Helix LT Backing Tracks

[TheCrimsonidol]

Hi Folks, I've been trying hard to get my Helix LT to play backing tracks, in the best way I know, which I've learnt purely by trying to figure it out from Google etc..

I'm a home user.

 

My Setup is as follows,

 

Helix LT connected to Windows 11

Helix LT is output to Rokit 7 Studio Monitors via line outs

Desktop PC via USB to LT

Daw Ableton 12 running on PC

 

 

I have created a liveset in Ableton with

4 Stem tracks in DAW, Vocals. Bass, Drums, Guitar.

I load a separated WAV file into the 4 tracks, which I play along to.

 

I have  a midi channel in the DAW which has midi clips so as to change the Helix snapshots at the correct time, whilst I play along to the track.

 

So all good so far, however, my problem is I just can't for any amount of trying get my setup to give me a satisfactory output of my playing and backing track, either the backing is too quiet or my playing is, not able to get a decent fusion of both inputs

I'm aware there is a usb trim in global settings on LT which I've played with but still not great.

 

Am I doing things right here in order to play along to backing tracks or is there a much better way, which might give me a better mix on the backing track/ guitar input?

 

Thanks

 

[silverhead]

I don’t see anything wrong with your setup.
 

First, make sure Ableton is using your Helix LT and it’s ASIO driver as its audio device for both input and output.

 

Also make sure your LT Line out level setting (Line, Amp) is  compatible with the Rokit monitor input setting.

 

I usually use my PC audio level to balance the volumes rather than the LT Global Settings trim but either should work.

[TheCrimsonidol]

Thanks @silverhead

[DunedinDragon]

The problem is the Helix, as good as it is, isn't a mixing board.  I use a similar setup with my band and have been using it for several years now.  The main issue is you have to be able to gain stage the backing tracks as well as the Helix.  That's why I send the backing tracks from Ableton (gain staging the individual tracks to the right mix) as two XLR stereo outputs into the mixing board along with my separate Helix guitar signal and vocals on their own channels so I can gain stage all or those things to achieve the appropriate mix for the audience as well as for the stage monitors.

 

I send the MIDI control outputs to a MIDI foot controller that converts the MIDI internally to the right combination that goes to the Helix or other devices.  That way if I trigger pedal 1 on the foot controller it converts it into any number of MIDI sequences and isolates the Ableton track from those intricacies.  For example I send a stock MIDI command to trigger the A footswitch in the MIDI foot controller which then might send two or three specific Helix commands to the Helix and a separate set of commands to the stage lighting controller.

 

I realize that's a LOT more complex than you're wanting to do right now, but certainly a mixer is vital to be able to consistently get the right mix between the backing tracks and live Helix guitar and vocals as a first step.

[TheCrimsonidol]

Thanks for that great reply, that certainly looks like a clever setup, but as you suggest. Maybe a bit much for my needs, being a bedroom player.

 

The mixer idea sounds feasible for me, would a hardware behringer type mixer have the edge over the Ableton software mixer?

Do you have any quick pointers for how I would add the mixer to my Helix LT and studio monitors please?

 

Cheers

[silverhead]

On 12/3/2024 at 12:38 PM, TheCrimsonidol said:

....

 

So all good so far, however, my problem is I just can't for any amount of trying get my setup to give me a satisfactory output of my playing and backing track, either the backing is too quiet or my playing is, not able to get a decent fusion of both inputs

.....

 

Back to your original issue....

 

While a separate mixer would be very flexible I'm not sure it will actually solve your issue. The problem you describe should be manageable using only the Helix and either its Global settings USB In trim or controlling the PC volume independently. If you can't get a suitable blend, at least for a single session, that indicates a problem that won't likely be solved by a separate mixer. I suggest you get the problem solved using your existing equipment first, then decide if a separate mixer would be useful to you.

 

Question: can you get a decent blend/level using one Helix preset but things are unbalanced again when you switch presets? If the answer to that is yes, then your issue is preset leveling within the Helix and won't be solved with additional equipment.

[TheCrimsonidol]

On 12/4/2024 at 5:01 PM, silverhead said:

Back to your original issue....

 

While a separate mixer would be very flexible I'm not sure it will actually solve your issue. The problem you describe should be manageable using only the Helix and either its Global settings USB In trim or controlling the PC volume independently. If you can't get a suitable blend, at least for a single session, that indicates a problem that won't likely be solved by a separate mixer. I suggest you get the problem solved using your existing equipment first, then decide if a separate mixer would be useful to you.

 

Question: can you get a decent blend/level using one Helix preset but things are unbalanced again when you switch presets? If the answer to that is yes, then your issue is preset leveling within the Helix and won't be solved with additional equipment.

Thanks again Silverhead, that makes perfect sense, having never used a separate mixer before, I was a little unsure, but I will go over my settings again, thanks

I appreciate both your time and Dunedindragons