empress effects 1138812643 Heavy Menace User Manual
- June 16, 2024
- empress effects
Table of Contents
empress effects 1138812643 Heavy Menace
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 foot switchable, 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
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.
Advanced Configuration and Startup Preferences
The Advanced Configuration mode lets you customize the behaviour 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.
Controls at a Glance
Gate Key Input
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 1/8” 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.
Quickstart
Thick & Punchy
A heavy distortion with pushed mids to help rhythm tracks stand out in a mix.
Tight & Brutal
High gain with some mid scoop so your guitar can chug.
Rock & Roll
Lite(ish) gain for classic rock crunch.
Big Dipper
All of the gain with none of the mids. Grab your guitar with the lightning
bolt finish and get ready to pull of some divebombs.
Powering the Heavy Menace
Go to www.empresseffects.com/power for list of power supplies we’ve tested.
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.
Regulatory Compliance Information
FCC (USA)
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
- this device may not cause harmful interference, and
- this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation
Responsible Party in the USA
Americas Compliance Consulting LLC dba iCertifi 1001 SW Disk Drive, Ste 250
Bend, Oregon 97702 USA
[email protected] /
icertifi.com
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
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.
ICES-003 (Canada)
CAN ICES-003(B) / NMB-003(B)
CE (European Union)
This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of Empress Effects Inc- 105-62 Steacie Dr, Kanata Ontario K2K 2A9. The device identified on the front page of this manual is in conformity with the requirements of the European Union’s Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU, in accordance with the following harmonized standards:
- EN 55032:2015/A11:2020 – Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment – Emission Requirements
- EN 61000-3-2:2014 – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 3-2: Limits – Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment input current ≤ 16 A per phase)
- EN 61000-3-3:2013 – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 3-3: Limits – Limitation of voltage changes, voltage fluctuations and flicker in public low-voltage supply systems, for equipment with rated current ≤ 16 A per phase and not subject to conditional connection
- EN 55035:2017/A11:2020 – Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment – Immunity Requirements
Name : Colin King
Title : Design Engineer
Company : Empress Effects Inc
Date : August 19, 2023
Location : 105-62 Steacie Dr, Kanata Ontario K2K 2A9
WEEE (2012/19/EU)
This product must not be disposed of with regular household waste. In compliance with WEEE regulations, please take this product to a designated collection facility or return to the supplier for proper recycling. Comply with local laws and regulations for disposal. Contact your local authority or [email protected] for specific information.
Specifications
Input Impedance : 1MΩ
Output Impedance : 100Ω
Frequency Response (-3dB): 35Hz – 17kHz
Input Voltage : 9V DC
Required Current : 250mA
Power Input Connector : 2.1mm Barrel Connector
Height : 2.5”
Length : 4.8”
Width : 2.6”
Weight : 1lb