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Behringer Bass V-AMP Pro
- Thread starter CharlieC
- Start date
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I've emailed Behringer so I'll let you know what they have to say....
To show I'm not a complete cheapskate I'll try and attach a picture of my rig
I took a look for you on Page 19 of the Users Manual and it appears that the Bass V-AMP is set for "Volume" on MIDI Control Change #7 and "Wah" on MIDI Control Change #1.
I suspect that your ART X15 simply needs to be re-configured to send those specific control changes in response to the expression pedals. It's now time to break-out your ART X15 manual!
Cheers!
Edit: Confirmed! As per http://www.artproaudio.com/products....&type=91&id=22 the X15 is "factory set for Controllers 4 and 11"
Hey what a great thread! I love my V-Amp Pro and have been using it for a few years when I am working at my desk @ home. I use it to go into my computer for recording, and the output is then handled by my adcom setup into a couple of shielded monitors! The computer software interface makes this thing incredible!
Thanks! and ADCOM, wow! I've got some vintage 80's "NAD" hi-fi gear over here, too, from back in the day.
Well this is frustrating. I was just getting back into my V-Amp Pro (thanks to this thread) and the darn thing up and dies. And, no, it's not the battery. It hisses and spits and doesn't seem to recognize any of the effects. Oh well, it was several years old... Now I'm on the fence about getting another.
OT - RobertUI, I love my Adcom gear in a very similar setup to yours. I was going V-Amp > Adcom > Kilpsch for low volume tonal heaven.
OT - RobertUI, I love my Adcom gear in a very similar setup to yours. I was going V-Amp > Adcom > Kilpsch for low volume tonal heaven.
Sorry to hear of this! Here are some thoughts + suggestions:
1) Hissing/spitting in amps is sometimes caused by bad connections from the instrument's output jack, a cable gone bad, dirty contacts, etc. Try to eliminate these things as the culprit. Bad, scratchy "pots" can sometimes cause the spitting, but the V-AMP only really has one pot, the Master Volume, all other knobs are not real pots.
2) Try a "factory reset" on the unit, pull out the owners manual for the keystrokes + steps necessary to invoke it
3) Perhaps try the EPROM idea as LB75 suggested, but that may be $15+ dollars you could have used elsewhere if it does not fix things
4) I do not recall if you purchased yours new, refurbished, or second hand. Maybe it had a tainted past or an extreme hot or cold, moisture-filled experience?
Should all else fail, perhaps it really is failing electronics, but please don't jinx the rest of us now!
In all seriousness, some of the best and most well-respected electronics fail. I know this is true from the other TalkBass threads I read, but it sure sucks when it happens to you.
Should you not decide to take a chance on a new V-AMP you are still welcome back here. For the life of me though, I do not know what unit you could possibly replace it with that does as much for so little.
Please keep us posted!
The reason I suggested the EPROM is that I talked to a guy who has one with similar problems. He contacted Behringer and they said there is a known issue with the EPROM in some units and his is one of those. I don't know how many units were affected or what year the run may have happened. I'm buying this unit from him so when I receive it I will look at the build date and maybe we can narrow it down that way.
That's awesome! Yeah I agree, for low-volume it's a GREAT way to run. The cool thing is that it can also go LOUD if you want too. Definitely not a replacement for a true rig, but a great setup with LOTS of versatility.
Thanks, LB, sounds like it worth a shot now knowing this. I wonder if wagdog can open his V-AMP and look inside to see what # is printed on top of his EPROM? The latest firmware is v1.09 and if he has something a few clicks less, perhaps that is the cause here and it also would explain his numerous battery change issues mentioned in previous threads?
Tip #17: Performing A Factory Reset
For various reasons, there may be times when you want to reset the Bass V-AMP Pro to factory condition.
For various reasons, there may be times when you want to reset the Bass V-AMP Pro to factory condition.
- Make sure the unit is turned off
- Hold both the [D] + [E] keys and then turn on the unit
- The value "CL" should now be shown in the center display
- Release the [D] + [E] keys
- Simultaneously press both [<] + [>] keys to execute the reset
Hey, thanks for all the ideas. I'm at work but when I get a chance I'll look at the eprom and try a reset and report back.
It's weird because I'm on my fourth battery. The first one lasted a couple of years or more and then the following ones have lasted successively shorter. Something is definitely amiss but who knows what? I'll also try resetting all the connections and maybe spray some contact cleaner into the jacks. It's an old unit so at this point it may have multiple issues.
It's weird because I'm on my fourth battery. The first one lasted a couple of years or more and then the following ones have lasted successively shorter. Something is definitely amiss but who knows what? I'll also try resetting all the connections and maybe spray some contact cleaner into the jacks. It's an old unit so at this point it may have multiple issues.
I'm really starting to consider getting the v-amp pro, which is the cheapest and easiest MIDI controller for it? I'm really not into having to screw around with MIDI programming, I'd like it as close to plug and play as possible.
Hey Charlie, the more I read this thread the more I'm getting intrigued by that VAMP/Crown rig of yours. How are you connecting the components? Bridged? Mono? ,etc. Do bass cabs go well with PA power amps? I'm not familiar with PA systems, but based on what I've seen, the speaker cabs used with PA systems hardly look like bass cabs.
Also, in an earlier post you mentioned that the only pot on the VAMP is the master volume, and the other pots are not real pots. What are they then (I'm thinking they're rotary switches)?
Lastly how good does this setup handle external effects (pedals)?
Also, in an earlier post you mentioned that the only pot on the VAMP is the master volume, and the other pots are not real pots. What are they then (I'm thinking they're rotary switches)?
Lastly how good does this setup handle external effects (pedals)?
Thanks, Jaco!
The first thing people usually comment about on my rig picture is that "he spent $1100 on the Ampeg PRO NEO 4x10 cab, but went cheap upstairs!" Not true at all, I let my ears + head decide, and they don't come cheap!
The Crown XLS 1000 is amazing. I run it bridged-mono for 1000+ watts into 4-ohms. Each one of my Ampeg 4x10s is 8-ohms, they take 850-watts each, weigh 64-pounds each, and are really fantastic cabs. The Crown weighs a whopping 8-pounds, tons of headroom, dead-quiet fan, and runs cool all night long. The best power amp ever at $299. I won't go into the V-AMP any further, but it's OK
The V-AMP and the Crown live in a shallow-depth Gator 4-space rack case. Since both components are shallow depth, why get a gawky full depth-case? Plus the Gator is the only shallow case to have both normal front and rear covers for full, easy access, and not a ridiculous back hatch like another premier case manufacturer uses on theirs.
All together, the rig's "head" weighs 22-pounds and retails under $600, including the rack case.
In answer to your question about stomp boxes, the V-AMP loves them. The V-AMP has both pre and post DSP insert/effect loops on the back of the unit. And should you want to go old-school, you can jack them into the front input as well.
Finally, 2 knobs on the V-AMP are detented, 360-degree selectors. 7 knobs are non-detented, 360-degree sensors like the wheels on a computer mouse. The Master Volume is a plain old, limited range-of-motion pot.
Cheers!
I did the factory reset and that seems to have done the trick for now. Everything went back to behaving normally so I can only assume the programming got 'confused' somehow. It is the 1.09 eprom (the latest?) if that may make any difference. I also took out the battery and cleaned the contacts to see if that helps my shortened battery life any. Only time will tell. At least my unit is back to it's old self again!
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