silverhead

Is Studio One configured to use the Helix and its ASIO driver as the audio input and output device? After arming a track for recording, what are you selecting as the Record Input source?

Please provide some technical details. What computer/OS are you using? What recording program? How is your Helix connected for recording to your PC? Where are your headphones connected?

I concur with kringle. I used to have USB connectivity issues that were resolved as soon as I disconnected any Logitech devices and restarted my computer. I no longer use Logitech.

You can swap the piezo. I replaced the original LR Baggs on a Variax 300 with a set of Graphtechs. I had a guitar tech do it for me but if you’re good with soldering electronics you can do it yourself. I think the difference between the 300 and the 500 is in the build of the guitar and the way the electronics are assembled. I believe the modeling, functions and features are the same. You can choose either one - I think the only difference will be the implications on the woodworking inside the guitar body to house the electronics.

Yes.

A few things to look into.... - make sure your computer’s audio settings specify Helix as the input (recording) and output device - if you are using a condenser (as opposed to dynamic) microphone you need to turn on the Mic In 48V Phantom power (Global Settings) - you may need to increase the Mic In Gain setting (Global Settings) - make sure you select Mic as the Input Block source in the Helix preset - make sure you include USB1/2 in the Output block setting in the Helix preset Optionally you can use the Studio Preamp and other FX blocks in the mic’s signal path in the Helix preset.

However, what you hear playing the patch with your guitar using your amp or speakers may not be even close to what the patch creator hears using his equipment. That’s one of the main stumbling blocks with Customtone. There’s much more than just the patch involved in the signal that travels from your fingers to your ears.And each component can have a dramatic effect on what you hear. Often when I download and listen to a patch I don’t think it sounds at all like the title or description suggests it should sound like. That doesn’t mean the patch creator did a poor job. More likely it means our external equipment is quite different.

The UX1 becomes your soundcard when connected so the PC sound goes to its outputs, both headphones and L/R audio outputs. If your PC speakers are external simply connect them to the UX1 headphones output.

You can buy most parts such as the jack assembly you show. But you cannot purchase the main Variax motherboard/CPU. Line 6 does not supply them separately; you have to cannibalize an existing Variax guitar to get one.

I checked out the Cubase link. In Step 1 try selecting Audio Setup at the top of the menu rather than Studio Setup at the bottom. See if that allows you to select Helix and its ASIO driver.

I think it’s just terminology. A preset occupies one of the slots (1A through 32D) in HX Edit. I think you are calling this a block, which causes the confusion. The term block is used to refer to one of the components of a preset - an amp, cab, stomp, delay, etc. When you say you drag a block to the desktop people understand that as saying you are dragging only one component of a preset. In fact you are dragging an HX Edit preset slot.

You can’t drag/drop just the delay settings. You had to have dragged an entire preset, including the delay block and it’s settings.

I have to drop out now since I have no experience with Audacity. I know you should be using the Line 6 ASIO driver but from what you say your Audacity installation does not permit that. Someone with experience will have to help you further if you want to continue using Audcaity. If you want to try something else, download and install another recording program. A couple of free ones are Reaper (for a trial period) and Bandlab’s free Cakewalk offering. I use both of those and they permit you to configure the Line 6 ASIO driver.

I don’t have/use Audacity so can’t provide details. But having chosen the Sonic Port as the audio input and output device are things not working properly?

Have you downloaded and installed the Line 6 driver for the Sonic Port VX, and configured Audacity to use it (not the default ASIO4ALL driver)?