silverhead

You can't change setlists using the footswitches. You need to use the Presets knob and joystick, or the editor.

If your display already shows presets in a setlist, move the joystick left. This will cause the preset names to disappear and put your cursor/joystick in a position to move up/down to select/highlight another setlist. Then move it right as per Digital_Igloo's instructions.

You use the Helix app which you will find in the Downloads area of this website. Read the release notes and make sure you firmware and app versions are compatible.

No - neither will do that. It's been requested before - there's probably an Ideascale item for it. You can search for it and vote it up.

sorry - don't have my Helix with me and didn't know that was the max.

Have you tried increasing the looper playback level?

No - the two speakers are not wired to be identical. They have some crossover frequency design so you'll hear things differently in each speaker. What you're hearing is normal (unless you think the sound is bad and indicates some problem?)

Anyone can download the software for free - you need the hardware as an authorizing license for the software, and that's what the pricing of the interface device is all about. You're buying the software, not the plastic. You may have some other arrangement for Workbench licensing that is 'free' for you, but at some point you need(ed) hardware to use the software. In the case of older pre-JTV Variaxes like your Variax 500 Workbench was sold as an optional add-on. It was not included in the purchase of the guitar. Hence you had to pay separately for the software, and the hardware interface provided licensing control. However since the JTV, and now the Variax Standard, have been released Workbench is included with the purchase of the guitar and the required hardware interface device is include in the shipment from Line 6. I think the people who are really being hit hard are those who buy a used JTV/Standard Variax only to find the the Workbench hardware interface was not received in their package. Unless these folks were aware, and negotiated a discounted price for the omission, they are being forced to pay again and the original owner can resell a heavily marked-up interface device to people like you on eBay for pure profit. In those cases I think the new owners should definitely argue strongly with Line 6 to sell them the interface device at a greatly reduced price.

The pick itself can play a big role in the attack dynamics. Have you experimented with different thicknesses and perhaps materials when using the LP vs. the Tele?

If you find you need another FX you could experiment with deleting the Vol FX and assigning the vol pedal to the channel volume parameter of the amp. It would affect the tone slightly as the vol adjustment would now appear with the amp on the signal chain, not at the very end. But it might open up an FX block for a Mod FX like chorus.

Yes - sorry for the earlier misdirect. Of course you need to route the return signal back into the POD for guitar processing. Dont't know what I was thinking. Glad it's working!

Don't use VDI and 1/4" connections on the Variax simultaneously. Line 6 recommends against this due to potential circuitry overload. Using only the 1/4" connection on the Variax does not allow you to control model selection from the Pod preset. Using the FX Loop is your best bet, along with VDI connection. Place the FX Loop as the first FX in the Pod preset signal chain so that the Helicon receives the guitar dry signal. You may need to insert a dummy plug (not the Helicon output) into the Pod FX Return to activate the loop - not sure about this - try it without the dummy plug first. The Pod preset with VDI will control Variax model selection. Send the Helicon output to the PA separately from the Pod output.

I think it depends in part on how you are measuring 'peers'. In terms of sound quality I think Helix is a peer. In terms of price it is not. Helix costs significantly less than Fractal or Kemper. Perhaps lower revenue is reflected in the relative frequency of updates.

Of course. No harm done. I was just trying to let you know why you weren't getting any response after you asked about it. This is a user forum. Everyone here is here by choice - it's nobody's job to respond to anything. A list of so many questions that you can't see them all on a single screen is a bit of a disincentive. Frankly, I didn't even take the time to read them all before I asked you to prioritize and minimize. Perhaps others are doing the same. I see that nobody else has appeared.

Just so you know, I'm not one of 'you guys at Line 6'. I'm not employed by them at all. I volunteer time here like all other users in this forum. That's why I feel no need to spend an hour, or any time at all, responding to any given question. Maybe some other users will respond, maybe not. I'm happy to spend the time - it's a hobby of mine. Hopefully it helped you some.

Sorry I don't have an answer on this for you, but I do want to encourage you to open a support ticket on this issue if you haven't done so already. That's the best way to get some action, or at least a direct response of some sort. Line 6 may not respond directly here but they will respond to a support ticket and then you'll have the chance to press for an answer.

Then I think you did the right thing. You don't need a Variax.

1. Firmware is quite stable. There are reports of connectivity issues with Bluetooth when using any AMPLIFi/Firehawk product but that is very environment and (iOS) device specific. Some users experience problems, most don't. It's not all in Line 6's hands - stable Bluetooth communications depend on other things, too. The Driver is only for connecting to Windows computers, either for recording purposes or for firmware updates. I'm not aware of any general problems there. No driver required for Mac - it is Core Audio compliant. 4. There is always a lag changing presets with any guitar processor. This was more noticeable with the early firmware but has been improved in the current firmware. Whether or not it's an issue is a very personal thing - depends on your playing style. Based on current problem reports most users do not have an issue with this. (FYI.... It took me about 15 minutes to research and (I hope) properly answer these two questions. That's why I was hesitant to tackle all 9. I don't have an hour to spend on any one response.)

What was the Variax connected to? If you were using a hi-gain amp with plenty of distortion then, yes, it doesn't matter much what guitar you use IMHO. It will all sound much the same. But with a relatively clean amp and settings the different tones of the Variax guitars are very clear and accurate.

It's a lengthy list. What are your top two?

The manual is a pdf file on the usb drive that came with Helix. But it's also online in the manuals section of this website (under Support tab above, then Technical Support).

There are no rules! If it sounds good, it's right. Seems it's like putting the same analog pedal in the FX Loop of the analog amp. A Drive pedal normally goes in front of the amp, but you certainly could place it in the FX Loop.

When using Workbench the sounds are produced by the Variax - not by the computer. Make sure you have your Variax 1/4" output connected to some monitoring device (amp, mixer, ...). The 1/4" jack on the Variax needs to have a cord connected anyway, even a dummy plug, to trigger the battery. But you don't want a dummy plug - you want it connected to something.

That may be what's wrong. I was originally trying to use a non-Apple adapter with no success. Bought the Apple adapter and it immediately started to work flawlessly.

Make sure the PA is not providing phantom power to the Helix XLR outputs.