ehx Pico Platform Compressor User Manual

ehx Pico Platform Compressor

Product Information

The Electro-Harmonix Pico Platform is a compact and simplified version of the Electro-Harmonix Platform. It is a compressor/limiter pedal that provides studio-quality compression in a pedalboard-friendly package. The Pico Platform allows for precise and powerful control of your instrument’s dynamics, as wellas extended sustain on lead playing.

Power Supply Requirements

• Voltage: 9VDC
• Current: 100mA
• Polarity: Center-Negative

This device comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200 power supply. It is important to use the correct adapter with the right polarity to avoid damaging the device and voiding the warranty. The power plug should not exceed 10.5VDC, and power supplies rated for less than 100mA may cause unreliable performance.

Controls & Jacks

1. VOL: Controls the output volume.
2. SUSTAIN: In Compressor mode, turning the SUSTAIN knob clockwise increases the compression ratio, which determines how much compression is applied to a signal once it crosses the threshold. In Limiter mode, turning the SUSTAIN knob clockwise decreases the threshold level.
3. ATTACK: Sets the speed at which the compressor/limiter activates once the input signal level reaches or exceeds the threshold setting. Turning clockwise adjusts the attack time from fast to slow.
4. BLEND: Adjusts the output wet/dry mix.
5. TYPE Button: Selects the effect mode.
6. Footswitch and Status LED: The footswitch engages or bypasses the effect. The LED color indicates the selected effect type. In bypass, the LED is off.
7. Input Jack: Impedance – 2.2M, Max In – +1.5 dBu
8. Output Jack: Impedance – 680, Max Out – +2.1 dBu
9. Power Jack: Current draw – 100mA at 9.0VDC

Knee Selection

The Pico Platform offers two options for the compression knee: hard and soft. The knee refers to the transition between the uncompressed and compressed sections of the gain curve. By default, the hard knee is selected. To change the knee selection, follow the instructions below.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Insert the output plug from the supplied 9VDC AC adapter into the power jack at the top of the Pico Platform.
2. Connect an instrument cable from your instrument to the Input jack.
3. Connect an instrument cable between the Output jack and a suitable amplifier.
4. Click the footswitch to engage the Pico Platform and light the LED.

To change the knee selection:

1. Locate the knee selection switch on the Pico Platform.
2. Toggle the switch to select either hard or soft knee.

Welcome to the Electro-Harmonix Pico Platform, a compact, simplified version of the Electro-Harmonix Platform. The Pico Platform gives you the same studio- quality compression in an extremely pedal- board friendly package. Use the Pico Platform’s compressor/limiter on any instrument for precise and powerful control of your instrument’s dynamics, and for extended sustain on lead playing.

Operating Instructions

Insert the output plug from the supplied 9VDC AC adapter into the power jack at the top of the Pico Platform. The Pico Platform must be powered to pass signal, even in bypass—the Pico Platform features buffered analog bypass. Connect an instru-ment cable from your instrument to the Input jack. Connect an instrument cable between the Output jack and a suitable amplifier. Click the footswitch to engage the Pico Platform and light the LED.

Power Suppy Requirements:

• Voltage: 9VDC
• Current: 100mA
• Polarity: Center-Negative

This device comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200 power supply. Use of the wrong adapter or a plug with the wrong polarity may damage the device and void the warranty. Do not exceed 10.5VDC on the power plug. Power supplies rated for less than 100mA may cause the device to act unreliably.

Controls & Jacks

1. VOL Controls the output volume.

2. SUSTAIN Compressor Mode: Turning the SUSTAIN knob clockwise increases the compres-sion ratio, which determines how much compression is applied to a signal once it crosses the threshold. Threshold is the signal level at which the compressor begins working. In Compressor mode, the threshold is fixed at -35dB.
   Compression ratio determines how much the compressor squashes the signal’s volume and thus how much it levels out dynamics. The higher the ratio, the more it reduces the peaks to yield a more consistent output volume. Limiter Mode: Turning the SUSTAIN knob clock-wise decreases the threshold level, which forces the limiter to act sooner. The compression ratio is constant and practically infinite in Limiter mode.

3. ATTACK Sets the speed at which compressor/limiter activates once the input signal level reach-es or exceeds the threshold setting. Turning clock-wise adjusts the attack time from fast to slow.
   Slow ATTACK settings emphasize the initial attack and add greater pop to your notes. Fast ATTACK times produce even compression, acting on both the pluck and decay.

4. BLEND Adjusts the output wet/dry mix.

5. TYPE Button Selects the effect mode:

6. Green – COMPRESSOR

7. Orange – LIMITER

8. Footswitch and Status LED Footswitch engages or bypasses the effect. The LED color indicates the selected effect type. In bypass, the LED is off.

9. Input Jack Impedance: 2.2MΩ, Max In: +1.5 dBu

10. Output Jack Impedance: 680Ω, Max Out: +2.1 dBu

11. Power Jack Current draw: 100mA at 9.0VDC

Knee Selection

The Pico Platform offers two options for the com-pression knee: hard and soft. The knee—which occurs at the threshold—refers to the transition between the uncompressed and compressed sections of the gain curve.
Hard knee creates a more dramatic compression effect, while soft knee is smoother. Hard knee is selected by default from the factory. To change the knee selection, do the following:

1. Press and hold the TYPE push button
2. After two seconds, the LED cycles through the three LED colors.
3. If the speed of LED cycle is slow, Soft knee is now selected.
4. If the speed of LED cycle is rapid, Hard knee is now selected.
5. Release the button.

The knee setting is remembered through pow-er-cycles so you can set it and forget it.
Questions about this product? Email: info@ehx.com

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