The BASSBASE 400 VARIMETRIC EQ and FX LOOP can be switched via the buttons on the front panel or remotely via optional footswitches.
NOTE: Please make sure you set the front panel buttons fo the OFF position (not depressed) when you want to activate these functions via footswitch.
Handle the VARIMETRIC voicing sections as you would a semiparametric EQ. The difference lies in the VARIMETRIC EQ's auto-variable bandwidth and slope, which enable you to achieve substantially more musical results. The easiest way to use it (and the best way to acquaint yourself with how it works) is to do the following:
-Turn the LEVEL control all the way up so you can really hear the results when you tune a frequency range in the lower midrange.
-Dial in the desired low-mids center frequency via the FREQ HZ control. (You will hear a wah-wah effect when turning this knob). If you stop rotating the pot at any point you will hear that particular frequency especially pronounced. You may find that a given frequency is particularly annoying, but not to worry, help is near: simply attenuate the culprit.
-You can now use the LEVEL control to amplify/attenuate selected frequencies as desired.
-Use the same procedure to tune the upper-mid frequencies via the FREQ KHZ and LEVEL controls (LEVEL to maximum, tune FREQ KHZ, then adjust LEVEL to amplify/attenuate the chosen frequencies.
-Hit the EQ ON button if you need to compare your EQed tone to the basic tone.
-If you leave the LEVEL control in the 12 o’clock position for a given frequency, that frequency will not be affected.
With a bit of practice, you can tune an attenuated frequency range (rather than artificially overemphasizing it first like we just did), but keep in mind that for the human ear, attenuated frequencies are generally more diffult to discern.
Even though you handle the VARIMETRIC the same way you would a conventional semi-parametric EQ with its fixed filtering, it is a much more sophisticated sound-shaping tool. The filters, rather than the being geared to a fixed frequency range, are variable, enabling you to fine-tune your tone for a truly musical result.
LOW/MID VARIMETRIC
20dB
10dB
0dB
-10 dB
-20 dB
80 Hz | 160Hz | 250 Hz | 400 Hz | 560 Hz | 800 Hz | 1 kHz |
This frequency diagram depicts the effects of the VARIMETRIC EQ on the lower-midrange. As clearly illustrated, the boost of a complete octave range is very well- rounded and even, ideal for clearly establishing the basic sound character. Attenuation occurs at a much narrower band width allowing you to accurately target undesirable frequencies. If you amplify a given frequency range, the frequencies bordering its outer parameters are smoothed out with a touch of attenuation, and if you attenuate a given frequency range, the frequencies bordering its outer parameters are gently amplified, achieving an audio contour which intensifies the overall EQ effect.
HIGH/MID VARIMETRIC
20dB
10dB
0dB
-1 0 dB
-20 dB
-
0.5 kHz | 0,85 kHz | 2,5 kHz | 4 kHz | 6,5 kHz | 10 kHz | 15 kHz |
Higher-midrange equalization: The higher the frequency, the broader the bandwidth processed by the VARIMETRIC EQ, much in the way the human ear registers the upper end. Attenuation occurs at a much narrower band width so you can accurately target undesirable frequencies and avoid the dreaded broad-band hollow midrange effect.
