Tech 21 NYC Sansamp PSA 2.0 User Manual

POWER REQUIREMENTS

Utilizes included 9V DC, 100-240V universal auto-switching power
supply, 200mA, center negative.

NOTE: See page 3 for instructions how to change the prong
assembly.

Tech 21 Model #DC9.

For replacements, contact your local dealer/distributor, or Tech 21.
Maximum power consumption: approx 70mA.

ARNINGS:

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* There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Attempting to repair unit is

not recommended and may void warranty.

* Missing or altered serial numbers automatically void warranty. For

your own protection: be sure serial number labels on the unit’s back
plate and exterior box are intact, and return your warranty
registration card or register online.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to com­ply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to pro-

vide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communica­tions. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer­ence to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to cor­rect the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARRANTY:

ONE YEAR LIMITED. PROOF OF PURCHASE REQUIRED.

Manufacturer warrants unit to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase to the original
purchaser and is not transferable. This warranty does not include dam­age resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, or incorrect cur­rent or voltage. If unit becomes defective within warranty period, Tech
21 will repair or replace it free of charge. After expiration, Tech 21 will
repair defective unit for a fee.

REPAIRS:

ALL REPAIRS for residents of U.S. and Canada: Call Tech 21 for
Return Authorization Number. Manufacturer will not accept

packages without prior authorization, pre-paid freight (UPS preferred)
and proper insurance.

FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE & SERVICE:

Contact Tech 21 weekdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST: 973-777-6996.

Hand-built in the U.S.A. using high-quality components
sourced domestically and around the globe.

T: 973-777-6996 • F: 973-777-9899
E: [e-mail] • W: tech21nyc .com
©2019 Tech 21 USA, Inc.

OWNER’S MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tech 21, the Company 2
SansAmp PSA 2.0 Overview 2
Quick Start Instructions 3
Universal Power Supply 3
Applications 4
Ins and Outs 4
Guide to Controls 5
Displays & Switches 6
Programming
Saving a Program 7
Moving/Copying a Program 7
Tweaking an Existing Setting 7
Locating Individual Control Values 8
Performance Mode 8
MIDI IN 9
Speaker Simulation 9
Special Page Functions & MIDI Implementation 10
Function 1: Reserved for Future Use 10
Function 2: Define MIDI Mapping 11
Function 3: 0-127 / 1-128 Patch Offset 12
Function 4: Preset Protection Writer 12
Function 5: MIDI Channel Select 13
Function 6: Software Revision Number 13
Function 7: Edit Pot Display Mode 14
Function 8: Disengage All Pots 14
Function 9: Reserved for Future Use 14
Noteworthy Notes 15
Noteworthy Options 16
Factory Presets 17
Custom Settings Checklist 18
Custom Settings Diagrams 19-22
Power Requirements Back Cover
Warnings Back Cover
Warranty & Repair Information Back Cover

TECH 21, THE COMPANY

ech 21 was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination

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of a trained ear and electronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta
made his invention commercially available to players and studios around
the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pioneered Tube Amplifier
Emulation in professional applications for recording direct and per­forming live, and created an entirely new category of signal processing.
There have since been many entries into this niche, yet SansAmp contin­ues to maintain its reputation as the industry standard.

With a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals
and MIDI products, as well as “traditional” style amplifiers for guitar
and bass. Each product is thoughtfully and respectfully designed by B.
Andrew Barta himself with the player in mind. Our goal is to provide
flexible, versatile tools to cultivate, control, refine and redefine your
own individual sound. Tech 21 takes great pride in delivering consistent
quality sound, studio to studio, club to club, arena to arena.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Originally introduced in 1993, the SansAmp PSA-1 rackmount, and later
PSA-1.1, quickly became studio staples. The SansAmp PSA has been
used on thousands of major releases, worldwide tours and film sound­tracks for multiple applications and instruments --including horns, vo­cals, and drums.

Sadly, necessity forced retirement from production, as certain key parts
were no longer available. We realized this was an opportunity not only
to redesign it, but to streamline its architecture into a pedal.

The SansAmp PSA 2.0 offers the same 100% analog circuitry for
punchy, responsive, organic sounds that bring out the best in any instru­ment. Only the programming and memory sections are digital. It also
offers the same essential functionality and versatility.

In the studio, you can record direct, enhance existing tracks in mixdowns, as
well as add interesting touches to any instrument. Live, the SansAmp PSA 2.0
can be used as a pre-amp direct into a power amp with guitar or bass speaker
cabinets, as a “monster direct box” to a P.A. system (or both simultaneously),
and as an outboard processor. Additionally,
ance Mode, which turns it into a 3-channel stompbox.

The SansAmp PSA includes MIDI capability for calling up programs and storing
program data. There are 49 factory presets and 77 memory locations to store
your own custom sounds, plus two bypass programs. When you switch be­tween programs, there is no lag time, or “cutting out.”

the PSA 2.0 features a Perform-

The controls work very much like those found on a sophisticated amp. You
don’t need any special training or a degree in physics to operate your unit. Stor­ing and recalling programs is simple: set your tones and push the Save button.
When you turn a knob, you hear the difference immediately --in real time. The
rotation of each control increases and decreases in a smooth, gradual, linear
fashion.

The SansAmp PSA 2.0 is designed to provide you with the flexibility to find al­most any conceivable tonal personality within the tube amplifier sound spec­trum.

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Here’s how you can get your SansAmp PSA up and running before you read the

ntire manual.

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1. Plug your instrument into the Input jack.

2. Plug one end of a cord into the Output jack, and plug the other end into the
input of a mixer or an amp or power amp.

3. Attach the power supply and plug into a wall socket. It will show 00, bypass.
(If it doesn’t, just go to 00.)

4. Turn on your amp or mixer. (If the mixer is patched into a monitor or
recorder setup, make sure the power amp and speakers are turned on, too.)

5. Turn up the input level on your amp or mixer. If the signal is too “hot,” result-

ng in unwanted distortion, or too weak, check the amp’s or mixer’s input con-

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trol. Also check the Trim control on the SansAmp PSA.

6. Play your favorite riff or chord changes, and you should hear a sound coming
through your system. If not, recheck your connections, and make sure your guitar’s
volume control is turned up.

7. Select a program by pushing either the Up or Down buttons. The unit is
shipped with the first 49 programs (01-49) as factory presets (refer to the list
on page 22). Programs 51-99 are duplicates of presets 01-49. From 100-127, all
knobs are preset neutral at 12 o’clock. Programs 00 and 50 are permanent by­pass settings. For more details, refer to “Programming” on pages 7-8.

UNIVERSAL POWER SUPPLY

The SansAmp PSA is shipped with a power supply that is set up with a
U.S. prong assembly. To change the prong assembly to one of the in­cluded European, UK or Australia/New Zealand styles, be sure the
power supply is unplugged and follow these instructions:

Press the PUSH switch to release the
prong assembly. Slide the assembly up
(about halfway) to align the side tabs
of the prong assembly with the slots of
the power supply housing. Then pull up
to remove the assembly. Choose the
new prong assembly, align the side tabs
with the slot of the housing and slide
down until it clicks into position.

QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS

PPLICATIONS

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WITH A GUITAR OR BASS AMP RIG:

-As a Pre-Amp: Run the 1/4” Output of the PSA directly into the

power amp input, a.k.a. “effects return” (if applicable), of an amp. This
will bypass the tone-coloring pre-amp section of the amp rig.

-As a Stomp Box: Run the 1/4” Output into the front input of an

mp. For best results, keep the PSA Level close to unity gain so you

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have the same volume coming from your speaker/monitor whether the
pedal is active or in bypass. This ensures the next device in the signal
chain won't get slammed by a much hotter signal than what would nor­mally come from the instrument. Similarly, you wouldn't want a drop in
volume, either, which would force the next device to struggle for
enough signal.

TO DRIVE A POWER AMP: Run the 1/4” Output to the input
of a power amp, and adjust your stage volume with the Level and/or
Trim control(s) of the PSA.

TO RECORD DIRECT: Plug the 1/4” Output directly into the input
of a mixer/recorder. Work with the input trim control on the
mixer/recorder and be sure not to overload its input. Bear in mind full­range systems yield a wide frequency response.

FOR MIXDOWNS: You can liven up existing tracks in mixdowns
not only for guitar and bass, but for any stringed instruments, as well as
drums, wind instruments, even vocals. We encourage experimentation!
Be aware the PSA 2.0 runs at instrument level. You may need to adjust
the level at the board or the setting on the PSA so as not to overload
the input.

THE INS AND OUTS

1/4” INPUT: 1megOhm instrument level. Features an impedance
buffer so that the tone from a guitar’s or bass’ pickups, or the signal
from other instruments, reaches the SansAmp PSA without degrada­tion. For normal operation, signal level to Input should be close to that
of a standard guitar (approximately -10dBm / 250mV).

NOTE: You cannot slide the
prong assembly all the way out
or in.

1/4” UNIVERSAL OUTPUT: Unbalanced low Z output. This

output can be connected to High Z amplifiers (or effects) as well as Low
Z mixer and computer inputs. Output level is unity gain when pedal is in bypass
mode. It also drives long cables without loss of signal integrity, even in bypass.

NOTE: The 1/4” Output is a TRS jack. The complete SansAmp signal is
passed through the tip, while the ring connection carries the SansAmp signal
without speaker simulation. Refer to the Speaker Simulation section on
page 9.

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GUIDE TO CONTROLS

The SansAmp PSA gives you access to specific tone-shaping characteristics
within the tube amplifier sound spectrum. The controls offer tremendous flexi­bility in adjusting tonality, gain structure, and harmonic content. Controls of this
nature are traditionally inaccessible on stock amps and adjustments like these
are ordinarily achieved only by professional permanent modification.

Tonality, for instance, can be adjusted in a variety of ways. Buzz, Punch, Crunch,
and Drive offer different results than the post EQ section (Low and High).

Gain structure can be adjusted via the Gain control, which results in a different
kind of overdrive than the Drive control. Additionally, Buzz, Punch, and Crunch
each affect the gain structure within specific frequency bands.

As you experiment and become familiar with the interrelationship of the con­trols, you’ll be able to customize your own sounds and store them in the
SansAmp PSA’s memory.

GAIN

This is the input sensitivity control. It adjusts the signal level going into the
input section of the SansAmp PSA.

BUZZ

Controls the low-end break-up and overdrive. You can boost the effect by turning
clockwise from the center point indicated by the arrow, and cut by turning counter­clockwise. When you turn towards maximum, the sound becomes (you guessed it)
buzzy. For a clean setting, increase the setting in small increments. For increased
definition when using distortion, position the knob at its midpoint or towards mini­mum.

PUNCH

Sets the amount of midrange break-up and overdrive. Boost or cut from the
center point indicated by the arrow. Decreasing from the center point pro­duces a softer, Fender
heavier distortion. At maximum, it produces a sound similar to a wah pedal at
mid-boost position placed in front of a Marshall

®

-style break-up. Increasing its setting creates a harder,

®

amp.

DISPLAY AND SWITCHES

3-DIGIT LED DISPLAY

Because the SansAmp PSA is fully programmable, everything you do
is monitored by its internal processor. And everything you need to
know is in these three digits. This display is readable from any angle,
in daylight or darkness. It tells you which program is active, whether
any knob’s setting has been changed, when a program is stored, and when MIDI
functions have been activated. (Refer to the sections on programming your
SansAmp PSA and using MIDI for specific information regarding the display’s

unctions.)

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SAVE SWITCH

The Save switch stores your custom settings in the memory of the SansAmp
PSA. It also gives you access to the Special Page function menu (see page 10).

UP ANDDOWN FOOTSWITCHES

Pushing either of these switches once counts up or down through the pro­grams one at a time. Holding the switch down moves quickly through the pro­gram numbers.

ACTIVE / SEARCH FOOTSWITCH

Allows you to alternate between two modes:

Active Mode:

Depressing the Up or Down footswitch allows you to step-scroll by in­creasing or decreasing the program number one at a time.

Search Mode:

The LED numerical display flashes. Depressing and holding the Up or
Down footswitch allows you to speed-scroll to a desired location -­without sending any program change information. Depressing the Ac­tive/Search footswitch a second time re-engages the Active mode and
instantly changes to the program desired.

CRUNCH

Controls the top-end break-up and crunch. Boost or cut from the center
point indicated by the arrow. Increasing from the center point brings out upper
harmonic content and pick attack. Decreasing from the center point warms up
brittle single coil pickups.

DRIVE

Like the volume control on a non-master-volume tube amp, Drive increases the
amount of power amp distortion. In live applications, we recommend using less
Drive than when direct recording. This compensates for the natural sustain
achieved at high volumes.

LOW AND HIGH

Active shelving EQs, cut or boost ±18dB from unity gain at 12 o’clock, with
pivot point at 1kHz.

LEVEL

Adjusts the output level.

TRIM

For live performances, this control globally adjusts the level of all presets so
you don’t have to individually adjust each setting on stage. Be aware that if you
have any settings with the Level programmed close to/at minimum or maxi­mum, the Trim pot will not be as effective.

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