blekenbleu

OK, but I'm guessing NOT: * Their newest release is over 6 years old; developers (and maintainers) will have long since moved on, and paying techies to read and understand, much less improve, old code and documentation is unappetizing. * There is some great Java software, but much Java was effectively write-only. Java is/was an expedient way to hack GUI apps, but: - it turned out to be less portable than touted. > back in the day, deploying Variax Workbench took far longer than anticipated. - Oracle now owns Java, offers Java 6 downloads for Windows, Linux, Solaris ... NOT macOS. - Apple has obviously reduced Java support > lots of software, including Adobe, have not updated from Java 6 > supporting multiple versions is evidently problematic * Legacy Variax support arguably should have been included HD, but - that ship has sailed. Line 6 wanted HD out as soon as possible, and dragging along support for hardware that would yield them negligible additional revenue would have delayed that release. - retrofitting legacy support into HD now would impact software that is key to revenue. - Variax signal processing tech is probably considered family jewels, making open-sourcing legacy support a non-starter, since the essential difference from HD is probably bit precision, not algorithmic. * My Variax 300 is getting cranky, and may not be exceptional in that. - nearly dead string (not low E) > another piezo to replace? - many crackles, etc, for the first half hour after powering up > bad capacitors? corroded connections? Meanwhile, Variax Workbench 1.75 lists Windows 8 compatibility. Microsoft supports Window 8.1 until 1/10/2023, and Windows 8.1 better supports modern hardware (UEFI, safe boot) than did Windows 7. The Windows Workbench 1.75 installer attempted to install JRE 1.6 from Sun, no longer available. 32-bit JRE 1.6.0.10 from https://filehippo.com/download_jre_32/4824/ is accepted by Variax Workbench. Unfortunately, that Windows 8.1 PC is a desktop located well away from my guitar playpen, so while Variax Workbench seemed to run fine, I was unable to hear what was happening. Dedicating a cheap/spare Windows 8.1 laptop to Variax Workbench seems good. ---=--- Some Windows apps using JRE are known to run on Linux using WINE, and it may be possible to run Variax Workbench there. Markus Grabner had some success making a linux driver for Variax: https://manualzz.com/doc/24341530/line6-linux-usb-driver-version-0.7.3

I can confirm bad news: My same version 1.75 Variax Workbench app that worked for Sierra wanted a new download of Java 6 for High Sierra 10.13.6, and now constantly throws exceptions, requiring `kill -9` in Terminal. It may be that, after checking for Java 6 at startup, WorkBench somehow ends up using another Java version, which on my Mac defaults to: $ java -version java version "1.8.0_181" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_181-b13) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.181-b13, mixed mode) I have forgotten whatever macOS Java fu I may once have had, but will try to figure out how best to set Java 1.6 as default. $ which java /usr/bin/java $ ls -l /usr/bin/java lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 74 Nov 28 2017 /usr/bin/java -> /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/Current/Commands/java $ ls -l /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions drwxr-xr-x 11 root wheel 374 Nov 6 16:12 A lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 1 Nov 28 2017 Current -> A # meanwhile $ ls -l /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Commands/java lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 16 Mar 2 19:33 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Commands/java -> ../Home/bin/java

Oops, I used the HD500 with Monkey to revert Variax from 2.33 back to 2.10 .. seems OK. Thanks for the warning; can that interface device also work with a Variax 300? I lack an original USB interface for that older Variax. FWIW, a JTF-89 model can be tweaked to make single string tones indistinguishable from magnetic, at least to me.. Dialing up alternate tunings is a blast!

OK, I found an article which declares this is/was a fairly common problem: Fixing a faulty Variax model selector Removing the model knob and pressing its shaft woke modeling and the LED, >>after releasing<<. A dab of hot glue stuffed into that knob cavity qualifies as a cure. Removing the knob for tuning, with seemingly the same LED lashup, and pressing its shaft did nothing obvious, but >>turning it<< illuminates that LED, but >>only briefly<<; too bad this is both unintuitive and undocumented..

A black import JTV-89F bought from eBay was received in seemingly good condition 2 days ago. Monkey reports flash version 2.10 (2:33 was tried and seems to behave identically). Pressing model (or tuning) knob seems to have no effect, and I have yet to notice any LED illuminating. Really, unclear what to expect; should an active model name on the knob be backlit? Yesterday, Workbench HD somehow provoked the JTV-89F into Variax mode (no LED noted), and blending worked between magnetic and model sounds from both 1/4 phone and VDI connections, but model output has not yet been achievable again today.. I try combinations of battery or VDI power and VDI connection via USB dongle or HD500, with and without 1/4 phone (which seems necessary when using battery with USB dongle). What am I missing? * Is there no explicit way to force model output using Workbench HD? * Is there a video that clearly demonstrates JTV-89F model/Variax mode switching? ---- On a semi-unrelated note, why does Workbench HD Read Me for version 2.14 continue warning to use it only with the USB dongle? I read that there were problems with older code versions, but audio gets buzz/ticks when rotating either JTV-89F volume or tone control when VDI is connected to the USB dongle, and NOT when connected to my HD500; yesterday's modeling success occurred while running Workbench HD via HD500..?? Prior to that, I also had issues getting Monkey up to version 1.78 on macOS 10.13.6; perhaps Windows users have it easier.

Disconnect the HD500X from power and obtain a new supply. You can check the old supply with a voltmeter, but you should never feel electrical shocks, since a good power supply completely isolates the HD500X from mains power, and the voltage from a good HD5000X power supply is too low to provide sensible shocks except in some pathological case, such as connecting yourself across the supply with salt water (e.g. perspiration) to reduce resistance. Continuing to use the current power supply without independently verifying that it is not defective is liable to damage the HD500X.

Given that I still have the original bridge, swapping saddles and piezos will take less than 10 minutes. I'd rather have the bridge plate anchored by 5 screws than 4 in a softwood body.

Fair enough; the bridge cavity on my Variax 300 is only barely larger than the smaller of above circuit boards. The lower middle screw hole in bridge plate used for attaching rev B circuit card is for rev D card a 5th screw anchoring plate to body.

Any idea how many incompatible Variax 300 bridge versions exist? I bought a used replacement from eBay, which turns out to be rev B 11-18-04, that is physically incompatible with rev D 01-25-06 from my Variax. Based on letters B and D, there may be at least 4 versions; whether or to what extent A and C are physically [in]compatible with A or D is the question...

For bandwidth, they do not. Wi-Fi is already bidirectional; 2 multiplexed channels one way with one channel the other is trivial. In fact, grab almost any pair of relatively recent Android phones with the right app and you can stream video from one camera to display on the other, involving well over 96kbps. One problem, with stock network and Wi-Fi software "stacks" is latency, as anyone who has used e.g. Apple's Airport Express for piping music could have experienced. Another problem is maintaining adequate wireless bandwidth in the presence of competing 802.11a/c radios. Reimplementing this might run into bandwidth/channel allocation "opportunities" for relatively recently relocated digital microphone channels in the 2.4GHz band, with which Line 6 is already familiar, given their XD-V55HS and XD-V75HS.

My Mac was running Sierra before getting Line 6 stuff; I doubt Sierra helps Line 6 software and first would try installing JDK 1.6 on your current setup. For one thing, that might help others if it proves to be a quick fix..

Despite being no longer supported, Workbench for Variax 300-700 version 1.75 can be installed and will run on macOS Sierra. First, ensure that Java 6 runtime has been downloaded and installed e.g. from https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572 Then, mundofer write about using Pacifier to override the Workbench installer version check http://line6.com/support/topic/6775-workbench-version-for-mavericks/?p=78824 - Download and install Pacifist: https://www.charlessoft.com Right-click and Eject "Pacifist" from Desktop - Download Variax Workbench 1.75. https://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=5161 - Mount the Variax Workbench 1.75.dmg disk image by double clicking on it. - Drag Variax Workbench.pkg icon to drop on Pacifist icon click [ Don't Check ] (if shown) (no need to register, just wait the 21 seconds), press [ Not Yet ] click [ OK ] in Quick Start / Welcome window click [ Don't Install ] QuickLook - In Variax Workbench.pkg window, open "Contents of Variax_Workbench.pkg" - Drag VariaxWorkbench.app icon to Applications > Line6 click [ Extract ], enter password in 2 windows - Close Pacifist and eject "Variax Workbench" from Desktop. - Double click on VariaxWorkbench icon; if Line 6 Monkey has configured your VDI access device, Workbench should open and work. If Jave 6 runtime is not found, click [ More Info.. ] in pop-up to download.

Plugging an old Madeira EG-51 into an HD500 bought used yielded symptoms similar to those originally described and were mostly resolved by cleaning phone plug/jack connections. I bought DeoxIT D100L for that purpose. The next improvement was eliminating hum when hands approached plastic bodies of connectors molded to guitar cable by lopping those off and soldering metal bodied plugs. The next improvement was swapping a made-in Korea Hamer Hammer Series for the Madiera. In addition to better tone, the Hamer exhibits nearly no electrostatic hum and only modest magnetic hum. Magnetic hum changes when the guitar is moved, and there is usually an orientation that nearly eliminates it. Electrostatic hum changes when you touch or come close to unshielded or poorly shielded signal conductors. Nearly all electrostatic hum was eliminated from the Madeira by disassembling, replacing aluminum foil on the pick guard with copper, painting cavities with HSF54 conductive acrylic paint, then applying copper foil to cavity surfaces so that, except for pickup openings in pick guard, cavities are completely surrounded by copper foil. Magnetic hum was reduced by replacing bridge and neck pickups with rail humbuckers. Unfortunately, those cheap pickups lack means for grounding those pickup rails, making them vulnerable to electrostatic hum when touched. Other than that, the Madeira is now as quiet as the Hamer (but not as quiet as my Variac 300).

I can run Line 6 Monkey 1.74 on Sierra 10.12.3 even when POD HD is not attached; when none is auto-detected, Monkey then asks to select the Line 6 device. That symptom: "running 10.10 and it indicated (oddly) that I needed 10,5 and above" sounds suspiciously similar to one of the problems when trying to run older Variax Workbench 1.75, for which part of the solution is installing Java 6 runtime that is available from https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572 I installed JDK 1.6 before installing any Line 6 software, which may be why I encountered no issues..

Having acquired an HD500 after updating to Sierra 10.12.3 (so installing all most recent Line 6 software versions) and installing JDK 1.6.0 for older Variax support from: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572 ... POD HD500 Edit "just works". When opening a Terminal window and typing: $ java -version java version "1.8.0_73" Java SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_73-b02) Java HotSpot 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.73-b02, mixed mode)

The HD500 USB connector seems not much more fragile than most but was intended for recessed mounting, as on this Epson scanner: Flush-mounting on a foot switch box begs for trouble, IMO, particularly when semi-permanently USB-connected to an iMac. Adding a block to virtually recess connectors provides roughly 1 oz prevention by first tracing left-most 7 connectors on paper: then drilling a block of 5/4 inch wood to match and duct-tapng it to the HD500 bottom: This block helps make power connection by feel:

My used HD500 (not X) should arrive tomorrow... I read that these 2 have very similar hardware, but HD500 supports programming either an earlier Variax (using Workbench) or Variax HD (by Workbench HD) while HD500X supports only WorkBench HD. Does HD500 continue supporting non-HD Workbench if v2.62 update was applied?