ZMACS, PS-100, and Axe FX 3

Hello,

I am planning to utilize three amps (EVH, Friedman, Splawn), three cabs (EVH, Friedman, Splawn), and an Axe FX III Mk II Turbo with my ZMACS and PS-100. I am wanting to utilize the loop of the PS-100 as the global loop for the amps running through the ZMACS. However, I was wondering if I would be able to run my Axe FX III in the 4th amp input for the ZMACS and utilize it like an amp.

I’m assuming this needed to be a low impedance signal in order for the ZMACS to work properly with it. Would the Axe FX need to be running through some sort of power amp prior to going into the ZMACS?

I considered the Axe FX going through the PS-100 and then into the ZMACS so I could have a low impedance for the Axe FX; however, the Speaker Out of the PS-100 is going into the attenuator loop of the ZMACS.

Is there any way to make this set up work? Is the PS-2A able to run this set up since it has two speaker outputs? Would it damage either unit to run through the attenuator loop and amp in on the ZMACS at the same time?

Thank you,

Ryan

Ryan,

The way to do that would be to run a Cyclops switcher with the PS-100. That will allow you to interface your AXE with the PS-100 and select between that option or whatever amp is selected.

The ZMACS Remote switch function could be used to switch the Cyclops on demand if you’re not already planning to use Remote to control the channels and loop of the PS-100.

So you do have a few viable options.

Dave

Okay great! I went ahead and ordered a cyclops then to get that set up going. Ideally I want to have the “4” selection on the ZMACS be the Axe FX.

So looking at the layout in the cyclops manual, presumably the Axe FX I/O would connect to the Preamp I/O on the cyclops. Does the Axe FX III signal completely function like this? Does the Cyclops need to send a signal to the Amp 4 I/O on the ZMACS? If so, which I/O would do that on the cyclops? Is the PS-100 somehow supposed to go through Amp 4 also since that’s what has the impedance load?

Ryan Pullin

You won’t need the AMP 4 return jack, but you will need the Cyclops to accept the AXE output into the PS Line In so you have the PREAMP(AXE)/AMP select option.

I’m just riffing here because the ZMACS is very new and we haven’t started processing the impending slew of questions that we’re expecting soon.

That said, one thing you could probably do is connect AMP 4 input send to the AXE Input. Then AXE Output to Cyclops Preamp Out. Then the PS Line IN and Line Out connections to the associated Cyclops jacks.

The PS is in the Attenuator loop, so you don’t need to associate that to any amp function. That also satisfies your requirement that the PS Loop is the global FX loop for all amps and the AXE.

Now you have the Amp 4 function sending signal to the AXE (instead of the Cyclops routing that signal), the AXE out to the PS Line In via the Cyclops Preamp Out and the PS power amp stage driving whatever cab you want the AXE sound coming out of.

You still have to switch the Cyclops between AMPLIFIER and PREAMP mode, which as before can be done by connecting the ZMACS Remote jack to the Cyclops Remote jack.

PS, you’re on a public facing category now, so I deleted your phone number.

Dave

Oh dang okay sorry, I didn’t realize this correspondence was viewable to the public.

And yeah I assumed this was going to be a very specific situation to be using the equipment in. It’s why I decided to go with the Fryette suite because you all are so willing to tackle the tsunami of questions for everyone’s specific situations and develop the products accordingly.

I absolutely appreciate all of your help, and hopefully once I get the ZMACS in I can follow up and let you know how it works out.

Thank you David!

Ryan Pullin

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