Variax demonstration, playing various preset (1/2)

[lakland001]

holy crap man you're a great player. are you planning on getting the new jtv?

[rafport]

@lakland001 i'm thinking about what jtv is... :) anyway really thank for apreciating!

[U2CURE]

is this software downloadable on the line 6 site?

[rafport]

@U2CURE sure, search for variax workbench. it need a variax and a pod with variax interface or an external variax interface on your computer

[U2CURE]

@rafport

If i bought only the variax 600 and download the workbench on line 6 site, it will works all correctly?? I'don't have the pod....i've a boss gt8

[rafport]

@U2CURE no, you cant use variax workbench until you connect with a correct inteface to a computer, so you need or a pod with the variax port or an external usb variax connector. the variax has the digital port that seem an ethernet one, but it isnt so the only way to connect a variax to his software is using a line6 perpipherical with the variax port. you can play with your boss the variax, using the power supply with the guitar, but you can change any parameter without the connection to pc

[U2CURE]

@rafport

So if i understood, i cannot use the workbench if i don't have a pod o an external usb. One question: what exactrly do you mean for EXTERNAL USB VARIAX CONNECTOR? What is? Is not the power supply for the variax?

[rafport]

@U2CURE not all line6 product has the variax connector, just top product have (pod xt live, pod x3 live). the variax has 2 plug, the classic audio jack, but you need to use a special stereo jack because the variax is an active guitar and need to have power supply (or you had to put battery, but it use a lot of power so battery became empty really quick!), and the second plug is the digital one with rj45 connector like ethernet cables. this connector need a special card to be connected to

[rafport]

@U2CURE you computer, and without connecting to you computer you can use just the preset but you cannot change any pickup, position, tuning. so you need a computer with installed variax workbench, a line6 variax connector (pod live or a variax usb adapter not included with guitar), and a variax. with just variax you can play with presets

[mtsn]

@U2CURE The USB does all the communication between the Variax and a PC, and it uses or a POD or the Guitarport interface. It helps to use the Variax softwares and update the guitar firmware as well, it turns the POD into a soundcard.The Variax Digital Interface cable is just a regular network cable. With this connection you can assign a Variax preset to a patch in your POD so when you call that patch the Variax preset is also called. With it you don't need to use the Variax power supply.

[kmccbf]

Several coments about sound when compared to others of the same kind. Variax is meant to copy classic guitars of the 50' & 60's and really played clean. You lose the difference in guitars the more you effects process and distort it. Variax is late 50s gold top, not an 80's or 90s and there is a difference. If you are playing metal. not the guitar for you.

[rafport]

@kmccbf no is not like that, is not a problem of year. variax take tone from a piezoelectric pickup on the bridge, like acoustic guitar, so even if they transform waveform what you get is more or less an acoustic dynamic that feel quite decenbt when you play clean but became totallty unrealistic when some saturation is on the tone. so problem is really not the yeas, it is just a limit by this kind of technology, is not bad but neiter a real electrig guitar on it own dynamic and tone

[burningmindsvideos]

Nice demo, nice bluesy style too 

[rafport]

@burningmindsvideos thank you

[pneumatica3]

Actually, I tested one of these guitars against a '58 Les Paul Goldtop w/PAFs and a modern Les Paul Standard as well as a Stratocaster and a Telecaster through the same amp/settings for each model and the only difference I could hear was the normal difference one might hear from any two guitars of the same make/model. This is a great tool!

[rafport]

mmmmm it is a very interesting experiment, but i've got several of simulated guitars and i can assure you difference is great. tone is similiar when clean, but dynamic and response with tubes and overdrive are deeply different. variax is acoustic (has piezo pickup) and this did a noticeable acoustic dynamic.

[mtsn]

@rafport a Variax preset matched with the right kind of amp emulator from a POD (I own the XT Live) can make impressive results. I am quite pleased with my Variax + XT combo. I heard many people say it doesn't have a good sustain, that you can't do palm muting, all BS. The playability might not be the same as say a Les Paul or a Jumbo accoustic (because the Variax is shaped like a Strat) but in terms of sound, it's not as bad as some people want you to think it is.

[rafport]

@mtsn i think it is a matter of taste, of style and picking. i'm a variax owner, so it is supposed i wont say it is bad for fun as i spend lot of money for. it is a very curious experiment, but seriously i wont never use my variax for anything electric, despite che acoustis simulation is very good. the dynamic is all different, and almost acoustically in way it react with the saturation and the picking. i understood everyone has his taste, but i cant really suggest to buy a variax for play

[mtsn]

@rafport People say that the Variax model X is better than the Y. The emulations should be the same because the electronics are the same except for firmware upgrades. What you're saying that is the best part of the Variax to you (the accoustic) usually is the most criticized part, mostly the 12-string. A matter of taste, really. What I hate to see is people saying that it's a "toy". It's not a '59 Strat, but it's not a toy either. And most people can't tell the differences in a blind test.

[AngelVzla]

nice demo ;D bluesy style fTW!

[rafport]

thank you :)

[MrWhositMagig]

IDK the Les Paul and other humbucking models sound kinda thin....like, too thing to be buckers

[phildas]

fantastic demo~!!! keep it up raf!

[rafport]

thank you :)