KVR Audio

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:25 pm

Just got my Variax 300 in. Thankfully I got one where all the string pickups work (read online about plenty with a buggy pickup or two.) I'm absolutely amazed! Not only with the sonic possibilities, but the fact that it's very comfortable to play on. I was worried about having a bridge that would feel weird when I rest my palm on it, but it's perfect. I'm running it through a POD XT Live, it's odd that Line 6 doesn't include the cable with it (ok, not so weird when they can charge $20 for a $2 ethernet cable), but I just popped a Cat 5 cable on that I had laying around (just upgraded my network to Gigabit and Cat 6 anyway) and plugged in and played. Haven't checked out the Workbench software yet, but I will later this weekend.

I just might sell off two of my other electrics and just keep one as a backup. It really is that good! Some people have posted that it's not all that great for metal, but even with the "stock" pickup selections, I'm getting just as much output as a Duncan JB out of it.

Any other Variax users out there?

dusted william · Post by **dusted william** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:27 pm

I had one but returned it. The E and A string just didn't sound right.

dw

simesf · Post by **simesf** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:05 pm

Have you tried palm muting with it yet? I heard it doesn't do it at all well, although I've not tried one myself, so I'd be interested in your opinion.

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:46 pm

Hmm, palm muting does sound a little weird actually. It sounds great on chords. I need to get the workbench software installed so I can mess around with it. I do a LOT of palm muting and.. yeah..

Laguna Rising · Post by **Laguna Rising** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:27 am

Woow d you plug this guitar with an ethernet cable ? cool, you don't even need a stealthplug, I think this is a groundbreaking technology, with all sound shaping etc., let us know if it works well for you...Thanks

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:49 am

Laguna Rising wrote:Woow d you plug this guitar with an ethernet cable ? cool, you don't even need a stealthplug, I think this is a groundbreaking technology, with all sound shaping etc., let us know if it works well for you...Thanks

Not exactly - the ethernet cable connects it to this small box that then connects to the PC via usb2. That is for the link to the Workbench software which enables you to mix and match, and build from components, your own models (you can modify just about anything from type of instrument, strings, body, pickup and pickup positions, tunings etc). I suspect they use ethernet cable as a straight usb connection to the PC would be tricky for several reasons, esp on stage, though you don't have to use it playing live anyway as once you've uploaded a model it's stored in one of 2 user banks in the guitar and can be selected, as well as a huge bunch of inbuilt ones, just by turning a knob. The audio out is still a standard audio cable though it needs a stereo one (even though the signal is still mono) to take power. Sounds strange but it works very well and the Workbench integration is amazing as it all works in realtime. You can do crazy things with the tunings.

Laguna Rising · Post by **Laguna Rising** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:58 am

Oh, I see... Thanks for explaining

it's an interesting technology

Cheers

pilgrim_heart · Post by **pilgrim_heart** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:11 am

I got one, really like for just about anything except metal. The main problem with playing metal on it IMHO is that all the humbucker emus seem to be of gibson-style humbuckers which have that weird nasal sound quality, I find this kind of sound great for most stuff but it has quite a bit of issues when palm muting. It's a shame they haven't included at least one emu of "generic metal"-styled humbucker (the way they've done with metal amps in their amp sims).

Scotty · Post by **Scotty** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:15 am

I have the variax acoustic guitar. Had it for about a month, guitar is quite nice but thelatency is an issue. I have to track without monitoring the emulated signal The internal cpu is a shade too slow, I can work with it as is and the effrot is worth it as the tones are very usuable. I would pay an upgrade price to have the latency reduced by half.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:19 am

Anyone tried using an eBow with a Variax? Would it work?

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:42 am

aMUSEd wrote:Anyone tried using an eBow with a Variax? Would it work?

yes, and yes. bit lower intesnity than a normal 'lectric, i reckon, and slower to build up, but it does indeed.

ps Dominus; my Variax Workbench came with a cat5 cable. if yours didnt, mebbe best to heck with Line6.

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:38 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:
aMUSEd wrote:Anyone tried using an eBow with a Variax? Would it work?
yes, and yes. bit lower intesnity than a normal 'lectric, i reckon, and slower to build up, but it does indeed.

ps Dominus; my Variax Workbench came with a cat5 cable. if yours didnt, mebbe best to heck with Line6.

I've got a POD XT Live - so I get to download the Workbench software for free.

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:44 pm

aMUSEd wrote:
Laguna Rising wrote:Woow d you plug this guitar with an ethernet cable ? cool, you don't even need a stealthplug, I think this is a groundbreaking technology, with all sound shaping etc., let us know if it works well for you...Thanks
Not exactly - the ethernet cable connects it to this small box that then connects to the PC via usb2. That is for the link to the Workbench software which enables you to mix and match, and build from components, your own models (you can modify just about anything from type of instrument, strings, body, pickup and pickup positions, tunings etc). I suspect they use ethernet cable as a straight usb connection to the PC would be tricky for several reasons, esp on stage, though you don't have to use it playing live anyway as once you've uploaded a model it's stored in one of 2 user banks in the guitar and can be selected, as well as a huge bunch of inbuilt ones, just by turning a knob. The audio out is still a standard audio cable though it needs a stereo one (even though the signal is still mono) to take power. Sounds strange but it works very well and the Workbench integration is amazing as it all works in realtime. You can do crazy things with the tunings.

With the POD XT Live I just plug in with the Ethernet cable, everything comes through that.. granted, that probably makes the XT Live a huge Ethernet-USB adapter.

Got a lot going on this weekend, but hopefully I'll be able to grant myself a day to explore it.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:33 pm

I didn't realise that since I don't have it - nice feature. I do know they have a few useful features combined - been thinking about whether to get the XT or the Toneport for a while.

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:37 am

Well, it's the XT Live. The XT doesn't have the variax port. I got a killer deal on the XT Live from Hibidy here. I'm getting ready to sell my XT as soon as I figure out how to move my model packs onto it.

Even without the port, the Pod XT is much better than the Toneport if you're looking for guitar sounds, you don't need to have the computer on for it to work.

Line 6 Variax F'n rules!