amsdenj

Powercab 122+ and 212 both have two inputs. So you could run a small mixer or acoustic guitar pedal into input 2 and your HX Stomp into input 1 and it would work fine with either Powercab as long as you ran FRFR mode.

In the home or living room I would use a good stereo system or studio monitors.

My experience with PC212 and PC112+ is perhaps a little different. I had both for a couple of year now, and use one or the other depending on venue size and stage footprint restrictions. I have found PC212 to have excess low end when set on the floor compared to the PC112+, that's likely because there's must more bass coupling with the floor with 2x12 than 1x12. I've also struggled with stage volume with the PC212. It seem harder to find the sweet spot, its either missing in the mix or way too loud. I don't seem to have that issue with PC112+, probably because the PC212 might just be too big compared to the rest of the band. I use FRFR mode only, and use IRs in Helix or cab models in Quad Cortex. I found that comparing the PC112+ and PC212 with a real amp, with an IR in Quad Cortex that matches the G12-65s in the amp, the PC112+ sounded closer to the real thing than the PC212. The PC212 had a different midrange color that didn't match up as well to me. The PC112+ and PC212 do use different Eminence speakers, so that could account for the difference. Overall I think I prefer the PC112+: it's smaller, lighter, likely fits with the rest of the band better, doesn't over-extend the bass as much, and seems to have a slightly more pleasant overall tone to me. I do like the PC212 stereo, but as a practical matter, its lost in the mix. And I use IEMs anyway so I get the stereo in my ears anyway.

I would recommend leaving it in the package at room temperature so that it warms up slowly. But out of the package is probably fine too.

I have a Powercab 112+ and a 212. I use one or the other on every gig, whether I'm using Helix and/or Quad Cortex. I love the footprint, flexibility, ease of use, and broad capabilities as a FRFR or powered guitar cabinet. It's still a perfect solution for my needs. Catalyst seems like a reasonable HX update to the Spider line. That's fine and probably a good solution for a lot of people. Helix + Powercab is a much more capable solution, but it costs more too. It's nice to have options.

When Helix controls Variax models, tone, volume, string volume, tunings, etc, it is making changes in the Variax itself, not in Helix. Helix is just storing the commands to send to Variax when the patch is selected. So if you had two inputs on two different paths that both use Variax, each of them will be sending commands to the same guitar, so the last one sent would win.

One issue with modelers is how we learn to use them. It's often at low volumes with headphones or studio speakers, playing by ourselves. That has a tendency to encourage us to use too much gain/distortion, too many effects all run too wet - because it sounds so good and so controllable by itself. And we can do it while the kids are asleep. However, when we get into a mix or live setup, all that distortion and wet effects turns into mush that nobody can hear against a real amp, bass and drums. I think we'll have better luck experimenting with modelers in the context of songs and rehearsal performances where we play in the context of the song, in a mix with others at gig volume. Modelers can do that, but usually don't if you set them up in your living room by yourself. Regarding playing over gear, I think whatever floats you boat is fine and there's no need to put any value judgment on one over the other.

Sound like you may be using too much gain, especially for Dhyana Drive. Voice controls the mid boost frequency - higher levels are going to provide more gain and harsher midrange. Try turning both Gain and Voice down. A good practice is to use the minimum drive/gain for the song. You can approach that from either low gain or high gain to and turn up or down to figure out what's needed.

Did you get a picture of the back of the speaker?

Yes, I forgot about Stereo Width: 0% collapses left and right to mono, 100% is normal stereo, and 200% is extra wide, probably accomplished by some slight delay between left and right, but the manual doesn't say. Thanks for the reminder. I tried this when I first got the 212, but didn't care that much for what it did to the overall sound.

I had a Variax Standard and JTV-69S. I thought the Standard magnetic pickups sounded better. I ended up selling the Standard and replacing the pickups on on the JTV-69S with SVL Daytona pickups - amalfitanopickups@verizon.net. I also replaced the neck. The only issue I have with that JTV-69S is that its sustain is a little shorter/weaker than my Strat.

You might find this helpful:

MIDI Commander is a MIDI controller only, it does not have an audio interface. So I assume you are using Powercab 112+ as your audio interface. What app are you using in the Mac? Helix Native? If so, check the input and output levels to make sure you aren't getting any digital clipping.

I have a Powercab 112+ and 212. I use them both for gigging, choosing the one to use based on the size of the room and available stage space. I use IEMs so my guitar in ears is always stereo regardless of the stage/room amp. So I personally don't hear any difference in a gigging situation. Stereo in a gigging situation probably won't matter much to the audience either unless you're also going stereo to FOH and using patches that leverage stereo. The biggest difference between a 112 and 212 though is probably just the ability to move more air. Experimenting in a room, the Powercab 212 stereo effect depends a lot on your patch. The typical setup might be mono effects in front of the amp, and stereo effects (chorus, delay, reverb) after the amp block. The Powercab 212 doesn't do any processing to enhance stereo spread, but there is a block in Helix that can add this effect if you want it. Stereo makes a difference with the Powercab 212 even though the speakers are pretty close together. It mostly just widens the space a bit by mixing the stereo effects in the air instead of electrically. It's nice, but not essential, and quickly gets lost when playing with other people. I'd recommend the 212 if you need the size and power, and get the stereo as an additional benefit.

All very good advice. For me the complexity of my patches isn't in the basic tone, but in the effects I use to cover a broad range of song needs. The essential tone is pretty simple, which provide a basis for building the required flexibility to fit the songs.

I could see Tom Bukovac using HX Effects. That would be cool.

FLAT mode always sends the input to the XLR output unprocessed. In speaker mode, a model of that speaker and a mic (likely an internal IR) is sent to the XLR outputs.

I would use HX Stomp stereo output into the RC-3 and then the RC-3 output into my FRFR (Powercab 212). I generally want the looper at the end of the signal chain. This doesn't take any blocks or footswitches in HX Stomp.

I have collected hundreds of Helix notes that I've considered organizing into a book or web site. But work and gigging continually gets in the way. Maybe when I retire. In the meantime, for anything Helix models reproduce, you can look up the actual device and review its manual. Or you can search on the web for the device and see how others use it. Similar usage patterns should apply to Helix. For other blocks, experiment with each setting you don't understand by moving it through its extremes and see what it does.

I have used Midi Guitar 2 with good results too, including with a Variax, pickups or models. Midi Guitar 2 can be configured to deal with the sensitivity of the guitar. I you want synths with a guitar, this is a really flexible way to do it. But you need a computer or iPad. I use the computer with the PA mixer.

Check this out:

I've used Helix floor for gigs for the last 5 years and never had a problem. I do have a backup though. We use an X32-Core connected to a MacBook Pro for our PA. I have S-Gear and Helix Native in the MacBook for a Helix backup. But I've never had to use it.

It would work, but would be a bit colored compared to a PA wedge, and more directional.

The Variax Workbench USB interface doesn't provide power to the Variax, that's why its ok as well as necessary to use it with the battery/TRS power pack.

The models and/or magnetics are both sent digitally through the VDI cable. The A2D converter for the magnetics is in the Variax. With the model switch off, the magnetics are sent by themselves over VDI. With the model switch on you can use Workbench HD to adjust the balance/blend between the magnetics and model picks for any given patch. The default is to have the magnetics turned all the way down, and you would have to do this for any open tuning patches.