Blackstar AMPED 3

Blackstar Dept. 10 AMPED 3
The 100-Watt 3 channel high gain amp pedal. AMPED 3 is a 100 Watt high gain pedal amplifier featuring 6 voicing options and 3 programmable channels with Reverb. Perfect for players seeking the ultra high gain tones found in multi-channel valve amps like Series One. You can use it to power a cabinet up to 100 Watts, go direct or to use in the front end of a traditional amp ensuring you can take your sound with you anywhere. Power reduction down to 1W and USB-C connectivity means it’s equally at home in the studio or the stage.

The AMPED 3 in Detail
Front Panel Features
Modes:
The AMPED 3 has two modes: ‘Patch’ mode and ‘Manual’ mode. By default, the AMPED 3 will be in Patch mode. The mode can be changed by holding the Boost footswitch for 2 seconds. The default start-up mode can be configured using Blackstar’s Architect software.

In Patch mode, the Channel LEDs will be white, orange and red for Clean, Crunch and Overdrive respectively. In Manual mode, all Channel LEDs will be white and the Recall Indicator in the top left of the front panel will stay illuminated.

Patch mode allows a patch to be saved to each Channel and instantly recalled by stomping on the appropriate Channel footswitch. Patches can be saved by holding down the footswitch of the active Channel until the Recall and Channel LEDs flash.

All front panel controls, except for Master and Power, will be saved in a patch. Active patches can be edited, but control settings (except toggle switches) must be recalled before they can be altered. When the saved setting for a control is reached, the Recall Indicator will flash and the control can then be adjusted.

In Manual mode, what you see is what you get. The sound of the amplifier is affected by the physical position of the controls at all times.

Clean Channel:
Clean Warm

The gain structure and sonics of this voice have been inspired by classic American amplifiers of the mid ’60s. It is very clean and bright but with a solid low-end and controlled mids. Also, on this voice the power valve responses are set to be tight and relatively clean and linear across the frequency range. This is one of the most popular choices for a ‘pedal platform’ as it provides a solid clean foundation to apply effects to.

Clean Bright

The Clean Bright voice emulates a ‘classic’ valve/tube preamp topology based on a much loved British ‘class A’ amplifier of the early ’60s. This is a low to medium gain preamp that can be used clean, warm or mildly overdriven. This voice also features a hybrid MIDDLE control; below halfway the MIDDLE control will interact with the BASS and TREBLE controls, as per a typical tone stack, but above halfway the MIDDLE control will transition into an active mid boost. Again, this is a very popular choice for a ‘pedal platform’ as well as for a great, responsive crunch tone.

Crunch Channel:
Crunch:

The Crunch voice makes use of the foundations of the Clean Bright voice, pushing the preamp harder with a +10dB clean boost, to take it from ‘chimey’ to ‘creamy’ and  beyond. With a more involved ‘tone cut’, the strident top-end introduced by increased preamp saturation is gently smoothed whilst still preserving the ‘glassy’ character.

Super Crunch:

This voice is based on Blackstar’s award-winning cascaded valve/tube overdrive circuits and a traditional ‘British style passive tone stack’ (EQ) featured on the 6L6 models of the St. James heads and combos. The voicing features ‘modern’ preamp gain structure, perfect for big chords and crunchy rhythm playing with clear note separation.

Overdrive Channel
OD 1:

The OD1 voice is a higher gain variation of the Super Crunch voice. Where the Super Crunch voice is open and crisp, the OD1 voice is focussed and smooth and where Super Crunch is perfect for big chords and crunchy rhythm playing, OD1 is ideal for soaring leads and thick solos.

OD2:

The OD2 voice has been entirely re-imagined for AMPED 3. Based on the ‘Holy Grail’ of metal amplifiers known for block lettering and an immense sound, this voice features a characteristically crushing ’chug’, crystal clear articulation and a refined ‘fizz’. OD2 was crafted for intense, down-tuned riffs and intricate leads.

ISF:

A cornerstone in many Blackstar amplifiers, including AMPED 3, is the patented Infinite Shape Feature, or ISF control. This technology is exclusive to Blackstar Amplification and is the result of many months of in-depth technical research. The inclusion of ISF allows the guitarist to take this highly developed sound palette and tune it exactly to their own sound signature, hence the company tagline, ‘the sound in your head’. ISF is the perfect example of Blackstar innovation that, through technical research and development, significantly improves guitarists’ performance and creativity.

Boost:

AMPED 3 features a built-in Boost pedal that can be configured either pre or post the preamp using the Pre/Post toggle switch. When set to Pre the Boost is capable of boosting your guitar signal by up to 12dB into your chosen preamp voice. For a flat level increase when soloing, the Post setting provides up to 6dB of gain after the preamp.

Responses:

The Response control delivers three distinct and authentic power valve responses – EL84, EL34 and 6L6. Each setting delivers the response, dynamics, sag and break-up characteristics of the selected valve power amp. Blackstar’s power valve responses change the characteristics of the sound from dynamic and tight to compressed and spongy.

• EL84 - Bell-like full bodied Class A with lots of compression and soft break-up

• EL34 - Classic British Class A/B full bodied crunch with focussed mids

• 6L6 - Tight dynamic Class A/B with extended high and lows

The Responses are tailored to the preamp voices, with each combination eliciting a subtle shift in the frequency response curve and interaction with the Presence control to offer the most authentic tone and feel possible.

Reverb:

In addition to the Dark/Light toggle switch, the reverb time and tone can be customised individually for both Light and Dark using Blackstar’s Architect deep-editing software and saved to the AMPED 3.

When the Reverb is active, holding the Reverb footswitch will activate the ‘Freeze’ effect. Whilst the Reverb footswitch is held down and the ‘Freeze’ effect is active, the Reverb will decay over a much longer period of time, achieving a synth-pad-like effect. Playing into the Reverb will add to the ‘Freeze’.

Rear Panel Features
CabRig Switch and Level Control

The CabRig switch selects between the three currently stored CabRig patches. The three factory patches are completely customisable using the CabRig section of Blackstar’s Architect software (more information in the CabRig section below), which also offers additional Blackstar presets and almost limitless further options and permutations. This Level control allows quick access, physical control over the XLR, Line Out and USB audio Channel 3 output level. At maximum (fully clockwise), this control has no effect on the signal level. At minimum (fully anti-clockwise), this control attenuates the signal at these outputs by 20dB.

USB Audio - CabRig Output

This USB type C socket is used for USB audio and connecting to the Blackstar Architect software app. The audio output via USB from your amplifier directly to your computer is carried across four independent, simultaneous channels:

Channel 1: CabRig, left channel – The fully processed guitar sound, with power amp and speaker cabinet emulation. This will include the left channel of the CabRig Room. This signal is taken from after the Master volume control.

Channel 2: CabRig, right channel – The fully processed guitar sound, with power amp and speaker cabinet emulation. This will include the right channel of the CabRig Room. This signal is taken from after the Master volume control.

Channel 3: Preamp output – The sound of the preamp voices and EQ stages, taken before the reverb and without any speaker or cabinet emulation. Ideal for use with your own effects and power amp/cabinet emulation plugins within your recording software/ DAW. This signal is not affected by the Master volume control or any controls within CabRig, but it can be attenuated by up to 20dB using the CabRig Outputs ‘Level’ control on the side panel.

Channel 4: Unprocessed dry guitar signal – This is the direct signal from your guitar as received by the input stage of the amp. This signal is ideal for reamping. This signal is not affected by any of the amplifier’s controls.

AMPED 3 can also receive audio input from your computer:
Channel 1: Line input, left channel – Used for audio monitoring or backing track playback via the Balanced XLR and Line Out CabRig outputs.

Channel 2: Line input, right channel – Used for audio monitoring or backing track playback via the Balanced XLR and Line Out CabRig outputs.

Mono Balanced XLR – CabRig Output – This output is for using an industry standard 3 pin XLR cable for connection to a recording device, stage box or mixing desk. This provides a low noise, low impedance, quality connection for recording or live use. The signal from this output is the fully processed guitar sound, with power amp and speaker cabinet emulation through CabRig with the left and right channels summed to mono. This signal is taken after the Master volume control. This signal can also be attenuated by up to 20dB using the CabRig Outputs ‘Level’ control. The USB stereo line input will also be affected by the Level control when it is monitored through the XLR output.

Stereo Line Out – CabRig Output

This 1⁄4" TRS jack socket provides a stereo connection to connect to a recording device or mixing desk. This output can also be used to connect headphones for silent practice. The signal from this output is the fully processed guitar sound, with power amp and speaker cabinet emulation through CabRig. This signal is stereo and taken after the Master volume control.

This signal can also be attenuated by up to 20dB using the CabRig Outputs ‘Level’ control. The USB stereo line input will also be affected by the Level control when it is monitored through the Line Out.

Mono Effects Loop

The AMPED 3 features a fully configurable FX Loop with a dedicated Send and Return. Using Blackstar’s Architect software, the effects loop can be set in series or parallel and pre or post the onboard reverb. When the effects loop is set to parallel there is also control over the return level within Architect.

MIDI

All front panel features can be controlled entirely via MIDI. The default for receiving MIDI messages via the MIDI In is set to channel 1. The MIDI channel can be changed using Blackstar’s Architect software.

DC Pedal Power

The AMPED 3 features two isolated 9V pedal power outputs to power external effects pedals. The total maximum combined current draw for these power outputs is 500mA. For example, two pedals drawing 250mA or one pedal drawing 100mA and another drawing 400mA.

Out

The Out offers further options when connecting your AMPED 3 to other gear. The Out includes the entire amplifier signal chain except for the power valve response. It can be connected to the input of another amplifier to expand the sounds available, connected to the effects return of another amplifier to drive the slave power amp alongside AMPED 3’s own speaker outputs, used in conjunction with the effects loop to achieve a ‘wet/ dry’ setup and much more.

CabRig

CabRig is Blackstar’s next-generation DSP speaker simulator and begets a fundamental shift in the accessibility of professional recording and performing. CabRig awards budding musicians the ability to access previously unattainable technology, that has long been reserved for professional sound engineers and producers. Cutting edge advancements in speaker cabinet and microphone simulation will allow any player to achieve unparalleled quality in their live sound and recorded music.

CabRig is not an impulse response loader. IR based speaker sims are an ideal and practical snapshot of a setup, but they have a few significant drawbacks, these being inherent latency and potential phase issues when mixing more than one together. Our new advanced algorithm can simulate a speaker, cabinet and room with incredible detail and with effectively zero latency, no phase mismatch and with infinitely more flexibility than a snapshot IR.

Blackstar’s unrelenting devotion to innovation led to ground-breaking developments in DSP engineering that bestow the ability to strip previously inextricable elements of a recording into constituent parts. As these parts are segmented, they undergo optimisation to reduce their size, without a loss of audio quality. This allows full and faultless speaker cabinet, microphone and room recreations to be loaded onto, and run directly from, the amplifier. 

Blackstar’s Architect software provides access and in-depth control over every aspect of CabRig, granting a vast collection of gear that, in the real world, can only be found in professional recording environments. Over 700 combinations of rooms, cabinets and microphones allow the user to inhabit the role of a sound engineer and get outstanding results every time, without any of the hassle. The user has full control over individual EQ and panning for these close mics, exactly as if they were channels on a recording console. You also have the option to choose the room that you want to place the cab in, with complete control over the level of the room sound.

Input Stage

Immense care and attention has been placed on the design of the input stage for the AMPED 3. Simply put: it had to react exactly like the front end of a real valve amp. The gain structure of the input stage is such that it is practically impossible to clip the convertors. Instead, soft and musical clipping, by means of carefully configured diodes, is employed to tuck overly strident input levels back into the bulk of the signal. The result? AMPED 3 will react to pedals in exactly the same way as a valve amplifier would. No more jarring digital clipping, just pure and unbound freedom to find your sound.

On top of this, the input stage of AMPED 3 has the lowest noise floor of any amplifier Blackstar has produced to date. Every element of the topology was refined with obsessivedetail to ensure the optimum noise performance was achieved in all cases.

Reactive Class D Power Amp

The AMPED 3 features ground breaking power amp design meaning that it reacts to the connected speaker cabinet, just like a traditional valve amp. The loose-coupling effect between a traditional valve amp’s output transformer and a connected speaker cabinet is achieved within AMPED 3 using current feedback, enhanced with masterful DSP engineering. The result is an incredibly authentic sound, with all of the subtleties of tone and feel experienced when playing through a real valve amp.

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