I have the VTDI pedal & I have been using it with the blend between 12 & 1 oclock with good results, I also keep the drive before 11 oclock with the character between 10 & 12 with the mids usually at noon.
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VT Bass Rackmount...
- Thread starter MJ_Sotti
- Start date
I have the VTDI pedal & I have been using it with the blend between 12 & 1 oclock with good results, I also keep the drive before 11 oclock with the character between 10 & 12 with the mids usually at noon.
Wow, just got mine today. I'm blown away with all the cool tones in this box! Love, love, loving the blend knob. I really like my NS 2's natural tone so I'm finding the blend at about 40% is doing it for me right now. Noon on the character knob has such a nice tone but it's so fun to push that thing to about 3 o'clock and pump the mids up a tad. Holy cow, what a monstrous grind.
Out of all the stuff I've tried (a lot) this VTRM does the best at capturing that power tube growl that I'm addicted to....and I can get it at volumes that induce vomiting. Nice.
Out of all the stuff I've tried (a lot) this VTRM does the best at capturing that power tube growl that I'm addicted to....and I can get it at volumes that induce vomiting. Nice.
TRUTH.
This too. Power tube growl at any volume!
The only slight issue I have is that the VTRM seems way more sensitive than the other SansAmps (RBI/RPM), as kringle mentioned earlier. With my actives it's easy to dial in too much dirt. This typically happens when I shove Character right of noon... of course doing this adds another level of dirt, so the behavior makes sense, but still, seems like there isn't much wiggle room. No big deal, I'll get used to it soon enough.
Dumb question for your guys. When I'm sending the FOH a signal through the XLR is it sending the Sansamp signal and my direct signal? What I mean is, I'm finding I like the blend around 40-50%. Does my direct signal go to the board also? Thanks guys.
All of our rack mount preamps have more than enough output level to work with most power amplifiers. It doesn't matter if they are Class D. You just need to make sure that the units are set up properly.
When using an active instrument you need to consider your gain structures since you are in essence running a preamp into another preamp. You can always use the input 2 on the back of the unit with the line level pad enaged. This way you will have more headroom in the preamp.
Yes. The SansAmp output sends the "blended" signal. You can also run the uneffected output to the mixer as well and set the blend to full wet and let the soundman mix in the dry signal if desired. Sometimes this can be a better approach as the soundman is in a better vantage point to hear the complete sound in the context of the mix. Of course you need to consider how you are monitoring as well. This is what Geddy does. He has the RPM signal, the Avalon and his Orange amps running at the same time and FOH mixes it differently for certain songs and rooms. At least that's how he was running it most recently.
Understood. I'm comparing VTRM to RBI/RPM with the same bass (Sadowsky P5). However as I noted above, pushing Character right of noon seems to add a second layer of overdrive (the first being the Drive control). Now I have no idea what's really going on behind the scenes, but the apparent drop in headroom is almost certainly a result of using Drive plus Character-to-the-right. It certainly makes sense to dial Drive back when I use the crunch side of the Character knob, unless I truly want to live up to my username.
They are different products that employ a similar design. The Character and Drive controls are interactive. The Character control changes the tone but also the drive and attack of the preamp. It gets more aggressive in terms of gain and attack as you turn it counterclockwise.
That being said, if you prefer the "tone" of the unit with higher Character settings you will probably need to turn down the Drive if you want a cleaner sound.
That being said, if you prefer the "tone" of the unit with higher Character settings you will probably need to turn down the Drive if you want a cleaner sound.
So tech21, is there a way that I can bypass the speaker sim, exactly like it is done on my vt2? I love that feature.
The VT2 is a bit different in that when you bypass the speaker sim a high roll-off filter is engaged in its place. This makes it easier to use the pedal into an amp that is set for a bright sound. In essence more "stomp-box" friendly.
I asked our engineer and he said it is a very different layout and design from the pedal and there is no easy way to mod it as it would require cutting traces and adding a component or two.
Is there a particular issue you are having with the unit?
I asked our engineer and he said it is a very different layout and design from the pedal and there is no easy way to mod it as it would require cutting traces and adding a component or two.
Is there a particular issue you are having with the unit?
No issue. I just really like how the button gets rid of that 3k spike a bit and then does the high end roll off. Makes everything better. Easier to eq as well. .........I've pretty much banged my head against the wall making suggestions and asking questions about tech21 products with the same results. This is a good unit. Ill leave it at that I guess. No response required. Thanks.
So Husky,
since I'm currently playing through one of you're old preamps(SVP-PRO). How does the vtrm compare as far as grind and low end push?
since I'm currently playing through one of you're old preamps(SVP-PRO). How does the vtrm compare as far as grind and low end push?
Hmmm, trying to think back to the SVP. I remember it grinding pretty good but this VTRM goes ballistic. Goes from clean to furr to fuzz if you want it to. It's a fun box.
Damn, and I thought I had finally settles on a pre.
I always really liked my old RBI although I didn't really connect with the RPM. I might have to give the VTRM a go someday......I still use my BDDI (with added mid control) for practice and going straight to FOH. I've also always liked the quality of Tech 21 stuff. Thanks for the info....
I also own an SVP-Pro. Every time I think of selling it, I talk myself out of it because it's an excellent-sounding pre. I love the vari-mid control and other tonal tweakery that give cool Ampeg tones. I'm just here to back up what husky said: the SVP-Pro can grind very well, but the VTRM goes ballistic (great term)!
Plus, the VTRM does an excellent job of modeling power tube grind: an all-tube amp run loud. The SVP-Pro, like most tube preamps, doesn't quite get there.
I did sell my SVP-Pro and went RPM+VTRM.
The reason is so I can have foot switched grind-on-demand.
Of all the preamps I own(ed), only the SWR Interstellar Overdrive has this feature.
Unfortunately, the XLR output is so weak, it won't drive my power amps to full power.
It costs nothing to keep it, so it is stored away and not in use.
The RPM+VTRM combination is more pricey than a single pre, and it consumes two rack spaces.
This combination does provide two completely separate tones under foot switch control.
I value the reliability of current-production and all solid state hardware.
The reason is so I can have foot switched grind-on-demand.
Of all the preamps I own(ed), only the SWR Interstellar Overdrive has this feature.
Unfortunately, the XLR output is so weak, it won't drive my power amps to full power.
It costs nothing to keep it, so it is stored away and not in use.
The RPM+VTRM combination is more pricey than a single pre, and it consumes two rack spaces.
This combination does provide two completely separate tones under foot switch control.
I value the reliability of current-production and all solid state hardware.
If I recall my old RPM couldn't get the low end push I like that my SVP-Pro and GK 700RB-II seem to get. It seemed to me (IMO) the EQ point of the bass was a little high. Does the VTRM have a little more low end grunt so to speak. Just wondering, cause everything else seems right in the sweet spot for a pre.
Don't have the rack unit, but do have a modded original VT Bass pedal and an SVP-PRO. IMO, the Ampeg sounds thicker and more organic.
The SVP-Pro uses a 40 Hz bass frequency.
The Sansamp rack units are centered at 80 Hz for more boost at the 2nd harmonic, less at the fundamental.
For Mids, the SVP-Pro is switchable at 220,450,800,1600,3000 Hz.
RPM is sweepable from 170~3000 Hz, +/- 12dB
For Highs, the SVP-Pro is centered at 4000 Hz.
Sansamp rack units are 3200 Hz.
The Sansamp rack units are centered at 80 Hz for more boost at the 2nd harmonic, less at the fundamental.
For Mids, the SVP-Pro is switchable at 220,450,800,1600,3000 Hz.
RPM is sweepable from 170~3000 Hz, +/- 12dB
For Highs, the SVP-Pro is centered at 4000 Hz.
Sansamp rack units are 3200 Hz.
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