Issues with Recto Preamp/Recto 2:100 setup.

[blackcom]

My Recto Preamp and Recto 2:100 poweramp does NOT work like the manuls says.

-The Recto Preamp manual states the modern voicing is engaged only to the Recording outputs and not the live outputs on the Recto Preamp when switching to the Red channel.

-On my Recto preamp the modern mode is aplied to BOTH recording and live outputs. So if I run the 2:100 poweramp in modern mode (using the trigger jack) I WILL HAVE MODERN VOICING APLIED TWO TIMES. One time in the preamp using the simulation only meant for the recording outputs and one time in the poweramp using negative feedback.

This will make the amp sound very very scooped and not like a Dual Rec at all!

-The Recto Preamp manual states the Precense control will sound more agressive on the Red channel then the Orange channel. On my Recto preamp IT SOUNDS THE SAME IN BOTH MODES.

However, when my 2:100 poweramp is in Orange mode the Precense controlls on it will sound VERY agressive, but when switched to Red/Modern mode (using the trigger jack) they will not work at all. So in the end I wil not have any "agressive" presense controll in Red channel at all.

I find all of this to be competely wrong with what the manuals say. Also, no-one at Mesa has any clue with these products when I call them....what is up with this?

 

[Slimjim]

My Recto Preamp and Recto 2:100 poweramp does NOT work like the manuls says.

-The Recto Preamp manual states the modern voicing is engaged only to the Recording outputs and not the live outputs on the Recto Preamp when switching to the Red channel.

No that's not the way I understood it. The 'Modern' voicing is engaged whenever you switch into it, however, the identical circuit to a dual rectifier is activated when you connect the 'Modern' cable between the Rec Pre and 2:100. It's basically 2 Dual Rectifiers this way. (nice!)

-On my Recto preamp the modern mode is aplied to BOTH recording and live outputs. So if I run the 2:100 poweramp in modern mode (using the trigger jack) I WILL HAVE MODERN VOICING APLIED TWO TIMES. One time in the preamp using the simulation only meant for the recording outputs and one time in the poweramp using negative feedback. This will make the amp sound very very scooped and not like a Dual Rec at all!

Here, you don't want to use Recording Outs. These connect to console recording devices. For me, they go direct to FX boxes and get tripped out, then recorded with NO amp. (no amp!). Thats what Recording Outs do. You want to be using the Standard Outputs for connection to the 2:100. You can amplify the Recording Outs, but it sounds pretty lame. Well, alot of frequencies are clipped...it should sound so.

-The Recto Preamp manual states the Precense control will sound more agressive on the Red channel then the Orange channel. On my Recto preamp IT SOUNDS THE SAME IN BOTH MODES.

Red=Modern, Orange=Vintage(Solo). So these two channels sound different, way, because the preamp goes from Diode to Tube. I think the whole thing behaves different, and pushes forward with the 'Solo' feature. The 'Presence' control on the Rec Pre responds normally. I don't change it between the two, not usually.

However, when my 2:100 poweramp is in Orange mode the Precense controlls on it will sound VERY agressive, but when switched to Red/Modern mode (using the trigger jack) they will not work at all. So in the end I wil not have any "agressive" presense controll in Red channel at all.

Hmm. You have no Presence control in the Modern Mode? This is hard, hard to see happening, that it doesn't do a thing. What DOESNT work are the Presence knobs on the 2:100 because it IS connected/cabled to the 2:100, considered the Modern Mode cable. You'll see the red light on the 2:100 come on, it's pretty much crippled. Meaning the Rec Pre is where all the controls are.

I find all of this to be competely wrong with what the manuals say. Also, no-one at Mesa has any clue with these products when I call them....what is up with this?

Stop reading the manual and start remembering your cabling setups, how you got what where. The outputs should be self explanatory, the Recording Outs don't get amplified, so turn off the 2:100. Then this question of Modern Mode cable is eliminated. The Rec Pre in Recording Outs doesn't have to deal with an amp/power. The cable is useless here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4BpC7yhzmA
Sample of Recording Outs.

So you want volume? Great, the Standard Outputs AS WELL AS the Modern Mode cable are required. At this point forget about the controls on the front of the 2:100, they don't respond. Just work the 2 buttons on the footswitch, obviously one of them is Ch1/Ch2 and the other is Vintage/Modern. This Vint/Modern switch comes in handy, the Solo level on the far right of the Rec Pre will boost above the overal 'Output' level for getting very loud.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-makyNnilU
Sample of Standard Outs. disclaimer-Lame camera mic doesn't record tone AT ALL.

The Mesa people answered my questions when I called, and I talked to tech, to make SURE I was cabling the things correct, especially since I had wet / dry / wet going... things were very different from normal. He assured me this is what they were meant to do, their design was such. So I feel like I'm sporting two Dual Rectifiers that have additional features, like Recording Outs (which I do use).

-Jim