I now have a Mesa Boogie Mark VII, a PS-100, and a Boss GT-1000, plus two speaker cabs, a 1x12 with a Celestion C90, and another with an EVM-12L.
I’d like to be able to control everything through the GT-1000, and to be able to mix and match the components: the Mark VII’s preamp, the two emulated amps in the GT-1000, and the two speaker cabs.
I’m wondering what hardware setup will let me do this. The GT-1000 has one output for 2 on/off signals through a TRS cable, plus MIDI out, and can send both Program Change and Control Change messages.
I’m pretty sure that a Cyclops, a ZMACS, or both together will allow me to do this, but it’s complicated enough that I’d like to get some guidance before I buy any more equipment.
Hello, just to make sure I’m reading this right… You want to run a true stereo rig with the PS-100 running one cab and the MK VII running the other cab. The GT-1000 will be one set of preamps, the MK VII will be another available preamp section with the GT-1000 running to the power sections respectfully with the GT-1000 being used as a the control center for everything. Is that correct? Are you looking to run pre effects (before the preamps) and post effects?
So the reason I ask about “running effects before the preamplifier”, and if your trying to run “true stereo” is it will change a lot of information that I give you. Running true stereo would remove the attenuation from the equation completely and you would be using the PS-100 as a power amplifier. We can do a lot with the routing functions of the GT-1000 to get both preamp sections to work, this would also solve the issue of buying a lot more gear. If you’re not running a true stereo rig, and wish to use the attenuation and want to switch between two cabinets, the ZMACS is going to be the best solution. How I draw you up a diagram will be based on the answer you supply me with. Let me know what you want to do and I’ll make sure to give you a solution that meet your needs.
Thanks for the quick response. Honestly, first of all I’m trying to understand what’s possible. Right now I’m trying to figure out what I can do with the GT-1000’s two effects loops and internal routing options. I currently have the two speaker cabs connected in parallel, which is ok, though it would be nice to be able to run them independently.
One concern: I’m a bit worried about damaging something. There’s obviously potential for nasty feedback loops.
The first priority is to be able to use both the Mark VII and the GT-1000 preamps without swapping cables around. I think I can probably accomplish that with the hardware I have on hand, using the “assign” function of the GT-1000 to link some configuration changes together. Again, I want to be sure I don’t wind up with a setup that causes things to blow up if I hit the wrong button at the wrong time.
Stereo output would be nice, but not something I expect to use much. I just got the Mark VII a few weeks ago. The C90 is in the (separate) cab that matches it, while the EVM is in what’s left of an Acoustic G100T-112 that blew up. At this point I’m more interested in just comparing the two than anything else. I don’t think stereo without attenuation is workable for me—the Mark VII is LOUD, and low volume with high gain is pretty much unmanageable. I have tried using the PS-100 as a power amp, and that worked really well. I might be able to turn down the output signal from the GT-1000 enough to give an acceptable volume level, though obviously it’s not the same as a reactive attenuator.
What I’d like to be able to do right now is just to be able to switch between using the GT-1000 for both preamps and effects, and use the GT-1000 for effects only, without having to replug cables. For now, at least, I don’t care that much about stereo. It would be nice to be able to use either speaker as a 1x12, or both in a 2x12 mono setup. I know a ZMACS would let me do that, it’s just a question of the expense—I am NOT rich, just a nerdy gadget freak who loves to experiment and play as many styles of music as I can get my fingers around.
Ok, if we’re going with what you currently have on hand, this would be the way to wire it. You are absolutely right about possible ground loops and other issues that can arise, but it will work. You can run the effects in the loop of the PS as well, but that’s a good amount of cables and a better likelyhood of something going wrong. If you do want to go that way. Let me know.
The diagram you sent is actually the standard 4-cable setup with the GT-1000, which doesn’t quite do everything I want. I managed to come up with this setup, adding just one more cable.
In addition to what’s shown on this diagram:
Amp Ctl 1 is PS-100 channel, Amp Ctl 2 is PS-100 FX loop on/off
For GT-1000 preamps:
PS-100 effects level low
S/R 1 OFF
Div 1 to PS-100 side
S/R 2 ON and send to PS-100 return
PS-100 FX loop ON
For MkVII preamp:
Div 1 to MkVII side
Main out to MkVII return
S/R 2 OFF
S/R 1 ON
send to MkVII input
return from MkVII send
PS-100 FX loop OFF
I currently have the Ctl 3 footswitch set to switch everything in those two configurations with one stomp, using the “assign” feature of the GT-1000. It’s also possible to use just the MkVII with no effects, by turning off its effects loop (though send/return 1 of the GT-1000 does need to be on, since the main input of the MkVII is fed by that send). GT-1000 Setup.pdf (31.3 KB)
I really tried to keep cable use to a minimum and allow you to use the most from both units and the Power Station. The 4CM gave you that. I see what you’re looking at and it absolutely is an alternative to it. I personally would look at using a Cyclops if I was going that way. I was just looking at the simplest method with the least cables, and only the gear you had. Great job!
Right on! Perfect! I’m glad you found a solution that works for your needs. I’ve done a system like this in the past with an Axe/FX III but the artist wasn’t using the amp models at all. I’ve yet to check out the Boss side of modeling. I’ll take a listen. Make sure to post some videos of the rig and point us to them. Thank you!