Jad Freer Audio Bass Preamp Capo

Description

Jad & Freer Audio Capo Bass Preamp

CAPO is a Multiple Preamp – DI – Saturator – FX Loop bass preamplifier.

From crystal clear tones worthy of the best studio equipment to extreme saturations, passing through endless shades of overdrive; the CAPO was designed to maintain the entire dynamic range and the full natural frequency spectrum of the instrument.

More than just a pedal, a real “studio-in-a-box“.

Four preamplifiers with very different characteristics, to be used with almost infinite routing possibilities, in an extremely compact and pedalboard-friendly format.

A SIDE

It is the heart of the machine, and is based on three independent preamplifiers that can be mixed in parallel according to your needs.

The basis of the A-Side is a clean high-impedance preamp, with fixed gain and lots of headroom, which emphasizes the natural harmonics of the instrument, enhancing its character without distorting it.

To this base, two high-dynamic saturators (J, F) can be mixed via the BLEND control, which can in turn be mixed as desired via the STYLE control; this control in the central position N finds the neutral balance and at the same time the range of sounds that most characterize this preamp.

In both saturators, no gain stage involves the use of diodes, ensuring a dynamic feeling comparable to that of a real amplifier and not just a simple pedal.

J and F share GAIN and LEVEL controls and both have a considerable clean reserve before saturation, while differing greatly in their characteristic sound.

J Saturator: deep lows, present and aggressive highs that highlight the attack of the note, making it intelligible even in the densest mixes;

F Saturator: sound more focused on mid frequencies, with a more vintage inspiration.

The concept is to blend two complementary sounds, in turn mixed in parallel, into a flat response base, to obtain an extremely complex and articulate sound texture while maintaining the maximum possible frequency and dynamic response.

A 3-band active EQ allows you to further sculpt the sound created by the mix of the different preamps:

BASS: ±12dB@80Hz (shelving)

Semi-parametric MIDS: ±9dB@100Hz-10KHz (band pass)

HIGHS: ±12dB@4KHz (shelving)

DEEP and BITE switches: the first provides the right boost on the lows to make the sound fuller - without weighing down the mix or hiding other fundamental frequencies -, while the second emphasizes the attack of the note and the upper harmonics.

B SIDE

A soft and warm character that recalls the response of a tube.

The B-Side consists of a linear response FET preamp, with dedicated gain and volume controls. Its character recalls the response and sound of classic tube preamps, with a dynamic range that goes from clean to various stages of saturation with a soft and natural response.

It can be used as a stand-alone preamp, as an alternative to A-Side, or it can work in series with it in two different ways, selectable via the dedicated PRE/POST switch that defines its position relative to A-Side:

PRE allows it to be used as a gain boost/overdrive, to push the saturation of the A-Side to higher levels while maintaining definition and dynamics.

POST allows it to be used either as a simple volume boost to be activated when needed, or as a basic preamp on which to build your sound, then using A-Side as a drive, or as a supplementary EQ.

Routing and other functions

Studio Ready and pedalboard friendly CAPO was designed to ensure maximum interaction with your pedalboard and signal chain, as well as for studio use. For this reason, particular attention has been paid to signal routing and those functions that solve problems related to integration into existing setups. Multiple D.I. outputs:

DIRECT OUT: provides the natural sound of your instrument, takes the sound directly from the INPUT

PREAMP OUT: provides the sound processed by the preamps present in the CAPO, identical to that of the OUTPUT

Phase inversion for the DIRECT OUT: allows the phase of the two balanced signals to be aligned in case other pedals in the chain cause it to flip.

Low-pass filter:

designed to eliminate unpleasant frequencies that are generated at high gain levels using full-range audio systems (P.A. or speakers with tweeters)

it affects the pedal's output both in the DI and in the unbalanced output, both when using A-side and B-side and even when the pedal is off, so that the CAPO can be used as a cabinet simulator for other fuzz and overdrive pedals on the pedalboard.

Effects Loop:

LOOP PRE: passive effects loop that takes the signal before it is processed by the CAPO, designed to use any pedal you want before it but keeping the DIRECT OUT clean and unaltered for various needs.

LOOP POST: send return that takes the signal after it has been processed by the CAPO, designed to be able to use other pedals downstream of our preamps, also hearing their intervention in the D.I. PREAMP OUT. By default it is active even when the pedal is off, but its operation can be linked to the activation of Side A (LOOP LINK).

Weight 0.7 kg

Dimensions 10.5 × 12.5 × 8 cm

Color 

black

Power supply 

9 VDC

Current draw 

350mA

Channels 

A Side, B Side

Specifications

CAPO is the new Jad Freer Audio bass preamp, or Multiple Preamp – DI – Saturator – FX Loop, as we like to call it . From studio-grade clean sounds up to heavy saturations, passing through endless overdrive flavors with amp-like dynamics and harmonic content, while keeping your instrument’s natural low-end presence. More than just a pedal, a real “studio-in-a-box“.

A SIDE

The core of the machine, based on three very different preamps that can be used in parallel to achieve unheard-of and unique sounds.

The base of the A-Side is a clean high impedance preamp, with fixed gain and lots of headroom; it improves the tone of the instrument, enhancing its character without altering it. Two high dynamic range saturators (J, F) can then be mixed to the clean preamp using the BLEND control. The mix ratio between J and F can be changed as well using the STYLE control: in central position N you get the neutral balance between them and, at the same time, the range of sounds that defines the A-Side tone the most.

No clipping diodes are used in both saturators, providing a dynamic feeling comparable to a real amplifier… not just an ordinary stompbox! J and F share GAIN and LEVEL controls and both have a lot of clean headroom before saturation, while they differ strongly in their sonic focus.

J Saturator: huge bottom, aggressive highs that brings the note attack upfront in the mix

F Saturator: sound focused on mid frequencies, more vintage inspired.

The concept of this side of CAPO is to mix a flat response sound with two complementary amp-like tones (running in parallel and mixed as well), to obtain an extremely complex and articulated texture while keeping the maximum frequency and dynamic response.

A three band eq allows you to further sculpt the blended sound you create:

BASS: ±12dB@80Hz (shelving)

Semi-parametric MID: ±9dB@100Hz-10KHz (band pass)

HIGH: ±12dB@4KHz (shelving)

DEEP and BITE switches provide a perfectly tailored bottom end boost and just the right enhance of string attack.

B SIDE

Tube-like tone preamp.

Side B is a linear response FET preamp with dedicated volume and gain controls. It reminiscent of some classic tube preamps and has a dynamic range that goes from clean to various saturation stages with a smooth, natural response.

It can be used as a stand-alone preamp as an alternative to the A-Side, or it can work in series with it choosing the order with the PRE / POST switch:

PRE allows it to be used as a gain boost, to push the saturation of the A side to higher levels while keeping definition and dynamics

POST allows it to be used either as a simple volume boost available at your feet, or as a preamp base to build your own sound, then using the A-side as an additional gain stage or clean EQ.

Routing and other features

Studio Ready and pedalboard friendly CAPO has been designed to be a studio-ready machine and also to provide the less effort and best interaction when used with your existing pedalboard and signal chain. Great attention was paid to routing possibility and functionality for live and studio applications. Multiple DI:

DIRECT OUT: provides the natural sound of your instrument without any preamp stage

PREAMP OUT: balanced signal after all the pedal preamps, eq and loops

phase control for the DIRECT OUT to realign PREAMP OUT phase in case you are using other pedals that flip the phase together with the capo.

LPF:

a low pass filter (means a treble cut) carefully designed to cut out all the nasty frequencies at high gain levels, useful with full-range sound systems (going to a P.A. or with tweeter equipped bass cabs)

it affects both PREAMP OUT and OUTPUT when using the A Side, B Side and also when the pedal is bypassed (aka when the switch is on, it’s ALWAYS on) and allows to use the CAPO as a cabinet simulator for your favorite drives and fuzz pedals.

Loop effects:

LOOP PRE: a passive send-return loop before the pedal preamps; for whatever pedal you want to use before the CAPO (while keeping unprocessed your natural bass sound from the DIRECT OUT)

LOOP POST: a send-return loop after all CAPO preamps, for whatever pedal you want to use after them while affecting both PREAMP OUT and OUTPUT. This loop can be always active or linked to the A Side with the switch LOOP LINK.

four preamps packed in a pedalboard friendly format

from crystal cleans to high saturations and infinite shades of overdrive

A SIDE , consisting of a clean preamp and two high dynamics saturators ( J , F )

Active 3-band EQ and DEEP and BITE buttons to further sculpt the sound

B SIDE , a linear FET preamp with a soft and warm character, usable both PRE and POST

two D.I. outputs : DIRECT OUT and PREAMP OUT

phase inversion on DIRECT OUT to realign the phase of balanced signals

LPF to eliminate any unpleasant frequencies generated at high gain levels

fx loop PRE and fx loop POST to use pedals before and / or after the CAPO and include their intervention also in the D.I.output