TECH 21 SansAmp TRI-A.C.

The TRI-A.C. is a three-channel, programmable amp-emulating pedal from Tech 21, built around the company’s SansAmp circuitry. It’s like having three separate pedals in one box, each with its own stored settings. The signal path is entirely analog, and digital circuitry only handles the saving and recall of settings. It aims to capture the harmonics and overdrive character of tube amps, and works for anything from country clean to heavy modern distortion. You can run it into an amp, a power amp and cabinet, a mixer or an audio interface. It has a "baked-in" speaker emulation that can't be turned off but according to Tech 21 works well in the various scenarios mentioned above. Here I dialed in some sounds using it direct without an amp. I chose to capture it like a pedal with input and output calibration. **Controls** Amp style selector: Chooses one of three amp voicings. Each changes the character and input sensitivity of the pedal, not just the EQ: Tweed: Fender-style, for clean and sparkling tones. British: Marshall-style, with a mid-forward crunch. California: Mesa/Boogie-style, for high-gain modern distortion. Drive: Sets the amount of overdrive and distortion. Level: Sets the output volume. Low, Mid and High: An active three-band EQ that can cut or boost by up to 12 dB, with unity gain at 12 o’clock. Unlike a passive tone control, it can add as well as remove frequencies.