What exactly is a Sansamp ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grimtraveller
  • Start date Start date
grimtraveller

grimtraveller

If only for a moment.....
Which might seem like a daft question, I know. But if you don't know, then you don't know. And the pieces that I've read about them seem to assume that the reader does know.
Well, I don't.
So I'm asking, exactly what is a sansamp or more to the point, what exactly does it do ? How does it work ? What is the essential difference between recording with a sansamp and say, recording via an amp but using the line outs. Is the sansamp just a glorified effects pedal ?
Opinions and enlightenment please !
 
It depends on which SansAmp you're referring to...

I used to use a SansAmp (PSA1?) as -- well, that was it. The SansAmp into a Crown power amp into a 4x12 Laney cabinet. Some of the best sound I've ever had. It was a solid-state tube amp emulator with very few frills (as most tube amps) that actually sounded like a tube amp.

Direct - no so hot.
 
Massive Master said:
Some of the best sound I've ever had. It was a solid-state tube amp emulator with very few frills (as most tube amps) that actually sounded like a tube amp.

Direct - no so hot.
Click to expand...

I still have the original Tech 21 SansAmp (with the small dip switches), and I agree...it's a great sounding amp emulator, and IMO, even when going DI it sounds better than most digital emulators.
I have not used mine in years, since I now have good amp line-up to pick from...but I've held on to it "just in case" mainly becuase it did sound so good.

The times when I had to use it DI ('cuz it was very late and I couldn't play through a cab)...I would hook it up together with a Hughes & Kettner Red Box cabinet emulator DI...very nice combination.
I still have the Red Box too... :)
 
Tech21 makes a lot of things that are Sansamps. Most of them are analog modeling of tube amps. They are pretty cool, but they don't get a lot of advertisement anymore. They were the thing to have in the mid 90's.
 
Samsamp is a model line (from the company Tech 21) of guitar amp simulaters and direct boxes. Many if not most people who have used Sanamp devices to get thier guitar signal or bass signal into their chosen recording medium often claim the sound is better than the other simulations that are avaiable (such as PODs, etc.).

I have a Tech 21 TriAc (guitar amp simulation) and a Sansamp Bass Driver (direct box for bass and/or acoustic guitar).

The TriAc is no better or wrose than a POD - but I always use the Bass Driver when tracking bass guitar - I wouldn't want to track without it.
 
"Sans" is the French word for "without", FYI. You get an amp sound without the amp.
 
When referencing the bass driver, yes people are just plugging bass into sansamp then running sansamp into their interface.
 
If you show up to an audition with a Sansamp, you will be Sanswork, and end up Sansgirls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top