savilior

I have the same dilemma. You can switch channels with a the simple two button footswitch but that will not be flexible as changing presets on say HX Stomp and simultaneously sending a change preset via MIDI to the Catalyst. So MIDI is the easiest best way. But you must have a host for the 60W. I thought of the AirStep but price / features compared to the Catalyst 60 cost is ridicules. XSonic simply price too high. There are cheaper single purpose MIDI Host box solutions. However they come (as with any other solution) with the additional problem of - needs a separate power source as MIDI-B connection for devices is without power. It can be easily achieved connecting the host to a USB charger or battery bank but phew.. why couldn't they just power it with the MIDI power? It is possible as CME do with some of their WIDI devices. Now speaking of CME, as they do WIDI it poses a whole new area which is really frustrating. 2022 and we are still having to rely heavily on old MIDI DIN and cable spaghetti. At the minimum a normal two ways MIDI over USB-C should have been adopted by any current hardware manufacturer. Or better still built-in WIDI on new devices. But anyway, if not - at least cheap WIDI convertors. No - it seems that we are in the middle ages. So until the renaissance we have to pay ridicules amounts or opt for the Catalyst 100 but still be tethered.

Got the 60 last week 3/30. I must say I don't understand some negative posts. This is a plug in & play 2ch amp with a variety of the best of breed sounds and they are amazingly good. Great flexibility with XLR, fx send return... great fx thrown in, so light, small, loud and 300$ cheap. What not to love? See, I have a 70s Marshall 100W Super Bass with 4X15 CAB and 4X12 creambacks CAB. It's the best but not dragging it around. I have a 70s Fender Deluxe Reverb it is amazing but still quite heavy, not dragging this one for every week rehearsals. Also to loud to practice at home, as with all valves at low volume the sound is lost. The Catalyst 60 I can rehearse at home, at 3AM 3W, with a baby sleeping with headphones - and the sound stays consistent. In that respect FRFR? no! They are not AMP in the Room. I do have the PowerCab but it is not compatible with rotating bands gear. I play regularly at collage so I have to settle every week with whatever is there at the time (various small AMPs they have) which drives me nuts as I have to readjust to every amp to get my sound which doesn't happen more often than does. The Catalyst 60 is quite interchangeable with a house amps and I don't mind others using it as it is not that expensive. Therefore I can bring it anytime to anyplace any venue, even get them to take the XLR instead of the stupid mic, and get my exact sound as I want it - every time. As for additional fx. Actually I will attempt to get all the sounds I need, at least the two basic Clean and Rock, with just the amp. If I want more fx, I got the HX Stomp. As for switching presets on the AMP, with what, that one I need to think about. Maybe XSonic Airstep with WIDI, maybe that into the HX Stomp and then WIDI? Hmm.. Maybe there are some limitations however, what, only a few minutes ago (like with Marshall and Fender and all the venues), I had the random house AMP set and that's it - don't touch! Now, I'm going to breeze in with guitar & HX Stomp in on my back, Catalyst 60 in one hand and a Free Hand to spare :-) Bottom line - It's the AMP I've been waiting for!