Tech 21 TRI-A.C Owner's Manual

POWER REQUIREMENTS

*Utilizes standard 9V alkaline battery (not included), which will provide a life

span of approx. 100 hours. NOTE: Input jack activates battery.To conserve
energy, unplug when not in use. Power Consumption: approx. 5mA.

*USE DC POWER SUPPLY ONLY! Failure to do so may damage the

unit and void warranty. DC Power Supply Specifications:

-9V DC regulated or unregulated, 100mA minimum;

-2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).

Optional factory power supply is available:Tech 21 Model #DC2.

WARNINGS:

* 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.

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. PROOF OF PURCHASE
REQUIRED. Manufacturer warrants unit to be free from defects in materials

and workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase.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 elect to repair or replace it free of charge.After warranty expires, Tech
21 will repair defective unit for a fee.

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, Inc., any weekday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST.

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

TECH 21

.

NYC

333 West 52nd Street, NY, New York 10019
212-315-1116 / Fax: [phone] / www.tech21nyc.com
©2001 Tech 21, Inc.

TECH 21, THE COMPANY

Tech 21, Inc., was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combina-

ion of a trained ear and electronics expertise. In 1989, B.Andrew Barta

incorporated Tech 21 and made his invention commercially available to

players and studios around the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™

pioneered Tube Amplifier Emulation in professional applications for re-

cording 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; a

compact, battery operable MIDI footcontroller, the MIDI Mouse; as well as

“traditional” style amplifiers for guitar and bass. Each product is thought-

fully and respectfully designed by B.Andrew Barta himself with the player

in mind. Our goal is to provide you with flexible, versatile tools to culti-

vate, 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

SansAmp TRI-A.C. combines the warmth of a 100% analog signal path
with the convenience of digital programmability in a super simple, player­friendly stomp box format.

Our proprietary technology captures the rich, natural harmonics and
sweet overdrive characteristics inherent to tube amplifiers, and does so
even at low volume. SansAmp TRI-A.C. delivers the same dynamics,
responsiveness, and sound quality of massive pro stage rigs in a portable,
programmable, 3-channel pedal.

The ease of operation allows you to make changes on the fly, at the gig,
even during your performance --without having to take this manual with
you.There are no complex formulas or numerical calculations to learn, so
SansAmp TRI-A.C. won’t get in the way of your creative flow.

Independent footswitches put your three favorite tones right at your feet,
from clean jazz to molten metal. Custom actuators provide a smooth
transition between channels for instantaneous switching, so you can dance
to the music instead of your gear.

As with each SansAmp model, the controls are designed to give you the
flexibility to obtain your desired sound, be it at home, in a local bistro or
on a world tour.

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APPLICATIONS

WITH GUITAR AMP

Run the output of SansAmp TRI-A.C. directly into the input of the power amp
input, a.k.a. “effects return,” (if applicable) of an amp. This will bypass the tone
coloring section of the pre-amp. Otherwise, run SansAmp TRI-A.C. into the
front input of an amp. Be sure to keep the Level of SansAmp TRI-A.C. close to
unity gain, so as not to overload the amp’s input, which could result in undesir­able distortion.

TO DRIVE A POWER AMP

Run the output of SansAmp TRI-A.C. into the input of a power amp with an
input sensitivity of -10dB to 0dB.Then use the master volume control of the
power amp to adjust your stage volume.

TO RECORD DIRECT

You can plug directly into the input of a mixer/recorder and use the on-board
sounds of SansAmp TRI-A.C. Bear in mind full-range systems yield a wide fre­quency response.Therefore, we suggest you start with the EQ levels of
SansAmp TRI-A.C. at 12 o’clock and increase/decrease to taste.

THE INS AND OUTS

Standard Audio Procedure:TURN (SansAmp TRI-A.C.) ON FIRST.
TURN OFF LAST. To avoid unwanted and potentially speaker-damaging

“pops” when connecting or disconnecting any equipment, always mute mix­ing board and/or turn down amp volume before plugging or unplugging!

1/4” INPUT: 1 megOhm, instrument level.Also switches battery power

on/off.To avoid battery drain, unplug when unit is not in use.

1/4” UNIVERSAL OUTPUT: Unbalanced low Z output. SansAmp’s

technologically advanced, single Universal Output is physically compatible for
any application: full range (tape, studio monitors, P.A., stereo) and limited range
(rack systems, pre-amps, head and cabinet, combos, practice amps).

SIGNAL LEVEL TO INPUT

SansAmp TRI-A.C. is designed to accommodate instrument level signals to the
Input, such as the output of a guitar, the output of a pre-amp, the output of dis­tortion pedals, etc. Signal level to Input should be close to that of a standard
electric guitar (approx -10dB / 250mV).

NOTE: Hot pickups will increase the gain structure of SansAmp TRI-A.C.

WARNING:

DO NOT run the speaker output of any amp directly into SansAmp
TRI-A.C. Severe damage to the amp and/or SansAmp TRI-A.C. may
result.

GUIDE TO CONTROLS

3 TUBE AMP CHARACTER MODES

Tweed =

Fender

®

-style
California = Mesa/Boogie®-style
British = Marshall®-style

When you select one of the 3 pre-voiced amp styles, each Character designa­tion changes the entire personality and sound configuration, not just the gain
structure and EQ. Each amplifier style has its own tonality and its own input
sensitivity. Each interacts differently to the dynamics of your playing style and
to the signal level of the instrument.

DRIVE

Adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to when the output
section of a tube amp is being pushed. Be aware that the louder your stage vol­ume, the less overdrive may be needed for sustain. Best results are achieved
when used sparingly at first, and then adjusted to taste.

Note: In keeping with true Marshall design, British mode engages a Bright Boost
capacitor on the Drive control. It will react just like a Marshall and change the
tonality according to the amount of Drive.

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