tech21 SansAmp Character Deluxe User manual

POWER REQU REMENTS
*Utilizes standard 9V alkaline battery (not included), which will provide a life
span of approx. 70 hours. NOTE: Input jack activates battery.To conserve
energy, unplug when not in use. Power Consumption: approx. 7mA.
*USE DC POWER SUPPLY ONLY! Failure to do so may damage the
unit and void warranty. DC Power Supply Specifications:
-9V DC regulated or unregulated, 100mA minimum;
-2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).
Optional factory power supply is available: Tech 21 Model #DC2.
WARN NGS:
*Attempting to repair unit is not recommended and may void warranty.
*Missing or altered serial numbers automatically void warranty. For your own
protection: be sure serial number labels on the unit’s back plate and exterior
box are intact, and return your warranty registration card.
ONE YEAR L M TED WARRANTY. PROOF OF PURCHASE
REQU RED. Manufacturer warrants unit to be free from defects in materials
and workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase to the original pur-
chaser and is not transferable. This warranty does not include damage resulting
from accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, or incorrect current or voltage. If unit
becomes defective within warranty period, manufacturer will repair or replace
it free of charge. After expiration, manufacturer will repair defective unit for a fee.
ALL REPA RS for residents of U.S. and Canada: Call Tech 21 for Return
Authorization Number. Manufacturer will not accept packages without
prior authorization, pre-paid freight (UPS preferred) and proper insurance.
FOR PERSONAL ASS STANCE & SERV CE:
Contact Tech 21 on normal business weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST.
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
T: 973-777-6996 • F: 973-777-9899
E: [e-mail] • www.tech21nyc.com
©2011 Tech 21 USA, nc. OWNER’S MANUAL
SansAmp Character Series - Deluxe

TECH 21, THE COMPANY
Tech 21 was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination of a trained ear and elec-
tronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta incorporated Tech 21 and made his invention commer-
cially available to players and studios around the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pio-
neered Tube Amplifier Emulation in professional applications for recording direct and performing
live, and created an entirely new category of signal processing. There have since been many entries
into this niche, yet SansAmp continues to maintain its reputation as the industry standard.
In addition to a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals and MIDI products, as
well as “traditional” style amplifiers for guitar and bass. Each product is thoughtfully and respectful-
ly designed by B. Andrew Barta himself with the player in mind.
Tech 21’s goal is to provide you with flexible, versatile tools to cultivate, control, refine and rede-
fine your own individual sound. We take great pride in delivering consistent quality sound, studio to
studio, club to club, arena to arena.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
The SansAmp Character Series Deluxe format combines the warmth of a 100% analog signal path
with the convenience of digital programmability in a super simple, player-friendly stomp box format.
Our proprietary technology captures the rich, natural harmonics and sweet overdrive characteristics
inherent to tube amplifiers, and does so even at low volume. SansAmp delivers the same dynamics,
responsiveness, and sound quality of massive pro stage rigs in a portable, programmable pedal.
The ease of operation allows you to make changes on the fly, at the gig, even during your per-
formance --without having to take this manual with you. There are no complex formulas or
numerical calculations to learn, so there’s nothing to get in the way of your creative flow.
You can explore and custom tailor your tones, and put your favorites right at your feet. Custom
actuators provide a smooth transition between channels for instantaneous switching, so you can
dance to the music instead of your gear.
APPLICATIONS
W TH AN AMP: Run the 1/4” output of the SansAmp directly into the input of the power
amp input, a.k.a. “effects return” (if applicable), of an amp. This will bypass the tone coloring section
of the pre-amp and will defeat the amp’s master volume.
NOTE: BE SURE the NSTRUMENT VOLUME is OFF --BEFORE you turn on
the amp. Then slowl increase the volume of the instrument. If it’s too loud overall, check that
the 1/4” Out Boost switch is disengaged (up) and then edit your presets accordingly. If it doesn’t get
loud enough for you, engage (depress) the 1/4” Out Boost switch to add 10dB.
Or, you can run the SansAmp into the front input of an amp. Be sure to keep the Level of
SansAmp close to unity gain, so as not to overload the amp’s input, which could result in undesir-
able distortion.
Tips for setting up your amp when using front input:
1. Plug into low gain channel or input.
2. Turn off Bright switch.
3. Turn presence control (if applicable) to 12 o’clock or below.
4. Set tone controls as flat as possible.
5. Set SansAmp Character Series Speaker Sim switch to off.
TO DR VE A POWER AMP: Run the output of the SansAmp into the input of a power
amp with an input sensitivity of -10dB to 0dB. Then use the master volume control of the power
amp to adjust your stage volume.
TO RECORD D RECT: You can plug directly into the input of a mixer/recorder and use
the on-board sounds of the SansAmp. Bear in mind, full-range systems yield a wide frequency
response. Therefore, you may need to adjust the EQ settings of the SansAmp to compensate.
THE INS AND OUTS
Standard Audio Procedure: TURN (SansAmp) ON F RST. TURN OFF LAST. To
avoid unwanted and potentially speaker-damaging “pops” when connecting or disconnecting any
equipment, always mute mixing board and/or turn down amp volume before plugging or
unplugging!
WARNING:
DO NOT run the speaker output of any amp directly into the
SansAmp. Severe damage to the amp and/or SansAmp may result.
SIGNAL LEVEL TO INPUT
SansAmp Character Series pedals are designed to accommodate instrument level signals to the
Input, such as the output of a guitar, bass, the output of distortion pedals, etc. Signal level to Input
should be close to that of a standard electric guitar (approx. -10dB / 250mV). NOTE: Hot pick-
ups will increase the gain structure of the SansAmp.
N A (MA N): 1/4-inch 1 megOhm, instrument level. Use as your main input when using a
single instrument. Also switches battery power on/off. To avoid battery drain, unplug when unit is
not in use.
N B: 1/4-inch 1 megOhm, instrument level. For second instrument.
PARALLEL OUTPUT: 1/4-inch buffered, unbalanced direct output. Instrument signal pass-
es through, Uneffected, to the input of your stage amplification system or tuner.
BALANCED XLR OUTPUT: Balanced 600-Ohm low Z output. Sends effected or
bypassed signal to mixing console/recorder.
XLR Out Pad Switch: -20dB pad to match the output to equipment
with different input level requirements. In the line level (up) position, the
output is 0dB. In the instrument level (down) position, the output is -20dB.
1/4” OUTPUT: Unbalanced 1 Ohm low Z output. Sends effected or bypassed signal to
amp rig or power amp.
1/4” Out Boost Switch: +10dB boost to match the output to equipment with different
input level requirements. In the instrument level (up) position, the nominal output is -10dB. In the
line level (down) position, the output is 0dB.
PHANTOM POWER
Allows you to “tap into” the power of a suitably equipped mixer. As the 3-conductor XLR sends
the audio signal to the input of a mixer, the mixer sends voltage back to the unit via the same 3
wires, eliminating the need for an external power supply. Consult your mixer’s owner’s manual for
set-up instructions. For live and studio use, let the engineer know your SansAmp is phantom
power operable.
NOTE: Minimum 24V DC regulated phantom power supply, however, 48V DC regulated is recom-
mended to optimize headroom and illuminate LEDs.
PHANTOM & GROUND CONNECT SW TCH: When engaged (depressed), the
ground connects and unit will accept phantom power through the XLR Output. Disengaged (up),
the ground of your stage system and other interconnected gear is lifted/isolated from the ground
of the mixing console.
With a mixer only: If you are plugging your instrument into the SansAmp and taking the XLR
Output to a mixer --and do not have any other grounded equipment connected in
the setup-- you will have to engage (depress) the switch to connect the ground and activate
the phantom power.
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With a mixer and an amp: If you are going to the mixer via the XLR and using the 1/4”
Output to feed an amp (with its own AC ground), you should set the switch in the up position for
“Ground Lift” mode. If you experience hum and/or buzz with the switch in either position, there
is probably a problem with the AC outlets you are plugging into.
NOTE: f using vintage equipment without proper grounds, take extra care connecting it
to modern grounded equipment. The inadequacies of the ground in vintage gear could result in
damaging anything it is connected to.
NOTE: While operating under phantom power, we recommend keeping a 9V alkaline
battery installed at all times to avoid the previously mentioned “pops” when lifting the ground (see
Standard Audio Procedure on page 2).
GUIDE TO CONTROLS
CHARACTER sweeps through an entire range of tonal possibilities associated with each style of
amplifier. In addition to modifying the frequency response, Character also influences the attack and
drive characteristics of each particular amplifier style. Therefore, you may need to adjust your gain
and tone settings after tweaking the Character control.
DR VE adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to when the output section of a
tube amp is being pushed.
LOW, M D, H GH*. On-board post-EQ section gives you full control, like having a studio
mixing board at your fingertips. Unlike passive tone controls that only cut, these active controls
cut and boost.*
LEVEL adjusts the output level of both the 1/4” and XLR outputs.
PROGRAMMING THE CHANNELS
HOW TO SAVE A PROGRAM
Select a channel where you want the setting located. Set the knob controls to taste. Double click
on that channel’s footswitch and it’s saved. It’s that easy.
HOW TO F ND KNOB POS T ON NG W TH N A PRESET
When you turn a knob from its stored position, it “unlocks” and the channel indicator LED will
blink. The slower the blink, the farther away you are from the preset point. The faster the blink,
the closer you are. At the preset point, the LED stops blinking and remains on.
LAZY POT™
Another Tech 21 first, this is a unique safety feature engineered for the Drive and Level controls.
When you “unlock” the EQ settings, for instance, they will “jump” to the new setting of the knob
position. For the Drive and Level controls, however, this could result in you jumping out of your skin if
they’re at a high setting. With the Lazy Pot, there’s a gradual increase to the new setting position, giv-
ing you time to turn it down. This will only happen when you initially unlock a preset. Once unlocked,
the pot will react according to how you reposition it.
BYPASS
The SansAmp Character Series Deluxe can go into bypass mode from any of the three channels.
Whichever channel you’re already in, hit that channel’s footswitch once and you’ll be in bypass
mode.
BANK A and B
You can program 3 presets per bank, for a total of 6 presets. You can utilize 3 per instrument or
all 6 for one. Just follow the same save procedure for each channel in each bank. When you alter-
nate between banks via the footswitch, the corresponding LED lights up to let you know which
bank you’re in.
EFFECT LOOP
Allows you to connect and control external effects. Run the input of your effect to FX SEND;
output of your effect to FX RETURN. We recommend time-based effects (i.e., chorus or delay) be
inserted in the Effect Loop and external distortion/wah pedals be placed between the guitar and
the SansAmp.
To engage/disengage the effect loop, double-click the Bank/FX footswitch.
NOTE: The effect loop automatically stores the position of the last state it is in. For example, if
the effect loop is on when you save a program, it will engage when you recall that preset. If you
should spontaneously disengage the effect loop during a performance, the next time you recall
that preset, the effect loop will be off.
SPEAKER SIMULATION*
Speaker simulation is an integral part of the circuitry. It is designed for a smooth, even response as
would be achieved by a multiply-miked cabinet, without the peaks, valleys, and notches associated
with single miking. The shape of the speaker curve will not adversely effect or interfere with the
frequency response of your own cabinet. The speaker simulation works in tandem with the EQ
controls to custom tailor the overall sound.
If desired, however, you can defeat the speaker simulation by disengaging the speaker switch
(up or left position, depending on exact model). This will provide a slight 6dB per octave
high-rolloff. As many amplifiers have a pre-amp section with highs emphasized, this compen-
sation will provide a more natural pre-amp sound when going into the front of such an amp.
Conversely, when going directly into a power amp or an amp without highs emphasized, you may
need to increase the High control on the pedal to compensate for the lack thereof.
*For more details and sample settings,
see separate insert specific to your model.
PLACEMENT ORDER OF OTHER EFFECTS
One of the key attributes of any SansAmp is its responsiveness to the dynamics and nuances of
your playing technique. In most cases, your bass should be plugged directly into the SansAmp. We
suggest experimenting to find the order that’s best for you. As a general guide, we recommend:
Place the following effects BEFORE the SansAmp:
Wah-Wah, Pre-Amp, Compressor, Fuzz Box, Envelope Follower.
Place the following in the FX loop or AFTER the SansAmp: Chorus, Delay, EQ,
Pitch Shifter, Reverb.
NOTEWORTHY NOTES
1) SansAmp is very responsive. Our controls are unusually sensitive and powerful. You
need not set everything at max to get maximum results. For instance, to brighten your sound,
rather than automatically boosting Treble all the way up, try cutting back on the Bass first.
The tone controls also help compensate for the EQ curves found in instrument amplifierss. To
find the best settings for interacting with your amp, start with the tone controls at 12 o’clock and
cut or boost as necessary. Be aware that amplifiers vary greatly and some may require you to use
radical EQ settings on the SansAmp to achieve your desired sound. You need not be discouraged
or suspect something is wrong with the unit. If you’ve got your sound, you’ve simply found the
right balance for your particular amp.
2) The noise level of SansAmp is exceptionally low. However, it may amplify noise
emanating from the input source. To minimize noise going into the SansAmp Character Series
Deluxe, we recommend active electronic instru-ments have the volume set at unity gain/maximum
and tone controls positioned flat. If you need to boost, do so slowly and sparingly.
Also check for pickup interference by moving your guitar or turning the volume off. Be aware
single coil pickups are more likely to generate noise.
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3) Buffered bypass eliminates the shortcomings associated with “true bypass” (pops and clicks,
and high-end loss when multiple pedals are connected together), as well as signal loss associated
with other types of switching circuits.
4) Custom actuators. All Tech 21 pedals feature smooth, silent-switching actuators that are
licensed by other major manufacturers.
5) REMEMBER TH S WARN NG: DO NOT run the speaker output of any amp
directly into the SansAmp. Severe damage to the amp and/or SansAmp may
result.
GLOBAL RESET
To reset your unit back to factory specifications, you can perform the following procedure: Hold
down the footswitches for Channels 1 and 3 while simultaneousl applying power (either plugging in
an adapter or, if a battery is installed, plugging in your guitar cable). Then release the switches.
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CUSTOM SETTINGS
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