Blackstar Amped 2 | The Ultimate Pedal Amp Rig
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- #blackstaramps #amped2 #blackstaramplification
I this video we take a look at Blackstar's latest edition to their "Amped" series with the brand new Amped 2. This 100 watt pedal amp features three preamp voices, three switchable dynamic power amp responses, 1 watt, 20 watt or 100 watt power stage, drive, modulation, delay and reverb effects, direct out for recording or live application, midi, effects loop, plus your can even use it as an audio interface. This really is an incredible piece of gear when it come to both tone and features!
Links of Interest
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Video Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:21 Performance
3:52 Background
5:27 Amped 2 Overview
9:27 Front Panel Layout
17:49 Rear Panel Layout
27:08 Tone Demo
32:33 Drive
36:53 Modulation
39:32 Delay
41:35 Reverb
43:36 Midi Switching
47:50 Using A Speaker Cab
51:26 Closing Thoughts
Beautiful track and sound…this is the type of music that should top the charts…👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Cheers Erik!!
I traded for this in the hopes it would do what I need. Yours is the ONLY review I could find that understands how easy it is the set up midi on this unit. More importantly, that you even CAN! All the reviews had no idea. It’s disturbing because it’s not exactly hard to figure out. Nice job
Thank you!! Yeah I always make sure I’ve explored a piece of kit before demoing it.
@@SixStringAlliance I also grabbed a Freidman IRX because of your review. Going to try with my Helix Floor first, if not I’ll look into an Eventied or Plethora.
Thank you
I love my Helix but these honestly just sound 109% better
@@superglassbucks6356 Nice!! I have Helix, and HXFX, but I'm experimenting with IRX with the H90!! I'm glad my videos have helped!
Great in-depth review. One of the best if not the best I’ve watched. Thanks for the time you put into this.
Thanks you!! It’s a fun product
Best demo of Amped 2 I've seen, very helpful! Thank you!
Wow, thanks!
Fantastic guitar playing and tones! Great demo.
Thanks Robert
Excellent video. Tones are killer!
Thanks Jeremy!!
Superb Jamie! Excellent video and track
Cheers Steve. A pleasure to demo this unit.
Nice! I'd really like to see a video on all of your EBMM Axis guitars and what mods you've had done to them and I'm sure not the only one that'd love to see that. Also loved your touring rack episodes. Love your page!!!
Thanks Kirk.. I was thinking of looking at my collection of guitars.. trying to think of a theme, and shoot short 10 minute videos on them. I’m planning another video on my rack now Helix is in..
Sir Jamie, your video made me wanna buy an Amped 2. 🤘😎
You should! Haha.. it’s a great unit
That was some really really good playing brother! Your vibrato and slow bends are very tasteful.Then there's the song great melodies and great arrangement. How you cadenced the end of each phase was very delightful. Hey what was this video for?
Thanks Charlie.. wow.. this comment made my day. Glad you liked the performance
Fantastic in depth demo and playing! What model Xsonic Airstep are you using?
Thank you!! I have both the full and Lite Airstep, but this was not the Lite version.. Not sure what its called
Fantastic vid and review. First time I've seen your content and I immediately hit that subscribe button. Would you be able to link me to your midi controller ? When I searched their webpage there were a lot of different models and I wasn't sure which one you were using. Thanks!
Cheers Ray, and thanks for the sub!! Good call, I completely over looked adding the Airstep link. That's now included along with the Blackstar board in the links section.
Great review Jamie and killer playing and tones , can amped 2 and amped 1 be connected together via midi ? I have other units so I’d be interested to know for example if I can use the effects from amped 2 with my bluguitar Iridium and all connected with a midi control,
Also are these mini midi ins/outs compatible via an adaptor for older units and controllers which have the 5pin sockets like the Marshall JMP1 and Rocktron all access? Sorry for all the questions but very interested .
I doubt connecting amped 1 and amped 2 together would work as their own stomp switched sent sending midi messages. But yes with the provided adaptor you could connect the units to other midi devices. But I think the best option is connecting to either a midi controller or a multi effect such as Helix.
@@SixStringAlliance thanks for your reply , I’d be looking to use a midi controller , I have the bluguitar iridium and between that and the amped 2 I think that would cover everything I’d ever need and really cut down on the old geer I have .
Hi Jamie great demo! I have a quick question, could be possible to use the modulation section as a simple volume boost, by lowering time and depth?
I think the best way for a solo boost would be put a graphic EQ pedal in the effects loop. Or if you run Amped 2 with a midi board, program a preset with a channel volume increase.
Alright thanks!
@@SixStringAlliancegreat advice
Great video, I plan to sell one of my valve amps and a few pedals. I replicated my AC15 in seconds when I tried one. Still not sure if I would use the boost for solos or stick an EP1 in the loop. It's funny that everyone misses the harmonic tremolo on the second half of the depth control - one of the first things i discovered!
I use the on board boost. It works great I’m playing a festival next week end.. the artist I’m playing with is headlining but it’s a fast turn around. I’ll use Amped 2 and a wireless. The effects are great!!
Great video as always. Not convinced by the tone especially the clean tones. I think the Victory V4 Amps are better tone wise but then they use an all valve preamp into a 180w power amp and Two Notes cab sims out. But as an all in one solution I can see it’s uses. But great video, love the detail and your playing is amazing as always.
I’ve not checked the Victory. I’ve known Martin since the late 90’s, as I was a very early Cornford artist. I’ll reach out to him and see if I can get one to demo. Thanks for the kind words Daniel 🎸🎸
This is a very good demo. You really didn't miss anything about this unit. My only complaint is that is was really kind of lengthy. If in the future you could condense your demo into about 20-30 minutes it would be great. Otherwise ,great demo!!
Thanks for the comment. It’s pretty hard to demo a unit properly in that time that has so many features. I include the play through tracks for those who don’t enjoy the long talking sections.
Two questions:
How to turn the onboard modules on and off?
I don't think there's an option for saving 'patches', so, do we need manual intervention for every song/part?
If you use a board such as AIRSTEP you can save patches that will switch preamp voices, plus the different types of effects, but essentially it’s a single channel amp with effects. I’ve had success with utilising AIRSTEP.
QUESTION: While the unit is connected to Architect and a MIDI controller, if you adjust the knobs on the unit will the software reflect these changes in real time?
Hi Steve, yes they do. CabRig also reflects the settings on Amped 2
Jamie, I see your taking this on a gig tour for two weeks, is it safe to say u would choose amped over two notes revolt on most future gigs? If so why, i can’t decide which one to buy and wondering if amped has enough gain on tap for what I do, covers and a lot of harder rock
For the show I’m doing this is the easiest solution. It’s does the Vox thing, plus basic effects are there so it’s just one unit. I only need one amp sound. But for things where I needed more options I’d choose Revolt, Cab M plus my HXFX. I guess you need to choose based on requirements. For my Queen inspired gigs Amped 2 is great, but it’ll have some limitations on gigs that need more amp sounds. Have you checked out Amped 3 year? Both the Amped series and Revolt are great, but very different.
@@SixStringAlliance thx for reply, great answer, was leaning toward revolt since I’m in a cover band and need a few dirt tones and combine it with my HXFX, tgat other vid sold me 🤟
@@SixStringAlliance looking very forward to an amped 3 demo thx again Jamie 🤟🙏
At first glance, it makes me think of the ISP Technologies Theta line, but clearly, this has more capabilities.
This unit is well worth checking out
Great expressive song... should be called "A Song for Dad".
Lovely Bill.. yeah it’s the first piece since Dad left. Thanks my friend
So to make sure I understand , you can change between amp styles FX and tube response via midi but not the cab response and you have to share eq across all amps is that correct ?
You can change fx’s, amps styles, tube responses, plus all parameters, gain, volume, EQ etc all via midi. You just can’t change the cab rig selection. Hopefully Blackstar will update that
@@SixStringAlliance great thank you
Could be worth a vid on that as most people aren’t aware thats possible and no reviewers cover how it’s done 👍
@@SixStringAlliance that’s interesting , I looked up the midi table in the manual and it doesn’t mention Channel EQ as a midi switchable parameter and yet the official black star promo vid says you can save full presets and recall them via an external switch
As they haven’t responded to the question it’s hard to find clear info
If you were to make a video outlining how you create save and recall a full preset including amp channel EQ preferences on a midi footswitch you would have unique and valuable content that no one else is doing .
This would answer an important question about this potentially great product that so many are asking
Cheers mate
I really hate that they didn't give you the option to save presets on the amp itself. Give you like 4 on the main footswitches or something. Clearly, the amp can do it. I think they did it purely to sell you their midi pedal seperately. Even then though, setting up tones using CC messages is a real pain in the ass, though doable.
I think it’s more to give users freedom to integrate their existing floor units. Also I set up presets with utter ease using my AIRSTEP. I don’t think you can question Blackstar giving value for money with this product, so in the grand scheme of thing investing in a cheap midi isn’t that much of a big deal. At least that’s my take one it 😊
@@SixStringAlliance I hear you, but that does sort imply it is an either/or situation rather than having presets and midi. In terms of external control, "cheap" is relative. If someone doesn't have a unit already, and the unit is close to 1/3 the price of the amp, I'm not sure I consider that cheap. The controller you use is also going to depend on your needs. If you just want to change a voice, that is fine, it is one message. But if you want to have completely different tones per patch, you need to be able to send a lot of CC's on press and many units are limited to 8 or less.
Is this a completely digital amp?
Modelled pre amp and power amp voicing, but there’s an analogue front end
No boost. Pass.
There’s a boost, overdrive or fuzz built in. So yeah there is a boost.
@@SixStringAlliance no boost. How do you jump up 6dbs in volume on the fly?