Backing tracks in Zoom and Loom

[jlg13]

Hi - just got a Helix Floor.  I have my pc connected to the Helix with USB and play backing tracks from Reaper.  My guitar, headphones/ speaker, and mic are connected directly to the Helix.  I can hear the backing tracks, guitar and my voice in headphones/external speaker.  However, when I'm trying to play over Zoom or make a video with Loom from my pc, I can hear all three in my headphones but the backing tracks can't be heard by everyone else on Zoom and not picked up on Loom when I try to record a video.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Thanks.

[silverhead]

That’s happening because the backing tracks from Reaper are probably configured to be routed to the Helix via the USB1/2 inputs. However, these inputs are NOT routed to the USB 1/2 Outputs from Helix; they are heard only at the Helix hardware outputs (headphones, speakers). By default your apps like Zoom only hear what is coming in to your computer over USB1/2, which is why they don’t hear the backing tracks.

 

The fix is to force your Reaper backing tracks to be routed to the Helix USB1/2 outputs. You can do this in several ways. I think the simplest might be to configure Reaper to send the backing tracks over the USB3/4 pair to Helix. Then use a dual path preset in Helix and use Path 2 for the backing tracks. Set Path 2 Input to USB3/4 and set its Output to USB 1/2. Do not use any processing blocks in Path 2; if you do your backing tracks will be going through additional processing within Helix. You may need to simplify your guitar processing if you are already using a dual path preset.

[SaschaFranck]

Zoom/Loom only see the inputs of your Helix. Reapers output isn't one of them, it's routed straight to the output section of the Helix. On a Mac, I'd possibly use Soundflower (a virtual audio cable) to route everything into Zoom/Loom, no idea what to do on a Windows machine. Most people doing such things more often use interfaces with a socalled loopback function, but the Helix doesn't have anything like that.

There might be some nifty routing options via some of the Helix' USB "streams" typically used for re-amping, but I can't check myself as I don't have a Helix anymore (just an HX Stomp).

[SaschaFranck]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:23 PM, silverhead said:

Then use a dual path preset and use Path 2 for the backing tracks. Set Path 2 Input to USB3/4 and set its Output to USB 1/2

 

He'll likely lose the mic input then.

[silverhead]

On 4/5/2024 at 5:26 PM, SaschaFranck said:

 

He'll likely lose the mic input then.

Maybe a split Path 2 with 2A Input set to mic and 2B set to USB3/4. There’s likely a sample preset in the Templates factory setlist that supports this.

[DunedinDragon]

The one thing that Helix is NOT is a mixing board.  The simple fix is the one that uses the right tools for the job.

[SaschaFranck]

On 4/6/2024 at 12:06 PM, DunedinDragon said:

The one thing that Helix is NOT is a mixing board. 

 

Just that it actually is. At least partially.

[DunedinDragon]

On 4/6/2024 at 6:19 AM, SaschaFranck said:

 

Just that it actually is. At least partially.

I suppose in the same fashion as a Golf Cart being an automobile of sorts, I suppose.  But I wouldn't want to drive one to work every day.

[SaschaFranck]

On 4/6/2024 at 4:54 PM, DunedinDragon said:

I suppose in the same fashion as a Golf Cart being an automobile of sorts, I suppose.  But I wouldn't want to drive one to work every day.

 

Well, for the thing that has been asked for, the Helix is probably even a better choice than a small mixer.

[Blumi_guitar]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:24 PM, SaschaFranck said:

On a Mac, I'd possibly use Soundflower (a virtual audio cable) to route everything into Zoom/Loom, no idea what to do on a Windows machine.

in fact there is a similar tool for Windows: https://vb-audio.com/Cable/

After installation it will provide additional devices in the Sound Control Panel -> 'CABLE Input' as a playback device and 'CABLE Output' as a recording device.
Setting 'CABLE input' as the Standard Playback Device for all sound output and 'CABLE Output' as Standard Recording Device (or make Zoom do the recording from 'CABLE Output' explicitly) should do the job.