Helix Floor USB signal possible to use with another interface?

[prskier17]

I'm curious if it is possible to do the following:

 

1. Helix Floor connected to Windows PC via USB.  This would be specifically for the dry and stereo sends from the Helix

2. DAW is Reaper

3. I have an SSL2+ MKII USB interface that is connected to my monitor speakers

 

Is it possible to setup Reaper so that the SSL2+ is the interface and to also receive the stereo plus dry signals?

[silverhead]

I think not. Helix uses the ASIO protocol which requires that the same audio interface device be used for both audio input and output. Hence Reaper can recognize only one of your devices at a time. 
 

There are pseudo-ASIO drivers (e.g. ASIO4ALL) that claim to be able to handle this and some people seem to have success with them. They are not supported by Line 6 and have caused issues with many computer setups.

[prskier17]

Thanks, that is the summary of what I found when trying to find an answer to this.... I was hoping someone may have found a solution. 

[silverhead]

In the Mac world, with which I am not familiar, I believe there’s something called an aggregate audio device that supports this. 

[BassBase]

Well ... this is my problem, too. I have my well-loved RME soundinterface and an HX stomp. I would love to buy a Helix rack. Would solve plenty of problems.

 

But then it's that what you wrote - USB - AISO -either Helix or Soundinterface.

 

I would love to get a Helix rack with ADAT ins and outs. With same streams like on usb. Then I could integrate it seamlessly in my RME setup and use this as "master-ASIO-Interface". But in your case I think you can only go analog via the SSL or switch the ASIO to the Helix. Sadly.

[craiganderton]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:26 AM, prskier17 said:

Is it possible to setup Reaper so that the SSL2+ is the interface and to also receive the stereo plus dry signals?

 

Don't give up yet...

 

I may be missing something, but I think there are some possible workarounds.

 

The simplest is to feed the Helix S/PDIF output into an audio interface with a S/PDIF input. Then the Helix will show up as an input to your interface and transfer audio digitally. Note that in that case, the Helix becomes the master clock so the interface needs to sync it.

 

If the interface doesn't have S/PDIF, then go old-school and connect the Helix analog outs to your interface. Granted, it's comforting to stay in the digital domain, but a preset with distortion and effects processing almost certainly won't have any degradation you can hear compared to going in digitally.

 

Also, it's not well known that Windows can do audio interface aggregation (for at least as long as I can remember). The catch is you need to use Windows' native drivers, which have had a checkered history. MME drivers are useless for audio because of their latency, but the Helix drivers can do WDM. I'm not sure if it's WDM/KS (kernel streaming) which is almost as good as ASIO, but if your interface can also use one of the lower-latency Windows drivers (like WaveRT or WASAPI), then you should be able to aggregate them using Windows native audio instead of ASIO. The latency won't be as good as macOS but depending on the drivers, it can come close.

 

Another option is to run Helix as a WDM interface, run your main interface with ASIO, and use a virtual cable to connect the Windows audio output from Helix to the interface's ASIO audio input. I think VB-CABLE might do the job, it's a free download so you can check it out.

 

I hope one of these helps. Unless you have needs I'm not taking into account, I think running S/PDIF or audio outputs into an existing ASIO interface would be the simplest option.

 

 

[datacommando]

On 12/9/2024 at 3:57 AM, craiganderton said:

If the interface doesn't have S/PDIF, then go old-school and connect the Helix analog outs to your interface.
 

Hi,

 

It would appear that the “old-school” option would be the best way to go in this instance, as the Solid State Logic 2+ doesn’t have a S/PDIF connection available.

 

Good info about the Windows aggregation “trick” - that’s definitely going to help a few users in here.

 

Regards

[prskier17]

Thanks for all the comments.  I don' have S/PDIF but did just get Helix Native, which adds another option.