ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Let's Get Technical => All PREAMP Tech Tips & Support => Topic started by: DannyjoeCarter on January 06, 2017, 12:04:42 AM
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OK here we go again Folks..........
So fifth MP-1 arrives today; fire it up and it starts scrolling C 1, 2, 3, up to 128 then flashes Error 1, Error 2, Error 3, Error 4
then 2.00 then preset number 1 flashes to begin playing. :facepalm:
So I program my favorite setting for the MP-1 and I will say it's incredible!!! Amazing tone, probably the best I have ever heard an MP-1 sound, like the roar of an amp, a Bogner or whatever you want so I'm digging the tone!!!
Shut it off and it doesn't remember the preset and everything is defaulted back to zero. >:(
So I'm thinking dead battery? And what else would you guys say??
Help me out here because this has no screw wear at all and looks to have never been even rack mounted and no scratches all while having the roar of a lion!!!!!
What do you think guys?
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IMMSMR, these types of errors were fairly recently discussed. Try a search on "error 1" or one of the others, and think thou shalt findeth ;)
Man, you really have some unglück at the moment with those MP-1's.. quite out of the ordinary..
You need a Yoga Master and some meditation onto a projection towards an improved manifestation of a solid tube-driven future target :bow:
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Battery empty
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Definitely the battery...mine is in the repair queue at the moment.
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Hey DjC, you got a good one :whoohoo!: , you probably would have needed to do the battery anyway. So just to prove it's definitely the battery (and it sure sounds like it), Turn it on, program 2 patches, change between them (all should be good and work fine). Power off then on again, oops patches now lost... then definitely battery :thumb-up: . I assume you are chatting with MJMP to remedy this ? Again, unless the battery had been changed recently, you would have had to do this anyway. From what you say re the sound, I'd keep those tubes >:D , sure play around with some others but not all tubes blow you over like you've described.
The error messages are described in the manual, but it's usual IIRC for the preamp to do a full startup check (including file checksums (C1,2,3 etc)) when the power to the ram has been off/too low. This also seems to happen when you remove the Z80 CPU and re-insert it. And also when you change EPROMS :dunno: . This part of the MP-1 is just a computer after all.
BTW how's the boogie poweramp sounding ?? it should kick some but, they are not shabby amps.
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:banana-trip: :banana: :banana-dance: :whoohoo!:
MAGIC TONE FOLKS!!!!!!!
Man this has been a nightmare but now I have a Happy Ending to share with you guys!
SO I'm very handy with a soldering iron ( I own my own guitar company ;D ) and after searching through the threads it really did seem like it was the battery. I'm 1 mile from Radio Shack and so I bought the battery receptacle and a 2032 battery and read Kim's PDF on replacing it. It took ten minutes - fired it up and did exactly what it did before with counting all 128 channels then showed the error messages. So I saved my favorite setting and powered down the unit. Powered it back up - MAGIC!! Preset saved - BLISS! :banana-jazz-smiley-emoticon:
I want to thank all of you and I'm so grateful for this amazing forum for all the invaluable information you all have offered and shared on here, God bless you all!
Hey DjC, you got a good one :whoohoo!: , you probably would have needed to do the battery anyway.
BTW how's the boogie poweramp sounding ?? it should kick some but, they are not shabby amps.
Richard one of the Boogie 2:50s is in but I haven't gotten to check it out yet. It came to my buddy's business and I was too wrapped up in my ADA battery issue to get over and grab it. So late tonight I will run that through it's paces. I ran my MP-1 into the return of a cheap Marshall clone head with JJ EL34s - and through that it's amazing!!!!
Now next step is I guess I have to rewire cabinets - all the Boogie stuff only has 8 and 4 ohm taps. So this is a work in progress :D
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Hey DjC, excellent news :thumb-up: :headbanger:
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Very good news, man.
Now when you power it up no more scanning, no more error codes, just firmware version, ADA and then...PLAY IT LOUD? :banana-rock:
I think that the best match for the ADA MP-1 is the power section of a Marshall head, mostly if you love some Nuno Bettencourt guitar tones!
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That's Karma
After four lemons, you got lemonade :thumb-up:
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sssssshhhhhhhhhhhhttttttttttttt............... :nono:
He has another lemon coming... :lol:
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Awesome! :banana:
It's been awhile, but I seem to remember something about having to Load Presets after the Battery Mod. The Factory Presets will occupy 1-69 on the 2.00 version. So if you need to do that, the Manual says:
"LOAD ALL 69 PRESETS:
1. Press the STORE button. lt will light.
2. Press the BANK button and while holding the BANK button down press the number 1 button.
3. The display will read "Presets Loaded" When the display returns to a program number, all 69 factory presets have, been restored."
Now Rock. :headbanger:
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Awesome! :banana:
It's been awhile, but I seem to remember something about having to Load Presets after the Battery Mod. The Factory Presets will occupy 1-69 on the 2.00 version. So if you need to do that, the Manual says:
"LOAD ALL 69 PRESETS:
1. Press the STORE button. lt will light.
2. Press the BANK button and while holding the BANK button down press the number 1 button.
3. The display will read "Presets Loaded" When the display returns to a program number, all 69 factory presets have, been restored."
Now Rock. :headbanger:
Something I would always do after buying some used units like these! :metal:
Factory reset rocks! :banana-guitar:
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....
Now next step is I guess I have to rewire cabinets - all the Boogie stuff only has 8 and 4 ohm taps. So this is a work in progress :D
If your cabs are 16ohms in theres no need to rewire anything. Use the 8ohms outs on the 2:50 into the 16ohms in in your cabs (e.g. a 4x12 that runs stereo with 16ohms per side) and you're golden.
8ohms out on the 2:50 to a 16ohms in on the cab is a "safe mismatch" :thumb-up:
I ran a 3.1 MDRT MP-1 in a Boogie Fifty/Fifty (predecessor to your 2:50) for years that way... tonal bliss!!!
If you can get your hands on a 2:90 though....yummie! The added SimulClass "character" (2 6L6 in Class AB and 2 EL34 in ClassA per side) plus Deep + Modern for Rhythms and Deep for leads....
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Thanks for all the support Folks!!
Yeah this is the hottest MP-1 I have ever heard! And it does not appear to have any mods! And the mesa Boogie 2:50 is an incredible match for it! Here's something I want to share with you - since I got the MP-1 and the Mesa and just got them hooked up tonight I didn't have any preset ideas or even settings and the memory was wiped out on the MP-1 after I did the battery mod I got a completely clean slate and color pallet. I came up with my own patches, which is only three buts that's all I ever use anyway.
Awesome! :banana:
It's been awhile, but I seem to remember something about having to Load Presets after the Battery Mod. The Factory Presets will occupy 1-69 on the 2.00 version. So if you need to do that, the Manual says:
"LOAD ALL 69 PRESETS:
1. Press the STORE button. lt will light.
2. Press the BANK button and while holding the BANK button down press the number 1 button.
3. The display will read "Presets Loaded" When the display returns to a program number, all 69 factory presets have, been restored."
Now Rock. :headbanger:
Thank you for that info Kim however I'm actually gonna leave everything blank and use my main presets I created - but that is good to know! :D
Oh and another thing - this Mesa 2:50 is LOUD and will peel paint!!! :headbanger:
Now I just need to get my rack box :thumb-up:
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Cool enough! :thumb-up:
What speakers in that cab?
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Ahh, the fun begins, time for a quadverb (or similar)
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Cool enough! :thumb-up:
What speakers in that cab?
I use the stock Peavey 5150 cabs for everything, have always loved the tone of those! Plus you can pick those up cheap because of how many people hate Peavey now since they shipped the entire operation to Korea!
I did have to rewire the cabs; the 5150 cabs did not have the stereo feature and I needed them to run at 8 Ohms because of the damn Boogie power amp >:(
Ahh, the fun begins, time for a quadverb (or similar)
And yeah I loved the Quadverb but really loved the Quad GT because of the noisegate and graphic EQ :thumb-up:
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[quote
And yeah I loved the Quadverb but really loved the Quad GT because of the noisegate and graphic EQ :thumb-up:
[/quote]
I originally had the Quadraverb and then switched to the GT for the exact same reason.
Now both are gone and I use the Boss GT-10 for all my effects.
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[quote
And yeah I loved the Quadverb but really loved the Quad GT because of the noisegate and graphic EQ :thumb-up:
I originally had the Quadraverb and then switched to the GT for the exact same reason.
Now both are gone and I use the Boss GT-10 for all my effects.
[/quote]
OK real good to know! I will look into that because the only effect I've ever used is a digital delay and a noise gate so rather than having to troll through Ebay or Reverb I'll will c heck that out Bro :D
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Hey DjC, I find my "can't do without" effect is reverb, so except when I need/want a specific effect for something (which is rare these days) I just use some mild shortish stereo delay and some reverb (chamber seems to work well), so in my Quadverb:
FX Quadverb:
Stereo Delay L 120ms/FB 26% R 240ms/FB 36%
Pitch Mode = Stereo Chorus, Squarewave, LFO Sp 01/ depth 63/ pitch FB 37%
Reverb = Chamber1 predelay 74ms/ Rev decay 50/ diffusion 6/ density 7
Also I've always used a small mixer with 3 Aux/Fx sends and run my rig (in stereo) much like a PA. So Fx units are set to full wet and I mix them in via channels on the desk.
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Hey DjC, I find my "can't do without" effect is reverb, so except when I need/want a specific effect for something (which is rare these days) I just use some mild shortish stereo delay and some reverb (chamber seems to work well), so in my Quadverb:
FX Quadverb:
Stereo Delay L 120ms/FB 26% R 240ms/FB 36%
Pitch Mode = Stereo Chorus, Squarewave, LFO Sp 01/ depth 63/ pitch FB 37%
Reverb = Chamber1 predelay 74ms/ Rev decay 50/ diffusion 6/ density 7
Also I've always used a small mixer with 3 Aux/Fx sends and run my rig (in stereo) much like a PA. So Fx units are set to full wet and I mix them in via channels on the desk.
Hey Richard it has been too may years for me ( 91' - 2001' ) did or does the Quad color the tone of the MP-1 at all or a little? I really don't remember how transparent it is - share your thoughts ;D
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Hey DjC, I always found the Quadverb to be nice and transparent, particularly in it's day, and not colour the sound. Now over time A/D and D/A convertors and DSP have come a long way so some (but not all) of the more modern units are definitely better sonically. I have a midiverb4 I picked up along the way, but I haven't bothered with it much. The Quadverb is one of the most tweakable multi Fx I've seen, so many parameters and the manual is excellent, good explanations. But probably a bit much detail for some. I'd have to check, but I think the Quadverb has true analogue pass through of the direct signal (as does the Inteleflex). This is important (to me) if you want to chain through it (referred to as the 4 cable method around here) ie MP-1 A/B out > Fx L/R in, Fx L/R out > poweramp and adjust the wet dry mix in the Fx. Most modern units eg the TC GMaj A/D the signal on input so now it's all digital and D/A it on output so sound better when used with a small analogue mixer, Fx full wet and mixed in using Fx send/rtns. Thus the analogue tube signal stays analogue all the way to the amp. I tested this a while ago with MikeB (and there are some posts re our results). Mike used an ART Split Mix to preserve the analogue MP-1 signal and mixed in hs GMaj. Now while this does sound better, the difference isn't huge and most are happy to chain through their stereo multi Fx.
I was given a TC MOne XL (studio) reverb which I have in my studio rack, it definitely sounds better (but not from a colour perspective, both are nice and transparent). The MOne has a patch called "for guitar" which has a mild delay and nice reverb. Basically I just dial that up and get the gain right. It sounds superb.
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Hey DjC, I always found the Quadverb to be nice and transparent, particularly in it's day, and not colour the sound. Now over time A/D and D/A convertors and DSP have come a long way so some (but not all) of the more modern units are definitely better sonically. I have a midiverb4 I picked up along the way, but I haven't bothered with it much. The Quadverb is one of the most tweakable multi Fx I've seen, so many parameters and the manual is excellent, good explanations. But probably a bit much detail for some. I'd have to check, but I think the Quadverb has true analogue pass through of the direct signal (as does the Inteleflex). This is important (to me) if you want to chain through it (referred to as the 4 cable method around here) ie MP-1 A/B out > Fx L/R in, Fx L/R out > poweramp and adjust the wet dry mix in the Fx. Most modern units eg the TC GMaj A/D the signal on input so now it's all digital and D/A it on output so sound better when used with a small analogue mixer, Fx full wet and mixed in using Fx send/rtns. Thus the analogue tube signal stays analogue all the way to the amp. I tested this a while ago with MikeB (and there are some posts re our results). Mike used an ART Split Mix to preserve the analogue MP-1 signal and mixed in hs GMaj. Now while this does sound better, the difference isn't huge and most are happy to chain through their stereo multi Fx.
I was given a TC MOne XL (studio) reverb which I have in my studio rack, it definitely sounds better (but not from a colour perspective, both are nice and transparent). The MOne has a patch called "for guitar" which has a mild delay and nice reverb. Basically I just dial that up and get the gain right. It sounds superb.
Yes now that I have the perfect preamp and power amp it's gonna be a trick finding the perfect fx. But this is a great sugestion Richard and I will keep an eye out for a Quad on Ebay or Reverb - thank you for the info! :D
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Also consider a TC G Major...
I'm trading one in these days, instead of an older Quadraverb or Intellifex:
1) it has a noise gate and eq inside
2) it has stereo INs and stereo OUTs
3) you can buy it for a few money
4) it has a 2290-like delay inside (dynamic delay)
5) it should have an AD/DA conversion better than older stuff or good enough to be used in a chain without a line mixer (while the QV would require a line mixer)
6) it's plenty of effects
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The TC GMaj2 is a very nice gadget, also gives you midi CC control of master volume (and other things). Down side is they AD the entire signal on input (as do many other modern devices) in which case they are "slightly better" used with a desk rather than chained through (but then you loose the master vol CC capability (and one reason Mike went back to chaining through his), which is not an issue with MP2, but is with MP1). The Quadverb is probably a better candidate for chaining as I think it has true analogue (not AD converted) direct signal. BTW using a small desk with at least 2 FX sends is the easiest way to run a MP1 rig, so much easier to get the gain structure and FX mix right. Also (IIRC SC told me this ?) the Intelliflex also has true analogue direct signal and they are great multi FX units.
Although, the TC MOne is a great unit (don't get the XL like I have, it's XLR in and out for studio use). They are great sounding reverbs and also have all the other time based Fx including pitch shift (very versatile internal routing but only do 2 Fx at once).
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I've got the G Major (not the GMaj2, the previous one) this evening.
I'm smiling... :D :D :D
I'm very happy with this unit.
I connected MP-1 stereo outs directly to GMaj and then the multi FX to my amps.
This small stereo rig sounds very good and MP-1 tone is perfect, almost unchanged, more than with the Zoom 9150.
AD/DA conversion works fine within this unit, so I do not need a line mixer for my purposes.
The noise gate works fine also with clean tones, very natural, does not kill dyamic at all.
FXs...well...it's a TC toy... :banana:
I will do more testing, but I'm happy already.
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The Fx in the GMaj are great and the AD/DA conversion is very high quality. No wonder you are smiling :whoohoo!: :thumb-up: . A happy Max :banana:
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The TC GMaj2 is a very nice gadget, also gives you midi CC control of master volume (and other things). Down side is they AD the entire signal on input (as do many other modern devices) in which case they are "slightly better" used with a desk rather than chained through (but then you loose the master vol CC capability (and one reason Mike went back to chaining through his), which is not an issue with MP2, but is with MP1). The Quadverb is probably a better candidate for chaining as I think it has true analogue (not AD converted) direct signal. BTW using a small desk with at least 2 FX sends is the easiest way to run a MP1 rig, so much easier to get the gain structure and FX mix right. Also (IIRC SC told me this ?) the Intelliflex also has true analogue direct signal and they are great multi FX units.
Although, the TC MOne is a great unit (don't get the XL like I have, it's XLR in and out for studio use). They are great sounding reverbs and also have all the other time based Fx including pitch shift (very versatile internal routing but only do 2 Fx at once).
:o Wow a lot of stuff in this post I'm not familiar with concerning the TC unit. Lots of new terms for me and features I have no clue about. Time for more ready :???:
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Hey DjC, rack mount (and some floor stomp like Fx gadgets) offer up allot of possibilities. So lots of choices how and what Fx you may (or may not) want to use. They are very feature rich. One feature they share (and have for many years now) is they can be controlled by MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) albeit to varying degrees. I imagine you know something about MIDI ? Anyway the CC control stuff I posted about is part of the MIDI standard where some aspects of the unit can be controlled in real time (ie while your playing). Later ADA software versions offered added support for some of this and the MP2 came with it inbuilt (to some extent) from the get go (it was all evolving at much the same time in history).
Upshot is, that some parameters of various midi controllable Fx devices can be adjusted while you play (CC = Continuous Control) eg Master Volume (you can assign a midi compatible CC expression pedal to move it up/down while playing), other parameters you can switch on/off with a CC controller (button). So you can build a rack of toys, connect them to a midi controller (pedal) and not only change the patch they all go to at the press of "one" button but also change various parameters (on/off, louder/softer, wah etc). Now the MP-1s midi capability is a bit limited (as in it has no CC capabilities). ADA added some CC capability to the MB-1 (the bass preamp) in the later firmware (EPROM) updates. And the MP-2 has a bunch of stuff you can control this way.
So units like the TC GMaj2 (multi guitar Fx unit) also has CC capabilities, one of which is Master Volume control (but this controls its output, so if you chain through it (MP-1 > GMaj > Amp) it can control the volume/signal to the poweramp), handy, and a big part of why Mike went back to patching his GMaj2 this way.
The whole A/D conversion thing is (to some extent) a pedantic (but justified) aside. No matter how you convert analogue to digital (A/D) the digital is a sample/representation of the "true/real" signal. Of course this has to be converted back (D/A) to analogue to listen to it. TC (who make the MOne I use and the GMAj Mike uses) make good gadgets. However (and like many others in this space) the first thing the unit does is convert the "beautiful" analogue signal (coming from your MP-1) into digital so it can process it and then converts it back to analogue... Some of the older units eg Quadverb, Intelliflex etc maintained a direct undigitised (analogue pass through) route through the unit for the direct "analogue" signal. Does this sound better ? yes marginally, do you care ?, I do but up to you, however, it's good to understand what you are doing and why.
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Hey DjC, rack mount (and some floor stomp like Fx gadgets) offer up allot of possibilities. So lots of choices how and what Fx you may (or may not) want to use. They are very feature rich. One feature they share (and have for many years now) is they can be controlled by MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) albeit to varying degrees. I imagine you know something about MIDI ? Anyway the CC control stuff I posted about is part of the MIDI standard where some aspects of the unit can be controlled in real time (ie while your playing). Later ADA software versions offered added support for some of this and the MP2 came with it inbuilt (to some extent) from the get go (it was all evolving at much the same time in history).
Upshot is, that some parameters of various midi controllable Fx devices can be adjusted while you play (CC = Continuous Control) eg Master Volume (you can assign a midi compatible CC expression pedal to move it up/down while playing), other parameters you can switch on/off with a CC controller (button). So you can build a rack of toys, connect them to a midi controller (pedal) and not only change the patch they all go to at the press of "one" button but also change various parameters (on/off, louder/softer, wah etc). Now the MP-1s midi capability is a bit limited (as in it has no CC capabilities). ADA added some CC capability to the MB-1 (the bass preamp) in the later firmware (EPROM) updates. And the MP-2 has a bunch of stuff you can control this way.
So units like the TC GMaj2 (multi guitar Fx unit) also has CC capabilities, one of which is Master Volume control (but this controls its output, so if you chain through it (MP-1 > GMaj > Amp) it can control the volume/signal to the poweramp), handy, and a big part of why Mike went back to patching his GMaj2 this way.
The whole A/D conversion thing is (to some extent) a pedantic (but justified) aside. No matter how you convert analogue to digital (A/D) the digital is a sample/representation of the "true/real" signal. Of course this has to be converted back (D/A) to analogue to listen to it. TC (who make the MOne I use and the GMAj Mike uses) make good gadgets. However (and like many others in this space) the first thing the unit does is convert the "beautiful" analogue signal (coming from your MP-1) into digital so it can process it and then converts it back to analogue... Some of the older units eg Quadverb, Intelliflex etc maintained a direct undigitised (analogue pass through) route through the unit for the direct "analogue" signal. Does this sound better ? yes marginally, do you care ?, I do but up to you, however, it's good to understand what you are doing and why.
Awesome Richard, real good break down of the is stuff - thank you!
As, or if I go into these things I will refer back to these posts, thanks again! :thumb-up: