Connecting Helix Stomp to Apollo x4

[res_LA]

Hi everyone, am new to the Helix world. I just got a Helix Stomp to use for live shows (instead of carrying an amp around with me).

 

I'd also like to try the Stomp through an Apollo x4 to track on Pro Tools. (I realise you can use the Stomp as an interface, and monitor through that, etc, but I'd like to understand the Apollo route more too, which is the subject of this post.)

 

Could anyone help with a couple of questions please:

 

- if I were to use the mono output on the Stomp, is that at line level?

 

- would I need to use a TRS cable to go from output to one of the Apollo's channel inputs?

 

Is there anything else I need to know about connecting the Stomp to the x4?

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[rd2rk]

1 hour ago, res_LA said:

- if I were to use the mono output on the Stomp, is that at line level?

 

If you set it to Line in Global Settings>Ins/Outs

 

1 hour ago, res_LA said:

- would I need to use a TRS cable to go from output to one of the Apollo's channel inputs?

 

 

Only if they're widely separated (>20ft) and/or there's a lot of noisy electrical stuff around (motors, fluorescents, refrigerators, A/C, etc.)

[HonestOpinion]

 

 

[res_LA]

14 hours ago, HonestOpinion said:

 

 

 

18 hours ago, rd2rk said:

 

If you set it to Line in Global Settings>Ins/Outs

 

 

Only if they're widely separated (>20ft) and/or there's a lot of noisy electrical stuff around (motors, fluorescents, refrigerators, A/C, etc.)

 

Thank you both. Appreciate it. So it sounds like it's OK to use a TRS cable out from the L/MONO output. I just found the cheat sheet that came with the Stomp and it says "use XLR Male cables to run balanced signals to a mixing console" (see attached). I'm guessing they're talking about a console at a live show. When connecting to the Apollo can I use a TRS -> TRS 1/4 inch cable?

[rd2rk]

Same Same. You're taking the HXS Output into a Preamp in either case.

The reason they say to use XLR cables to FOH is that FOH is often far away, the board takes XLR but not necessarily TRS, and TRS cables in extra long lengths are rare and more expensive than XLR.

[HonestOpinion]

Most of the time you can use a 1/4 TS cable as rd2rk mentioned unless you have a long run or are picking up noise via the cable. In that case or even by default I would probably use a TRS XLR cable. As you probably noticed though from my previous post, in the event that all you have laying around is a TRS 1/4 cable and due to your setup or for some other reason you prefer that type of connection, a TRS 1/4 cable may also offer some additional noise reduction although it is not a true balanced connection as you would get using the TRS XLR cable.

[soundog]

I use a 1/4" TRS from my Stomp L/MONO into my Apollo Twin (XLR/TRS combo jack). Works dandy. And to the best of my knowledge, it is connected as balanced (at the Stomp and the Apollo).

[HonestOpinion]

2 hours ago, soundog said:

I use a 1/4" TRS from my Stomp L/MONO into my Apollo Twin (XLR/TRS combo jack). Works dandy. And to the best of my knowledge, it is connected as balanced (at the Stomp and the Apollo).

 

You appear to be correct sir, despite some of the somewhat murky/dated posts on the subject upon further research it looks like the Helix, LT, and HX Effects don't appear to have true balanced 1/4 outputs(only impedance balanced) but the HX Stomp and Pod Go do. They are kind of an exception to the rest of the HX line in this respect. Perhaps because they came later. Apologies for any confusion my previous post may have introduced although it does still apply to the Helix, LT, and HX Effects. Don't know why the HX Stomp/'Pod Go' are different in this respect but if I owned one I certainly wouldn't have any complaints about this improvement to their I/O's design.  They even print "BAL/UNBAL" on the HX Stomp and Pod Go's back panel. Here is another thread on the subject.

 

 

[res_LA]

Thank you everyone! Before I saw this

 

48 minutes ago, soundog said:

I use a 1/4" TRS from my Stomp L/MONO into my Apollo Twin (XLR/TRS combo jack). Works dandy. And to the best of my knowledge, it is connected as balanced (at the Stomp and the Apollo).

 

I connected the Stomp and x4 with a regular 1/4" cable. Am I correct that that won't have caused any problems/damage to the units, but the output would just (potentially) have been lower?

[rd2rk]

Has nothing to do with output levels. It's all about noise rejection, especially over long cable runs. 

[soundog]

No worries, you won't do any damage to either unit. If you use a 1/4" cable, you normally would plug it into your Apollo "guitar" input on the front (Hi-Z); and use instrument level setting from your Stomp. The XLR/TRS input on the rear panel of your Apollo can be toggled between line level and mic level input. So if you use a TRS-TRS cable, go into that input and select line level out from your Stomp. (Of course, you could go into the XLR/TRS Apollo jack with 1/4" TS cable. In that case, I'd also select line level output in the Stomp rather than instrument level.)

 

[guitarboy_02451]

I too have UA Apollo, it's the Twin X and run Pro Tools. I decided to use it via USB and just change the Playback engine in PT when tracking guitars with the Stomp. When Tracking, I prefer headphones anyway so it was no big change for me. The downside is PT makes you change playback engine and it does a save/restart of your session every time. 

But even when I track with a mic'd amp into UA, I still use headphones vs monitors. 

 

Once in a great while I'll go 1/4 cable out of HXS into my ADAT, but honestly I'm just enjoying having the HX connected via USB to my Mac. That way I can have PT and HX Edit up and make changes on the fly (more delay, less reverb... etc). 

 

Either way, sounds like you got good answers.