knoxdaz10 Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 hi guys, just picked up my variax again after a month or 2 (got a new strat), and workbench isnt connecting. not sure what to do guys. ive try unplugging the vdi cable, turning off and on the helix. rebooted computer. it was working after the update to make it work with helix. now its not working. please help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Is your Helix firmware up to date? It should be version 2.21 Helix didn't connect to Work bench until version 2.0 I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxdaz10 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 Is your Helix firmware up to date? It should be version 2.21 Helix didn't connect to Work bench until version 2.0 I think. yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb7170 Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 The HD WB was implemented in FW 2.20.00. The driver that makes it work without interfering with the Helix editor app was updated for FW 2.21.00. Take a look at the L6 download section for a timeline. Also make sure you have nothing using midi channel 16, as that is the communication path that the Variax/VDI/Helix/USB/computer/HD WB uses for 2 way communication, and how HD WB senses that the Variax is connected,.... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingsCool Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 I had a similar experience.. Turned out the connector on my cable was bad, one of the wires was covered over by bent over plastic separator. It worked fine with the Helix, but wouldn't work with Workbench till I fixed the connector. I knew from the start it was the cable because it worked fine with the VDI cable that came with the Variax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxdaz10 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 The HD WB was implemented in FW 2.20.00. The driver that makes it work without interfering with the Helix editor app was updated for FW 2.21.00. Take a look at the L6 download section for a timeline. Also make sure you have nothing using midi channel 16, as that is the communication path that the Variax/VDI/Helix/USB/computer/HD WB uses for 2 way communication, and how HD WB senses that the Variax is connected,.... Dave im using 2.21fw. nothing using midi channel 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxdaz10 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 I had a similar experience.. Turned out the connector on my cable was bad, one of the wires was covered over by bent over plastic separator. It worked fine with the Helix, but wouldn't work with Workbench till I fixed the connector. I knew from the start it was the cable because it worked fine with the VDI cable that came with the Variax. my cable seems to be fine. its a fairly new one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingsCool Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Have you tried another cable? All it takes is just one wire not connecting properly. As I said, my cable was working perfectly with the Helix, just not with Workbench, that's what made it confusing for me. And my cable was essentially new as well. But I knew it was the cable because Workbench worked with another cable. Then I looked at the end of the cable under a magnifying glass and saw the problem. Bent the plastic bit back out of the way and was off to the races. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxdaz10 Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Have you tried another cable? All it takes is just one wire not connecting properly. As I said, my cable was working perfectly with the Helix, just not with Workbench, that's what made it confusing for me. And my cable was essentially new as well. But I knew it was the cable because Workbench worked with another cable. Then I looked at the end of the cable under a magnifying glass and saw the problem. Bent the plastic bit back out of the way and was off to the races. man that cable was expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb7170 Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Just to be sure, I spent a couple of hours using HD WB and my jtv 69s on the helix with fw 2.21 to make sure something wasn't wrong with the software or hardware... All worked as it should. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingsCool Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 man that cable was expensive. Should be able to get them for around $35 if you look around. It's a cat5e network cable with Neutrik ends, if you can, look for a cable that's meant to be flexible. I'll ask around here at work what that spec would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 It's a cat5e network cable with Neutrik ends, if you can, look for a cable that's meant to be flexible. I'll ask around here at work what that spec would be. Is that right? I thought it was a CAT 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingsCool Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Everything I've read is it's CAT 5 (I never even heard of CAT 4)(Not that I necessarily should have, I'm an ME with an interest in computers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lungho Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 CAT4 was used to increase the speed of token ring networks from 4/Mbs (CAT 3) to 16/Mbs. It was also used with a few system phones back in the 90's. CAT 4 isn't recognized by the TIA/EIA-568 data cabling standards of today. I would go out on a limb and say the cable is most definitely not CAT 4. My apologies for the tech talk. I couldn't help myself. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 You guys are right. It's been a long month, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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