New helix user - outputs and routing

[mac_mac]

Hi, I'm new to the helix and have a couple of questions. If anyone could help, it'd be really appreciated.

 

I have a mac and a UAD Apollo twin. What's the usual way of routing the helix with this kind of setup - from helix direct into the mac, or into the apollo?

 

Is there any audible or performance differences in using the USB vs the audio outs of the helix?

 

Cheers :)

 

 

 

[klangmaler]

Guess this depends on your workflow and habits...

Remember that Helix can work as an audio-interface (so Apollo would be obsolete then).

[jbuhajla]

Direct to Mac via USB. Sound quality can't be beat, and zero latency. 

[mac_mac]

Guess this depends on your workflow and habits...

Remember that Helix can work as an audio-interface (so Apollo would be obsolete then).

 

I use a lot of vsts, so latency values are important to me. From what I've read the latency of the helix isnt great in that regard so the apollo still plays an important role.

[mac_mac]

Direct to Mac via USB. Sound quality can't be beat, and zero latency. 

 

If I used the usb out, wouldn't that be the same as using the native plugin, so missing out on the 'magic' of the D/A conversion in the helix / apollo?

[datacommando]

Hi, I'm new to the helix and have a couple of questions. If anyone could help, it'd be really appreciated.

 

I have a mac and a UAD Apollo twin. What's the usual way of routing the helix with this kind of setup - from helix direct into the mac, or into the apollo?

 

Is there any audible or performance differences in using the USB vs the audio outs of the helix?

 

Cheers :)

Hi there mac_mac,

It kinda looks like you have already decided the way you want to work with the Helix.

Seems that you need your Apollo Twin for running all your plugins.

As for audio performance, and or differences, you are in the best position to evaluate the set up.

Simply plug them in and analyse the results.

There are no rules.

Only you can judge.

Have fun, but let us know how it works out for you! 😃

[mac_mac]

Hi there mac_mac,

It kinda looks like you have already decided the way you want to work with the Helix.

Seems that you need your Apollo Twin for running all your plugins.

As for audio performance, and or differences, you are in the best position to evaluate the set up.

Simply plug them in and analyse the results.

There are no rules.

Only you can judge.

Have fun, but let us know how it works out for you!

 

I've decided in as much as I'll definitely need the apollo, sure! I'd still be interested to hear peoples thoughts on usb vs analog output though.

[datacommando]

I've decided in as much as I'll definitely need the apollo, sure! I'd still be interested to hear peoples thoughts on usb vs analog output though.

 

Yep! I can see why you would need the UAD Apollo for your VST stuff, that would make sense.

What I don't understand is what you mean by "USB vs Analog output"? I'm very confused by that statement.

Basically, Helix is a digital processor, so everything is in the digital realm until the output hits the speakers. That's when the electrical energy is converted to vibrations in the air (analog audio). USB from Helix passes the digital signal (strings of zeros and ones) along to a DAW (or whatever) and it can be modified by some other effects (VST, AU, etc.) that is then sent out from the computer to your speakers to become audio. Or, the modified digital stuff is sent back to Helix which will squirt it out of the headphones, XLRs or 1/4 inch sockets to rattle the paper cones of your monitors and create analog audio sound waves.

See why I'm confused?

Essentially the whole thing is digital until the sound waves arrive in your ears.

That may be somewhat over simplified but, that's what it is.

Apologies, if have misconstrued what you were trying to convey, it came across as a bit weird to me.

Well, that's my thought on it.

[mac_mac]

Yep! I can see why you would need the UAD Apollo for your VST stuff, that would make sense.

What I don't understand is what you mean by "USB vs Analog output"? I'm very confused by that statement.

Basically, Helix is a digital processor, so everything is in the digital realm until the output hits the speakers. That's when the electrical energy is converted to vibrations in the air (analog audio). USB from Helix passes the digital signal (strings of zeros and ones) along to a DAW (or whatever) and it can be modified by some other effects (VST, AU, etc.) that is then sent out from the computer to your speakers to become audio. Or, the modified digital stuff is sent back to Helix which will squirt it out of the headphones, XLRs or 1/4 inch sockets to rattle the paper cones of your monitors and create analog audio sound waves.

See why I'm confused?

Essentially the whole thing is digital until the sound waves arrive in your ears.

That may be somewhat over simplified but, that's what it is.

Apologies, if have misconstrued what you were trying to convey, it came across as a bit weird to me.

Well, that's my thought on it.

 

Lets take a hardware synth for example, The Virus. You can run that straight into the computer via usb, or you can take the analog outputs, run them into an audio device and run that into the computer. A heck of a lot of users prefer running into an audio device over connection via usb - the theory being that the virus analog outs add a touch of 'something' to the sound due to its D/A conversion at that stage. Obviously a lot of it depends on the audio device you're running into too.

[datacommando]

Lets take a hardware synth for example, The Virus. You can run that straight into the computer via usb, or you can take the analog outputs, run them into an audio device and run that into the computer. A heck of a lot of users prefer running into an audio device over connection via usb - the theory being that the virus analog outs add a touch of 'something' to the sound due to its D/A conversion at that stage. Obviously a lot of it depends on the audio device you're running into too.

 

Ok, I see where you're coming from now.

Well, my take on it, is this. If you run analog out of Helix and into another digital unit then you have gone through a couple stages of chopping the signal, i.e.: from D to A then back to D. My reasoning would be - why would you want to do that?

Back in the day, swapping D/A signals back and forth, more than likely would, cause signal degradation and introduce unwanted noise. That was the point - keep the signal clean - although maybe a certain subtle noise is the special "something" that the Virus synth has got. I've never tried doing that with a synth, simply because of noise. Now maybe guys who do the circuit bending stuff think adding noise, or whatever, is cool? Personally, I would give it a swerve, but, hey! I wouldn't go to the trouble of sticking a digital signal through some choppy D/A convertor when you can stick it through one of the many Helix fuzzbox models but, I guess that's just me and the chips inside modern interfaces are far superior and do have some kind of "magic sauce" in them.

[jbuhajla]

If I used the usb out, wouldn't that be the same as using the native plugin, so missing out on the 'magic' of the D/A conversion in the helix / apollo?

No. The magic is using the guitar input on the Helix itself (A/D). The magic is not in the D/A after the fact. Connect your monitors to the Helix and run USB to your Mac/PC. When you are laying down a track in your DAW, mute that track so you don't get weird latency/time phasing. Helix is your interface, you don't NEED a third party interface. You certainly can use the third party interface and connect Helix to is via XLR if you want though.