VDI Interface?

[jh9001]

Hey Friends!

 

So I was finally able to find a Variax 600 model, which is the third one that I've owned.  Absolutely love the guitar, and I'm excited to get in and start working with Variax workbench again.  Issue is, I've got it connected using a VDI cable to the helix and that works great, but the Helix isn't allowing Central to update the firmware or pass through to the workbench software.  I went looking for the VDI USB Interface and it seems that's no longer anywhere, even on Reverb.  What options do I have in terms of getting in and having workbench again?  Is there a work around for getting the helix to fully pass the variax through like the XT Live did? 

 

Justin

[jh9001]

Also, as a side note, I just realized that the cable I had was a standard cat 6 and not a VDI cable, so I've got that undone and I'm ordering a proper VDI cable.  Would that make a difference in things? 

[silverhead]

Helix does not support pre-JTV Variax models. Not officially at least. I have a Variax 300 that turns out to be partly compatible. I can manually program the Variax model selection as part of a Helix preset and store it. Upon recall the Variax 300 responds correctly and selects the stored model when the preset is loaded in Helix. But that’s it - no 2-way communication; the Helix does not recognize any changes made on the Variax guitar.

 

I think you should open a support ticket to see if it’s possible to connect your 600 to Workbench without the hardware interface. Helix can’t do it.

[Lamont32]

Greetings all,

 

I just had my new Helix (OG) Floor model delivered three days ago.  While trying to learn how to use this, I found that when I power the Helix on and off, I am hearing a clicking noise coming from inside my Variax Standard.  I have had my Variax since 2017, and my HD500x since 2020.  I have never heard this noise before.

 

I ran the Line 6 updater, thinking that maybe updating would stop this noise.  The only device it shows is the Helix.  I know that the USB/VDI Interface was included with the Variax, but for the life of me, I do not recall where it is.  I will commence the search tomorrow for it...  it's in a safe place somewhere in the house.

 

If I cannot find it, I will try to update through the HD500x.  Maybe the updater will work through that.  Has anyone else ever heard a clicking noise from the Variax will turnin the Helix on and off?

 

Thanks,

mike

[silverhead]

On 4/22/2026 at 1:51 AM, Lamont32 said:

…Has anyone else ever heard a clicking noise from the Variax will turnin the Helix on and off?

….

Yes I used to hear a single soft click from my JTV-59 when my Helix Rack was turned on. It wasn’t loud or alarming and there were no problems so I assumed it was normal, related to the power reaching the JTV over VDI - like a power switch. I ignored it and never had any related symptoms.

[Lamont32]

On 4/22/2026 at 8:35 AM, silverhead said:

Yes I used to hear a single soft click from my JTV-59 when my Helix Rack was turned on. It wasn’t loud or alarming and there were no problems so I assumed it was normal, related to the power reaching the JTV over VDI - like a power switch. I ignored it and never had any related symptoms.

Thanks for that info silverhead...!  At first I thought that something might be wrong with the Helix, or my Variax.  I tried a search here on the forum, and never  found mention of this.  I am glad that this might be a "normal" sound for Variax with Helix.