Using the Amp

The Revelation is arguably one of, if not the most feature packed valve amps in the world. However, despite this apparent complexity, great thought was given to the usability of the amp. Looking at the front panel, you can see that we've resisted the temptation to add a host of voicing 'options'. There are no bright switches, mid scoops, bass boosts etc. Each channel has been painstakingly tuned, leaving the user with a simple set of standard controls. Setting up your sound is simply a case of choosing a channel, a gain mode for that channel, the FX loops you want to use, and the master volume.

There are two operating modes for the Revelation, standard and MIDI.

Standard Mode

In standard mode, the Revelation operates like a conventional amplifier, using the optional 6 button footswitch. The footswitch features buttons for:

- Channel 1 Select

- Channel 2 Select

- Channel 3 Select

- Channel 4 Select

- FX on/off

- Master Volume Select

To use the amplifier, select each channel in turn with the footswitch (or front panel channel select buttons). Adjust the Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble and Volume for that channel to taste, as well as select the Gain Mode. Next, choose which FX loops you would like to activate with the FX footswitch by pre-assigning them. Each channel will remember it's pre-assigned loops. Finally, set the two Master volume levels.

The only extra step involves setting the global settings for the power amplifier, namely presence, depth, feedback level, output power and tube configuration (triode/pentode).

That's all there is to it.

MIDI Mode

For those who prefer to get into deeper editing, or who run a MIDI controlled system, the Revelation can be used in MIDI mode. Once again, despite the amazing flexibility of the Revelation, programming the amplifier is an extremely simple procedure. There are no menus or complicated esoteric sequences of button presses. Simply:

- Send a MIDI program change message from your MIDI controller. This will load up the settings from the corresponding program in the Revelation's internal memory.

- Choose channel, gain mode, FX loops, Global FX on/off and Master volume as you like.

- If your choice of options is different from the program in memory, a blue "Program" LED will flash to indicate this.

- If you want to store this combination of options in memory, simple hold down the program button for a few seconds. When the blue Program LED stops flashing, the program is stored.

And that's it. The scary high-tech world of MIDI programming, which has purists clucking their tongues disapprovingly ;-)

Return to "In Depth"