Mesa/Boogie V-AMP2, V-AMPIRE Operating Modes And Applications, Rehearsal or recording at home

V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/V-AMP 2

a loudspeaker with 4 W of impedance and 120 Watts power. At the right output you may connect an 8 W/ 60 Watts speaker that runs together with the internal speaker. Two speakers with 8 W/60 Watts each can be connected to the outputs (the internal speaker automatically shuts off). Our ULTRASTACK BG412 series suits this application ideally.

3.OPERATING MODES AND APPLICATIONS

One outstanding feature of our V-AMP products is that you can choose yourself which parts of the signal you want to route to the outputs. To adapt your device perfectly to the various studio and live applications you can choose between 5 different operating modes (CONFIGURATIONS). Independent of the settings stored in the presets, these operating modes determine where the signal for the line outs and headphones comes from so that both left and right output signal can be used for different purposes.

The choice of your most suitable operating mode depends on where you use it. We have described some typical applications, distinguishing between particular features of the V-AMPIRE, V-AMP PRO and V-AMP 2 (see view sheet for details).

+With the headphones plugged, the device auto- matically switches into studio 1 (S1) operating mode.

3.1Selecting an operating mode in CONFIGURATION mode

The settings of the configurations are made in the configuration menu by pressing the buttons D and E (B and D for the V-AMP 2). The display shows the current configuration. Use the arrow keys to select another configuration. Please refer to table 3.1 for information on the corresponding output signals.

+By pressing the TAP key and adjusting the GAIN control you can additionally adapt the input amplification to particularly loud pick ups.

In the configuration menu you can adapt the input gain to different pick up types. To do this, keep the TAP key pressed and the surrounding GAIN control LEDs show the current setting. Turning the GAIN control from its center position to the left you will reduce the input amplification which probably is recommendable with very loud pick up types. GAIN settings in clockwise direction are only recommended with very weak pick up types.

Quit the configuration menu by pressing TUNER/EXIT.

3.2 Rehearsal or recording at home

When using headphones, all three V-AMP models will switch into studio mode 1 (S1). This mode is particularly suitable for rehearsals or when recording/monitoring a stereo signal. You could also use live mode 1 (L1) which applies an additional 3-band EQ.

One advantage of rehearsing at home is that there is often a computer available which allows you to design, edit, send, receive and archive new presets comfortably and effectively. Download our V-AMP DESIGN software free of charge at www.v-amp.com. You can create your own presets even with minimum system requirements (Windows PC with MIDI interface or gameport MIDI adapter). On the V-AMP homepage you also find an online preset database (ULI, user library interface) with plenty of presets created by other V-AMP users and famous artists. Here, you can upload your own favourite presets and make them accessable for other users.

Using studio mode 2 (S2) at home can be a good idea when it comes to recording an amp sound without effects (“dry”) but monitoring it with effects (“wet”). Working this way, you are able to choose the effects you want later during mixdown. In this case you would route the left output to the soundcard of your computer and monitor the right output via your mixing console.

3.2.1 V-AMPIRE

Figure 1.3 on the view sheet shows a typical home application. We recommend modes S1, L1 or L2.

S1 comprises all amp, speaker and effects simulations. The same applies to mode L1 which also includes the 3-band EQ for additional sound adaption. Mode L2 works similarily but here the digital speaker simulation is switched off and our analog ULTRA-G simulation is enabled on the XLR or phones outputs.

+When connecting headphones, the amp signal is automatically muted. Thus, if you unplug the headphones we strongly recommmend to turn the MASTER control to the very left. The XLR output is independent of the MASTER control setting. This allows to take out a line signal for recording purposes while the MASTER control is set to minimum.

As with the V-AMP 2 the stereo AUX input enables you to play back line signals like CDs, drum computer etc.

3.2.2 V-AMP PRO

In the studio, monitoring will be performed at the mixing console, and for this reason there is no need for an aux input on the V-AMP PRO.

Figure 2.4 of the view sheet shows how to connect the V-AMP PRO to the digital input of a PC in a recording application. Possible digital inputs on the PC are balanced AES/EBU or coax- type S/PDIF inputs. When the V-AMP PRO’s digital output is set to 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz, the PC has to synchronize with the V-AMP PRO, i.e. in clock slave mode. If the PC or any other device is intended to work as clock master, the V-AMP PRO has to be synchronized externally via the wordclock input. The sample rate depends on the wordclock signal but must range between 32 to 96 kHz.

In addition, figure 2.4 shows an effects device connected to the Pre DSP INSERT in order to edit the input signal before any digital simulations. To do this, the LINE IN button has to be pressed.

Depending on your application, we recommend studio mode S1 or S2. Mode S1 includes all amp and speaker simulations with effects in stereo while S2 has the effects at the right output only allowing you to record this track “dry” and add effects later at mixdown.

3.2.3 V-AMP 2

While rehearsing with your V-AMP 2, you are able to connect any kind of playback or a metronome in the AUX stereo input and adjust its level with the AUX LEVEL control (see fig. 3.3 on the view sheet). For monitoring you can take the line outputs to an amplifier, like our EUROPOWER series, or to a stereo, or you can use headphones connected to the phones output.

Fig. 3.4 on the view sheet shows the previously mentioned arrangement for S2.

3.3 Live on stage or in a rehearsal room

Since neither the V-AMP PRO nor the V-AMP 2 are fitted with speakers, some additional gear will be needed to hear the sound. If you are using a sound reinforcement system, it is a good idea to make sure that either the analog ULTRA-G or one of the programmable digital speaker simulations is active.

8 3. OPERATING MODES AND APPLICATIONS