Tsakalis AudioWorks MultiCab 4 | Pre-Amp & Cabinet Sim W/USB

Tsakalis are back again to bring players the new and improved MultiCab MK4. Carrying out their mission to maintain the simplicity and functionality of the highly praised MK3.5, this new revision packs an arsenal of features without sacrificing its plug’n’play roots. Whether you’re going direct to the PA or interface from your pedalboard or using it for silent practice when attached to a dummy load, the MultiCab MK4 is up to the task.

What sets them apart from the competition is Tsakalis’ decision to not run IR technology in the unit. This has opened up the opportunity to use a parallel digital and analog audio path for different aspects of the pedal – and more importantly results in minimal latency of up to 1.2ms.

In the digital path, Tsakalis introduces its 8 cabinet presets and its special ambience dial to emulate the inclusion of a room mic – capturing the reflections of a cabinet’s sound waves in a room. Each of the 8 cabinet presets can be individually swapped out via the USB connector and, using the T.A.W. Editor App, choose from the 55+ free propriety cabinet simulations which include many coveted speaker cabinets.

The analog audio path brings with it the pre-amp modes, power amp voicing, cabinet back type, and microphone type voicing. This section of controls allows you to tailor in specific characteristics of the emulation. The pedal’s dual JFET stage pre-amp offers tube-like response and touch and comes with hot and clean modes which can be tweaked by their tone dial. The power amp control offers the emulation of 6L6 or EL34 tube voicings, mimicking a push pull topology. The pre-amp and power amp sections can be bypassed all together if in used with an external pre-amp or power amp. The ‘back’ switch gives the user the ability to set the cabinet to either have an open, semi-open, or closed back design to change the tightness of the speaker cone. Finally, the mic control lets you choose between a ribon and dynamic microphone set up, or choose both for a blended array of tones.

In terms of connectivity, Tsakalis gives the user a wide variety of options when it comes to the MK4’s use. On the pedal’s main input, players have the option of choosing between -24, 0, and +12dB levels. This means that the pedal can take in audio straight from your guitar, pedal, or pre-amp section but also handle the full force of a power amp’s output (please note that when attaching the pedal to a power amp, the Through Out MUST be connected to either a cabinet or dummy load). In terms, of outputs, the unit can be connected to either a PA system or audio interface via the DI and line outputs, with a ground lift toggle switch on the DI. These work in parallel with the through out so you can still send signal to an external power amp or cab at the same time. When it comes to silent practice, the 3.5mm headphone out comes in clutch and the 3.5mm auxiliary in lets you play along to your favourite tracks.