Tech 21 SansAmp Acoustic DI Owner'S Manual Download Page 4

GUIDE TO CONTROLS

BASS & TREBLE 

Unlike passive controls that can only cut, these 

active

tone controls cut or

boost ±12dB from unity gain at 12 o’clock.

MID SHIFT & MID

These sweepable, semi-parametric EQ controls range from 170 Hz to 3.5 kHz,
±16dB, respectively.With the 

Mid Shift

control, you can select the center fre-

quency of the mid-range control (

MID

).This, in turn, enables you to notch out

any specific frequencies that may be causing your guitar to feed back.

To find

the feedback frequency of your guitar

, set 

MID

at maximum boost (5

o’clock).Turn 

Mid Shift

to the feedback point and leave it there.Then cut the

MID 

control until the feedback stops.

If you set 

Mid Shift

at 1kHz,

Mid 

operates as a traditional mid-range control.

BLEND

Allows you to blend the direct instrument signal with SansAmp Tube/Micro-
phone Emulation circuitry. In most cases, you will probably have this set at max-
imum (100% SansAmp). If you should want to hear some of the distinct timbre
of a piezo pickup, or reduce the amount of “compression,” you can 
simply adjust accordingly by turning the 

Blend

control counter clockwise.

At minimum, the SansAmp circuitry is bypassed. However, all the other controls
remain active.The unit then functions as a standard DI with EQ.

LEVEL

Adjusts the output level.

TUBE/MIC EMULATION

Tube/Microphone Emulation is an integral part of the SansAmp Acoustic DI’s
circuitry.The tube emulation yields a warm, gentle saturation to limit dynamic
peaks, while the microphone emulation removes the unnatural harmonics 
associated with piezo pickups. It is specifically engineered to yield a smooth,
even response as would be achieved by a properly miked acoustic guitar.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES & CONSIDERATIONS

1)

SansAmp Acoustic DI is very responsive.

Our controls are unusually

sensitive and you need not set everything at max to get maximum results. For
instance, to brighten your sound, restrain yourself from automatically boosting

Treble 

all the way up.Try cutting back on the 

Bass 

first.

Be aware that boosting 

Treble 

and 

Bass 

increases the high and low frequency

content without changing the gain structure. However, boosting the 

Mid 

and

the 

Mid Shift

controls will increase the amount of saturation. (Refer to the

Sample Setting for Electric Guitar.) By taking the time to familiarize yourself
with how the EQ controls interact, you will be able to achieve the proper mix 
of frequencies that best suits your needs in any venue.

2)

The noise level of SansAmp Acoustic DI is exceptionally low.

However, it may amplify noise emanating from the input source.To minimize
noise going into SansAmp Acoustic DI, we recommend active electronic instru-
ments have the volume set at unity gain/maximum and tone controls posi-
tioned flat. If you need to boost, do so slowly and sparingly.

3)

Compressors or limiters may not be necessary.

Our unique 

circuitry emulates the warm, natural, gentle compression of tubes.This limits
transient peaks for an even meter reading, so that outboard units typically
aren’t needed.

4)

Using effects.

One of the key attributes of SansAmp is the responsive-

ness to the dynamics and nuances of your playing technique.Therefore, your
guitar should be plugged directly into SansAmp and effects should be placed

after

SansAmp.

With an amp: use 1/4” 

Output 

to effect to amp.

With XLR: place effect in effect loop of SansAmp Acoustic DI 
(see page 3).

If, however, you prefer to place an effect before SansAmp, be sure to set the
output level of the effect at unity gain with the output level of the instrument.

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