Newb questions about helix

[BrokenGravity]

Hello,

 

I recently found out about the Helix, I cannot wait to get it in the next month or two when I have saved up enough.  I will be upgrading from the Boss GT-8. 

 

Here is my questions:

 

1.  Currently I use my digital coax out into a internal sound card in my computer which allows me to record as well as simply output through my computer speakers without a DAW.  This sound card recently died and I really don't want to purchase another one if I don't have to.  I read that the helix can just USB into a computer.  Will this accomplish what my broken sound card did?

 

2.  I haven't seen much about the smart harmonizer on the helix.  Is it able to accomplish things like hotel california outro harmony and other key change harmonies?

 

 

[DunedinDragon]

Yes, the Helix can operate as a sound card for your computer.  However your computer speakers may not connect to the Helix depending on what they are.  Typically most people that do this (including myself) plug powered studio monitors into the two 1/4" L/R output jacks of the Helix, then just plug the Helix directly into the PC via the USB cable and everything works great.  If your computer speakers are the typical consumer computer speakers that use the small 3.5mm stereo plug output on the computer, there would be no place to plug them in on the Helix.

 

The dual harmony effect would be able to do things such as the outro on Hotel California.  You would have to specify the key and the scale type of the harmony to be used.  In the case of Hotel California the key doesn't change.  The chord progression changes but the key and scale remain the same.

[amsdenj]

Note that the dual harmony relies on you telling it what the key and scale mode is, it is not able to react to chords that shift the scale mode. For example, say you have a song like Back in the USSR, and you want to harmonize that relatively simple lead. That C chord is going to give you problems because it shifts the mode.

 

You need an intelligent harmonized to deal with these situations.

[amsdenj]

Actually you could use snapshots or a footswitch to change the key/scale mode if there were only a few in the song.

[BrokenGravity]

hey guys, thanks for the clarification on that harmonizer.  I thought it was smart, didn't realize it wasn't.  Still can't wait to try it out.

 

I use Logitech z5500 speakers, they are the typical 3.5, but they have 2 coax inputs.  Ultimately my goal is to have sound from my computer, while having the helix sound outputting at the same time.  It seems like I will need a new audio interface for this.  

 

Do you have a suggested cheaper solution to this?  

[Joepeggio]

I use Logitech z5500 speakers, they are the typical 3.5, but they have 2 coax inputs. Ultimately my goal is to have sound from my computer, while having the helix sound outputting at the same time. It seems like I will need a new audio interface for this.

 

Do you have a suggested cheaper solution to this?

Use 1/8 (3.5mm) to 1/4 adapter in headphone jack. Should work.

[Triryche]

 Ultimately my goal is to have sound from my computer, while having the helix sound outputting at the same time.  It seems like I will need a new audio interface for this.  

 

 

When you use the Helix as your interface, the computer sounds will go through the Helix also.

IMHO, you are better off using a good set of headphones to monitor your guitar playing until you can get upgrade you speakers.

[jbuhajla]

IMHO, you are better off using a good set of headphones to monitor your guitar playing until you can get upgrade you speakers.

Yep. The Logitech speakers are multimedia speakers and will color your sound quite a bit. They probably won't sound good at all actually. A decent set of monitoring headphones will help you out a lot. You can get some pretty decent ones for under $200. 

[Triryche]

Sony MDR 7506 can be had for under $100 and has served me well over the years, and you can get replacement parts, though I only ever had to replace the ear padding.

[BrokenGravity]

I have a pair of senheisser hd pro 280. What do you guys think of those?

 

I do plan on getting monitor speakers down the road... any suggestions ?

 

I was just hoping really play to a back track over my speakers for friends

[olivierJez]

To get back to your sound card question. As others have said, yes, the helix is basically a big soundcard, you don't need any monitors if you don't want. The helix will play in your computer as soon you select it as an input.

Using a headphone you can select in your computer the helix as output too if you want, so there is no need of input monitoring DAW, you ear the guitar all the time, and you get the sound from the computer too... just using USB

 

If you have monitors or simple speakers already, use them as output for your computer, the helix will pass through them in same time that your backing tracks.

 

I have a sound card i used for acoustic and vocal recording, it became obsolete with the helix, I can plug a mic in same time than an acoustic guitar, and even an other guitar if i wanted.

[BrokenGravity]

Thanks Olivier