Blackstar Amped 1 user thread

relic245

Artisan 30 not AC30 but take your point.

Faff

I have tried my Amped 1 into a Marshall 412 in a fairly large rehearsal room with a loud band.  I use the USA at 100W. It's loud. The usual 'Turn it Down' comments started when it  was at 11 o'clock.

ecc83

relic245 said:

Artisan 30 not AC30 but take your point.

Oh! I DO beg your pardon Mr Relic Sir! I have never tried them side by side but I would guess an AC30 might just have the edge over the Artisan because Vox ran the absolute bollox off the EL84s! Plus, 'Blues' might be a tad more sensitive even than V30s? I am sure ICBM will know.

Dave.

relic245

First gig with it last night. 

Very impressed. 

Set up was: 

Guitar
-> HX FX for all drives and effects
-> Amped 1 set on USA, gain low, 100w setting
-> speaker of a peavey bandit (80%) of volume
-> XLR out into pa for 20% of volume and to give spread. 

To me, in the mix it sounded fantastic. It's not a high quality cab or speaker but still sounded ace. 

In a blindfold test I don't think that I could have noticed any difference to when I used to play through a Blackstar Artisan. 

What I noticed - 

It sounds great at home and rehearsal but as I played it louder last night it was a different level again. 

I can think of 3 possible reasons

- The amped 1 really does act like a valve amp and sounds better as you push it
- I'm pushing the speaker harder which creates a more pleasing tone
- Simply the volume gives a perceived better tone

No idea which it is but it doesn't matter. 

What does matter is that I got a sound that made me grin and my dodgy back was so much happier with me.

ecc83

"Louder" makes everything better!

Dave.

Rkphilpot

Hi all.
I've been looking at getting an Amped 1 as a pedal platform amp for jam nights, (into whatever can they supply) have the issues been fixed with any sort of firmware update? 

Thanks 

relic245

I haven't seen any firmware updates. But ti be fair I haven't plugged it into the PC for a while so would only know if they sent an email.

impmann

Rkphilpot said:

Hi all.
I've been looking at getting an Amped 1 as a pedal platform amp for jam nights, (into whatever can they supply) have the issues been fixed with any sort of firmware update? 

Thanks 

What issues?

ecc83

impmann said:

Rkphilpot said:

Hi all.
I've been looking at getting an Amped 1 as a pedal platform amp for jam nights, (into whatever can they supply) have the issues been fixed with any sort of firmware update? 

Thanks 

What issues?

I wuz wondering that as well!

Dave.

relic245

impmann said:

Rkphilpot said:

Hi all.
I've been looking at getting an Amped 1 as a pedal platform amp for jam nights, (into whatever can they supply) have the issues been fixed with any sort of firmware update? 

Thanks 

What issues?

For me the biggest let down is in the midi implementation.

what I would love to do is set up patches using a midi pedal.

But there is no way to balance the volumes of 2 or more different sounds.

I’ve been in touch with Blackstar and had the response “I can understand how that would be a limitation”

I’m an ex software engineer so I then suggested a possible software fix (without knowing any specific of the unit architecture”

I had one further reply - the design team like my suggestion and will consider it in the next update. They also asked if I’m looking for work lol.

Also the patch button is effectively used as again you can’t balance the volume of 2 different sounds.

so for me there are a lot of great sounds I the unit but because of the design choices/flaws you can only use 1.

it’s a great clean pedal platform but could, and should, be so much more.

impmann

relic245 said:

impmann said:

Rkphilpot said:

Hi all.
I've been looking at getting an Amped 1 as a pedal platform amp for jam nights, (into whatever can they supply) have the issues been fixed with any sort of firmware update? 

Thanks 

What issues?

For me the biggest let down is in the midi implementation.

what I would love to do is set up patches using a midi pedal.

But there is no way to balance the volumes of 2 or more different sounds.

I’ve been in touch with Blackstar and had the response “I can understand how that would be a limitation”

I’m an ex software engineer so I then suggested a possible software fix (without knowing any specific of the unit architecture”

I had one further reply - the design team like my suggestion and will consider it in the next update. They also asked if I’m looking for work lol.

Also the patch button is effectively used as again you can’t balance the volume of 2 different sounds.

so for me there are a lot of great sounds I the unit but because of the design choices/flaws you can only use 1.

it’s a great clean pedal platform but could, and should, be so much more.

Thanks - so not faults as such, just things you'd like it to do that it doesn't currently. I'm sure if those changes are possible, they will be considered if there is another update.

FWIW I tend to use a pedal platform as just that, a platform for other sounds to sit on - and use the pedals to create different sounds/patches (I use G2 to control my pedals so I can set up patches in that - but equally there are other options within the Boss equivalents or even Line6 Helix to do similar). If you want different sounds/gain structures etc perhaps Amped3 is more what you'd need. 

relic245

No not faults, but to me some oversights in design.

I am using a hxfx with a midi pedal so I can create my patches that way 

To my the British sounds in the amped 1 are better than I can get from using the drives in the hxfx into the american setting in the amped1, so it would be good to be able to use those.

I'm not knocking the sounds at all btw hey are superb.

I guess that is what you get for being an early adopter. Some teething troubles that hopefully get ironed out in future releases.

The amped3 had not been announced when I bought mine and I done really want to spend more to change at this point.

Faff

I bought it on launch day and just like the gist of this thread thought the sounds were superb but they missed out with some weird design choices such as a lack of channel and master volume to balance the two channels. The lack of MIDI presets is also an odd omission which will be able to be updated down the line if they choose. However, if you want to use it as a single-channel amp it is superb. Plenty of power, a beautiful clean channel in particular. Ideal pedal platform. 

I returned it and eventually got an Amped 3. Same beautiful clean channel and now with 3 'presets'  which at least you can balance for live work. However, I am fickle and now selling the Amped 3 as I seek to downsize stuff - may get the Amped 1

See my ad in Amps£ or on ebay.

blacknblack

Anyone got an opinion on whether this sounds ok in 1w mode for bedroom volumes?  Cheers

impmann

blacknblack said:

Anyone got an opinion on whether this sounds ok in 1w mode for bedroom volumes?  Cheers

Yes. I think it sounds great. I run a pedalboard into an Amped1 into a single 12in speaker for home use and it sounds killer.

relic245

blacknblack said:

Anyone got an opinion on whether this sounds ok in 1w mode for bedroom volumes?  Cheers

Agree with Impmann. 

To be honest though I only hear a slight difference between 1w with the master higher and 100w with it lower. 

It is different but to my ears, not very.  

To me the 100w setting sounds a bit bigger somehow. I just leave it on that and turn it down. 

The 1w setting is quite loud if you turn it all the way up....

blacknblack

@impmann @relic245 thanks - good to know

Faff

blacknblack said:

Anyone got an opinion on whether this sounds ok in 1w mode for bedroom volumes?  Cheers

I think you'd be better off with an Amped 3 tbh... and I just happen to have one on sale in Amps£

 

danban

ecc83 said:

"Louder" makes everything better!

Dave.

Could you relay this message to the guys in my band, They’re the “turn it down” kind of crowd and it’s the kind of negativity I could do without. 

ecc83

danban said:

ecc83 said:

"Louder" makes everything better!

Dave.

Could you relay this message to the guys in my band, They’re the “turn it down” kind of crowd and it’s the kind of negativity I could do without. 

Haha!! T firmly in C Dan! There is a general view that if you ask people to compare two sounds they will tend to prefer the louder one.

"Band volume" Has been a PITA ever since the invention of the guitar amplifier! For a relatively small outlay (you SEEN the price of a decent drum kit?!) a guitarist can be the loudest thing in creation. The singer cannot compete unless they spend a small fortune on a sophisticated PA system and even then most venues limit you by feedback.

Band balance starts with a clear, undistorted, ring free vocal presentation. The guitars must be balanced to compliment not COMPETE with that. Was that way when I was in a band in the 60s/70s. Bands STILL can't get it right!

Sermon over!

Dave.