Fishman PRO-EQ User manual

Owner’s Manual
Owner’s Manual
®
TM

Thank you for choosing the Fishman Pro-EQ™ Platinum. Our goal is to provide
you with the finest products for amplifying your acoustic instrument - systems that
simply let you sound your best. With our long-standing commitment to quality,
you can feel confident that your Fishman gear will produce great sound and trou-
ble-free performance for years to come.
Please take a few minutes to read this guide and familiarize yourself with the pre-
amp's controls. Your satisfaction is very important to us. If you have any ques-
tions, please contact us at tteecchh@@ffiisshhmmaann..ccoomm; or by telephone at 997788--998888--99666655.
DESCRIPTION
Designed in response to requests from players, this versatile preamp/EQ/DI is
at home everywhere from local open mic nights to major festival stages. With
its simple yet precise controls, you can quickly dial in the natural acoustic
sound you're looking for; loud, clear and feedback free.
The Pro-EQ Platinum's four-band equalizer is modeled after our gig-proven
Prefix™ Plus onboard preamp, with sliders that are assigned to just the right
frequencies for acoustic equalization. A semi-parametric midrange control
employs a "constant Q" filter for more precise and consistent tone adjustments.
Also borrowed from the Prefix™ design are feedback fighting phase and notch
controls.
The Pro-EQ Platinum features our exclusive "Voltage Doubler" technology,
which improves both the dynamics and clarity of any pickup. Another innova-
tion utilized in the Platinum is our Smooth™ acoustic compression circuit. This
control removes the harsh percussive edge from your amplified sound when
you play hard.
Sound engineers will appreciate the Pro-EQ Platinum's pro-audio features
which include a balanced XLR out, an XLR pre/post EQ switch, plus optional
48-Volt phantom power operation. This means no more batteries or wall warts
if your mixer has phantom power. Unique to the Pro-EQ™ Platinum is a hum-
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killing ground lift switch that (unlike other acoustic preamp/DI's) works even
when phantom power is applied to the preamp.
QUICK START
1. If you are using the XLR output, set the Pre / Post switch to "Post" position.
2. Adjust the Input gain so that the Clip/Low Battery light barely flashes with
strong strumming.
3. Strum hard and raise the Smooth knob up until you hear the Compressor
take the percussive edge off your highs.
4. Phase: Flip the Phase switch to the position that sounds best and suppress-
es mid-bass feedback
5. Notch: To squelch deep bass feedback, adjust the Notch dial between 1:00
and 2:30. The Notch is off in the 7:00 position.
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Owner’s Manual

POWER
You can power the preamp three ways:
1. Nine-Volt Battery
Squeeze the two tabs on the top of the preamp together and the battery drawer
will pop out. Pull out the Battery clip and snap in a fresh 9-Volt alkaline battery.
You can expect 120 hours of continuous use. To conserve the battery, unplug
the input of the Pro EQ Platinum when you are not using the preamp.
2. 48-Volt Phantom Power Option
Many microphone mixers can phantom power the Pro EQ Platinum through a
standard XLR cable. Turn on phantom power at your mixer and connect an
XLR-style microphone cable between the Pro EQ Platinum's XLR out and the
mixer's input. The green "phantom" LED lights up when phantom power is sup-
plied to the preamp. Note that the ground lift for the Platinum works even with
phantom power applied to the XLR out.
No battery drain will occur when you use phantom power.
3. Nine-Volt AC Adapter Input
Use only a Fishman 910-R or Boss PSA series regulated AC adapter. If a 9-
Volt battery is in the preamp, no battery drain will occur when you use an AC
adapter.
INPUT
This is for all piezo and magnetic pickups (passive or active). When you plug
in here, the 9-Volt battery switches on. Remember to unplug the Input Jack
when you are not using the preamp, to conserve the battery's life. It is a good
idea to turn down your amp or mixer's input before you plug into this input.
Doing so will protect your speakers (and your ears) from loud pops.
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Features
Features

INPUT GAIN
Use this knob to set the input level of the preamp for the strongest signal with
no noise or distortion.
Adjust the input gain control so the Clip/Battery Low light faintly flashes when
you strum hard. Like the trim control on a pro-audio mixer, the input gain
accommodates a variety of signal levels.
Input gain is also critical for calibrating the Smooth acoustic compression cir-
cuit (see "Smooth" below).
CLIP/LOW BATTERY LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE)
This light has three distinct functions:
1. Power Up Indicator
The Clip/Battery Low LED will flash briefly when you first turn on the preamp.
Some people ask us, "Why doesn't this light stay on, like a conventional pilot
light?" Well, a steadily lit LED devours too many precious hours of battery life.
By briefly flashing the light when the unit turns on, we conserve power and
extend the useful life of the battery.
2. Clip Indicator / Smooth Acoustic Compression Calibration
The Clip/Low Battery LED will light brightly when the signal from your pickup
overloads and distorts the input of the Pro EQ Platinum preamp.
Adjust the Input gain control until the Clip/Low Battery LED faintly flashes when
you play your hardest. This will give you the cleanest signal into the preamp,
with no distortion. Setting the input gain in this way is also essential for cali-
brating the Smooth (acoustic compression circuit).
3. Low Battery Warning
When the Clip/Low Battery LED lights steadily with no signal present, it is time
to change the battery.
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VOLUME
Set this as high as possible (without distorting your amp or mixer) for the clean-
est signal.
SMOOTH™ ACOUSTIC COMPRESSION
Takes the percussive edge off of your high end when you play hard.
To set the Smooth control:
1. Turn the Smooth knob fully counter-clockwise.
2. Adjust the Input Gain so that the Clip/Low Battery light faintly flashes when
you play your hardest.
3. Raise the Smooth knob (clockwise) just enough to take the percussive edge
off your string sound as you strum hard (set the dial at about 12:00). Be
aware that turning the Smooth knob up too high may kill the highs for lighter
picking styles.
NOTCH AND PHASE
These controls work hand in hand to suppress two adjacent ranges of acoustic
feedback. When you set them properly, you can play your instrument as loud
as you like, feedback free. We use guitar as an example, but the notch filter
and phase switch are compatible with all acoustic instruments.
NOTCH
Tune the Notch filter to scoop out the lowest range of feedback when you play
bass notes between the open low E string and (up to and including) the fourth
fret G# on the same string. This "cavity resonance" feedback can usually be
squelched by setting the Notch control between 1:00 and 2:00 on the dial.
Note that for instruments that do not suffer from low frequency feedback, the
notch can be defeated by moving the dial to the 7:00 position.
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PHASE SWITCH
Flip the Phase switch back and forth until you find the position that sounds best
and subdues mid-bass feedback. Mid-bass feedback occurs when you play
bass notes above the fourth fret (G#) on the low E string.
Lower Feedback Range
(E to G#)
Upper Feedback Range
(A and above)
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Owner’s Manual

TONE CONTROLS
Note: If you make radical changes to your tone settings after you have set your input
gain, re-check the Input Gain level so that the clip/low battery light faintly flashes
with hard strumming. Doing so will give you the strongest possible signal with no
distortion.
Bass
A Boost here will add depth and weight to the sound of an instrument with light
bass response. Cut the bass a few dB to tighten up the big boomy tone of a
dreadnought or jumbo guitar.
Mid EQ
Two sliders (Level and Frequency) make up the Mid control.
The Frequency slider lets you tune in on specific midrange sounds that you can
boost/cut with the Level slider.
With the Mid EQ you can boost or cut a wide range of frequencies, from gutsy
low midrange (250 Hz) to splashy low treble (5 kHz).
Many instruments benefit from a slight midrange cut. To cut mids:
Boost the Level control and then sweep the Frequency control until you find the
band of frequencies that are brash and nasal sounding (usually around the
center of the Frequency slider's travel). Then move the Level slider below its
detent to taste.
Treble
A Boost here will help to "cut through the mix". Conversely, cutting the Treble
will mellow and subdue your amplified tone.
Brilliance
This slider can add shimmer and sparkle to your sound.
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It zeroes in on "extra crispy" high frequency tones, the realm of harmonics and
acoustic string sound. Lowering the Brilliance slider will reduce excessive fin-
ger noise and fret buzz.
XLR PRE / POST SWITCH
With this switch, you can choose between two signal paths for the XLR Output.
1) Post • All controls on the Pro EQ Platinum affect the XLR output.
In the “Post” EQ position, you are in complete control of the sound going to
the PA or recording console. The Post EQ setting is especially useful in
venues where you want to control your volume and tone from the stage,
with little or no help from a sound-person.
2) Pre • Only the Input Gain and Phase controls affect the XLR output.
Sometimes called a "direct" XLR signal. Set the switch to the "Pre" position
when you wish to give a sound-person complete control of the house sound.
It is often useful to send an additional post EQ signal from the ¼" output on
the Pro EQ Platinum to your stage amp or monitors, retain control of your
stage sound.
GROUND LIFT (XLR)
Use this switch to eliminate AC ground loop hum in the XLR output.
This type of hum often occurs when you're plugged into more than one AC
powered device. Note that unlike other manufacturer's DI/preamps, our ground
lift works even with phantom power applied at the XLR output.
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XLR (BALANCED) OUT
Plug a standard XLR cable from your PA or recording console into this low
impedance balanced output. Note that the Pro EQ Platinum can run off 48-Volt
phantom power through this output. See Power section above for phantom
power operation.
OUTPUT (1/4" UNBALANCED)
Plug a standard instrument cable from this output to a stage amp or an unbal-
anced microphone input on a Mixer. All the Pro EQ Platinum's controls (except
the XLR switches) will affect this output.
TUNER/SEND
Use this output when you need an unbalanced fixed level signal (regardless of
changes in stage or house level), for an external tuner, recording device or a
live radio feed. The Tuner/Send output is affected only by the Pro EQ
Platinum's Input Gain control.
Using an Electronic tuner with the Tuner/Send
Run a ¼" instrument cable from the Tuner/Send to an electronic tuner. For
discrete tuning from stage, simply turn down the Volume control on the
Platinum.
Make a Recording off the Tuner/Send
Use the Tuner/Send as an auxiliary unbalanced fixed level send (into a sep-
arate direct box) for recording or broadcast gear. This output will stay
"live", regardless of changes to the house (XLR out, post EQ) or stage (1/4"
output) levels.
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