TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Operating Instructions............................................................................... 4
Equalizers and the PGE 2 ........................................................................................ 5
In/out Connections ................................................................................................... 6
Programming the PGE 2 .......................................................................................... 7
Front and Rear Panel Overview............................................................................... 8
Continuous Controller Functions ......................................................................... 10
Specifications ......................................................................................................... 12
FCC Information ..................................................................................................... 13
Warranty .................................................................................................................. 14
Page 3
General Operating Instructions
These general operating instructions will get you started your PGE 2 right
away. We urge you to read the rest of this manual soon, so you will fully understand and
be able to enjoy all of the capabilities of this sophisticated signal processor.
1. Make sure PGE 2 is off. Connect the power cord of the PGE 2 to an AC
outlet. CAUTION : Line voltage must match the voltage requirement printed on the rear
panel of the unit.
2. Connect an audio cable from you input source (instrument, effects, tape
deck, mixer or effect loop send) to the rear input jack of the PGE 2. Set GAIN switch
accordingly. Connect another cable from the rear panel output jack of the PGE 2 to your
amplification system or effect loop return. (See the rest of this manual for more details
on hook-ups).
3. Push the PGE 2 power button ON.
4. Select either the right or left channel by pressing the CHANNEL
DISPLAYED button.
5. Select either ±6dB in 1dB steps or ±12dB in 2dB steps by pressing the
STEP SIZE button.
6. Select which frequency band you want to adjust by pressing the button
below the column of LED’s for any of the 14 frequency bands. Overall output volume can
be changed by selecting the button under the VOL column. Cut or boost your selection
by using the UP and DOWN buttons marked with arrows just to the right of the VOL
column. Repeat until you have achieved the EQ curve you desire for both channels.
7. Save those settings as a Program Number by holding in the red RECORD
button until the Program Number display flickers then remains steady.
OR:
Save those settings as a different Program Number by holding in the COPY
button and pressing the Program UP or DOWN buttons (just right of the Program
display) until you’re at the Program Number you desire. Release the COPY button. Hold
in the red RECORD button until the Program Number display flickers then remains
steady.
Page 4
Equalizers and the PGE 2
As the name implies, an equalizer is supposed to make things equal. But what
will be equal to what? Let's start with the basics. The sounds we hear are the result of
something vibrating the air which then vibrates our eardrums. Our brain then tells us
what those vibrations are; a flute, a guitar amplifier or a door slamming.
Our ears can detect things that vibrate at rates between 20 and 20,000 times
per second. That's the frequency of the sound. The "A" note just below Middle C on a
piano vibrates at a rate of 440 times per second. But other frequencies are also
generated by a string being hit by a piano hammer or a guitar pick, they're called
harmonics.
Sometimes the clarity of a sound can be enhanced by increasing the volume
of its higher harmonics. We turn up the treble frequencies (5,000 to 20.000 cycles per
second) on the radio and it becomes easier to distinguish speech. We turn up the bass
frequencies (20 to 200 cycles per second) so we can hear the kick drum or bass guitar
better. The frequencies between 200 and 5,000 are generally considered mid-range
sounds. Most musical instruments generate mid-range frequencies.
A home hi-fi system usually has 3 tone control bands: bass, mids and treble.
If we take the entire range of our hearing and divide it into ten bands which are one
octave wide, you can see that we would have even more control of the tonal balance. If
we had a sound with too much bass, we could add mid-range volume until it was
EQUAL to the bass volume. (Of course we could reduce some of the bass bands to
achieve the same result) If we divided our hearing range into 1/2 octave bands, we'd
have twice as many bands and even more control of our sound.
If we name each band for the frequency in the exact center of that band, we
should be able to keep track of which band will effect which part of the sound.
The word "graphic" with respect to equalizers refers to the actual knobs or
indicators for the bands that are arranged like a bar graph. A graphic layout like that
makes it easy to see the overall curve formed by the levels of each band. You can see
an EQ curve that is set to be a peak or notch or shelf.
The PGE 2 is 2 fourteen band equalizers in one box. The eight mid-range
bands are 1/2 octave apart for more control where it's needed. The three bass and two
treble bands are one octave apart for smoother tone shaping. Fourteen columns of
LED's give a graphic indication of the tone changes you've made. Instead of using 28
columns of LED's to display both channels at once, we've designed the PGE 2 to share
the LED window. The DISPLAY button chooses which channel will be viewed and active
(ready to accept any changes). We designate the channels as LEFT and RIGHT, but
they are completely independent and can be used in any way that two separate
equalizers could be used.
Page 5
In/out Connections
There are many points in the signal path into which you can insert the PGE 2
The 1/4" audio jacks on the back are mono and unbalanced so any standard guitar cord
will work. You can plug an electric instrument (guitar, keyboard, etc.) directly into a
PGE 2 input jack. You would then continue the signal oath with a cord from the output of
the PGE 2 to the next device in your system (guitar amp, keyboard mixer, PA, etc.). The
GAIN switch near the in/out jacks of the PGE 2 should be pushed in (or low level
signals). It your particular instrument causes the INPUT CLIP LED on the PGE 2 front
panel to blink more than just occasionally, you should set the GAIN switch out.
You can use the PGE 2 in the Effect Loop of most guitar amplifiers. You
should watch the INPUT CLIP LED and set the GAIN switch for the least amount of
clipping. If the INPUT CLIP LED blinks constantly in either position, you may need to
reduce the signal level going into the PGE 2.
The Effect Send and Return of a mixer is usually not a good place to insert
an equalizer. Only some of the signal will go through the equalizer so it won't have
complete control of the sound.
For overall equalization of your sound, you should insert the PGE 2 just
before the power amplifier. This will work well for PA systems or studio monitors. Do not
insert the PGE 2 after the power amp (between the power amp and speakers). You
could damage the PGE 2 and/or other components of your system.
Since the PGE 2 has two channels, you can use one channel in your effect
loop and the other channel before the power amp. Or you could use the two channels in
two completely different systems; one for your guitar and one for
The OUTPUT CLIP LED's should not be allowed to blink more than
occasionally. If you've set the input GAIN switch correctly and the INPUT CLIP LED isn't
blinking but the OUTPUT CLIP LED is, you may need to reduce the OUTPUT VOLUME
of the PGE 2. If all of the EQ bands are set to a boost condition (+6, +8, etc.) you could
reduce all bands by a step or two or three. This would maintain the same EQ curve but
reduce the overall volume.
Use MIDI cables to connect the PGE 2 to any MIDI devices you wish it to
work with or accept changes from. The PGE 2 MIDI IN jack should be connected to the
MIDI OUT or THRU of a MIDI device that will send it PROGRAM CHANGE information.
If there are other MIDI devices that need to receive MIDI information, then use a cable
from the PGE 2 MIDI OUT or THRU to the MIDI IN of the next device If there's nothing
else to be connected, the PGE 2 MIDI OUT and THRU jacks can remain empty.
Page 6
Programming the PGE 2
The PGE 2 has been designed to make programming easy and intuitive.
Every frequency band has ifs own select button beneath its column of LED indicators.
To select a band to adjust, press the select button for that band. It's LED will start to
blink to let you know that it is active (ready to be adjusted). Use the EQ UP and DOWN
buttons just right of the LED columns to change the EO setting of the active band. Select
and change any or all of the EQ bands and VOLUME band until you get the sound you
want.
Look at the two digit PROGRAM window. The number in the window is the
current PROGRAM NUMBER. If you want the EQ curve that is set on the LED's to be
saved as the current PROGRAM NUMBER, just hold the red RECORD button in until
the display flickers then remains steady. If you want this EO setting to be saved as a
different PROGRAM NUMBER, perhaps to match the program number of another
device, here's how: Hold in the COPY button (the COPY LED in the display window will
light up) and use the PROGRAM UP and DOWN buttons (to the right of the PROGRAM
display window) until the PROGRAM NUMBER you want is in the window. Release the
COPY button. Now press in and hold the red RECORD button until the Program Display
flickers then remains steady.
You may want the same settings for both the Left and Right channels. Set
one channel (either one) the way you want for EQ and Volume. Copy its settings to the
other channel by holding in the COPY button, press the Channel Display button (the
LED will shift to the other channel), release the COPY button then hold in the red
RECORD button until the Program Display flickers then remains steady.
Whenever a PROGRAM has been altered by using the EQ UP and DOWN
buttons, the EDIT LED in the display window will light up. The EDIT light will go out if
you record that altered setting into memory. If you want to return to the original settings,
press the PROGRAM UP button once then the PROGRAM DOWN button once. The
EDIT LED will be out and you'll be back to the unaltered settings for that program.
The PGE 2 will accept PROGRAM CHANGE information on all 16 MIDI
channels, one at a time or all at once (OMNI mode). To view the current MIDI CHANNEL
or change it, hold in the MIDI CH button to the right of the display window. A number
from 1 to 16 in the window indicates which channel the PGE 2 will accept information
from. The number 00 indicates OMNI mode and means that the PGE 2 will respond to
information on all 16 MIDI channels. To change the MIDI Channel, hold in the MIDI CH
button (the MIDI CH LED will light up) and use the Program UP and Down buttons.
The PGE 2 is controlled by you through a microprocessor which stores its
memory digitally. The actual sound that you put through the PGE 2 remains in the
analog domain. It is not digitized or converted in any way.
Page 7
Front and Rear Panel Overview
Page 8
Front and Rear Panel Overview
Page 9
Continuous Controller Functions
In the Continuous Controller Mode, each Function of PGE 2 can be assigned
to a Continuous Controller Number □ thru 127. The assignable Functions include Left
and Right Range, individual EQ band adjustment - 32hz thru 16khz, Volume and
bypass. You can also copy the Controller number of one Function to another, or the
entire Left channel Controller Number assignment to the Right channel and visa versa.
To enter Continuous Controller Mode: Depress the MIDI CH button for 3
seconds, after which, the PGE 2 will enter Continuous Controller Mode (indicated by a
"CC" in the 2 digit Program Window ).
To select and view a Function's Continuous Controller Number: Use the
Channel Displayed button to enable Left or Right Function viewing (The Left and Right
Bypass can be selected directly]. Then press any assignable Function's associated
button. This will cause the LED(s] above that button to light and the 2 digit Program
Window to display the selected Function's current Controller Number. You can view all
of the Function to Continuous Controller Number Assignments in any order, one at a
time.
To change the assigned Controller Number: While viewing a selected
fFnction's Continuous Controller Number, use the program up or down buttons to index
a Controller Number from 0 thru 127. Decrementing past 0 will deselect the Function
from a Controller Number, indicated by "--". Every change is automatically stored into
the Selected Function's Battery Sacked Up Memory location, the latest over writing the
previous.
Also, while viewing a selected Function's Continuous Controller Number, any
valid Continuous Controller Number received via the MIDI IN will be Assigned to that
Function. Every Controller Number received is automatically stored into the Selected
Function's Battery Backed Up Memory location, the latest over writing the previous.
Copying Controller Numbers: While viewing a selected Function's Continuous
Controller Number, hold down the Copy button while selecting a new Function. The
newly selected Function will then be assigned to the previously selected Function's
Controller Number. From there, you can change the Continuous Controller Number of
the newly selected Function as described previously, (note: you can copy Indivdual
Continuous Controller Numbers from one Function to another only if they are both within
the same channel, i,e: Right or Left. This rule,however, does not apply to the Bypass
Functions.)
Channel Copying: While viewing a selected Function's Continuous Controller
Number within the Channel which you want to copy, hold down the copy button while
pressing the Channel Displayed button.
Page 10
All Functions associated with the newly selected Channel will be assigned to
the previously selected Channel's Continues Controller Numbers respectively, i.e.:
Range to Range. 32Hz to 32 Hz, 64Hz to 64Hz etc...
To exit the Continuous Controller Mode, press the Midi button. The PGE 2 will
return to the Normal Operating Mode.
When a Continuous Controller Number is received by the PGE 2, via the MIDI
IN, in the Normal Operating Mode, each Function assigned to the received number will
respond. The table below describes the response to the data in the received Continuous
Controller Message.
FUNCTION FUNCTION
32Hz thru 16kHz VOLUME
DATA (decimal) RESPONSE RESPONSE
0 thru 9 -12dB -9dB
10 thru 19 -10dB -7.5dB
20 thru 29 -8dB -6dB
30 thru 39 -6dB -4.5dB
40 thru 49 -4dB -3dB
50 thru 59 -4dB -1.5dB
60 thru 69 0dB 0dB
70 thru 79 +2dB +1.5dB
80 thru 89 +4dB +3dB
90 thru 99 +6dB +4.5dB
100 thru 109 +8dB +6dB
110 thru 119 +10dB +7.5dB
120 thru 127 +12dB +9dB
FUNCTION RANGE FUNCTION BYPASS
DATA (decimal) RESPONSE RESPONSE
0 thru 63 ±12dB mode OFF
64thru 127 ±6dB mode ON
Page 11
Specifications
INPUT IMPEDANCE ....................................................................................2.2M
INPUT LEVEL............................................................. 8.7 V RMS (+21dBv) max.
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE ..................................................................................200
OUTPUT LEVEL......................................................... 8.7 V RMS (+21dBv) max.
FREQUENCY RESPONSE at 0 .......................................20Hz to 20kHz ±0.5dB
FILTERING.................................. ±12dB at 32. 64. 125, 250. 350, 500, 1k, 1.4k,
....................................................................................... 2k. 2.8k, 4k, 8k, 16kHz
SIGNAL to NOISE RATIO ........................................................ 92dB unweighted
HARMONIC DISTORTION .......................................................Less than 0.03 %
POWER REQUIREMENT................... 9W, line voltage as marked on rear panel
ACCESSORIES (optional)...................................................................MIDIPedal
Specifications subject to change without prior notification
Page 12
FCC Information
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and. it not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
- Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Page 13
Warranty
Page 14
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