8. Adjust the Bass, Treble and Graphic Equalizer
controls to taste. (When you get a great setting that
complement's your instrument and playing style, it’s
a good idea to write it down for future use.)
9. Press in the Shape switch and turn the Shape
knob both clockwise and counterclockwise to hear
the effect of the Shape curve and filter on the sound
of your bass. Leave the Shape knob at the point
where it best complements your particular instru-
ment and playing style. For more on SHAPE see the
section Using the Shape Circuit on page 12.
10. Now try out the Hydrive combo’s Compression
circuitry. Activate it by turning the Compression
knob clockwise from its “Zero” position. As you turn
the knob clockwise, the input signal from your bass
becomes more and more severely compressed—
you’ll hear peak signals (such as string slaps and
pulls) begin to sound increasingly “squashed,” rela-
tive to the lower-level signals produced by standard
playing. The result will be a decreased dynamic
range but an overall leveling of signal throughout
the full pitch range of your instrument. In the 112C,
115C and 210C, the Compression LED will be o
when no compression is being applied, will go on
whenever small amounts of compression are being
applied and will ash or light steadily blue when
limiting (severe compression) is being applied.
11. If you’re using a professional external signal
processor that has Line-level inputs and outputs,
turn your Hydrive Combo amp o momentarily
and then connect a standard audio cable between
the rear panel Preamp Out jack and your eects
processor input and another standard audio cable
between your eects processor output and the Amp
In jack. (If required, multiple eects processors can
be daisy-chained together, output to input). Then
turn the Hydrive Combos amp back on and play
your bass while adjusting the controls of your eects
processor(s). For best results, set both the input and
output gain of the connected eects processor(s)
to 0 dB (unity gain), so that there is no increase or
decrease in level whether the eects are switched in
or out.
10
Setting Up and Using Your Hartke Hydrive
Combo Bass Amplifier