Moog Music 3 Band Parametric Equalizer

Hi to you all,
I will describe here
"MOOG CUSTOM ENGINEERING" - Model KPE - Three Band Parametric Equalizer. 19 "/ 2U
(My copy: Serial No. KPE 2737)
It's 19 ", so rack, and it's 2 units, ie about 9.2 cm
This is a very robust machine, and like all the old models of Moog Custom Engineering., It is made of metal very thick, very heavy!, Sides and ears fasteners are secured and very, very thick . So super strong, more decorated handles at the back and a nice moog logo lettering on black aluminum look great. The sides are also reversible and feature a logo on both sides for off-rack, and the handles can be found at the front, in addition to being very nice visually it is very convenient ...

On the rear panel is on the left, a classic three male plug (for a chocolate for example) and a voltage selector 110/230 (120/240VAC-50/60Hz-30Watts Max).
And, on the right three female Jack 6.35: (left to right) FOOTSWITCH-INPUT-OUTPUT (make sure to use the mono jack for the pedal with the tip on the ground).
(Input 4 DBMAX. 1MEGOHM impedance input / output 15 ohm source)
(0dB = 5 kHz, 20 dB (6dB/oct) = 50kHz / = 5 kHz 0dB, 20dB (-6db/OCT) = 50kHz)
The front is divided into four parts Isolated with a white line on the right first square with 1 switch POWER ON / OFF + 1 green LED, 1 red LED OVERLOAD (peak)
1 switch STATUS IN / OUT + 1 yellow LED.
a second square with the logo and the model in white on black, top!
Then three almost identical square HIGH, MID, LOW, each with three knobs,
on the bottom (same knobs to HIGH, MID, LOW)
1-Oct WIDTH knob graduated .25 .5 1 2 4 (October) (width of frequency range)
1 knob HEIGHT-db graduated -20 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 +2 +4 +6 +8 +20 (db)
on top (knobs whose scale varies frequencies for high, mid, low,:
1-Hz FREQUENCY knob graduated
HIGH = 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K 8K 16K
MID = 62125250500 1K 2K 4K 8K
LOW = 31 62 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K
That's all and that's not bad!


UTILIZATION

This is super simple, 3-pole filter (resonant or slightly more warming) with a configurable bypass (STATUS in / out) Overall, a general drive that dose decibel power effect and a general gain (post fx) which can serve to limiter-10db or add power of 0-10 dB.
And the ability to use a pedal on / off STATUS in / out of the EQ.
When the manual, it should not be too angry!
It's already so hard to find the old productions workshops Custom moog in good condition (especially inside) I even try not docs .....
On all machines Moog.Custom.Eng. there are data sheet glued on top or bottom of the unit with notes on connectors, input / output impedance signal routing, and serial number. (See photos)
As for editing effects and many must use his small mid-mines,
and esgourdes (and even those of the neighbor do the trick ..)


SOUND QUALITY

In fact, I do not call it an equalizer but Ecuador!
This is the southern sun in scrubland at noon avé cicadas, and a je ne sais quoi storm a little heavy on the bass .....
This is not the kind of EQ ultra transparent, but it really is super clean, and downright friendly mega musical.
Whatever signal (MONO) you give it, the EQ can reheat.
I experimented with a lot of sounds that I found too cold or not well defined, as recent synthesizers (Minitaur, slim phatty, Minibrute, Dark energy ...) but on my bass (Fender precision 73) and on samples or voice and frankly it's a machine to warm frequency ranges. I want to say is that if you put him rotten, distorted signal, we will not obviously make things happen and even some surprising results, see very industrial which can also be fun.
For example, on a piano in substain (long note), we can get it to sound like a synthesizer exaggerating to 20 db (125 low, mid to high and 1k or 2k to 16k)
and not negative, quite the opposite way, it sounds super warm and comfortable, you can even get a stunning result and give recent moogs color old ...
But we can also isolate a range of frequencies and cut-20db without any harmonic distortion audible frequencies and 20 dB, I have grown to see:
ZERO BLAST even 16kHz!!
Suffice to say that very little EQ are also musical and clean.
Note-ever kind of light rumble at low frequencies (31 to 40 Hz) beyond 12 db. But it is quite nice and it even has the effect of making a little too nervous attacks moles and therefore more aggressive bass lines too soft (still in the positive side of course!).
It's very big and very beautiful!!

OVERALL OPINION

It's great stuff!
Rare so do not look at all costs, because the price can range from just $ 800 for us to 1500EURO perfect condition and revised, see. But the legend, it's worth the sacrifice ...
I was very lucky to find a copy and had not crossed before in rare and large studio.
I use it in a 18U rack with:
moog.CE16channelVocoder19 "/ 4U
moog.CE10bandGraphicEQ19 "/ 2U
moog.CE12stagePhaser19 "/ 2U
moog.CESynthesizerAmplifier19 "/ 5U
dbx165monoComressor19 "/ 2U
What I like is sweet and intoxicating heat that brings EQ on everything you put into it ...
Personally I use the voice effects before to warm low harmonics and upper midrange, a snare (snare) or clap or hi-hats / cymbals to make them more present in the higher frequencies or to age a synth too cold, or more definition to high frequencies in the webs of string after a slight chorus or mono phaser ...
Basically I do not regret this purchase, I'm not about to part with it and if you find one in good condition, please do not hesitate one second, it's heavy, it's beautiful, and if I 'to believe the experts, quite reliable over time, so a good investment for pros and amateurs alike.
Just be sure to check the condition of capacitors and other components before purchase.

Well, thank you for reading and hope it will help ...
Its all good.
Kori.