Transition to Helix Stadium Native from Helix Floor

[themetallikid]

Ok,.... so I'm giving up the playing 'live' ghost (been 28 years) and just been enjoying playing at home along to spotify etc.    So with the new Native announcement (and pricing).....I'm considering selling the floor for what I can get for it and just going native.  Especially since my new laptop absolutely refuses to use Helix as an audio source (damn Windows 11 driver crap).  

 

So...

 

I've never done a 'Plug In' sorta thing.   How do I get my guitar into my laptop, and how do i get the sound back out where I can monitor it? lol

 

 

I have the Fender FRFR speaker for in room stuff, would likely buy a pair of headphones for nightly stuff (apartment living!!!).   I dont need super high quality stuff as I'm not doing studio or anything.  I may occasionally have some fun with Reaper and downloading some backing tracks for fun (vocal, guitar, bass work) but nothing that would need to be produced to the point of public consumption.  I currently have a Mission Engineering pedal that I use as a wah with the Helix Floor, but I assume I would need some sort of controller to manipulate Helix Native if I wanted real-time snapshot/preset changing??  

 

Help, Im trying to simplify and its confusing what I all need, lol.   

 

Thanks/Cheers in advance!!!

[rd2rk]

I've been doing this for years, so the below is Real World experience.

 

DON'T SELL YOUR HELIX! You can't get a quality AI and MIDI Controller for what you'll get for your Helix in today's market.

Also, how else can you get 1028 pedalboards? And simple Snapshot control?

 

Keep your Helix as a controller for Stadium Native. I've been playing with this all day using my Helix Floor and Scarlett 18i20. GREAT FUN!

 

Just get an Audio Interface like this:

 

https://reverb.com/item/100017686-focusrite-scarlett-6i6-usb-2-0?bk=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJqdGkiOiI3M2M0MzdlMC05NzRhLTRjOTktYjMxMS0zMDE4MzRkMzgzYWYiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODU5MDIyMzMsInVzZXJfaWQiOiIiLCJzZXNzaW9uX2lkIjoiMWQwOTU4NDItMTMzNy00ZWEzLWI1MmYtYjc3YWNiYzg5NjE1IiwiY29va2llX2lkIjoiYzk2NDg4MjItMDBmNC00MzU3LWE5ZjAtYWU2YTRiYzQ4NDc3IiwicHJvZHVjdF9pZCI6IjEwMDAxNzY4NiIsInNvdXJjZSI6Ik5PTkUifQ.R1eeojWAS0GsOnnfMkDykzyhsO-TKRJS3AzTLhZmxUM

 

SPDIF (minimizes latency) and MIDI DIN ports are the important parts. LINE INPUTS in addition to the INSTRUMENT INPUT is also useful (see below).

Avoid trying to do any of this via USB from Helix as the possibility of USB Ground Loops and noise from switching power supplies like you find in Laptops is a PITA to track down.

 

I've compared using the FX in Helix vs in Stadium Native and there's virtually no difference I can hear.

I created a Preset Template in Stadium using my usual parallel Delay/Reverb and LA Studio Comp and assigned the Stadium Delay and Reverb to a Preset Template with CCs in Helix. This allows you to have 1028 pedalboards and you avoid needing to make MIDI assignments for every effect in every Stadium preset.

You also have simple control over Snapshots.

 

Now, if you MUST have Preset changes, you'll either have to assign them manually in Reaper or get a MAC and use whatever DAW/HOST application uses the AU plugin format, as VST3 does not handle presets the way that VST2 did.

 

Manual assignment in Reaper is annoying, but not difficult. If you decide to go this way I can explain it to you.

 

If the AI you get has LINE INPUTS in addition to the Instrument Input you can take the audio from streaming apps like Spotify from the HP Out on your computer and record it along with your playing - you're part of the band!

[rd2rk]

Further to the above:

 

I also have ToneX, Genome and THU. That gives me access to 4 of the 6 major players in the capture/profile world.

 

Proxy through Stadium Native

NAM through Genome (though Genome isn't necessary, I could just use the FREE NAM player, but it's nice to have it.)

ToneX

THU Rig Libraries

 

All with a choice of (potentially) 1028 different Helix pedalboards and using Helix as MIDI controller and Reaper as DAW/VST HOST.

 

What a wonderful world we live in!

[themetallikid]

ok, so got confirmation from Line 6 that my laptop woes are basically not going to be fixed.  The 'ARM-based processor' is not supported by their driver and likely won't be because of a smaller market share for that type of processor.  So, my Helix is stuck with an Error 10 code where it won't pass audio anywhere.   

 

So, with that, if I'm understanding your above suggestions correctly (and I'm sure I'm not cause its new to me in a way)....

 

I can control Native using my Helix Floor?  Or am i missing something?  My only option at this point seems to be to do some sort of 'on laptop' situation and just then export the audio via headphones or to my Fender power cab for in room jamming.  

[rd2rk]

If I'm understanding you, you can't use Helix as an Audio Interface because the Helix ASIO driver is incompatible with your ARM based laptop?

 

If that is the case, you have two options.

Well, 3 if you want to try ASIO4ALL, but it sucks and you won't like the latency. assuming it works, not likely.

1 - Sell the ARM based laptop and get a proper x86 laptop. I know, money is tight and why would anybody want to buy it? IDK, I wouldn't, but you did....

2 - Look for an Audio Interface with an ARM compatible ASIO Driver. According to the Focusrite website, the 4th Gen Scarlett interfaces are ARM64 compatible.

 

Scarlett interfaces are excellent for home use and much more affordable than many "PRO" interfaces such as RME, and higher quality than cheaper options like Behringer. I've been using a 2nd Gen Scarlett 18i20 for ages.

 

You can use Helix as a MIDI CONTROLLER with Native, but that won't help if you can't get audio into your laptop. You don't need MIDI DIN ports on the interface as Reaper can bring in MIDI over USB. I THINK the L6 MIDI driver should be compatible (it's "Class Compatible" and works fine with my iPad), but you might want to open a support ticket and ask.