Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ Collection Manual

The hallowed Helios Type 69.

Whether it was housed at Olympic in London, Musicland in Munich, or in the famed Rolling Stones' mobile studio, the Helios Type 69 console was at the center of hundreds of iconic albums from rock's "Golden Age." From must-own albums by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd, to Bob Marley and the Wailers, David Bowie, Black Sabbath and AC/DC, the Type 69 delivered fat, unmistakable attitude, with a punchy midrange and an assertive growl.

The all-new Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ plug-in is a masterful, end-to-end circuit emulation of the rare hardware, going well beyond UA's original Helios Type 69 plug-in.

Turn Your DAW into a Classic Helios Type 69 Console

In crafting the new Helios Type 69 plug-in, UA's team of engineers dug deep into two original Type 69 Olympic-era "golden units," faithfully modeling their custom-made, feedback-style, 70 dB input section — along with a complete emulation of the coveted Lustraphone mic input transformer. This end-to-end circuit capture is the only "triple amp" preamp on the UAD platform, giving you complex, colorful flavors that will make any source come to life.

Unison Technology (Apollo only)

Harnessing UA's groundbreaking Unison technology on Apollo interfaces, the new Helios Type 69 plug-in gives you the hardware's line/mic preamp impedance, gain stage "sweet spots," and exact circuit behaviors. Just insert the plug-in into the Console or LUNA's Unison preamp slot to track in real time through a spot-on Helios Type 69 modeled preamp.

Passive, Aggressive EQ

The new Helios Type 69 also offers a ground-up redesign of the original hardware's famously bold passive three-band EQ. For the first time, the Helios Type 69 plug-in perfectly emulates the rich sounding inductor saturation behaviors that keep radical EQ moves sounding ultra musical, even at extreme settings.

The Low End Theory

With four uniquely voiced low frequency bell-shape boost filters, the Helios Type 69 Preamp and EQ Collection imparts the same solid and wide bass foundation found on seminal rock, pop, and reggae recordings. You can also clean up sources like overheads and room mics by switching the Bass band into a fixed 50 Hz low cut mode, with stepped gain control.


Operational Overview

Helios Type 69 is based on a deep analysis of two original "golden unit" Helios Type 69 modules, including the original Danner output attenuating fader. 

UA's Helios Type 69 provides the only authentic, end-to-end circuit model of this rare preamp and EQ circuit. An extremely detailed model was made from these handpicked "Olympic"-era Helios modules, starting with the Lustraphone input transformer model (including real physical impedance switching when used with UA audio interfaces). The transformer stage is followed by Helios' feedback-style bipolar "triple amp" amplifier circuit, rich with the signature nonlinearities afforded by its unique design.

The aggressive three-band passive EQ circuit is also faithfully modeled, benefiting from UA's research into the saturation behavior of Helios' custom inductors. The EQ retains the original's ability to be pushed to its limits with pleasing results.

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Helios Type 69

Signal Flow Diagram

A simplified version of the signal flow within the plug-in is shown in the diagram below.

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Simplified signal flow within Helios Type 69

Artist Presets

Presets from prominent Universal Audio artists are included. You can access the artist presets using the UAD preset browser.

Chris Coady

Joe Chiccarelli

J.J. Blair

Vance Powell

Jacquire King

 

Artists that have provided presets for Helios Type 69

Unison™ Integration (Apollo only)

The Helios Type 69 features Unison technology for integration with the mic preamp hardware in Universal Audio's Apollo audio interfaces. With Unison interfaces, the ultra-transparent mic preamps inherit all of the unique sonics, input characteristics, and features of the Helios Type 69 hardware preamps.

Note: Unison is active only when the plug-in is placed in the dedicated UNISON insert within UAD Console or LUNA. For complete details, see Unison.

Realistic Tandem Control

Unison facilitates seamless interactive control of Helios Type 69 plug-in settings using both the digitally-controlled panel hardware on the UA audio interface and the UAD plug-in interface. All equivalent preamp controls (gain, pad, polarity) are mirrored and bidirectional. The preamp controls respond to adjustments with precisely the same interplay behavior as the Helios Type 69 hardware, including gain levels and clipping points.

Hardware Input Impedance

All Unison mic preamps feature variable input impedance in the analog hardware that can be physically changed by Unison-enabled UAD plug-ins for physical, microphone-to-preamp resistive interaction. This impedance switching enables Unison preamps to match the input impedance of the emulated hardware, which can significantly impact the sound of a microphone. Because the electrical loading occurs on input, prior to A/D conversion, the realism is faithful to the original hardware preamp.

Tactile Gain Staging

The hardware preamp knob on the UA audio interface can independently adjust the gain and level parameters available within the Unison plug-in via Gain Stage Mode. The gain stage being adjusted can be remotely switched via the interface hardware, so the gain levels and their associated colorations can be tuned from the hardware knob for precise physical tactile control, all without using the Unison plug-in's software interface.

Helios Type 69 Legacy (UAD DSP only)

UA’s original Helios Type 69 EQ plug-in was a major feat of analog circuit emulation, offering the best representation of the Helios EQ sound available at the time. While Helios Type 69 Legacy does not include preamp emulation, Unison integration, or the other nonlinear enhancements of the newer Helios Type 69, its lower DSP usage and lean feature set continue to make it a useful tool, especially when DSP demands are high.

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Helios Type 69 Legacy

Type 69 Control Differences

The following parameters are unique to Helios Type 69, and are not available on Helios Type 69 Legacy:


Helios Type 69 Controls

Controls Layout

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Helios Type 69 controls layout

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Helios Type 69 Legacy controls layout

Preamp Controls

Note: Preamp functions are not available with Helios Type 69 Legacy.

Input Select (LINE/MIC)

Input Select determines which input (line or mic) is being controlled with the Gain knob. To change the input being controlled, click the LINE/MIC switch.

Like the hardware, this plug-in easily facilitates sending Line level signal through the "virtual" Mic input, which allows creative use of distortion to color signals. This is the equivalent of routing a line level signal into a mic level input, so a large jump in gain is expected.

Note: Use caution when switching to Mic from Line, as output levels can increase significantly (as they would with any hardware preamp).

Tip: Click the LINE and MIC labels to switch to the corresponding input.

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Unison Interaction

When Helios Type 69 is used in a Unison insert within UAD Console or LUNA, software and hardware control of Input Select is mirrored. Input Select can be changed within the plug-in interface, with Console's MIC/LINE switches, or with the Apollo or LUNA hardware buttons. When an Apollo Hi-Z input is connected, MIC mode is automatically selected and the LINE/MIC switch is disabled.

GAIN

This six-position switch controls the gain feedback network of Helios' "triple amp" preamplifier circuit. GAIN values of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 dB are available.

Tip: Click the numeric indicators to jump between GAIN values.

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Unison Interaction

When the plug-in is placed in the dedicated Unison insert for the preamp channel within UAD Console or LUNA, and the channel is in Unison Gain Stage Mode, the hardware's PREAMP knob can be used to adjust this parameter. When in Gain Stage Mode, an orange dot is overlaid on this parameter indicating it is available for hardware control.

EQ Controls

The Helios EQ's band interactions and nonlinear inductor and output amplifier behaviors are captured in the Helios Type 69. The Helios Type 69 design works in such a way that entire EQ circuits are switched in and out as you make changes to certain parameters.

Tip: When the EQ is bypassed, processor usage is reduced. On the UAD-2 plug-in (but not the legacy version), if UAD-2 DSP LoadLock is inactive, UAD DSP usage is reduced.

High Shelf Gain

The High Shelf Gain knob offers fixed frequency shelving equalization at 10 kHz. This control can cut treble in 4 dB increments down to –16 dB, or boost treble in 4 dB increments up to +12 dB.

Mid Freq (MID kHZ)

This control determines the frequency of the midrange band. The following frequencies can be selected: 700 Hz, 1 kHz, 1.4 kHz, 2 kHz, 2.8 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 4.5 kHz, and 6 kHz.

Note: In the graphic interface of this control, what may appear to be a dash ("-") actually represents a decimal point. This anomaly mimics the original hardware silkscreen.

Tip: Click the numeric frequency labels to jump between Mid Freq values.

Mid Gain

This control determines the amount of gain or attenuation to be applied to the mid band. Up to 15 dB of boost or 9.9 dB of cut is available. The Q (bandwidth) on the midrange band is fairly wide and gentle at low settings, but gets progressively narrower as the gain value is increased.

Mid Type (PK/TR)

Mid Type specifies whether the midrange band is in Peak or Trough mode. When switched to Peak, the Mid Gain control boosts the midrange. When switched to Trough, Mid Gain cuts the midrange.

Note: When using Trough, a 1 dB loss occurs on the overall output of the plug-in. This is authentic to the behavior of the original hardware.

Tip: Click the "PK" and "TR" labels to switch to the corresponding Mid Type.

BASS

The Bass knob serves dual functions for two bass filter types, depending on its setting.

Note: As with the original hardware, simply putting this control on any low peak filter frequency will yield a gain increase even if Bass Gain is set to 0.

When Bass is set to one of the frequency values (60 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz, or 400 Hz) the low band is in peak mode. In this mode, the amount of gain (bass boost) applied to the specified frequency is determined by the Bass Gain knob.

Note: In Helios Type 69 Legacy, the highest bass frequency setting is 300 Hz.

When this knob is set to one of the decibel values (-3, -6, -9, -12, -15 dB) the low band is in "bass cut" shelving mode with a set frequency of 50 Hz.

Tip: Click the shelving amount and peak frequency labels to jump between BASS values. Click the "+" and "-" labels to increment or decrement through BASS values.

Bass Gain

The Bass Gain knob determines the amount of low band boost to be applied when the Bass knob is in one of its frequency positions. When Bass Gain is set to its lowest value, the Bass EQ circuit is bypassed. When Bass Gain is pushed up from zero, the EQ circuit is enabled, starting at 3.3 dB of boost as in the original hardware. Bass Gain can boost the bass band by as much as 15 dB.

Note: Bass Gain has no effect when the BASS knob is set to one of its shelving (dB-labeled) positions.

Global Controls

EQ IN

This switch is the EQ bypass control. The EQ is active when in the up position. The EQ is bypassed when in the down position.

Tip: When the EQ is bypassed, processor usage is reduced. On the UAD-2 plug-in (but not the legacy version), if UAD-2 DSP LoadLock is inactive, UAD DSP usage is reduced.

Note: In Helios Type 69 Legacy, this parameter is labeled EqCut, and the function is inverted.

In the original Helios hardware, the audio is still slightly colored even when the EQ switch is in the Cut position. This is due to the fact that the signal is still passing through its circuitry. Because the plug-in emulates the hardware in every regard, the signal is slightly processed when this switch is in the bypassed position.

Tip: If a true bypass is desired, use the Power (ON/OFF) switch instead.

Polarity (Ø)

The Polarity (Ø) switch inverts the polarity of the signal. The signal is inverted when the switch is in the up position. Leave the switch down for normal polarity.

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Unison Interaction

Software and hardware control of polarity is mirrored. Polarity can be inverted within the plug-in interface, with UAD Console's polarity button, or with the Apollo's hardware polarity button.

-20 (Pad)

The -20 (Pad) switch attenuates the input signal by 20 dB. This switch only functions when the plug-in is in Mic input mode.

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Unison Interaction

Software and hardware control of the pad is mirrored. Pad can be switched within the plug-in interface, with Console's PAD button, or with the Apollo's hardware PAD button.

Note: Pad is not available in Helios Type 69 Legacy.

Level

This control, modeled from an original Danner console output fader, adjusts the signal output level of Helios Type 69. This may be useful if the signal is dramatically boosted or reduced by the EQ settings. The available range is -∞ dB to +10 dB. By design, the Level fader offers only clean, uncolored attenuation, as the last component in the signal path. 10 dB of uncolored boost is added for user convenience.

Note: In Helios Type 69 Legacy, this control is labeled Level Adjust and the available range is -20 dB to +10 dB.

Tip: Click the "0" text label to return the Level fader to its unity gain position.

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Unison Interaction

When the plug-in is placed in the dedicated Unison insert for the preamp channel within the UAD Console or LUNA and the interface is in Unison Gain Stage Mode, the hardware PREAMP knob can be used to adjust this parameter. In this state, a green dot is overlaid on the parameter indicating it is available for hardware control as the Helios' second gain stage.

Power (ON/OFF)

The Power switch determines whether the plug-in is active. This is useful for comparing the processed settings to the original signal, or to bypass the plug-in to reduce processor usage or the UAD DSP load (load is not reduced if UAD-2 DSP LoadLock is enabled).

Note: In Helios Type 69 Legacy, this control is labeled LINE. Click the switch to toggle the state. The LINE switch is illuminated in green when the plug-in is active.


Partial List Of Albums Recorded On Helios Type 69 Consoles

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Original Helios hardware