Magiamusical wrote:

 

One thing I would like to see is some sort of a footswitch controller  without modeling nor effects  that could change the patches to Variax guitar instead of using the on-guitar controls. That would make changing the type of guitars easy accesible and fast switching within a song.

 

Variax Guitar ------------->foot controller------------->amp

They have one.  It's called a POD HD500 .  Just set the amp model to empty and don't enable any effects.  Your box would have to talk VDI and be able to store variax model information, have a display and several buttons, and spit out analog guitar tone on a 1/4" jack out the other end.  You may as well get a POD.

It is also possible with POD XT Live an POD X3Live, less expensive!

If it were MIDI they'd use a MIDI cable .  they use a cat5 twisted pair with RJ45 connectors (4 pairs of wires twisted together with 8 conductor connectors), same that is used for ethernet.  I have no idea what kind of signalling they do.

ok, so how do I plug in a MIDI cable to a variax?  What's the missing link?

The above diagrams are from Vettaville.  I used the Variax wirelessly for a long time by modding the ethernet cable to MIDI on both ends of a wireless MIDI transmitter (in conjunction with a guitar wireless unit).  I'd guess that knowing the connections, you'd be able to use a foot controller the same way.

WSheehey wrote:

 

The above diagrams are from Vettaville.  I used the Variax wirelessly for a long time by modding the ethernet cable to MIDI on both ends of a wireless MIDI transmitter (in conjunction with a guitar wireless unit).  I'd guess that knowing the connections, you'd be able to use a foot controller the same way.

I assume you used the vax with a vetta? I never could figure out if that same setup would have worked with a POD x3. I sure hope they atleast add that capability to HD500. If they are targeting working pros with JTV . . . a good many of them require wireless. of course now that we can have both mags and models we would have to lose that feature if we wanted wireless.

I REALLY want a wireless that brings both mags and models from vax to POD and sends program change from POD to variax. Not only should it work with POD but should have a midi in so a touring guy can send vax program changes with a GC pro or similar of he doesn't use the POD.

Yes, I was using it with a Vetta II HD.  I sold that head, because I won't need the Variax to send MIDI info any longer.  The JTV will solve all of my problems.  I (will) now be able to get the best tone possible with my Axe FX Ultra and not have to sacrifice tunings.  That was my primary use for the Variax wireless set up - even though it was bulky and a battery hog (6 AAs in the guitar and a D in the MIDI transmitter all together on my strap or belt) - I needed the full bank of models in standard and more than the 10 custom spots for alt tunings.  I have no issue changing the tone knob on the guitar between songs.  Now that I can play any model and switch the tunings quickly - I'm fine.  We don't play any songs that require that I change models or tunings during the song.  And with the long lasting battery (I'll buy a 2nd one as soon as I can), I'll be in heaven.  I have the Line 6 wireless - which has never let me down - and I'm going to use the MIDIJet Pro to send info from my MFC-101 MIDI foot controller.  I'm using a POD X3 Pro as my Variax interface now (I don't think I ever owned a dedicated interface - it was always plugged into another Line 6 product), and it's great that I can get rid of that and will get an interface for Workbench with the new guitar.  If anyone's interested in buying the X3 Pro, let me know.  I'm sure I'm the only person who feels this way, but I really can hardly wait for that guitar!