1 - Can the Ampero 2 Stage send MIDI Program Change messages when switching Presets/Scenes?
Yes. The A2 Stomp that I own does not have this feature yet, but it is on the A2 Stage. You can send up to 6 MIDI PC/CC messages on preset change. See the
Stage manual page 55 / Patch MIDI.
2 - Can the Ampero 2 Stage use two separate expression pedals for independent Volume and Wah control?
I think you can. It has two EXP jacks, but the manual is not very clear about how to handle them. On my A2 Stomp, the single jack can be used for single expression pedal or single/dual footswitch. the A2 Stage seems to have an EXP 3 mode that would make the jack work like another expression pedal.
So to my understanding you set jack 1 to EXP 1/2 and jack 2 to EXP 3 to use two expression pedals. Then you assign them per preset to whatever you want.
3 - Can the Ampero 2 Stage be set up for the Ampero 2 Press to work as a switchless Wah (the Helix can do this) - meaning the Wah effect only comes on when the expression pedal is moved forward?
No. It does not seem to have any auto-engage functionality unfortunately. You need to use scenes or other methods to activate your wah before being able to use it.
4 - Can the Ampero 2 Stage be set up for the Ampero 2 Press - which I think has both Toe and Heel switches - to turn the Tuner on when the Heel switch is pressed?
The A2 Press afaik only has a toe switch. I think Hotone's intended use for it is to toggle between EXP 1/2 (switchable sets of 4 target paramers each) on the Ampero 2, so you can use one expression pedal for dual purposes, e.g switch between volume vs wah where you assing EXP 1 to control volume and EXP 2 to control Wah block's Position parameter. You can assign the switch functionality to tuner if you want.
5 - Can the Ampero 2 Stage be powered by an external power supply?
Yes, but you will need a beefy one, and to combine multiple 9V outputs. The A2 Stomp uses only 9V, 800 mA, but the Stage requires 9V, 1400 mA.
I always recommend CIOKS power supplies, and the DC7/Sol/4 Expander can do 660 mA from one 9V output. I think that's one of the highest I've seen.
Stage could in theory run at slightly less than 1.4 mA, so maybe one of these PSUs with the Cioks 8800 Parallel Adapter that combines two outputs for 1320 mA. A more certain option would be the DC7 + CIOKS Crux which uses the DC7's 24V output to deliver up to 9V, 2700 mA.
If this seems like a lot of expense, at least the A2 Stomp PSU is pretty compact and could easily fit under most pedalboards. The A2 Stage power supply looks like it could be the same or only marginally larger. The power cable is a bit short though, and annoyingly uses a less common 3-prong connector at the PSU end instead of a standard IEC.
