Electro-Harmonix Tri Parallel Mixer

Electro-Harmonix Tri Parallel Mixer

The Tri Parallel Mixer can be used in multiple configurations for a variety of switching and mixing applications. Use it to switch between or mix up to three separate effects loops. Send a guitar or other instrument out to three separate amplifiers, or input three separate instruments to switch between or mix to a single output. Mix effects in parallel to create sounds and allow for options not possible when using effects in series (one after another). These are a few examples of the multiple ways to incorporate the Tri Parallel Mixer into your setup.

WARNING: Your Tri Parallel Mixer comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC200BI power supply (same as used by Boss® & Ibanez®: 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The Tri Parallel Mixer requires 45mA at 9VDC with a center negative plug. Use of the wrong adapter or a plug with the wrong polarity may damage your Tri Parallel Mixer and void the warranty. 

- USING THE TRI PARALLEL MIXER -

Plug the 9VDC adapter into the jack on the top left of the Tri Parallel Mixer. There are multiple ways to configure your setup, the most typical configuration is shown below: a guitar based setup for mixing and/or switching between three separate effects loops.

In this configuration, plug your guitar or other instrument/sound source into the INPUT jack on the right of the Tri Parallel Mixer. Connect your amplifier or other sound destination to the OUTPUT jack on the left of the Tri Parallel Mixer. All connections can be made using standard ¼” instrument cables.

Connect the input of the first effect in your first effects loop to the SEND 1 jack. Connect the output of the last effect in your first effects loop to the RTN 1 jack. Repeat this step for your other two effects loops using the SEND 2/3 and RTN 2/3 jacks. Below is the signal path in this configuration:

Use the CH 1/2/3 footswitches to activate their respective effects loops. Double tap any of these footswitches to enter master bypass, which connects the INPUT jack directly the OUTPUT jack. When in bypass, single tap any footswitch to re-enter active mode. There are other switching options and configuration options that will be discussed later in this manual.

-GLOBAL CONTROLS / JACKS-

INPUT – This jack on the right of the unit is the master input for the Tri Parallel Mixer. The signal present here will be outputted to an active channel’s SEND jack. In master bypass, the input signal connects directly to the OUTPUT jack.

OUTPUT – This jack on the left of the unit is the master output for the Tri Parallel Mixer.

MASTER VOL – This knob sets the master output level of the mixer.

DRY VOL – This knob sets how much dry signal (the signal present at the INPUT jack) is sent to the output of the Tri Parallel Mixer.

MASTER STATUS – This LED lights when the unit is active and doesn’t light when in master bypass. Double tap any of the three footswitches to switch from active to bypass mode. When in bypass, single tap any footswitch to enter active mode. The Tri Parallel Mixer features buffered bypass.

-CHANNEL CONTROLS / JACKS-

The majority of the controls for the Tri Parallel Mixer are grouped into three identical channel sections, each with a SEND and RTN (Return) jack, a SEND and RETURN level control, an EQ control, a PHASE switch, and a footswitch.

SEND 1/2/3 Jack – This jack outputs the signal inputted to the Tri Parallel Mixer (via the INPUT jack) when its channel is

active*. Send output impedance = 220O.

SEND Knob – This knob sets the level outputted to the SEND jack.

RTN 1/2/3 Jack – This jack is the input for a given channel. The signal inputted to this jack is sent to the OUTPUT jack (after

the EQ control) when its channel is active*. RTN input impedance = 1MO.

RETURN Knob – This knob sets the level of the signal received at the RTN jack before it is sent to the output of the Tri Parallel Mixer.

PHASE – This switch, when set to 180, inverts the phase of the signal sent out of the SEND jack. This can be useful when something in your effects loop is causing phase issues when mixed in with either your dry signal or other effects loops.

EQ – This knob affects the tonal characteristic of the signal inputted to the RTN jack. When the knob is at center, there is no effect. Turn the knob up for a brighter signal (more treble) and turn the knob down for a darker signal (more bass).

CH 1/2/3 Footswitch – This switch is used to activate/deactivate a given channel. Double tap any of these switches to enter bypass mode.

When in bypass mode, click any of these switched to enter active mode. There are other functions these switches can perform, which will be discussed later.

CH 1/2/3 LED – This LED lights to indicate which channels are active. There are other scenarios where these LEDs may be blinking to indicate different options, which will be discussed later in the manual.

* There are certain scenarios where signal may be active at a given SEND or RTN jack despite that channel being inactive. These scenarios are discussed in the Advanced Switching Options section.

-ADVANCED SWITCHING OPTIONS-

Before explaining the advance switching options, it is useful to visualize the signal path of a given channel, which essentially exists in two halves:

All three channels are setup this way. By default, when a given channel is active both the SEND SWITCH and RETURN SWITCH are closed, allowing signal to flow through them. When a given channel is inactive, both of these switches are open, blocking any signal from flowing. Advance options allow you to change how this works, expanding the Tri Parallel Mixer’s possible applications.

BOTH, SEND, & RETURN MUTING MODES

There are three “Muting Modes” that each channel can be independently set to. The default mode, explained above, is BOTH, where when a

channel is inactive both the SEND and RETURN sides of the channel are muted. The two other modes are:

SEND MUTING – In this mode, when a channel is inactive only the

SEND SWITCH is opened. The RETURN SWITCH is always closed. This is useful if you have an effect such as a delay or reverb in an effects loop channel and you want the tails or decay of that effect to naturally fade out after switching the channel off.

RETURN MUTING – In this mode, when a channel is inactive only the

RETURN SWITCH is opened. The SEND SWITCH is always closed and signal will always come out of the SEND 1/2/3 jack even when a channel is inactive.

To switch between these modes:

1) Hold any one of the three footswitches down for about a second until all three upper LEDs are blinking.

2) Once here, as you press and release a given channel’s footswitch, that LED will change blinking speeds.