Dear Audio Professional,
Congratulations on your purchase of the Multi Z Professional Instrument Preamp. The
Multi Z PIP 3.0 is a completely updated, refined successor for the now classic Little Labs
Multi Z Direct Box. The original source impedance optimized Little Labs circuit found
in the original Multi Z DI and now in the Multi Z PIP, is highly regarded for its clarity,
punch, bottom, and its ability to cut through a track with three dimensional excitement.
Little Labs added so many features to the original Multi Z Direct Box, we couldn't call
it just a direct box anymore hence the name change to Professional Instrument Pre-
amp. Every custom mod that was asked of Little Labs over the past ten years, of which
there were many, has been incorporated into the new, but still compact, Multi Z PIP.
Use it as a super instrument preamp, use it as a re-amp, use it as a DI, use it as a mini
instrument mixer, use it all together at once...The Multi Z PIP is all about flexibility
and superior sonics!
This PIP is hand made. All the parts, passive and active, were selected carefully for
superior sonic quality. While you might not be able to run a truck over the Multi Z
PIP (you know the ad), getting past the chassis you will see a product built with an at-
tention to detail more like an audiophile preamplifier than a commercial audio device.
Quality of construction I realize means nothing if the sound is not stellar. So please,
after reading this manual LISTEN for yourself on all your instruments. Take the time
to compare to whatever direct you were using before. I want you to appreciate the un-
surpassed sonics and uncompromising flexibility the PIP offers. I am confident you will
find the Little Labs Multi Z PIP to be one of your wisest pro audio purchases.
I realize you are anxious to get on with reading this manual, but I would like to take
a moment to give credit to Chalice Studios, Conway Studios, the old A&M studios
(now owned by the Henson company) and all the great engineers who helped me in
developing Little Labs products.
Yours truly,
Jonathan Little
Little Labs
21
daw or
tape
in
out
guitar amp
in
PIP example 3
re-amping guitar
note: for convienience this diagram uses non default option 1a, if it was
in default mode the guitar would be plugged in the front. instrument in.
power in 48vdc only
re-amp
level
Little Labs®
multi z pip ® ©2003 all rights reserved
re-amp in
inst level hi z
main output
summing amp in
balanced only
expansion output
balanced main output
xfrmr custom option†
instrument thru or
custom option†
buffered out or custom
option†
† please see manual for custom internal jumper
options including extra summing amp inputs vol pedal
insert pre main out balanced insert and others
4
5
1
2
6
3
7
earth
lift
instrument in
re-amp
out
ol out
ol in
input circuit
select
hi z
spkr
lo z
mid z
inst in
mid z
out xlr
pin 1
professional instrument
pre-amp / di / re-amp
a t t a c h
a t t a c h
l e v e l
earth
lift
m u l t i z p i p 3 . 0
0
2
4
6
16
14
18
20
12
8
10
8
4
3
2
1
16
DIFFERENTIAL
FET MONOLITHIC
SUMMING
AMPLIFIER
+9dB
FRONT
PANEL
EARTH
LIFT
SWITCH
7
5
14
18
MALE
XLR
2
6
FRONT
PANEL
EARTH
LIFT
SWITCH
47V
47V
47V
+6dB
6
0
4
2
8
SUPER HIZ
OPTIMIZED FET
MONOLITHIC
AMPLIFIER
DIFFERENTIAL
INPUT MID Z
OPTIMIZED FET
MONOLITHIC
AMPLIFIER
+6dB
8
SPEAKER
LEVEL
ATTENUATOR
spkr
lo z
mid z
-26dB
ol out
re-amp level
LITTLE LABS HEAVY IRON CORE
CUSTOM WOUND AUDIO
TRANSFORMER
LITTLE LABS CUSTOM WOUND
VINTAGE PICK UP EMULATION
TRANSFORMER
(overload in)
ol in
hi z
input circuit select
(overload out)
Main instrument in. This front panel jack is where you plug your instrument in or, in a rack
mounted application, you can plug your instrument into the rear panel instrument thru jack.
Instrument thru. This can be used as a rear main instrument input jack
OR
a thru jack (mult) out
to feed your instrument amp(the default setting)
OR
as a rear main instrument input jack that is
interrupted when you plug in the front (especially useful in a rack mounted situation )
OR
as an
extra summing amp input.
Summing amp in. Use this input to sum with the main input devices such as bass pedals, key-
boards etc. The PIP can be used as a mini hi fidelity mixer!
Buffered output. Internal user configurable jumpers can set this output to be fed from either
pre or post the level pot (pre is the default setting)
OR
this output can be configured as a trs
volume (tip send /ring return)"expression" pedal jack pre or post level pot
OR
this output can
be an extra summing amp input.
Balanced only expansion out. This line level output can be used as a balanced insert send pre
the instrument level hi Z transformer out (re-amplifier) and, if installed, pre the line level or mic
level lo Z output transformer. This allows you to insert a piece of pro gear before the PIPs main
xlr output. This insert will also allow you to properly interface pro gear before your guitar amp
and still achieve the proper tone of a pickup plugged directly into the amp.
Re-amplifier input and instrument level hi Z main output (re-amp out).The re-amplifier section
can be used completely independent of the rest of the Multi Z PIP. Use it to re-amp guitars or
to use vintage pedals on a send, Use it in conjunction with The DI section (for gain make up) to
use vintage pedals on an insert. Re-amplifier level is set by a 10 turn trim pot located on the
rear of the PIP. The re-amplifier out is also the main guitar level/impedance, transformer
isolated, ground liftable output for the Multi Z Professional Instrument Preamp.
Balanced main XLR output. This ouput is available with three options. Line level transformer-
less out, Line level transformer isolated out, or mic level/impedance transformer isolated out.
Internal user configurable jumpers can set this output to be fed pre or post the re-amplifier
input jack or when using the mic transformer, pre or post the level pot.
level
12
20
10
guitar
out
