Helix LT as sound card: routing dilemma

[pico322]

Hello! I am trying to do a (hopefully) relatively simple thing with my Helix LT but I can't figure out how to do that.

 

I am working on a song and I am using the Helix as the audio interface of my Ableton Live-based DAW. One 1/4 output goes into the FX Return of my bass amp. The XLR outputs go into my mixer > PA.

 

What I'd like to do is to use the bass amp to monitor just the bass (both live bass processed through the Helix preset and the recorded track when I playback what I recorded), while all the other song tracks are routed through the PA.

 

Is that possible?

 

Thanks for your advices, have a nice day!

[silverhead]

Try this:

- in Ableton route the Output of your recorded bass track to Helix’s USB 3/4 channel. Keep the output of the other recorded tracks to Helix USB 1/2.

- in Helix use a dual path preset with the Input block of one path set to your bass guitar (processing as desired in the path) and the other path set to USB 3/4 (your recorded track playback, with no processing in the path). Set the output of both paths to 1/4” at instrument level. Connect the Helix 1/4” L/MONO output to your amp input.

[pico322]

Hello silverhead!

 

Your advice took me on the right path and made me go deeper into the routing options Helix gives us, thank you very much! The two-path preset was the way to go.

So, here's what I've done so far.

 

1. Helix cabling and settings: 1/4" Left Output to FX Return of the MarkBass head, 1/4" Right Output to Return 1 of Helix. Left XLR to the mixer. Helix big volume knob at maximum. In the global settings, USB 1/2 Destination is set to XLR. 1/4" and Send/Return must be all set to Line level. XLR in my case is set to Mic because that's what my mixer expects to receive.

 

2. Helix preset:

• Path 1A: I created my mono bass preset on path 1A (compressor, preamp or amp without cab, and the effects I want).

Input 1A: Guitar. Output routed to 1/4". If you choose the preamp instead of the amp you have to boost the signal significantly (EQ after the preamp at +9dB and output level at +20dB) to get a strong enough signal.

• Path 2A: Input set to Return 1, IR (otherwise the recorded track has no cab) and Output to USB 3/4.

3. Ableton Live: Bass track with Audio from Ext. In 3/4 and Audio to Master. Monitoring off. 

 

This setup makes me hear the bass live from the MarkBass head, and the recorded bass track through the PA, while all the other instruments track are heard through the PA. Initially I wanted the recorded track also to be heard through the bass head, but I realized it worked better when playing back from the same source as the drums.

 

There might be an easier way, but at the moment I am happy with this one. Hope this thread will useful to some other Helix fellow trying to do the same thing!

 

Thanks again!