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2590 Views 19 Replies Latest reply: Nov 22, 2009 5:04 AM by amx05462 RSS
mignolyx Just Startin'
mignolyx
30 posts since
Oct 8, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 3, 2009 4:21 PM

Variax 300 Strange behaviour

Dear Line6 R&D,

i got a very strange behaviour of my Variax 300:

after having played a very fast solo, all presets starting custom1 to special, sounding the same as custom 1.

I cannot understand what happened. I just know that my audience was "impressed" but my preset were blow away...

Please, let me know about this strange problem.

I cannot play with a guitar that change random, in the middle of a performance.

I'll wait for your reply.

 

 

Mignolyx

Tags: variax, trouble, tuning, problem, troubleshoot, electric
  • mignolyx Just Startin'
    mignolyx
    30 posts since
    Oct 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 3, 2009 4:25 PM (in response to mignolyx)
    Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

    In my Variax i use rechargeable batteries of 2800 mA.

    Can help you to try to solve this trouble?

    • Crusty_Old_Rocker Expert Line 6 User
      Crusty_Old_Rocker
      2,737 posts since
      Jan 24, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 3, 2009 5:17 PM (in response to mignolyx)
      Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

      First of all, the rechargeable batteries are delivering a low voltage.  The battery power supply is 6 x 1.5V = 9V.  Rechargeables deliver 6 x 1.2V or 7.2V.

       

      The voltage drop may be a problem.

       

      You should try reinstalling the Flash Memory on the Variax.  Do you have a Workbench Interface or PODxt Live, POD X3 Live, POD X3 Pro?  Or do you know someone with one of those?  You then need Monkey to reinstall the flash memory on the guitar.

       

      There is the possibility that the Variax has a hardware problem with the selector (which is a variable resistor).  If reinstalling the flash memory doesn't fix the problem then you will need to have a technician rectify the problem. You can find your nearest service centre via this link: http://line6.com/support/serviceCenters/

       

      Cheers,

       

      Crusty

      • trouthead54 Just Startin'
        trouthead54
        57 posts since
        May 10, 2008
        Currently Being Moderated
        Oct 4, 2009 10:01 AM (in response to Crusty_Old_Rocker)
        Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

        I can't help with the original problem but I can say that using rechargeables @7.2V is not a problem at all - more or less the first thing the battery power hits on the mainboard, is a DC to DC converter (a MAX887 IC), which converts/regulates the voltage to 5V - so therefore, so long as you have more than 5V out of your battery - so long as they're providing sufficient current (& 2800mAH AAs will be plenty!), then you're fine.

        • Mr_Arkadin Expert Line 6 User
          Mr_Arkadin
          1,913 posts since
          Jan 25, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 4, 2009 11:41 AM (in response to trouthead54)
          Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

          Don't know about that, whenever i've tried rechargables in E Bows and effects pedals i have bad results - even cheaper regular batteries often are quite poor for audio equipment. i always use something a bit costlier like a Duracell. Rechargeables tend to get drained a lot quicker than regular batteries too, so that 7.2V may disappear quite quickly. i would always put in a fresh set of regular batteries before a gig, using them up in studio /rehearsal time when it's not so important (or embarrassing).

           

          Can't hurt to try.

          • trouthead54 Just Startin'
            trouthead54
            57 posts since
            May 10, 2008
            Currently Being Moderated
            Oct 4, 2009 12:32 PM (in response to Mr_Arkadin)
            Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

            "Don't know about that,"

             

            Well I do know about that - & by bringing the E-bow into the discussion, you're now comparing apples with oranges.

             

            An E-bow uses PP3s - & rechargable PP3s are faily limited in their current delivery at just 200maH .....vs 550maH for a PP3 Alkaline (& the Ebow is a relatively current hungry device - so no surprise your results weren't satisfactory).

             

            6 x 2800mAh AAs are  a different kettle of fish - that's a decent amount of current delivery ability - an the MAX887 DC-DC converter doesn't really care whether it receives 9V or 7.2V (in fact 7.2V is preferable as it'll have to disspate less heat), it'll output 5V just the same ... & it's at 5V that the Variax power rail runs at.

             

            Incidentally, whether the Variax sources it's power from the batteries, the RJ45 or the 1/4" jack connection - it all gets converted to 5V (albeit the way it converts each of those sources to 5V is handled differently), so like I say, so long as the current delivery is up to it (& 6 x 2800maH AA batteries is), then the battery voltage not being 9V plus matters not one iota.

             

            But hey, don't take my word for it, take the manafacturer's (extract from the MAX887 datasheet)...

             

            http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/1538

             

            The MAX887 high-efficiency, step-down DC-DC converter provides an adjustable output from 1.25V to 10.5V. It accepts inputs from 3.5V to 11V and delivers 600mA. Operation to 100% duty cycle minimizes dropout voltage (300mV typ at 500mA).

            • Mr_Arkadin Expert Line 6 User
              Mr_Arkadin
              1,913 posts since
              Jan 25, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Oct 4, 2009 3:17 PM (in response to trouthead54)
              Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

              Well if you want to be a smarmy prat about it fine. i can't see a problem with the guy trying it - eliminating all the variables is the key to finding the problem.

               

              Sorry, but i have yet to see a rechargable that lasts as long as a regular battery. Are you saying that a rechargeable delivers 7.2V for the whole of its charge? i would say that powering the Variax would be quite hungry and by the end of a long gig it might not be getting full current.

              • amx05462 Power User
                amx05462
                3,480 posts since
                Sep 1, 2008
                Currently Being Moderated
                Oct 4, 2009 1:39 PM (in response to Mr_Arkadin)
                Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

                no battery gives  full power  for  the   full charge  .  my 300  would  last about 2  hours  on a  fresh  duracell.   then i took the  batteries out  and   they would  be  about 3/4  charged  or more  and  used them in other  things.   dont know  bout  other  vaxs   but the  300  only works  correctly on batterys  at there  peak  so even if you have  rechargable   ones  if there  the old  type   at some point  they never   reach  full peak.  something to do with  battery memory.   newer ones  arent  supposed to do that.  btw  correct me if im wrong  isnt  voltage  the carrier  and  amperage  the  power?

                • Mr_Arkadin Expert Line 6 User
                  Mr_Arkadin
                  1,913 posts since
                  Jan 25, 2007
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Oct 4, 2009 2:07 PM (in response to amx05462)
                  Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

                  amx05462 wrote:

                   

                  no battery gives  full power  for  the   full charge  .  my 300  would  last about 2  hours  on a  fresh  duracell.   then i took the  batteries out  and   they would  be  about 3/4  charged  or more  and  used them in other  things.   dont know  bout  other  vaxs   but the  300  only works  correctly on batterys  at there  peak  so even if you have  rechargable   ones  if there  the old  type   at some point  they never   reach  full peak.  something to do with  battery memory.

                   

                  That was sort of my point - i find rechargables' efficiency dubious at best - i would never stand in front of an audience armed with rechargables. Best bet is to just use the power supply, which should be tried anyway to see if this changes anything. If the problem still occurs then it's one less variable.

                  • amx05462 Power User
                    amx05462
                    3,480 posts since
                    Sep 1, 2008
                    Currently Being Moderated
                    Oct 4, 2009 2:22 PM (in response to Mr_Arkadin)
                    Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

                    i know  that was my way of agreeing  with you   just  asking     what is the  meaning of pratt ?  ive  heard this  expression  over  the years  but   im not  quite  sure  what  it actually  means.  so im just being  inquisitive

                    • trouthead54 Just Startin'
                      trouthead54
                      57 posts since
                      May 10, 2008
                      Currently Being Moderated
                      Oct 4, 2009 2:28 PM (in response to amx05462)
                      Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

                      This is now really straying off  - & I really don't want to start gettinging into a thread discussing Voltage vs Current - but believe me, +5V is what your Variax rail runs at (there's also a +3.3V, 1.8V & a -5V kicking about inside your Variax too ...but they're derived from the 5V supply rail anyway)...& I agree with you all - I would not stand up in front of an audience purely on rechargeables either ...but that wasn't the argument!

        • Mr_Arkadin Expert Line 6 User
          Mr_Arkadin
          1,913 posts since
          Jan 25, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 16, 2009 6:45 AM (in response to trouthead54)
          Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

          trouthead54 wrote:

           

          I can't help with the original problem but I can say that using rechargeables @7.2V is not a problem at all

          • trouthead54 Just Startin'
            trouthead54
            57 posts since
            May 10, 2008
            Currently Being Moderated
            Oct 16, 2009 9:21 AM (in response to Mr_Arkadin)
            Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

            Such a shame when petty sniping rears it's head.

             

            You've taken me out of context, so just to be clear, I was responding to Crusty Old Rocker's line....

             

            "Rechargeables deliver 6 x 1.2V or 7.2V.

            The voltage drop may be a problem."

             

            Do you not recall that I said I wouldn't use rechargeables either?!! (for the same reason that Line6 Hugo has said), but that wasn't what we were discussing when you took great delight to rip that one soundbite out of context ...(ie 7.2V being a problem for the Variax) - well, I standby my comment 7.2V is *not* a problem for the Variax as the DC to DC converter on the Variax mainboard regulates the batteries with (to 5V), & will happily convert either 9V or 7.2V down to 5V.

             

            Like I say, I wouldn't use rechargeables, but not becuase they only supply 7.2V vs 9V ...more so, most rechargeables are cack!

             

            Also bear in mind -  "Dont support" is a world away from "Won't work"

    • amx05462 Power User
      amx05462
      3,480 posts since
      Sep 1, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 4, 2009 12:53 PM (in response to mignolyx)
      Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

      it shouldnt be the batteries  if your getting  2800 ma out of them  as the  factory power supply that line 6 supplys  is only 2000 ma. actual output on mine  is 8.1 v  2000 ma.  if there  newer rechargables  this shouldnt be  a  problem either  but older ones  would  charge  less each itme.   like i said  if there the  newer ones    this shouldnt  apply

       

      since its a  300 and   has been around for a  while  you might  want to try  spraying your  switch  and  pots  with some  contact  cleaner.    on the  pots you have to spray down the  shaft   theres  no other  way in.

  • Line6Miller Line 6
    Line6Miller
    11,613 posts since
    Mar 28, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 7, 2009 12:21 PM (in response to mignolyx)
    Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

    Hello,

     

    This sounds like more of a software glitch than anything. Have you tried reinstalling the firmware on your Variax through Line 6 Monkey?

     

     

    Line6Miller

    • mignolyx Just Startin'
      mignolyx
      30 posts since
      Oct 8, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 10, 2009 7:06 AM (in response to Line6Miller)
      Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

      Dear Friends,

      thank you all for having reply to my answer.

      It's a batteries problem. And else, why Variax, with batteries down into, if i powered it with his external power supply, doesn't switch the source and remain attached to the batteries?

      Ahiahiahi, Line6 Engineers... Friends, try that operation and tell my if i'm right or not...

       

      And more, if you have the battery power at half...and you go a fast solo...something of strange happen with the pitch and the presets...

      If somebody of you had the same experience, please write and reply.

      Good weekend to you all

  • Line6Hugo Line 6
    Line6Hugo
    6,332 posts since
    Apr 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 12, 2009 10:24 AM (in response to mignolyx)
    Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

    mignolyx,

     

    Just want to verify that you have isolated the problem. We do not support the usage of rechargeable batteries because of their unpredictable varying voltage after every charge.

     

    Make sure that you are using proper alkaline batteries or the XPS power supply.

     

    Lastly, make sure to remove batteries if you plan on using the XPS power supply.

     

    Regards,

     

    Line6Hugo

  • marcwormjim Just Startin'
    marcwormjim
    26 posts since
    Nov 17, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 21, 2009 9:00 PM (in response to mignolyx)
    Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

    I just bought a 300 that didn't come with an XPS power supply. I've been using my rechargeable AAs as I had them on-hand and not alkalines. I'm only getting about 2-3 hours of life from the rechargeables before I have to spend a half-hour charging them from 3/4 to full. I can't find an XPS for sale anywhere. What spec 9V wall wart could I use as a power supply if it came down to it; and has anyone here kitbashed a working alternative power supply?

    • amx05462 Power User
      amx05462
      3,480 posts since
      Sep 1, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 22, 2009 5:04 AM (in response to marcwormjim)
      Re: Variax 300 Strange behaviour

      theres  a couple of ab   swithces    on ebay   ....  some people   think  that   they will  work.   i believe  you can  get an xps  from sweetwater .  at least  someone  else  said  he  did

       

      http://www.thomann.de/gb/line6_xps_mini_power_supply.htm

       

      this is  another  place  that is  supposed  to have  them    remember  you also need  a trs  cable  with these.

       

        the  other  thing  you can do is  go to radio shack  and  ge   a  variable  power supply  with  a 9 volt  end    and hook  that into the  battery connector.

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