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soundog

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Everything posted by soundog

  1. There are a LOT of Variax users out there that put their trust in Line 6. If Line 6 stops maintaining Workbench HD to work with OS updates for at least 5 years, they are doing their (former) customers a huge disservice.
  2. That really sucks, I use Workbench HD on Mac. Line 6 dropped support for Workbench legacy that I needed for my Variax acoustic. The only way to use it now is via an ancient MacBook. I wish Line 6 would do some minimal maintenence to Workbench HD to keep it running -- otherwise there are going to be a lot of p*ssed off customers (or former customers) out there...
  3. DI - I doubt Line 6 folks like yourself read these posts, but if you do see this, here's the deal. 1) All of the competitors for Helix Native provide a standalone mode. The reasons are obvious. It's not an "idea," its an essential feature. 2) User comments in this thread speak for themselves. Listen. 3) IdeaScale is a hurdle IMO - it's a bit of a pain to sign up for and use, is, and often broken. Do you really use it to prioritize features, or is it an appeasement? 4) If you search IdeaScale requests for standalone, you will find multiple threads for the same thing (add 'em up), and filter for Helix Native only. 5) All of your competitors provide standalone. 6) All of your competitors provide standalone.
  4. soundog

    Variax Line Axed

    Great stories shared here, and a lot of love for Variax. I used an Acoustic 700 at acoustic gigs for alternative tunings for many years. I kept an ancient MacBook just so I could run the original (and unsupported) WorkBench software. I still have my trusty Variax Standard for studio recordings when quick alt tuning is needed, and its a decent guitar. I pray Workbench HD is supported for a good while. And I agree with others, I hope parts (piezos, etc) will be made available into the near future, especially for the "newer" JTVs and Standards.
  5. soundog

    Variax Line Axed

    The writing has been on the wall for quite awhile, but now it's official .... Variax has been discontinued and no more will be made.
  6. Monty Python reports that there are some nice used ones on E-bay. And a few new ones sprinkled about in inventory at some online distributors. So if you want one, get it while you can! I sold my ailing Variax 700 acoustic several years ago. I'll hold on to my Standard for alt-tuning slide tunes (for as long as I can keep Workbench running). I still like the thing and wish that the technology would have evolved. AI modeling built into guitar firmware could be cool...
  7. Since no one at Line 6 is "calling the code" on Variax, I will. The Line 6 Variax guitar is officially dead.
  8. I keep my now obsolete Variax for an occasional guitar track when I need a custom tuning for some slide work. Otherwise it hangs on the wall as a novelty item.
  9. Ho hummmmm indeed. Native gets little love, just leveraged code from the hardware. The only pinned note on this forum is still for Version 1.5! And there is STILL no standalone version for Native. Ho ho ho!
  10. Exactly. Its good to try both (full capture, and DI + IR) and see which you prefer. @adagosto - glad your mind is blown!
  11. If you want to have even more fun, definitely buy an Amalgam capture for your Tonex! Get one of the "Essential" packs rather than (DI + cab) packs. He has some excellent Vox captures, the best I've found, and the price is reasonable. I suggest the VX TB30 if you want great AC30 tones.
  12. Study this thread from those wacky pre-COVID years for many more fun-filled tips and pieces of advice:
  13. Those of us who bought a Variax essentially bought a hybrid: part "real" guitar with real pickups, and part computer with piezos. My trusty old Fender Strat lives on and increases in value over time. I never worry about it becoming obsolete. Unfortunately, my Variax is not in the same boat. Years from now, at least the "real" part of the guitar should still work. (I'm glad I sold my Variax Acoustic while I still could.)
  14. You've already answered your question: "I don't play out and I don't play in a band. I just want to play good for myself. I like to figure out licks and songs, and just have an outlet for my life." You can do everything you want with the gear you've purchased.You'll always see and hear new gear online that might have you believing you should buy something else. Instead, believe that you have all you need. Then enjoy your time practicing and playing.
  15. I have an old L2T I'd like to rewire as a powered guitar cab. So, bypass the digital a/d d/a stuff and go hi-z git direct to the L2T amp and speaker. Has anyone tried this? Update: the power amp is a Hypex Electronics audio amp module, slightly customized for Line 6. After examining the ins/outs and finding a lack of reliable schematics, I've decided to not mess with it. Instead, I've simply bypassed the HF compression driver from the circuit (replaced with a wire wound resistor). I run the L2T flat (Reference/PA) for using it as a straight 1x10 guitar cab. This sounds much better to me than the "Electric Guitar" 2-12" emulation response, which I feel added too much high end and bass boost. I can switch in the tweeter when I use it for a PA. Yeah, the guitar still goes through a/d/a, but it's good enough for home use!
  16. Well, this is an old thread! I just saw it. Open up the back of your cabinet (easy with cordless drill, phillips head) and look inside. You will see the wires going from the circuit board to the speakers. Are any of the connectors loose or disconnected? Does the speaker seem OK? You could send another audio signal to the speaker and see if its blown. If you're lucky, the speaker is disconnected. BTW, replacement speakers are very affordable if needed.
  17. Rule of thumb: if AutoTune is bundled in a hardware guitar pedal, run away!
  18. Well, I might still use my Helix Stomp for live performance (where it becomes more difficult to distinguish differences, and where the Stomp provides good effects in the same box). But for me, for studio recording, Tonex has completely replaced Helix and HX Native for amp and cab modeling. (FYI, I spend zero time in a model or IR "rabbit hole" because I have the handful of amp+cab tones I need.) That's my opinion this year. Pick your favorite and learn to use it...
  19. Try this simple experiment. Try putting a simple Hi Cut, Low Cut EQ block at the end of your block chain (or after your amp and cab/IR), roll off the high end starting at 4K, and then adjust up to see if there is a sweet spot through your PA that gets rid of the fizz without cutting too much high end off your guitar.
  20. @jpspoons - support for rotary encoders is hit and miss in DAWs and hardware devices. I tried building and programming encoders for months trying to get them to work with Helix Native in Logic Pro, and finally gave up. Be happy if you can get things working with simple rotary pots sending CC 0-127 messages. Then if you have (lots of) time and sanity on your side, you can start trying to get encoders to work. I'd reach out to the support folks for your controller and see if they can lend a hand....Helix will only understand the usual CC0-127, and there is no two way communication of the MIDI parameters.
  21. I've been using Gig Performer (plug-in host) as a front-end to my DAW (Logic Pro). I split the guitar input using a Samson MDA1 passive DI so that one split output goes into my Apollo interface as a "clean" channel. The other split output gets routed through Gig Performer, hosting whatever plugins I want (TONEX and Helix Native are used in screen capture below). When I record tracks, I record 1 mono dry guitar, and 1 stereo wet guitar track (using a virtual stereo track from Gig Performer into Logic). I can reamp the dry track later if needed, or commit to the wet track. In my headphones or monitors, I hear the wet guitar mixed with my DAW recorded tracks. Yes, I could simply use live monitoring through my DAW, but when playing back lots of recorded audio or virtual instrument tracks, latency can become a problem unless you've got a computer with lots of horsepower (or if you freeze tracks). I'm running Gig Performer at 32 samples, so latency is a non-issue (only 6 ms). I simultaneously run Logic Pro with as large a buffer as needed when tracking. There are likely other plug-in hosts (free or $$) that would allow a similar workflow, but I prefer Gig Performer (and sometimes use it for live gigs via a laptop.)
  22. @scotwilliams - If you want control over your DAW input levels from Helix, run an output from your Helix into your audio interface, and set the level there. Just make sure you provide yourself with enough headroom...
  23. Did you actually buy one and spend time comparing? I did. When comparing just an amp + cab alone, I find the TONEX pedal to be superior (tone and response) in the studio, and I'm able to dial in optimum results much quicker. Live (with band and venue acoustics), the difference is not as significant. And, of course, Helix has pre and post effects out the wazoo!
  24. This issue is discussed in other threads here. The old legacy Workbench is only reliable on older systems. I use Macs and tried using emulation software running Mountain Lion on a Catalina-based Mac, but that didn't work. I ended up using a very old Macbook (one of the white plastic ones) running Mountain Lion, and use it now for running older software for older equipment such as a Variax acoustic 700. Its a workaround for sure, but that's your best solution. If you don't have an old clunker Macbook, check Craigslist or Ebay. Macbook 2013 looks like thet're selling for around $120. This is the main drawback of Variax guitars. If you need to edit their sounds, you're sheet out of luck over time. A "real" guitar can be passed on for generations!
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