I find the instructions for use of the Speaker Emulation (SE, herein) to be counter-intuitive.

From the Blackstar ht_stage 60_100_handbook page 7 , point 5 :

Quote:

5. Speaker Emulated Output This output emulates the tonal characteristics of a guitar speaker cabinet and provides a natural valve overdrive tone for connection to a recording device or mixing desk. Always use a good quality screened lead. NOTE: To ‘silently’ record, turn the amp to standby mode. You may also record from this output while in standby mode without a loudspeaker connected, but ensure that no loudspeaker leads are connected to any of the loudspeaker output jack sockets of the amplifier, as this will defeat the load protection circuit and cause damage to the amplifier.

On the surface, and I could be completely wrong, it seems like the instructions are suggesting not to load the amp up w/a cab when using the SE.

THREE (3) Questions:

(1) Are those instructions in point 5 above restricted to just situations when it is in standby mode for silent recording ?

(2) Are the instructions suggesting that when using the SE circuit, and flipping to standby, that there is a built-in dummy load, or the like ?

(3) Can I have the amp not in standby mode, both switches engaged, use a cab & then go SE out into the mains in lieu of mic-ing the cab ?

Cheers,
Geoff J In Tampa Bay

My interpretation is that if you record while in standby using the emulated out you can either:

1) Keep your speaker cabinet connected, nothing will play through the speaker on standby anyway.
2) Disconnect the speaker, but MAKE SURE you also disconnect the speaker cable from the back of your amp as well or it will be looking for the speaker load at the end of the cable.

Having said that, the emulated out works awesome for me into my computer (I use a Presonus Firebox). I always keep the speaker connected anyway so I've never actually tried it. If you don't want to hear the speaker, just put it in standby, or turn the master volume to 0.

Thanks for the reply, I guess my reading comprehension skills kinda suck, then.

Here's a clip of the email sent to me by Blackstar themselves

Quote:

The instructions regarding silent recording only refer to if you want to silently record. You should not have any speaker leads connected that are not connected to speakers themselves as this will cause damage to the amp. If speakers are connected then this will not be the case, hence why we always suggest you have a load attached as should the emulated output become disconnected then you do not risk causing damage to your amp. Switching to standby mode will only allow you to silently record, it is not a built in dummy load. If the emulated output became disconnected when in standby mode and there were no speakers connected then you risk causing damage to your amp. When using the emulated output then your speakers are disconnected to you cannot use the speakers connected to the amp and take the emulated output at the same time. Hope this helps.

I def knew better than to have an amp on without a load, but I think they need to word the manual a little more clearly for someone who has no experience with heads, because it seems, on the surface, to suggest having the speakers unhooked when in SE mode

Your email reply from Blackstar seems to confirm that you can't run speakers and the SE output at the same time. That's a shame, you can do it on the HT40 at least and it's a great feature. I'd be inclined to try it anyway - as long as the speaker load is connected it shouldn't do any harm. Wish they could be clearer about these issues, or maybe have the SE out perform consistently across the range.

Now I'm even more confused than before lol

I always leave my 4x12 plugged in. When I want to use the emulated out, I just plug it in to my computer, and keep the amp on standby.

Now, what if, for example, I take the amp to a friends house to silently record on his computer with the emulated out. As long as there is no cable on the speaker output jack on the back of the amp, it should be fine?

Yes - as long as there's nothing in the speaker output jacks and the amp's on standby, you'll be fine at your mate's house.

In reading the manual again, I'm convinced that you can run through speakers and the SE output at the same time. It only tells what to do if you want to run silently during recording, which suggests that the answer to the third question in your original post is yes. They talk about "or mixing desk", which I take to include a mixer in a live scenario. I think that the last comment in the email you got is a little misleading.