silverhead

I doubt that a Rocksmith realtone cable would act as an audio interface for Riffworks. But tbh I know nothing about it other than a 20-sec scan on google. The Variax Rack is long since gone. You might find one somehow on the used market. And yes - I expect much specialized knowledge would be required to make one out of a donor Variax.

Riffworks is a recording program aimed at guitarists. It is compatible with all guitars but you need an audio interface device that connects your guitar to your computer. There used to be a special version of it for Line 6 but no longer. The product is available here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjkxeeg5bPoAhWWKM0KHcLrB7AQFjAAegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonomawireworks.com%2Friffworks%2F&usg=AOvVaw1_jZpEN9uWsekqSM6QVGOm

The original Variax Workbench is the product that works with your Variax guitars. The Workbench HD product works with the newer Variax guitars beginning with the JTV series. There are some differences in features and capabilities that you can discover from the respective product info below but the differences won't matter to you in practical terms unless you get a newer Variax. https://line6.com/software/?submit=Show&name=Variax+Workbench https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi9m4zF5LPoAhXbB80KHfMJCnoQwqsBMAF6BAgLEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5XkVEDmU_S0&usg=AOvVaw3AMM1l-qNC72pwXXMXVPAd Note: Product info for the original Variax Workbench product is not easily found these days....

Let’s try some basic troubleshooting here based on the info you’ve provided..... You’ve said the tuner does not recognize an input signal. Let’s focus on getting that working. You’ve also said that you’ve tried both the Guitar and Aux inputs. This seems to rule out a hardware problem with Helix. It’s highly unlikely that both physical input jacks would fail at the same time. Using the tuner we can also ignore any issues with preset configuration other than Input setting. Setup: the simplest possible - connect your guitar to Helix and engage the tuner. There are really only three four possibilities I think (note to others - please correct me if I’m overlooking something): 1) There is a problem with external equipment preventing the signal from reaching the Helix input jack. Check your guitar and cord using some other means to confirm that they are properly sending a signal. I know you’ve done this already but do it again to be sure. 2) There is a problem with the Helix preset Input setting. Double check that the preset setting and your physical input match. 3) Your firmware has somehow become corrupt. 4) See EDIT below If you’ve confirmed 1) and 2) and the tuner still does not recognize an input signal you’re left with 3). You may want to open a support ticket first but I suspect you’ll need to reinstall the firmware. Make sure you use HX Edit to create a backup before reinstalling. EDIT: Actually there is a fourth possibility. There could be an internal hardware problem with a circuit that merges the Multi input signals before they hit the tuner. That would require a visit to a Line 6 service center. You should definitely open a support ticket first.

Yes. You’ll have no issues doing that.

Try these things in order until the problem is resolved. If still unresolved open a support ticket. 1) I know you’ve checked the connections several times but do it again. The Send/ Return pairs are beside each other, not above/below each other. Also try different cables; the cable connected to the HX FX Return jack may be faulty. Also check whether you are using mono or stereo cables and recheck connections and settings accordingly. 2) Check the Send/Return levels in Global Settings (Inst vs. Line). Make sure they match the levels of the external devices. 3) Check the FX Loop block’s Send and Return Level parameter settings. They should both be 0db unless you specifically intend otherwise. 4) Check to see if the FX Loop’s Mix parameter is assigned to a controller. If so remove the assignment at least temporarily. 5) Reset all Global Settings and check all levels again. 6) Reinstall HX FX firmware (make backups first).

Make sure the FX Loop block in your preset is activated (i.e. turned on, not bypassed).

This is just a guess but perhaps it’s because of the device’s physical architecture. Path 1 and Path 2 run on two separate processors (CPUs). You can rearrange the blocks within the same processor but you need to copy/paste between processors?

Glad you got it sorted out. I presume your Customtone presets are loading properly now?

Yes you can record both together, either in a single mono track, a single stereo track, or two separate mono or stereo tracks. The technical quality won’t be better one way or another. Your performance quality may be different depending on your ability to play and sing simultaneously rather than focusing on each independently. Assuming your DAW has sufficient capacity (most do) you can also record both guitar and vocals ‘dry’ meaning without any processing while recording the processed tracks as above. This is useful if you want to re-amp or use plug-ins (e.g. Helix Native) later. This will let you modify the processing completely without having to re-record the tracks.

Here's the latest HX Edit manual, corresponding to firmware v2.82. https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a4024285d8d400160c84/application/pdf/HX Edit Pilot's Guide - English .pdf

When you connect Helix via USB to your laptop it becomes your PC's soundcard; your internal soundcard is bypassed. By default your DAW (recording program) should recognize Helix and its ASIO driver as the audio device. If this does not happen automatically you may have to do it manually in your DAW's Audio Devices Configuration/Prefernces area. This is particularly important if you use Audacity because its default is to use a pseudo-ASIO driver called ASIO4ALL. Avoid using that because it is known to cause problems in some situations. Because your Helix becomes the soundcard for both audio input and output you will need to connect your speakers or headphones to the Helix outputs. Your internal laptop mic/line inputs and speakers will be bypassed. In your DAW, when you create a new audio track and arm it for recording you will need to select the Input Source. Helix has 8 independent channels that you can select from. For details check the manual's Global Settings section, particularly the subsections that describe DAW, Recording, and ASIO.

Can you elaborate? What behaviours are you seeing that need to be sorted out?

Hmmm.... I just searched Customtone with POD X3 selected as the Product and was presented with a list of over 66,000 tones I no longer own an X3 so can’t test whether these actually load properly but the list is certainly there. Is Gearbox working properly with your X3? Can you export/ import existing tones on your X3?

l6t is the proper file extension for the X3. Unfortunately it is also l6t for some other early Line 6 products and the files are not compatible. If you are downloading from Customtome make sure you select the Pod X3 as the basis for your search.

I expect you’re right that there is more available DSP in Helix than the PitchFork. However Helix has to do a lot more than support a single purpose with its total DSP. I’m sure Helix could do a tremendous job at polyphonic pitch shifting if it didn’t also have to support an amp/cab or two along with multiple other FX in a preset. Not sure how Helix users would respond to a single FX block requiring up to 50% of the overall DSP. I’m not suggesting it would require that much of the overall DSP, nor that Line 6 won’t implement this someday. Just saying that a straight-up DSP capacity comparison between these two devices is not the way to look at this.

Is your computer authorized? (See My Computer at the top of the device list)

I suggest you open a support ticket to contact Line 6 tech support. You could try reinstalling the firmware. Make sure to backup your presets first.

Activation code for what?

Yes, your new Helix is not exactly new. Someone has loaded presets onto it. These presents were definitely not there when the Helix was shipped from Line 6. Nor are any presets included by Line 6 in a firmware release except for the Factory and Templates setlists.

Make sure you have the Line 6 driver installed and configure Audacity to use it.

Make sure you have the Line 6 driver installed and configure Audacity to use it.

Ha ha.... Still dreaming, are we?

Why not just stick with what you like - the Badonk? Not sure what you’re trying to accomplish, other than perhaps satisfying curiosity.

Have you configured Audacity to use the Line 6 ASIO driver? By default I believe it uses ASIO4ALL, a non-compliant pseudo- ASIO driver that is known to cause problems with Line 6 devices.