MARLEAUX Tonwerk Installation guide

The indicated specifications apply for operation with 9V power supply
Tonwerk
Bass Preamp Module
Quick Manual
Sägemüllerstrasse 37 · D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Telefon [phone] · Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.marleaux-bass.com
Technical Specifications
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 85kHz (-3dB) EQ off
20Hz - 52kHz (-3dB) EQ on
Signal-to-noise-ratio: > 90dBu
Input Sensitivity: 92mV eff für 0dBu Output
30mV eff für -10dBu Output
max. Input-Voltage: 13,2Vpp 4,65V eff (+15,5dBu)
Distortion-Level: +16,5dBu
Tonecontrol
Variable Input Gain: - 9,5dB - +18,5dB (28dB)
min. Headphone-Impedance: ca. 30/30 Ohm
Power Supply: 9-12V DC
Current Draw: ca. 16mA min. ca. 45mA max.
Dimensions ( D x W x H): 125 x 150 x 55mm
Weight: ca. 650g
Bass +/- 15dB 25 - 40 - 75 Hz
Mid1 +/- 12dB 300 - 450 - 750 Hz
Mid2 +/- 12dB 0,85 - 1,2 - 1,7 kHz
Treble +/- 15dB 4 - 8 - 16 kHz
Design: creativ-design.com / product photos: hoerseljau.de · subject to changes without notice · as of November 2017

MARLEAUX „Tonwerk“ Bass Preamp Module
HEADPHONE OUTPUT
The Headphone Output is located on the back (left). It is designed for the use of stereo
headphones with a minimal impedance of 30/30 Ohm. Best results however will be
attained with impedances between 100-600 Ohm. Only stereo phonejacks should be used.
SETTING INPUT LEVEL
To achieve an optimum signal quality and signal-to-noise ratio, it is crucial to set the input level
correctly. For this purpose, turn the “Input Level” control up until both green LED indicators are
lighting up continuously (more or less). It is o.k. if the red LED indicator is blinking shortly on
occasion when using strong signal attack. Even in this case, there still is enough headroom
available. Permanent illumination of the red LED indicator should be avoided.
4 - BAND EQ TONE-CONTROL
A special feature of the “Tonewerk” Preamp is the 4-Band EQ tonecontrol with three selectable
filter-frequencies for each indvidual EQ-band. This allows a vast number of sound nuances.
With all tone-controls (bass, mid, treble) set to mid position, the EQ tonecontrol is working
linear. In this setting there will be no audible changes when changing the frequency-select
rotary switches. Once a tone-control is being boosted or cut the sound will change accordingly.
In case of the EQ being adjusted in a way, that the general signal level in active mode will be
drastically raised/lowered (by boosting or cutting certain frequencies), this might also show in a
different signal-level indication of the VU-LED-Meter, which measures the signal level “post.EQ”.
It could therefore become necessary to readjust the preamp signal level after setting the EQ.
CONNECTING
Like with most effect-pedals and preamlifieres, the “input” is located on the right hand side,
the “output” on the left hand side of the unit. The input socket, once a jack is plugged in,
activates the preamp (please only use mono-jack-plugs). This also applies to the external
powersupply (it will only draw current, once the input socket is activated by a jack plugged in).
The “Tonwerk” Preamp can be powered either by internal 9V battery or external 9-12V power
supply which does connect to the DC socket on the back. We highly recommend the use of a
power supply, as the pre-amp’s average current draw (20-25mA) might cause frequent battery
changes to become necessary.
DC CONNECTION
A “DC” connecting socket located on the back of the unit allows the preamp to be power supplied
with external 9-12V direct current. In any case, the current should be stabilized with a maximum of
12V never being exceeded. The connector plug is sized 5,5/2,1mm. The plug-polarity is meeting
common standard with center (tip) negative (-) and outer (ring) positive (+). The pedal is equipped
with polarity-protection, so it won’t be damaged in case wrong polarity might be applied.
FOOTSWITCH-FUNCTION AND D.I. OUT ASSIGNMENT
Located above the volume control is a 3-way toggle-switch, which assigns different functions
to the footswitch and the D.I.-Output. With the Footswitch LED being lit, the EQ is generally
engaged, so this applies to all three positions of the toggle switch.
Pos.1 D.I. Out Routing: Pre EQ, Footswitch Function: True Bypass
In this position the D.I. Out is directly assigned to the Input. The bass signal at the D.I. Out
therefore does remain uneffected by changes to the EQ setting. In this setting, enganging the
Footswitch will have no effect on the D.I. Out-Signal. However, as mentioned, the EQ is active
once the footswitch is engaged and can only be heard via the regular Output and Headphone
Out. If the footswitch is disengaged, the signal will be true bypassed (unbuffered) directly to
the Output. This setting allows a direct A/B comparison between buffered/EQ’d and bypassed
sound, which is especially useful when the “Tonwerk” Preamp is connected to the input of an
amplifier. This function also serves well for the application as a booster.
Pos. 2 D.I. Out Routing: Pre EQ, Footswitch Function: EQ On/Off
Again, in this setting, the D.I.-Out is assigned directly to the dry input signal (with no EQ in the
signal chain). The output signal now contains the levelled, buffered signal - either direct (dry)
or with the Equalizer switched on. This setting can be particularly useful when - apart from the
D.I.-Out - the (Jack-) Output shall serve an additional low-impedance signal-input. Also this
switch-position is of advantage when using long instrument cables.
Pos. 3 D.I.-Out Routing: Post EQ, Footswitch Function: EQ On/Off
The D.I.-Out is now routed to the output signal of the preamp, but before the Volume Control,
receiving the levelled EQ On/Off signal (changing the Volume Control therefore will not effect
the D.I. Out level. However, changing the Input-Level Control does effect the D.I.-Out level).
The Footswitch function is the same as in Pos. 2.
The D.I. is generally operating in “Groundlift” mode, which means that ground is disconnected
(avoiding noise interference issues)
VOLUME CONTROL
Finally the Volume Control is levelling the Output-Signal, helping to adjust/match signal level
to the input of a connected device (amplifier, mixing console ...). Please consider, that the
preamp can deliver a relatively high signal-level of min. +12dBu, which can become challenging
even for high level resistant amplifier input stages. Therefore it does make sense to A/B
compare “True Bypass/EQ On” to always make sure to receive a clean, undistorted signal. The
Volume Control allows a very fine and precise output-level adjustment.