Helium MIDI Sequencer - MasterClass #1 - Back to Basics

This is the first in a series of MasterClass videos for Helium. Over the years I have produced many tutorials covering specific topics, but over time the UI has changed for the better, leaving some viewers confused and lost as they wade through all the video updates.

So this is an attempt for me to revisit all the essential features, and include them into a set of MasterClass videos using the most recent version of Helium, which at the time of creation was version 1.42. This is not only great for all you newcomers, but it will save you time digging through my older videos. I will say though, the older videos still have merit, and still well worth exploring.

[tompoynton]

Thanks for doing this Paul, while I don’t have Helium myself, it’s really good to see developers doing this, so many apps change from the original version thus making initial tutorials quite unhelpful

[edzielinski]

No other developer does a better job of creating tutorials that cover everything you need. Well worth watching and taking notes. **Tip: At 20:36, where the Ghost Track option for chords is demonstrated, you have to click past the numbers 1-16, and then you can select either Local or Global to show the notes from the chord track, and you might need to adjust the contrast settings to see the notes better - for that, long press Menu, and then try changing High Contrast and Invert Colors options if needed.

[PRESSXYZ]

Thank you, Paul, for your innovations ic. midi and tonepackets, etc. The most difficult part in Helium for me now is the combination 'Chord - Cluster - Controlers Only' in (Global and Local) Chord Tracks; these are all combined in one properties-window, while they're 3 semi-different 'things' and it's not clear how they are interacting with each other. It would be much clearer for me if you made a seperate Controller Track (only Local?) with it's own properties-window, and that you combine Chords and Clusters as one editable Chord Track (every Cluster can be analysed as chord...). Hope this makes sense. Thank you very much again for your great work.

[bjamminsincebirth]

Hey Paul,
Could Helium detect chords drawn in? That would be a cool feature that would make it easy.

Also another idea would be to have it draw chords based on the chord type selected. Like Major, Minor, Dorian, etc etc

[dr.feelicks]

Lil’ gem of function this Helium is. Thanks for this, plugged a few holes for sure. If we discover any presumable bugs, what is our course of action?

[bjamminsincebirth]

Hey Paul
Will you be adding scale highlights?

[Francesco-L]

Thank you very much for this tutorial!

[jfn]

Each track automatically plays on the corresponding Midi channel? Track 1 on 1, Track 2 on 2, etc. ? Or where do I set the Midi channel for a track?

[Drvortext]

Hi Paul, I'm encountering an issue with the chord track in AUM.

The problem occurs when I set a loop point, especially while recording. The first chord played often sounds off, as if it's playing the wrong notes or too many notes simultaneously. Once this issue starts, it persists until I remove the loop point.

Here are a few observations:

- The issue arises regardless of whether the chord is set to cluster, chord, or controllers.
- Occasionally, the chord will trigger the MIDI instrument for a track other than track 1.
- The position of the loop point doesn't seem to influence the issue.

Aside from this, I'm really impressed with the app and I appreciate these tutorials!

[mikigreenofficial]

If you'd combine Helium and multitrack recorder, you would basically have an equivalent to cubasis 😮. A question; can each port have up to 16 different midi channels?

[Punk_Mayhem]

watched it a million times, but, but, is it just me or the sound from the chords from the chord track is a lot smoother, could you please kindly share your thoughts on this?

arnt they supposed to sound the same?