Hello. I have 2 ZMACS on order. I saw a post/response earlier and wanted to confirm the number of amps that would be available with 2 ZMAC units leveraging > 4 amps and > 4 cabs with all amps having access to all cabs. If daisy chaining the units back and forth (Cab out to Amp In between the 2 units) I assume that means I will have 6 amp slots available and lose 2 slots. Just wanted to confirm this.
Also, I read there is a workaround in process for leveraging the PowerStation across multiple units and we really need that workaround so that the amps attached to ZMACS unit #2 can leverage the PowerStation connected to ZMACS unit #1. Thanks!
As a follow up, one of the Fryette videos says you can link 4 ZMACS together to support 16 amps and 16 cabs. Is that really how the Link function works between units? My 2 ZMAC units landed today and trying to figure out the best way to maximize the 2 units to support 8 amps and 5 cabs with one PS100 (if this is possible). Or, if I need to use several of the Amp slots for the daisy chaining/linking). Thanks.
Two ZMACS units linked together will support 7 amps and 4 cabs if you want all of the connected heads to be attenuated and drive all connected cabs.
To do this, you would connect 4 heads to the first unit, and 3 to the second. One of the amp returns from the second unit would connect to a cab out on the first. All 4 cabs would connect to the second unit. You will get signal to the second group of heads via the link function on the first.
You can partition groups of 4 heads and 4 cabs by linking two units but that won’t support group routing to a single attenuator.
The link feature was mainly included to allow you to interface some ZMACS features with your existing switcher. But getting two or more units to communicate and rout backwards and forwards is a tall order and much more complex than a large percentage of users will likely need.
If you have a 16 x 16 amp/cab switching system but want the ZMACS impedance matching benefits, there is a way to insert the ZMACS into the attenuator loop of your existing system if it has an attenuator loop. In that scenario, you would connect your existing attenuator loop send to a ZMACS amp return. Then send a ZMACS cab out to the other units attenuator loop return. That allows you to program impedance settings for whatever head and cab is connected to the master unit. Of course, your master unit will need to be midi enabled for this to function conveniently.
Using this setup, you would insert your attenuator into the ZMACS Switched Attenuator Loop. That will give you attenuation on demand for all of your heads connected to the master switching unit, again, as long as it’s midi enabled.
Thank you very much for clarifying this. I received my ZMACS today (unit #1 only it appears). #2 should arrive next week and I’ll get things set up and report back.