silverhead

For another point of view, I’ve had no problems using my POD Go with Cakewalk by Bandlab. But over the years I have heard of many problems using Line 6 devices with ASIO4ALL which is the default (and non-compliant) ASIO driver used by Audacity. Please provide more details on your equipment and setup. What is connected to what, and how, from your guitar’s audio out jack to your monitors/speakers.

I just compared your photo to my JTV59. It looks very similar; perhaps a tad less gap on the lower edge of the knob but a more pronounced depression of the edge on the upper side. As mentioned, the top is not flat. You can't fight the geometry on this. There's going to be a gap and/or a depression on the lower and upper knob edges.

1) Yes, the factory setting for the bridge may seem a bit high. That’s because the JTV 59 comes with jumbo frets which are themselves a bit higher off the fretboard. You can lower the bridge but beware of fret buzz. 2) Not sure what you mean. The picture shows that the guitar body is sloped where the knob is so that creates a small gap at the lower edge of the knob. Is that what you’re talking about?

If you can reproduce this behaviour reliably you should open a support ticket. That’s the way to officially report bugs to Line 6. They will use your ‘recipe’ to reproduce the issue and confirm the bug, then log it in their system for an eventual fix.

You could create and save a template preset with all your favorite blocks and settings. Then copy that preset as your starting point each time you want to create a new preset.

Would you also want other reverb models available, or just have the simple on/off room reverb as the one and only reverb option? If the latter I don’t think your suggestion would get much support. A single room reverb option is just too restrictive. If the former, and you want to sometimes use other reverb options instead of the always-present room reverb, then your suggestion actually requires more DSP allocated to reverb than there now is. Even when the room reverb is turned off, as long as it is in the preset there is DSP allocated for it because you could turn it on at any moment. Which means less DSP for other things, reverb or otherwise. Or do I misunderstand you?

Depends. What’s more important to you? Full compatibility between the devices, or guitar features like mag pickups and alternate tunings that are not baked into the Variax model? These features are not present in the older Variaxes.

The only reference I know of is Appendix C in the manual describing DSP Types.

There’s no right or wrong here. Different players place different pedals at different places in the signal chain. Experiment and trust your ears. There’s also a 3rd option for pedal placement - between the POD Go outputs and the speaker. For instance, a compressor pedal is sometimes preferred at the beginning of the chain and sometimes at the end. Only you can determine your preference.

1) It will work but the SM58 is a better choice for vocals. But if you’re going to buy something new purely for vocals I wouldn’t get that either. Try the Shure Beta 58A. 2) Purely subjective. The X3 Live is primarily a guitar processor. It serves as an audio interface as a bonus. You won’t find it used as the primary audio interface in any pro or semi-pro studio. But it does a fine job for what it is. Mastering? Depends on your own ears and standards I guess.

No, not available to my knowledge. The only published information I’m aware of simply states that the newer Variax models (beginning with the JTV) are not compatible with the POD XT. I am extrapolating from my own experience using an older Variax model (300) with a Helix. Some things like Helix preset-stored Variax model selection worked. Most things didn’t. So you may find that the POD XT Live can properly store and recall a Shuriken (for example) model. But that’s pure speculation on my part, and it may depend on the specific Variax guitar and installed firmware.

I agree with codamedia. Don’t go too small. I would go minimum 5” but 6” or 8” would be better.

Would the Helix global setting for Midi PC send/receive help?

No they are not fully compatible. Some things may work; you’ll need to experiment.

I can’t throw any light on what’s causing the behaviour but I can suggest a crude work-around. There’s a global setting to control whether or not Helix sends midi over USB. You can turn it off but that means you won’t be able to use it in the one preset configured for it.

1) See Specs section in the following.... 2). 3) See #2. There are a couple of Fender Bassman models.

Helix has a lot of midi capabilities but I'm not sure it is a full midi implementation. In particular I'm not sure it handles and passes thru the note on/off events that are critical for your purposes. I know the POD X3 had that deficiency and don't know if it's been added to Helix. Can anyone else confirm or correct?

Yes you use HX Edit. The Customtone site (see link at top of this page) contains many user-created presets. Filter for your HX Effects device.

Correct. Thanks for clarifying.

I think you should open a support ticket. Sounds like a hardware problem to me.

You're right that you need a dual path preset. Helix has two identical DSP processors, one for each path. That means that the amount of DSP available for your guitar and vocals is the same. Your guitar is restricted to using max. half the FX it could otherwise use under normal (no mic) circumstances. So yes, your range of guitar FX is restricted. You can copy FX blocks from one preset to another up to the point of DSP capacity on the guitar path. I'm not sure I understand what you're saying about getting " the guitar effects coming through on the gtr channels while he sings." That should be happening so I don't know why it's not. Here's a customtone preset I made several years ago for dual guitar/vocal processing. It's designed for an acoustic guitar but you can easily replace all blocks with electric guitar in mind. https://line6.com/customtone/tone/2044875/ Re: re-amping. The setup and procedures are discussed in the manual. Note that Helix Native is also an option for re-amping a dry track.

That’s correct. Line 6 advises against using both simultaneously because it results in the Variax being powered from two sources (battery and VDI connection). Note that the 1/4” jack acts as a power switch for the battery; the jack itself does not provide power, it is simply an ‘on’ switch. When using Workbench without a POD/Helix USB interface you need to use a Line 6 USB dongle called the Workbench Hardware Interface. This uses an RJ-45 connector like the VDI cable but it is not a VDI cable. Specifically it does not provide power to the Variax. It’s the two power sources that causes the issues; the dongle does not provide power and so is safe to use with the battery.

Also, if you are familiar with guitar amp, cab, and multi-FX modelers, and hence familiar with the difference between them and the 'amp in the room' feeling you are well on your way with your new Helix. However if this is your first modeler and you've only ever used an amp before you have a learning curve ahead of you. Your first reaction to your new Helix through your guitar amp may well be 'This sounds like sh!t'. Don't give up.

For home use a pair of studio monitors is a good option. I suggest a minimum 6" cone.

I suggest you open a support ticket.