What is a poweramp and a rack?
- Thread starter emilio
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Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
A "rack", more commonly known as 19-inch rack mount, is just a frame that has mounting holes 19" apart. Its made so that one can create their own modular system. They're mainly used in industry, but they caught on for awhile in consumer apps also.
A rack amp is just an amplifier thats made with rack-mount ears. Look at all these amps from Crown. They're all rack mount. There's quite a bit of guitar stuff built that way also. Mostly effects units, but some amps and preamps also.
The bottom line is, its just a way to easily custom build your own system.
A "rack", more commonly known as 19-inch rack mount, is just a frame that has mounting holes 19" apart. Its made so that one can create their own modular system. They're mainly used in industry, but they caught on for awhile in consumer apps also.
A rack amp is just an amplifier thats made with rack-mount ears. Look at all these amps from Crown. They're all rack mount. There's quite a bit of guitar stuff built that way also. Mostly effects units, but some amps and preamps also.
The bottom line is, its just a way to easily custom build your own system.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
Not exactly. A "head" is a preamp and amp in one unit. To do a rack equivalent you'ld need a preamp and an amp. For example, a Marshall JMP-1 and a Mesa 20:20. Those two together, (and a rack enclosure), would be like a head.
The thing is, lets say you loved the JMP-1, and used it with the Mesa 20:20. Then later, you wanted more power. You could just substitute in a Mesa 90:90 . . . or a Crown iT4000 - if you wanted 4000 watts.
Not exactly. A "head" is a preamp and amp in one unit. To do a rack equivalent you'ld need a preamp and an amp. For example, a Marshall JMP-1 and a Mesa 20:20. Those two together, (and a rack enclosure), would be like a head.
The thing is, lets say you loved the JMP-1, and used it with the Mesa 20:20. Then later, you wanted more power. You could just substitute in a Mesa 90:90 . . . or a Crown iT4000 - if you wanted 4000 watts.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
Imagine a rack unit comprised of the Valvulator and a Crown iT-8000. Three channels . . . 8000 watts. :eek13:
Imagine a rack unit comprised of the Valvulator and a Crown iT-8000. Three channels . . . 8000 watts. :eek13:
emilio
New member
brit84
Active member
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
yes, look at the mesa boogie website for what you would need for example (other companies make rack systems though),
-they have a preamp unit called a triaxis and another called a rectifier recording preamp.
-the poweramp unit might be a mesa 20:20 (which means it is a stereo amp, 20 watts per side) or 90:90. or you can find another power unit. both preamp and poweramp sections come in tube or solidstate format depending on manufacturer/application.
-with a rack you can add rack effects, these are almost the same as those pedals but are mounted in the rack enclosure, they usually have way more options too.
for example, my friend plays a Mesa Boogie triaxis preamp into a peavey effect unit then into a (i think) Behringer solidstate poweramp, then into his speakers.
hope this helps
yes, look at the mesa boogie website for what you would need for example (other companies make rack systems though),
-they have a preamp unit called a triaxis and another called a rectifier recording preamp.
-the poweramp unit might be a mesa 20:20 (which means it is a stereo amp, 20 watts per side) or 90:90. or you can find another power unit. both preamp and poweramp sections come in tube or solidstate format depending on manufacturer/application.
-with a rack you can add rack effects, these are almost the same as those pedals but are mounted in the rack enclosure, they usually have way more options too.
for example, my friend plays a Mesa Boogie triaxis preamp into a peavey effect unit then into a (i think) Behringer solidstate poweramp, then into his speakers.
hope this helps
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
With racks and poweramps a person has made a conscious decision to adopt a more processed sound. The idea being that a rack allows you to add multiple multi-effect units and preamps. Rather then the standard guitar chord amplifier setup. Rackmount preamps usually have a large number of memory patches where you can store multiple setups for different sounds. Also rackmount effects units have dozens of different effects to choose from and memory patches to store your settings.
Rack gear can be more versatile since your not relying on just one amp or set of effects. But the downside is often that the signal chain becomes weak or overly complicated and not easy to switch when playing live.
Here's my rack from top to bottom:
Power conditioner - Provides power and filters out mains born noise.
ADA mp-1 - tube preamp distortion mostly some cleans 128 memory settings.
Yamaha GEP50 - Old unit with a few cool effects by and large obsolete and low fi. I use it for compression.
Behringer parametric EQ - I boost here a trim there.
Korg SDD-1000 - Delay and modulation. Used .000001% of the time.
Digitech DSP256 - I use one reverb program but there are 128 different effects!
BBE unimax - Clean up the dirt from the long signal chain and add some punch.
Audio Logic Harmonic Generator - Add a little sparkle.
I maybe only need two or three good modern multifunction units the rest are pretty much obsolescent. Power amps are usually chosen to provide amplification without coloration.
With racks and poweramps a person has made a conscious decision to adopt a more processed sound. The idea being that a rack allows you to add multiple multi-effect units and preamps. Rather then the standard guitar chord amplifier setup. Rackmount preamps usually have a large number of memory patches where you can store multiple setups for different sounds. Also rackmount effects units have dozens of different effects to choose from and memory patches to store your settings.
Rack gear can be more versatile since your not relying on just one amp or set of effects. But the downside is often that the signal chain becomes weak or overly complicated and not easy to switch when playing live.
Here's my rack from top to bottom:
Power conditioner - Provides power and filters out mains born noise.
ADA mp-1 - tube preamp distortion mostly some cleans 128 memory settings.
Yamaha GEP50 - Old unit with a few cool effects by and large obsolete and low fi. I use it for compression.
Behringer parametric EQ - I boost here a trim there.
Korg SDD-1000 - Delay and modulation. Used .000001% of the time.
Digitech DSP256 - I use one reverb program but there are 128 different effects!
BBE unimax - Clean up the dirt from the long signal chain and add some punch.
Audio Logic Harmonic Generator - Add a little sparkle.
I maybe only need two or three good modern multifunction units the rest are pretty much obsolescent. Power amps are usually chosen to provide amplification without coloration.
Last edited:
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
racks do not have to be tubes - solid state can get the job done quite nicely as well - this one is mine - no tubes - sweet tone ...
and it doesnt have to mean 'processed' any more than a guy with a boat load of footpedals is processed ... it's all in how they are set up
t4d
racks do not have to be tubes - solid state can get the job done quite nicely as well - this one is mine - no tubes - sweet tone ...
and it doesnt have to mean 'processed' any more than a guy with a boat load of footpedals is processed ... it's all in how they are set up
t4d
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
Rack mount systems are mostly used in studios ,or on gigs with strong roadies^^
Modern rack mount systems are mostly MIDI controled ,so you can use just 1 midi floor board and control millions of possibilities.
Rack systems ,better said rack pre-amps are mostly made for recording .Since you don't need to krank everything to get the only right tone ,you can change many parameters to fit your style and needs.
But nothing is lik just plug and play on a 4x12...Every gear has its right place!And racks are mostly very happy in studios.(i mean mostly towers)
BTW ,you can change the signal chain ,or just arrange as you like.You don't need to put the modulation for the input jack on your amp ,you can just decide wich effect goes first.And that is a great possibility to change your sound as you like !
And ,people like Petrucci are using their amp heads as a part of their rack system!
Rack mount systems are mostly used in studios ,or on gigs with strong roadies^^
Modern rack mount systems are mostly MIDI controled ,so you can use just 1 midi floor board and control millions of possibilities.
Rack systems ,better said rack pre-amps are mostly made for recording .Since you don't need to krank everything to get the only right tone ,you can change many parameters to fit your style and needs.
But nothing is lik just plug and play on a 4x12...Every gear has its right place!And racks are mostly very happy in studios.(i mean mostly towers)
BTW ,you can change the signal chain ,or just arrange as you like.You don't need to put the modulation for the input jack on your amp ,you can just decide wich effect goes first.And that is a great possibility to change your sound as you like !
And ,people like Petrucci are using their amp heads as a part of their rack system!
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
Oh Sorry!:blackeye:
The difference is like a game console and a Computer with 2 graffic accelerators!
The console is the amp.You can go whereever you want easier (mostly) ,it's plug in and rock!It's really fun to play and mostly it is a better result.
The computer is more complex ,gives you more abilities ,but sometimes is not that fun to play with ,the colors are mostly not as vivid or real as on consoles ,and it needs more tweaking...installing ,graphic options and blah.
There are many games with the same title for both ,and they look similar.But if you know the game ,you know the difference!!!
Is it still complex?
Oh Sorry!:blackeye:
The difference is like a game console and a Computer with 2 graffic accelerators!
The console is the amp.You can go whereever you want easier (mostly) ,it's plug in and rock!It's really fun to play and mostly it is a better result.
The computer is more complex ,gives you more abilities ,but sometimes is not that fun to play with ,the colors are mostly not as vivid or real as on consoles ,and it needs more tweaking...installing ,graphic options and blah.
There are many games with the same title for both ,and they look similar.But if you know the game ,you know the difference!!!
Is it still complex?
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Kommerzbassist
Thunderbirdologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
Nice... there's only one problem... you can't tell me a console gives you better graphics than a PC with two ATI Radeon 1900XTXs with X-Fire... lol no way man. :smack: Ok now back to topic.
Nice... there's only one problem... you can't tell me a console gives you better graphics than a PC with two ATI Radeon 1900XTXs with X-Fire... lol no way man. :smack: Ok now back to topic.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: What is a poweramp and a rack?
My bass rig rack:
In this case, the head is mounted into the rack with the tuner and power supply.
Yes, it's a Rack Rider.
My bass rig rack:
In this case, the head is mounted into the rack with the tuner and power supply.
Yes, it's a Rack Rider.
