Mesa CabClone, Owner'S Manual

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The fact that there are subtle graduations of output level available between these three standard level ranges allows virtually any input requirement to
be properly met by simply dialing in more or less signal. You will find this provides far more adjustment and fine-tuning than a switch that might give you
perhaps two to three options. Because of the flexibility added by this rotary control the CABCLONE can adapt to any platform from the most sparsely
populated vintage Front Panel sporting a few knobs, to modern amplifiers with multiple channels, preamp stages and a MASTER volume control.
PHASE/180
This two-position mini toggle allows you to invert the phase of the signal at the Rear Panel BALANCED DIRECT OUT 180 degrees.
Whether you use this feature to help you better match other signals (even those from the same source—like a mic’d cabinet from the same amp) or to
improve the sound in a mix where phase is causing EQ issues, there are times when flipping the phase can be just the ticket for Tone.
When two or more signals of opposing (or different) phase are referenced there can be EQ changes due to cancellations of certain frequencies, espe-
cially in the low end response. The option to flip the phase allows you to sync the signal from the CABCLONE with other sources for the best possible
combination when blending more than one recorded (or live) guitar sound, whether it be from other amplifiers or the same amplifier the CABCLONE
is capturing.
While phase is relative to your physical location (and therefore time) to a sound source... and there are as many “phases” as there are degrees in a
circumference around that sound, the ability to swap what you’re hearing 180 degrees phase-wise can often reduce the ill effects of “out of phase”
sources. To adjust phase in more finite increments requires much more circuitry than is possible in the CABCLONE’s passive (no active circuitry/doesn’t
require power) design, but the PHASE FLIP switch can often help put Tone back in your game.
GROUND/LIFT
This switch allows you to lift the CABCLONE BALANCED DIRECT OUT XLR jack (PIN 1) GROUND, from Circuit and Chassis
GROUND and in many cases (but not all) remove hum caused by a ground loop. In silent recording environments every little noise stands out and
ground loops can produce one of the more common (and annoying) sources of hum and/or buzz. It is not a cure-all to this common problem by any
means, but it can often make a positive impact on the noise floor and at least help you rule out one common source of hum.
Ground Loops occur when one or more units in a signal path have different references to ground. In most cases, ideally you want one—and only
one—path to ground in a signal chain. The lower GROUND position connects the CABCLONE circuit and chassis ground to the transformer isolated
Balanced Direct Out XLR jack (PIN 1). The upper LIFT position disconnects the CABCLONE’s circuit and chassis ground from the transformer isolated
Balanced Direct Out XLR jack (PIN 1).
The ability to “disconnect” the CABCLONE’s circuit and chassis ground from the Balanced Direct Out XLR (PIN 1) eliminates one of the paths to ground
in a complex live guitar rig or studio where there are many processors each with their own unique ground reference and ensures there will at least be