Blackstar HT VENUE Series - User Manual

Blackstar Amplification Ltd, Beckett House, 14 Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5AW, UK
For the latest information go to: www.blackstaramps.com
Whilst the information contained herein is correct at the time of publication, due to our policy of constant improvement
and development, Blackstar Amplification Ltd reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice.
Designed and Engineered by
Blackstar Amplication UK
Owner’s Manual
For

Summary

Introduction to CabRig

System Requirements

Windows System Requirements

Specifies hardware and OS requirements for running Architect software on Windows.

Apple Mac System Requirements

Details hardware and OS specifications needed for Architect software on Apple Mac.

Power Amp Emulation

Two Cab Channel Strips

Explains using two channel strips for separate cab, mic, and EQ configurations.

CabRig Configuration

Cabinet and Microphone Selection

Covers selecting virtual cabinets and microphones for sound shaping.

EQ and Mix Controls

Channel EQ Explained

Details the LOW-CUT, LOW, LOW MIDS, HIGH MIDS, HIGH, and HI-CUT EQ parameters.

Mix Controls

Explains using PAN sliders and channel faders for balancing and mixing signals.

Room and Width Selection

Room Selection

Guides on choosing room ambience, including 'Damped' options for refined sound.

Width Selection

Details stereo width options (Mono, Stereo, Wide) for ambience simulation.

Master Settings

Master EQ

Explains the Master EQ for overall tone shaping and its bypass function.

Patches and Presets

Describes using Blackstar Presets and saving/loading local patches via software.

Presets and Management

Local Patches

Explains saving, loading, and organizing custom patches on your computer.

Settings Panel

Covers audio settings, Reverb Time, and Reverb Tails customization.

Output and System Controls

CabRig Out Level

Controls the output level for XLR, Line Out, and USB audio channels.

About Information

Displays general information about the amplifier and software.

Reset and Firmware

Covers resetting patches and performing firmware upgrades.

Audio Outputs

BALANCED XLR CabRig Output

Details the XLR output for connecting to audio interfaces or mixing desks.

Line Out;Phones Stereo CabRig Output

Details the 1/4" TRS stereo output for recording devices, mixers, or headphones.

USB Audio Connectivity

USB AUDIO Socket Functionality

Explains the USB connection for digital audio output and software interaction.

USB Audio Channels

Details the four simultaneous audio channels available via USB.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

The provided document is an owner's manual for the Blackstar CABRIG Simulator, designed for the HT Venue Series MK III amplifiers. This simulator is a next-generation DSP speaker simulator that aims to bring professional-grade sound engineering capabilities to musicians.

Function Description

The Blackstar CABRIG Simulator is an advanced digital signal processing (DSP) system integrated into the HT Venue MK III series amplifiers. Its primary function is to emulate speaker cabinets and microphones, allowing users to achieve high-quality live and recorded guitar tones that were previously only accessible through professional studios. The simulator works in conjunction with Blackstar's Architect software, which provides extensive control over every aspect of the CabRig system.

The core of the CabRig system involves power amp emulation. Before the signal enters the CabRig processing, it undergoes power amp emulation meticulously designed to match the feel and response of the physical power amp in the HT Venue MK III. This emulated signal is taken before the physical master volume control, meaning the CabRig outputs are unaffected by the amplifier's master volume. Instead, the amount of power amp drive can be adjusted within the Architect software, allowing users to control the saturation and compression of the emulated sound.

CabRig offers a vast selection of virtual gear, including 23 distinct speaker cabinets and 6 industry-standard microphones. Users can choose between different cabinet types or select a "DI" (Direct Injection) option for a direct power amp output, useful for third-party Impulse Response (IR) loaders. For microphones, there are options like Dynamic (57, 421), Condenser (67, 414), and Ribbon (121, 160), each offering unique tonal characteristics. The axis of the microphone can also be toggled (on/off axis) to further shape the tone, generally darkening it and shifting the mid-range character when off-axis.

A key feature of CabRig is its dual-channel capability, allowing users to run two separate cabinet, microphone, and EQ combinations simultaneously. Each channel strip provides controls for crafting and controlling the virtual cabinets.

The system also includes comprehensive EQ sections. There are individual channel EQs for each cab and mic combination, which can be bypassed for quick comparison. These EQs include a 2nd order high pass filter (LO-CUT), a low shelf filter at 120Hz (LOW), peak filters at 400Hz (LOW MIDS) and 1KHz (HIGH MIDS), a high shelf filter at 4KHz (HIGH), and a 2nd order low pass filter (HI-CUT). Additionally, a Master EQ is available to shape the overall tone of the entire CabRig configuration, with similar filter types. EQ presets are provided to offer starting points for tone shaping, acting like a virtual sound engineer.

Room ambience simulation is another integral part of CabRig. Users can select different room types (Small, Medium, Large, with "Damped" options for a shorter, more refined sound) to add spatial depth to their cab and mic selections. The stereo width of the room ambience can also be adjusted, emulating different micing techniques like mono, XY pair, and spaced pair, with a "Wide" setting for an expansive stereo image.

The CabRig system provides various audio outputs. The BALANCED - Mono XLR CabRig OUTPUT offers a low-noise, high-quality connection for recording or live use, providing a summed mono mix of the fully processed guitar sound with power amp and CabRig emulation. The Line Out/Phones - Stereo CabRig Output, a 1/4" TRS jack, provides a stereo connection for recording devices, mixing desks, or headphones, delivering the full stereo CabRig mix. Both these outputs are derived before the physical power amp, so the amplifier's Master control does not affect their signal level.

The USB AUDIO Socket provides digital audio output for recording and connecting to the CabRig software. It offers four independent, simultaneous audio channels:

1. Channel 1 (Stereo emulated, left channel): Fully processed guitar sound with CabRig speaker cabinet emulation (left channel of the main CabRig output).
2. Channel 2 (Stereo emulated, right channel): Fully processed guitar sound with CabRig speaker cabinet emulation (right channel of the main CabRig output).
3. Channel 3 (Raw cab and mic selection of CAB 1): Signal taken straight from the microphone, without EQ, mix controls, or room.
4. Channel 4 (Raw cab and mic selection of CAB 2): Signal taken straight from the microphone, without EQ, mix controls, or room. These channels can be recorded simultaneously in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

Usage Features

The CabRig Simulator is primarily controlled and configured via Blackstar's Architect software, which runs on a computer (Windows or Apple Mac). The software provides a graphical user interface for intuitive control over all CabRig parameters.

Getting Started:

• Users need to connect their HT Venue MK III amplifier to a computer via a USB cable.
• The Architect software requires specific system requirements (e.g., 64-bit Windows or Mac OS X 10.9+, 1GB RAM, 1GB free HDD space, minimum 1366x768 display resolution, and an internet connection for the Online Community).
• Once connected, Architect allows access to the CabRig interface.

Tone Shaping Workflow:

1. Power Amp Drive: Adjust the POWER AMP DRIVE control within Architect to set the desired level of saturation and compression from the emulated power amp.
2. Cabinet Selection: Choose from 23 virtual speaker cabinets or the DI option using the Cabinet Selection panel.
3. Microphone Selection: Select one of the 6 industry-standard microphones for each virtual cabinet and toggle its axis (on/off) for different tonal flavors.
4. Dual Cab Channel Strips: Utilize the two independent channel strips to combine different cabinet, microphone, and EQ settings.
5. Channel EQs: Fine-tune the tone of each cab and mic combination using the LO-CUT, LOW, LOW MIDS, HIGH MIDS, HIGH, and HI-CUT filters. EQ presets are available as starting points.
6. Mix Controls: Continuously pan each cab and mic selection with PAN sliders and balance their levels using channel faders. Solo or mute buttons allow isolation or silencing of individual cabs.
7. Room Ambience: Select a room type (Small, Medium, Large, Damped options) and adjust its stereo width (Mono, Stereo, Wide) to add spatial realism.
8. Master EQ: Apply overall tonal adjustments to the entire CabRig configuration using the Master EQ.

Presets and Patches:

• Blackstar Presets: A collection of pre-installed patches created by Blackstar, serving as excellent starting points for tone exploration.
• Local Patches: Users can save their customized CabRig settings as "Local Patches" on their computer (Documents - Blackstar - Saved Patches). These can be recalled by double-clicking or right-clicking in the patches panel. Users can organize these patches into custom folders.
• Device Patches: These are patches currently loaded on the amplifier, selectable via the CabRig switch on the amp. Users can save their current CabRig settings to one of these "Device Patches" using the "Save Patch to Device" option in Architect.

Audio Output Management:

• The CabRig Out Level control in Architect allows physical control over the XLR, Line Out, and USB audio channel 3 output levels, attenuating the signal by up to 20dB at minimum settings.
• For recording, the USB audio output provides four distinct channels for flexible routing in a DAW, allowing for stereo emulated sound, raw cab/mic signals, and DI tracks.

Maintenance Features

The manual outlines several features related to the maintenance and management of the CabRig system and the amplifier's firmware.

Settings Panel:

• Accessible via a gear icon in Architect, the settings panel allows users to adjust audio settings. Changes made here update automatically but are not permanently saved to the amp unless "Save Amp Settings" is clicked.
• Reverb Time: The reverb time and tone for both Clean and Overdrive channels can be customized independently using sliders and saved to the amp.
• Reverb Tails: Reverb tails can be toggled on or off via a drop-down menu.

Firmware Upgrade:

• When a firmware upgrade for the amplifier is available, Architect will automatically prompt the user upon connection to the amp. On-screen instructions guide the user through the upgrade process. This ensures the amplifier and CabRig system stay up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.

Reset Default Patches and Settings:

• Users can restore the default factory CabRig patches and settings to their amplifier at any time. This is done through the 'General' settings panel within Architect by clicking 'Restore Patches and Settings'.
• Important Note: This process will overwrite any user content previously saved to the amplifier, so users should back up any custom patches they wish to keep.

System Requirements:

• The manual clearly lists the minimum hardware and software requirements for running Architect on both Windows and Apple Mac systems. While systems not meeting these specifications might still run Architect, they will not be actively supported by Blackstar. This information helps users ensure their computer environment is suitable for optimal performance and support.

Connectivity Guidelines:

• The manual provides tips for connecting the amplifier to a computer via USB, emphasizing the use of a main USB port (often found on the rear of the computer or side of the laptop) for stable connection.
• It also offers guidance on low-latency USB recording and directs users to the Blackstar website for more information, aiding in troubleshooting and optimizing recording setups.

Overall, the Blackstar CABRIG Simulator is designed to be a powerful and flexible tool for guitarists, offering extensive control over their tone in both live and recording scenarios, with user-friendly software for management and maintenance.

Blackstar HT VENUE Series Specifications