Lexicon 284 - Manual (Page 19)

Signature 284 User Guide
15
Power Amp for Tube
Warmth
Using the
Signature 284 with
non-Guitar Sources
Applications
Although designed primarily for guitar, the Signature 284 can be quite useful for
processing other sources. Its rack mount design, effects loop, multiple stereo
outputs and the ability to operate with no speakers connected make it quite a
versatile tube processor for stage or studio.
Once the Signature 284 is wired into your studio, you’ll find that it can be pretty
useful as a stereo tube processor. Use it to add warmth, compression, and the
characteristic harmonic distortion of Class “A” tube amplification, to any source.
Run stereo sources into the effects returns and use the Left and Right Volume
controls to set the tone of the power amp. Unless you’re pushing the power amps
into distortion, you can use the Slave outputs as well as the Recording outputs
for bringng audio back into the console. Each has its own characteristic sound
(The Recording outputs have a compensation circuit that simulates the signa-
tures of different speakers, while the Slave outputs have no compensation circuit
and therefore a flatter overall signal response.)
The small size and big tone of the Signature 284 make it a perfect harp amp. In
fact, the Signature 284 can be the center piece of the ultimate jamming rig. All
you need are your harps, a high-impedance microphone and the Signature 284,
and you're ready to sit in.
When using the Signature 284 as a harp amp, you’ll find that it has more than
enough gain for even the raunchiest tone. To start out, keep things pretty clean:
Gain pushed in and set to 3-4, Left and Right Volume at around 5.
To add more grit and compression, experiment with the effect of raising either
the Gain control (for more preamp distortion), or the Volume controls (for more
power amp distortion). Both types of sound lend themselves well to harp.
For live performance, speaker cabs are optional. The recording outputs provide
no-compromise direct feeds to the house PA and stage monitors.
In the studio, there’s never been an easier way to get “the sound” onto tracks.
As with guitar, you can go direct, mic cabinets, or use a combination of both. If
you track with reverb or other effects, take advantage of the stereo effect loop
to insert the reverb between the preamp and power amps.
Lead Synth
Need to add a searing edge to a lead synth track? One trick is to run the synth
through a guitar amp. Go easy on the distortion at first - just running the synth
through the Signature 284 set for “clean” will produce a dramatic effect. If you’re
tracking with effects, insert them in the effects loop.
Stereo Keyboards
Many digital keyboards can benefit from the addition of some tube warmth. One
obvious candiate for “tubification” is any organ sound, particularly B-3 with rotary
speaker. Run the stereo outputs of the synth into the effects returns of the
Signature 284, connect the Recording outputs to the mixer and set the Volume
controls to dial in an appropriate amount of “grind”.
Harp
Keyboards