• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sonic Farm/MAS Bass Amp project.

#281
Stu_Bass said:
Just found this site. Various sizes of feet and pads:
Isolate It! Sorbothane and Advanced Vibration Damping Isolation Products
Click to expand...
Sorbothane is VERY good stuff. You can also buy the various disks on Amazon, BTW.

I use it in my pads.

One thing to be aware of if buying to use as a retrofit for feet on your amp is that you will have to figure out some kind of adhesive technology. The material is a rubber and does not machine easily if you are trying to put screw holes or something through it.
 
#283
bucephylus said:
Sorbothane is VERY good stuff. You can also buy the various disks on Amazon, BTW.

I use it in my pads.

One thing to be aware of if buying to use as a retrofit for feet on your amp is that you will have to figure out some kind of adhesive technology. The material is a rubber and does not machine easily if you are trying to put screw holes or something through it.
Click to expand...
The amp already comes with nice Sorbothane feet. I thought that if there was an issue with microphonics one might add some pads under the individual feet. I have had mine cranked on top of my speaker cabinets with the stock Winged C tube and have had no issues with microphonics. I listed an article here a while ago that stated that the Winged C was somewhat more susceptible but I have not compared. I do however plan on experimenting with tubes to see the tonal variations available. One more note: I had never seen Sorbothane before I purchased my Tantra. I place the amp on my top Barefaced Big Baby 2 and when I go to remove it the feet actually lift the cabinet (@29 pounds) up and release with a loud suction cup pop.
 
Last edited:
#284
Stu_Bass said:
The amp already comes with nice Sorbothane feet. I thought that if there was an issue with microphonics one might add some pads under the individual feet. I have had mine cranked on top of my speaker cabinets with the stock Winged C tube and have had no issues with microphonics. I listed an article here a while ago that stated that the Winged C was somewhat more susceptible but I have not compared. I do however plan on experimenting with tubes to see the tonal variations available.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen which Sorbothane disks Mike selected; but they should be more than adequate to effectively eliminate transmission of cab vibrations to the head with no further isolation required. Good on Mike for that part of the design. Only thing to watch for in use is the adhesive.
 
#285
bucephylus said:
I haven't seen which Sorbothane disks Mike selected; but they should be more than adequate to effectively eliminate transmission of cab vibrations to the head with no further isolation required. Good on Mike for that part of the design. Only thing to watch for in use is the adhesive.
Click to expand...
They seem to be these:
Invalid Link Removed
The prices on this website are lower than on Amazon
I would not try to remove them without first heating them with a hair dryer
 
  • Like
Reactions: bucephylus
#289
Wondering if there is a cooling fan and /or is one needed on this?Also is there knob to control the amount of signal sent from the DI to FOH and still control overall volume of amp ? Pre / Post ? Have been reading over owners manual and have these questions.
 
Last edited:
#290
foderaman said:
Wondering if there is a cooling fan and /or is one needed on this?Also is there knob to control the amount of signal sent from the DI to FOH and still control overall volume of amp ? Pre / Post ? Have been reading over owners manual and have these questions.
Click to expand...

The Fan was planned and there's a place for an 80mm one, but it doesn't seem that the power amp heats up to the point of needing it. The preamp doesn't come with a fan but we can build it in at a special request.

The manual does talk about the DI routing options:
"The first group of mini toggle switches starts with the DI feed switch. It determines what goes to the DI output (which, of course is mic level). Left: DI is fed from the point after the tubes, and will be affected by the tube mode (pentode/triode, switch 6), Lo and Hi boosts (5 and 7), the attenuation/mute switch (4), clean gain (8), overdrive gain (17) and overdrive blend (10). Right: DI is fed from the output of the preamp and is affected by all processing, including the master level pot."
DI output is transformer isolated and will protect Tantra's output from the console's phantom power (if accidentally turned on) as long as a proper balanced cable is used.
 
#292
J.Wolf said:
Hey guys, just wanted to let everyone know that MAS will be displaying at MusikMesse in Frankfurt next week. If you're planning to attend, or know someone who is, stop by and see say hi!!
Click to expand...
Had my Tantra amp for about 2 weeks now still learning all about it has a lot too it but boy do I LOVE IT !!God it sounds good !! Only thing I can say is you really have to pay attention to the Gain Clip Light.Run it till clip light just starts to turn orange with Volume on Bass all the way up then back off just a little till it goes off then use the master Volume on Tantra to give it all the As end you need because it sure has it., The master volume on the Tantra is similar to the Master volume on the Glockenklangs amps. Not sure what they call the Taper either Linear or Audio but its like the Glock where you have to run it up there.Im basically running mine with just the pre EQ like it has like the 2DI4 switched to the left on the Bass and Treble then on EQ section just a slight boost to the Low Mids.It sounds great without even using the adjustable EQ section and the Compressor works great just like advertised.I am totally satisfied Get to try out on Live gig next Weekend !
 
  • Like
Reactions: John D Harris, Mike Arnopol, Stu_Bass and 1 other person
#293
It's not the Tantra, but here is a quick little demo made with my passive Fender, a Ditto Looper, and the 2DI4. Details in the Soundcloud description.

The Pentode [no Gain boost] and Triode clips proceed [every four bars] as follows: Flat (no boosts), Bass 1, Bass 2, Treble 1, Treble 2, Bass 1 + Treble 1, Bass 1 + Treble 2, Bass 2 + Treble 1, Bass 2 + Treble 2.

There are trim pots that control the degree of Treble/Bass boost when the switches are engaged. I had the trim pots fully open for these clips, but so far have been dialing the Bass trim pot up about 40%, Treble trim pot up about 60%, in actual use. "1" and "2" refer to the positions of the three-way boost switches (1, 2, off). I hear position 1 for each affecting more of the "meat" of the sound (thickening the bass, adding upper mid/lower treble presence) and position 2 pushing the affected areas outward (deeper bass, upper treble/"air"), but you can decide for yourself.

I'm not sure if the Treble/Bass boost switches work when the "Gain" switch is engaged -- have to go back and check that.

EDIT: The "Buffered Thru" is just that: the unaffected (aside from being buffered) signal from the 1/4" output on the front of the 2DI4. The other clips are via the XLR Line Out.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
Last edited:
#295
Doner Designs said:
Recently stumbled across the Tantra. Looks awesome. Would have liked to see semi parametric on the bass and treble (maybe just a 2 or 3 way mini toggle for frequency) to round out the amazing EQ section which blows away anything else on the market even as it is. Need to go read the manual now.
Click to expand...
I can't imagine any more EQ on that thing. (Well, I guess I can, now that you said it. ;)) In addition to the Bass, Treble, and three fully-parametric bands, it retains the broad voicing switches of the 2DI4 -- which shelve gradually at 2 KHz or 4 KHz (treble) or 300 Hz or 500 Hz (bass). (Not sure what the slope is on these, but it's pretty gradual.) There is also the selectable HPF (28 Hz, 40 Hz, 60 Hz, OFF).

Below is excerpted from the Tantra manual:

22) Center frequency of the first parametric band filter, 34 to 300Hz. (Note that controls affecting the same parametric band filter section are connected by red lines for easy action.)

23) Center frequency of the 2nd parametric band filter, 150 to 1300Hz.

24) 2nd parametric band gain (Boost or cut, flat in the middle). Max boost or cut will interact with the Q2 control (the width of the curve or, to be more precise, the resonance peak or dip intensity). This applies to all 3 parametric bands.

25) Center frequency of the 3rd parametric band filter, 690 to 6000Hz​
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doner Designs
#296
MarkA said:
I can't imagine any more EQ on that thing. (Well, I guess I can, now that you said it. ;)) In addition to the Bass, Treble, and three fully-parametric bands, it retains the broad voicing switches of the 2DI4 -- which shelve gradually at 2 KHz or 4 KHz (treble) or 300 Hz or 500 Hz (bass). (Not sure what the slope is on these, but it's pretty gradual.) There is also the selectable HPF (28 Hz, 40 Hz, 60 Hz, OFF).

Below is excerpted from the Tantra manual:

22) Center frequency of the first parametric band filter, 34 to 300Hz. (Note that controls affecting the same parametric band filter section are connected by red lines for easy action.)

23) Center frequency of the 2nd parametric band filter, 150 to 1300Hz.

24) 2nd parametric band gain (Boost or cut, flat in the middle). Max boost or cut will interact with the Q2 control (the width of the curve or, to be more precise, the resonance peak or dip intensity). This applies to all 3 parametric bands.

25) Center frequency of the 3rd parametric band filter, 690 to 6000Hz​
Click to expand...

Ahhhh, that 'splains it - the first parametric band can be used for "bass". I should have looked at the manual before I ran off at the mouth.
 
#299
#300
MarkA said:
To follow up, the Treble/Bass boosts on the 2DI4 don't engage when the Gain switch is engaged. I sent a note to Sonic Farm and Zoran there confirmed that this is the way it's supposeOn the Tantra d to be. He also directed me to the user manual: http://sonicfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2di4UserManual.pdf
Click to expand...
On the Tantra there is no Gain switch just the Pentode/Tri switch and the DI EQ switch are usable where from what I read on the 2DI4 they are not.On the Tantra there is a switch called ATT/Mute and it is 3 positions.To the left is mute middle is no Attenuation and to the right is 6db attenuation for Active bass .No matter what position this switch is the 3 Position EQ swotcjs still work on the Tantra but for me the Bass Boost to the right is too much bass boost for me.It acts like a Loudness switch on a Stereo to boost bass at low volumes but when playing loud it is too much.While some feel the Tantra has too many bells and whistles that does.t mean you have to use everything on it !!! But there are so many things useful plus you don,t have to carry around another piece of equipment loaded pedalboard with multi patch cables !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: John D Harris

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back