Helix & Variax Acoustic 700 & MIDI information

[d1stewart]

Here's how my Variax Acoustic 700 shows up on Helix (3.5 firmware) when connected with the Variax ethernet cable. The Variax models can be changed on Helix by using MIDI. Variax is on Helix's MIDI channel 16.

 

                Name on Helix      Name on HX Edit

Name on         "Preset Variax     Variax - Model       MIDI PC on

VA700 Knob      Model" Setting     (Preset)             Helix Channel 16

============================================================================
                parlor_1.0         Don't Force    
PARLOR          parlor_1.0         Custom 1-5            0
TRIPLE O        tripleO_1.0        Custom 1-4            1
DREAD           dread_1.0          Custom 1-3            2
JUMBO           jumbo_1.0          Custom 1-2            3
C & W           c&w_1.0            Custom 1-1            4
GYPSY           gypsy_1.0          T-Model-5             5
JAZZ            jazz_1.0           T-Model-4             6
NYLON           nylon_1.0          T-Model-3             7
FOLK 12         folk12_1.0         T-Model-2             8
BLUES 12        blues12_1.0        T-Model-1             9
RND NECK        rndneck_1.0        Spank-5               10
SQR NECK        sqrneck_1.0        Spank-4               11
BANJO           banjo_1.0          Spank-3               12
MANDOLA         mando_1.0          Spank-2               13
SHAMISEN        shamisen_1.0       Spank-1               14
SITAR           sitar_1.0          Lester-5              15
PARLOR          parlor_1.0         Lester-4              16
TRIPLE O        tripleO_1.0        Lester-3              17
DREAD           dread_1.0          Lester-2              18
JUMBO           jumbo_1.0          Lester-1              19
C & W           c&w_1.0            Special-5             20
GYPSY           gypsy_1.0          Special-4             21
JAZZ            jazz_1.0           Special-3             22
NYLON           nylon_1.0          Special-2             23
FOLK 12         folk12_1.0         Special-1             24
BLUES 12        blues12_1.0        R-Billy-5             25
RND NECK        rndneck_1.0        R-Billy-4             26
SQR NECK        sqrneck_1.0        R-Billy-3             27
BANJO           banjo_1.0          R-Billy-2             28
MANDOLA         mando_1.0          R-Billy-1             29
SHAMISEN        shamisen_1.0       Chime-5               30
SITAR           sitar_1.0          Chime-4               31

Send MIDI Program Change message with number above to the Helix over channel 16, and it will load the Variax corresponding model. This means you can control the Variax models from apps such as OnSong, Song One, and BandHelper, and MIDI equipment.

[d1stewart]

Changing to and from alternate tuning on the Variax Acoustic 700:

 

I have my VA7 on my Helix floor through the Variax jack. I’ve learned that I can change the guitar to and from the alternate tuning by sending a sysex command to the Helix.

 

This sequence:

F0 00 01 0C 07 01 5E 01 F7

changes from normal tuning (green LED) to alternate tuning (whatever is saved to the instrument) (red LED).

 

This sequence:

F0 00 01 0C 07 01 5E 00 F7

changes from alternate tuning (red LED) to normal tuning (green LED).

 

The change is irrespective of model selected.

 

This can be used to switch to altered tuning (or whatever alteration you have saved in the red position for the given model) from apps like Song One, OnSong, and various DAWs and others that can send sysex to MIDI. Thus it can be used programmatically if needed. Channel is not used for sysex, so you don’t need to specify that.