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I am using the SYN2 to add channels and bypassing the the preamps in the M50 when I do. My set up allows be to use the SYN2 preamps and the M50 preamps. Using the MIDI switching through the Helix I have 8 different amp channels as each tube preamp has two channels. So I am thinking the folks on the Synergy Forum were not aware of what I am doing and the convoluted wiring is necessary. I can use either the SYN2 preamps and bypass the ones in the M50 and then when I use the M50 preamps I bypass, I bypass the SYN2 preamps. Also, it works great! I was able to trouble shoot the clipping and all is well. I was just wondering if there were an easier way to do this and I think not.

I use the acoustic IRs all of the time now. However, I have been using them on my Powercabs. i Use a Grace stereo preamp and get a really nice sound. Then I drop a Martin or Taylor IR in on the PC and it is night and day difference. I use a Stomp XL for my mando preamp and I guess I could use my mando IR there, but again, I use them in the PC. Like other's have said, using them instead of a good cab sim does not do that much for my ears. But on an acoustic guitar is a different matter.

SO I use my Helix Rack for effects and a SYN2 from synergy amps into an Eganter M50 for my main amp sound. For years it has been my rig and I have never been happier. Lately I had some distortion and went to the Synergy forum to try to trouble shoot it. In the process people told me that I had too many unnecessary steps in going from the Helix into the SYN 2 and back. Here is what I am doing currently: Guitar -> HX input HX FX send -> SYn2 input SynFX send to HX FX return HX main out -> SYN FX return Syn2 amp in -> my M50 input Syn amp send -> M50 send Syn amp return -> M50 return. Bear in mind that I am doing the 4CM. It does seeem a bit convoluted. They are saying that it should be as simple as going from the loop of the Helix into the Syn 2 and then back. Have I beendoing some silly wasted steps or would the simple way work? Using the simpler way my question is how to get into the loop of my amp for the 4CM? I hope this makes sense.... thanks so much for any help, rick

Are you saying that it is possible to create the nylon sound in Workbench?

That's really too bad. Man, most of those acoustic models kicked lollipop compared to what is on the Variax now. I especially liked the gut string and arch top models.

I was watching a video of the old 700 acoustic variax and it seemed to have some killer models. Is it possible to get those for the newer Variax's? My has just the five stock models and it would be great to have these others. thanks rick

I use the IR on acoustics live but have them on my Powercab since I use a Grace preamp and there is no way to put the IR in front of that. It just dawned on me though that since I use my Stomp XL for EQ and FX on my mandolin, I could put my mando IR in front instead of on the PC and that might make it sound even better. I did run into an issue this morning in trying to load IRs from worship tutorials onto my Helix Rack. I have three kinds....a D-35, a Taylor and one called the Holy Grail. The D-35 loaded into the Helix without any problem but I could not load the others as I would drag them over and get the circle with the slash through it and the file would just go back to it's loacation. Ever had that happen? All were 48k files so since the Martin file worked I am not sure what might be going on with the others.... rick

I've really been enjoying using my Powercab with my real acoustic guitars and using acoustic guitar IRs downloaded to the powercab to give them more depth. Since I quit my major loud band a couple of years ago, I have not used either of my Variax's. I pulled one out and thought how I had never tried an acoustic guitar IR with the Variax. So, a couple of questions..... 1) Should I put the IR first in the line on my Helix before any FX, preamps, etc? 2) When I was in my loud band I was using loud tube amps and the Helix was only for FX, 4CM. I used the Variax for sitar, slide tunings and other kind of exotic things but never really liked the acoustic guitar sounds. Then it dawned on me that playing through a 2 X 12 guitar cab and real tube amps sounds great for electric guitars and Variax electric models but of course acoustics would sound a little weird. So, has anyone tried using acoustic models with say an acoustic Martin IR and then through the Powercab FRFR? IT seems like that would give a nice new dimension to the Variax acoustic models. Thanks Rick

I am still using both of mine a lot. I use the 112+ or 212 with acoustic instruments. On smaller electric gigs I use a QC with the 112+. It all sounds like tubes but the response with my fingers is still a little weird. I usually use the Creamback model on most of my amps. All cabinets and speakers sound different so I see the PC as just another cabinet. I cannot recreate a speaker cab with it but I am able to create a nice speaker/cab combination. AMSDENJ, I noticed in an earlier post that you use FRFR for acoustics. I have not tried that so I will this weekend. What is the difference when it comes to acoustic sounds using FRFR vs LF Raw? amsdenjEmpty heading

Thanks so much rd2rk. This really helped me with my rig. As I never use the PC with the USB for recording, I have never heard the clipping. It is so weird that if I am using a very clean model like a Twin or Deluxe it goes in the red but still sounds really clean. I have never had an issue using acoustic instruments for obvious reasons. I really love the PC for an acoustic monitor. THe sound I get on stage is prefect for me using acoustic IRs and then it is up to the sound god to make that happen out front. My trouble was more in using it for my electric stuff. YOu have helped me conceptualize it so I now know how to get the biggest sound free of worrying about where it might be oeverdriving.

Good catch rd2rk!

I have a question regarding either the 112+ or the 212. I notice that when I am playing on my QC (most often with a clean amp model) the PC is in the red zone meaning it is clipping. However I do not hear the clipping on the PC. I assume that the clipping must be going to the FOH even though I am not hearing it on the PC. If I pull it back on the QC and get it in the green or yellow zone on the PC oft times it is not loud enough for my stage volume. I know that I could ask the FOH engineer for more in my monitor but that kind of defeats me using the PC for the amp in the room sound. I looked in the global settings but not sure if I saw anything relevant in there except maybe the input volume in which case I then need to add something extra to my stage volume. Also, should the direct out level be line or mic in going to FOH? Any easy fixes?

I have both a 112+ AND A 212. I would buy either one again in a heartbeat. I still use my tube amps but I find myself using the PCs more and more. My acoustic rig is the 112+ and my electric rig is either one of them most often with a QC.

Does the Black have nice FX like Delay/Verb?It never even occurre to me to try a bass rig even though back in the day I used a bass head for years and loved it.

I am using my 112+ for an acoustic rig. I have the Dimarzio Black Angel pick system in my acoustic and run it into a Grace Felix so that I can EQ each pickup independently. I then run that into the PC 112+ and add a Martin IR. It sounds wonderful. THe problem is after that I take the XLR out to a QSC TOuchmix 16 and then to an EV Evolve 30 PA. Here is the issue. When I listen to everything going to the PC 112+ it sounds great....like a mic'd acoustic. If I turn the PC completely down and go through the PA, it sounds pretty much the same. When I turn the PC back up it sounds really tinny and perhaps phasey. Is there a phase switch on the PC? Or is something else going on? It would seem that what I hear in the PC should be what is sent to the PA. That is true as long as I turn the PC down to zero. I am kind of baffled.