nick70717273 Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 I was wondering if anyone has tried using an external preamp pedal like the UA Lion, etc: The output of the Lion into the Effects Return of the Catalyst 60 to feed the Catalyst Power amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 I haven't, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work just fine. AFAIK, those UA devices are not actually "preamps", they're full-on AIAB pedals. Did you have specific concerns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 No, just compatibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 If it's designed to go into the Input of a guitar amp, then the Output Level is Instrument. You may need to use the FX Loop position of the switch to get the best level. That will also enable you to use any FX that you place in the POST position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 It's designed to go into a power amp/speaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 Specs attached Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 That just means it's LINE Level and you won't need to turn up the Cat as much as if it were INSTRUMENT Level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 I'm assuming I should set MODE to Power Amp In? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Only if you have no need of the Cat's FX. The ONLY difference between LINE level and INSTRUMENT level is that INSTRUMENT level is LOWER than LINE level. The difference between FX Loop and POWERAMP is that POWERAMP is 6 (or 10, I forget) db lower than FX Loop, and in POWERAMP mode the POST FX are bypassed. IOW - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE POWERAMP SETTING WITH A LINE LEVEL DEVICE! The only functional difference is that in FX LOOP mode you don't have to turn the Cat's MASTER up as much to achieve the same level as in POWERAMP mode, and in FX Loop mode the FX are active. I run my Helix into the Cat's RETURN in FX Loop Mode and the ONLY difference between the Helix set to LINE Level and Helix set to is the level of the Cat's output. When I use my HX Stomp instead of Helix this saves me two of the eight available blocks because I don't need to use delay and reverb on the HXS, I use the Cat's delay and reverb instead. IOW When you run your UA into the Cat's RETURN in FX Loop mode you don't need external delay (or any other Cat effect), or reverb because you can use the Cat's! In the words of the inimitable Tony the Tiger - "Go ahead and use your UA device into the Cat's RETURN in FX Loop Mode - it's GREAT!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Here's another reason to use FX Loop Mode. You have 12 presets available in your Cat. Each preset can have one of 6 different reverbs and one of 18 other effects. All of those effects will be POST your UA device, so effects that don't sound all that good in the post amp position won't sound all that great, but TBH, I haven't tried them all so I don't know which ones those would be. The ones I've tried (MODS like Phaser and Flanger) sounded fine. YMMV. Point is you get 12 different post amp FX configurations - FREE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 Great! Thanks for all the info. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick70717273 Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 I'm going to use it in power amp in mode to start (with the UA Lion). Is the Master Volume the only control that is operational? There's no reference in the manual to this. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 On 3/3/2024 at 5:26 PM, nick70717273 said: I'm going to use it in power amp in mode to start (with the UA Lion). Is the Master Volume the only control that is operational? There's no reference in the manual to this. Nick Because you're bypassing the FX, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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