Empress Effects 35Hz Heavy Menace Versatile Distortion Effects Pedal User Manual

Empress Effects 35Hz Heavy Menace Versatile Distortion Effects Pedal User Manual

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Heavy Menace from Empress Effects – a streamlined evolution of our Heavy pedal that offers new features and a convenient, more compact size.

The Channel switch selects between the original Heavy and Heavier modes and a new Lite(ish) mode, covering everything from crunch to crushing.

Dial in your perfect tone with the 3-band EQ and selectable midrange frequency, and  shape your low frequency response with the Weight control for thick chords or tight palm muting.

The adaptive noise gate is footswitch able, and it can be linked to the distortion or activated independently. We also added a Gate Key Input for even more flexibility.

However you get heavy, add some Menace to sculpt your signature sound

• Taylor Hunt Lead Designer

Noise Gate **

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A noise gate opens when the input signal is above a set threshold level, allowing audio to pass through. The gate closes when the input is below the threshold, ensuring that unwanted low-level signals such as line noise or pickup hum are silenced when you aren’t playing.

The gate in the Heavy Menace is triggered from the signal at the input jack, before the distortion stages. It is an adaptive circuit that responds to your performance, allowing sustained notes to decay naturally but clamping down quickly when it detects a fast stop. When the gate is closed, the LED over the Gate footswitch will be orange. When it is open, the LED will be green.

When the Gate Thresh knob is fully counterclockwise, the threshold is at its lowest setting and will let the most signal through. Turning the knob clockwise will raise the threshold and require a progressively higher input signal to open the gate. We suggest raising the threshold to the point at which any background noise in the signal is silenced, then fine-tuning so that the gate responds as naturally or aggressively to your playing as you want.

For additional options regarding the noise gate, please refer to the Advanced Configuration and Startup Preferences section of this manual.

Gate Key Input **

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The noise gate can optionally be triggered by an external signal with the Gate Key Input. This can be particularly useful if you have other pedals before the Heavy Menace in your signal chain. Splitting the signal before those pedals and sending a clean signal to the Gate Key Input ensures the gate will behave consistently regardless of changes to the signal at the main input. Alternatively, you can use a completely different source for creative effects.

The Gate Key Input will accept an ⅛” TS or TRS cable. With a TRS cable, the tip (left) signal will control the noise gate, and the ring (right) signal will be grounded.

1. gain: Adjusts the amount of distortion in conjunction with the Channel switch.

2. low, mid, high: Boosts or cuts each frequency band by up to +/- 15dB. The low shelf lter starts around 80Hz, and the high shelf lter starts around 3kHz.

3. gate thresh: Adjusts the  threshold level for the noise gate.

4. mid freq: Selects the centre frequency of the midrange EQ; sweepable from 200Hz-2.5kHz.

5. gate footswitch: Turns the gate on and o.
   

6. weight: Changes the character of the low end. Turn clockwise for a thicker sound, and turn counterclockwise for a tighter response that’s perfect for palm muting.

7. output: Adjusts the overall pedal volume.

8. channel: Selects the voicing and gain range. Lite(ish), heavy, and heavier oer progressively more gain and high end.

9. bypass footswitch: Turns the distortion on and o.
   

Advanced Configuration and Startup Preferences **

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The Advanced Configuration mode lets you customize the behavior of your pedal. To access these options, press and hold both footswitches at startup while connecting or turning on the power supply. The LEDs will flash momentarily to indicate that you are in the Advanced Configuration mode.

Press the Bypass footswitch to toggle between true bypass and buffered bypass:

• Bypass LED off = true bypass (default)
• Bypass LED on = buffered bypass

Press the Gate footswitch to toggle between normal and independent bypass modes. In Independent mode, you can use the gate without having the distortion engaged, as though it was a separate pedal.

• Gate LED off = normal (default)
• Gate LED on = independent

Once you’ve made your desired changes, press and hold both footswitches again. The LEDs will flash momentarily to indicate that you have exited the Advanced Configuration mode.
By pressing and holding either footswitch while turning on the power, you can also set the Distortion and Gate to engage automatically on startup. The LED will flash several times to indicate the setting has changed, then the pedal will start up as  normal.

Specifications

Powering the Heavy Menace **

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Go to www.empresseffects.com/power for a full list of compatible power supplies.

Please note: The Empress Heavy Menace requires at least 250mA of current to function properly. Any power supply rated at 9V DC, supplying negative tip polarity and at least 250mA of current should work.

Legal Stuf

FCC Compliance
Note: 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 a residential installation. 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. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to  which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under FCC rules

References

• Power Supply Compatibility Chart – Empress Effects Inc.

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