volcanotim Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Can someone explain the difference between performing with a VDI cable or a jack. I have setup my presets with a Variax model for each one. If I want to go wireless at the gig and use the 1/4 jack, will the Variax automatically choose the model/tuning for me? If thats the case Am I right in thinking that if I change the model/tuning on my guitar or switch to mags that will override the helix settings temporarily but not overwrite them? If thats the case Am I right in thinking the only difference between using a VDI and a jack is that you can't program the helix with a jack and a jack requires batteries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 30 minutes ago, volcanotim said: Can someone explain the difference between performing with a VDI cable or a jack. I have setup my presets with a Variax model for each one. If I want to go wireless at the gig and use the 1/4 jack, will the Variax automatically choose the model/tuning for me? No. When using the 1/4" cable, you cannot control anything on the Variax from Helix... no switching of models or tunings, nothing. It all has to be done manually on the guitar. Variax cannot automatically choose any settings itself, even with the VDI connection... the instructions come from Helix, via the VDI cable. 30 minutes ago, volcanotim said: Am I right in thinking that if I change the model/tuning on my guitar or switch to mags that will override the helix settings temporarily but not overwrite them? Without a VDI cable, there is no communication between the guitar and Helix whatsoever, so nothing you do with the guitar's controls have any impact on settings in Helix. 30 minutes ago, volcanotim said: Am I right in thinking the only difference between using a VDI and a jack is that you can't program the helix with a jack and a jack requires batteries? Not sure what you're asking here...Helix controls the Variax, not the other way around. You can't "program" Helix with the Variax, no matter how it's connected. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volcanotim Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 Ok I think I might not have asked the question clearly... If I have set up the Helix to use a particular model and tuning and I am using 1/4 jack will that be the sound I get regardless of what I do with the Variax? I ask this because when I am connected via VDI I don't need to do anything on the guitar - I just select the Variax model on HXEdit input block. Then when I move around it remembers what I selected. So it seems to me that Helix is the master ? If, as you say there is no communication between the Variax and the Helix when using the jack then I presume whats set in the Helix is what will play. Although Im unsure ...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specracer986 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 No, with the 1/4" jack, everything you hear is what is coming from the Variax, regardless of what you programmed into the Helix patch. So if the Helix patch is programmed for Lester 1, and you are playing through the 1/4" jack and your Variax is on Spank 3, you're going to hear Spank 3 out of your monitor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volcanotim Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 Right, thanks for clearing that one up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 11 minutes ago, volcanotim said: If, as you say there is no communication between the Variax and the Helix when using the jack then I presume whats set in the Helix is what will play. Although Im unsure ...? No...without a VDI connection, there is no way for Helix to trigger anything on the Variax, so any Variax related settings in Helix are useless at that point. Auth the 1/4" connection, the guitar is in charge. Wherever the knobs on the guitar are set, that's what you're gonna hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revans Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 With a 1/4-inch cable, your only option is to manually select Variax models using the controls on the guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarkyller Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Yes, you will need a battery to power the guitar. And turn the knobs by hand..... The QUESTION is.... Do I want wireless or Helix/JTV link, or do I want to have them both at the same time ????? :) Shawn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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