WAZA Tube Amp Expander FAQ


Q: Can I connect a tube amp that exceeds 150-watt?
A:
Not possible.
Connecting a tube amp of over 150-watt risks malfunction of the WAZA Tube Amp Expander.

Q: What kind of power amp is the WAZA Tube Amp Expander built in?
A:
It's a Class AB solid-state power amp. Based on BOSS's Tube Logic approach, the WAZA Tube Amp Expander is designed to re-produce and optimize tube-amp sound and feel. The reactive load of the WAZA Tube Amp Expander acts like actual speakers. This means the tube amp responds as if actual speakers are connected, and the characteristic of connected tube amp are retained organically by the reactive load section. And the solid- state power amp takes a role to drive the retained sound & feel naturally.

Q: Can I mount the WAZA Tube Amp Expander in a rack?
A:
Yes.
Use the included rack-mount brackets (EIA-2U standard).
* When mounting the product in a rack, leave one unit of space above and below to allow heat radiation.
* For information on the mounting procedure, refer to "About Rack Mounting" in the WAZA Tube Amp Expander Owner's Manual.

Q: Which footswitches and expression pedals can I use?
A:
The following products can be used. * Operation is not assured when used in combination with other brand's products.

Q: Can I use tap tempo to set delay time?
A:
Yes.
Using the optional GA-FC foot controller makes it possible to set the tempo of delay time by using tap tempo.
* Pressing the [TAP] switch on the GA-FC twice or more can set the delay time according to the interval.
* Tap tempo is not supported when using a footswitch or foot controller other than the GA-FC.
 

Q: The indicator is not turned off when I press the EFFECTS button on the front panel.
A:
Depending on the effect settings by WAZA Tube Amp Expander Editor, the indicator might not be turned off. First of all, the EFFECTS button in the panel works to turn on/off for both COMP and DELAY at one time (without using the editor). With the editor, you can set preferred operation to the button by ENABLE / DISABLE. ENABLE allows you to use the button to turn on/off the effects while DISABLE locks the panel operation. For example, if you set the COMP ON with DISABLE, and set DELAY with ENABLE, the indicator always lights up because COMP is always working regardless of pressing the button. On the other hand, DELAY can be ON/OFF by pressing the button.

Q: When switching RIG, does some drop-out happen?
A:
Although it might vary depending on the respective settings and the style of playing, the WAZA Tube Amp Expander provides high-speed rig-switching capability that reduces audio drop-out.

Q: How can I restore the factory RIG setting?
A:
If you execute factory reset, RIG can return to the factory setting. How to execute a factory reset: Hold down the FX LOOP button and turn on the power, and wait for all buttons (from FX LOOP to AMP CTL) to stop flashing.
* Executing this operation restores all settings to factory settings. If you have your settings that you want to save, we recommend using WAZA Tube Amp Expander Editor to back them up before executing the factory reset. Using the Librarian in WAZA Tube Amp Expander Editor to save the default settings as a LIVESET makes it possible to work with individual RIG in the editor. For more details, check "Using WAZA Tube Amp Expander Editor."

Q: I want to install the driver under Windows 10. How can I do that?
A:
For Windows 10, making a USB connection between an Internet-connected computer and the WAZA Tube Amp Expander enables the operations from downloading through installation to be carried out automatically. (The time required until installation is complete differs according to the Internet connection and the computing setup.) Make the USB connection, and after several minutes have passed, check Device Manager.

Q: Can I play back audio from a computer into the USB INPUT in the unit?
A:
Yes.
You can run audio through both the PRE EFFECT (before effects) and LINE OUT (after effects, cabinet, and mic simulation) signal.
For details about USB audio, refer to "Using WAZA Tube Amp Expander Editor" (PDF).

Q: Can I record non-effect signal from USB to DAW or recording systems?
A:
Yes.
WAZA Tube Amp Expander has two USB-audio input/output options, "LINE" and "PRE EFFECT."
To record before-effects audio, select "PRE EFFECT" as the input setting for USB audio (on a Mac computer, this is displayed as "3, 4" or "3-4").

Q: When the LOOP switch for FX LOOP is set to PARALLEL, why does the volume increase when FX LOOP is turned on?
A:
When FX LOOP is set to PARALLEL, the volume increases because the signal returning from external effects is mixed (added) to the main signal.

Q: Is FX LOOP audio stereo or mono?
A:
It is mono.

Q: Does the length of loaded IR (Impulse Response) data have limit?
A:
There is no limit. Both 200 ms and 500 ms in length can also be loaded.

Q: What kind of formats are supported for IR (Impulse Response) data?
A:
The following IR (Impulse Response) data is supported.
Format: WAV (.wav)
Sampling rate: 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz
Bit rate : 16 / 24 bits (linear), mono / stereo.

Q: In mic simulation, can I use two microphone types at the same time?
A:
Only one single mic type can be used in mic simulation.

Q: A speaker cable for the tube amp is very short, and I can't connect it. What should I do?
A:
Use an extension cable whose specifications match the connector on the speaker cable for the tube amp you're connecting to.
* A 1/4" shielded cables for guitars and instruments cannot be used because of risk of malfunction or smoke or fire from the cable. Be sure to use a speaker cable. Also, use a speaker cable of adequate thickness (equivalent to the optional 14-gauge [1.628-mm].

Q: Can I connect a bass amp?
A:
Not possible.
The reactive load of the WAZA Tube Amp Expander isn't compatible with the impedance characteristics of bass-amp speakers, and so it can't reproduce the authentic sound of a bass amp.

Q: Are the TO SPEAKER OUT A and B jacks stereo or mono?
A:
They are mono.
The same signal outputs from both the A and B jacks.

Q: While playing, I hear noise from the tube amp and the WAZA Tube Amp Expander. Is this a malfunction?
A:
This does not indicate a malfunction.
This is sound produced by high-power electrical signals from the tube amp resonating with circuit components inside the device.
The reactive load of the WAZA Tube Amp Expander is configured by analog circuitry and therefore produces such resonance, but the design suppresses such resonance as much as possible.

Q: When I connect a tube amp I hear noise like a bass hum.
A:
Some tube amps (such as the Mesa/Boogie Rectifier) have an extremely high-gain by design, and depending on the load-impedance characteristics, oscillation might occur in the low-frequency region. If this happens, try to set the RESONANCE-Z knob to "LO."

Q: Feedback noise occurs when I connect a guitar to the tube amp connected to the WAZA Tube Amp Expander.
A:
Depending on the connected tube amp and guitar, if the gain is too high, oscillation may be produced by an acoustic or electromagnetic loop.
If such noise occurs, try adjusting the gain setting on the tube amp to an appropriate level or moving the WAZA Tube Amp Expander and guitar farther apart.

Q: How should I set the INPUT LEVEL switch when I connect a tube amp that isn't 10, 50, or 100-watt?
A:
When you're connecting a tube amp whose output is other than 10, 50, or 100-watt, set the switch as shown below.
For 150-watt : Set at the 100 W position
For 100-watt or lower: The minimum position at which the INPUT SIG/PEAK indicator does not light up in red during play (For example: If the indicator doesn't light up in red when set at either 10 W or 50 W, set it at 10 W.)

Q: The WAZA Tube Amp Expander doesn't produce the same volume level as a 100-watt tube amp.
A:
Some tube amps sound louder than the corresponding rated output depending on the frequency band. Since the WAZA Tube Amp Expander's internal power amp is solid-state, it can't produce the volume level that exceeds 100-watt, and it doesn't play at the same volume level of a 100-watt tube amp.
* Volume levels vary depending on the tube amp.

Q: Can I connect an amp that's not a tube amp (such as a solid-state amp)?
A:
Not possible.
Connecting an amplifier whose power amp doesn't use vacuum tubes, such as a solid-state or class-D amp, might result in malfunction of the guitar amp or WAZA Tube Amp Expander.

Q: The INPUT SIG / PEAK indicator lights up in red even when the [INPUT LEVEL] switch is set to the maximum of 100W.
A:
Some tube amplifiers contain a pulsed signal waveform outside the audible frequency range that has a much higher voltage than the waveform of fundamental tone from the guitar. This is caused by the interaction between the tube amplifier and the speaker (or the reactive load).
The INPUT SIG / PEAK indicator on the WAZA Tube Amp Expander also responds to this pulse signal waveform, so it may turn red.
In this case, please adjust the volume and tone control of the tube amplifiers and the reactive load knob of the WAZA Tube Amp Expander so that it does not light up in red.