bought the dock because chances are ill mostly be using an iPad in live situations and wanted a way to lug minimum gear to open mics/jams etc instead of always lugging (or risking) the HELIX and tons of related gear. 

There are so many situations these days where an iPad might be used in live or home music situations. And being able to operate as interface to an iPad - control HELIX sounds from an iPad app - yet not place any DSP processing burden on the iPad CPU - would be really useful. The unit could be easily lugged to studios for session work, used in combination with iPad apps for added processing or looping or some other creative scheme. 

Win Win. 
So of course I made an IdeaScale for this.

 

 

 

[FlyingsCool]

Isn't this what Helix Native on a MacBook in perhaps combination with some sort of load simulating input device could do?  Use the iPad for controlling Native on the MacBook and whatever else you do with the iPad....

[amsdenj]

I'm not sure the hybrid approach of audio interface with DSP and mobile device is the way to go. That would essentially repeat the history of computer audio interfaces in the past. The Yamaha DS2416 was an audio interface with DSP for effects. In its day it was useful because it offloaded expensive effects processing from slow computers so that DAWs could handle more tracks.

 

But that's the past. A multi-core laptop today has more than enough power to process all these tracks and plugins. There's no need to offload the processing into hardware anymore. For example, my band rehearses using a Focuswrite 8 channel interface into a MacBook Pro running Logic Pro X - the whole band. Two electric guitars, both using a combination of Logic's pedalboard and S-Gear, bass using Kassa bass amp, three MIDI keyboards (Hammond organ/Leslie, Piano, Sampler, etc.) and Logic's Drummer driven by Roland MIDI drums (not using audio from the Roland drum controller, just MIDI), and 5 vocals. All the tracks have compression, EQ and other plugins as needed. There's no latency and we can record at the press of a button.

 

Now an iPad isn't a MacBook Pro, but that's a pretty capable processor too, and only getting faster. The flexibility of software choice, price and update capability is compelling over the rigidity of a hardware or hybrid based solution.

 

If you aren't that excited about Bias-FX, give Yonac TonePort a try. I'm finding I like it a bit better than Bias-FX in some ways. For example, the Bias-FX UniVibe is unusable. But the one in TonePort rivals Helix in its quality. As we know, this is a hard effect to get right, and indicates an underlying development capability of those who do get it right. TonePort also has multi-channel amps which provide a lot of flexibility for building patches.

[PeterHamm]

Helix Native is the solution they are going for, and it's a good one.

 

I, however, think a bean would be cool. But not enough people buy them, as demonstrated by the blow-out on the HD bean.

[d0stenning]

I'm not sure the hybrid approach of audio interface with DSP and mobile device is the way to go. That would essentially repeat the history of computer audio interfaces in the past. The Yamaha DS2416 was an audio interface with DSP for effects. In its day it was useful because it offloaded expensive effects processing from slow computers so that DAWs could handle more tracks.

 

.........A multi-core laptop today has more than enough power to process all these tracks and plugins. There's no need to offload the processing into hardware anymore. For example, my band rehearses using a Focuswrite 8 channel interface into a MacBook Pro running Logic Pro X - the whole band.

 

 

I really don't want to take my expensive and vital for work macbook to venues unless i really need it ( for Ableton ) 

The device I propose has the advantage that it can not only be used with a much cheaper and portable computer - an iPad - but could also be used without the iPad by itself. 

But also because of the DSP - it could be used with a much cheaper iPad - maybe even an iPad 2 because one major DSP task has been relieved of the iPad. 

In addition there would be ZERO issues with latency - whether monitoring during recording - or just in live performance as we get with the HELIX. 

Regardless of whether L6 ever did produce a unit like i suggest I could really benefit from owning a second HELIX - but one much much more compact, limited in features - and of course cheaper  than the LT - which isn't compact and only costs around 25% less than the original HELIX.

 

I would have a hard time ever thinking that HELIX Native running inside a laptop ( with of course some kind of interface box plugged into the laptop ) would be - for me - a satisfactory, stable and reliable solution for playing electric guitar in a live situation.   Too many gremlins.  Studio recording ? fine. But for me - not live. 

[PeterHamm]

I would have a hard time ever thinking that HELIX Native running inside a laptop ( with of course some kind of interface box plugged into the laptop ) would be - for me - a satisfactory, stable and reliable solution for playing electric guitar in a live situation.   Too many gremlins.  Studio recording ? fine. But for me - not live. 

 

 

Dude. SO MUCH YES! As someone who has experimented on and off with using computers in live music since the late 80s... (I had a Mac Plus on stage for patch changes and tracks in the late 80s)... I'm all done with that crap. That's why I love Helix.

 

That said, I think that perhaps Helix Native and a cheap midi controller and audio input device on my Mac might make a decent backup rig in 2017... But I don't need a backup rig these days.

[d0stenning]

I........ think a bean would be cool. But not enough people buy them, as demonstrated by the blow-out on the HD bean.

 

Thats interesting to know. Maybe more reason to come out with something more special and with added value - namely my "HELIX Dock"  

 

iOS music making gets more and more capable every year - some amazing apps and truly amazing and fun synths.  I wouldn't myself use it as a DAW at all. Don't think the iPads are good for in depth midi/audio editing.   But used in live improv or performance situations similar to something like or even better than the Ableton SESSION page - to trigger clips and scenes etc.. yes. Fine for that.  They add so much value. 

 

Plus we now have loads of interesting  ABLETON LINK enabled iOS apps like Gadget, Patterning, LumBeat .... and GROUP THE LOOP and other iOS loopers  far more powerful than any pedal. 

 

In fact these days i'd say all the new ideas for live performance - including worship - are happening in iOS land not on laptops. 

 

More reason for a HELIX Dock :)

[amsdenj]

I would have agreed a year two ago that Laptops and live gigs have risks. But our band is using an X32-Core with an old MacBook Pro to run our PA. Not one problem in a year. That's my backup for Helix - I can plug directly into a High-Z input of an SD16 and immediately use a channel in the X32-Core that is patched into Logic Pro X running in the Laptop with S-Gear. It sounds so good I'm tempted to use it all the time. S-Gear is magic.

 

But it took some time, study and skills to set all that up to make it reliable. Its a lot easier with Helix to pretty much plug and play.

 

The biggest improvement over past setups is the X32-Core and the SD16's. These are gig hardened devices. The computer just connects to the X32-Core with USB, That's reliable enough. There's no USB cables on the floor to trip on. That's the biggest issue with laptop setups - lack of gig hardened devices, connectors and cables.