Before upgrading any amplifier we suggest you always back up your patches from your amplifier memory to your local INSIDER patch library, stored on your computer’s hard drive. This is achieved by connecting your amplifier to INSIDER via USB and right-clicking your amplifier patch within the INSIDER workspace and selecting ‘IMPORT PATCH TO LIBRARY’. You can back up all patches in one action by multi-selecting all patches: left-click the first patch, then hold the SHIFT key on your keyboard whilst left-clicking the last patch.
INSIDER is an editing interface for ID:Series / ID:Core amplifiers and doesn't generate any sound on its own. As such, whilst you can download and install the software, play with the controls and use the Audio section, you won't be able to hear the tones you've created until you connect your amp.
INSIDER is not an amplifier or 'sound generator' – it is a Graphical User Interface for the ID:Series / ID:Core range of amps. As such, whilst you don't have to connect an amp to use INSIDER, you won't be able to hear the tones you've created until you connect your ID:Series / ID:Core amp. You can however create and store patches, and sync them to your amp later to hear what they sound like.
To access any of the patches from the online community, simply create an account and get started! When you see a patch you like, open the patch page and click on the download button to download it to your computer. Simply copy the file over to your Saved Patches folder and it will appear in INSIDER. You'll find your saved patches folder at:
- WINDOWS XP®: My Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
- WINDOWS VISTA/7/8®: 'Your Username'/Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
- MAC OS X®: /Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
INSIDER needs to know where to 'look' for your downloaded patches. You should save the downloaded files using the save path shown below and they will then automatically appear in INSIDER.
WINDOWS XP®: My Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
WINDOWS VISTA/7/8®: 'Your Username'/Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
MAC OS X®: /Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
The new Apple® Mac® OS X® 10.8 Mountain Lion and subsequent releases contains a security feature called GateKeeper. GateKeeper prevents the installation of malware by allowing the user to select the types of software that can be installed. To set your Mac® running OS X® 10.8 Mountain Lion or later release to allow the Blackstar INSIDER software to install, please follow the steps below.
1) Go to System Preferences in the Apple Menu.
2) Click on the Security & Privacy preference pane in the Personal section.
3) In the Security & Privacy preference pane, click on the padlock icon.
4) Enter your username and password to unlock and change settings.
5) Click the radio button next to Anywhere.
6) When you see the following dialog window, select Allow From Anywhere.
7) You can now install the Blackstar INSIDER software. Once installed, you can reset GateKeeper to your preferred settings by selecting the related radio button in this same window and locking the padlock to prevent further changes to this setting.
You can install INSIDER on your new computer by downloading it from our website. If you want to store all your patches on the new computer, you'll need to copy the files across manually – they won't be stored with the new software. You'll find your presets at:
- WINDOWS XP®: My Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
- WINDOWS VISTA/7/8®: 'Your Username'/Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
- MAC OS X®: /Documents/Blackstar/Saved Patches
Yes, you can install the Blackstar INSIDER software on more than one computer.
The process to uninstall Blackstar INSIDER is different per operating system:
- WINDOWS XP®: CONTROL PANEL -> ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS. Select 'BLACKSTAR INSIDER' and click 'UNINSTALL'.
- WINDOWS VISTA/7/8®: CONTROL PANEL -> PROGRAMS AND FEATURES. Select 'BLACKSTAR INSIDER' and click 'UNINSTALL'.
- MAC OS X®: trash the 'BLACKSTAR INSIDER' app from /APPLICATION.
As technology evolves and our R&D continues, from time to time we'll make changes and improvements to the functionality and tonal performance of the ID:Series. Installing these updates will make sure your amp is always performing at its best. They're not compulsory – but we highly recommend you install each update as soon as it becomes available so you don't get left behind!
The pedals are ordered just like they were real pedals at your feet. As most pedals have their input on the right and output on the left, that's how we've set them up.
You can use the Audio section to jam along to your favourite MP3 and WMA tracks. Simply click on the 'Import' icon and select the track you want from your computer's music library, then double-click on a cassette to 'load' it into the player.
Full instructions for using the phrase trainer (including setting 'in' and 'out' points) are included in the Blackstar INSIDER handbook.
The pedals are ordered just like they were real pedals at your feet. As most pedals have their input on the right and output on the left, that's how we've set them up.
It couldn't be easier. Just head to the Tuner screen and play a note – the fully chromatic tuner will automatically recognise the nearest 'in tune' note and guide you to it.
First, double-click to load the patch with its current name. Then click the 'save' icon – you can rename the patch and enter any other details you want.
You can edit the information for all patches directly in INSIDER. Patches can also be shared, uploaded and downloaded via the online community. The online community is accessed via the 'community' tab in the INSIDER software.
To prevent accidental changes to your tones, you'll need to remember to sync INSIDER to your amp to save your new patches. Just right-click on a patch within the library to bring up the sync option.
When your amp is connected to INSIDER, you can change the sound in real time both by adjusting your amp's controls, or changing the settings in INSIDER. When you change your sound by adjusting the controls in INSIDER you'll notice that the control is highlighted red. This is to remind you that the sound you're hearing does not reflect the actual position of the controls on your amp.
Currently it's not possible to change the order of the effects pedals. The Blackstar team of engineers and players have spent many hours fine-tuning the effects and we've ordered them in a 'traditional' layout to deliver the very best sonic performance..
Yes you do. Setting up an account is quick, simple and free – and once you're set, you'll have access to patches created by players all over the world, as well as the ability to share your own patches for all to hear.
If you experience any problems launching Blackstar INSIDER on your Windows-based computer, open 'Programs and Features' from the 'Control Panel' menu and ensure only one instance of Blackstar INSIDER is present. If more than one instance is shown, click to remove any versions of 'Blackstar INSIDER Interface'. It is not necessary to re-install the INSIDER software after following these steps.
INSIDER needs Flash Player installed to support the downloading of patches but, importantly, it requires Flash to be installed via the native web browser, i.e. Internet Explorer on PC or Safari on Mac. To resolve this message, simply launch the appropriate web browser and install the latest Adobe Flash Player from there.
Your amplifier is still in 'Demo mode'. To keep your saved patches when your amp is switched off you'll need to set your amp to Normal mode as follows:
With the amplifier off, hold down the Manual button, power on the amplifier keeping the Manual button pressed until the Bank button has stopped changing colour.
This means that the upgrade has not been successful. To solve this, plug your amp into the same computer that the upgrade failed on. Ensure your amplifier is turned on and run the most up to date version of INSIDER software. This will upgrade your amp.
You can access all 128 patches via the INSIDER software, the FS-10 footcontroller or MIDI.
While we do recommend TVP is used in most cases, we have included the option to disable it to provide you with the maximum number of tonal options.
Yes, you can. Just like on a traditional valve amp, higher channel volume settings will deliver increased compression in conjunction with the characteristics of the valve type selected with the TVP control.
For the best sonic performance, the on-board effects are placed after the TVP section of the amplifier.
On the ID:15 and ID:30 the emulated output also doubles as a headphone output.
On the ID:60TVP, ID:60TVP-H, ID:260TVP and the ID:100TVP the emulated out is a line level output and not designed to power headphones. You can however use headphones via the emulated out without causing any damage, but better performance may be obtained by using a headphone amplifier or a mixer with a headphone output.
You'll need to set the MIDI pedal to a latching setting. If it is non-latching then the midi signal will trigger when you press the foot switch and again when you release it, producing an incorrect tap time. You should find instructions for this in your MIDI pedal handbook.
Yes, the built-in tuner is chromatic in INSIDER and as displayed on the optional FS-10 footcontroller. On the front panel of the amp it is fixed to the standard E-A-D-G-B-E notes. See the full ID:Series handbook for more information.
No, the Line Input is mono, but it will accept both mono and stereo signals. Stereo signals will be summed into mono.
Hold down button 2 on the FS-10 to access the delay tap time (notice that the main LED is off) and then hold down button 3. For more information see the FS-10 handbook.
Yes, the emulated output on an ID:Core amp also doubles as a headphone output
The guitar tuner is accessed via the front panel by holding down the MANUAL and TAP buttons simultaneously for 2 seconds. The tuner can also be accessed by clicking the TUNER heading within the INSIDER software with your ID:Core amp connected to your computer via USB. See the full ID:Core handbook for more information.
There are two simple ways to record the stereo sound of your ID:Core amplifier; via the Emulated Output or via USB.
To record via the Emulated Output, connect a stereo 3.5mm jack cable from the jack socket on the front panel of your ID:Core amp to a mixing desk or audio interface and record the analogue stereo signal directly. The internal speakers of your amp will automatically mute when a cable is plugged into the Emulated Output jack socket.
To record via USB connect your ID:Core amp to your computer using a mini USB cable, and launch your chosen DAW software. Next, select the recording input as your amplifier, set your monitoring source as required and hit record! To mute the live sound from your amp’s speakers, launch the Blackstar INSIDER software and open the Global Settings window. The amp muting can be controlled via the SPEAKER MUTE option. See the full INSIDER handbook for more information.
The output level of both recording signals is controlled via the amp’s VOLUME knob. Further information on recording using your ID:Series or ID:Core amp can be found on the Blackstar YouTube channel.