Combing Line 6 Helix with other guitar Plugins

[mikiyakim]

Hello,

Is there a way to combining the Helix (not the native plugin) with other guitar plugins, for example Neural DSP's? 
I want, for example, to use Helix's effects blocks (such as fuzz, unique delays, etc..) with Neural DSP plugin in the middle of the chain. 
Is that possible or imaginary dream :) ? - If that's possible, what is the way to connect - I have a Focusrite 8i6 audio interface.

Thanks so much for the help.

[silverhead]

It is possible to use the Helix device to re-amp a signal from your DAW. That procedure is described in the manual using the Helix device as your audio interface. It can be adapted to use your Focusrite if you want but it’s really a standalone procedure that you might as well use Helix as the temporary interface for.

 

However, it seems to me that you can’t use it with another plugin in the middle of the chain as you wish. The reamp procedure takes a track from your DAW and routes it through Helix processing with the output being recorded to a new track in your DAW. Seems to me you would need to record a dry guitar track, apply your Neural DSP plugin for any pre-processing to that track, reamp this signal through Helix to create a new track, and then apply Neural DSP again to that track for final processing. And if you want to change the Neural processing in the original track you will need to reamp it again.
 

I’m not aware of any way to integrate the Helix reamp procedure into an existing track in the same way that plugins operate.

[datacommando]

On 4/20/2024 at 10:05 AM, mikiyakim said:

Hello,

Is there a way to combining the Helix (not the native plugin) with other guitar plugins, for example Neural DSP's? 
I want, for example, to use Helix's effects blocks (such as fuzz, unique delays, etc..) with Neural DSP plugin in the middle of the chain. 
Is that possible or imaginary dream :) ? - If that's possible, what is the way to connect - I have a Focusrite 8i6 audio interface.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

HI,

 

Have you considered that you could possibly use your Neural Plug-in an a similar fashion to how you would connect an external hardware amp sim, such as the Strymon Iridium. Your Focusrite 8i6 has enough ins and outs to give this a try.

 

Set up a patch on your Helix to with whatever dirt/fuzz/OD blocks you want then a Send/Return block out to the Focusrite and into your DAW and Neural Plug-in. The output from the DAW goes back to the Focusrite and back to the Return on the Helix, which is followed by whatever time based FX, unique delay/reverbs you wish going to the stereo outputs. the Helix stereo outs then go back into the Focusrite to be recorded on a different track. 

 

I'm not sure if it will work exactly how you want, but give it a shot, you have enough patching options available. A bit of careful planning is required to make sure you have all your audio ins and outs set up correctly.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[rd2rk]

The 8i6 has S/PDIF. Assuming that when you say Heilx you mean the FLOOR model, not the LT, this is how I do it with my 18i20.

NOTE - the 18i20 uses different USB #s - 9/10 (7/8 on the 8i6); 11/12 (5/6 on the 8i6):

 

With the 8i6 set as the ASIO Device in your DAW.

 

Guitar>Helix>Helix FX (OD/MODS etc)>Path 1 Output Block=DIGITAL

Helix SPDIF OUT>8i6 SPDIF INPUT

DAW Track Input USB 7/8 (SPDIF)>Plugins>DAW Track Output 5/6 (SPDIF)

8i6 SPDIF Output>Helix SPDIF IN>Helix Path 2 Input=DIGITAL>Helix FX (Delay/Reverb etc)>Path 2 Output Block Helix MAIN Outs

 

In Focusrite Control you want the SPDIF Outputs (not MUTED) set to "SOFTWARE (DAW) PLAYBACK 5/6". All other Inputs MUTED.

Whichever 8i6 Outputs your speakers are connected to should be set to whichever 8i6 Inputs your Helix MAIN Outs are connected to.

In my case I connect the Helix XLRs to the 18i20 Inputs 1/2 from where I can use Focusrite Control to route to the 8i6 Outputs 1/2 (Studio Monitors). 3/4 (Powercab), 5/6 (FRFR112). 

 

This configuration provides minimal latency as the signal chain is DIGITAL from Helix to Scarlett to DAW to Scarlett to Helix with the only AD/DA conversions at the Helix Input and Output - the path from the Helix Main Outs through the Scarlett to the speakers is analog.

 

To RECORD the final Helix Output setup another track to take its INPUT from whichever 8i6 Inputs the Helix Main Outs are connected to - in my case Inputs 1/2.

 

If you have an LT you can still do this, but unless you use the LT as your ASIO Device you'll be adding conversions.

[mikiyakim]

Thanks you everyone - I'll try your suggestions 

[guoliao]

On 4/20/2024 at 12:05 PM, mikiyakim said:

Hello,

Is there a way to combining the Helix (not the native plugin) with other guitar plugins, for example Neural DSP's? 
I want, for example, to use Helix's effects blocks (such as fuzz, unique delays, etc..) with Neural DSP plugin in the middle of the chain. 
Is that possible or imaginary dream :) ? - If that's possible, what is the way to connect - I have a Focusrite 8i6 audio interface.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

Absolutely! You can absolutely combine the Line 6 Helix with other guitar plugins like Neural DSP's. You can use the Helix's effects blocks, such as fuzz and delays, alongside the Neural DSP plugin within your digital audio workstation (DAW). To get started, simply connect your guitar to your audio interface (Focusrite 8i6) and route the signal through both the Helix and the Neural DSP plugin within your DAW's signal chain. 

[mikiyakim]

 

On 4/20/2024 at 7:58 PM, rd2rk said:

DAW Track Input USB 7/8 (SPDIF)>Plugins>DAW Track Output 5/6 (SPDIF)

8i6 SPDIF Output>Helix SPDIF IN>Helix Path 2 Input=DIGITAL>Helix FX (Delay/Reverb etc)>Path 2 Output Block Helix MAIN Outs

 

Hi rd2rk - I know it's been a while and just now I tried to do your configuration - I'm a bit confused with with these steps: 
On the first row - when I create the DAW TRACK Output 5/6 SPDIF - I no longer hear the plugin.
On the second row - the "digital" option on the Helix path 2 input is grayed out (can't be selected).

What I'm doing wrong?

Thanks :)

[rd2rk]

On 10/23/2024 at 6:09 AM, mikiyakim said:

What I'm doing wrong?

 

Maybe nothing, it could be my explanation.

Without an 8i6 in front of me, and without knowing which DAW you're using, it's difficult.

Let me try again.

 

Helix Path 1 Output and Path 2 Input = DIGITAL.

DAW Track Input = SPDIF 1/2.

Choose a HARDWARE Output for the track. I use the highest available - 11/12.

These are the Scarlett's SPDIF OUTS.

DO NOT ROUTE THE TRACK TO THE DAW MASTER!

Every DAW has a Track Monitoring switch. It may be called Input Monitor/Track Monitor or ? WHAT DAW ARE YOU USING?

Set that to AUTO.

I use Reaper but have several DAWs and if I have yours, I'll set this up there which will make this much easier to explain.

In the Scarlett SW, set the SPDIF Outputs to the USB channels you've chosen for the DAW TRACK HW Outputs.

Unmute the Playback Input and Output on the SPDIF Output on the Scarlett. MUTE everything else on the SPDIF Output.

Connect your XLRs to the Scarlett's Inputs.

Set the Helix Path 2 Output to XLR.

On the Scarlett Output 1/2, set the Input to the Inputs that the XLRs are connected to.

When you have other tracks in your DAW project that you want to play concurrently, they'll be using the MASTER, which is usually Playback 1/2 on the Scarlett.

This is why you use a HW Track Output other than the MASTER.

 

If you get feedback, it's probably because you're using a MULTI setting on the Helix Path 2 Output. That should be XLR.

If that's not it, go through the Scarlett's Outputs and MUTE any inputs not in use until you find the culprit.

 

I've attached an example Helix Preset and a screenshot of the SPDIF Output settings in the Scarlett Control.

 

Let me know how it goes!

 

VST.hlx

[mikiyakim]

On 10/24/2024 at 3:43 AM, rd2rk said:

Maybe nothing, it could be my explanation.

 

Hi again rd2rk :) - no no.. you are fine, it's me that struggling with the logic of the inputs and outputs connections. 

First of all - I'm using Studio One 6... sorry for missing this detail. 

 

I tried your "VST.hlx" file. I see that in all of the inputs/outputs there is a signal but:

1. I can't hear the FX (the Delay/Reverb - in your patch).

2. I noticed that I have big latency (256 buffer size, although even if I'm using 16 buffer size - there is big latency. It is not happening with regular VST uses). Btw, the latency issue also happened with my attempt to create a "VST" patch. 

3. For some reason - when I'm trying to add digital input on 2 PATH, the S/PDIF option is not available. I attached a screenshot.

 

 

 

 

Thanks again for your help :)

[rd2rk]

Set the INPUT on Path 1 to GUITAR.

Because it's set to MULTI, the SPDIF INPUT is already in use and can only be used once in a preset.

[mikiyakim]

On 10/26/2024 at 10:26 AM, rd2rk said:

Set the INPUT on Path 1 to GUITAR.

Because it's set to MULTI, the SPDIF INPUT is already in use and can only be used once in a preset.

That was it :) - thanks 

But I still experiencing noticeable latency. And now I can hear the delay/reverb (on my patch) but it seems it's "feedback" is pretty short.. even though I setting good amount of "feedback"

[rd2rk]

Here's my settings in S1 v5 Artist:

 

 

As for the delay issue, send me the preset and I'll check it out.