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Hartke LH500 Effects Send volume

S

sveje77

Mar 12, 2017
21
5
#1
Hi,
I just bought a Hartke LH500 Bass Amp for direct recording. The manual states that the Effects Send jack is "unaffected by the setting of the Volume control.". Nevertheless, when I connect my audio interface to the effects send of the amp for direct recording, the volume does indeed change when I turn the volume control on the amp. Am I doing something wrong?
 
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#4
Weird. Well I don't know but Hartke CS is excellent. If you can wait till Monday, I'm sure they can help but you'll probably get an answer here soon enough.
 
#8
Yes, and it wasn‘t my intention to critisize that. It‘s just not what I want and meant as an explanation why I use the effects send instead. I want to record a sound that went through the preamp/EQ of the amp and then slap a good impulse response on the track.

I love the sound of the amp and the effects send works perfectly fine for me. I was just wondering why it is affected by the volume control when - according to the manual - it shouldn‘t.
Am I doing something wrong? Is something wrong with the amp? Is the manual incorrect? Or did I misunderstand the manual?
Here is what it says: „EFFECTS SEND jack - Use this 1/4” unbalanced jack to send low impedance (100 ohm) signals from the Model LH500 to a professional outboard effects processor such as a reverb, echo, chorus, flanger, or harmonizer device. Output level is approximately 0 dB to +4 dB and is post-EQ and post-Limiter but unaffected by the setting of the VOLUME control. You can also use the Effect Send jack to route signal to an external mixing console or amplifier with an input sensitivity of +4 dB.“
 
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#10
sveje77 said:
The LH500 doesn‘t have a gain control, only volume. And according to the manual it shouldn‘t affect the volume of the effects send, but it does.
Click to expand...
That's not really how the LH works. If you plug into the FX return with any pre-amp, The volume knob is deactivated. Edit: This is because you would be bypassing the Entire preamp section.

The send side of the effects loop has to be responsive to volume knob. Or you'd have no volume since the signal goes through the effects loop.

Edit: It almost seems like that part of the manual is just wrong.
This one line in particular:

"post-EQ and post-Limiter but unaffected by the setting of the VOLUME" control.
 
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#11
I just helped somebody with something similar using a preamp pedal... the effects send is POST volume control, post EQ, and the effects return injects signal into the power amp with no additional volume control. It's possible that there's just a mistake in the manual. (at least on the unit that helped a player configure with his preamp)
 
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#14
BasturdBlaster said:
I had an LH1000 and I can confirm what the OP is experiencing with the fx loop. The loop should be labeled pre out/power amp in instead of fx loop.
Click to expand...
It's no different than most effects loops on amps without a master volume control.
 
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#15
agedhorse said:
I just helped somebody with something similar using a preamp pedal... the effects send is POST volume control, post EQ, and the effects return injects signal into the power amp with no additional volume control. It's possible that there's just a mistake in the manual. (at least on the unit that helped a player configure with his preamp)
Click to expand...

Wait. So I'm confused. If I had a pedal board with preamp and plugged directly into the effects return, the volume control on the amp doesn't work? All volume would be controlled from the pedal board going into the amp?
 
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#16
jmbjandfam said:
Wait. So I'm confused. If I had a pedal board with preamp and plugged directly into the effects return, the volume control on the amp doesn't work? All volume would be controlled from the pedal board going into the amp?
Click to expand...
Correct.
 
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#18
jmbjandfam said:
Wait. So I'm confused. If I had a pedal board with preamp and plugged directly into the effects return, the volume control on the amp doesn't work? All volume would be controlled from the pedal board going into the amp?
Click to expand...
You are essentially just using the power amp section and bypassing your amps pre-amp when plugged directly into the effects return. It's cool to try different Pre's or pedals this way. There's a whole new selection of tones for better or possibly worse.
 
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#19
jmbjandfam said:
Well this thread and information is surely timely. I've got just that type of set up and have been running into the effects return of an Orange TB500 and I was feeling bad about using it all the time and was thinking of picking up an LH500 but I would need the volume knob on the amp to work (it works on the Orange). Thanks!
Click to expand...
The TB500 must be wired in a unique way. At least not like Hartke. Does the EQ section work also?

Edit: actually, looking at the Schematic it looks like EQ section would be separate.
 
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