After selling off the Helix Floor, I originally thought setting up a portable flyrig attached to my main board could be the answer to my needs. I was wrong. Two Stomps doesn't make one Helix. One octave effect and half a Stomp's DSP is gone.
Then I bought a Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 3 audio interface to fully utilise the Helix Native and my life was changed forever. Native relies on the MacBook's processing power for the DSP usage, which in my M1 Pro's case, is unlimited DSP.
It's so crazy that I can load all 32 available blocks with octave effects and it will still run fine. What's amazing is that my MacBook Pro doubles as a speaker output from Logic Pro so I don't have to carry a pair of headphones or speakers.
With the Focusrite powered via type C connection to my MacBook Pro, this essentially means a super powerful portable rig solution. Much much more powerful that the flyrig pedalboard. I could even record guitar on the fly or use whatever other resources on my laptop while gigging!!!
Then it struck me. I could use this rig live one day!!! I searched the forums to see if others have tried using a MIDI footswitch to change settings in Helix Native live. There are a few, but it's not a popular way of doing things. This changes with the M1 Pro MacBook's super powerful chip.
Ideally, the MC8 would utilise my Mosky dual-switch as additional footswitches and the Vexpress as expression pedal, all on the pedaltrain Nano v4.6. It would be a mini-Helix right under my nose. The great thing about MC8 is that it is also USB powered like the Focusrite. This means my MacBook can power everything.
There are two hardware problems that came with the MC8. Firstly, the size of the MC8 is rather huge and everything on it fits exactly. And by exactly I mean with flathead EBS patch cables. Any other cables wouldn't have made it. So I had to spend another $50 to order one more TRS flathead from USA. Grrr...
The other problem is that the footswitches are 10mm in diameter instead of 8.5mm. This means my Mooer toppers can't fit. Knowing that I will be using it barefoot most of the time, the toppers are essential. So spent yet another $50 to get some Solutek toppers from Amazon. Such is the life in Singapore, plain old Singapore.
At least Morningstar is a company founded by Singaporeans. Easy to repair if anything breaks. Time to enjoy this beast! Only one caveat though, MIDI is a steep learning curve. With all the time in the world, I can finally dive into MIDI proper. Time to learn!!!
Tag: PBv4.6
*As of 8th September 2022, the Morningstar MC8 has been sold for $350.
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