Connecting Amp Inputs/Outputs, S-Line Send/Receive, Cabinet junctions associated with Mesa Engineering and Fryette products.

**Not Understanding

**I could really use your help in understanding how the PS-100 needs to be connected to other pieces of audio gear that I have. I have read your Owner’s Manual 4 or 5 times now and I still cannot understand how the following sections are supposed to work together:

  • Tube Power Amplifier
  • Silent Variable Reactive Load
  • Power Boosting
  • Power Attenuation

It is hard to understand the interrelationships of these sections and which in/out junctions on the rear of the device are associated with each of the above much less how to connect them to these other pieces of audio equipment.

My Setup

I am connecting the following:

  • Guitar
  • Pedalboard (Dry Signals)
  • Pedalboard (Dry + Wet Signals)
  • Amplifier / Rackmount Cabinet (6-tier)
  • 3 Amplifier Heads with Preamp, FX loops, Power Amp
  • Hot Plate Passive Attenuator
  • Two Notes Captor X Attenuator
  • 1 Mesa Engineering Rectifier Recording Preamp, with Preamp, FX loop, no Power Amp
  • 1 Fryette Power Station PS-100
  • KHE ACS 4x4 FX Amp, FX loops, Cabinet/Load Box/Attenuator connects

What Interconnects Are Done

  • 3 Pre/Power Amps: Amp Input, FX Send/Return
  • 1 Mesa Engineering Preamp: FX Loop
  • 1 KHE ACS 4x4 Amp: FX Input/Output,FX Loops In/Out, Guitar Input, Amp Inputs/Output for 3 Pre/Power Amps
  • Hot Plate Attenuator
  • Two Notes Captor X Attenuator

Need Your Help

Connecting Amp Inputs/Outputs, S-Line Send/Receive, Cabinet junctions associated with Mesa Engineering and Fryette products.

Device Interconnects

Included are images of 3 devices that need to be interconnected to work properly.

My Preliminary Conclusions

  • My desire is to build these interconnected products to maximize use case options and would prefer to not use a single master attenuator or Master FX loop.
  • To minimize any reconnections to change use case functionality around

Alternate Capabilities / Alternate Interconnects

  • I suspect that because the PS-100 contains multiple functions there may be more than one way to connect it that will achieve different purposes. I am interested in more than one set of interconnect patterns if that is truly the case.
  • It would be helpful also to articulate which kinds of interconnects are needed for each junction (e.g. Balanced TRS, Unbalanced TRS, TRS to XLR, Instrument Cable, Speaker Cable).
  • Any preferred interconnect options over others would be helpful.
  • If there are any interconnect diagrams or interconnect videos that you can provide or refer me to that would also be much appreciated.

I realize that to you and your team that these kinds of interconnecting gear issues may seem simple. But I am totally confused about how to use your product. My understanding is that this is the best product on the market. But I am totally at a loss as to connect and use your product. I want to learn more but I am stuck at this point.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello,

The first thing I would do in this particular situation is visit the new help section for the KHE ACS on their website. Since we are primarily dealing with products from multiple manufacturers, we really want to focus on the requirements needed to run that gear. The KHE can be used with the PS100 in the attenuator loop, or as a load on its own in one of the cabinet sends, etc… There are multiple ways to use both of these units. If you are just discussing the capabilities of the Power Station Series, please take a look at the multitude of videos we offer on this unit. The manual also gives insight into it’s many uses. The same goes with the KHE and the Boogie. I do not mind creating a diagram for your setup, but we do need to know exactly how you wish to use it. If it is just to run the PS100 in an attenuator loop in the KHE, they have a good amount of diagrams and detailed instructions for use with both of those units. Thank you! We look forward to hearing back from you.

Terry

Thank you Terry. Yes, I would very much appreciate a diagram, and I hope the items below give you what you needed in terms of how I want to use the PS-100:

Want To Use PS-100:

Power Amp

  1. As a Power Amp only to the Mesa Preamp

Attenuator
2. As an Attenuator only and connected to one of the Cabinet junctions on the KHE, just like I have two others already connected in that way.
3. Do NOT wish to use it as the Master Attenuator on the KHE device

Silent Variable Reactive Load
4. To send wet/dry signals from the Attenuator to an audio interface for recording

Thanks for drawing a diagram of these use cases. Please advise if you have questions.

Hi D,

I’ll post these one at a time to address each line item in your post. These are basically all from the manual of the PS100. As I explained before, the manuals of all of your gear will have very valuable information and connection examples.

Terry

As far as just running it as an attenuator with one of the KHE cabinet outs. Simply choose the cabinet you want to use the attenuator with, from that “cabinet out” jack connect the PS100 “Amp In” jack, just like the first example in the PS100 manual. From the “SPKR Out” jack of the PS100, connect to the correct jack on the back of your cabinet. Make sure to set the impedance on the PS100 to your cabinets impedance. Select the cab from the KHE ACS.

Thanks for your help Terry.

Please see below the sentence you provided:

From the “SPKR Out” jack of the PS100, connect to the correct jack on the back of your cabinet.

What do you mean by connecting on the back of your cabinet. I understand the word cabinet to mean an actual speaker cabinet. If that is what you mean, I am confused. I have always used an attenuator to not only reduce the signal volume, but to avoid even using an actual speaker cabinet. Instead, I connect the attenuator to an audio interface.

Is that not possible to do? If so, which junction on the back of the PS-100 would I use to transmit the signal to an audio interface?

Please advise or clarify a bit in the event this cannot be done.

Thanks

In that case, you would use the diagram for “Silent Mode” I put up with the last post. You don’t need to use a cabinet if you are doing that. That diagram has the KHE ACS in it to make it easier. Definitely check the KHE manual as well.

Terry