Ampete 88 User manual
Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
Ampete
88
Owner's Manual
Ampete Engineering GbR
Gutenbergstrasse 48
50823 Cologne
Germany
on 49 (0) 221 55 94 118
ax 49 (0) 221 55 94 974
mail [email protected]om
web www.ampete.com
February 2017, Firmware Versions: 88S/88S-STUDIO V2.0, 88 V0.9
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
__________________________
Ampete Engineering Gb , 2017
Ampete is a registered trademark
copyright 2017, all rights reserved
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
We all...
... produce electronic waste! It's just a question o time!
We here at Ampete Engineering are not only consumers, like you yourselves, but also engineers o electronic
products that we want to place into a modern world. Here it looks at irst glance that everything has been
invented already. But demands are getting more re ined and speci ic by the day and as in the economics, the
sports- or even spiritual world, per ormance, utility and consistency depend on small changes and nuances
in improvements. In other words we are supposed to get better every day. This is not a one way street, it's a
huge responsibility in the other hands!
For us it means more than wanting a slice o the pie. It means to review every single product we design or
its added values, to anticipate the circumstance you put it into in order to ‚simply' be able to maintain it
everywhere it has been sold to.
Today our whole li e is determined by electronics, at home, on the road, at work or vacation, in
supermarkets, concert arenas or even in natural resorts.
Today in general electronics aren`t built any longer to last! They`re cheap.
For people rom the 70ies like us it is a turning point. We grew up in a world where an electronic device is
nothing short o a masterpiece. Today 90% o electronic applications are manu actured by using robots or
exploitation in countries where `global players` celebrate the abolition o workers protection and minimum
salaries. But it doesn’t end there.
A ter an expected li e cycle, more or less short, the cheap electronic waste is gonna be ‚disposed‘ o . Dispose
might suggest that components like housing, metal and synthetics will be recycled to ind their way back into
a product. But o course o ten this is not how it is done!
I you ever heard o 'toxic city' (and I don't mean the antastic album o a great band) you probably know
what we speaking o .
It might surprise you to read this in a manual or an electronic device.
We want to make sure you understand that by purchasing an Ampete Engineering Product you will get a
device in which we put all our passion, belie and knowledge and that you get a product in the tradition o
many great people be ore us, or whom electronics were and still are wonder ul masterpieces.
But you also purchased a little piece o responsibility. Maintain your Ampete Engineering Product – we will be
here to support you, we built this to survive… possibly even us.
In case you should be aced with any issue on any day at any place somewhere in the world, we are here as
you would expect us to be.
This is not a promise, it is our view o li e.
Thanks or letting us be a part in enabling your musical world.
Yours sincerely,
Ampete
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
Table of Contents
Foreword............................................................................... 3
Introduction........................................................................... 5
Switching System Example Setups........................................... 6
88S....................................................................................... 8
88S / 88S-STUDIO System Hook-Up........................................ 10
88S-STUDIO.......................................................................... 11
Using the 88S-STUDIO with or without the remote 88R................. 12
88R....................................................................................... 13
Troubleshooting..................................................................... 15
A word on impedances........................................................... 16
Dimensions............................................................................ 19
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
Introduction
Ampete Engineering 88 Amplifier & Cabinet Switching System
The „Ampete Engineering 88“ Switching System is designed to route several Guitar or Bass Ampli iers
to several Speaker Cabinets. It covers several needs, rom the demo purpose in Music Shops, Trade
Shows or workshops to signal routing and real time switching in Recording Studios or even live music
applications. For the irst time customers have the chance to choose their avourite under a bunch o
ampli iers as well as Manu acturers are able to compare a status o an amp development, prototype or
competitor models.
The „88“ product line consists o three di erent models which can be used as a stand alone unit (88S-
STUDIO) or be combined to a massive system o many many amps and cabinets... theoretical up to 99
each!
The whole series can be operated by a central unit as the 88R REMOTE or a MIDI capable device plus
in case o the 88S-STUDIO it can be operated via the unit(s) itsel at the ront panel.
88S: The „Shop“ Switcher (see page 7)
The 88S is typically used by Music Shops or Trade Shows or demoing purpose, where a central
operating unit is needed.
It's a 2-rack unit device giving the possibility to connect 8 amps and 8 cabinets. It has a bu ered
Instrument Input or a guitar or a bass that will be automatically routed to the amp currently selected.
As the 88S has no ront panel controls it can only be operated via the 88R remote control.
88S-STUDIO: The „Studio“ Switcher (see page 11)
The 88S-STUDIO is a 2-rack unit switcher giving the possibility to connect 8 amps and 8 cabinets. It
has a bu ered Instrument Input or a guitar or a bass that will be automatically routed to the amp
currently selected.
Other than the 88S it has ront panel controls to select an amp or up to two cabinets directly at the unit
itsel . There ore it can be used as a „Standalone“ switcher that does not need necessarily the 88R
remote to be operated.
The 88S-STUDIO can be interconnected with other 88S-STUDIO units to build a larger system without
the need o a remote control 88R.
88 : The emote (see page 13)
The 88R is the remote controller or the 88 Switching System. It has a numeric keypad or selecting an
amp or up to two cabinets. It is connected to the 88S, 88S-STUDIO, or a system containing both via a
CAT5 ethernet cable. The 88R is powered via CAT5.
The following page shows some examples of how the three different models can be
combined.
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
88S
Features
–8 ampli iers selectable
–8 speaker cabs selectable, up to 2 at a time
–optional Line out or driving external power ampli iers when running W/D/W systems
–bu ered and unbu ered inputs
–ampli ier and cabinet selection without loss in sound, dynamics or noise
–no switching noises
–no switching latency
–protection circuits to prevent ampli iers rom damage
–cascadable in conjunction with other 88S, 88R or 88S-STUDIO
Front Panel
1. INPUT – buffered instrument input
The input eatures an ultra transparent bu er ampli ier, which eeds the line bus with a low
impedance signal.
In case o cascading two or more 88S/88S STUDIO each input is equal and can be used to eed
the whole system. Please make sure not to use more than one input simultaneously as the
signals will be added but the inputs signal level will be decreased dramatically.
NOTE: Because the 88S/88S-STUDIO comes with the unique eature o cascading several units,
the LINE BUS is not grounded as long as no instrument is plugged into any o a units input.
Hence we recommend to keep an instrument connected to the system, whether the system
persists o only one or more 88S/88S STUDIO.
2. DISPLAY
The display shows the number / ID o the 88S/88S-STUDIO in the system.
That way the block o 8 amps / 8 cabs is identi ied:
ID1: Amp / Cab 1-8; ID2: Amp / Cab 9-16; ID3: Amp / Cab 17-24; ID4: Amp / Cab 25-32 etc.
The ID is con igured ex actory by DIP switches in the unit and should only be changed by
authorized personnel. In case an existing unit shall be expanded with one or more units, please
get in contact with us.
NOTE: Never use more than one 88S/88S-STUDIO with the same ID in one system.
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
ear Panel
1. EMOTE O P EVIOUS SWITCHE
RJ45 connector jack or data transmission. Use a standard CAT5 cable in case you
extend the system with our remote 88R or another 88S/88S-STUDIO with the next
lower ID.
2. FOLLOWING SWITCHE
RJ45 connector jack or data transmission. Use a standard CAT5 cable in case you
extend the system with another 88S/88S-STUDIO with the next higher ID.
NOTE: Never connect the jacks (3. REMOTE OR PREVIOUS SWITCHER) o two
88S/88S-STUDIO!
3. (optional) LINE OUT
The LINE OUT jack provides a line level signal o the currently selected amp or eeding
external e ects, power amps or others. It's not intended or mixers or inter aces as it is
not requency compensated.
NOTE: Even i you are using more cascaded 88S/88S-STUDIO units, only one LINE OUT
is necessary or ALL 8, 16, 24 etc. ampli iers.
4. SPK BUS
The speaker bus provides the speaker output signal coming rom the amps or urther
88S/88S-STUDIO units. That way it is achieved that an ampli ier connected to switcher
'X' can be played through a cabinet connected to switcher 'Y'. There or link the SPK BUS
OUT jack o the very irst 88S/88S-STUDIO to the SPK OUT IN jack o the next
88S/88S-STUDIO in the system and so on.
In case you've chosen one unit with the optional LINE OUT, con igure that particular
unit as the No. 1 in the whole system.
Make sure to use speaker cables only!
5. SPEAKE CABINET (1-8)
Connect your speaker cabinets here. No matter which cabinets you choose, rom 1x12“ to
4x12“ with every impedance everything is possible, but consider not to exceed the power
handling o the speaker cabinet to avoid any damage to the speakers and/or the ampli ier.
The 88S/88S-STUDIO does not compensate any impedance issues.
Make sure to use speaker cables only!
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Owner's Manual 88 Switching System
6. AMPS SPEAKE OUTPUT (1-8)
Connect one loudspeaker/cabinet/amp output o each ampli ier to one o the jacks 1-8. Be
aware that these jacks are NOT independent but they correspond to the number o AMP
INPUT jacks o your 88S/88S-STUDIO . The maximum power may not exceed 300W. Use
speaker cables only!
Make sure to use speaker cables only!
7. LINE BUS
Similar to the SPK BUS the LINE BUS provides the instrument signal coming rom one o the
INPUTs to every 88S/88S-STUDIO in the system and hence every connected ampli ier.
There or the LINE BUS OUT o the irst 88S/88S-STUDIO has to be connected to the LINE
BUS IN o the ollowing 88S/88S-STUDIO etc.
NOTE: You can use the LINE BUS IN as an unbu ered input when using external preamps.
Make sure to use high quality instrument cables only and be aware that the cable lengths
between the switchers in the system are summed.
8. AMPS INST UMENT INPUT
Connect one instrument input o each connected ampli ier to one o the jacks 1-8. Best i
you proceed the hook up amp by amp (unlike to at irst connecting 8 inputs, then the 8
outputs) to avoid mixing up in- and outputs o di erent ampli iers.
This is the most sensitive connection when setting up the 88S/88S-STUDIO, again make
sure to use high quality instrument cables!
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Table of contents
