Hardware Feature Request for Helix Rack: Optical Ins and Outs (ADAT) and more ... Dante, WSG, AES50, ...

[BassBase]

Hi Line6 Product Developers,

 

I'm (mostly) a bass player but also the sound tech for the bands I'm playing with. I also do recordings (live and studio).

For me I bought a HX Stomp 5 years ago (sic! Time is running, just seen in the registration), then bought the Helix Native plugin and I'm working with guitarrists using Helix and Helix LT Floorboards. Some of them bought these because of my recommondation. And we are all really happy with the Line6 Helix product series and also that you give us great updates even years after purchase.

 

I'm just thinking about an upgrade for my home studio, where i track some bass or guitar parts - but mostly do mixing jobs.

 

Therefore the Helix Rack would be my "go too" device. BUT: Digital integration is not given as I would like it. Yes, Rack got AES EBU and SPDIF. My Interface is an RME DigiFace with 2x4 ADAT or SPDIF Optical Toslink Connectors.

 

I also thought on the scenario "using the Helix Rack as Sound-Interface". It has roughly enough I/Os ... I could work with that. But I really would miss my "mixer" where I can route the signals and also have setups for screencast recordings, video conferences and different stuff.

 

So the "digital connection" of Helix with 4 stereo channels via USB ... nice. But I would love to have two toslink ports on the device to get the same channels presented to USB on ADAT. That would be a charme and then I could integrate the Helix Rack 2.0 directly with the rest of my equipment.

 

That's my christmas wish ... for the next generation of Helix Rack.

 

And if ADAT is to oldshool ... why not a changable slot with different digital connections. Then the Helix could be directly integrated into different digital mixing scenarios. Ideas for plugin-boards:

• ADAT / SPDIF optical - as stated
• AES50 / SuperMac for direct integration into Behringer / Midas X32/M32/Wing "Universe"
• WSG - Waves SoundGrid
• Dante Network integration - Interoperability with prof. Installations
• AVB-Card - Motu and Presonus Integration
• Madi ... ok, that's maybe a bit "overdone"...
• ...

 

That would make the Helix a really great frontend for guitar and bass applications in modern, flexible live and studio setups.

 

What u think?

 

Best regards

 

Stefan