silverhead

Yes. After making changes, hold down the footswitch of the active preset for a couple of seconds. The display will start blinking. Release the switch, then hold it down again for a couple of seconds. When the display stops blinking the preset has been saved in its original location.

See response to your other thread.

Yes, the HD ProX will give you better tones, but you should expect a learning curve to get there.

Open a support ticket. Line 6 will advise you. If return is not an option a warranty repair may be required.

The 'banjo' sound on everything is certainly not normal. It's very odd that reflashing the firmware fixed things only temporarily. That suggests to me that there is an internal hardware fault. I would return it for replacement.

Yes - the VDI connection powers the Variax.

You are doing this the correct way - there is no easy method. The Channel volume is the best control for balancing relative volume levels. It does not change the tone/sound of the presets itself, although our ears can perceive tonal changes just because of the different volume levels.

It just won't work.

The USB connection on both devices is meant to communicate with a computer. It won't work at all if you try to connect the Helix and Amplifi together via USB. If you try it you will notice that you can't even physically make the connection because of the different ends on the USB cable. And even if you could, each would fail to recognize the other because they are each triggered by something the other doesn't have - a driver that runs on a computer.

The reason the VDI cable doesn't come with the Variax guitar is that it is only useful for those who also have a VDI-equipped Line 6 guitar multi-FX processor (e.g. POD, Firehawk, Helix). Many (probably most) Variax owners don't have the VDI-compatible multi-FX unit so including the cable for everyone doesn't make sense. Extra cost for a cable that's useless for most people.

The one you received with the guitar is only shielded on one end. You should buy one that is shielded on both ends, like this, to use to connect your Variax to your Helix: http://store.line6.com/accessories/cables/variax-digital-cable.html There are other, cheaper, options available - like this: http://btpa.com/98-030-004-XXX.html

Try raising the channel volume of the amp and re-saving rather than the volume pedal.

Yes, the manual covers all this in terms of interoperability - how the POD can be used to store and recall Variax settings in its presets. Note that you need to use the VDI connection to have this interoperability. If you use the 1/4" connection the Variax will behave just like a normal analog guitar. When using VDI you should remove the battery from the Variax. There is a global setting that determines whether the POD will/won't control the Variax. Set the preset Input setting to include Variax and/or Variax Mags. Otherwise all settings are made using the Variax edit pages on a preset basis. The easiest way to see/use these settings is in the POD HD500 Edit program, on the Mixer page. EDIT: Note that you should purchase a proper VDI cable - one with the protective housing at both ends to prevent damage to the device jacks and cable ends. In the interim, if your Variax arrives before you have the cable, you can use a standard RJ-45 Ethernet cable (unprotected ends) but be careful when doing this and don't do it long term.

What are you using as the sound module? The MobileKeys does not produce sound; it simply sends the midi information, which seems to be recording correctly. On playback you need to be routing the midi info to a sound generator, either a physical external device or more likely a software synthesizer as a 'plugin' to your recording program.

The UX1 has 2 1/4" analog outputs (stereo) - not RCA - so the cable you identified is not the one you want. You also need to consider the type of input on your amp. Is it mono or stereo? 1/4" or something else?

Oh, I think I see. It's the mapping of the Helix controls to the physical controls of the original device that you're looking for. Not the operation or effect of the original controls. Yes, Line 6 should make the mapping more clear where necessary.

Since the FX accurately model original devices the information about effects settings will be the same as those on the original devices. Documentation about that can be found (or not) from the original device manufacturers. I don't think Line 6 is responsible for that documentation, (unless there are any FX that are Line 6 originals).

You will probably need Line 6 tech support to help you. I suggest you open a support ticket or call them.

1) Yes. 2) No. Automatic assignments are done by L6 Link but can be changed in the Stagescape. 3) You don't need a 1:1 pairing. You can use 2 L3t with 1 L3s. 4) No midi events; all audio.

Glad you got it working.

You may have to go to the Variax page in the Setup menus and make sure your Variax control is not set to Don't Force. That setting means that your Pod is prevented from controlling the Variax. There are other things, too, that could be wrong with your settings or usage. You'd really be best to read the relevant sections of the manual. EDIT: You should also remove the battery from your Variax when connecting via VDI. That connection powers the Variax.

- connect using VDI - set one of your preset Inputs to Variax - use the Variax to select the model, pickup switch, and Tone knob positions - SAVE the preset on the Pod That's it. For further detailed instructions, including how to control alternate tunings and to use the Vol/Tone knobs as FX controllers you should read the POD HD500X manual.

Yes you can do that as long as you use the VDI connection between Variax and Pod. You won't need to touch the Variax guitar switch. You can also store/recall the position of the Variax Tone knob with the Pod preset. And you can even set things so that you can use the Variax Vol and Tone knobs to control FX parameters on the Pod. How about using the Variax Tone knob to control the Delay Feedbak, for instance? Or the Chorus Depth?

Yes - I agree that it would be better. That's why I prefer the design of the POD HD and Helix devices where the user is in control of allocating DSP resources up to the maximum available, and is prevented dynamically (not by design) from exceeding those limits. These devices work just like you describe. All I am saying is that the Firehawk is designed differently. I think it would take a major design overhaul, not just an incremental improvement, to get additional assignable FX blocks. But, no harm in suggesting and voting for the idea. Who knows - it may indeed be achievable and eventually implemented.

The thing is, the looper does not require much if any dsp processing. It just needs memory storage and a minimal amount of processor resources, not nearly as much as an additional FX block.