Using Equalization
The Hartke HD500 gives you control over shaping the sound of your bass, using a
process called equalization. To understand how this works, it's important to know that
every naturally occurring sound consists of a broad range of pitches, or frequencies,
combined together in a unique way. This blend is what gives every sound its
distinctive tonal color. The HD500 EQ controls allow you to alter a sound by boosting
or attenuating specific frequency areas - they operate much like the bass and treble
controls on stereo, but with much greater precision.
The HD500 offers three bands of
equalization. Each EQ knob, labeled
Bass, Midrange, and Treble, affects a
different frequency area of the audio. We
carefully selected these frequency areas
because they have maximum impact
on bass guitar signals. The Bass and
Treble controls are shelving EQs, which
provide boost when the control is moved
clockwise from the center or cut when
the control is moved counterclockwise
Bass
Midrange
Treble
from the center. The Mid EQ control is a
peaking EQ. As the Mid control is turned
clockwise the frequency area is boosted;
as it is turned counterclockwise the
frequency area is attenuated.
In many instances, the best way to deal with equalization is to think in terms of
which frequency areas you need to attenuate, as opposed to which ones you need
to boost. Be aware that boosting a frequency area also has the effect of boosting
the overall signal; specifically, too much Low EQ boost can actually cause overload
distortion or even harm the connected speaker.
HD Series Combos
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