Hello, my first post here. I searched and read through a lot of threads but haven’t found any conversations discussing this, but here’s what I’m looking to do.
I have 6 amps, an Axe Fx, and 3 cabs I would like to switch between, along with using the PS-100 as a load box when I don’t want to run through the cabs. I do have a Cyclops, additional attenuators and load boxes as well as a De-Lisle 4x4 switcher amongst the full mess, but to somewhat simplify it for now I’ll use 4 amps, ZMACS, PS-100, and 2 cabs. With the PS-100 fully on and I’m playing through the cabs, I get attenuation as I would expect. If I fully turn off the PS-100, or have it in Bypass I get full volume through the cabs, no attenuation. Maybe this is correct?
Now if I leave out the ZMACS and run only a single amp into the PS-100 and have it off, it works as a load box. I have not been able to figure out how to do this once I incorporate the ZMACS. I would like to be able to switch between amps, switch between cabs, or operate as a load box. Is this something I should be able to do, and if so could I please get some pointers?
I am I right in that you want to use the PS-100 100% as a load box and you do not want it in the attenuator loop?
This is possible! You can treat the PS-100 as a silent speaker, just programme the ZMACS with the AMP IN impedance. For example, set the PS-100 AMP IN to be 8 Ohms. Now you have an 8-Ohm silent speaker you can route amps too. From there you can take a line out and do what you want.
But I think a more versatile approach is outlined in the manual in page 14.
Put Power Station in the attenuator loop then it can be applied to all channels and it can be bypassed too with a footswitch. If you set the PS-100 volume to zero then it’s basically a load box.
I hope I understood the question, please come back if not!
@dan thank you for breaking that down for me. What I have tried is with the PS-100 in the attenuator loop, but it seems it needs to be powered on to get a line out signal, am I correct in that? I am hoping to be able to use it as both an attenuator with my cabs, as well as a silent load box at other times. So I should be able to run it as a load box, but in this case I have to have the PS-100 fully powered on and with the output volume set to zero? I thought I had tried that, but I’ll give it another go.
Thank you!
Well I feel silly now, I gave that a go and got essentially the result I hoped for! I can still hear faintly from the cab, but that’s no issue. Maybe I hadn’t tried that before, as obvious as it would seem.
So next up I’ll be incorporating an Axe Fx via the Cyclops into one of the Amp In slots, and an additional switcher for more amps.
That’s great, I just noticed your earlier reply too, glad you are sorted.
When in a quiet room I sometimes hear a little bit of signal when volume is at minimum. This is things like the output transformer vibrating and maybe a bit of stray signal bleed.
Just wanted to follow up on this - I don’t have a ZMACS but I do have a KHE. I personally prefer to have the PS-2A switched off and used as a load box coming off one of the four AMP outputs of my switcher. Main reason for this is that I do find the PS-2A’s operating noise (fan etc) a little distracting.
Can it actually be in the KHE’s attenuator loop and also be switched off and still function? I thought that was not possible?
