Genz-Benz 12.2 owner manual Front Panel, FET Channel

FRONT PANEL

INPUT – The SHUTTLE®MAX 12.2 is equipped with a standard ¼” unbalanced input. The input sensitivity range is from 40 mV to over 1.6 volts. The input impedance is >500K ohms. The input stage contains a precision high order active high pass filter (more effective and less intrusive than the more common 6 dB filters) and an “RFI” filter (radio frequency interference) to eliminate unwanted noise. The INPUT gain stages consist of a feedback type variable gain circuit that provides wide range, continuously variable gain with minimal noise. The preamp contains an FET input amp circuit based on our highly regarded GBE series touring amplifiers.

INPUT SIGNAL MUTE SWITCH – With this MUTE switch, you can place the amplifier (and Direct Output) in standby mode between sets without having to change any of your amp settings. This feature can also be used for silent tuning since the TUNER OUT stays active when the MUTE is engaged. A red LED indicates when the MUTE is active. This function is not operable from the included 5-button footswitch, however, a rear panel jack is provided so that a standard single button footswitch can be used to remotely engage this function. The switch on the amplifier’s faceplate must be in the out position for the footswitch to work properly.

FET/TUBE CHANNEL SELECTOR SWITCH – This switch is provided to select either the FET channel or the TUBE channel. This function can be remotely engaged via the 5-button footswitch. The front panel switch must be in the out position for the foot switch to engage the function.

CHANNEL MIX SELECTOR SWITCH – When engaged this switch combines the signal of the FET and TUBE channels together. This function can also be remotely engaged via the 5-button footswitch. The front panel switch must be in the out position for the footswitch to engage the function.

FET CHANNEL---

GAIN SWITCH (LOW/HIGH) – This switch sets the gain sensitivity for the FET channel. It works somewhat like an Active/Passive switch. The amber LED indicates that the HIGH setting is selected. The difference between the LOW and HIGH gain positions is approx. 10dB. Since there is a GAIN Switch provided for each channel this allows the player to set different gain structures for the FET or TUBE channels. For the cleanest possible signal we recommend that the LOW setting be used for basses with hotter output or active pickups (generally most basses using one or two 9 volt batteries to power their on-board preamp or those with an output sensitivity over 1 Volt) and the HIGH gain setting be used for basses with lower output or passive pickups.

PREAMP GAIN CONTROL – This control sets the gain level of the preamp to the output of your bass. If the red OVERLOAD (O/L) LED flashes when setting up your input levels, reduce the preamp GAIN control to eliminate any input preamp overload. You may want to check the setting of the GAIN switch as well. This GAIN control, in conjunction with the preamp VOLUME control allows you to set the signal level to the EQ section. The MASTER VOLUME then controls the total output level of the power amp.

“O/L” LED – In the FET channel this LED senses the condition of the input signal after the GAIN control and also senses and warns of possible clipping in the EQ network. The O/L sensing circuit is very dependent upon the output of the bass instrument pickups, the GAIN and VOLUME level settings of the FET channel and the amount of EQ used i.e. the more radical the EQ boost and volume level of the preamp VOLUME control, the more possibility of an overload condition.

If overloading of the FET channel is occurring adjusting the preamp GAIN and /or preamp VOLUME down will reduce or eliminate the over-load condition and adjusting the MASTER VOLUME up will return the overall loudness.

NOTE: It is OK for this LED to flash occasionally with your hardest notes played and it may flash even if the TUBE channel has been selected for use. This is normal and is due to the mixing topology for the 2 channels.