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Clipping on specific presets when using helix as audio interface


eguzma975
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Hello all!!

Just so you can have to context of how I have my rig set up, I have my headphones connected the the headphone output on the helix and the USB/PC cable connected as well. 

When I play any audio from my computer I get clipping/static noise but only on specific presets. I've made sure the buffer size is the same, updating drives, the only temporary fix is to turn off the helix and turn it on on that specific preset. This works but once I go to a different preset and back the issue resumes. If I get rid of the amp this goes away as well but obviously this isn't what I want.

NOTE

When when I stop playing audio on my computer that clipping noise goes away. Also I dont hear any clipping noise when I just play the guitar

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On 5/14/2025 at 5:37 PM, eguzma975 said:

Hello all!!

Just so you can have to context of how I have my rig set up, I have my headphones connected the the headphone output on the helix and the USB/PC cable connected as well. 

When I play any audio from my computer I get clipping/static noise but only on specific presets. I've made sure the buffer size is the same, updating drives, the only temporary fix is to turn off the helix and turn it on on that specific preset. This works but once I go to a different preset and back the issue resumes. If I get rid of the amp this goes away as well but obviously this isn't what I want.

NOTE

When when I stop playing audio on my computer that clipping noise goes away. Also I dont hear any clipping noise when I just play the guitar

 

Hi,

 

I’m not quite sure I understand the issue you describe here.

 

“Input clipping over USB”?

 

If you are using the Helix as an audio interface, to playback any audio from your computer, then the signal is sent to the Helix on USB 1/2. There is a trim pot for adjusting that under the Global Settings Ins/Outs which can be used to set the volume from anywhere between -60db to +18db with the default setting of 0.0db.  I have never felt the need to move away from the default setting, but just for the hell of it, I have just tested the playback from iTunes with a variety of material from classic rock to EDM synth noise, and even pushing the USB trim to +18db I cannot get my Helix to generate any static, or clipping through my Kali IN-8 v2 studio monitors and/or my Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones. I have had my Helix hooked up to my Mac as the main audio interface into Logic Pro since I first bought it way back in late 2015 - It just works!

 

You also mention that you have - “made sure the buffer size is the same, updating drives,”, which I find really confusing because the Helix doesn’t have a buffer that can be modified and I guess you actually mean that you have updated the Drivers in your PC?

 

Finally - the big clue here is the fact you mention - “When I stop playing audio on my computer that clipping noise goes away. Also I don’t hear any clipping noise when I just play the guitar”.

 

Hmm… the would seem to indicate the issue is more to do with the settings on your PC than a problem with the Helix. My first thought was that the audio out from you computer may be hitting the USB into Helix a little bit too hot, so I just decided to throw some more sounds into my Helix with an extra +12 db cranked onto the output from iTunes before hitting USB1/2 in. The result was the same as expected. No static or clipping, but simply a bloody loud replay of Def Leppard - Hysteria!

 

I would recommend you check out the section of the Manual dealing with USB audio on page 73 .

 

https://line6.com/data/6/0a00051afda2673ccc1cc8e68/application/pdf/Helix 3.80 Owner's Manual - English .pdf

 

Hope this helps/makes sense

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