BG500/210 BG500/115 USER’S MANUAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not install near heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug.
EMC EMC/EMI This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
TABLE OF CONTENTS EN INTRODUCTION Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Quick Setup Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 OPERATION Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION Congratulations on the purchase of your new BG500 combo amp! We welcome you as a player in the TC bass pocket. BG500 is a significant addition to our already extensive range of bass products and as the other members of the bass family it represents the next step in bass amplification rendering a simple, yet powerful combination of great bass sound and function, mixed with extraordinary technology behind its traditional fascia. BG500 is loud and proud.
QUICK SETUP GUIDE EN If you just can’t wait… Here are a few quick steps to get you playing within minutes. Unpacking • Unpack your BG500 Combo amp. • The box should contain the following items: – BG500 Combo amplifier (210V or 115V version) – Power Cable – RCA to mini jack cable – Manual • Inspect all items for signs of transit damage. In the unlikely event of this having occurred, inform the carrier and supplier.
OPERATION – FRONT PANEL 1 – INPUT You can connect an active or passive bass to this ¼" input jack. The BG500 Combo input stage is designed to adapt to any type of pickup. 2 – GAIN & PEAK LED The input gain should be set to the highest possible level without overloading the input stage. To find the correct setting, simply plug in your bass, play and turn up the GAIN knob until the PEAK LED occasionally lights up. Then reduce the gain slightly.
SpectraComp in Depth Gain Reduction / Compression Meter When using SpectraComp™, the compression meter (16) indicates how much compression is applied to the signal. Auto Make-up Gain As compression by nature reduces the loudest parts and peaks of the signal, you may feel that many conventional compressors “eat” the level of your signal, resulting in a lower output volume. SpectraComp™ automatically compensates for compression gain reduction, giving you an even output volume. Spectral Compression vs.
OPERATION – FRONT PANEL 8 –TWEETERTONE™ Many combo amps and cabinets include a so-called “L pad” HF control on the back side of the cabinet. This control normally sets the level of the tweeter in the cabinet and is generally used to adjust the level of high frequencies. TweeterTone is a far more intuitive and much better way of adjusting the high frequency content. By using TweeterTone, you do not simply turn the tweeter up and down in level – you also get a much more musical and pleasant HF adjustment.
OPERATION – FRONT PANEL 12 – PHONES (MUTING) This is a ¼" connector for headphones. With a mild speaker filter applied to the bass sound, our studio quality headphone amp caters for a great headphone sound. The headphone output also plays back any signal connected to the AUX IN (“Rehearsal”) input jack found on the rear panel of the BG500 Combo. This feature allows you to play along with e.g. an MP3 player (e.g.
OPERATION – FRONT PANEL Example: “A” string played – pitch too low – tune up “A” string played – pitch too high – tune down “A” string played – in tune – do nothing 18 – TUNE MUTE Button and LED To tune silently, press the MUTE button. The red LED indicates that the mute function is active. The MUTE button not only mutes the speaker and headphones outputs, but also the balanced output. This way you can tune up with no sound going to your own rig or to the PA.
OPERATION – FRONT PANEL Knob Positions vs. Current Settings When you go from one memory setting to another, or when you switch from WYSIWYG mode to any of the three memory settings, the position of the knobs may not reflect the current sound. – – – When these LEDs flash slowly, this indicates that the knob position is far from the current memory setting. When the LEDs flash quickly, this indicates that the knob position is close to the current memory setting.
OPERATION – REAR PANEL MAINS IN – Power Input & POWER Switch Make sure that the voltage of the power grid you are connecting to matches the version of the BG500 Combo you are using. The 115V model can handle voltages between 100 V and 120 V. The 230V model can handle voltages between 220 V and 240 V. The ground pin of the power supply unit must be connected in order to avoid voltage differences between e.g. the PA and the BG500 Combo.
Ventilation Be sure not to cover the BG500 cooling grid! Insufficient ventilation may cause the amplifier’s temperature to increase to critical values. Heat Protection Mode When the BG500 Combo switches to Heat Protection mode, the PEAK and MUTE LEDs are lit while the first two and last two Compression LEDs light up in turn.
APPENDIX – SIGNAL FLOW 14
Input Section Input connector 1/4" jack Balanced output Balanced XLR, Pre/Post Pre-amp Input impedance 1 Mohm / 100 pF Bal. Out Max. +2dBu Gain range -96 to 36dB Bal. Out Optimal Load Impedance 600 Ohm Tone control Bass Center Freq: 160Hz (Gain: +15/-24dB) Rehearsal input RCA, Left/Right input, fits to iPod ® Low Mid Center Freq: 400Hz (Gain: +15/-24dB) Dimensions 475 x 735 x 410 mm / 18.7" x 28.9" x 16.1" High Mid Center Freq: 800Hz (Gain: +15/-24dB) Weight 32 kg / 70.
