SteveFrance

Thank you all for those replies ! @davidegirardi : i can say if it was the case, i'm gonna have a try @amsdenj : "This results in a bit more noise, but better response, articulation and high end." This is what i want to tell when i say there's a result difference between the VDI cable and jack (for the same "guitar" wether the mag pickups or the models, just changing the cable).

I agree with you ! I should have said ; i've noticed a difference between the vdi cable and the jack (and i prefer the second one), is there a way to tend to the same sound with the VDI cable ? The question I have today is to know if there's a difference between the VDI cables ? Can i improve something searching this way or not ? I think i have to go on working on the setup on the variax too.....

Thanx Psarikissian ! Is there any difference between VDI cables ?

Thank you for your answers ! @brue58skie : this is exactly that i was afraid of ! @silverhead : I have my setup on multi enter and auto in-Z parameter @Palico : i can understand it for a difference between two jack cable with different technology. But i don't understand why the VDI doesn't provide the best result and i believe the lenght doesn't alter the result.... Then, i didn't specify I've noticed that yesterday playing with my headphones. I know there's a difference playing on a PA system but my headphones are more accurate and made me noticed that fact. So i have done a try at midday with my FRFR, iv'e tried to change from jack to VDI and try the other VDI i own. First, the difference is not so important than headphones listen but it's present ! The other thing is that the VDi i had in the package provides a closer sound to the jack. The One i usually use sounds duller. So i take a look eventually to order another one and i've noticed that there are some categories for the VDI cables (seen CAT6E, CAT5), what does it mean, there's no more explanation ? Do you think the VDI quality can differ from one product to another one ?

Hi everyone ! I've posted the same topic in the variax JTV, to have the most answers from users (sorry for the double). OK, i've got a variax since many months and have done all that stuffs to improve the models sounds. I've read all the topics to stop the artifacts, to know the way to have better EQ between the strings. I've changed the gauge string, tweak everything i could on workbench and the result is much better. Thanx to everyone who posts there !!!!! ;) Before, i prefered the sound of Variax's mag pickups and now that's not exactly the same. Nevertheless, yesterday, i plugged my fender strato into the helix and thought that there's still something missing..... With the models, i don't find this twang, the response is not the same or something in the tone ( i know i don't have to search exactly the same thing i have with my fender, the tone will never be the same), many times you know something is wrong but can't explain where it is from ! That was the case ! :) So i tried to plug my Variax with the jack instead of the VDI cable into my Helix. I put the baterry in (of course :D ) and tried the mag pickups and the models. And the sound was pretty different and tied in what i was looking for. It seems to be more raw, rocky and realistic (even for acoustics). I could compare that the VDI is like a mp3 (smoother) vs a vinyl disk for the jack cable..... So this brings me here today to ask you : - Have you noticed the same ? (I think if you haven't done the test, you are going to ! ;) ) - Have i a matter with my VDI cable, there misses something to carry all the informations (i've bought a Neutrik to substitute the poor one in the standard package) ? Or this is a known difference between those two cables ? The problem is that the VDI cable is really interesting because it supplies the variax and it allows the Helix to command it...... Thanx for your answers !!!!

Hi everyone ! I've got a variax standard but models, design (and problems) are the same with JTV ;) (i think i'm gonna open the same post in variax std topics). OK, i've got it since many months and have done all that stuffs to improve the models sounds. I've read all the topics to stop the artifacts, to know the way to have better EQ between the strings. I've changed the gauge string, tweak everything i could on workbench and the result is much better. Thanx to everyone who posts there !!!!! ;) Before, i prefered the sound of Variax's mag pickups and now that's not exactly the same. Nevertheless, yesterday, i plugged my fender strato into the helix and thought that there's still something missing..... With the models, i don't find this twang, the response is not the same or something in the tone ( i know i don't have to search exactly the same thing i have with my fender, the tone will never be the same), many times you know something is wrong but can't explain where it is from ! That was the case ! :) So i tried to plug my Variax with the jack instead of the VDI cable into my Helix. I put the baterry in (of course :D ) and tried the mag pickups and the models. And the sound was pretty different and tied in what i was looking for. It seems to be more raw, rocky and realistic (even for acoustics). I could compare that the VDI is like a mp3 (smoother) vs a vinyl disk for the jack cable..... So this brings me here today to ask you : - Have you noticed the same ? (I think if you haven't done the test, you are going to ! ;) ) - Have i a matter with my VDI cable, there misses something to carry all the informations (i've bought a Neutrik to substitute the poor one in the standard package) ? Or this is a known difference between those two cables ? The problem is that the VDI cable is really interesting because it supplies the variax and it allows the Helix to command it...... Thanx for your answers !!!!

I'm not a soothsayer, but i'm sure that a PC editor will not arrive..... This device has been designed like this and the number of owners is not so important to search a so important improvement ! A lot uses the app with pleasure ! :)

the only information about variax concerned the acoustic patch : I used my Yamaha electro-acoustic guitar sound as a base, and made tonematches for the following electric guitars : – Variax JTV 89 with DiMarzio Norton and LiquiFire magnetic pickups (5 presets) – JTV89 Variax models of acoustic guitar (1 preset), Telecaster (3 presets), Les Paul (3 presets) and Fender Stratocaster (4 presets) But it means that he has created tones to sounds like acoustics based on this models/pickups, no where I've seen that there's a variax bundle (has he modified his variax parameters in workbench ) ? Glenn Delaunay purpose custom bundle for variax on his website, I don't know how it sounds.......

I think it's true today, but what about future ? No one can tell ! Imagine in 10/20years, the traditionnal guitars could eventually been obsolete. and just be sold to museum or decorate houses walls.... The modeling are very good today and i think we are at a turning point. I agree and have noticed that too when there's an amount of electronics in a device, it ages faster and faster. Personnally, i do photography, in this art there have been the apparition/revolution of DSR cameras. In the last century, film cameras used to have a constant price and you could sold it without wasting a lot of money. What happens now ? The old film cameras are very cheap because no one want to buy one. The DSR is based on the exact same process as computers, the new product burries the previous one (you lost a lot of money)..... I think Variax is unfortunately based on this process and i prefer not buying an expensive one as suggested because i'm sure in some years i won't be able to sell it at a good price. My ecological mind would like a good guitar that you can change easily electronic parts to improve it in time.......But it has not been designed this way ! Nevertheless, i had/have very good guitars before buying a Variax. So, why have i bought one ? It responds to one need. I play in a band and we use to have many kinds of style. In my opinion, the modeling world is really fantastic for its flexibility. I can change my instrument, the tuning, the amps/cabs, effects....Just with one switch in the same song..... Even if i wanted to do this from one song to another one, it demands much more time...... In fact, i've put my hands on a multi-FX and have decided to dive entirely into the concept. I can be considered as a simple minded, i had to force myself to do this but i've changed all my rig to make the most use of those capabilities and bought a variax and a FRFR too. I don't understand the interest of buying a Helix and using it with a tube amp and a standard guitar. It would have been better to buy a cheaper pedal board in this case......

Is it April Fool's day before time ? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hi, I had a Firehawk before buying a helix. I've heard that for the same models in FH and HD, the devices sounded differently..... I've never compared by myself. Nevertheless, i think you will be able to have good tones with each one, the more important to check is the limitation of each one and the way you prefer working. I believe that the HD you can put things in parallel that you can't do with the FH, check the way you can move the effects in the chain too ! For the other point, do you prefer working with your PC or do you prefer tweaking directly(easily) on the device ? This was the thing which determined my choice and choose the FH, with the bluetooth (i personnely had no matter for the connection) and the simplicity of the app, it was easy to tweak, to try things and to find tones you'll appreciate (it was a good initiation to go up with the Helix).

If you plug your Variax into a Helix (LT) (I had a Firehawk before and it worked too) with a VDI cable, the variax will be supplied, you won't need battery or other 1/4 cable. ;)

Is the "Variax settings" on page 2 setup on "Per preset" instead of "global" ? Have you followed the procedure to update the helix and Helix edit an done the backup ? You can loose things like that if it has not been the case....

Are you sure, all is correct step one : highlight the Input Block (make sure your Input it set for Multi or Variax) Not the guitar symbol ! ;)

If you wanna change the modeling variax guitar in the same preset, the snapshot is the best way t obtain that ! You can even pass from a strat on a fender amp to a gibson on a mesa, the only limit is the number of blocks. Do you want to set it up with helix edit or on the helix itself ?

I understand what you mean. The marketing always needs to make us dream ! Of course, they forget a little to tell us that to obtain this sound you have to own all those products behind.... But, i had the same bad surprise with a "standard" rig. I've bought a gibson SG, a fender strat US, a fender amp and an electro-acoustic Takamine. The seller never told me that i needed an acoustic amp to play trhough ?! I thought that i had all the best instruments to play with. So with my band, i didn't bring my acoustic guitar because i couldn't be amplified. I didn't want to invest more (i thought it was enough) and move all that stuff every time. I only played it at home or with friends.....It's a pity !

There's no lie from L6 : The Variax can imitate a lot of guitar (electrics or acoustics). If you want an acoustic sound, you have to use an acoustic amp or buy a modeler and a FRFR. The Variax won't do miracles and turn your electic amp into an acoustic one ! The philosophy of the Variax (and modelers in general) has to change all the way to think about our own rigs. I don't even understand why using a Helix with just one electric amp and whatever the connection....The modelers are limited by pre-amp/amp or cab..... For the price, i think this is what you told (with a helix modeler which is not the cheapest one !) On the other hand, you have to invest into an electric guitar, an electric amp (the cost is not the same with tubes), an acoustic guitar and an electro acoustic amp. You've got approximately the same investment but are limited with the panel of sounds, the flexibility is not the same and what about the weight....

What are you waiting this update for ? The Helix's one is not a revolution.... There are 2 amps and a lot of FX from old line6's devices....Some delays appear 3 times (mono, stereo and legacy) It's a good thing that L6 always works on the product but if it wasn't the case, would it be a problem ? I've paid for a product at a Time and i've seen if it corresponded to my needs. The firehawk has his limitations but all are known when you buy it On the other hand, it brings good stuffs that no device have and can provide very good sounds. Iggypiggy, which company doesn't take care of their customers who buy the more expensive product ? None I think one more matter to improve the FH is that there isn't many owners nowdays. I believe a lot of L6's customers have the HD500(X) and didn't want to invest into the FH. Their device is still commercialized at a more expensive price that means "it's a better pedalboard". They prefered buying the Helix or stand by. The FH have been ignored..... The Helix have two arguments : it's the flagship and it has got much more owners than the FH.....

I think it's impossible ! I remember when i looked for some patch that the list was limited. I've always thought that i miss good tones, this is frustrating !

The Variax standard is one of the last variax, you should post in "Variax Guitars / Bass / Workbench" to have a response.

@paolostar : In this configuration, have you plugged your variax directly into your amp (not in your keyboard) ? It would work because you have an acoustic amp..... To improve that, you can tweak with worbench to setup.... You should try with the acoustic model 1 or 5, they are the more beautifull and realistic models (the two 12 strings are more synthetic, it needs more tweaks) Have you positionned the tone knob in the middle ? For the acoustic models, it corresponds at the micro position so it plays on the treble and the low. What i have read too and noticed after, is that you have to play softly and with a thin pick to have the more accurate results. Some said the gauge can change the sound too. The last point, i've had the same feeling when i took the variax. I think that the modeling wasn't so good. Then, i took my electro acoustic guitar and i've noticed that the sound coming from the amp was worse than the variax but the sensation is strange because you don't have Acoustic resonance chamber with the variax and it's a little disturbing..... @gbr13697 : It seems you plug an acoustic guitar into an electric amp ; the result is automatically bad !

Does this symbol appears on the Helix's screen too like other effects ?

Unfortunately, there's no custom tone's like for Variax on line 6's site (it would be a good thing). I've found some poeple who shares their models on Vguitar. What are you using your variax with ?

The boss is older than the Helix, i don't know the GT-100 but i had hesitated when i wanted to change my multi. In fact, i've come to line 6 with a firehawk fx, i've discovered the variax after and thought, what a super idea ! I've bought a standard and then, the Helix LT. You could eventually hesitate with the eleven pedal board but, in my opinion, if you have a variax, there's nothing more efficient than having a line 6 product and if you can : one of the Helix : You can program wich guitar you want per preset, and even in one preset, you can have for one song many amp/cab and change your guitar with the snapshots. One more important point, is that you don't need battery with the VDI connection, you just have to plug the Vx and it's powered !

I'm arrived at the same conclusion. Iv'e bought 2 line6's device and i always work on them. That's not a plug and play..... You have a lot of capabilities and it demands time to setup to your tastes (even if some users notice many things the same and it helps to have their solutions to fix them...) ;)