Headaches trying to monitor through DAW for loop recording

[Stu4666]

Hi there,

 

I'm having some major headaches trying to set something up that to me seems pretty simple. Here is the scenario:

 

I'm using Ableton Live 11, and want to record loops in it for live performance. I'm using HX Stomp as an audio interface so I can simultaneously record the DI tracks for reamping and so forth at a later date. All I want to do is monitor the HX Stomp's Hardware through my DAW, so I can level both the recorded loops and Stomp through one channel strip in Ableton, and put the same effects on both, but I can't seem to get the audio to pass through Ableton alone, as it's direct monitoring to my speakers from the Stomp. This ruins the looping effect, unless I leave my guitar on an unedited strip in Ableton with no effects and set the track monitor to "off". Useless if I need to turn the track down a little.

 

I've been trying the various workarounds that people have suggested on the forum here, like adding a send block on a different path and lowering volume on the output block, but not every one of my presets has a spare block I can do this with. I've also tried the suggestions from the manual, but only get the dry signal from the Stomp. I'm just perplexed as to why such a simple thing is so hard to achieve. What's the issue with sticking a USB only option on the output block of patches? Perhaps I'm missing something, so has anyone else suffered the same issues, and perhaps found a more elegant workaround? 

[rd2rk]

On 2/1/2024 at 5:41 AM, Stu4666 said:

I've been trying the various workarounds that people have suggested on the forum here, like adding a send block on a different path and lowering volume on the output block, but not every one of my presets has a spare block I can do this with. I've also tried the suggestions from the manual, but only get the dry signal from the Stomp. I'm just perplexed as to why such a simple thing is so hard to achieve. What's the issue with sticking a USB only option on the output block of patches? Perhaps I'm missing something, so has anyone else suffered the same issues, and perhaps found a more elegant workaround? 

 

There is no elegant workaround. You need to route the processed signal 100% to Path B so you can disable direct monitoring, use USB3/4 to LIVE and have the output from LIVE arrive at the Main Outs unprocessed. That's it. You can try freeing up a Block in your presets by, for instance, combining split amp/cab blocks into a single amp+cab block.

 

Bottom line, and I know this will sound harsh, but it is what it is - when the gear you chose to buy for the job doesn't do the job, you buy the gear that does. In your case that means upgrading to a full-fat Helix or using an external AI and an ABY box to get a DI signal into LIVE.

[Stu4666]

Thanks for the reply rd2rk. I entirely concur that the only "elegant" solution it to go for the real deal Helix! I found the routing diagrams for all versions while awaiting an answer, and see a few of them have this option. Whether I'll do it or not is another matter - the small footprint of the Stomp is the reason I chose it (as well as the lower price).

 

Great idea on combining amp and cabs to free up space - so obvious really, but thanks for pointing it out! Another thing I'm considering is taking out reverb blocks and adding that in Ableton too. So long as I haven't missed something obvious, then I'll persevere on! I shouldn't grumble really.... it's still an incredibly powerful, tiny piece of kit!

 

Thanks again mate.