KURO KAGE aka "BLACK SHADOW"

The Spitfire circuit is on the High Band and the Mongoose is on the Low Band.

These two classic circuits are probably Roger Mayer's most popular circuits for Rock orientated music. They have stood the test of time and many famous bands still use them. They are not at all nasal sounding, cleaning up superbly with the use of the guitar volume control. Now you can experience the unlimited combination of blending both tone and distortion to the nth degree with the Kuro Kage.

The Synergy Series brings parallel path processing and recording studio-mixing quality to Roger Mayer's range of distortion pedals. Each pedal has two separate distortion sections that are driven by internal splitter circuitry and then mixed back together. The Low and High Band circuit paths have been carefully chosen from Roger Mayer's extensive range of tried and critically acclaimed distortion, fuzz and overdrive circuits. It is best visualized as two separate channels with individual control of the important parameters and then mixed together to form one sound.

The Low and High Band circuit path channels have individual Drive and EQ controls that been optimized for the type of circuit being used. The resulting range of sounds available is truly immense as varying amounts and types of Processing and EQ can be applied to each channel or band and then mixed together. This is a technique Roger Mayer used in the studio with Jimi Hendrix to get the required tone. Using various pedals in series or equalization will not accomplish this as processing is then applied sequentially and to the whole frequency range. The advantages of this technique become immediately apparent upon playing the units. The amount of flexibility in adjusting the tone is truly immense and these boxes will appeal to those players that seek out and appreciate the subtleties of manipulating their tone to the highest level.

It should also be noted that there is a financial saving as well because you are getting two pedals for one plus a splitter and mixer for about 120% of the price of one single unit. You also have a space saving on your pedal board with a very flexible unit that will produce more tonal variation than you can imagine.

CONTROLS:

• High Band Drive- This sets the amount of distortion from almost nil up to virtually unlimited sustain.
• High Band EQ- A combination circuit tailored for the High Band tonal characteristics.
• Low Band Drive- This sets low band distortion to desired level.
• Low Band EQ- Optimised Low band EQ.
• Mix- Blend the Low Band and High Band sounds together and used to hear each section individually. Fully clockwise will select the Low Band and fully anti-clockwise the High Band.
• Output- Set the Output Level from unity gain up to level boost required.

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SYNERGY SERIES DESIGN FEATURES AND TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The Synergy Series was pioneered by the Metalloid pedal that was introduced in November 2009 and its success and comments about its flexibility and great tonal variation led to the natural progression of combining some of Roger Mayer's tried and tested circuits into this new parallel path format to bring new areas of experimentation and control to those players who may already use Roger Mayer pedals or those who want to experience this new way of playing with their tone. This feature previously could only be obtained by using a separate splitter and then combining the signals through a recording studio console or mixing interface. The 5 pedals of the Synergy Series bring this important Studio Technique to you in a pedal that blends two distortion, fuzz or boost circuits.

The ability to mix two different distortion sounds in parallel and also control them individually is available in the Synergy Series. The advantage of parallel mixing produces greater flexibility and surpasses the sounds available from a sequential series. This technique is used extensively in recording studios for many years and this is how Roger Mayer produced many of Jimi's sounds. The series consists of 5 choices of various distortion circuits that have already a proven track record with artists and users.

MAIN SYNERGY SERIES FEATURES

• 2 EFFECTS IN ONE BOX with a saving in cost and space.
• MULTI-MODE OUTPUTS: True Bypass and Buffered Outputs.
• LOW NOISE TRIPLE SHIELDED: 6 layer PC Card with internal shielding.
• BYPASS SWITCH IS USA CARLING for ultimate reliability.
• RAPID BATTERY CHANGE: Front Panel Slides open, No screws and very fast and easy.

SYNERGY SERIES TECHNICAL FEATURES :

• MULTI-MODE OUTPUTS / HARD WIRE BYPASS/ TWO BUFFERED OUTPUTS: There is a choice of a hard wire output (true bypass) or two buffered outputs that can drive long cable lengths with no high frequency loss. These buffered outputs are disconnected when the hard wire output is being used. This means that all performance situations are catered for whether you want a true hard wire output or your situation calls for the advantages of buffered outputs.
• RAPID BATTERY CHANGE: No more screws to loose!. Slide the front panel back and there is the battery. It could not be simpler or faster.
• LOW NOISE TRIPLE SHIELDING: A 6 layer PC Card with solid copper Power and Ground Planes provides complete RF and EMI shielding. The onboard PC connections are sandwiched between these. The outside aluminium case completes the total shielding. This additional shielding and very low impedance power and ground planes produces an ultimate low noise performance solution.
• BYPASS SWITCH: Roger Mayer uses only USA Carling Switches considered the best.
• LED STATUS INDICATOR
• BATTERY LIFE: 50Hrs or more using a premium grade alkaline 9 Volt type.
• EXTERNAL POWER ADAPTER / SUPPLY: An external AC adapter (not supplied) can be used and access is through a standard DC power jack situated next to the jack sockets. It uses the standard negative centre pin connection protocol used by many leading manufacturers. Internal onboard filtering ensures that optimum low noise performance is maintained and diode protection provides peace of mind in case or polarity setting mistakes.
• CONNECTION PROTOCOL: It uses the standard negative centre pin connection protocol used by many leading manufacturers.
• POWER SPECIFICATIONS: 9 volt DC. Regulated output is recommended.
• CURRENT RATING: 50mA or more.
• ERGONOMIC DESIGN: The position of the jack sockets and DC power jack are all on the same side of the enclosure and face away from you thus enabling the effect to be optimally positioned in pedal board set-ups.
• SIZE:
  170mm Wide x 112mm Deep x 57mm High
  (6 11/16" x 4 7/16" x 2 1/4" approx.)
• WEIGHT: 644g (1 lb. 7 oz. approx.) with battery