Manual

44
USB Audio
Helix functions as a USB 2.0, multiple-input/output, 24-bit - 96kHz, low-latency audio
interface for Windows
®
and Mac
®
computers, as well as for iPad
®
(with optional Apple
®
camera kit adapter), and is compatible with all major DAW software.
NOTE: For USB audio operation on Windows
®
computers, it is necessary to
download and install the Line 6 Helix ASIO
®
driver, available from line6.com/soft-
ware. There is no driver installation needed for Mac
®
or iPad
®
devices.
With the Helix default "Multi" Input and Output block settings in use, you'll automati-
cally hear audio software playback on USB 1/2 routed directly to the Helix XLR, 1/4"
and Phones outputs. This lets you jam along with YouTube™, iTunes
®
, or your DAW
tracks without hearing them through a bunch of amps and eects.
P
USH
P
U
SH
DIGITAL
S/PDIF
AES/EBU
L6 LINK OUT
HELIX OUTPUTS
USB OUTPUTS
1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8
USB INPUTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
HELIX INPUTS
16B Dream Rig+Vocals
Ch VolPresenceBass MidDriveTreble
102.53.45.02.53.4
Amp+Cab Stone Age 185
S
S
INPUT
ROUTING
OUTPUT
ROUTING
In 3/4 5/6 7/8
In 1/2
Out 1/2 3/4 5/6
Out 7 Out 8
Jamming with
YouTube
TM
, iTunes
®
, etc.
DI (Dry) Signal
for Re-amping
If you set your DAW software track to record from Helix USB 1/2, you'll capture your
Helix-processed input signal in the DAW track - with zero-latency monitoring, since
you are hearing your input from the Helix hardware outputs before it is routed through
your software.
The additional Helix USB Inputs and Outputs are available within the Helix Input and
Output blocks, and within your DAW software track menus, which can be utilized for
numerous routing congurations, all without patching extra cables - see the following
examples.
Hardware Monitoring vs. DAW Software
Monitoring
Use of the Helix default "Multi" settings for both the Input and Output blocks provides
hardware monitoring, which allows you to hear your live input signal at all times, in-
dependent of your DAW software's monitor settings. Hardware monitoring can be
desirable since it allows you to hear your live guitar or mic input with Helix processing
added and essentially "latency-free," since the monitor signal is not routed through
your DAW software.
In some DAW recording scenarios, it may be preferable to utilize your recording ap-
plication's "input monitoring" or "software monitoring" feature, which routes your live
input signal through the armed recording track, thus allowing you to monitor the input
eected by any plug-ins you may have inserted on the track. The one downside of
DAW software monitoring, however, is that your live input signal will be delayed slightly
due to being routed through the software and back to the Helix outputs, which is re-
ferred to as "latency." Helix is designed to provide very low latency operation - see
"ASIO® Driver Settings (Windows® only)" for info and settings.
When a DAW track's software monitoring is active, you'll likely not want to simulta-
neously hear the Helix hardware monitoring signal. To achieve this, you can set the
Helix Output block to USB Out 3/4 or 5/6. These Output block options will route your
Helix-processed, stereo signal out to your DAW software without also providing the
Helix hardware monitoring to USB 1/2. You'll then need to set your DAW track to re-
ceive from the same selected Helix USB Out to record the Helix-processed signal into
the track - or, you can optionally set the DAW track input to Helix USB 7 or USB 8 to
record a dry DI signal - see the next section.
NOTE: Keep the Helix Input block set to "Multi" and your DAW software's main,
Master output to Helix USB 1/2 to also hear playback of your full DAW mix.