12
Tips & Insights
Your Modeler’s Settings:
The Reactor 112 was designed to bring out the very best in your modeler. Atomic recommends
that in order to achieve the best sounding results, modeler’s should be used in their “direct”
mode. To achieve the most realistic/natural amp and effect sounds, cabinet and mic simulations
can stay “on” but room levels should be turned “off” or be set to 0% and mics should be
positioned “on access”. The bottom line is that tone is
very
subjective and you should follow
your ears. There are no rules – only what sounds best to you!
Getting To Your Sound:
Many amplification and speaker systems that are transistor based use a bass roll off or a limiter
in an effort to prevent nasty clipping of other undesirable artifacts (this, they call a feature!). If you
have been using such a system (including some headphones), you should be delighted with the
natural sonic openness you will experience with the Reactor 112. The Reactor’s closed back
tuned and ported speaker system can deliver a wide frequency response with extended bottom
end capabilities not found in other combo amps. The benefits of the Reactor become more
evident when players tune down to a “D” or other tunings. By allowing the user to not fight the
amp trying to boost frequencies that aren’t there the amp runs a lot more efficiently, allowing it to
focus its power over the instruments entire frequency spectrum. Your modeler’s tone controls
come to life, and should provide you with a whole new level of control over your sound.
Your Modelers Left and Right Outputs:
Most, if not all, digital amp modelers feature a pair of left and right line outputs. The accepted
standard is that the left output provides the feed for mono operation (see your modelers user
manual!). Plugging a jack into the Right output automatically switches the modeler’s outputs for
stereo operation. The DS-1 docking station is designed to retain your modeler’s standard mono
and stereo operating capabilities even though the right and left outputs are connected. The
modeler remains in standard mono operating mode until a jack is inserted into the Send R output
on the rear jack panel of the Reactor 112. Unless a jack is inserted into the Send R output, a
modeler properly loaded into the DS-1 will continue to provide full mono operation capabilities
when used with the Reactor 112.
Not Using the DS-1:
If you are using a floorboard style or a “Pro” Rack style modeler don’t worry! You can still
experience the sonic superiority of a Reactor by simply plugging your modeler’s output(s) into the
“Return” inputs located on the rear jack panel of the Reactor. When plugging into the Return you
are bypassing the Reactor’s input (see page 2). You are also putting the DS-1 into audio by-pass
mode. You can run your modeler and the rest of your outboard equipment as you normally would
as per their owner’s manuals.