Sonuus Voluum User manual

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Page 1

Owner’s Manual

Analogue Volume Effects

Stomp Box for Guitar and Bass

Version 1.0.0

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Owner’s Manual

Safety — read this first!

Important safety information. Read the following information carefully and keep all instructions for future reference.

Do not open any part of the Voluum case other than the battery compartment. There are no

user-serviceable parts in the Voluum.

Do not expose the Voluum to rain, liquids or moisture of any kind. If this occurs, disconnect the

Voluum from your computer, power supply, and from your musical instrument and remove any

batteries then allow the unit to dry out completely before using it again. If any liquid has entered the unit, it may need to be serviced by a sonuus engineer or authorised repair centre.

When the Vo l uu m has been stored in a cold environment (e.g., a car) then exposed to a warmer environment (e.g., a warm room), condensation can form on the outside and inside of the Voluum. In such cases the Voluum should be allowed to warm up to room temperature before use to ensure any such condensation has evaporated.

Avoid getting anything, e.g., an instrument cable, trapped under the footpedal— this will cause damage to the Voluum footpedal sensor.

Only use the correct type of power supply (see “Powering the Voluum” on page 10). The Voluum must never be connected directly to mains electricity.

Do not drop the Voluum or expose it to excessive shock or vibration. This may cause damage to the electronics inside the unit.

Do not put excessive weight onto the footpedal of the Voluum. It is designed to be foot-operated, but not to bear excessive loads. Do not allow your foot to press on the control panel area because this may damage it. The Voluum has protection bars to prevent your feet from accidentally pressing this area but this cannot provide complete protection—you must still take reasonable care when using the product.

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Owner’s Manual

Quick start

This manual is a comprehensive guide to the Voluum. To start using it as quickly as possible, follow this short guide. Please refer to the rest of the manual for detailed operating instructions.



Connect your guitar/bass to the IN jack of the Voluum.



Connect your amplifier to the



Set the

LOCK

switch to the locked position (this lets you select presets without worrying about

editing them by mistake).



Connect a suitable power supply: 9VDC,

page 10).



Select the first factory preset by pressing the  button until F00 is shown on the numeric display.



Tap the footswitch to enable the effect. The footswitch



Rock the footpedal back and forward while you are playing to obtain a classic volume effect. As you rock the footpedal from the “heel-down” position to the “toe-down” position the output volume is increased.

Next, start exploring other presets using the  and  buttons. There are 30 factory presets labelled F00–F29, then 100 user presets labelled P00–P99. If you press and hold  or  you can increment or decrement in steps of 10 so you can quickly select the preset you want.

To get started, we suggest you try the first 10 factory presets:

Preset Description

F00 Classic volume pedal.

F01 Volume boost: use the pedal to add up to 12 dB of gain to your signal.

F02 Gentle compressor.

F03 Clean sustain compressor.

F04 Pedal-controlled compressor: more compression as pedal is moved toe-down.

F05 Classic tremolo: basic tremolo, use the pedal to change the speed.

F06 Envelope tremolo: speed and character of tremolo depends on signal level.

F07 Pulse tremolo: echo-like sounds as the pulse decays with the signal level.

F08 Kill-switch tremolo: use the pedal to emulate using a kill-switch.

F09

ADSR

synth. Combination of all effects to give a synth-like sound.

OUT

jack of the Voluum.

USB

or batteries (see “Powering the Voluum” on

LED

will light up.

Voluum

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Owner’s Manual

Welcome

Thank you for purchasing a sonuus V oluum. Like all sonuus products, the Voluum is the culmination of ground-breaking innovation and considerable technical expertise. We are delighted that you have chosen to purchase a sonuus Voluum and we anticipate that it will greatly enhance your music making. This manual is a comprehensive guide to the Voluum but if you have any questions, we offer attentive customer support via our on-line user forum:

www.sonuus.com/forum

The V oluum is an analogue volume effects stomp box. It is packed with innovations from the sonuus Research Team.

Analogue signal path with digital control

The Voluum’s fully analogue signal path features a high-performance studio-grade voltagecontrolled-amplifier ( analogue power supply gives maximum analogue performance and high headroom to ensure even the loudest signals can be processed without artifacts. This high bandwidth, high dynamic range signal path guarantees the smooth sound of analogue circuitry with no digital artifacts.

Combining the analogue signal path with digital control gives you precision and configurability.

Flexible effects chain

The effects chain comprises five effects (noise gate, compressor, limiter) which can be used in any combination.

Unique patent-pending pedal sensor

Most volume pedals operate using a potentiometer (a pot) which has two main problems: the pot sucks the tone from your instrument, and it wears out quickly resulting in the effect becoming scratchy. Pots also have mechanical couplings which limit fine control and let dirt inside the unit, so compromising reliability.

Some other volume pedals use optical methods to avoid the limitations of pots, but these are susceptible to dirt and often don't have fine control or fast response.

sonuus' patent-pending position sensor allows fast, super-fine precision control that isn't susceptible to dirt and grease. As a result, the pedal control on the Voluum won’t get scratchy and will never wear out. Combined with ultra-smooth pedal action with user-adjustable tension, in a rock-solid chassis, the Voluum gives you unrivalled signal level control.

VCA

) with low noise and low distortion characteristics. A constant high-voltage

LFO

(tremolo), volume control and

For guitar and bass

The Voluum is designed from the ground up to be perfect for guitar and bass. We know that many musicians play both instruments and don’t want to compromise when an effect is designed for the higher or lower frequencies of specific instrument. Of course, the Voluum can also be used on other instruments such as keyboards. You don’t need to restrict your creativity to guitar and bass!

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Owner’s Manual

Transparent-true-bypass…

True-bypass means that the effect is completely switched out of your signal chain when bypassed to preserve the integrity of your guitar/bass signal. This is typically done by mechanical switches but these cause clicks or pops when switching.

sonuus has designed a silent-switching true-bypass circuit so you get the benefits of true-bypass without the associated switching noise. What’s more: if the power to the Voluum is interrupted, the unit will automatically switch back to the bypassed state so you don’t lose your instrument’s signal.

…with the option of buffered-bypass

However, not everyone wants true-bypass. With the Vo l u um you have control over whether you want to use true-bypass, or buffered-bypass. Buffered-bypass keeps the Voluum in the signal path at all times, but passes the input signal without modification when the effect is bypassed. This can be useful when using long cables: the buffered output of the Voluum means these long cables won’t affect your tone, even when the effect is bypassed.

Stage-ready

The Voluum is designed to be ideal for gigging on stage:

• Heavy-duty cast aluminium case that will stand up to years of heavy use.

• The pedal won’t decide to get scratchy just before a crucial gig!

• Variety of power sources: any polarity 9V for maximum convenience,

batteries.

• Foot-operated preset selection.

LOCK

•

switch to prevent accidental changes to settings or presets.

Presets

The Voluum comes ready-to-play with factory presets that include traditional volume effects and pedal-controlled compressor effects. Without making any adjustments, the Voluum is ready to play, straight out of the box.

The factory presets are just the starting place! By tweaking these presets you can explore different sounds and create your own effects—there are 100 user presets where you can store your own setups.

USB

and high-capacity AA

www.sonuus.com

We recommend that you visit our web site and register your new Voluum. This is required for direct warranty support. Once you have registered, you have access to firmware updates, the Voluum Desktop Editor Software and you can opt to receive updates and news from sonuus:

To get assistance or to share your experiences with other Voluum users, register on our user forum:

www.sonuus.com/forum

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Owner’s Manual

What can the Voluum do?

Gate/expander

In its simplest form a noise gate cuts the signal when its level falls below a set threshold. The Voluum noise gate not only gives you control over the threshold, but also enables fine control over how quickly it reacts and how much the signal should be reduced in level. Combined with a smooth transition from open to closed, the Voluum gives you ultra-transparent gating that reduces the noise when you're not playing without introducing any audible artifacts.

Pedal-controlled compressor

Compression is a widely-used effect that compresses the dynamic range of your signal. Essentially, it is used to keep the level of your instrument consistent, regardless of how hard or soft you play. It does this by reducing the level of loud signals, and applying a make-up gain to ensure the apparent loudness stays the same.

The compressor in the Voluum features an intelligent make-up gain which means you only need to think about how much compression you want to apply. This also allows dynamic modulation of the compressor. For example, by using the foot pedal you can smoothly vary the amount of compression being applied without affecting your signal level – another unique sonuus innovation.

Variable attack and release times let you configure the effect to suit your performance and even these can be pedal-controlled.

While other compressors are either on or off, the Vol u u m ’s compressor gives you glitch-free pedalcontrol to enhance the subtleties of your music.

LFO/tremolo

Tremolo is a classic effect where a low-frequency-oscillator ( instrument.

LFO

The V oluum tremolo sounds with multiple waveforms featuring envelope-, pedal- and depth variation, as well as

Duo mode gives you two

(tremolo) lets you recreate this effect, while giving you many more options. Smooth

MIDI

-clock sync to keep the tremolo in time with your sequencer.

LFO

s to let you get really creative!

LFO

) modulates the volume of your

MIDI

-controlled speed and

Volume—more than a simple volume pedal

A typical volume pedal gives you basic control of your signal level where the pedal replicates the function of the volume knob on your instrument.

The volume effect on the Voluum lets you do the same thing, but without compromising your tone. But just doing that would be boring! Voluum lets you cut or boost the signal level to any level you desire while providing fine control over the feel of the pedal: how its position maps to the volume change. You can also configure fades where the pedal acts as a switch and the volume fades up or

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Owner’s Manual

down smoothly over a chosen time to give you super-smooth fades that are impossible to do by using just foot-control.

In envelope mode, the level change is triggered when you play a new note or strum a new chord.

ADSR

Combine this with built-in

Limiter

The high voltage analogue power rails in the Voluum give great sonic quality, but it means that high output levels can overdrive other effects in your chain. The limiter can be engaged to soft-limit the signal peaks to keep them within the input range of your other effects to avoid nasty clipping distortion.

The limiter can also limit asymmetrically, which can give overdriven signals a sweeter sound.

Control

Unlike other analogue stomp boxes, the effects on the Voluum are not static, where you adjust the parameters to get the one sound you want

Instead, the Voluum has been engineered to make many aspects of each effect controllable so that effect parameters can smoothly go between hi and lo values that you choose. This modulation can be controlled using the pedal, on page 16.)

USB & MIDI interface

The Voluum has a Voluum to control effects, or send

USB-MIDI

allows

make it easy to connect the Voluum to other

USB

connection also allows you to use the Voluum Desktop Editor Software and to use the

The Voluum as a

USB

MIDI

messages to be sent straight to a computer, whereas the 5-pin

USB-MIDI

interface to connect

shaping and you can create synth-like tones from your instrument.

MIDI

controllers or the signal envelope. (See “Effect control methods”

connection and standard 5-pin

MIDI

from the Voluum to control other

MIDI

gear to your computer.

MIDI

equipment.

connections. You can send

MIDI

devices.

MIDI

connections

to the

Desktop Editor Software

Although you can access all of the effect parameters from the Voluum’s control panel, to make it faster and even more intuitive, we provide a Desktop Editor Software application that runs on both Microsoft Windows and Apple OSX.

The Desktop Editor Software is available once you register on-line: register.sonuus.com

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Owner’s Manual

Using the Voluum

In the rest of this manual, we cover everything you need to know about the Voluum: from how to connect it to your rig, to how to power it and how to delve in and create your own presets.

Consult the photo of the Voluum shown below to familiarise yourself with the controls and displays.

save/cancel button

numeric display

up/down buttons

LED

meterin g

active button

effect knob

control button

hi/lo button

footswitch

LED

If you move or press a knob or touch the active or hi/lo buttons, the Voluum will leave Preset Select mode and enter Preset Edit mode. (Now the buttons won’t let you select presets.)

The button named save has dual functionality. When held for 2 s, it acts as a cancel button. This lets you undo any preset editing you have done and takes you back into Preset Select mode.

footpedal

Cancel an edit / selecting preset mode

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Owner’s Manual

Connecting the Voluum

The simplest way of connecting the Voluum is between your guitar and amp: connect the output of your guitar to the input (

) of the Voluum. Connect the output (

OUT

) of the Voluum to your amp’s

input.

When using other effects in your signal chain, there is no right or wrong effect order— experiment to see what you can do, and be creative.

Typically, time-based effects such as reverb and delay are placed after the Voluum so that these effects are applied to the Voluum’s sou nd.

When using distortion, the effect of connecting this before or after the Voluum are different. When distortion is used after the Voluum, the intensity of distortion can change as the signal level is modified by the Vo l u um . When distortion is placed before the Voluum, the Voluum is able to shape the harmonically-rich signal from the distortion without changing the intensity of the distortion.

You can also connect the Voluum to the effects loop of your amp: connect the output of your guitar to the input of your amp, then connect the “send” of your amp to the Voluum

, and the

OUT

of the

Voluum back to the “return” of your amp. Depending on your amp this can give rise to excessive noise if the signal level in the effects loop is too small. If you try this, it is best to set the effects loop level to +4dBu if you have that option.

MIDI

operation using the

USB

connector or the

MIDI IN

and

MIDI OUT

connectors is detailed in “

MIDI

operation” on page 31.

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Owner’s Manual

Powering the Voluum

The Voluum can be powered by batteries, by a 9V DC power supply (neither of these is supplied), or

USB

. Select one of the following:

• insert 4 AA batteries (alkaline can be used, but we recommend rechargeable NiMH batteries)

into the battery compartment in the base of the Voluum. WARNING: observe correct polarity!

• plug the output of a 9V

The 9V

power supply that you use should be capable of providing 500mA and have a 2·1mm centre pin connector. Note that the Voluum has been designed so that either polarity (tip-positive or tip-negative) can be used.

USB

•plug a

cable connected to your computer or a on the back of the Voluum. If a can provide enough current to the Voluum. However, sometimes

s) can be noisy or can cause ground loops, which may increase the noise in your signal. If this happens and you want to use the the V oluum will use that instead of

Note that there is no problem if you connect all three power sources at once. The

USB

priority, then

, then the batteries. This ensures your batteries are not drained when they are not

needed and allows you to connect via

power supply into the port labelled DC on the back of the Voluum.

USB

hub is used, it may need to be a powered hub to ensure it

USB

connection, simply connect a 9V DC power supply and

USB

power and you won’t get these noise problems.

USB

without using

power supply into the port labelled

USB

power (typically desktop

supply takes

USB

power when a DC supply is present.

USB

Top Tip: If you are using the Voluum on stage, use a DC power supply and batteries. That

way, if the to batteries and you will, in effect, have an un-interruptible power supply.

The Voluum is switched on when you connect is switched on when an instrument cable is connected to

cable from

when the Voluum is not being used.

On the back panel of the Voluum there is a slide switch labelled

power supply is pulled out for any reason, the Voluum will switch

USB

or DC. When running from batteries, the Voluum

. To prolong battery life, disconnect the

LOCK

switch

LOCK

. When this switch is in the locked position, the Voluum is in Preset Select mode and none of the parameters can be edited or saved: the only thing that you can do is change between presets. If you try to make a change when locked, LoC is shown briefly on the numeric display.

LOCK

mode is ideal for gigging, when you want to switch from one preset to another but be sure that

you won’t accidentally make changes to your set-up. When the

LOCK

switch is in the unlocked

position, you can tweak the Voluum settings and save new presets.

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Enabling and bypassing the Vol u um

The main footswitch

When this output (

LED

OUT

). This connection is known as a true-bypass connection because in this state none of

LED

shows the status of the Voluum effect.

is off, the effect is completely bypassed and the input (IN) is directly connected to the

the Voluum electronics are connected to the signal: this keeps your original guitar/bass signal as pure as possible. (Unless buffered-bypass mode is enabled, see “Custom settings” on page 33, where the Voluum electronics are active, but have minimal effect on your signal.)

When this

is on, the signal is passed through the Voluum and the output (

OUT

) is the effected

LED

signal.

The effect is enabled and disabled by briefly pressing the footswitch. Alternatively, when the footpedal is moved to the toe-down position, the effect will automatically enable. Note that this feature can be changed using the custom settings (page 33).

LED

Note that if the main footswitch

is flashing, it means the Voluum is in foot-operated preset

selection mode (see page 13).

Footswitch LED

Off:

On:

Flash:

Effect is completely bypassed (the Voluum has no effect on your sound).

Effect is active and the Voluum will affect your sound.

Foot-operated preset selection mode is active. The bypassed/enabled state of the Voluum does not change in this mode but remains in whichever state it was in before this mode was activated.

True-bypass or buffered-bypass?

Voluum

Over the years, there has been much discussion about which is better: true-bypass or buffered-bypass. The answer is: it depends.

Buffered-bypass has the advantage that the low-impedan ce output of the buffer can drive long cable runs without these cables affecting your tone.

True-bypass, on the other hand, ensures the effect has no impact on the instrument signal; useful with large effects rigs where you may want all the pedals to be true-bypass to minimuse their impact when bypassed.

Ultimately, you should use whichever bypass setting sounds best in your rig. It depends on your instruments and the other pedals in your chain, and indeed, the order of these pedals.

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Owner’s Manual

Selecting a factory preset

The factory presets configure the Voluum into a variety of set-ups, from traditional volume to sonuus’ unique pedal-controlled compressor effects.

The Voluum has two modes: Preset Select mode and Preset Edit mode. By default, it is in Preset Select mode and the display alternates between the 3-character preset name and the preset number: either F00– F99 for factory presets 0 to 99 or P00–P99 for user presets 0 to 99.

If the display does not periodically show F/P00– 99, then to enter preset mode do the following.

Enter Preset Select mode

If the display is not showing a factory or user preset (F00– F99 or P00 – P99), the Voluum is in Preset Edit mode: exit this mode by pressing and holding the save button for 2 s.

LOCK

Alternatively, slide the Select mode when locked).

Once the Voluum is in Preset Select mode, select a preset using the  buttons. A single press on either button will increment/decrement the preset number by one. If you press and hold either button, the preset number will increment/decrement in tens.

Your Voluum is now ready to play. Select different presets and experiment with the wide variety of sounds that are possible.

switch to the locked position (the Voluum is always in Preset

Top Tip: Presets can also be selected using the footswitch and footpedal on the Voluum

(see “Foot-operated preset selection” on page 13) or by connecting external footswitches (see “External footswitch connection” on page 35).

While you are playing, you may accidentally bump a switch or button which will take you into Preset

LOCK

Edit mode. To prevent this, and stay in Preset Select mode, you can slide the

switch to the

locked position. Alternatively, just re-enter Preset Select mode as described above.

Top Tip: Envelope-controlled presets (including gate and compressor) have been

designed for an instrument with a standard output level. If your instrument has an unusually high or low output the presets may not sound correct— either too responsive or not responsive enough. Use the custom SEn parameter to adju st the sensitivity of your Voluum (see page 33).

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Owner’s Manual

Foot-operated preset selection

Preset selection using the  buttons and the save button was described in “Selecting a factory preset” on page 12. There is an alternative method of preset selection using the footswitch and the footpedal. This has been specially designed to make it easy to change presets when you are gigging. Using this method, you don’t have to bend down and select presets using your hands.

Preset selection using the footswitch and footpedal

Enter preset mode by pressing and holding the footswitch until the footswitch The time you have to hold for has a default value of 2s, h owever this is a custom parameter that you can change (see “Custom settings” on page 33).

To increase the preset number, put the footpedal in toe down position (the  button flashes to show that the preset number will increase) then tap (press and release) the footswitch the desired number of times until you reach the preset number you want. To decrease the preset number, move the footpedal to heel down position (the  button now flashes) then tap the footswitch until you reach the preset you want.

When you have reached the preset number you want, you can play and even change presets while playing. However, while in preset select mode you can’t enable or bypass the effect: to do this you have to exit preset mode by pressing and holding the footswitch until the footswitch time to enter it.

LED

stops flashing. The hold time to exit preset mode is the same as the hold

LED

flashes.

LED

Preset selection with the footpedal in effect on/off mode

When the footpedal is configured to be in effect on/off mode (setting the custom parameter P. E n to o.Lo or o.hi — see “Custom settings” on page 33) the method described above is replaced by another method. In this case, the footpedal is not used and foot-operated preset selection is always active. In addition, the footswitch is no longer used to enable/disable the ef fect.

Like the method described above, the footswitch is used to increment or decrement the preset (the direction being shown by the flashing of the  or  button on the footswitch (default press time of 2s) will toggle the direction of preset selection.

Note 1: In foot-operated preset selection mode, you can only step through the presets one at a time (not in tens as you can if you use the  and save buttons). We therefore recommend that for a gig, you make sure that you save the presets you want to use close in number to one another.

Note 2: In foot-operated preset selection mode, you can still use the   buttons as normal to select presets, and to increment/decrement in 10s if required.

LED

s). A long press

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Owner’s Manual

Creating your own presets

You can create and store up to 100 user presets on the Voluum. The steps for creating a preset are straight-forward.

Creating and saving a user preset

Ensure that the user), adjust the Voluum get the desired musical effect. These settings are discussed in detail later.

Save the preset. Press the save button. Use the  buttons to select a user preset number (P00–P99) where you would like to store your preset. The name of the existing preset (if any) flashes alternately with the preset number to help you select either an unused preset or a preset to overwrite. Press the save button again when you have selected your preset number. You can now edit the three-character preset name. Turn the

EFFECT

three characters in the preset name. Finally, press the save button to write your preset to the chosen location.

The save button flashes while this save process is in progress. To abandon the save at any time, and revert to Preset Select mode, press and hold the save button for 2 seconds.

LOCK

switch is in the unlocked position. Starting from any preset (factory or

settings using the

knob to cycle through A-Z, 0-9 and press the knob to advance to the next of the

EFFECT

knob and the active and hi/lo buttons to

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Owner’s Manual

Selecting and changing parameters

When you press or move the flashing

LED

shows which effect is being edited. Successive presses on the

cycle between editing the parameters for the gate, compressor,

EFFECT

knob, the Voluum will enter Preset Edit mode. The

EFFECT

LFO

, volume and limiter

knob will

effects.

To include an effect in the signal chain, press the active button. The active button and the

LED

beside the effect will light up to show that the effect is active. The

effects will also be lit, but these will be dimmer and not flashing to show that the effects are

LED

s for other active

active but not being edited.

For each effect that you edit, select the method of control for this effect using the button. The control methods are none (nothing selected), pedal, envelope or

CONTROL

Successive presses of the selected effect. Stop when the

button cycle round the valid control options for the

LED

beside your choice of control for the effect is illuminated.

CONTROL

MIDI

Note that not all control methods are valid for all effects, and each effect (i.e., all the controllable parameter s in that effect) can be controlled by only one method.

Cycle round the effect’s parameters using the  buttons. The name of the parameters is shown on the display to make it clear what is being selected for editing. Turn the knob to change the value of the parameter that is being edited.

LED

For some combinations of effect parameter and control method, th e hi or lo to show that th e valu e of the parameter being edited applies to the high or low point of th e

will light up

control. For a pedal-controlled pa rameter, hi corresponds to the “toe-down” position, lo to

MIDI

the “heel-down” position. For a maximum and minimum values of the

controlled parameter, hi and lo correspond to the

MIDI

controller. And for an envelope-controlled parameter, hi and lo correspond to the signal becoming louder and quieter. Press the hi/lo button to toggle between the hi and lo values for the parameter b eing edited.

When you have the value th at you want for a parameter, select another parameter to edit. When you have completed your editing, you can save your setup as described previously.

Top Tip: To change the hi and lo values together so that both th e hi and lo of the

parameter are set to the same value, hold the hi/lo button down while you turn the knob to set the parameter value. Note that the hi and lo

LED

s will both light

when you do this to show that both values are being updated.

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Owner’s Manual

Voluum effects signal chain

The Voluum signal chain comprises five separate effects, as shown below.

gate compressor LFO volume limiter

envelope/peak detection

global sensitivity

adjustment

When using individual effects pedals, musicians are careful about the order of the effects chain. One reason for this is because if one effect cuts the signal level, then the next one boosts it to compensate, excess noise can be added to the output signal. Another reason is that often the order of effects can affect the final sound. For example, an envelope-sensitive effect’s sound will change when it is placed before or after a compressor. The Voluum signal chain does things differently.

The limiter is always the last effect in the chain in order to limit the output of the Voluum. But the other effects in the chain can be considered to be in any order—because the effects are all volumebased, and because all of the effects monitor the input signal ( chain (prior to the limiter) is no longer important. This means that, for example, you can apply heavy compression to the signal at the same time as using an envelope-controlled compression affecting the touch-sensitivity of the

Another advantage of the Voluum signal chain is that level control for every effect is done by a single analogue circuit (the about signal quality when you switch in multiple effects.

The effects in the signal chain are described in more detail in the following sections.

VCA

). This minimises noise and signal distortion, so you don’t have to worry

LFO

), the order of the effects in the signal

LFO

OUTIN

without the

Effect control methods

On the Vo l u um effects, some parameters can be controlled (modulated) in real time where the parameter can smoothly go between a hi and lo value that you choose. This modulation can be controlled using the foot pedal,

Using the dB parameter of the volume effect as an example, when the control is set to none (no control method is selected), the dB parameter simply sets the output level of the volume effect. When the control is set to pedal, then the hi and lo values of the dB parameter are the maximum and minimum output levels achieved as the footpedal is rocked from one extreme to the other, and

MIDI

controllers or the signal envelope.

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Owner’s Manual

the Voluum acts as a traditional volume effects pedal. However, unique to the Voluum, you can also

MIDI

choose to control dB using a

controller to remotely-control or automate volume changes.

Not all control methods are available for all effects, for example, the gate and compressor are inherently envelope-controlled effects, so there is no additional envelope control method for these effects. The control methods available for each effect are shown below.

Control Methods

Effect none pedal envelope

gate

compressor

LFO

volume

limiter

   

   

   

MIDI

When a control method is selected for an effect, this applies to all controllable parameters within that effect. Not all parameters are controllable (it simply doesn’t make sense for some parameters to be controllable), but for those that are, the same control method is used for each. Note that the Voluum allows you to use different control methods for different effects.

When you have enabled a control method for an effect, controllable parameters are easily identified

LED

because the hi or lo

will light to show you which value (hi or lo) of the parameter is currently

selected. For example, if you are editing the dB parameter of the volume effect and have selected

LED

pedal control, then when the hi the foot pedal is in toe-down position, and when the lo

is illuminated you are setting the output level (in dB) for when

LED

is illuminated, you are setting the output level for when the foot pedal is in heel-down position. You toggle between editing the hi and lo parameter values by pressing the hi/lo button.

Top Tip: To change the hi and lo values together so that both th e hi and lo of the

Control via

parameter are set to the same value, hold the hi/lo button down while you turn the knob to set the parameter value. Note that the hi and lo when you do this to show that both values are being updated.

MIDI

can be used to replicate pedal control remotely and to automate the effect. The

LED

s will both light

controller’s minimum value corresponds to the pedal in the heel-down position, and the controller’s maximum position corresponds to the pedal in the toe-down position. You can choose a different

MIDI

controller for each effect using the CtL parameter.

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Owner’s Manual

Top Tip: If CtL is set to one of the coarse (

the Voluum can be controlled using the full 14-bits of the controller to ensure the smoothest response. (Of course, you need to ensure the fine ( the

MIDI

controller (controller # 32–63) is also being sent to the Voluum for this

to work.)

MSB

) 14-bit

MIDI

controllers (controller # 0–31),

LSB

) part of

envelope control similarly varies the controllable parameters between their hi and lo values in response to changes of the input signal level. You can adjust how sensitive this response is by using the SEn (sensitivity) parameter.

Top Tip: If you often switch between instruments with different output levels, rather than

change the SEn effect parameter (which is stored presets), use the custom SEn parameter to adjust the global sensitivity of your Voluum (see page 33).

Metering

The real-time meters on the V oluum are clear and simple. You will find the meters invaluable when setting up the gate and compressor effects, as well as letting you see what’s going on when the effects are active.

When using the Voluum as a volume pedal effect, the volume meter can be used as a visual indication of the position of the pedal (i.e., the current volume) before enabling the effect.

volume — shows the real-time effect volume scaled to the curren tly set hi and lo values. This monitors both the volume effect and the

LFO

effect (when these effects are active).

24dB

12dB

6dB

noise gate — lights to show when the gate is closing. The brighter the the more the gate has closed.

LED

compressor — shows the amount of gain reduction being

applied (see scale in dB above). You can thin k of this as the amount of signal c ompression: the

LED

s lit, the higher the compression.

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Adjusting the gate

The gate effect on the Voluum is a noise gate/expander. A noise gate is used to suppress unwanted noise when the signal falls to a low level. It works by allowing signals that are above the gate threshold to pass through unchanged, but reduces signals that are below the gate threshold. The Voluum gate effect allows you to configure the threshold (thr), and the amount of reduction (rEd): the greater the reduction, the more noticeable the effect and the more of the low-level signal (and hence noise) you lose. The Voluum implements a smooth transition around the threshold so that no artificial artifacts are introduced into your sound. When the signal is below the threshold, we say that the gate is closing, and the “closed-ness” of the gate is indicated by the intensity of the gate When the signal is above the threshold and the gate is open, the gate

The graph below shows the difference between high and low reduction. The expander knee is the smooth transition between the signal above and below the threshold. In the Voluum, the knee is harder for high reduction and softer for low reduction values.

LED

is not lit.

LED

The gate is also controlled by the attack (Att) and release (rEL) parameters. The attack is the amount of time for the gate to fully open when the signal exceeds the threshold, and the release is the amount of time for the gate to fully close when the signal falls below the threshold.

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Owner’s Manual

The gate parameters are shown in the table below.

Parameter Controllable Range Description

Signal level reduction.

rEd no 0–100

thr no −90– 20 Threshold in dB.

Att no 0·00– 6·00 Attack time in seconds for th e gate to open.

rEL no 0·10 –6·00 Release time in seconds for the gate to close.

The gate effect can be configured to be very subtle by setting a low reduction and low threshold, or to add a distinct character to your sound with a higher threshold and higher reduction. Similarly, a slow rEL time, will allow the gate to close subtly, whereas a fast rEL time can be sudden and more obvious. Typically, the Att time is set fast to ensure transients aren’t lost when the gate opens.

0 is subtle and transparent (soft-knee, low ratio), 100 is more aggressive (hard-knee, high ratio).

Adjusting the compressor

The compression effect is used to even out the level of your playing. For example, the sound level from the lower strings of your guitar is different from the higher strings—this is particularly pronounced for bass guitar. The compressor is used to smooth out this difference. It can also be used to add clean sustain or to boost the overall loudness of your sound (quieter notes will sound as loud as the loudest notes) or to enhance the transients of notes.

A compressor works by apply a gain reduction to the signal when the signal level is above a threshold. On its own this would compress the signal, but also cause a general drop in signal level. To compensate for this, a make-up gain is applied to bring the average signal level back to where it was before. The Voluum’s compressor features an intelligent make-up gain, so you don’t need to worry about setting this.

The graph below shows the effect on the output signal of applying high compression and low compression. Below the threshold, the signal passes through the compressor unchanged. The transition around the threshold, the signal knee, is smooth. Above the knee, a constant gainreduction (ratio) is applied to the signal level. Note that the shape (sharpness) of the Voluum compressor’s knee varies as the amount of compression is changed.

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The parameters are shown in the table below:

Parameter Controllable Range Description

CPr yes 0–100

thr yes −60 –20 Threshold in dB.

Att yes 0–100 Attack time in milliseconds.

rEL yes 0·10–6·00 Release time in seconds.

Lv L no −24 –24

CtL no 0–127

Compression amount. 0 is subtle (soft-knee, low ratio), 100 is maximum compression (hard-knee, high ratio).

Level trim in dB. Use this to keep the signal level the same regardless of the amount of compression being applied.

MIDI

controller for compress. Only available if

is selected for the compressor effect.

MIDI

control

The compressor effect can be a subtle smoothing-out of your sound (CPr set to a low value, and thr set to a high value), or can be used to add a distinct “compressed sound” to your playing (set CPr to a high value and thr to a low value).

The attack parameter (Att) is the time in milliseconds that it takes the compressor to respond to a signal that exceeds the threshold. A fast attack (Att time is small) can compress short transients,

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Owner’s Manual

whereas a slow attack (Att time is large) often sounds more natural and can preserve the “pop” and “slap” of bass guitar playing.

Top Tip: The compressor, even at fastest attack (Att = 0) may not react quickly enough

to block all transients. However, you can still do this by using the limiter in combination with the compressor to tame the fastest, largest, transients.

The compressor release (rEL) is the time in seconds that it takes for the compressor gain reduction to recover when the signal falls below the threshold. Slower release times tend to smooth out the signal. However, if the release is set too long, the gain will remain turned down for a while after the loud sound has ended. This may cause any quiet sounds that occur between loud sounds to be turned down as well. Conversely, too-fast release times will make the compression effect too obvious to the point where you can hear a very unnatural “pumping” or “breathing” sound as the signal level goes up and down. In general, the release should be set fast enough to recover in time to process the next transient.

The Voluum has an intelligent automatic make-up gain which maintains the subjective loudness of the signal. The aim of the make-up gain is to ensure that the signal loudness is the same with and without compression. However, if you have a particularly high output or low output instrument, you may find that the automatic gain make-up cannot do sufficient compensation for your instrument. If this is the case, you can adjust the value of the level trim parameter (Lv L) until you balance the output with and without the compressor.

Top Tip: If you often switch between instruments with different output levels, rather than

change the Lv L parameter (which is saved in presets), use the custom SEn parameter to adjust the global sensitivity of your Voluum (see page 33).

The amount of compression being applied to your signal is displayed on the compressor metering

LED

s on the control panel of the Voluum. The more

LED

s that are lit, and the brighter they are, the more compression (gain reduction) is being applied. It is very useful to watch this meter when setting up the compressor parameters.

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Adjusting the

The

LFO

in the Voluum is used to create a tremolo effect. It is highly configurable using the parameters in the table below. The speed of the synchronised to a sequencer using

MIDI

(

“

MIDI

LFO

operation” on page 31

LFO

can be controlled precisely and can even be

Parameter Controllable Range Description

Type of

LFO

tyP no

tPo tAP Syn

tempo in bpm pedal is used to tap a tempo sync’d to

bPM yes 10·0– 999 Sets

duo no oFF, on Enables duo mode: two

LFo no 1, 2 Selects the

rtG no oFF, on Retrigger the

dLy no

oFF, 0·1–

25·0

r.P h no 0–63

PhA no 0–63

16, 8, 6, 4, 3,

div yes

2, 1,

/2, 1/4, 1/8,

Delay in seconds over which the is retrigged. Only available if rtG is on.

Phase after retriggering. Only available if rtG is on and for

Phase of mode is enabled and when

Clock multiplier. For example, if the clock is 120bpm and div is set to

Shape of

Sin tri

ShP no

Sqr S.uP S.dn trP rnd

r.u P no 0–100

sinusoid triangle square saw up saw down trapezoid random

Ramp up: only available for trapezoid. See below for details on how trapezoids are set up.

r.d n no 0–100 Ramp down: only available for trapezoid.

dty yes 0–100 Square wave duty cycle.

StE yes oFF, 1–64 Step: quantizes the

dB yes −99 –40

LFO

The

clock:

MIDI

clock

LFO

tempo in bpm. Only available if tyP is set to tPo.

LFO

s rather than a single

LFO

to be edited wh en duo mode is enabled.

LFO

each time a new note is detected .

LFO

“grows” a fter the

LFO

1 only.

LFO

2 relative to

/2, the

LFO

waveform:

depth in dB.

LFO

oscillates between 0dB and this level.

LFO

1. Only available when duo

LFO

2 is selected for editing.

LFO

clock will run at 60bpm.

LFO

output to this number of steps.

LFO

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Owner’s Manual

Parameter Controllable Range Description

SEn no −30–30·0

CtL no 0–127

The diagram below shows examples of the different shapes of waveforms, selected using the ShP parameter. The random waveform takes a different random value every cycle (the cycle is defined by the bPM and div parameters).

Envelope sensitivity in dB. Only available with envelope control.

MIDI

controller for

LFO

. Only available with

MIDI

control.

sinusoid

square saw up

saw down trapezoid

example of random

triangular

Sinusoid (sine) waveforms are well-suited to tremolo effects, and often result in the most natural sound, and is usually the best starting point for exploring the

LFO

effect.

The square waveform has a variable duty cycle (dty), or pulse-width, which sets how long the waveform remains at its maximum value compared to its minimum value. When dty is 50, the waveform is symmetrical (square), whereas at its limits the waveform is always at its minimum (dty = 0) or maximum (dty = 100) value. This can be used to emulate the sound of a kill-switch, particularly when you control dty using the pedal.

The trapezoidal waveform is highly configurable: examples of trapezoidal waveforms are shown below. In the Voluum, the shape of the trapezoid is controlled by the parameters ramp up (r.u P) and ramp down (r. dn), referring to the left and right sides of the waveforms shown. One cycle of the

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Owner’s Manual

trapezoid waveform is represented by 100 time units. The sum of ramp up and ramp down cannot exceed 100. If the sum of ramp up and ramp down is less than 100, the remaining time has no ramp, shown as t

Using the trapezoid waveform, you can generate a square wave (ramp up = ramp down = 0), a triangular wave (ramp up = ramp down = 50), a saw-up wave (ramp up = 100, ramp down = 0) and a saw-down wave (ramp up = 0, ramp down = 100) in addition to trapezoidal waveforms.

below.

r.u p r.d n

+ r.dn = 100

r.up + 2t

100

triangular wave

= 0, r.up = r.dn = 50

r.up + r.dn = 100

saw-up wave t

= 0, r.up = 100, r.dn = 0

r.up + r.dn = 100

Voluum

r.u p r.d n

100

r.u p

100

square wave r.u p = r.d n = 0, ta= 50

2 t

= 100

100

saw-down wave t

= 0, r.up = 0, r.dn = 100

r.up + r.dn = 100

r.d n

100

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Owner’s Manual

The parameter tyP, lets you select the

LFO

clock type. The options for the clock are: it can be set as

a tempo (tPo) using the bPM parameter; tempo can be tapped using the footpedal (tAP); or the

MIDI

clock can be sycn’d (Syn) to external

clock.

The tempo is in beats per minute, bpm. The bPM parameter has a range of 10 to 999. To achieve slower and faster tempos, the div parameter multiplies the value of the tempo set by the tyP clock source. As an example, if tyP is tPo, bPM is 120bpm and div is 2, then tempo has a value of 240 bpm.

LFO

The effect on volume of the

LFO

increases (boosts) the signal level from 0dB (no change) to the dB value. When this is negative,

LFO

decreases (cuts) the signal level from 0dB (no change) to the dB value. Tremolo effects

the

is controlled by the depth (dB) parameter. When this is positive, the

traditionally cut the signal level, so a negative dB would be chosen to emulate this.

Top Tip: If you want the

−18 and enable the volume effect and set a constant dB of +6.

To create more elaborate

LFO

s are driven from the same clock (so are controlled by the same bPM) but each can have a

different waveform, depth and division, and a phase offset can be applied to

LFOS

By modulating the

’ parameters you can easily create complex, smoothly evolving textures.

LFO

effects, two

to oscillate between, say, +6dB and −12 dB, set the

LFO

s can be combined when duo mode is enabled. Both

LFO

dB to

2 (relative to

LFO

1).

Adjusting the volume

The Voluum lets you configure how your volume effect sounds and how it feels to play. The parameters to set it up are in the table below.

Parameter Controllable Range Description

dB yes −99 –40

Lo9–Lo1, Lin,

Cur no

FAd no oFF, on

tiM no 0·1 –99·9 Fade time in seconds, for fade mode.

Att no 0·00 –9·99

dEC no 0·00–9·99

hi1–hi9, Lh1–Lh9, hL1–hL9

Volume level in dB. 0dB means there is no change in signal level.

Curve: sets how the volume control (pedal or mapped onto the volume effect output. This also affects the shape of the volume change in FA d and envelope

ADSR

) modes.

(

Fade mode on or off. Only available with pedal and

Attack time in seconds ( Only available with envelope control.

Decay time in seconds ( Only available with envelope control.

ADSR

MIDI

control.

MIDI

) is

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Owner’s Manual

Parameter Controllable Range Description

SuS no −99– 40

rEL no 0·00 –9·99

thr no −80 –0

CtL no 0–127

Sustain in dB, relative to hi value of dB ( Only available with envelope control.

Release in seconds ( Only available with envelope control.

The signal level drop (threshold) in dB required to trigger

ADSR

release. Only available with envelope control.

the

MIDI

controller for volume.

Only available with

ADSR

MIDI

control.

The volume level can be set to a single value using the dB parameter. However, to set-up a traditional volume pedal effect, select pedal control for the volume effect and then set a low value for the lo dB parameter and a high one for the hi dB parameter. Now when you rock the footpedal from heel- down to toe-down, the volume increases.

Changing the curve (Cur parameter) lets you adjust the “feel” of the footpedal, from the default linear (lin) setting through to extreme settings where most movement happens at the heel-down (hi9) or toe-down position (lo9).

ADSR

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Owner’s Manual

If this seems a little complicated, the best way of remembering how lo and hi work is that a lo curve spends more time near the lo value of volume, while a hi curve spends more time near the hi value. The higher the number i.e., Lo9 rather than Lo1, the more pronounced the effect.

To get even more control, these curves can be combined so that the curve starts as a “lo” curve, but ends as a “hi” curve (Lh-), and vice-versa (hL-). The Lh- curves are particularly useful for volume fades: note how the change starts and ends smoothly at both ends. These curves, also known as sigmoid curves, allow the most natural-sounding fades to be achieved.

The Voluum lets you do super-smooth volume fades that would be impossible to achieve using a simple volume pedal: enable FAd (set to on) and set a fade time using the tiM parameter. When the footpedal is moved to the toe-down position, the volume will fade from lo to hi. Conversely, when the footpedal is moved to the heel-down position, the volume will fade from hi to lo. You can use this to make a signal fade quickly or very slowly to get the effect that you like.

ADSR

When you select envelope control for the volume effect, a level-triggered sustain-release) volume envelope is applied to the signal which gives you automatic volume swells and lets you create synth-like sounds. The sustain (SuS), release (rEL) and threshold (thr) control the in the figure below.

ADSR

envelope parameters attack (Att), decay (dEC),

ADSR

volume envelope. They are shown

(attack-decay-

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Owner’s Manual

dB hi

Sustain (dB relative to dB hi)

dB lo

Attack (time)

Decay (time)

When triggered by a new note or chord, the volume increases from lo to hi (attack). Once complete, the volume then decreases (decay) to the sustain level (sustain). Once the input signal falls below the threshold (it drops in level by thr dB compared to the signal level at the start of the attack) the release phase is entered and the volume falls back to its lo value.

ADSR

Using this

shaping, you can achieve sounds reminiscent of other instruments by emulating the characteristic shape of their envelopes. For example, a slow attack can be used to emulate bowed stringed instruments.

Release

(time)

Top Tip: For simplicity, we described how curves affect the footpedal, but they also affect

how the volume changes in fade mode, under mode. Don’t worry too much about this — simply adjust Cur to get th e sound you want!

MIDI

control and in envelope

Adjusting the limiter

The limiter is used to limit the range of the output signal in order to prevent the potential overload of any downstream equipment with limited headroom, such as a digital processor. Unlike the compressor, the limiter always reacts instantly and so can prevent overload caused by very fast transients that the compressor could miss.

Parameter Controllable Range Description

dBu yes −5·2– 20·0 The nominal level at which the limiter clips, in dBu.

The limiter symmetry in percent — 0 is symmetric.

SyM yes −99–99

Voluum

Positive values allow the positive part of the signal to be larger than the negative part.

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Owner’s Manual

Parameter Controllable Range Description

SEn no −30·0–30·0

CtL no 0–127

A large signal entering an effect with limited headroom will often cause hard-clipping where the tops of the signal are simply chopped off. Generally, this doesn’t sound good. To prevent this, the limiter soft-clips the signal to reduce the audible artifacts caused by clipping, and for small overloads the effect can be inaudible.

The nominal signal level at which the limiter clips is set using the dBu parameter. The symmetry of clipping can be adjusted using the SyM parameter.

The difference between hard clipping and soft limiting is shown below, along with the effect of changing the symmetry of the limiting.

Envelope sensitivity in dB. Only available if envelope control is enabled.

MIDI

controller for the limiter. Only available if

is enabled.

MIDI

control

hard clipping

soft clipping

asymmetric soft clipping

The harmonic distortion (overdrive) achieved with symmetric limiting introduces odd harmonics into the output signal. However, by using the SyM parameter to set-up asymmetric limiting, the output sound can be changed because this introduces even harmonics into the output signal. This effect can be subtle, but we know that it matters to some of you and the SyM parameter gives you the flexibility to achieve it. Don’t worry too much about the details of the harmonics—just set-up the

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Owner’s Manual

symmetry so that you like the sound. Note, however, that the symmetry control will have less effect the closer dBu is set to its minimum value: at maximum limiting only symmetric limiting is possible.

The limiter level and symmetry is controllable using the hi and lo values of the dBu and SyM parameters when a control method is selected.

MIDI

operation

It is possible to control the Voluum with example, by default the footpedal sends 14-bit volume controller messages on can use the Voluum to control synthesizers.

MIDI

input and to use the Voluum as a

MIDI

can also be used to synchronise the

MIDI

controller. For

MIDI

channel 1 so you

LFO

sequencer to ensure its tempo matches that of your song, or to automate preset selection.

MIDI

The Voluum can send and receive

To u s e

USB-MIDI

Linux) via a

, connect the

USB

cable. The necessary drivers are part of the operating system so your computer will

USB

messages using dedicated

port of the Voluum to a

automatically configure itself to work with the Voluum. Once this is done, new ports will appear, named “Voluum”. To send

MIDI

the “Voluum” “Voluum”

To use dedicated

-out port. To receive

MIDI

-in port.

MIDI

, connect your

MIDI

messages to the Voluum, connect your software to

messages from the Voluum, connect your software to the

-enabled device to the

MIDI

connections or using

USB

port of your computer (

MIDI

-in and

MIDI

OSX

, Windows,

MIDI

-in and

-out connectors on the

Voluum.

MIDI

The following standard

output (from Voluum to computer or

MIDI

message Chan Description

messages are supported.

MIDI

device)

Program Change

Sent when a new preset is selected on the Voluum.

Program Change

Controllers

Bank Select #0 #32 Ch. o

Vol um e #7 #39 Ch. o Always sent whenever the footpedal is moved.

MIDI

output channel, Ch.o, selected in custom parameters.

MSB LSB

Ch. o

Bank Select messages are sent when the current preset changes between factory and user presets.

Factory (0) or user (1) preset bank. (Factory: #0=0, #32=0. User: #0=0, #32=1.)

to your

USB-MIDI

MIDI

-out

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Owner’s Manual

MIDI

input (from computer or

MIDI

message Chan Description

MIDI

sync

MIDI

clock

Song position

Program Change

Controllers

Bank Select #0 #32 Ch. i

compressor #11 #43 Ch. i

LFO

volume #7 #39 Ch. i

limiter #12 #44 Ch. i

MIDI

input channel, Ch.i, selected in custom parameters.

MSB LSB

#1 #33 Ch. i

MIDI

device to Voluum)

N/A Used when

Selects the preset to be used. Operates on the currently selected bank (factory or user). Use Bank Select

Ch. i

controller message to switch between factory and user banks.

Selects factory (0) or user (1) preset bank. (Factory: #0=0, #32=0. User: #0=0, #32=1.)

This is the default (expression). It can be changed in the compress parameters.

This is the default (modwheel). It can be changed in the

LFO

parameters.

This is the default (volume). It can be changed in the volume parameters.

This is the default (effect control 1). It can be changed in the limiter parameters.

LFO

is in

MIDI

sync (Syn) mode.

The Voluum can also be used as a

MIDI

computer and other

gear. When the Voluum is connected to your computer via messages sent to the Voluum over received on the 5-pin

MIDI

input will be sent over

USB-MIDI

interface, allowing you to send

USB

will also be sent out the 5-pin

USB

to your computer.

MIDI

between your

MIDI

output. Similarly,

USB

, any

MIDI

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Custom settings

Further configurability of the Voluum is possible through custom. This lets you change the setup of the Voluum to suit your own instruments or personal preferences. For example, you can adjust the display

LED

studio.

The custom settings are different from all of the other parameters: they affect the Voluum’s set-up, not the set-up of the current preset i.e., they are global settings. The custom settings are not stored in a preset, they are stored in the V oluum itself. They take effect from when they are changed. They are not changed by switching from one preset to another.

To make changes to the custom parameters, enter custom mode by pressing and holding the

EFFECT

Parameter Default Range Description

LEd 40 1–100

int Gtr

SEn 0 −36–36

byP tru tru, buF Allows you to select true-bypass (tru) or buffered-bypass (buF)

brightness to a very low level to prolong battery life or to suit working in a darkened

knob for 2s.

LED

brightness: 1 is minimum, 100 maximum. Reducing the

brightness is useful for dark environments and for battery saving.

Gtr

bA4

bA5

Instrument (optimises note-retriggering for optimises envelope tracking)

guitar (perfect for guitar, but also good for 4-string bass. Use this unless you experience problems with the lowest notes)

4-string bass (best to track the lowest notes of 4-string bass, but also works well with 5-string bass)

5-string bass (best to track the lowest notes of 5-string bass)

Applies a global adjustment for envelope mode sensitivity (SEn) to compensate for instruments with different output levels. Gives a range of ±36dB.

LFO

and

ADSR

and

LED

Voluum

Page 34

Owner’s Manual

Parameter Default Range Description

oFF

o.Lo

P. En on

o.hi

P. ti 0·1 0·1–20·0

FS.t 4 (2s) oFF, 1– 8

Po.t oFF

PoS oFF oFF, on

Ch.i 1

Ch.o 1

oFF,

1–240

Any, 1–16

oFF, 1–16

Pedal enable. Allows you to enable the effect by moving the footpedal. If set to oFF then this feature is disabled.

The effect is enabled when the footpedal is pressed to the toedown position. The effect must be turned off using the footswitch.

On/off low (heel): the effect is enabled when the footpedal is in the heel-down position, and is deactivated when the footpedal returns to this position (after a time set by “pedal effect off time”).

On/off high (toe): the effect is enabled when the footpedal is in the toe-down position, and is deactivated when the footpedal returns to this position (after a time set by “pedal effect off time”).

Setting P. En to o.Lo or o.hi affects how footpedal preset selection works —see “Foot-operated preset selection” on p age 13.

Pedal effect time off. Only available if P. E n is set to o.Lo, or o.hi.

When P. En is set to o.Lo, or o.hi, this sets the time (in seconds) that the footpedal must be in the “off” position before the effect is turned off.

Footswitch time. Time in 500 ms steps that footswitch is held to enter and exit foot-operated preset selection mode.

Power-save timeout. This sets the time to enter a lower-power state (display goes off ) to prolong battery life when the effect isn't enabled.

Show footpedal position. When set to on, =00 –=99 is displayed when the footpedal is moved. This can be used to position the footpedal in a particular position before enabling the effect.

Sets the

MIDI

input channel used to receive

MIDI

messages on any channel will be accepted (omni mode).

Any,

Sets the

MIDI

oFF, no

output channel used to send

MIDI

messages will be sent.

MIDI

messages. If set to

MIDI

messages. If set to

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Owner’s Manual

External footswitch connection

Although it is easy to select presets using your foot with the Voluum’s footswitch and footpedal (see “Foot-operated preset selection” on page 13), it can sometimes be more convenient to have dedicated footswitches for this, freeing up the Voluum’s foot controls to be used exclusively for enabling/bypassing the effect and for pedal-control.

The V oluum allows two external footswitches to be connected: one acting as up (increment preset),

MIDI

and one acting as down (decrement preset). This is done by using spare pins on the connector, as shown in the diagram below. With basic soldering skills, it is possible to make a simple adapter which allows two footswitches to be connected, and allows the unaffected so it can still be used.

MIDI

out to pass through

out

Voluum

Up footswitchDown footswitch



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Owner’s Manual

User modifications of the Voluum

For the avoidance of doubt, opening any part of the Voluum other than the battery compartment will always cause your warranty to be invalid, unless you obtain prior authorisation from sonuus.

However, we realise that musicians sometimes make the minor modification of reducing the footpedal travel by sticking a piece of rubber under the front (heel position) of the footpedal. If you do this, you will need to follow the pedal calibration procedure below. Any damage caused to the Voluum deemed by sonuus to be caused directly or indirectly by this (or any other) modification will not be covered by the warranty.

The rubber stop at the back of the footpedal (under the toe position) should never be modified to avoid damage to the pedal sensor.

Pedal calibration

Pedal calibration lets you configure the how much of the travel of the footpedal controls the effect. Normally you won’t need to do this but if you make modifications such as limiting the travel of the Voluum by sticking a rubber stop under the front of the footpedal, then this calibration will be useful.

Enter calibration mode by simultaneously pressing and holding the button for 4s until CAL is displayed. Rock the footpedal from one extreme to the other a few times. Save this calibration and exit calibration mode by pressing the save button or with another simultaneous press of the

If you enter calibration mode accidentally and want to exit without saving, press and hold the save button to cancel.

CONTROL

button and the active button.

CONTROL

button and the active

Warranty

The Voluum is supported by a limited warranty for a period of one year from the date of purchase. During this period, any faults due to defective materials or workmanship will be rectified (by repair or replacement) free of charge. A unit under warranty may be replaced with a reconditioned unit.

The warranty excludes damage caused by deliberate or accidental misuse or modification. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure fitness for purpose in any particular application. The warranty is limited to the original purchaser, and excludes any consequential damage or loss.

Proof of purchase date is required for any claim under this warranty.

Warranty claims must be made through the retailer from whom the original purchase was made.

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Owner’s Manual

Firmware updating

To support new features and to make it future-proof, firmware (internal software) of the Voluum can be upgraded.

To u p da t e t h e Voluum firmware you will need to download the latest firmware file (.sfu) and Firmware Updater software (which includes an instruction manual). The updater software is available for both account at the following web site:

Note: if the Voluum detects that your firmware is corrupt, it will boot straight into update mode to let you update the firmware.

OSX

and Windows. To access these files, you need to register and create a user

To update firmware on the Voluum



While powering-on the Voluum, press and hold: active + .



The numeric display now shows UPd to indicate firmware update mode is active.



Connect the Voluum to your computer via



Follow the steps in the Firmware Updater manual you have downloaded.

USB

(if not already done during power-on).

Battery monitoring

When the battery level is getting low, bAt will periodically appear on the display to warn you.

To see the estimated percentage of battery life remaining, simultaneously press and hold the active button and the  button. When using batteries, it is a good idea to check the remaining battery capacity before a performance so that you can replace/recharge the batteries if required.

USB

Note that when value, but will instead show a value related to the available supply voltage. This is because when an alternative power supply is available, the batteries are disconnected to prolong their life.

Voluum

power are available, the displayed battery level will not show the correct

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Owner’s Manual

Special key presses

Mode Key Presses

Pedal calibration: enter

save and exit cancel and exit

Battery monitoring Simultaneously press and hold active +  to display % battery ch arge.

Firmware update mode: enter

exit

Cancel edit (enter Preset Select mode)

Foot-operated preset mode enter/exit

Display firmware version

Simultaneously press and hold active button + CAL is displayed.

Press save. Press and hold save to can cel.

Simultaneously press and hold active +  when powering-on the Voluum.

Restart the Voluum.

Press and hold save for 2s.

Press and hold footswitch until footswitch

Press and hold save on power-on (version number is shown until you release the save button).

CONTROL

button for 4 s until

LED

starts/stops flashing.

Adjusting pedal tension

The tension (stiffness) of the foot pedal can be adjusted using the 5 mm Allen key supplied. Insert the Allen key into the bolt on the side of the pedal and adjust the tension to get the feel you want. Turn clockwise to increase the pedal resistance, turn anti-clockwise to reduce the pedal resistance, ensuring that you don’t loosen the bolt too much. Only small adjustments are required to make changes to the pedal tension.

tighten

loosen

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Owner’s Manual

Factory presets

The Voluum is able to store up to 100 factory presets, but not all of these slots are utilised in the current firmware version. Additional factory presets will be included in future firmware updates.

Use this space to note your favourite factory, or user, presets.

Preset Notes

Voluum

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Owner’s Manual

Specification

Physical & Electrical

Size 171mm × 192mm × 76mm

Power 9V DC (any polarity), 4 × AA batteries, USB (500mA max)

Audio Input

Audio Output

Audio Bandwidth (−3dB)

MIDI

Input Standard 5-pin

MIDI

Output Standard 5-pin

External Footswitches Two footswitches c an be connected to

Computer Standard Type B USB socket

Signal switching Transparent-True-Bypass | Buffered Bypass (selectable)

Presets 30 Factory | 100 user

LFO

types Sine, square, triangle, saw-up, saw-down, trapezoid, random

Control methods Pedal, envelope,

Drivers Class-compliant HID/USB Audio (built into operating system)

Computer (Editor)

Computer (MIDI)

6·35mm (¼") mono jack | 2MΩ impedance +18dBu nominal maximum input level

6·35mm (¼") mono jack | 1kΩ impedance +21dBu nominal maximum output level

17Hz – 121kHz (0dB gain) 17Hz – 22kHz (40dB gain) 17Hz – 35kHz (40dB attenuation)

MIDI DIN

| Pin 1 and pin 3 allow external footswitch connection

MIDI

Effect

MIDI

, none

Computer

Windows XP, Vista, 7 and above Apple OSX 10·5 and above (Intel Mac only)

Windows XP, Vista, 7 and above Apple OSX 10·3·9 and above

out, used as up and down buttons

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Sonuus Voluum User manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Quick start

Welcome

Analogue signal path with digital control

Flexible effects chain

Unique patent-pending pedal sensor

For guitar and bass

Transparent-true-bypass…

…with the option of buffered-bypass

Stage-ready

Presets

www.sonuus.com

What can the Voluum do?

Gate/expander

Pedal-controlled compressor

LFO/tremolo

Limiter

Control

USB & MIDI interface

Desktop Editor Software

Using the Voluum

Connecting the Voluum

Powering the Voluum

Enabling and bypassing the Vol u um

Selecting a factory preset

Foot-operated preset selection

Creating your own presets

Voluum effects signal chain

Effect control methods

Metering

Adjusting the gate

Adjusting the compressor

Adjusting the volume

Adjusting the limiter

Custom settings

External footswitch connection

User modifications of the Voluum

Pedal calibration

Warranty

Firmware updating

Battery monitoring

Special key presses

Adjusting pedal tension

Factory presets

Specification