Akai PEQ6 Programmable Equalizer

Important Safety Information

Warning

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.

Precautions

Power requirements for electrical equipment differ from area to area. The operating voltage of this machine is preset at the factory according to its intended destination. However, some models are equipped with a voltage selector. If your machine is so equipped, before connecting, check to see that the VOLTAGE SELECTOR on the rear panel is set to the voltage for your area. If not, please set it correctly before plugging in the power cord.

• 220V, 50Hz for Europe except the UK.
• 240V, 50Hz for UK and Australia.
• 120V, 60Hz for USA and Canada.

If the VOLTAGE SELECTOR is not set for your area:

Confirm that the power cord is disconnected. Move the VOLTAGE SELECTOR with a screwdriver so that the marker is above the voltage for your area.

Protecting Yourself and the Akai PEQ6

Electric Shock Hazard

• Never touch the plug with wet hands.
• Always pull out by the plug and never the cord.
• Only let a qualified professional repair or reassemble the equipment. An unauthorized person might touch the internal parts and receive a serious electric shock.
• Never allow a child to put anything, especially metal, into the equipment.

Protecting the Equipment

• Use only a household AC power source. Never use a DC power source.
• If water is spilled on the equipment, disconnect the power and call your dealer.
• Make sure that the equipment is well ventilated and away from direct sunlight.
• To avoid damage to the internal circuits and the external surface, keep away from heat (stoves, etc.).
• Avoid using spray type insecticide near the equipment. It can damage the finish and might ignite suddenly.
• To avoid damaging the finish, never use denatured alcohol, paint thinner or other similar chemicals to clean the equipment.
• Place the equipment on a flat and solid surface.

To enjoy the Akai PEQ6 for a long time, please read this operator's manual thoroughly. Should a problem persist, write down the model and serial numbers and all pertinent data regarding warranty coverage as well as a clear description of the existing trouble. Then, contact your nearest authorized Akai Service Station, or the Service Department of Akai Electric Company, Tokyo, Japan.

For Customers in the UK

IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SAFETY: The flex supplied with your machine will have two wires as shown in the illustration.

Two Core Flex

The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

• Blue: Neutral
• Brown: Live

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

• The wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured black.
• The wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured red.

Do not connect any wire to the larger pin marked E or when wiring a plug. Ensure that all terminals are securely tightened and that no loose strands of wire exist.

Electrical Safety Symbols

⚡ CAUTION: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol ⚡ is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure, that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

❗ The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

Note: This unit is not equipped with a voltage selector.

Features

CAUTION

To prevent electric shock, do not use this polarized AC power plug with an extension cord receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.

LITHIUM BATTERY

This product uses a lithium battery for memory back-up. The lithium battery should only be replaced by qualified service personnel. Improper handling may cause risk of explosion.

Thank you for purchasing the Akai Programmable Equalizer PEQ6. The unit described here is a programmable multi-channel 7-band equalizer equipped with a 7-band equalizer for 6 systems of audio input and output. This is a detailed presentation including a "Guide to Operations," etc., in order to enable you to take advantage of the outstanding functions of the PEQ6. Before using the PEQ6, please read these instructions for use carefully. We recommend that you keep the instructions for use, together with the guarantee, close at hand where they will be easy to locate if needed.

• The PEQ is a 6 input/6 output system. Each input/output is equipped with six 7-band equalizer units.
• Each of the 6 channels of equalizing data can be stored as 1 bank in memory for a total of 32 banks, and by means of MIDI, bank changes can be carried out externally.

Applications

• Optimal for equalizing programs on the mixing network of the multi-keyboard section.
• Optimal for equalizing of each effecter on the effecter network.
• Tone quality of the synthesizer and sampler can be varied by powerful equalizing using the stack connection.

Nomenclature and Operation of Parts

Front Panel

Diagram Description: The front panel features several controls and indicators. From left to right: POWER switch, BANK/MIDI buttons (UP/DOWN), LINE button, COPY/WRITE button, 7 band EQUALIZER GAIN knobs for 63Hz, 160Hz, 400Hz, 1kHz, 2.5kHz, 6.3kHz, 16kHz, and a BANK UP button. A 7-segment LED display shows bank numbers or channel settings.

1. POWER: This is the power switch. When it is set to ON, "00" is displayed.
2. BANK/MIDI: Used for selecting memory banks and setting MIDI channels. When the UP button is pressed, the value of the number displayed increases, and when DOWN is pressed, it decreases.
3. LINE: This button sets the equalizing channel. When the display shows "00," this button is not operational. Channel settings are operational when the bank display shows "0-32." Can also be used for setting MIDI channel.
4. COPY/WRITE: Equalizing data set on a particular channel can be copied as the data of the next channel, or the multi-equalizing data of a bank can be faithfully copied to another bank, and the programmed data can be written into the memory bank.
5. EQUALIZER GAIN: Used for equalizing data for each channel. Seven central frequency bands: 63 Hz, 160 Hz, 400 Hz, 1 kHz, 2.5 kHz, 6.3 kHz, 16 kHz. Maximum of ±12 dB boosting/cutting possible on each band.
6. BANK UP: Bank can be changed using a foot switch. Please connect this to the Akai PS-X80.

Rear Panel

Diagram Description: The rear panel features input and output jacks, and MIDI connectors.

1. INPUT (LINE 1-LINE 6): This is the input terminal. Use with line level signals. Microphone cannot be connected.
2. OUTPUT (LINE 1-LINE 6): This is the output terminal. Optimum load impedance is 10 k ohms or above.
3. MIDI (IN, OUT, THRU): Used for connection to external MIDI units.
   • IN: PEQ6 bank change can be carried out on external MIDI unit.
   • OUT: Program change information can be transmitted from PEQ6 to external MIDI unit.
   • THRU: A through terminal for sending information received with MIDI IN.

Connection

The PEQ6 input/output jacks are for use with standard phone jacks. A microphone cannot be connected because the input/output level is line level.

• INPUT (LINE 1-Line 6): Connect to the "output" of a keyboard, synthesizer, effecter, etc.
• OUTPUT (LINE 1-LINE 6): Connect to the "input" of an effecter, mixer, amp, etc.
• MIDI IN: Connect to MIDI OUT or MIDI THRU of other MIDI units.
• MIDI OUT: Connect to MIDI IN of other MIDI units.
• MIDI THRU: This is also connected to MIDI IN of other MIDI units.

Diagram Description: A connection diagram illustrates how to connect keyboards, synthesizers, effectors, mixers, and amplifiers to the PEQ6's input and output jacks, as well as MIDI connections. It shows the PEQ6 rear panel and external devices like the MB76 mixing bay.

* The MB76 referred to in the diagram is a 7 input/6 output programmable mixing bay. Use if for greater effectiveness.

Operation

The PEQ6 displays "00" when the power is set to ON. This is the mode of operation as a 6 in/6 out "normal multi-channel 7-band equalizer." However, all 6 channels have the same equalizing. For individual equalizing for each channel, please read the section on "Programming." The result of equalizing cannot be stored in the memory banks when the display is in "00" mode.

PEQ 6 Configuration Chart

Diagram Description: A dashed line diagram shows the signal flow from BANK01-32, through LINE IN, across 7 band EQ controls (63Hz to 16kHz), to LINE OUT, and then to LINE2-LINE6. The "00 (NO MEMORY)" state is indicated.

Equalizing

Equalizing on the PEQ6 is similar to "boost/cut" on a graphic equalizer. All rotary knobs are set to the center (Flat). Turning the knobs to the right results in "boost" (red LED lights up). Turning them to the left results in "cut" (green LED lights up).

Furthermore, to set the equalizer gain to boost or cut when it is programmed to flat, set the knob to the flat position, then set it to boost (LED lights red) or cut (LED lights green).

LED Indicators:

• LED off → Flat
• LED red → Boost
• LED green → Cut

Diagram Description: A small diagram shows a rotary knob with markings for Cut (-10), Flat (center), and Boost (+10), along with corresponding LED color indicators.

Programming

As a principle, PEQ6 is programmed in the order: <Bank number selection> ⇒ <Equalizing channel selection (LINE)> ⇒ <Equalize> ⇒ <Bank number verification> ⇒ <WRITE>.

Note: If channel "6" is equalized, the data is stored in BANK "32."

Procedure

1. First, press POWER to set PEQ6 power to ON.
2. Next, press UP under BANK/MIDI and continue pressing until the number displayed is "32." (This is <Bank number selection>).
3. Then, press the LINE button and set the display to "6" (<Equalizing channel selection>).

Diagram Description: Shows button presses and display changes for BANK/MIDI UP/DOWN buttons and the LINE button, with the display showing "32" and then "6".

Powerful Sound Quality Correction Using Stack Equalizing

This "00" mode is used when carrying out the stack equalizing technique. Equalizing can actually be carried out by making stack connections of up to 3 stages.

Diagram Description: A connection diagram shows multiple PEQ6 units connected in series (stacking) from a SOURCE to a MIXER/AMP.

Characteristics of Stack Equalizing

In 3-stage stack equalizing, the boost/cut amount is plus or minus 36 dB, and this power makes it possible to make a wide range of sound quality corrections. Use this for correction of the electric sound of the synthesizer, sampler, etc., and for acoustic sound.

Diagram Description: A graph shows the frequency response curves for boost and cut, illustrating the range from +12dB to +36dB for boost and -12dB to -36dB for cut.

Equalizing Copy Function

The PEQ6 has 2 kinds of equalizing data copy functions:

1. LINE (CHANNEL) COPY: This is a copy function for operations carried out before storage in the memory banks. It allows equalizing data set at a certain LINE channel to be copied to another LINE channel.
2. BANK COPY: This function allows equalizing data stored at a certain bank number to be faithfully copied to another bank number.

Copying

1. LINE (CHANNEL) COPY

Example: LINE "6" equalizing data set at channel "32" is to be copied to LINE "2".

Procedure

1. First, press the UP button under BANK/MIDI and set it to bank number "32."
2. Next, press LINE and set the LINE channel to "6."
3. When the COPY/WRITE button has been pressed and the "6" displayed is blinking, press LINE to set the LINE channel to "2."
4. Press the COPY/WRITE button again. The display will stop blinking and "copying completed" will be displayed.

Diagram Description: Shows button presses and display changes for LINE channel copy. The display shows "6" blinking, then changes to "2" after COPY/WRITE is pressed again.

2. BANK COPY

Example: bank number "32" equalizer data is to be copied to bank number "1."

Procedure

1. First, set bank number "32" by pressing the UP button under BANK/MIDI.
2. Next, press the COPY/WRITE button. The display will blink on and off.
3. Then, set bank number "1" by pressing the DOWN button under BANK/MIDI.
4. Press the COPY/WRITE button again. The display will stop blinking and change to "copying completed."

Diagram Description: Shows button presses and display changes for BANK copy. The display shows "32." then blinks, then changes to "1" after COPY/WRITE is pressed again.

Note: When the UP or DOWN button under BANK/MIDI is pressed once (do not press it twice), the <LINE COPY> bank number data appears on the display. Press the COPY/WRITE button twice. This causes the data written into the <LINE COPY> batch data in that bank to be stored anew. If another bank number is selected without carrying out this "restorage," the <LINE COPY> data is not stored.

Equalizing Data Clear Function

The PEQ6 has a function which can clear all stored equalizing data.

Operation: If the POWER is set to ON while simultaneously pressing the UP and DOWN buttons under BANK/MIDI, the memory is fully cleared, and the equalizing gain data is all initialized to the "Flat" state.

BANK UP Function Using Foot Switch

When a foot switch, such as the AKAI PS-X80, is connected to the BANK UP on the front panel, the bank number can be switched (BANK UP) using the foot switch. The bank number increases by one each time the switch is pressed, and it returns to "1" after "32."

Diagram Description: An image of the AKAI PS-X80 foot switch and its connection to the PEQ6. It shows "Normal: short" and "When pressed: open".

MIDI

When shipped from the factory, the MIDI channel setting on the PEQ6 is set to "CH.1." If it is set to anything else, the following operations should be performed.

1. First, set the POWER to ON while simultaneously pressing the LINE and COPY/WRITE buttons.
2. Next, use the UP or DOWN button under BANK/MIDI to set the desired MIDI channel (1-16).
3. Then, press the LINE button. The number displayed will change to "00," and the unit will go into normal multi-channel 7-band equalizer mode.
4. Using the UP or DOWN button under BANK/MIDI, select the bank number.

Note: The new MIDI channel setting remains stored in memory even when the power is turned off. If you wish to change the setting once again, reset it following the above procedures.

PEQ6 Data Sheet

This section provides a visual representation of the equalizer settings for each line. Each line (LINE 1 through LINE 6) has 7 frequency bands (63Hz to 16kHz), each with a gain adjustment range of -10 to +10 dB.

Diagram Description: A grid showing 6 rows (LINE 1-6) and 7 columns of rotary knobs representing frequency bands. Each knob has markings for -10, center (flat), and +10. The diagram is a template for recording settings.

Make a copy of this sheet.

Specifications

* Specifications and external dimensions may be changed without notice for purposes of improvement.

Manufacturer: AKAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. 12-14, 2-chome, Higashi-Kojiya, Ohta-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Printed in Japan.