Rewolf48

The "VDI cable supplied" is not a VDI cable. It is an interface cable to go from the Variax (using the metal plug) to the little plastic dongle used for workbench and firmware upgrades (using the plastic end). The plastic end is not supposed to be plugged into the guitar and is just a normal network cable plug. With the plastic dongle there is plenty of space to get to the simple retention clip and push it in, on the guitar there isn't the same space because it uses the far more solid XLR type retention mechanism. You need to get something in there to push down on the plastic clip. This site shows it fairly well in the first answer using is Bic pen lid (which is very unlikely to cause damage). http://superuser.com/questions/340131/how-to-unplug-a-network-cable-thats-stuck

I think the reason it takes +12db in Helix and only 6 db on the guitar is because 100% Mags is added to the modelled signal (= +6db as signal is doubled) and then you are adding an additional 6db with the level control for a total of +12db. Cool idea though - I may use it as a custom pickup position

The only problem with using the only the Monitor outs compared with using L+R mains + Monitors is that the monitor outs will be mono while you can get a stereo field (that everybody shares) from the mains + more me through the Monitors sends (each is mono only).

I have a different adaptor but I find that it barely has any range when plugged in directly - perhaps 20ft. With a 2m USB extension chord I am able to put the adaptor on top of one of the speakers (M20d typically at side of stage) and I have had full control from 50m away at an outdoor gig.

That last one went right over my head - I don't get the connection between SOX and an embedded audio processing device. And I don't get the dual use aspect. :huh: In my simple mind as a standalone item, it is no different to a replacement component in a personal computer such as graphics card or those many expansion boards for a Raspberry PI. But don't bother with the details - the built in obsolescence of a Variax is an issue for many; potential purchasers and existing owners. I certainly don't earn anything like enough money from music or my day job to be able to afford a new £1000 guitar more frequently than once every 10 years or more - hell I am still working on upgrading an early HD500 into a Helix and I have been working on that since it was announced :( You can purchase replacement boards for a JTV - presumably these can be fitted by an owner into their existing guitar without insurmountable difficulties or breaking all of those regulations: http://www.fullcompass.com/prod/277278-Line-6-50-02-0320-4 If actively selling such a device is all that it is about, then perhaps I am suggesting that in future it might be discovered by somebody that the motherboard of Variax HX should it ever exist is "accidentally" compatible with earlier guitar bodies, and they will announce this revelation on some forum in a way that could allow few enthusiastic people with the right sort of skills to copy their example and miraculously extend the useful life of their guitar.

Is there something that you know as an occasional beta tester that we shouldn't know about? [if I got that question right it should be similar to "when did you stop beating you wife?"] :) With respect to the controls I haven't tried to make assumptions about what may or may not be practical - the reality is that original Variax (e.g. 700) had volume, tone and model selection while JTV and Variax standard had exactly the same controls + tuning selection. Both had power over TRS Jack and VDI, and 6 piezo channels while JTV added Magnetics. It is not impossible to imagine a replacement board that connected as a minimum to the common 3 controls, power and jack and also supported magnetics and tuning selection as optional controls plus also optionally any new control that may be added such as touch pad. It may require optional adaptors on the connection for backwards compatibility. I think that for many the variax range as guitars has limited appeal because of limited range of body styles, but also because it has built in obsolescence while a quality guitar can last many years. Like that '58 Tobacco Sunburst Strat in the same auction as an old vintage pedal of mine - the Strat is now estimated at £12K to £14K, older variax such as 300, 500, 600 are worth a few hundred and barely integrate with anything current.

I don't disagree about the logistics aspect; obviously authorised service centre is the best option, but the changeover would be a lot simpler than changing the motherboard or graphics card of a PC something that a large number of electrically aware people can do without destroying so many that the product is not viable. It should not require a soldering iron just a screwdriver and unplugging and replacing connectors. A whole Variax Standard is now only £500, so there should be a reasonable margin if the volume of motherboards includes new production plus a reasonable percentage of old guitars being upgraded

I didn't want to suggest the latter option because we have been told several times that there are specific adjustments made for each body type for the control variations and (I presume) hardware resonances that need to be neutralised. This is why a. each model has a "specific" motherboard and b. Line 6 won't support fitting into a 3rd party body. I wouldn't be designing a different motherboard layout for each model - too expensive, it should just be a single board that has slightly different firmware. If the intention was to make the processor as generic as possible then as a "dumb ideas person" rather than a detailed technical geek, I would wonder whether some sort of self calibration process (controlled by workbench) could not also include adjusting to any body type assuming that compatible power, controls and connections are present. It has always seemed crazy that the only way to get a custom guitar with variax is to gut a variax. While thinking about this - I bet that Variax 700 owners might like a similar replacement especially if the tuning knob was either optional (I always change over VDI) or was a retrofit. I was also thinking around £500 (= $500 USD !) to upgrade the origially £1000 JTV 69 with new features and modelling was a reasonable target value - it is supposedly about that proportion of the original instrument price.

Thanks. Maybe people don't like the idea of being asked for more money... I am happier paying more for additional features if I am not throwing away something that still works well, and this way the basic guitar can have a much longer life.

I prefer 'Barista' - in the mornings at least

It is a real time display of what that channel has going through it which you can match to the eq curve - it can be useful if there is an annoying resonance that you need to cut or to see how much unnecessary bass / mud frequencies are present, but most "proper" sound engineers will just use their ears. Other than that it does look quite pretty. It doesn't appear when using an iPad as a remote control because it is too much data to pass in real time

Just Inputs - when you play back they are inserted back on the original channels before all processing, so that you are really mixing as if everybody is playing live. Main MIx recording is really so that you get a recording of the final performance to review after the show. The only consideration is that if the musicians are making a significant sound level by themselves (drums, guitar amps) relative to the room then you need to allow for that when setting their levels

20 second recording is just inputs but is the same as recording to SD. Personally I have only used quick capture a couple of times because I am also one of the band and 20 seconds isn't long enough, so I always use the SD card to capture a whole song and work from that. We are big on dynamics so you need loud and quiet sections which 20 seconds just doesn't do. Using a recording from a previous gig to set-up is better than nothing if some of the band are not there yet, it will at least allow some compensation for the room, but there are always variations if you have live drums or backline that you just can't adjust for unless they are all playing and even sometimes when the gig starts with all the sound dampeners in the room (audience)

I don't know if Abraham Laboriel is your style of bassist, but he uses an L3t which is the same but with extra mixer: http://uk.line6.com/news/general/1465/

Input recording are post trim - pre-everything else - these recordings All recordings are 24bit depth so can support being amplified quite a bit before any degradation. The level recorded is that being sent to the main mix (power amp stage) - raise the levels of the individual mixes and lower the master volume knob. [the last bit is theory as I don't record main mix - if somebody knows better then do tell!]

I set gain, amp tone knobs, etc on the expression pedal so rock forwards for high gain and back for clean - with all the tone knobs being ,oved you can change the sound quite dramatically Or if your expression pedals are used there is the old classic solution of the volume knob which with a JTV can control eq or tone knobs as well

Yes - main mix records the L+R outputs with everything that is being sent to them

:)

My new ideascale suggestion: http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Variax-HX-Motherboard-Upgrade/858897-23508 I would certainly be interested in a replacement processing unit that enhanced the functionality without me having to buy a new guitar - obviously Who else would be interested in higher quality modelling and expanded feature set to fit into their existing guitar and perhaps to help Line 6... how much would you be prepared to pay?

The possibilities are: 1 - the power supply is not the correct one; probably not able to provide the necessary Amps and this is causing the unit to brown-out. 2 - there is nothing wrong with the power supply (or perhaps you previous one either) and something in the unit or attached to it is shorted out causing excessive current to be drawn and the unit to brown-out In either case turn it off and unplug to avoid damage. If the power supply is the wrong one then this can simply be confirmed by the model number or just by looking at the specs on it. The Line 6 power supply should be good for 110 - 240 V AC 50-60 Hz (it works anywhere in the world with the correct Pin adaptor) and it should provide 3 Amps DC at 9V. If your unit says anything else - for example only 1A (or 1000mA) then it is the wrong power supply. If you have the right power supply then you need to work out where the problem lies. Is the mains socket you are using working for other equipment? If no then check to see if the HD500x works when plugged into a different supply - if it is fine and other equipment has problems then your mains or extension cables are faulty. Disconnect and be very careful as this is a potentially lethal problem that has nothing to do with the HD500x. Does the problem still happen when the only thing plugged into the HD500x is the power supply? If it does then it still might be the power supply or an internal fault on the HD500x and it will not be easy to determine which without extra equipment to compare (such as somebody else's working HD500x with power supply). If the problem goes away then plug the normal connections back in one by one until you find what it is that is causing the problem - it is possible that something you are plugging in is shorting a live output to ground; that equipment will need to be fixed or replaced. If the latter is the case then the internals of the HD500x can be damaged by excessive current demand and the faulty equipment should be unplugged as soon as the association with the problem is confirmed.

If you haven't already read this - if you want a definitive example of how the acoustics can sound jump to video at the bottom of the page and play from 3:05 in. That is using HD500 so Helix should sound better, but pay attention to the content above about how to achieve those sounds. http://blog.line6.com/2013/2061/

Jam Origin App is free to try but has a built in interrupt that will make it useless for anything other than testing. You will be prompted for an in-app purchase to activate the App properly. I tested it on a PC using an HD500 as an interface and it worked fairly well, but I couldn't suppress the guitar sound and get the synth output out from the HD500 - a Helix can do that though You could add you vote to this idea, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to happen - it basically suggested a mode on JTV where it swaps modelling for MIDI conversion (string by string) with output via an HD500 or these days a Helix: http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Variax-midi-guitar-capability/497215-23508

If the M20d doesn't recognise it then there is nothing you can do about it - it is not going to work. The A probably indicated an different chip set that the M20d firmware is not compatible with. I can't remember which USB Wifi adaptor I got but it was on the list and going cheap from Amazon and as long as I use a USB extension cable to move it away from the mixer (I have a 2m cable) then it works great - I have had it working over 40m away (open field), so the devices do work - but I have 2 that were not on the list and I get exactly the same response from the M20d that you do. The main advice these day as the recommended devices go obsolete and Line 6 don't provide a firmware update to support newer devices is to get the Apple USB to Network adaptor and then use any WiFi Hub that you want - Airport Express is often suggested but any will work.

Just a little comment for the OP - the Andy Timmons guitar is only 22 frets (same as a JTV) not 24. http://www.ibanez.com/products/u_eg_detail.php?year=2016&cat_id=1&series_id=30&data_id=193&color=CL01

Some people have had what they considered to be success when using the HD500 in the chain - the trick is forcing the DT25 into a topology that is a neutral as possible. The following may or may not help: http://line6.com/support/topic/13741-jtv-acoustics-with-dt2550-in-standalone-mode/ http://line6.com/support/topic/5553-acoustic-solution-for-jtv-with-dt-amps/ The problem with Helix is that it doesn't have the ability to control DT amp topology in the same way that HD500 could - in the built in menu options, but I do recall some people setting up custom MIDI messages to achieve the same effect. ColonelForbin and radatats both use Helix now so they might have suggestions.