What do these controls do on my amp?

Question

I was just wondering what low mid, high mid, treble, bass, drive, and opto comp did on an amp????

Answer 1

Hi BamBam... Im assuming this is a bass amp you have.  

   Each individual controls you mention boost a given frequency by usually by 12-15 decibals(depending on manufacturer)  with the center or twelve o'clock position being at 0 db of the frequency.  Therefore, turning the k**b to the left will reduce the decibals of the given frequency, while turning to the right will boost it.

  Here is generally what bass amps  have as there "pick points" of a given frequency.

     Bass:  Usually 80 or 100 Hz

Low Mid:             220-450 Hz

High Mid:             850HZ-1.6 kHz

      High:            3-7 kHz

  

    While I gave you 2 frequencies for each control, bear in mind only 1 frequency is affected when you turn each k**b.  These are just references as to what the amp might have as its pick-points.

   The drive is what tlbs 101 answered... precisely!    

   The opto-comp:  Im assuming this is what would be an optical compresser, which is one of the quietest compressers on the market.

   Another option for the opto-comp would be the amp has optical components.  What this means is that the sound you hear from the speaker is internally transformed into a light signal.. then.. routed to the optical output  on the amp.  And by light.. yes.. the kind of light that shines.  Some of your very high end recording consoles have optical inputs as well as outputs, and this is where that would apply.

   Its also a really clean and extremely low noise signal that is achieved this way.

   Check your owners manual for the exact frequencies that have been selected for your amp, and if you dont have the manual, visit the manufacturers website, as most of them have free downloads available.  

Hope this has helped... and keep playin!

Answer 2

Bass, low mid, high mid, and treble are equalization controls.

Bass will cover frequencies at the low end from about 50 Hz to 300 Hz

low mid will cover frequencies between 300 and 1000 Hz

High mid will cover frequencies between 1000 and 5000 Hz

Treble will cover frequencies above 5000 Hz.

These numbers are educated guesses and are approximately correct.  Consult the owners manual to get the exact frequencies.

The drive k**b is a gain or volume control that is generally between the pre-amplifier (internally) and the power amplifier (internally).  If there is a distorting circuit, the drive k**b will usually control the volume *into* the distortion elements in that circuit.

Opto comp is something new to me.  You'll have to look at the manual for that one.  If this amplifier has an fiber optic output (to hook to a computer or something), then it might control some aspect of that.

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