|
June/July 2005
|
|
|
Product
Review
by Andy Anderson
|
|
|
Atlantic
Quality Design PM 150 Audio Power Meter
|
|
|
Product: PM 150 Audio Power Meter
This is a new column for all you gearheads out there! The BIG MAN upstairs at Musicians Hotline sent this down to my basement gear dungeon that I call a studio. And told me to "CHECK OUT THIS COOL PIECE OF RAD GEAR" Well here ya go! The PM 150 Audio Power Meter made by Atlantic Designs is a heavy duty, quality piece of pro audio gear. Conceived, designed and manufactured by a guitar player and industrial electronics engineer. It can handle the abuse any of us half drunk, rowdy chord mashers can put it through! I took it to my buddy's studio and we tried it on every amp he had through electric and bass guitars. The thing really works WELL! Sorry, we didn't have any keyboards there to try it through, but I see no reason why it shouldn't perform as well on those also. It took a minute to really figure out how to hook it up, and it took a few more chords than we expected. But it really is a simple to use in-line power metering device to match your amplifier to your speaker cabinets.
Now you set the Audio Power Meter's settings for your rig. This requires a little playing around, but if you can figure out a stomp box , you can figure out this. Set the metering setting for your cabinet/speaker wattage setting. And then do some testing to get used to the output display and your corresponding tone levels. The Audio Power Meter will now show you your corresponding power output to your speaker cabinet, AND if you get to wild for that poor old vintage speaker it will even limit your power to protect your speaker! NO MORE blown speakers, NO MORE ruined gigs! There you have it! Cool, Simple and a REALLY GOOD IDEA! Applications: Well, it is obvious what this was designed for. To help a player control tone and volume in a wide range of playing environments AND to protect precious and expensive gear! This little product also could be used for controlling volume levels for in-ear monitoring systems and setting volume levels between effects patches and loops so you can keep your Stage level consistent for those cranky sound guys out in the crowd.
Suggestions: Working with national acts and professional guitar techs on a regular basis as I do, I could see a need for this unit to be sold in a rack unit with larger metering. The metering display is easily visible from a short distance away, but on a big stage it would be hard to see it. Maybe also multi-colored LEDs, so it could be instantly known how close to the edge you are. Parting Shots: Get ONE! You'll dig it, Your band will love you for it, Your speakers will thank you and it will keep another great American paying taxes! Andy Anderson |
First
you run your guitar input into the Power Meter's input side (make
sure it is after all effects pedals and tuners, and right before
the amp input) and then you run your amps input into the other set
of jacks on the Audio Power Meter and then out to your speaker.
Then just plug in the power supply! This unit is designed NOT to
affect your sound ONE IOTA! Perfectly Painless, Perfectly Clean!
See, It really is quite simple! 
Consistent
levels on stage when performing are becoming critical for today's
performing acts and the technical staff (soundguys) who present
your music to your fans and to your ears. Return
to:
