Ampete 444 Amp Switcher - Quick Video

  • Thread starter Thread starter PlayAndersons
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Nice! That's really cool. I always struggled with the idea of a delay in the loops of two amps. Good solution.
We'll probably start seeing this feature from other companies soon (RJM, etc)
 
Wait, so this doesn't let you run effects in the switcher's own loop, like between the head and the cab? I don't understand what this thing is switching in terms of loops, then. It's switching an amp's loop in/out? How would it do that if the amp's loop isn't inherently switchable?

So you plug guitar into switcher? Then plug amp speaker out into switcher? Then plug cabs into switcher?

How does it deal with the load on the amp? What if you're running two 16ohm cabs into the switcher? How would you set your amp's impedance properly?
 
FourT6and2":2rhgi40d said:
Wait, so this doesn't let you run effects in the switcher's own loop, like between the head and the cab? I don't understand what this thing is switching in terms of loops, then. It's switching an amp's loop in/out? How would it do that if the amp's loop isn't inherently switchable?

So you plug guitar into switcher? Then plug amp speaker out into switcher? Then plug cabs into switcher?



All FX loops are connected to the switcher, and the unit will distribute what ever you plug in the main FX port to the head which is dialed in. This way you can share one single FX or FX chain with all the heads. As the main FX port on the Ampete 444 is switchable you can decide if the FX trails should go to the next amp dialed in or not.
 
duesentrieb":3gyiznbx said:
I'm curious how long the switching delay is - first switch the inputs - pause - then cab (out to load) while in between put the loop to the "next" amp.

You won't recognize a latency, it's super fast... Like a good channel switching amp! No fade out/fade in either...
 
HBE1978":1wrqpsre said:
duesentrieb":1wrqpsre said:
I'm curious how long the switching delay is - first switch the inputs - pause - then cab (out to load) while in between put the loop to the "next" amp.

You won't recognize a latency, it's super fast... Like a good channel switching amp! No fade out/fade in either...
Well, I've guessed that the delay is just several milli seconds - question is (I'm sure you guys checked this) if thats enough (load-wise) with delays and cranked amps.

Nice unit btw.
 
duesentrieb":yk0je91j said:
HBE1978":yk0je91j said:
duesentrieb":yk0je91j said:
I'm curious how long the switching delay is - first switch the inputs - pause - then cab (out to load) while in between put the loop to the "next" amp.

You won't recognize a latency, it's super fast... Like a good channel switching amp! No fade out/fade in either...
Well, I've guessed that the delay is just several milli seconds - question is (I'm sure you guys checked this) if thats enough (load-wise) with delays and cranked amps.

Nice unit btw.

It's a 110% save unit. It also detects bad connections by measuring before the actual switching. So either wrong connections or broken cables won't allow to switch. I'm just the nerdy freak behind the idea/request not the real technician... Pete, the designer, will attend Yoeri's Ampfest... So you'll meet him Saturday. Christian will bring one switcher as well as Pete, so gonna have two units there... Sadly I can't make it this year, really would have liked to hear and play some of your creations in person! Great stuff Olaf!
 
Thanks for the kind words.

I'm looking forward to the meeting and then go into tech details with Pete about the controller and dealing with ground loops.

Whats your name btw?
 
duesentrieb":s9ux74ox said:
Whats your name btw?

My name is Dennis Schock, part of the Ampete company, long time distributor and retailer, gear junkie forever...
 
very cool

i wonder when the 8x8 is going to be ready

i shudder to think how much that one would cost!
 
fuzzyguitars":22utqinr said:
very cool

i wonder when the 8x8 is going to be ready

i shudder to think how much that one would cost!

The Ampete 88s is already in production. Price is the same as the 444 version. It features 8 heads and 8 cabinets, without the FX loop connections though. It's meant as a shop or studio version. You can daisy chain those units to an endless big system... For example one of those systems was installed in a bigger guitar store... 9 units with a total of 72 heads and about 60 cabinets...









 
HBE1978":2bz04bn9 said:
fuzzyguitars":2bz04bn9 said:
very cool

i wonder when the 8x8 is going to be ready

i shudder to think how much that one would cost!

The Ampete 88s is already in production. Price is the same as the 444 version. It features 8 heads and 8 cabinets, without the FX loop connections though. It's meant as a shop or studio version. You can daisy chain those units to an endless big system... For example one of those systems was installed in a bigger guitar store... 9 units with a total of 72 heads and about 60 cabinets...










About time for a ride to Ibbenbühren ;)
 
Most amazing music store I've ever seen. Most stores I've been to have had maybe... 3 or 4 decent amps at any one time. The rest are usually Line6 and some Peavey or something. That looks like heaven!
 
Very interested in a 444 switcher, can anyone tell me if there is any change in tone as opposed to guitar direct to amp? I cant tell you how many times I've heard "no, there is no change in tone" only to find out there was... The Voodoo amp selector, for example, works great, but does not sound as good as the guitar plugged straight into the amp. Yes the change is not huge, but its there..
Any feedback on this?
Thanks
 
JTyson":1a0mifv3 said:
Very interested in a 444 switcher, can anyone tell me if there is any change in tone as opposed to guitar direct to amp? I cant tell you how many times I've heard "no, there is no change in tone" only to find out there was... The Voodoo amp selector, for example, works great, but does not sound as good as the guitar plugged straight into the amp. Yes the change is not huge, but its there..
Any feedback on this?
Thanks

There is always a change in tone with anything. Different cable. Different buffer, whatever.

However I found the buffer in the 444 to be very great sounding. Better definitely than some other buffer units I've tried (e.g. the buffer in my GLab switcher, the buffer in the Gigrig, the buffer in Boss pedals, all not that great IMO, the Ampete sounds transparent and punchy without being too spikey if that makes any sense.
 
I've wanted one of these 444's for a while, but it's just as easy for me to just unplug heads and cabs.
 
hunter":1v2rdzoh said:
JTyson":1v2rdzoh said:
Very interested in a 444 switcher, can anyone tell me if there is any change in tone as opposed to guitar direct to amp? I cant tell you how many times I've heard "no, there is no change in tone" only to find out there was... The Voodoo amp selector, for example, works great, but does not sound as good as the guitar plugged straight into the amp. Yes the change is not huge, but its there..
Any feedback on this?
Thanks

There is always a change in tone with anything. Different cable. Different buffer, whatever.

However I found the buffer in the 444 to be very great sounding. Better definitely than some other buffer units I've tried (e.g. the buffer in my GLab switcher, the buffer in the Gigrig, the buffer in Boss pedals, all not that great IMO, the Ampete sounds transparent and punchy without being too spikey if that makes any sense.
Thanks for your honesty. I dont know that I wont order one anyway, just trying to get some real world input on the matter ;)
Yeah Dave, I've been doing that for years also, just seems like this would be a viable solution to putting it all together with no noise and silent switching, without having to change cabinets for recording. But if the difference in tone is more than a pubic hair, I know I'll be selling it and taking a loss on my money, which I frikken hate, as I'm sure you do also :doh:
 
I don't sweat subtle changes in tone from pedals, switchers etc. Usually it's in the top end and can be dialed with the amps EQ. The buffers in the GCX by Voodoo labs add a noticeable "sheen" to the top end so I sometimes used to use the throughput that had no buffer to initiate the chain. Wasn't running a long distance anyway. There's a slight change with the 4-5 pedals I use now but I'd rather have the pedals in play and dial the amp. Because it's a minute change you tend to adjust to it anyway. Now in a studio environment I would go as direct as possible but for live and playing at home give me the functionality.

RE: The Ampete....I thought the global loop was so you could also have effects on non-loop amps? It's a shame it can't work that way. I wonder if there would be a way to have the ampete interact with some kind of device for a loop or feed a Fryette Power Station for eg. (obviously using multiple heads but one cab in that scenario)?
 
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