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Thanks for the tip on being able to adjust the HF trim! I never knew that was possible. I am using the Quad Cortex lately as they have a model of an API mic pre that is really good. I have to be careful getting into the globals on the PC as I am starting to use an acoustic and an electric on the same gig. What sounds good on one doesn't sound good on the other. anyway, thanks again! rick

So is anyone using the PC for an acoustic guitar amp? I have been for two years and was wondering what people are doing as far as FRFR, LF or LF Flat? Which one is working best for you and why? I am lately finding the FRFR a bit harsh and would like to tame it. I am using a Quad Cortex or a Helix. Thanks rick

I would never need to use my Variax in the studio as I have most of those guitars, I do use it live as the sitar is great. Also using the tunings like the open G for slide is cool for live. I still maintain that there is a kind of squank to the guitar models that I have never been able to EQ out. I do believe that Craig Anderton could do this but I just don't have the knowledge. I also think that in the years since they stopped developing the Variax, a lot has changed and they could have made it impossible to differentiate the "real" guitar from the modeled. much in the same way Helix, Quad Cortex, etc, have been able to do that with amps.

I guess what I am saying is the plugin is not relevant to live playing. I don't have any trouble with getting great tones in the studio. I use my Helix and the Quad Cortex and both are great for that. I just started trying to play with the Helix and QC live and it is an entirely different animal. I am using models now for all of my acoustic gigs along with the Powercab. I did some electric gigs with the Powercab and QC, or Helix and it is a weird thing to dial in as using my Synergy/Egnater stuff is more of a plug and play deal. Thanks for all of the explanation on using poweramps. I am not settled on that yet. The Rocktron Velocity does add a little color but it is a tube-ish color. When the modeling stuff first started getting good I had this great Carvin tube poweramp but it was so heavy. It sounded great and warmed up the early models but now that the models have developed their own kind of warmth I am still experiementing. Thanks again for all of the info! rick

Thanks everybody. TheYoulean Loudness meter plugin would only work with Helix native, right? Still a little confused about power amps. So, back in the day, the old Fenders and Marshalls had no gain knob or master volume. That would imply that the power section was always maxed, right? Most Helix models have a drive knob, a channel volume knob and a master knob, although a couple don't have a master volume. So does the master volume of the amp model have any effect on the tone? Or are you saying that the channel volume affects the tone but not the master volume of the model? I have an Egnater MTS amp that uses the synergy tube preamps. I am trying to compare the helix to that and maybe that is unfair. Each preamp has a drive and a Master and then the amp itself has a master volume. Would that be similar to the Helix models? It is weird that there is a channel volume and then a master and then the Helix itself has a master and then the power amp also has a volume. I am just struggling to get my head around all of these volumes so please be patient with my questions.... rick

Thanks everybody. TheYoulean Loudness meter plugin would only work with Helix native, right? Still a little confused about power amps. So, back in the day, the old Fenders and Marshalls had no gain knob or master volume. That would imply that the power section was always maxed, right? Most Helix models have a drive knob, a channel volume knob and a master knob, although a couple don't have a master volume. So does the master volume of the amp model have any effect on the tone? Or are you saying that the channel volume affects the tone but not the master volume of the model? I have an Egnater MTS amp that uses the synergy tube preamps. I am trying to compare the helix to that and maybe that is unfair. Each preamp has a drive and a Master and then the amp itself has a master volume. Would that be similar to the Helix models? It is weird that there is a channel volume and then a master and then the Helix itself has a master and then the power amp also has a volume. I am just struggling to get my head around all of these volumes so please be patient with my questions.... rick

I have used my main helix rack for years just for FX and have been hesitant to use the models in a live situation.. Recently I did some gigs with my stompXL and a powercab. It is nice and I can see myself using it more as I dial it in for live use. I just remembered an old Rocktron Velocity 150 power amp from my old Digitech GSP 1101 days and wanted to try it out with a Helix. My question is about setting the various volumes. Do I run the power amp full on and the Helix full on and then dial it back with the amp models? Or is it best to pull the power amp back and dime the Helix? Or power amp back, Helix back and models run with the master dimed? I’s kind of cool as I hooked it up stereo to an old Carvin VAI Legacy 2X12 stereo speaker cab. Massive sounds and all but just want to make sure that I am utilizing it in the most efficient way. Thanks in advance! rick

I just tried the Flat/Raw and it sounds nice. I have one other question on this. The cab models have a high end edge to them, almost like the horn is on. When you are in cab sim mode, is the horn completely off? If not, is there a way to turn it off?

Cool.Thanks! rick

Sorry....different terms here, If I use a flat response it will sound awful to FOH. So, if I use no cab sim on my helix but use a speaker sim in the PC, will the FOH get my speaker sim from the PC? I will try to clarify a little....I have a preset on my Helix that does not have a cab sim. I go from the Helix into the PC and the PC will be using the creamback speaker sim. Will the FOH get the creamback speaker sim from the PC?

I use midi to change speakers with each preset here in the studio, but for simplicity's sake using the PC for the first time live, I think I will just use one speaker. Thanks for everything. I usually like the 160 or 121 ribbons so it is nice to know that I can send that to FOH. I am assuming that this will work the same way for either the Helix or Quad Cortex? If I am not using a cab sim, I just send the left mono out XLR to FOH and whether it is Helix or QC, he will get a cab sim? That really makes it easy. I will mess with the other stuff like getting the patches levelled tomorrow. It's kind of weird to be doing the digital gig. I have been doing session work for a few years with the Helix and now the QC. I was just holding out on the live gigs and am ready to take that leap. thanks for all of your help! rick

I am a little confused about using the powercab live. I am doing my first all digital gig on thursday and not sure on what to give the sound guy. Whether it is my Helix or QC, I finallly surrendered and now the digital models are just that good. I have been using them in the studio for a long time. Just never live. I looked on page 20 of the manual and it says that I just give him an XLR out and the PC assigns a speaker model with a 57 to it automatically. Not sure whether I will use a Helix or a QC for the gig but either way it will be the same issue. I will not be using a speaker model on the modeler as I like the sound of the Creamback in the PC for the amps I will be using. So page 20 is saying that I don't have to send out a second path with a speaker model to the front of house? Is there any control about which speaker model it sends out or is it the model I choose but always with an SM57. Sorry, just a little confused.

I don't do a lot of palm muting but I do noticed that the elctric 12 string models really warble a lot. I have come to the conclusion that it is the nature of certain models to warble. I am not a sloppy player. I can be very precise but I still get the warble on the electric 12s. Are you implying that if I lower the magnetic pickup this might get rid of it?

I do love how the Helix and Variax work together. I never need a battery and I also never use the knobs on the guitar as the Helix does all of that for me. That is probably the biggest reason I have not moved on to something else.

So I downloaded Powercab edit and did not find the relevant settings. I then tried my StompXL with HX Edit but still can't find anything in the output block. Even without HX Edit, the choices on the StompXL are limited to Pan and Level, which is set at 0.0 db. On my Helix Rack I have more output choices with the ability to page over to more settings including Powercab settings. But the XL doesn't seem to have this feature unless I am missing something. The issue here is that it also does the with my Quad Cortex, always at higher volumes. I am not talking full on 100W MArshall stack vlume but a nice Deluxe type volume. All of the tutorials mention running the modeler really hot. If I do that, meaning running the volume on the XL wide open it will turn the PC knob red. The noise I get is when everything looks fine....green and maybe a little yellow. I am thinking that I might need to accept a volume limitation on the 112+? Maybe I am just pushing it a little too far or hoping for it to do more than I had hoped? rick

Thanks for the response Paul. I am a little unsure of what you are saying here. Are you talking about HX edit on my StompXL? Or is there an HXedit for the PC+?

Thought a reset had fixed it but it is back. It sounds like a static kind of crackle and it comes on after I have been playing on it for about 10 minutes. Help!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....I went ahead and hooked up the Quad Cortex through the PC+ and it had the same problem. I also have a 212 PC and hooked the QC to it and no problem. So now it is definitely the PC+. Again, it is a crackle at higher volumes....not a speaker distortion or clipping. I know that I can gig with my 212+ but the thought of carrying a 1X12 PC and the Stomp XL really thrilled me. I hope someone has an idea. I also live in a state far far away from any Line 6 repair place so the thought of sending it back is disturbing. Please God, Let it be something simple in the software....

I have gigged with my powercab on acoustic guitar and it is stunning with the quad cortex and using their modeled API preamp. I still have not gigged with the PC on electric and I have a gig coming up that is relatively a low volume gig....think fender deluxe type gig. I hooked up my Stomp XL (which I plan on using) and tried it in my studio at gig volume. When it gets to a certain point there is a crackle. Not a clipping sound but a crackle. Often it comes in as the sound is decaying. It sounds like a bad pot on a tube amp but in turning the pots I can't get it to do the sound. I can turn down the stomp volume in the back and it is ok or the master volume on the amp model and it is ok. I can't get it to gig volume without the crackle. It is also weird that it comes at higher volumes even though the light on the PC is still green. The light works as I can get it to red if I try. I looked up and tried various line/instrument settings in Global but nothing seems to do it but higher volumes. I am not talking about pushing the power section either...just a comfortable deluxe style volume. It's possible it is in my Stomp but the PC is built for Helix stuff. I will try out the QC tomorrow, which even if it works I am still left with the issue on the Stomp XL. Any thoughts or experiences like this? thanks, rick

Ah....that really helps. Thanks for the explanation and I think I can do it now! rick

Thanks. I am not quite sure how to interpret this. I use the Helix and Synergy Syn 2 4CM. I use the FX loop, so will this mess with that?

Wow! How do you even think like that? The opposite volume parameters is wonderful.This also answered my quest for the ultimate 12 string sound. The 12 string stuff has always been a little unstable but adding the right amount of the magnetics distracts my ear from the wobble. You have opened up a lot of new doors for me. I did have one issue...when I made the second path there was a hum....kind of like a ground loop hum. When I addend fx blocks it would add more hum. Then it went away. ANy thoughts? Or maybe if it's not broke, don't fix it? Any way, thanks! This is getting really cool. I kind of had a "meh" opinion on the Variax beyond certain things but this has opened some nice less digital sounding possibilities.

I have a Helix rack and use it for all of my FX. I still use the Synergy/Egnater tube stuff for guitar but like the idea of using a powercab for Variax acoustc sounds. My question is how to set up a patch that defaults to my tube amp (4CM) on some songs and then to the powercab for the acoustic stuff. I am using the L6 Link cable between the Helix and PC. It seems there should be some simple internal switching that can send the signal to one or the other but I have not found it yet. YOu know, hit a button and it goes to my tube amp and Cab and then hit a button and it goes to the PC+ for that lovely FRFR sound. thanks rick

So I have some down time and I am enjoying tweaking my Shurican and JT Variaxs. I am trying to do it without workbench as I won't have that luxury on a gig. So I was wondering how to mix the magnetics with the digital sounds using only the Helix and if that is possible. I see in the input block there are some choices: All, Variax and Magnetics. I am not sure where to begin. I don't use thedigital strats or LPs on a gig as I use the real deal. There are times when I want to use a digital sound by itsel. I can get the sounds fairly passable but there is still that digital "squank" that I can't seem to eq out. I have downloaded others patches and it is still there. I thought maybe a little of the magnetic pisckup could tame that, at least in standard tuning. Going from a sitar or rezo and then to have a really great tone on the Shuiken would be great. thanks in advance! PS there seems to be a bit less action on here lately....

You are forgiven! I am using the VDI cable. Not that I couldn't make that kind of silly error as it usually is something silly. What you said didn't fix the issue but it really got me to notice something. None of the parameters like variax model or custom tuning were bracketed, so of course they disappeared when I changed snapshots. I cannot figure out how they got turned off. I have turned it on occasioanally and found that, for example, my high e is a half step flat without me touching it. Some weird bug must have shut everything down. Now that I pushed in the knobs and got the bracket appearing it works fine. I saved the preset, went to another and came back and it saved it as it should. I really appreciate your help on this. Just having you run me through something made me look at it differently and then I was able to find the problem. I really appreciate you being on this forum as you have helped me numerous times in the past. rick