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Sorry if this has been talked about. I actually was on here a couple of weeks ago with the same issue but can't find the thread anymore.

The problem is that I can't seem to download the firmware 3.7. Someone recommended waiting a week or ten days and I did. Same issue. Ex Edit is updated but I can't seem to get the firmware on my Helix Rack. It times out. My internet seems ok for everything else but this. Someone mentioned another way to do this and I can't seem to find a thread where it is mentioned. My HX Stomp XL updated but my HX FX would not.

Yaurghhhhhh!

rick

1) I did not buy it 9 years ago.

2) I can't sell it

3) I thought that maybe Covid slowed down any new firmware developments and maybe there might be a better version at some point 

4) There may not be parts available soon

5) I am also having trouble selling my VHS player or DVD. They still work as well as they ever did.

the list goes on.....

I restarted the computer a couple of times along with the Stomp XL. I find it odd that it always fails at the same place....29 MB.

And for some reason it always fails at 29 MB. And I have tried different USB cables, I am on a mac mini. no USB hub being used. My HX FX was able to get the new firmware and my HX edit is the newest.

On 11/16/2023 at 10:37 AM, cruisinon2 said:

for session guys who have to be EVH one minute and Joe Pass the next (and can actually pull that off), the Variax is a dream come true

No way....IT never really sounded good enough to pull that off. THe Jazz tones were the worst. IT excelled on tuning changes and the sitar and other cool things for live use. The glitchyness, Honkyness and sterility kept most good guitarists away from it. I bought one of the James Tyler US made single cuts and it is a beautiful guitar even without the Variax. Knowing it is outdated now really suckes. I guess I am stuck with it 

Not sure what is going wrong here in doing the update on my Stomp XL. I was able to update my HX FX  and HX edit to 3.7 with a bit of difficulty. However the HX Stomp is not happening. I am getting error  messages like

Failed to download firmware update file.

Please check your Internet connection and try again.

Unknown Error. [code -2004]

I tried the udater and got this one:

HX Stomp XL frimware update suspended

HX Stomp did not reset instructing it to enter into DFL Mode

I still have my Helix rack and Helix LT to update but as I will be using the rack for gigs this week, I am hesitant to try this.

What stupid mistake am I making this time?

Thanks Psarkissian! I knew I could count on you!

I have a Shuriken and am now pretty fond of it. Recently the dome on the selector switch came off and I can't find it. Is it possible to get just the dome? I suppose I would be happy with the whole knob but I don't really need it....just the dome, which seems somewhat necessary in order to keep the dust out.

Thanks

rick

PS, It is pretty depressing to see the lack of postings on the variax threads....almost like nobody is buying them anymore? Duh!

I have the 110 OHM

Thanks a lot! Yeah, I will try it with the Helix. I was hoping ti would do something with the QC and was worth a try.

And it definitely works great with the XLRs!

So I have a Helix Rack but I am using the Quad Cortex right now. I am going from the QC to the 212+ using 2 1/4" cables. I then tried to go from the 212+ to the 112+ using the digital AES cable and only the 112 works. If I just use the 1/4" from the QC to the 212+ and then using another regular guitar cable to the 112+ it works just fine. I was just wondering why I can't use the AES cable. I also hooked up the AES cable from the XLR out of the 212 to the XLR in of the 112 and it does the stereo nicely. I was kind of hoping that if I went MIDI from the QC to the 212+ and then AES to the 112+ I might be able to switch speaker models via the AES cable. I probably won't be using this set up live but it was just an experiment in the studio and it does sound great!

So I got the PC 112+ back and tried to run it with the 212+ via the link cable.

It did not work. Like I said earlier, I am not going to use it live. Ithought it would be a cool sound in the studio.

As I am understanding, it is best to use the link system with the Helix. i tried using the Quad Cortex and Got sound out of the 112+ but not the 212+. When I get home, I will try and just use the mic cable like you suggested. i did try it with a 1/4 " cable and it worked just fine in stereo. I will also try and turn the two PCs on in different sequences and seeif that helps as was suggested.

I am reheasing digitally lately, using a STOMP XL but have not done the full on gig yet. I still love my tubes but boy howdy, I am really close to hopefully finding a low pressue gig and run with either the Helix or QC into a PC+.

I was under the impression that an Eminence speaker is used in the powercab. The picture above says Celestion. Did they change to the Celestion or has it always been that way?

So i am new to using IRs and not sure if I get them for the PC. It seems that If I use an IR on my Helix or QC I would want to use the PC in FRFR mode in order to not color the IR, correct? Now if I download IRs to the PC do I just play through it as is using the IR? So my signal chain in, say the helix, is amp->FX->out to PC then IR on PC?

So bear with me here....If I use an IR in the PC does it default to FRFR or the speaker in the PC?

I get using an IR going to FOH, but unclear on using itin just the PC.

I do use acoustic guitar IRs in my QC going to the PC and they are stellar! 

I'll get the 112 back in a couple of weeks so I can experiment then. I don't plan on using them in stereo on a gig....just at home. I have been using the 212 as an acoustic monitor and along with the Grace Felix and the QC, it is the best acoustic tone I have ever achieved. Sometimes it will be easier to just take the 112+ to the gig as it is nice and small. But at home it might be cool to see what stereo sounds like with more separtion than I can get with just the 212.

You have been more than helpful.

Thanks!

rick

So if I go L6 Link from my Helix to one PC and L6 Link to the next one, will that take the place of MIDI cables? Basically does the L6 Link send midid info to the powercabs or do I need MIDI cables too?

Sometimes I will be using a Quad Cortex so I am not sure at all what it will look like. I ordered the 112 + as a refurb and got it yesterday but I had to send it back as it would not boot up. So I have a couple of weeks to figure it out. Stereo out to the 212 and then Link 6 to the next cab?

I checked it out and you guys said that any AES/EBU should work but don’t buy a cheap one. I found a lot of them on Amazon, Sweetwater, etc. And design a cable can easily build one. So instead of running a 1/4” cable to the two PCs, this will split the signal to the 2nd PC for stereo?

 I want to run stereo with my 212 and 112 power cabs. I want to order a cable from designacable.com but not sure what to order. In the past I ordered the cat5E EtherCON cable and that seems interchangeable with the Variax and helix control. What should I tell them I am looking for?

If I turn down the master volume on the QC there is no problem. However, pretty much everyone says to keep that knob dimed. In trying to balance different presets, If I get the clean twin style tones to where they are not clipping they are too quiet compared to the gainy tones. Using the master volume turned down works. So why does everyone advocate turning it up all the way? Same with the Helix...

I still have not gigged live with an all digital rig but I am getting close as it is that good. I use a QC into a PC 212+. The clean tones tend to put the PC into the red zone easily.For intance, if I use an AC30 set up pretty bright it pegs the clip light at a much lower volume as the EV. I figure that the higher gain might compress the signal a bit or something. but how do I get a clean tone to compete with a higher gain tone without clipping? I don't really hear the clipping  but I assume if I send it to FOH via and XLR, it my clip there. Any ideas?

thanks in advance!

rick

Hey thanks RD2RK! I didn't even have to do the two FX loops for the solution to work. I just took the FX loop I use (FX loop 1) and switched it from instrument to line and that did the trick. No more flashing red lights or that not warm digital clipping!

I did restore everything from my backup this time, but on one of the earlier updates I may not have, and it did start on an earlier update.

I am using an Egnater M50 which has two tube preamps, each with two channels. It does the flashing red thing on any preset I use and any preamp. I am intrigued that you brought up global settings. it makes sense that it might be in there somewhere, given that it does the flashing on everything.

So I am overloading the FX loop in 4CM. It stops if I pull way back on the send or turn the preamp on my amp down but then I don't have much tone or volume. For some reason it did not do this in earlier firmware versions, or maybe my memory is fried?

I got it to work! I don't know what I did differently, but I suspect that maybe my updater was corrupted or something. I got rid of everything and started over using the method you described. I am eternally grateful to you! NOw hopefully I can replicate this with my Helix LT and Stomp XL. The HX FX was no problem at all yesterday and the crazy stuff started with the Helix.

One last (hopefully!) question. It siad that I need to do a factory reset on the rack? (At least I know which encoders to use, ha ha...) Then go  and reload all of the new stuff?