new to this got a sq 7 last week , i would like to connect my guitar via a di box to an input and rout that via aes port into my helix then back via 2 xlrs (helix is stereo return ) (later i would like to make return digital as well but working with what ive got for moment ) can anyone tell me where to start please ,
I’m not a guitar player, but I don’t understand why you would route the guitar signal to the console BEFORE sending it to the Helix. I’ve always seen people simply plug their guitar directly into the Helix and then send the output of the Helix into the console as the source for your guitar channel(s). I believe you can run parallel audio paths in the Helix if you are looking for a clean and dirty signal, so there really isn’t a reason to route the audio like you suggest.
If you did end up routing the audio like you suggest, you should measure and compensate for the extra latency of the “helix audio path” input vs the “regular guitar DI” input. If you don’t account for the extra latency, you could get some destructive phasing between the two audio channels.
I completely agree with sic0048 and would also connect my guitar directly to the Helix, whose input is specifically designed for this purpose and can even be precisely adjusted in terms of impedance to the specific instrument or desired sound.
It also doesn’t sound like you intend to connect multiple guitars to the SQ because then send them all to the Helix.
But even for a second instrument, the Helix has an additional input available - though with a guitar, this would only be for one with active electronics.
And this wouldn’t work anyway, since, as far as I know, the Helix doesn’t have an AES input.
Helix has aes input it’s rack version , I want to be able to record clean and dirty at same time
In that case, you would set up the “DI guitar” just like normal (guitar → DI → analog input on SQ). You can then use a “tie line” to send the DI guitar’s channel out via the AES port (found in the local output routing page). Use that output as your Helix’s input and then output the Helix into a separate set of analog inputs on the SQ.
Again, I think I would take the time to time align these two guitar audio paths, although the audio is probably going to be non-correlated enough that you wouldn’t get destructive phasing under normal circumstances. But the elements needed for destructive phasing are all there, so time aligning the two channels would ensure there wasn’t destructive phasing if/when the two audio paths were to become more correlated.
One more thought regarding the potential direct connection of your guitar to the Helix:
You’re familiar with your Helix.
It has four pairs of SEND/RETURN jacks, among other things for inserting external effects units.
Therefore, I would assume that you could also output your unprocessed, dry guitar signal to one of these SENDs and alternatively send it as a third path to the SQ.
At least this option seems to be available via USB - did they forget it for an analog connection?
I understand this , but what I really eventually wanted to achieve was when it went digital in the desk it stayed digital until I goto the speakers , I’m thinking about adding Dante , and getting a Dante to aes converter , there a couple hundred quid , I’ve also just seen a and h do a Dante 2 Chanel di box , so thinking about that also
But what would be the difference?
- Guitar → analog to the DI box → analog to the console
- Guitar → analog to the Helix → analog to the console
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In theory I understand the desire to “stay digital” for the entire audio path. In reality however, the AD and DA conversions are very clean. I honestly don’t think you will hear a difference between “all digital” and “not all digital”. I certainly doubt the the added expense of creating the all digital path is going to be worth it.
That’s true, but i think, that’s no longer the point; because at least it would theoretically still possible to hear it. )
Therefore, another also theoretical consideration:
Both the Helix and the SQ-7 contain a USB audio interface.
Wouldn’t it be possible to connect both devices to a Mac and patch all the desired connections internal, thus keeping everything digital?
The resulting latency could maybe still be within acceptable limits when doing it for a guitar.