gergoretvari Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 I'm running through my helix lt to my focusrite scarlet solo via XLR and using phantom power, because otherwise the guitar sounds like it's "not enabled". I always used this method for almost a year now. Some guy told me that this will damage my unit. Is this true? Should i be concerned or i'm fine on how i use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 On 9/21/2023 at 5:00 PM, gergoretvari said: I'm running through my helix lt to my focusrite scarlet solo via XLR and using phantom power, because otherwise the guitar sounds like it's "not enabled". I always used this method for almost a year now. Some guy told me that this will damage my unit. Is this true? Should i be concerned or i'm fine on how i use it? "sounds like it's not enabled"??? What does that mean? My Helix XLR Outs are set to MIC and connected to a MIC input on my Scarlett with the GAIN knob full counterclockwise (OFF/0db) and it sounds great. Has been connected like that for years. As posted on the TGP big Helix thread by @Digital_Iglooaka Eric Klein, head high engineering mucky-muck (I forget his actual title) at L6: "Helix should never be connected to mic preamps whose phantom power may be on. If one's mixer is cheap and has global phantom power, run into the balanced line inputs instead." If your XLRs sound like whatever you're trying to describe as "not enabled" then there's something else going on. Check your Scarlett manual to make sure you've got it configured right - the Solo has changed over the generations and the preamps on the 1st gen were weak - or set your 1/4" Outs to INST and use a proper guitar cable to connect to the Scarlett's instrument input with the INST button ON and the GAIN knob set per the manual. Make sure that your LT's INPUT PAD (Global Settings>Ins/Outs) is set to OFF for SC pups, ON for high output HB's. In "Global Settings>Preferences" set "Auto Impedance" to FIRST ENABLED and in the Input Block of your presets set "Guitar In-Z" to AUTO. Turn OFF the "INPUT GATE" unless you need it for really noisy SC's. The VOLUME KNOB is not a boost, it's a cut. Dimed is 0db. I usually disable mine so that the default is 0db. In your presets, leave the Output Block at 0db. That's the best I can offer without knowing better what you mean by "sounds like it's "not enabled". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 On 9/22/2023 at 1:00 AM, gergoretvari said: Some guy told me that this will damage my unit. Is this true? No. Older Helix's had problems with noise introduced by phantom power though. On 9/22/2023 at 1:00 AM, gergoretvari said: I'm running through my helix lt to my focusrite scarlet solo via XLR and using phantom power, because otherwise the guitar sounds like it's "not enabled". How does a guitar sound like that's "not enabled"? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gergoretvari Posted September 22, 2023 Author Share Posted September 22, 2023 On 9/22/2023 at 5:27 AM, rd2rk said: "sounds like it's not enabled"??? What does that mean? it wounds weak, like the if there was no gain on it. On 9/22/2023 at 9:25 AM, Schmalle said: How does a guitar sound like that's "not enabled"? see above On 9/22/2023 at 5:27 AM, rd2rk said: If your XLRs sound like whatever you're trying to describe as "not enabled" then there's something else going on. Check your Scarlett manual to make sure you've got it configured right - the Solo has changed over the generations and the preamps on the 1st gen were weak - or set your 1/4" Outs to INST and use a proper guitar cable to connect to the Scarlett's instrument input with the INST button ON and the GAIN knob set per the manual. Make sure that your LT's INPUT PAD (Global Settings>Ins/Outs) is set to OFF for SC pups, ON for high output HB's. In "Global Settings>Preferences" set "Auto Impedance" to FIRST ENABLED and in the Input Block of your presets set "Guitar In-Z" to AUTO. Turn OFF the "INPUT GATE" unless you need it for really noisy SC's. The VOLUME KNOB is not a boost, it's a cut. Dimed is 0db. I usually disable mine so that the default is 0db. In your presets, leave the Output Block at 0db Thx for the info, i will check it out and report back as soon as i tried this Btw, is there a difference i would to use the jack input of my interface? I only use my xlr one because that's what everyone said online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 On 9/22/2023 at 5:08 AM, gergoretvari said: Btw, is there a difference i would to use the jack input of my interface? I only use my xlr one because that's what everyone said online As I mentioned, the 1st gen Scarletts had weak preamps. The main problem there was distortion with hotter signals. Whichever input you're using, make sure that the LT's Outputs are set to match - XLR = MIC;1/4" set to INST = INST. 48v Phantom = OFF! Don't disregard the other settings I mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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