A/DA MP-1-CHANNEL User manual

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ADAMP‐1‐CHANNELUserManual
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TheADAMP‐1‐CHANNELisdesignedfortheguitaristwhowantstheauthentictoneofthe
renownedMP‐1MIDITUBEPREAMPinaneffectspedalenclosure.TheMP‐1‐CHANNELuses
thesamevacuumtubedesignoftherack‐mountedMP‐1PREAMPofthelate1980sto
accomplishthisgoal.Two12AX7vacuumtubescreatethetone–VOICEDasCLEANand
DISTORTIONforsmoothwarmthorsparklingdefinitiontoresponsiveoverdriveandhigh‐gain
distortion.ThesignalisthenpassedthroughtheADAtonestackforshapingandharmonic
emphasis.
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TheMP‐1‐CHANNELpedalhasaTrueBypassfootswitchandrunsoffastandard12‐voltAC
adapter.InsidetheMP‐1‐CHANNELthevoltageisincreasedto270voltstoobtainthebest
performancepossiblefromthe12AX7s.UnliketheoriginalMP‐1,theMP‐1‐CHANNELisnot
MIDIprogrammable,notstereoandhasnochoruseffect.TheMP‐1‐CHANNELisasingle
channel,monopedal.
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POWERINGUP
ThebestwaytopoweruptheMP‐1‐CHANNEListosetthePOWERswitchoff,plugintheAC
adapter(ADApartnumber240005)orpedalboardpowersupply(12Vat800mA),andturnon
thepowersupply,butnottheMP‐1‐CHANNEL.ThensettheMP‐1‐CHANNELPOWERswitch
on.Thevacuumtubesrequirealotofcurrenttostayhot,andsomepowersuppliescannot
providethis.WerecommendtheADAACadapterbecausesomegenericACadapterswill
“shutdown”forprotectionandcausetheMP‐1‐CHANNELPOWERLEDtoflashafewtimes
beforestayingon.Thisdoesnotcauseanydamage,butcanbeabitannoying.Afterthetubes
warmup,theguitarsignalispassedtotheOUTPUTjack.
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Notethattheconnectorisa2.1mmwiththecenterpinnegative,themostcommon
configurationforeffectspedals.Thereisno9VbatteryintheMP‐1‐CHANNEL,andtheMP‐1‐
CHANNELwillnotworkwitha9VDCpowersupply,norwillitworkona12Vpowersource
withlessthan800mAofcurrent.
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APPLICATIONS
TheMP‐1‐CHANNELwasdesignedforpedalboardsanddirectrecording.Youcanprecedeit
withotherpedalsandeffectsoryoucanplacethemaftertheMP‐1‐CHANNEL.Mostcommon
effectsaftertheMP‐1‐CHANNELaredelays,cabinetsimulators,andreverb.Someguitarists
willwanttheMP‐1‐CHANNELtoperformthefunctionofapreamp,andwillwantitsOUTPUT
toconnecttoacomboamp’spowerstageviaa“directinsert”jackortheeffectsreturnloop
jack.Thisavoidsapreamppluggedintoanotherpreampsituation,whichis,inmostcases,
undesirable.Ifyourcomboorheaddoesnotallowdirectaccesstoitspoweramp,youcan
plugintothecomboorhead’sinput.Whendoingthis,itisbesttosetthetonecontrols“flat”
and“drive”turneddowntokeepthesignalcleanwiththemastervolumeup.Thiswillallow
theMP‐1‐CHANNELtobethesourceofdistortion,ratherthansharingitwiththecomboor
headpreamp.
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Forliveperformance,theMP‐1‐CHANNEL,alongwithaGCSCabinetSimulator,caneliminate
theneedforacomboorheadwithaguitarspeakercabinet.Youcangetincredibletone
throughthehousesoundsystem(PA)andthroughfull‐rangestagemonitorsorearmonitors.
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Fordirectrecording,werecommendacabinetsimulatorlikeoneofourGCSproducts.Thiswill
addtherealismofamikedguitarspeakercabinettotheguitartonecomingfromtheMP‐1‐
CHANNEL,oryourpedalboard.

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CONTROLS
LiketheMP‐1,theMP‐1‐CHANNELhastwocontrols,OD1andOD2,tosetthedrivelevelofthe
firsttwostagesandthefollowingstages3and4.Withthisflexibility,theguitaristcannotonly
settheamountofdistortion,butcontrolthelevelofevenandoddharmonicdistortion.Even
harmonicsaregeneratedbyclippingonesideoftheguitarsignalinsteadofboththetopand
bottomsidesofthesignalforoddharmonicdistortion.Evenharmonicsaresmoothand
hollow,whileoddharmonicsarecrunchy,harshand,withpropersettingofthetonestack,
“hairy.”Trysomeofthesettingsshownbelowtohelpgetyoufamiliarwithhowthecontrols
work.
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ThereisoneINPUTjackandoneOUTPUTjack.KeepinmindthattheMP‐1‐CHANNELisa
stompboxandrunsatINSTRUMENTlevels,notLINElevels.
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TheVOICINGswitchsetsthe12AX7gainanddriveequalizationforCLEANandDISTORTION
biasing.TheMASTERcontrolsetsthelevelofthesignalcomingfromthefourgainstagesof
the12AX7s.(Thereare2stagesper12AX7vacuumtube.)
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Thetonestack(BASS,MID,TREBLEandPRESENCE)isanactivefilterwhichmeansitcancut
ANDboostthesignal.Whenallthetonestackcontrolsaresetto12:30o’clock,thefrequency
responseis“flat”–noboostorcut.ThereisadifferencebetweentheMIDcontrolsofthe
originalMP‐1andtheMP‐1‐CHANNEL.ADAincreasedtherangeoftheMIDcontrolintheMP‐
1‐CHANNELsomodernguitarplayerscangetaradical“scoop”ofthemidfrequencies.The
amountofMIDboosthasalsobeenincreasedsoplayerscangeta“low‐powercombowitha
10‐inchspeaker”soundforfuzzycompingandsoloing.

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TUBES
Preamptubeslastlongerthanpoweramptubesandtheneedtochangethemoccursonly
afterthousandsofhoursofplaying.ItisstillbesttoturnthePOWERswitchoffwhennot
playingthroughtheMP‐1‐CHANNEL.Thiswilllengthenthelifeofthetubes.Whenreplacing
the12AX7vacuumtubes,alwaysusehigh‐gain,low‐noiseselectedtubesforbestperformance
andthelowestnoise.
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Athighgainsettingstheinherentmechanical(microphonic)noisecanbecomeanissue,sobe
carefulnottotap,kickorbumptheMP‐1‐CHANNELwhileplayingathighgains.The
mechanicalnoisewillshowupinyoursound.
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QUICKHOOK‐UP
Whenusingacomboamporaheadandguitarcabinet.
1. SetthePOWERswitchontheMP‐1‐CHANNELtoitsOFFposition.
2. PluginthesuppliedACadapter(12VDCat800mA,2.1mmplug,centernegative)to
theMP‐1‐CHANNEL.
3. TurnonthesourcepowertotheACadapter.
4. Setallthecontrolsto12:30o’clockexceptOD1,whichissetatfullcounter
clockwise.
5. SetVOICINGswitchtoCLEAN
6. SettheTRUEBYPASSfootswitchtobypass,LEDoff.
7. ConnectyourguitarviaahighqualitycabletotheINPUToftheMP‐1‐CHANNEL

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8. ConnecttheOUTPUToftheMP‐1‐CHANNELtothepowerampinsertjackoreffects
returnjackofyourcomboorhead.
9. SetthePOWERswitchontheMP‐1‐CHANNELtoON.Inabout20secondsthe
vacuumtubeswillwarmupandsignalwillbeavailableattheOUTPUTjack.
10. Turnonyourcomboorhead.
11. Setyourguitarvolumeknobtofullandadjustthevolumeoftheamplifiertoa
suitablelevel.
12. SettheTRUEBYPASSfootswitchtoon,blueLEDison.
13. SlowlyturnuptheOD1control.Youshouldheartheguitarinyourspeaker.
14. AdjusttheOD1andOD2fortheamountofoverdriveyouwant.
15. AdjusttheBASS,MID,TREBLEandPRESENCEcontrolsforthetoneyouwant.
16. AdjusttheMASTERforthevolumelevelyouwant.
17. SwitchtheVOICINGtoDISTORTION,andadjustyourMASTERforthevolumelevel,
andmaketonalchangesusingtheBASS,MID,TREBLEandPRESENCEcontrols.
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VACUUMTUBEREPLACEMENT
Ifyouwanttoreplacethe12AX7vacuumtubesintheMP‐1‐CHANNEL,youmusttakethe
bottompaneloff.WARNINGtherearehighvoltagesinsidetheMP‐1‐CHANNEL,sowe
recommendaqualifiedservicepersonforthistask.
1. UnplugtheACadapterfromtheMP‐1‐CHANNELandletitsitforatleast1hour.
Thiswilldischargetheinternalhighvoltage.
2. RemoveONLYthesixscrewsshowninthephotographsbelow.Notethatone
screwatthelowercenterofthebackpanelhasalockwasher.Thiswasherand
screwmustbereplacedwhenputtingthebottompanelback.Donotremovethe

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otherscrewtowardsthecenterofthebackpanel.Thisscrewalsohasalock
washerandservesasthegroundconnectionfortheenclosure.


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3. Thebottompanelcanbeslidoff.Notethatthebottompanelhasacutoutforthe
INPUTandOUTPUTjacks,andmustbere‐installedthesamewaywiththiscutout
aroundthejacks.
4. Thevacuumtubescanbepulledoutoftheirsocketsand,whenreplaced,besure
thateachisfullyseatedinthesocketandstraight.
5. Anotherwaytodischargethehighvoltageistoplaceametal‐tippedscrewdriver
betweenthetwopointsontheprintedcircuitboardasshowninthepicturebelow.

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6. Notethetubenearesttheedgeofthefrontoftheenclosureisthefirststageofthe
MP‐1‐CHANNELcircuitandisthemostcriticaltubeforminimizingnoiseand
microphonics.Thefirsttriodestageispins7,8,9ofthe12AX7.
7. Whenreassemblingtheenclosure,donotovertightenthescrews.
8. Ifthereishumintheaudiosignal,checktherearpanelscrewwiththelockwasher
forpropertightnesssothelockwashermakeselectricalcontactwiththeenclosure.
9. Useonlyhighquality,low‐noise12AX7s.
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
TROUBLE‐SHOOTING&TECHNICALSUPPORT
1. Whataresomequickteststotroubleshootmyunit?
Sometimesafewquicktestsathomecanbethedifferencebetweenthinkingyourunitis
brokenandgettingitworkingproperly.Hereisalistofquicktrouble‐shootingstepstotest
yourgearandunit.Asbasicasthesesoundpleaserunallthetests.
a. Checksimplesignalchain:Plugyourcablefromyourguitarintoyouramp.Ifyou
haveadirectconnecttonegotostep2.Ifnotyouhaveabadcable,guitaroramp.
b. Check2ndcable:Takeyour#2cableandswitchitwiththefirstcable.Ifyouhave
sound,wenowknowbothcables,yourguitarandamp,work.
c. Checkpower:Plugyourampintothesameoutletthatyou’reusingtopoweryour
ADAproduct.Iftheampturnson,thentheoutletworks.Ifnottryanotheroutletto
poweryourunit.
d. ChecknativeADASignalChain:Plugthe#1cablefromyourguitarintoyourADA
product(input).Plugthe#2cablebetweenyourADAproduct(output)andinto
youramp.MakesuretheADAispluggedintoaworkingpowersource.DONOT
insertitinapedalchain,i.e.,donotintroduceanyotherpedalsintothesignal

Page 9
chain.IfyourADAproductworks,yourpedalchainmostlikelyhasaproblem.If
youhearnothing,thentheirmaybeaproblemwithyourindividualunit.Pleasesee
theFAQonhowtogetanRAnumber.

2. WhatdoIdoifmyproductisnotworking?
IfyourproductisnotworkingweSTRONGLYsuggestthatyourunaseriesofquickteststo
troubleshoottheunit(seeabove).Theymaysoundverybasic,butitcansaveyoutimein
gettingyourunitworkingandyoubacktoplaying.Ifyouareaninternational(non‐USA)
customer,youmustcontactyourlocaldealerand/oryournationaldistributorforrepair.Ifyou
areintheUSAandtheunittrulydoesnotwork,email[email protected]togetaReturn
Authorization(RA)numberfromus.

3. WhatdoIdoafterreceivingmyRAnumber?
Youwillneedtoboxyourunit,writeyourReturnAuthorization(RA)numberontheoutsideof
theshippingboxinalargeboldlettering,andsendittotheaddresssuppliedwiththeRAyou
receivedfromus.YouareresponsibleforshippingtoandfromADA,sopleasetrackandinsure
yourparcels.ADAcannotbeheldresponsibleforparcelsthatarelostordamagedinthe
shippingprocess.ADAcannotacceptyourshipmentifthereisnoRAnumberwrittenonthe
outsideofthebox.


Page 10
SERVICE
Ifyourunitrequiresservice,pleasegotoourwebsite’sSERVICEpageforinformationtohelp
youfindasolutiontotheproblemyouarehavingwithyourMP‐1‐CHANNEL.Wehave
providedyouwithastep‐by‐steptroubleshootingproceduretogetyoubackupandrunningif
youareexperiencingasimpleproblem.
RETURNINGUNITSFORSERVICE
IfyoustillneedtosendinyourADAproductforservice,YOUMUSTFIRSTGETARETURN
AUTHORIZATIONNUMBER(RA)BEFOREYOUSHIPTOOURSERVICECENTER.Itemsshippedto
uswithoutanRA,willnotbeacceptedbyourServiceCenterandwillbereturnedtoyoubythe
shipper.YoucangetanRAnumberbyfirstcontactingusonlineat:
www.adaamps.com/service.Youwillneedtohaveyourserialnumber,approximatedateof
purchaseandthenameoftheplacethatyoupurchasedyourMP‐1‐CHANNEL.DONOTSHIP
YOURMP‐1‐CHANNELTOOURSERVICECENTERBEFOREGETTINGANRA(Return
AuthorizationNumber)FROMUS.
Shipto:
ADAAmplification
1170BurnettAvenue
SuiteN
Concord,California94520
UnitedStates

Page 11
SPECIFICATIONS
INPUTIMPEDANCE:500Kohms
OUTPUTIMPEDANCE:470ohms
SIGNALLEVELS:InstrumenttoLine,‐20dButo0dBu,nominallyunitygain

POWERSUPPLY
ExternalPowerSupplyRequirement:12VDCat800mA
2.1mmx5.5mmx10mmDCPowerPlug,centerpinnegative.

DIMENSIONS
5x5.4x2.3inches(widthxlengthxheight)
12.7x13.7x5.84cm(widthxlengthxheight)

WEIGHT
MP‐1‐CHANNELweight:1.75lbs.
Shippingweight:2.35lbs.withACAdapter

ONLINE
www.adaamps.com
Facebook:facebook.com/ADARocks
ADAonlinestoreforaccessories:http://adaamps.com/store/




Page 12
WARRANTY
YourADAMP‐1‐CHANNELiswarrantedagainstdefectsinmaterialandworkmanshipfora
periodofthree‐hundredandsixtyfive(365)daysfromdateofpurchase.Thiswarrantyistothe
originalownerandisnon‐transferable.Duringthewarrantyperiod,ADAoritsagentwill,atits
soleoption,repairorreplacedefectivepartsandmakenecessaryrepairstotheproductwhich
isdefectiveatnocharge.Ifthefailureistheresultofmisuse,abuse,accidentor
misapplication,ADAhasnoobligationtorepairorreplacethefailedproduct.ADAretainsthe
righttomakesuchdeterminationonthebasisoffactoryinspection.ADAwillnotbe
responsibleforanyspeakerordevicedamagedbytheMP‐1‐CHANNEL.Thiswarrantyremains
validonlyifrepairsareperformedbyADAoritsagentandprovidedthattheserialnumberon
theunithasnotbeendefacedorremoved.Thiswarrantyisexpresslyinlieuofallother
warrantieseitherexpressedorimplied.Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificrights.Youmayhave
otherrightsthatvaryfromstatetostateintheU.S.






PARTNUMBER:701420rev.0.1





Page 13







SOMEBASICMP‐1‐CHANNELSETTINGS
AttheendofthisUserManualaresomeofourfavoritesettingsforvariousstylesofplaying.
Theyserveasagoodstartingpointincreatingyourowntone.Thesettingsweremadeusinga
singlecoilpickupwiththetoneandvolumeknobsontheguitarsettomaximum.


Page 14

DISTORTIONVOICINGS1–7

 
1.80sOVERDRIVE 2.70sROCK




Page 15


 
3.MODERNSCOOP 4.MODERNMIDBOOST




Page 16


 
5.SMOOTHLEAD  6.NUMETAL




Page 17




7.THRASH



Page 18

CLEANVOICINGS8–11

 
8.SINGLECOILCLEAN  9.CRUSTY/TWANG



Page 19


 
10.FUNK   11.JAZZ

