pressthe6 Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Hey all. In way over my head with Helix but since when was gear purchases practical? I'm going USB into PC using Audacity to record/mix. Monitoring through computer speakers or headphones. I understand the latency caused by the computer processing the info. I don't think I have the option (or knowledge) to monitor direct from my stock sound card which I hear does the trick. Trying to record a track while listening to other tracks is impossible due to the delay in hearing what I'm playing. Questions are: are all DAWs the same in this manner? No need to drop cash on a retail one? Or any other workarounds are welcome. The only thing I've come up with listening to my Helix speaker and computer playback at the same time. Definitely won't work for vocals! Thanks all. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Make sure Audacity is configured to use the Helix ASIO driver, not the default ASIO4ALL. Then connect your monitors/headphones to the Helix outputs and turn your software monitoring off. For recording vocals you will want to use headphones for monitoring. Otherwise the mic will pick up the backing tracks from the monitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Your audio interface, good software, and tested drivers are what allows the low latency to "listen" to tracks while you record another without pops or crackles or a complete crash. Using a decent host software can help as long as you have the machine to run it. Cubase 9, Logic X, Sonar (for PC), and even Pro Tools are worth the software ticket price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressthe6 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 Thanks guys. Will look into a retail DAW soon. In the meantime, I'll try to change to the Helix driver. Monitor from the Helix and hopefully hear everything from the PC in realtime. Love the community! Peace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm345 Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I record with Audacity thru the Helix. I monitor with headphones from the Helix and can record multiple tracks of guitar and mic with no discernible latency. I am hardly an expert with Audacity but it is working for me. My Interface Preferences show I am using MME as the Host with the Playback and Recording Devices set to Line 6. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lachdanan0121 Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Audacity barely has ASIO support, if you want to call it that, as it doesn't come in the default install. Unless that has changed recently. I would recommend a different DAW if you plan on doing any more than dabbling. "Reaper" if you are short on currency would be a better option. DAWs like "FL Studio," "Ableton," or "Studio One" if you have the currency would be even better. You would direct monitor through the Helix, and use it as your soundcard. This is what I do with FL Studio. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Connecting monitors to Helix when it is used as the interface gives you zero latency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triryche Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Aduacity does not support ASIO out of the box. You can check their wiki on how to compile it to support ASIO. I'll 2nd Lachdanan0121's Reaper recommendation. Demo is free, and dirt cheap for the power you get. They also have great documentation and forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressthe6 Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks again for all the advice. It really did come down to just changing my listening option in my DAW. It never dawned on me that using the Helix's PA speaker was an option. I guess I thought that running the sound into the computer and then back to the PA speaker would cause more latency, not eliminate it. And I'm messing around with Reaper and love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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