Radial Engineering Voco-Loco User's Guide

®

True to the Music

™

Voco-Loco

Mic Preamp and Effects Loop

User Guide

®

Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam
British Columbia, Canada, V3C 5M5
tel: [phone] • fax: [phone]

www.radialeng.com

email: [e-mail]

True to the Music

®

™

Radial Voco-Loco

Mic Preamp and Effects Loop

Table of Contents Page

Overview ..........................................................................1

Features ...........................................................................2

Making Connections ........................................................3

Setting up dry and wet sounds ........................................4

Using the polarity reverse ................................................5

Using the left footswitch modes .......................................6

Using with various effects ................................................7

Specifi cations ...................................................................9

Radial Limited Warranty ...................................Back Cover

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on purchasing the Voco-Loco! This is one
of the most unique devices ever made and will surely bring
a lot of fun, excitement and creativity to your performance
and likely change the way you approach your voice or
instrument from here on.

If you are a vocalist you may have never used guitar effect
pedals, so this will be new to you. If, on the other hand you
are a guitarist who also sings, this may be old hat. Either
way, please take a few minutes to read through this short
manual as it will surely bring some insight on how to best
approach using the Voco-Loco so that you get the most
out of it.

If after you have read it you still have some questions,
please take a minute to visit the Voco-Loco FAQ page
on the Radial web site. This is where we post the latest
updates and questions from users. If you still have a
question that is unanswered, feel free to send us an email
at [e-mail] and we will do our best to answer
you in short order.

Now get ready to add a whole new dimension of character,
excitement and folly to your performance.

®

True to the Music

OVERVIEW

The Voco-Loco is a mic-to-effects interface that enables the vocalist, sax,
trumpet or harmonica player to use pedals just like an electric guitarist.
In other words, you connect your microphone to the Voco-Loco and it
converts the signal so that it may be used with guitar pedals. The signal
is then sent to the PA system where it is processed as usual.

YOUR MIC PA SYSTEMYOUR EFFECTS

OVERDRIVE

CHORUS DELAY

You simply prepare the effects in advance by turning on an echo and a
chorus pedal and when ready, engage the pedal chain by depressing
the effects loop footswitch. When the song is over, you stomp on the
footswitch again to turn off the effects. In between songs you set up the
next effect with your pedals on standby , ready to be engaged as needed.

The cool thing about using the Voco-Loco with a variety of pedals is
you can decide which effects you want to use for a given solo without
having to necessarily follow a given path. This fl exibility opens the door to
unique and creative effects which can enthrall an audience during a live
performance or spur on creativity when you are jamming.

Understanding the signal fl ow

Following the block diagram below, the microphone feeds a studio quality
mic preamp which then feeds a 2-band EQ. This is used for tone shaping
the dry mic signal. The balanced signal is then converted to a ¼” hi-z
output that is suitable for guitar effect pedals. Separate send & receive
controls let you optimize the signal-to-noise and eliminate distortion. The
output of the effect pedals is then brought back into the Voco-Loco where
you adjust the tone and blend the original dry signal with the effects for
the ideal mix. The fi nal mix is then sent to the P A system via the balanced
XLR output.

MIC INPUT

+48V

XLR LINE OUT

Radial Engineering Ltd.

MIC PREAMP 2-BAND EQ SEND LEVEL

DRY/WET MIX

EFFECT

RECV LEVELTONE

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Voco-Loco™ Preamp Loop

®

FEATURE SET

True to the Music

1 2 3 4 65

8 9

15

10 1211

7

1314

1. MIC INPUT: Balanced XLR input for your microphone.

2. 48V: Recessed switch turns on 48V phantom power for condenser mics.
When turned on, the 48V LED indicator illuminates.

3. SEND/RECV: Unbalanced ¼” jacks used to send the signal to effect
pedals and return it back to the Voco-Loco.

4. 180°: Recessed switch is used to reverse the polarity of the effects loop
to ensure guitar pedals are in phase with the microphone.

5. LIFT : Disconnects the pin-1 ground connection at the XLR output to help
eliminate noise caused by ground loops.

6. LINE OUTPUT: Male XLR output, used to connect to the P A system.

7. POWER: Connection for the 400mA 15VDC power supply.

8. MIC IN: Sets the input level of the Voco-Loco’s mic preamp section.

9. LOW / HIGH: Dual band EQ used to adjust the tone of your mic.

10. SEND/RECV: Individual send and receive controls let you adjust the level
going to the pedals to optimize signal-to-noise and reduce distortion.

11. T ONE: Lets you tame the harsh tone certain pedals produce.

12. MIX: Adjusts the mix between the dry mic signal and the wet effect signal.

13. LOOP WET/DR Y: Primary footswitch toggles on or off the effects loop.

14. MUTE/ALL WET: Left footswitch can either mute the output or activate
the ‘all wet’ mode.

15. MUTE-LOOP: Recessed switch allows you to choose the function of the
left footswitch. Set inward, the footswitch will mute the output of the Voco­Loco. Set outward, the footswitch will engage the ‘all wet’ mode.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

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Voco-Loco™ Preamp Loop