I bought the Blackstar ID:CORE Stereo 40 V2 amplifier for my guitar: it seems to be good … but may be some more information is needed. Note that sometimes Blackstar have special offers giving you free delivery and a free guitar cable (e.g. “Black Star ID Core 40 Combo per chitarra amplificatore stereo cavo per chitarra KEEPDRUM gc-001 004 6 m gratis“)
Within the box there was only a two pages starter manual and a card with a code related to the free activation of a possible useful SW, the PreSonus Studio One.
I think that reading only that very few starter instructions, it is nearly impossible to use the amplifier properly, even only activate the effects and especially use its advanced features!! At a first trial, it could be that you think that the amplifier even does not work properly … In fact, note that when the amplifier is switched on, it has by default the Manual led lit, that should mean that it is in Manual mode, so the sound should reflect the current physical position of the knobs: on the contrary my amplifier seems to be in Patch mode and to let the sound reflect the current physical position of the knobs you have to unlit that led!!! So, when you switch it on and it has the Manual led lit, I have to unlit it to let the overdrive effects (crunch, super crunch, OD1, OD2) works setting the proper Voice knob: till now I could not understand if that behavior is “normal” or not … and I am still waiting for an answer from the Blackstar forum.
If you have that amplifier, first you have to go to the Blackstar site and download the full user manual: without it is nearly impossible to use it, especially some advanced features!! Unfortunately there is only in English and other few languages (not Italian) …
However, even after reading that full manual, you can still have some doubts that possibly could be solved reading some answers from the Blackstar forum that can help you to understand some behaviors that possibly may seems quite “strange”. For example from there you can realize that “You need to register a level on the Gain pot in order to achieve output. By design, the voicings will only register output once there is a small level of gain applied. Simply increasing the Volume parameter will not result in output immediately“.
Then you have to download the Blackstar INSIDER (currently v1.8.1) SW that allows you also to possibly apply the firmware update of your amplifier.
To download the Studio One (Blackstar edition) SW, you have to register yourself in the Presonus site, and then register as a new SW or extension product using the activation code available on the card you found in the box of your Blackstar amplifier.
Studio One (Blackstar edition) activation
At that point, in the My Products section, you will have the Studio One 3 Prime OEM that can be downloaded together with manuals, video and more …
My Product section: Studio One 3 Prime OEM available for downloading
Clicking on that available product, you can download the version you need: from that page you can realize that you have till 5 possible activations!
Download the proper Studio One version
On that page you can find also a lot of other resources you can download and a learning section full of tutorials!! 😉
Extra downloads and tutorials
- ID:CORE V2 Guitar Amps (Owner manual)
- Blackstar INSIDER (v1.8.1)
- Blackstar forum (even though it seems to be not to get many answers from the product makers)
- Studio One – Blackstar edition (Extra Downloads & Learn)
- Support line by email
Finally here you can find a Presonus Studio One 4 review video:
Enzo Contini Blog 
When you select any voice and the led is red you only get the amp model. You then need to add your choice of gain.volume.effects.etc. once your happy with sound then you press the led button till it turns green. If your happy with the sound then press the led button and hold until led flashes green. The sound will now be stored. This will overwrite The original stored setting. Select a voice.press red led until it turns green. Adjust amp volume to suit. Away you go….
"Mi piace""Mi piace"
When the manual led is red the sound reflects the physical position of the knobs, but NO EFFECTS will be selected. when the manual button is pressed and turns green the sound reflects the stored patch and only the volume needs to be altered, you can then alter any knob you like but when you switch off the amp without saving then patch reverts to original stored setting.if this does not happen then I suggest you take to an authorised Blackstar dealer for investigation.
"Mi piace""Mi piace"
Thank you Jim. Therefore, if I took it right, when the manual mode led is red no effect can be applied (I really wonder why of this choice by design!) so the most relevant knob is the Voice one and possibly each voice item can be modified acting on the Gain knob. The matter is that there is not great differences in my amplifier changing the Voice item when the Manual led is red (default status when the amplifier is switched on): I expected, for example that a distortion effect should be applied when the Crunch voice is set … as it happens when the Manu7al led is unlit.
Moreover you said that when the Manual button is pressed it changes to green: mine goes to unlit (only red and unlit status can be set for that button, no green one).
Therefore you think it is a strange behaviour so should l contact my dealer?
Thank you for your explanations and … time! 🙂
"Mi piace""Mi piace"
this amplifier is so easy to use and Intuitive to use that you would not need a manual, if you cant work out how to use this amp i would suggest you give up guitar playing.
"Mi piace""Mi piace"
Thank you Jim for your comment. So may be you can easily answer to this question: when my amplifier is switched on, it has by default the Manual led lit, that should mean that it is in Manual mode, so the sound should reflect the current physical position of the knobs (as stated also in the full manual”): on the contrary my amplifier seems to be in Patch mode and to let the sound reflect the current physical position of the knobs you have to unlit that led!!! So, when you switch it on and it has the Manual led lit, I have to unlit it to let the overdrive effects (crunch, super crunch, OD1, OD2) works setting the proper Voice knob.
Is this a “normal” behavior?
"Mi piace""Mi piace"