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VT Bass Rackmount...

#221
I have the VTRM coming in next week. This will be my third SansAmp product in the rack(s)...the other two being an RPM and vintage pre-PSA. I've used mine as dedicated pre's: no looping through other devices, etc. In my situation, the purported loss of some high-end response and introduction of light compression are a bonus. One thing I've learned whilst using SansAmp products: use your ears and not your eyes when setting parameters. Noon = normal / flat is not the case!

The wackiest piece in the rack has got to be the pre-PSA. I couldn't tell you how old it is but when I asked Tech 21 for a manual (couldn't find it online), the sent me a pdf with what appears to be photocopies of a manual they had laying around the office. Can't beat that.

Riis
 
#222
Thanks for the info Kringle. I can tell the lows sound tighter audibly didn't know where. The speaker sim defeat is slightly different on the VTDI than the VT bass V2, where the VTbass V2 had a high end cut off as part of the speaker sim the VTBassDI does not. I installed a capacitor on the VTBassDI that does the same thing, I don't remember what it sounded like without to recommend installing it. I'll install a switch someday to bypass it.
 
#223
Just got done really giving the vtdi a workout. Running as a preamp into my bass cabs I really like having the options that the buttons provide. With a tweetered cab I liked the speaker sim on and the bite off. With a tweeterless cab (nv610) I liked both off. It opened up the sound and made it more amp-like and realistic. It think it sounded even more like a real tube amp. So, I think that I prefer the vtdi as a preamp for a real rig. For DI I like it stock. It also sounded great with my martin acoustic to the pa. Really great. The vtdi is now mounted on my di to the board pedal and I'll be using it tomorow with my acoustic guitar, next saturday with my bass. It sits on a board with a boss tuner and lmb3 compressor. That is one simple, great sounding di to the board rig.
 
#224
The acoustic guitar gig went well using the vtdi. I used pretty much the same settings that i listed for my bass foh sound but, turned thw character alittle left of noon. I use a martin d28 with a cutaway and fishman electronics. The martin is very even sounding so, it takes eq very well. I also dis more playinf with bass and my nv610 cab at louser volumes and decided that i like the speaker sim off and the bite on.
 
#225
i'm between the vtdi and the vtrm. Is the same quality and same circuit? Will it give me the same results?
I've recorded with a api 512c and a UA Solo and i prefered the sansamp between the 3.
 
#227
kringle77 said:
The vtrm has higher gain on the front input so it can get distorted quicker
Click to expand...

I think that's my only complaint with the VTRM: with my active Sadowskys (which are hotter than passive but not super-duper hot) there's very little wiggle room on the Drive control. Specifically, there's not much room between too clean and too dirty, especially with Character dialed right of noon. Small nitpick though.

I can see the advantages of the extra buttons on the VTDI, but having never experienced them I don't miss them. :p I have a VT pedal, but it's the VT Deluxe which doesn't have them either.
 
#228
Have you tried using the rear input with the pad engaged? This will give you more headroom. Also, when the Character control is above noon the pedal is supposed to be more aggressive. You might try dialing back the character and readjusting the mids. This will give you the same tone with less gain.

Character
Sweeps through an entire range of tonal possibilities associated with Ampeg®-style
amplifiers. In addition to modifying the frequency response, the Character control also
influences the attack and drive characteristics. Therefore, you may need to adjust your
gain and tone settings after tweaking the Character control.
Settings below 12 o’clock will give you the ‘70s powerhouse, the SVT.
Around 12 o’clock will introduce you to the studio staple, the flip top.
Above 12 o’clock increases the gain and crunch for less polite, modern rock, indie bass sounds.
Full up gives you distorted bass tones from Yes to Crimson to King’s X styles.
Click to expand...
 
#229
tech21nyc said:
Have you tried using the rear input with the pad engaged? This will give you more headroom. Also, when the Character control is above noon the pedal is supposed to be more aggressive. You might try dialing back the character and readjusting the mids. This will give you the same tone with less gain.
Click to expand...

Oh certainly, I understand that Character above noon is far more dirty/aggressive, and by pushing it there I am limiting my headroom. Thanks for the suggestion on the padded rear input, but really, it's no problem to get the OD level I want via the front input, I just have to tweak carefully. That's true for many of the powerful controls on the SansAmps, and to me this is far preferable to having a more gradual sweep but less overall control.

My preferred method of smoothing out OD is to roll Blend back to add more clean signal. Just one of the things I love about the SansAmps is their versatility: many ways to get your tone just right.
 
#230
Does anyone have an opinion on messing with the internal jumpers - I'm using the VT-RM into the effect return on an Eden amp - Sounds great, but thinking about playing with the internal jumpers to see what shifting the low and mid center frequencies or removing the low low filter sounds like. Has anyone found value in altering these? I used own an RPM and am looking for a setting that best cops the Geddy Jazz bass driven sound or a good ampeg pick grind sound. Thanks!
 
#232
Thanks. Got a chance to play with my new VT-RM at volume today. Think I'll leave it in the factory settings - really liking the tone in a slightly modified flip top mode. (VT-RM -> Eden WT 600 -> Acme Low B1 sitting atop an Eden D210XST).

Why does the rack version of this sound so much better than the pedal? Does the rack have more headroom? or is it simply that I was using the VT DI into the front of my Eden - with the rack I am going into the effect return? Wouldn't think it would make much difference as the effect return on my WT600 is pre-EQ.
 
#235
Today I ran my american strat with seymor duncan humbuckers into the vtrm, into the fx return of the genz 9.2, into a sealed cab with one beta 12 and one beta 12lta. I got some great tones. Fender clean to some marshall and mesa sounds. No death metal but, definitely tubey rock.
 
#236
SpottedBass said:
Thanks. Got a chance to play with my new VT-RM at volume today. Think I'll leave it in the factory settings - really liking the tone in a slightly modified flip top mode. (VT-RM -> Eden WT 600 -> Acme Low B1 sitting atop an Eden D210XST).

Why does the rack version of this sound so much better than the pedal? Does the rack have more headroom? or is it simply that I was using the VT DI into the front of my Eden - with the rack I am going into the effect return? Wouldn't think it would make much difference as the effect return on my WT600 is pre-EQ.
Click to expand...

I agree with kringle77 that the difference is using a SansAmp by itself versus in front of another amp. Bass amps typically have tone coloration, so do the SansAmps, and the coloration is additive. I've gotten much better results running SansAmp --> power amp.
 
#237
Fuzzbass said:
I agree with kringle77 that the difference is using a SansAmp by itself versus in front of another amp. Bass amps typically have tone coloration, so do the SansAmps, and the coloration is additive. I've gotten much better results running SansAmp --> power amp.
Click to expand...

There is some synergy effect going into the input of my MB500 that adds some depth and presence which makes the overall sound more tube-like IMHO. I would not send that to the board via the di because it is pretty "hopped up" sounding. Thru my cab it sounds fantastic though!
 
#238
Just got mine and installed it last night. Pretty cool and offers some tonal flexibility over-and-above my RPM and PSA. Not sure exactly what the Character control is doing but I do know I'll have little use for anything past the noon setting...but that's just me. I found the ideal Character setting to be ~10:30 as it provides a more solid low-end presence while preserving just enough of the high-end shimmer / presence. Unlike its predecessors, I run this one with the blend at 100%.
This will be a dedicated pre feeding a Drivecore and either Acme B-2's or an Epifani 3 X 10.

Riis
 
#239
Zooberwerx said:
Not sure exactly what the Character control is doing but I do know I'll have little use for anything past the noon setting...but that's just me. I found the ideal Character setting to be ~10:30 as it provides a more solid low-end presence while preserving just enough of the high-end shimmer / presence.
Click to expand...

In short: Character at noon is as close to flat as it'll get. Going right of noon, you increase mids and overdrive. Left of noon increases mid scoop: you know the Ultra Lo switch on an SVT (mid scoop, slight bass boost)? Think of it as an Ultra Lo knob.

With my hard rock band I sometimes dial Character right of noon for extra gnarliness, but when I do I roll Blend back to keep it from getting too harsh.
 

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