So, for anyone who is interested I did a little bit of completely unscientific experimenting last night. In the interest of finding out exactly what it is the enhancer knob on an SWR amp does I set up the following signal chain:
pink noise source from the computer -> SWR SM500 -> line out to mic pre -> back in to the computer.
None of the soundcard, pink noise source and analysis software are calibrated professional equipment for doing this kind of thing, so I am drawing no conclusions regarding the absolute values of the frequency response plots. Seeing how things change as the knob is swept however is instructive, and not far from what I was expecting to see.
The attachment has plots of the difference between the raw pink noise source and the result of running it out to the amp and back in. Using the high gain input and gain knob set so that the clip light is not coming on, all EQ flat. The amp is a pre-Fender SM500.
First plot is with the enhancer all the way down. Again, it is hard to say how much of the frequency response plot is the amp and how much of it is the rest of the signal chain, although the dip in the lower mid range is consistent with what SWR stuff tends to sound like to me. As the knob is swept you see first an overall increase in gain and then an increasingly pronounced cut around 200 hz. By the time the thing is dimed it is actually a very pronounced scoop.
So I'd say if you are in the habit of slotting yourself in to the mix with some lower midrange the enhancer is the last thing in the world you would want to turn up. Which is pretty much the conclusion most of us came to a while ago anyway I think. Anyway, now theres some pictures.
Edit: hold on, the pdf is 470 some K, this thing won't let me upload more than 150. gotta figure something out here.
edit again:
alright, converted to jpeg and up on photobucket here:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/projectMalamute/enhancer.jpg
pink noise source from the computer -> SWR SM500 -> line out to mic pre -> back in to the computer.
None of the soundcard, pink noise source and analysis software are calibrated professional equipment for doing this kind of thing, so I am drawing no conclusions regarding the absolute values of the frequency response plots. Seeing how things change as the knob is swept however is instructive, and not far from what I was expecting to see.
The attachment has plots of the difference between the raw pink noise source and the result of running it out to the amp and back in. Using the high gain input and gain knob set so that the clip light is not coming on, all EQ flat. The amp is a pre-Fender SM500.
First plot is with the enhancer all the way down. Again, it is hard to say how much of the frequency response plot is the amp and how much of it is the rest of the signal chain, although the dip in the lower mid range is consistent with what SWR stuff tends to sound like to me. As the knob is swept you see first an overall increase in gain and then an increasingly pronounced cut around 200 hz. By the time the thing is dimed it is actually a very pronounced scoop.
So I'd say if you are in the habit of slotting yourself in to the mix with some lower midrange the enhancer is the last thing in the world you would want to turn up. Which is pretty much the conclusion most of us came to a while ago anyway I think. Anyway, now theres some pictures.
Edit: hold on, the pdf is 470 some K, this thing won't let me upload more than 150. gotta figure something out here.
edit again:
alright, converted to jpeg and up on photobucket here:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/projectMalamute/enhancer.jpg
