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Hi Bobbo. Let's play 'spot the Variax' Three of these tones are JTV'59 Variax and one is a 2005 Taylor Fall Ltd all solid koa 324ce (Expression system version 1). There is no EQ, compression, reverb or anything else, just straight into a Mac through a Presonus Audiobox interface. Have a listen and then say which one you want to sound more like (if any). Perhaps also think about the rest of the instruments in the mix and what else sits in the tonal range of the acoustic. Are you up against a wall of keyboards and other guitars or pretty much solo. You will tend to lean towards some quite different acoustic tones in these different scenarios. Spot the Variax.mp3

I'm fairly happy with the IRs for a first shot at it. I fed the mic output into Garageband and then took Garageband output into the FX loop return on the amp to make a loop. I then recorded a sine wave 'sweep' for each variant of the power amp and deconvoluted it to get the IR. This means it should have captured the power amp, speaker, cabinet and mic (and a bit of the room). I'd say I like the pentode class AB best - it really tightens the sound up so it sounds like a single source rather than just a chain of effects. It's particularly noticeable on higher gain sounds with time based effects (IR at the end of the chain). You may need to put a short room reverb in there to get a better 'amp in the room'. Have a go with them and let me know what you think.

So, I watched this video: https://youtu.be/h6qZoC7W_EQ And had a go myself. I don't have an SM57 so I unscrewed the cap of my SM58 to mimic it and set up the mic slightly off axis, slightly off centre about 10cm back and made some IRs for the four different power amp options. Let me know what you think. DT25 Class AB Triode_dc.wavDT25 Class AB Pentode_dc.wavDT25 Class A Triode_dc.wavDT25 Class A Pentode_dc.wav

Happy Christmas to all the hard working folks at Line6 and to all you lovely people on the forum.

Is it still the case that global EQ doesn't work on some outputs? My set up is Helix to DT25 via L6 link and I don't think I can use global EQ which I've always thought was odd.

Hi Cat. Have you got a solution yet? What's your signal chain? The 'cat5' port on the '59 is just for data when connected to a computer via USB. You need the 1/4" output plugged into your computer somehow to hear the changes. If you are logged into the POD you can either go 1/4" or use the 'Variax' socket if you have a VDI cable. The VDI route means that the POD can then change the guitars and tunings on the guitar patch by patch. Hope this helps.

Hi Have a listen for yourself - to me they just sounds different. Not sure I can say one is 'better' than the other - it depends what I'm looking for: Or: A decent cab model or IR (easy in the Helix) will sound better than the 'direct out' on the DT25 and give you much more flexibility.

Hi Lukjan. I used to run HD500x to DT25, now I use Helix into DT25. I play live in a function band and need to cover many different sounds and eras of guitar amp. The main thing to consider is that the DT25 is a hybrid amp. The pre-amp is digital (either on-board or from the HD500x or Helix) and the power amp is valve. Both the POD HD and the Helix can be connected via Line6 link to the amp and can then be set up to configure the a digital pre-amp and manipulate the DT25's valve power section patch by patch. For example, you can have a 'Marshall' type pre-amp and try how that sounds with a real class A or class AB power amp section running triode or pentode.(hint: AB Pentode is best). Both the HD500X and the Helix sound good and tone-wise and there's not that much between them. The Helix has far more it can do in terms of FX and routing and the processor is far more capable. Plus Line6 are still updating regularly. Either one will do you well. I made the change as HD500X is now so old and it is basically a computer - you wouldn't rely on a 10 year old laptop as your main tool. Not sure about the 'digital artifacts' - there is so much tone shaping power with either solution you can easily dial out any harshness and almost no-one can tell if they are listening to valves or digital, particularly in a mix. If you are recording digitally there's plenty of post production you can do too. When recording you will probably get a more reliable sound using the POD or Helix direct to your DAW rather than using a mic on the DT25. Hope this helps

Thanks for your responses @codamedia and @cruisinon2. I don't need it to sound exact - just close enough when programming at home to avoid changing amp blocks etc on the fly at rehearsal. Space and volume are restricted at home so I can't really connect everything up when designing pre-sets. As I use my Helix with a DT25 over L6 Link all my pre-sets are set up as 'pre-amp only' with the DT25 running the power amp and cab. I haven't really found a stock cab block that can turn 'pre-amp only' into anything close to what I hear in the room. It seems the best way to work is to set up an amp+cab (or IR) that gets close to what I want and then set up a pre-amp block that copies the settings and tinker with it at rehearsal to get it closer. I was just trying to find a quicker way. Thanks

Hi all I'm wondering if anyone knows of an IR using DT25 1X12 or another combo with a 1X12 and the same speaker? It would really help when setting up my Helix at the computer to hear what it might sound like through the amp. If I could audition amps and FX through headphones or studio monitors with a DT25 IR in the chain it could save me a lot of time tweaking when I'm set up at band rehearsal. Posted this over on DT Amps but it's a bit busier here. Thanks

Hi all I'm wondering if anyone knows of an IR using DT25 1X12 or another combo with a 1X12 and the same speaker? It would really help when setting up my Helix at the computer to hear what it might sound like through the amp. If I could audition amps and FX through headphones or studio monitors with a DT25 IR in the chain it could save me a lot of time tweaking when I'm set up at band rehearsal. Thanks

Hey Psarkissian. Wondering how I can get a nylon string acoustic on my JTV '59? Would be great if we could get the old Acoustic variax sounds into workbench HD. Sounds like you have it on your Variax..? Thanks

Doh! (wasn't signed in).

Hey @waymda - these files are now showing as 'unavailable'. Can you post the preset in Customtone? Thanks

Hi Tim. I'm no expert, but here's what I hear: SG is on the bridge pickup with volume and tone rolled back a little. The tone seems darker than an SG does wide open or when the volume rolls off and there's a treble bleed circuit. I'm guessing his signal chain is compressor-amp-chorus-delay-reverb. The chorus is quite subtle but I think I can hear it on the delay repeats. It could easily be a 'delay with mod'. The delay is set to two or three repeats and sounds digital. You can hear his string attack acoustically through the mic he is speaking through which makes the electric guitar sound unusually bright on the attack. In terms of amp, it could be almost anything running clean with a lowish gain crunch in front or a digital model (most likely given the signal chain above). Try playing with different models in your Helix but make sure you roll off the volume a little. You'll notice as well that he's quite gentle with his picking hand. Put your pick down and use your fingers. Hope this helps.