Helix LT, playing backing track via USB1/2 from Android phone

[mattzz]

Hi,

 

I am currently using a dedicated path from return 1/2 to output multi in order  to loop in a backing track and it works nicely. 

 

Looping in audio 'should' also be feasible via USB 1/2 (setting USB 1/2 destination to multi in global settings) and using mutli as input.

However, this does not work on my Android phone (Pixel 7a).

The phone seems to detect the Helix LT when connecting my phone to the usb port in the same way it detects for instance an usb-c to 3,5mm audio jack adapter (usb settings change, phone switches off built-in speaker when connecting) but I don't get any audio on the Helix LT.

 

What am I missing? Has anybody succeeded in getting this to work with an Android phone?

[rd2rk]

You have an Android. All Androids are different when it comes to USB/music app support.

All iPhones/iPads just work.

I'm not a fan of Apple but have iPhones/iPads for that specific reason.

[datacommando]

On 3/11/2024 at 5:36 PM, mattzz said:

Hi,

 

I am currently using a dedicated path from return 1/2 to output multi in order  to loop in a backing track and it works nicely. 

 

Looping in audio 'should' also be feasible via USB 1/2 (setting USB 1/2 destination to multi in global settings) and using mutli as input.

However, this does not work on my Android phone (Pixel 7a).

The phone seems to detect the Helix LT when connecting my phone to the usb port in the same way it detects for instance an usb-c to 3,5mm audio jack adapter (usb settings change, phone switches off built-in speaker when connecting) but I don't get any audio on the Helix LT.

 

What am I missing? Has anybody succeeded in getting this to work with an Android phone?

Hi,

I found this that may, or may not, have some relevant info you can checkout. It seems that you need a gizmo that has a built in DAC (Digital Audio Converter). I don’t know how good the info in this link is, because if I need to do what you want, I have both an iPhone and iPad.
 

https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/y9uq6x/how_do_i_enable_audio_over_usbc_for_my_pixel_7/

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[mattzz]

Thanks @datacommando - The thread inspired me to look under the hood of my Android phone (using the android debug bridge 'adb' over wifi...) and checking the logs while plugging the Helix into my phone:

 

03-13 21:46:50.500  1706  2159 W UsbACInterface: Unknown Audio Class Interface subtype:0xa
03-13 21:46:50.503  1706  1952 D EventHub: No input device configuration file found for device 'LINE 6 HELIX   '.

 

No bueno.

This tells me that the OS indeed detects the LINE 6 device, however the software can't handle it correctly. OK, I guess we knew this already.

 

The second line is not a problem. It is also present for my working USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter. It basically detects a keyboard as an input device, which is also what a Mac does. However, the first line is a problem. I guess it has something to do with an USB subtype...