Waveform 11 Pro (10 & 7) not recognizing my ASIO interface (SOLVED BY ASIO4ALL)

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

Hi all-

Win 10 64 bit, WF 11 pro ver. 11.0.39

My interface is a Helix LT (a guitar processor), and I monitor via headphones, from a headphone out.

I have the Helix set as the defaulat speaker on my laptop. As shown in the screenshots, "Helix" is not an option, in audio devices.

Waveform tracks.JPG

Asio2.JPG

Asio.JPG

This occurred only after I applied the update to WF last night. I updated and shutdown my computer.

Today, I noticed the Helix is not recognized in WF 10, or WF 7 that I have on the same system.

I have the most updated drivers & firmware for the Helix.

I can hear audio via my headphones, if I set audio as shown in the pic (which means my pc recognizes the Helix).

audio settings.JPG

I've tried clicking the "Reset Audio Settings" in the Audio Devices tab.

I have the Helix plugged directly into a usb port, as opposed via a hub, which is my normal way.

Aside from the WF update, the only other thing I did was uninstall Reason 11 demo, but it didn't uninstall completely, so I reinstalled it to find the "uninstall" file to completely uninstall it. Then, I went back to WF, and my choices for ASIO devices, was Focusrite. I then unintalled the drivers for that, via Add/Remove programs.

I have no other Asio devices installed, and Device Manager shows my Helix is working properly. It does if I plug into a guitar amp, or output to my FRFR spaker.

So that's where I am now. My Helix is basically a $1200 brick, if it's not recognized by WF.

I deleted the settings file from the Waveform and Tracktion folders. From past experience, I learned that deleting that file brings you back to WF/T7 to a default stage, and helped in getting my midi controller running, but no-go this time. I have not reactivated WF 10 or T7 to keep them out of the variables. I've noticed from past experience, changes in the settings file has a global effect on all versions of WF/Tracktion.

I'm at a loss. Any ideas/solutions would be appreciated. Anyone experience this with the latest WF update?

I'm a bit reluctant to try asio4all, a seemingly common fix, as it toasted my system a few years ago. I may give it a shot, as I'm still sheltered in place, and want to do some recording, of my guitar, which I haven't done in many months (I'm learning midi).

Thanks in advance. Hope everyone is healthy and safe.

[terrynoakes]

This may or may not be of any use, and you may have tried it already.
Try shutting down computer,unplugging helix. Restart computer without helix and run a cleaner if you use one. Shut down again. Plug helix back in and restart. It might recognise it as a new device and look for drivers.
Best of luck.

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

This may or may not be of any use, and you may have tried it already.
Try shutting down computer,unplugging helix. Restart computer without helix and run a cleaner if you use one. Shut down again. Plug helix back in and restart. It might recognise it as a new device and look for drivers.
Best of luck.

Yes, I tried that. No suggestion is silly, as often, the "obvious" thing isn't done, like turning on a power button.

I forgot a detail. The same night I updated WF, there was a bunch of Dell driver updates I installed. I can't help thinking that has something to do with it, but I found a restore point from a week ago, and still no-go. With the system restore, I still have the newest version of WF. So something is really off.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

An update to what I've done since my OP: tried a system restore to a time before I updated WF 11.

Checked Device Manager. No exclamation points, and everything seems to be working.

I installed my Focusrite Solo, and that's recognized.

Helix has its own Sound Editor, and it's recognized there.

In my Kontackt (full version) my midi keyboard isn't working, and I can only get system sounds if I click the virtual piano- but this may be user error. I don't use the Kontact player in standalone mode often.

Otherwise, everything is the same. I may try System Restore once more, as I did get an error message to the effect that the Restore wasn't completed.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Kontact is a fairly involved .vst - have you tried something simpler, like 4OSC? When you hit the MIDI keyboard on an enabled input, at what point in the chain does it seem to drop ?
(do you see the "input meter" beside the track bouncing with incoming MIDI data?)
(if so, does the output on the track show like it THINKS it's generating audio data out of the VST? Does MIDI record event information on the track, even if you don't hear it)

- just wondering if something is odd with your USB ports - although you DO say you hear windows audio via the Helix interface.

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

Kontact is a fairly involved .vst - have you tried something simpler, like 4OSC? When you hit the MIDI keyboard on an enabled input, at what point in the chain does it seem to drop ?
(do you see the "input meter" beside the track bouncing with incoming MIDI data?)
(if so, does the output on the track show like it THINKS it's generating audio data out of the VST? Does MIDI record event information on the track, even if you don't hear it)

- just wondering if something is odd with your USB ports - although you DO say you hear windows audio via the Helix interface.

Yes, I did try 40OSC. Within WF, the program responds to midi input.

My other standalone instruments responds to midi- only Kontact doesn't respond, in standalone, or as a plugin. I'll set Kontact aside for now. Was never a fan of the program, but it does have some great samples. For now, I'll chalk it up to user error.

Dell, has its own diagnostic tool, and my usb ports are working, and responding correctly.

I just did another System Restore to an even earlier date, and got another error message stating that Restore wasn't completed, due to a file called aswhook.dll- it has to do with my AVG antivirus software. Anyway, I launched WF, and the only ASIO device available is my Focusrite Solo. I didn't intall the Focusrite until last night, so my restoration is somewhere between 3 weeks ago, and last night it seems (Chrome isn't working because it needs an update).

Right now, I'm going to track down that .dll file, rename it, and try a system restore again.

I strongly suspect it was the Dell updates I applied at the same time I updated WF- which reverted back to a previous version, 11.0.26.

Thanks.

[jabe]

Would ASIO4ALL make a difference?

[Watchful]

He mentions he's had bad experiences with it in the past.

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

30 plus hours later, no go. I'm just out of warranty with Dell, but they still gave me a free diagnosic for over an hour by taking over my system. All the Dell and MS components are in working order. However, the support tech couldn't, or wouldn't tell me how I could roll back their updates (they were mosltly drivers, and a BIOS flash). It would cost me $129 for them to get WF to work, but there was no guarantee that my system wouldn't be wiped, and everything would have to be reinstalled, which I can do myself.

Anyway. I'm kind of back to square one, with a twist. My last system restore placed my system in a state that's partly between 3 weeks ago, and today. I had to update my money program, and Kontackt isn't working at all. This is the short version. Reinstalling Win 10 is a breeze- I've only had to do it once in the past, and it literally took less than half an hour. It's the reinstallation and reauthroizing all my plugins that's holding me back. Since the lockdown, I've become a plugin whore, and will buy almost anything on sale, and there's lots of good freebies.

I did discover something weird in Device Manager. Helix was NEVER listed as a Software Device:

device manger.JPG

And all that other stuff doesn't appear on my old laptop. I may uninstall them all (after setting a Restore Point). Or, disable them, and see what happens.

I know Tracktion support is overloaded because of the virus, but I may drop them a line. I'm kinda hoping there's a file I can just delete.

He mentions he's had bad experiences with it in the past.

Yeah, thanks for noticing. I've googled everywhere, and that's often the go-to suggestion. I just wanted to hold off a flood of asio4all suggestions.

Would ASIO4ALL make a difference?

I'm not ruling it out entirely, but it's kinda of my last resort thing to try. I know it's worked for many, but my experience with it was, it toasted my system. I had to do a total reinstall. This was some years ago, I have most things backed up, but I'm avoiding things I don't know well. If I get fed up enough, and I'm pretty fed up now, I may just try it, or use a different interface like focusrite, and see if I can feed my Helix into the Focusrite. I only used Focusrite for vocals. The great thing about the Helix, aside from having a miillion great guitar effects, it has loads of Ins/Outs.

Well, better this, than having the virus. Thanks, guys.

[UnionS8]

I'm on Dell too. ASIO4All works well on my rig. In fact I never had any issues with it. Maybe it could be your last resort. Try if at least ANY ASIO driver does work with your sound interface. You would reinstall the whole system anyway so you don't need to care if things went wrong with ASIO4All...

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

Would ASIO4ALL make a difference?

I'm on Dell too. ASIO4All works well on my rig. In fact I never had any issues with it. Maybe it could be your last resort. Try if at least ANY ASIO driver does work with your sound interface. You would reinstall the whole system anyway so you don't need to care if things went wrong with ASIO4All...

Well, shortly after my last post, I tried ASIO4ALL, AND IT WORKS! It's allowed me to do more, like having multiple instances of my Helix on multiple tracks, so I can double track a guitar on 2 separate channels and EQ them differently. I can have up to 8 instances of Helix on 8 tracks, but can't see the need for that. That's the good news.

I did a hard reset of my Helix, and it's in its default state, with all the default presets. I can't seem to restore the presets I made. The Helix communicates with the software, because I did a firmware update as well. I'll have to check the manual again.

Kontact works in standalone mode again.

The only thing left, and maybe I'll have to start a new thread- in WF11, I discovered I could have multiple instances of my midi keyboard on multiple tracks. I have an Arturia KeyLab Essential 49.

In the past, I was able to have only one instance for one track. A few months ago, when I was recording something, I started a new track, selected Arturia as the input device, and I had 2 instances of it. Then I learned I could have an endless number. This was good in that, I could have multiple synths on its own track, and I could play something, and they all tracked together perfectly, and I could then EQ each track how I wanted. Of course, I could simulate this by placing multiple instruments on the same track, but it doesn't give me the flexibility I've mentioned. Anyone experience this? I've only had 2 midi keyboards, and I've never been able to have more than one instance of the midi input. Again, I'm a midi recording noob, so don't have a whole lot of past experience to rely on. Otherwise, everything seems to be working, and I even was able to get my encoder knobs and sliders to work within WF.

I'll attach a few screenshots, in case someone has run into the same problem. Thanks for the input all.

I didn't select Asio for Helix because it didn't work as well. Asio4all as the input device is apparently the best working choice.

[UnionS8]

Try to tick the "Default Input Follows Selected Track" in the MIDI devices pane.

[Peter Widdicombe]

That allows you to FOLLOW the track you want, as a convenience.
If, on the other hand, you want to send the same MIDI to multiple tracks, there's several. One is the "virtual MIDI" you can create under settings/MIDI. One input uses the actual device, the other can use virtual1, 2, 3 that you can create.

[GuitarPlayerinNYC]

Try to tick the "Default Input Follows Selected Track" in the MIDI devices pane.

It was already ticked. I found another setting that did the trick, and posted a pic in a new thread I started here: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=548289&p=7814230#p7814230 I'll link the pic that allowed me to have multiple instances of my midi keyboard. It's highlighted.

allow inputs to appear on multiple tracks.JPG

Thanks.

That allows you to FOLLOW the track you want, as a convenience.
If, on the other hand, you want to send the same MIDI to multiple tracks, there's several. One is the "virtual MIDI" you can create under settings/MIDI. One input uses the actual device, the other can use virtual1, 2, 3 that you can create.

Does what I posted above, accomplish what you're saying?

To clarify what I want to accomplish: I want to be able to load, say 3 different synths, on 3 different tracks, and control all 3 simultaneously. This allows me to EQ them differently, and they're all tracked right on time. I know how to have a multi-out on say a drum kit, which requires creating a rack.

In the other thread I linked above, there was a different method. It Edit:hasn't really registered with me, but it appears that it might be more useful for multiple midi inputs, but not sure.

I think it was you, Peter, that solved my unrecognized midi problem, by deleting the settings file. Can you believe I had that problem over 4-6 Tracktion versions, and 5 different computers? What are the possibilities. In any event, I have you to thank for a new hobby. It's been a huge learning curve, but I'm enjoying the ability to record more than just my guitar.

Thanks again.