Home Studio Update: Helix Rack/Controller

[JerEvil]

So I got an LT about 8 months ago, then upgraded to the Floor and Native. In the interest of not having to keep connecting and disconnecting the Floor model for gigs/practice and then setting it back up at home, I opted to grab the Rack to keep in the studio desk and utilize the Floor strictly for gigging.

I think at this point it is fair to say "Fanboy Status Achieved..."

This thing is SLIIIIIIIIICK! Still floors me (pun quasi-intended) that I have gone full potato on the Helix. I HATED the tones when it was released and was using the Kemper and then AX8. This thing, IMHO has come leaps and bounds. Can't wait for FW 2.5 with the Friedman BE/HBE model and the new reverbs.

 

[paulyc]

Have you used the floor unit with real amps at all ? I'm SUPER interested...

 

[JerEvil]

Have you used the floor unit with real amps at all ? I'm SUPER interested...

I am working on a vid of that now using my Quilter OD200 and V-Boutique 2x12. Sounds killer. I am just using it for poser though. I will do another vid using it 4CM with either the Henning or Friedman. Looking to get either a KSR, Revv or JP-2C to incorporate the MIDI ability.

 

[Chris O]

Are you using the factory cab/speakers or or you using other commercial IR's? I love my Helix LT! Fun unit! I use the MK IV model almost all the time. The 2204 Mod is pretty cool too.

 

[errrrrl]

Cool! Hey Jer can you get Native to sound as good as your rack or floor? I have Native and haven't spent too much time with it but never managed to get any great metal tones out of it. Any tips?

 

[JerEvil]

Are you using the factory cab/speakers or or you using other commercial IR's? I love my Helix LT! Fun unit! I use the MK IV model almost all the time. The 2204 Mod is pretty cool too.

Yeah man. Factory cabs about 98% of the time. I don't like messing with IR's and have yet to find a need to.


quote="errrrrl"]Cool! Hey Jer can you get Native to sound as good as your rack or floor? I have Native and haven't spent too much time with it but never managed to get any great metal tones out of it. Any tips?[/quote]
Hey bud! Yeah man I think Native sounds great. I used it for my YouTube channel theme song. This is the Badonk and Uber models with the Schecter KM7. I recorded day 1 of the free trial. Dialed in these tones and the bass tone in less than 5 minutes. Not even kidding.

 

[errrrrl]

Are you using the factory cab/speakers or or you using other commercial IR's? I love my Helix LT! Fun unit! I use the MK IV model almost all the time. The 2204 Mod is pretty cool too.

Yeah man. Factory cabs about 98% of the time. I don't like messing with IR's and have yet to find a need to.

Cool! Hey Jer can you get Native to sound as good as your rack or floor? I have Native and haven't spent too much time with it but never managed to get any great metal tones out of it. Any tips?

Hey bud! Yeah man I think Native sounds great. I used it for my YouTube channel theme song. This is the Badonk and Uber models with the Schecter KM7. I recorded day 1 of the free trial. Dialed in these tones and the bass tone in less than 5 minutes. Not even kidding.

I remember when you made that, the entire song is very cool I guess I should give it more time. I notice when I mess with the higher gain stuff I get some serious noise sort of like a real tube amp without a noisegate, is that normal? Or do I need a better interface? I'll keep trying.

 

[JerEvil]

Are you using the factory cab/speakers or or you using other commercial IR's? I love my Helix LT! Fun unit! I use the MK IV model almost all the time. The 2204 Mod is pretty cool too.

Yeah man. Factory cabs about 98% of the time. I don't like messing with IR's and have yet to find a need to.

Cool! Hey Jer can you get Native to sound as good as your rack or floor? I have Native and haven't spent too much time with it but never managed to get any great metal tones out of it. Any tips?

Hey bud! Yeah man I think Native sounds great. I used it for my YouTube channel theme song. This is the Badonk and Uber models with the Schecter KM7. I recorded day 1 of the free trial. Dialed in these tones and the bass tone in less than 5 minutes. Not even kidding.

I remember when you made that, the entire song is very cool I guess I should give it more time. I notice when I mess with the higher gain stuff I get some serious noise sort of like a real tube amp without a noisegate, is that normal? Or do I need a better interface? I'll keep trying.

Are you setting the input gate in Native? The problem with Helix is all that amp noise you'd normally get is modeled. Almost hyper-real. If its an amp that would need a gate in real life, it'll need it in Helix. Good news is that the gate is pretty awesome and doesn't affect tone in any way that I can tell.

 

[errrrrl]

I'm just using presets in Native, like the uber or engl, haven't messed with the built in gates, I guess I assumed those were already setup lol... I'll dig into it or hopefully find a BRUTAL video *hint hint*

 

[JerEvil]

I'm just using presets in Native, like the uber or engl, haven't messed with the built in gates, I guess I assumed those were already setup lol... I'll dig into it or hopefully find a BRUTAL video *hint hint*

I will make one for sure using Native. Will be hitting my series hard this week. I am so behind! LOL! That's the trouble with being in your 40's, have a family (which is a blessing!) and being in corporate middle management and tying to find time for content!

 

[errrrrl]

I will make one for sure using native. Will befitting my series hard this week. I am so behind! LOL! That's the trouble with being in your 40's, have a family (which is a blessing!) and being in corporate middle management and tying to find time for content!

Looking forward to that! I hear ya man, almost the same boat except I trade on the Nikkei standard Tokyo market hours but from Hawaii... If I want to get anything done with recording/vids I have to choose less sleep or reducing family time... Let's just say I'm always fricken tired with a cup of coffee in hand

 

[JerEvil]

I will make one for sure using native. Will befitting my series hard this week. I am so behind! LOL! That's the trouble with being in your 40's, have a family (which is a blessing!) and being in corporate middle management and tying to find time for content!

Looking forward to that! I hear ya man, almost the same boat except I trade on the Nikkei standard Tokyo market hours but from Hawaii... If I want to get anything done with recording/vids I have to choose less sleep or reducing family time... Let's just say I'm always fricken tired with a cup of coffee in hand

My man!

 

[indespise]

I actually just took the plunge on Native myself. Have been super impressed with the sounds I'm getting, and the convenience factor of being able to tweak so deeply without re-tracking or re-amping is really awesome. For my high gain sounds, I've found that using the high cut and/or the 160 and 121 ribbon mics really helps with stock cabs, have also been getting good results with the free ownhammer Mesa V60 impulses (the OH2F set in particular).

Might I ask what prompted your decision to upgrade from the LT to the full board?

 

[JerEvil]

I actually just took the plunge on Native myself. Have been super impressed with the sounds I'm getting, and the convenience factor of being able to tweak so deeply without re-tracking or re-amping is really awesome. For my high gain sounds, I've found that using the high cut and/or the 160 and 121 ribbon mics really helps with stock cabs, have also been getting good results with the free ownhammer Mesa V60 impulses (the OH2F set in particular).

Might I ask what prompted your decision to upgrade from the LT to the full board?

Nice! Yeah I am super happy with Native as well.

The main reason I upgraded to the full from the LT was sheer vanity and not at all out of necessity. I did a few buds a solid though and actually sent the LT on a little tour around the US to some of my more cork sniffer boutique analog pedal using guys and one of them bought it and loves it! LOL! Also went to another bud who is a die hard Kemper guy and he really enjoyed it and made some sick clips of it.

I got the Rack as I really wanted a "live in" piece of hardware for the home studio and I will be using the Floor for gigs.

What amps are you favoring for high gain? I agree on the 160. That mic combined with either the SM7 or 421 is my go-to combo. Usually 2 cabs (not dual block) with the Uber 30/75.

 

[jcj]

The Helix is likely my next purchase.

I’ll definitely be checking out your series.

 

[indespise]

I actually just took the plunge on Native myself. Have been super impressed with the sounds I'm getting, and the convenience factor of being able to tweak so deeply without re-tracking or re-amping is really awesome. For my high gain sounds, I've found that using the high cut and/or the 160 and 121 ribbon mics really helps with stock cabs, have also been getting good results with the free ownhammer Mesa V60 impulses (the OH2F set in particular).

Might I ask what prompted your decision to upgrade from the LT to the full board?

Nice! Yeah I am super happy with Native as well.

The main reason I upgraded to the full from the LT was sheer vanity and not at all out of necessity. I did a few buds a solid though and actually sent the LT on a little tour around the US to some of my more cork sniffer boutique analog pedal using guys and one of them bought it and loves it! LOL! Also went to another bud who is a die hard Kemper guy and he really enjoyed it and made some sick clips of it.

I got the Rack as I really wanted a "live in" piece of hardware for the home studio and I will be using the Floor for gigs.

What amps are you favoring for high gain? I agree on the 160. That mic combined with either the SM7 or 421 is my go-to combo. Usually 2 cabs (not dual block) with the Uber 30/75.

98% of my Helix time has been messing with the Engl Fireball model. I dial it in pretty much like I do my actual FB100 (though I've mostly been using a boost in Helix, whereas I generally don't through the real thing- it's honestly not needed in either case, just a little tighter of an attack). I've briefly tinkered with the Archon, Uber, and 5150 models as well, no trouble getting good tones there either.

 

[JerEvil]

The Helix is likely my next purchase.

I’ll definitely be checking out your series.

Right on! Have you tried the Native free trial? It's for 15 days and will let you get familiar with the interface and sounds. I can not recommend it enough.

I actually just took the plunge on Native myself. Have been super impressed with the sounds I'm getting, and the convenience factor of being able to tweak so deeply without re-tracking or re-amping is really awesome. For my high gain sounds, I've found that using the high cut and/or the 160 and 121 ribbon mics really helps with stock cabs, have also been getting good results with the free ownhammer Mesa V60 impulses (the OH2F set in particular).

Might I ask what prompted your decision to upgrade from the LT to the full board?

Nice! Yeah I am super happy with Native as well.

The main reason I upgraded to the full from the LT was sheer vanity and not at all out of necessity. I did a few buds a solid though and actually sent the LT on a little tour around the US to some of my more cork sniffer boutique analog pedal using guys and one of them bought it and loves it! LOL! Also went to another bud who is a die hard Kemper guy and he really enjoyed it and made some sick clips of it.

I got the Rack as I really wanted a "live in" piece of hardware for the home studio and I will be using the Floor for gigs.

What amps are you favoring for high gain? I agree on the 160. That mic combined with either the SM7 or 421 is my go-to combo. Usually 2 cabs (not dual block) with the Uber 30/75.

98% of my Helix time has been messing with the Engl Fireball model. I dial it in pretty much like I do my actual FB100 (though I've mostly been using a boost in Helix, whereas I generally don't through the real thing- it's honestly not needed in either case, just a little tighter of an attack). I've briefly tinkered with the Archon, Uber, and 5150 models as well, no trouble getting good tones there either.

Yeah the Engl model is awesome. I can not wait for that Friedman. I have heard a few clips and it sounds killer.

 

[indespise]

I haven't played a Friedman, I'm looking forward to it as well. I'm too tight fisted these days to try all the usual high end amp stuff, I'll count on Helix to scratch any curiosity itch I may get for now. As good as the high end modeling stuff sounds lately, I'd really be thinking hard about an LT and either a small poweramp (like the Seymour Duncan 170) or a powered FRFR cab if I had any intentions of touring. Would be a hell of a lot easier (and more versatile) to pack around than a traditional setup, and you wouldn't have to worry about babying a tube amp or dealing with the always possible tube failure.