Helix LT - Possible to do it all ? Advice please.

jimkehoe

I am contemplating a Helix LT with the intention of using it as the basis for the following:

• Use at home with mixer ( Allen & Heath Zedi 10 FX)and studio monitors(2 x Genelec 8020a)
• Use at home with I mac,mixer  & studio monitors to record
• Platform along with the mixer to host open mic nights at pub.
• Platform to use with mixer and powered monitors to perform mainly as an acoustic duo but with possibility of including others (guitar, bass, keyboard etc on occasion, but not in a full full band context) 

Is this possible/advisable?

If so what would anyone recommend as powered monitors to fulfil all these requirements and what sort of cost is involved?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Jim.

Cabicular

Hi Jim
persobally I think you would be better with the full floor if only because of the I/O
everything you say is possible but you might start running out of inputs on an LT and for the difference in cost .. it would be a no brained for me

jimkehoe

Cabicular said:

Hi Jim
persobally I think you would be better with the full floor if only because of the I/O
everything you say is possible but you might start running out of inputs on an LT and for the difference in cost .. it would be a no brained for me

Thanks for the advice. Sounds good. Any recommendations re monitors/speakers & cost?

John_A

If you're using a mixer as well, what's the point in routing everything through the Helix?  If you're just use the Helix for guitar and bass and stick acoustic, keys and box through the desk you'll be fine with the LT, but agree the not huge price does difference makes the full Helix a better choice.

speakers, Yamaha DXR10 12s or RCF 712a would do be a good choice, but there are other good ones out there too

Cabicular

John_A said:

If you're using a mixer as well, what's the point in routing everything through the Helix?  If you're just use the Helix for guitar and bass and stick acoustic, keys and box through the desk you'll be fine with the LT, but agree the not huge price does difference makes the full Helix a better choice.

speakers, Yamaha DXR10 12s or RCF 712a would do be a good choice, but there are other good ones out there too

I run acoustic through the Helix, it has some nice FX and I quite like blending in an IR
Alto speakers are generally well regarded though I use the Line6 L2s
for our small Pa we have a couple of Turbosound Ip2000s and they are great

Legionreturns

There's a DXR10 for sale in the classifieds...

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/129817/fs-yamaha-dxr-10-with-cover#latest

jimkehoe

Legionreturns said:

There's a DXR10 for sale in the classifieds...

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/129817/fs-yamaha-dxr-10-with-cover#latest

Thanks for the heads up - Unfortunately wrong end of the country.

John_A said:

If you're using a mixer as well, what's the point in routing everything through the Helix?  If you're just use the Helix for guitar and bass and stick acoustic, keys and box through the desk you'll be fine with the LT, but agree the not huge price does difference makes the full Helix a better choice.

speakers, Yamaha DXR10 12s or RCF 712a would do be a good choice, but there are other good ones out there too

Excellent. Thanks.

John_A

Cabicular said:

John_A said:

If you're using a mixer as well, what's the point in routing everything through the Helix?  If you're just use the Helix for guitar and bass and stick acoustic, keys and box through the desk you'll be fine with the LT, but agree the not huge price does difference makes the full Helix a better choice.

speakers, Yamaha DXR10 12s or RCF 712a would do be a good choice, but there are other good ones out there too

I run acoustic through the Helix, it has some nice FX and I quite like blending in an IR
Alto speakers are generally well regarded though I use the Line6 L2s
for our small Pa we have a couple of Turbosound Ip2000s and they are great

Yes, I use my Helix for acoustic too, and those are certainly good reasons to do that.

Had a few Alto's and the best I can say is 'great for the money'  PA gear is certainly an area where you get what you pay for

jimkehoe

John_A said:

Cabicular said:

John_A said:

If you're using a mixer as well, what's the point in routing everything through the Helix?  If you're just use the Helix for guitar and bass and stick acoustic, keys and box through the desk you'll be fine with the LT, but agree the not huge price does difference makes the full Helix a better choice.

speakers, Yamaha DXR10 12s or RCF 712a would do be a good choice, but there are other good ones out there too

I run acoustic through the Helix, it has some nice FX and I quite like blending in an IR
Alto speakers are generally well regarded though I use the Line6 L2s
for our small Pa we have a couple of Turbosound Ip2000s and they are great

Yes, I use my Helix for acoustic too, and those are certainly good reasons to do that.

Had a few Alto's and the best I can say is 'great for the money'  PA gear is certainly an area where you get what you pay for

Very useful - How good is the Turbosound ? I would only need enough power for a busy pub, nothing larger.

Excuse my ignorance "blending in an IR" What is an IR ?

John_A

Turbosound are excellent speakers, as are RCF, the top-end Yamahas and others
IR = Impulse Response(a digital capture of a frequency response) you can use an IR to simulate anything that makes a noise, in this application you would use an IR of a top drawer acoustic guitar that was professionally mic'd up and that EQ curve would be applied to your acoustic guitar signal making it sound dead good

jimkehoe

John_A said:

Turbosound are excellent speakers, as are RCF, the top-end Yamahas and others
IR = Impulse Response(a digital capture of a frequency response) you can use an IR to simulate anything that makes a noise, in this application you would use an IR of a top drawer acoustic guitar that was professionally mic'd up and that EQ curve would be applied to your acoustic guitar signal making it sound dead good

Great thanks.

Lord_Spanielchip

Shameless plug...there’s a Helix Rack & Control available in the classifieds 

jimkehoe

Lord_Spanielchip said:

Shameless plug...there’s a Helix Rack & Control available in the classifieds 

If you were closer I would be interested to explore the possibilities but don't really know yet if it is the right way to go. If I do go down that route I would think it would be the floor unit - either full fat or possibly LT.

jimkehoe

I went into Andertons this morning & tried one. Fantastic bit of kit but far too involved and too many bells and whistles for my needs.
Grateful for all the input.

John_A

jimkehoe said:

I went into Andertons this morning & tried one. Fantastic bit of kit but far too involved and too many bells and whistles for my needs.
Grateful for all the input.

Find it funny when people say it does too much, you don't have to use it all.  I use mine for clean, hairy, crunch and lead with a few effects now and then.  It's made a world of difference to our live sound and set-up time and wouldn't be without it. Lugging a 'proper' amp and board around just to sound worse   

jimkehoe

John_A said:

jimkehoe said:

I went into Andertons this morning & tried one. Fantastic bit of kit but far too involved and too many bells and whistles for my needs.
Grateful for all the input.

Find it funny when people say it does too much, you don't have to use it all.  I use mine for clean, hairy, crunch and lead with a few effects now and then.  It's made a world of difference to our live sound and set-up time and wouldn't be without it. Lugging a 'proper' amp and board around just to sound worse   

Fully understand that. I mainly play at home so lugging the amp is not so much of a problem. But I just think I would spend more time tweaking than playing.

John_A

jimkehoe said:

John_A said:

jimkehoe said:

I went into Andertons this morning & tried one. Fantastic bit of kit but far too involved and too many bells and whistles for my needs.
Grateful for all the input.

Find it funny when people say it does too much, you don't have to use it all.  I use mine for clean, hairy, crunch and lead with a few effects now and then.  It's made a world of difference to our live sound and set-up time and wouldn't be without it. Lugging a 'proper' amp and board around just to sound worse   

Fully understand that. I mainly play at home so lugging the amp is not so much of a problem. But I just think I would spend more time tweaking than playing.

Call me a Helix fanboy   but I now spend way more time playing than tweaking than I ever did with a real amp and pedals.  I just plug it in, it sounds great and I play.

Buy a used one, you won't lose much, if anything on it and give it a try

jimkehoe

I am wavering again - I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite sure!

Wasted much more time on You tube and again beginning to think a helix could be used for what I want/need despite probably never needing or using 85%+ of it's capabilities.
Also have found I can get hold of a Line 6 L3T for reasonable money. I thought this might be used as  a mini PA for acoustic duo stuff and open mic but also double as the outlet for a Helix.
Anyone got any experience or thoughts re the L3t with acoustic and/or a Helix?

Cabicular

jimkehoe said:

I am wavering again - I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite sure!

Wasted much more time on You tube and again beginning to think a helix could be used for what I want/need despite probably never needing or using 85%+ of it's capabilities.
Also have found I can get hold of a Line 6 L3T for reasonable money. I thought this might be used as  a mini PA for acoustic duo stuff and open mic but also double as the outlet for a Helix.
Anyone got any experience or thoughts re the L3t with acoustic and/or a Helix?

It’s heavy but it sounds fantastic
much better that the L2 
i would have one with me all the time if I could be arsed carrying it around

jimkehoe

Cabicular said:

jimkehoe said:

I am wavering again - I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite sure!

Wasted much more time on You tube and again beginning to think a helix could be used for what I want/need despite probably never needing or using 85%+ of it's capabilities.
Also have found I can get hold of a Line 6 L3T for reasonable money. I thought this might be used as  a mini PA for acoustic duo stuff and open mic but also double as the outlet for a Helix.
Anyone got any experience or thoughts re the L3t with acoustic and/or a Helix?

It’s heavy but it sounds fantastic
much better that the L2 
i would have one with me all the time if I could be arsed carrying it around

Picked it up last night. You're not kidding about it being heavy !
I am tempted to find an L2 just because of the weight but you may have dissuaded me now. Are they vastly different?

Helix LT arrives tomorrow !

Wazmeister

I’ve got to say, I’ve had a few hours now with the Helix HX, and it is superb.

Ive always had an issue with the verbs and delays, but the new update is superb.

Ive been a long term Strymon timeline and Big Sky fan, and they are superior, but the HX is very good indeed

So, Jim, have a good play with the FX alone - excellent