4CM with computer usb1/2 output

[drizztdourden_]

Hi,

 

I've been messing for two days trying to get the usb output from my computer to work at the same time as my 4CM setup.

 

I have an EVH5150 6L6 in 4CM. I can control the output volume and gain on the amp and get the Helix effects and everything works properly. However, I want to jam along youtube, spotify, Guitar Pro or my Daw but I can't get the sound out if I'm in 4CM.

 

If i hit the effects switch of the EVH, it works but I have no more guitar output. And if its off, then I get my guitar back. I want both.

 

Is there any way yo achieve that?

 

Regards,

[rd2rk]

It sounds like you don't have 4cm wired correctly.

Guitar>HX Input>Pre Amp FX (dist,etc)>FX Loop Block>HX Send>Amp Input>Amp FX Send> HX Return>Post Amp FX (delay,etc)>HX 1/4" L/MONO Out>Amp FX Return

 

Global Settings Ins/Outs>USB Input 1/2 Destination= Wherever your Monitors are connected. With 4cm that's usually XLR.

Set your Computer's soundcard to Helix for Spotify/YT.

If you're playing with your DAW be sure to turn OFF the Track Monitor function on the Helix Track.

 

[drizztdourden_]

The destination of usb is set to multi. I am not using XLR as I am using my EVH for the output so its going through 1/4.

 

I am setup like this:

Guitar>HX Input

HX Send 1>EVH Input

EVH Send>HX Return 1

HX 1/4 out>EVH Return

 

In my preset, I set the send/return 1 at the end and it plays fine.

 

Not sure i get everything in the setup you're suggesting. Let's just say i Don't have any pedal and i will setup everything tone wise in the helix.

[rd2rk]

Attached is a sample preset.

Global Settings Ins/Outs>USB Input 1/2 Destination=Multi or 1/4" - works for DAW and Streaming (Spotify,YT,Media Player etc).

Set your Computer's soundcard to Helix for Spotify/YT, Media Player etc. In Windows that's Control Panel>Sound>Playback>Speakers=Helix.

If you're playing with your DAW be sure to turn OFF the Track Monitor function on the Helix Track.

 

4cm.hlx

[drizztdourden_]

Yeah. Doesn't work. I don't get anything even on your preset unless I hit the "Effects" switch on my EVH. then I can hear it but it blocks out everything else.

 

It does work if I just use a stereo cable from the phone jack of my computer to one of the return and put that in the preset but it would be awesome if it just worked straight up.

[rd2rk]

Turn off the amp. Disconnect the footswitch. Turn the amp on and try it.

The method I described IS the way it works with MOST amps. It's the way it works with my Eganater and the way it worked with my Engl.

Your amp has MIDI switching, and I'm wondering if having the footswitch connected is somehow affecting the way the FX loop works.

Short of that I can only suggest checking all of your cables.

 

Also - What is the Helix Volume knob set to? Is it turned up? What about the EVH Master? Is it part of the Power amp or is it at the end of the Preamp?

What do you mean, exactly when you say "I can hear it but it blocks out everything else."? You can hear the music but not the guitar or the other way around?

Do the EVH gain and tonestack knobs work?

[rd2rk]

I see that there's separate masters for Channels 1/2 (combined), and 3. That suggests that the masters are pre-effects loop, so make sure that the masters are turned up for whatever channels you're using.

 

If you set the Helix Volume knob to XLR, that sends a steady UNITY signal out the 1/4" jack, eliminating that (the Volume Knob) as a variable.

[rd2rk]

Just re-read your OP, where you said that when you hit the FX Loop switch on the amp the guitar is gone.

Do you have a standalone FX box that you can put into the amp's FX loop? If guitar straight in to the amp (no Helix) and a standalone FX box in the FX Loop works, that helps eliminate the FX Loop itself as a problem.

[drizztdourden_]

It does have midi switching and it works perfectly fine since I'm using it in my presets. I can switch from one channel to another with it.

 

I tried removing the footswitch from the amp and it just goes as if it was always on if there is no footswitch.

 

Here's what happen in the two scenarios:

- FX Loop 1 is in the loop (FX loop 1 is the one used for 4CM): The amp uses his own preamp to process the signal then return it to the helix and process it further. That means that every knobs for the channel are used on the amp directly. Volume, Gain and EQ. Volume on the helix does have an effect but the main is the amp.

- FX Loop 1 is NOT in the loop: The amp serves only as a poweramp in this case. Any knobs on the amp is useless and can be zero and doesn't change anything. The main volume is the helix and everything is setup within preset otherwise. The only knob still doing something on the amp is "Presence" as it is not part of the channels knobs I supose.

 

My presets that uses the EVH gain sound all have the FX Loop 1 in them, otherwise, I can't use the amp signal processing and must rely solely on the helix for that. It seems like the EVG Amp is able to somehow detect if there is a signal coming from FX Loop 1 or not and change the way it operates based on that.

 

For the comment I made saying the guitar is gone when adding effect, I'm talking about the "EFFECTS" stomp switch on the EVH footswitch. There are 4 buttons on it: ONE, TWO, THREE, EFFECTS. The first 3 are the channel selection and the last one seems to activate the effects loop. If its on (The light is on), then we can hear the computer output through usb using the helix driver. If I test the sound in the control panel. however, anything in the preset otherwise doesn't output at all. If its off, then the helix act as the main preamp and I only need to add an amp modeler in the preset for the guitar output to work along with the computer helix driver. This does work this way. However, my goal is to use the preamp of the EVH, the computer output and the helix as addional effects.

 

Thanks for trying to help by the way. 

[rd2rk]

So I know what I'm working with I've attached a new version of the sample preset. This one has Stomp buttons assigned.

 

RECAP:

Guitar>HX Input>Pre Amp FX (Kinky Boost)>FX Loop 1 Block>HX Loop 1 Send>Amp Input>Amp FX Send> HX Loop 1 Return>Post Amp FX (Simple Delay)>HX 1/4" L/MONO Out>Amp FX Return

 

Amp footswitch disconnected - Amp FX Loop ON by default.

 

Global Settings Ins/Outs>USB Input 1/2 Destination=Multi or 1/4" - turn the Big Knob (Helix Volume) all the way UP.

 

Set your Computer's soundcard to Helix (for Spotify/YT, Media Player etc). In Windows that's Control Panel>Sound>Playback>Speakers=Helix.

On your computer, start Spotify. Cue something but don't hit PLAY yet. Turn the Spotify App's Volume all the way down.

 

Latest sample 4cm preset loaded on Helix. The 2 effects will be OFF, the FX Loop 1 Block will be ON.

 

Turn up GAIN and VOLUME on the active channel of your amp.

 

Play your guitar. Good strong signal?

Turn ON the Kinky Boost. Works as expected? Turn it OFF.

Turn ON the Delay. Works as expected? Leave it ON.

 

Hit PLAY in Spotify.

Turn up the volume in Spotify.

Can you hear it?

Can you still hear the guitar with Delay?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drizztdourden_]

It does work now. I didn't have to unplug the footswitch though as long as the effect is ON. I'm honestly confused cause it now works with my others presets... and not sure what changed.

 

Anyway, I still changed a few things within them now that I understand how the signal chain flow through everything and put the FX Loop 1 after the pre-effect (Overdrive pedal or whatever), then the other effects after that.

 

Now, I'm using the helix at full volume. But the volume of the USB is way too loud like that so I reduce it to -25DB in order for it to be mangeable at 50% volume on my PC. Not sure if that's normal or not but it goes fine if I adjust the DB like that. is that how you do it?

[rd2rk]

IRL I don't use an amp for streaming/backing tracks, in my studio (apartment LR :-) ) I use Studio Monitors with the USB output and Helix into a mixer (XLR to Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, 1/4" to Amp) or a decent stereo with HX Stomp and computer output into a small Behringer mixer (office/dining area setup).

 

The configuration I described above was setup for your needs. In that configuration I control the USB Volume from the PC - either the App Volume if using Spotify, YT or Media Player, or the DAW Master Volume. I used the Helix Master Volume (Big Knob) to control the Helix Return Volume (guitar mixed with USB) to the Amp. That allows you to get the Amp closer to it's "sweet spot" without blowing the roof off. Similar to an amp with the Master designed into the power amp, or using an attenuator/reactive load. It's not the same as an attenuator/RL since the power amp isn't working hard enough, but at least it gets you some range on the pre-amp gain.

 

Bottom line - if it serves your purpose and sounds good to YOU, it IS good!

 

Rock on!