A bit of thoughts about Helios.

[Alexxon]

I'm not familiar with the sound of Helios as I rarely use it in UAD-2 format, but I tried to use it when it become native now. I did a comparision of it with Neve 1073. My preference is still Neve as it's more controllable and flexiable, giving you more range to shape the sound, but Helios is something with his strong personality and enrich color of your sound with it.

I did a comparision of the coloring of both plugins. I put them to a drum bus and increase the gain and match them to the same level. Turns out Helios's color is more stronger than 1073 and the saturation would be more focused on around 200 - 600hz, while 1073's saturation is more focused on 100hz, makes it great to use on kicks or bass instruments that needs some additional low end. These numerical data might not be correct so just for a reference.

I also tried to match the EQ settings to the same. I found Helios would leave more 500hz stuff out while 1073 will keep something around 700hz while I dip them together, so in terms of listening experience 1073 would be a bit more "crisp" and Helios woud sound more "rich and bold". Helios mid dip would be a lot more gental than 1073, while 1073's dip would instantly shape the sound and make way for other frequency even you just tweaked a little.

I'd describe Helios as an aggressive PreAmp & EQ while 1073 as smooth and sweet. It's just preference, sometimes one would sounds more desired in some scenerios. They are both excellent for sure. I should use Helios more on synth that exactly needs this "bold" feeling.

 

[easyrider]

Helios on Electric Guitar cabs is great.

 

[Alexxon]

Let’s hope next port would be Neve 33609 and Neve 1084, the world needs more diode compression as well as the British console sound 🫡

 

[rodd]

Our modern world problem is we have so many things to choose from. If we only had one of the real preamps that UA had modeled I’m sure we’d know more about it, and we’d know how to make it work on anything. It’s the paradox of choice.

 

[Alexxon]

It’s the paradox of choice.

I agree, but my opinion is that you could actually intentionally create an environment that is free of overwhelming choices, for example: restrict yourself to use a selected series of plugins in the coming week. Collect all other's VST3/VST/AU/... into a folder where you could put them back later. Just force yourself to use some of them, and it's equal to the elimination of choices.

Options are always good, to use them and to have them is two different thing. You could have them, but you don't have to use them. If there is once that you feel you need to use one plugin over the other, I think it could be the value of that plugin. It's just how frequent you'd use it. Just my personal thoughts.

 

[Alexxon]

The way that I get familiar with plugins I'm interested in apart from consciouselly use them, is to write a user manual / plugin review on my own without directly referencing other people's opinion, just like what I did in this post. I urge myself to be as honest as possible, reflect these experiences completely based on my ears and intuition. As I was writing my feedback, I'm asking myself "how you feel about it, how you would use it" and questons like that. This takes time but it's benificial for me to find the tool that I really like. You could also apply this to do demo testing plugins you want to buy before you pull the trigger, so you get a better overview of what you want.

 

[chrisharbin]

For me (and I demoed this when it was DSP when I was still using the Apollo), it's just a different flavor vs. trying to compare it to something else. I'd agree with the sentiment that the OP made. But that's what it should be to me.

In the short time since the port, what I like it for is subtle eq so far. And example would be drums. So far I like a little bump at 4k. Kinda the same with amp sims.

 

[Alexxon]

It's just preference, sometimes one would sounds more desired in some scenerios. They are both excellent for sure.

Exactly.

it's just a different flavor vs. trying to compare it to something else

My main reason to put it with 1073 and do a comparision is because I'm familiar enough with 1073 but I'm very new to Helios, it's not I want to put one over the other. They have similar interface, similar control, and I was just exploring how different Helios would sound. I know where I should use 1073, but I don't know where I should use Helios, so this is just to make an abstract concept clear by dragging something to its side as it's reference.

 

[klasaine]

Maybe not the obvious application but I’ll use the DSP Helios for direct electric guitar.
I usually couple it with the 176 or 175 comp.
Here are my settings with a Telecaster. This is relatively clean …

 

[chrisharbin]

Exactly.

My main reason to put it with 1073 and do a comparision is because I'm familiar enough with 1073 but I'm very new to Helios, it's not I want to put one over the other. They have similar interface, similar control, and I was just exploring how different Helios would sound. I know where I should use 1073, but I don't know where I should use Helios, so this is just to make an abstract concept clear by dragging something to its side as it's reference.

Oh no, I love it, just blabbing about me

 

[UA_User]

Maybe not the obvious application but I’ll use the DSP Helios for direct electric guitar.

I tried it with direct bass (5-string Squier Jazz bass/active pickups) and it's pretty interesting.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I like running the same EQ on every channel and just living in those limits.
If I could record a band through a Yamaha PM1000 with it's wacky EQ choices I can do it with anything.
The Helios EQ is a challenge though with that bonkers low end EQ design.
It also feels like a waste to use the mid to cut at all!

 

[Nyoak34]

I tried it with direct bass (5-string Squier Jazz bass/active pickups) and it's pretty interesting.

The mid range eq is excellent for bass.

 

[UA_User]

The mid range eq is excellent for bass.

+1

 

[EoSNJ]

Maybe it's just me, but I find that using a bunch of different pre's/channel strips is ok-ish for some stuff. But it misses the cumulative sonic imprint that mixing through an entire console would have. Those fixed EQ points work together across a mix, and don't step on each other. Whether it's the Vision, Neve, or Helios, it's in the context of an entire mix that their character becomes distinct.

 

[Nyoak34]

Maybe it's just me, but I find that using a bunch of different pre's/channel strips is ok-ish for some stuff. But it misses the cumulative sonic imprint that mixing through an entire console would have. Those fixed EQ points work together across a mix, and don't step on each other. Whether it's the Vision, Neve, or Helios, it's in the context of an entire mix that their character becomes distinct.

It's definitely not just you. There are tons of people who want to keep a certain sonic signature and also the simplicity of knowing what you're dealing with on every channel....At least to get a cohesive basic mix and then add on from there.

 

[UA_User]

Maybe it's just me, but I find that using a bunch of different pre's/channel strips is ok-ish for some stuff. But it misses the cumulative sonic imprint that mixing through an entire console would have. Those fixed EQ points work together across a mix, and don't step on each other. Whether it's the Vision, Neve, or Helios, it's in the context of an entire mix that their character becomes distinct.

Agreed, but outside of working with an analog console, I'm not sure how much it matters for some kinds of music done entirely itb. Definitely with a slew of live instruments, that overall smooshing together and blend is nice, and very flattering for a lot of things. Working with limited frequencies in the EQ also has workflow advantages.

itb, The Helios here for me is just acting like a hardware direct box or amp or preamp or something. Just slapping it on a couple sources that it's EQ curves happen to work well with. Not to say it couldn't be used a across a mix, or recorded through to begin with across a whole mix, or used as an EQ across all channels without the preamp, etc. It wouldn't work for me in that role personally, as I like other EQ's better for general duties.

 

[EoSNJ]

Agreed, but outside of working with an analog console, I'm not sure how much it matters for some kinds of music done entirely itb. Definitely with a slew of live instruments, that overall smooshing together and blend is nice, and very flattering for a lot of things. Working with limited frequencies in the EQ also has workflow advantages.

itb, The Helios here for me is just acting like a hardware direct box or amp or preamp or something. Just slapping it on a couple sources that it's EQ curves happen to work well with. Not to say it couldn't be used a across a mix, or recorded through to begin with across a whole mix, or used as an EQ across all channels without the preamp, etc. It wouldn't work for me in that role personally, as I like other EQ's better for general duties.

I find it even more relevant with stuff that's created itb. My templates tend to have tape across everything that represents a recorded track, and then through consistent channel strips - whether the EQ is engaged or not. It's an overall glue thing. The gain staging in the Helios builds a unique harmonic character to a mix just by being instantiated.

 

[UA_User]

I find it even more relevant with stuff that's created itb.

Just depends for me. Most of the time I'm working in the current styles (for better or worse), which grew up itb. Blend is counter-productive much of the time for this stuff.

 

[chrisharbin]

The mid range eq is excellent for bass.

Curious, what frequency do you usually use?