Source Audio Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass Distortion User Manual

MULTIWAVE BASS DISTORTION

USER’S GUIDE

SA221

WELCOME

Thank you for purchasing the Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass Distortion.
The Soundblox 2 Multiwave is the newest incarnation of our original
highly-acclaimed Multiwave Distortion optimized for the bass. The
Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass produces very unique distortion sounds and
does not attempt to model or emulate any classic distortions. It offers
some new and different distortions ranging from the more organic to
synth-like and octave effects.

The Soundblox 2 version of the Multiwave Bass Distortion brings a new
compact physical format and many new and useful features designed for
easy on-stage use. Like all Soundblox effects pedals, the Soundblox 2
Multiwave Bass Distortion is also “Hot Hand Ready”.

The Quick Start guide will help you with the basics. For more in-depth
information about Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass Distortion, move on to the
following sections.

Enjoy!

-The Source Audio team

If possible, dispose of the device at a recycling center. Do not dispose of the
device with the household waste.

For full compliance with EN 61000-4-6 standard, input cable must be less
than 3 meters in length.

2 | Welcome

OVERVIEW

DIVERSE SOUND PALETTE

Featuring 23 varieties of our unique distortion algorithms with an added
CLEAN BOOST mode.

MULTIBAND PROCESSING

Signal is split into multiple bands and distorted individually for unprec­edented sound clarity.

STATE-OF-THE-ART DSP

Our proprietary 56-bit Digital Signal Processor, the SA601, and crystal
clear 24-bit converters.

COMPACT DESIGN

A compact, rugged, cast-aluminum housing.

UNIVERSAL BYPASS™

Select either analog buffered or relay-based True Bypass.

2 USER PRESETS

Easy to configure user presets selectable via two footswitches.

3-BAND TONE CONTROL

An ultra-flexible Treble-Mid-Bass tone control.

PRESERVE THE LOW-END

Separate Clean Mix and Distortion Mix knobs to preserve low-end.

MULTI-FUNCTION INPUT

A multi-purpose control input for use with Hot Hand®, expression pedal,
or MIDI.

Overview | 3

QUICK START

1. POWER

To power the unit, connect the included DC adapter power supply to

the 9V DC jack on the back panel.

Note: Using a non-Source Audio power supply could damage the unit.

Please be very cautious when using a 3rd party supply.

2. GUITAR/AUDIO CONNECTIONS

Next, plug your bass (or other instrument) into the jack labeled GUITAR

IN via a standard ¼” cable. Connect your amp (or other audio device) to
the GUITAR OUT jack, again with a standard ¼” cable. Both input and
output are mono signals.

GUITAR IN

GUITAR OUT

4 | Quick Start

MULTI-

FUNCTION

IN

MULTI-

FUNCTION

OUT

9V DC

3. BRIEF KNOB, FOOTSWITCH, AND BUTTON DESCRIPTIONS

12

(see Controls section for more details)

• CLEAN MIX: adjusts the amount of clean signal in the final output mix.

• DISTORTION MIX: adjusts the amount of distorted signal in the final

output mix.

• DRIVE: the amount of distortion gain applied to the signal.

• TONE: cuts or boosts the selected TONE SHAPE (Treble, Mid, or Bass)

• EFFECT KNOB: selects the type of distortion.

• NOISE GATE: selects the noise gate threshold level.

• TONE SHAPE: selects the frequency range controlled by the TONE knob.

• FOOTSWITCHES: Enables/Disables a preset depending on the selected

footswitch. Press and hold to save an edited preset.

™

MULTIWAVE

OCTAVE

101112

09

CLEAN MIX

0

LOW

(EXP)

HIGH

(HH)

NOISE

GATE

08

07

FOLDBACK

06

MULTI

05

BAND

04

03

02

NORMAL

MED

(MIDI)

01

DRIVE TONE

22

00

CLEAN
BOOST

13

21

14

20
OCTAVE

BASS DISTORTION

15

NORMAL

16

17

FOLDBACK

18

SINGLE

19

BAND

BOOSTCUT

DISTORTION MIX

0

TREBLE

MID

BASS

TONE
SHAPE

Quick Start | 5

THEORY OF OPERATION

The Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass Distortion provides some unique

distortion sounds. In creating this effects pedal, we didn’t intend to
duplicate, model, or emulate any existing types of distortion. The types
of algorithms we use to create the distortion are quite different from the
standard set although with certain settings the results can sound similar.

One of the techniques we use is to divide up the input guitar signal into
multiple frequency bands. Each band is separately distorted, and then all
are recombined. Because of this, you can achieve clarity between notes
on chords with complex harmonies. It’s possible to leave strings droning
while a melody is played on top. A normal distortion would tend to reduce
this playing to mush by compressing and distorting low and high notes
together. Because of the multiple bands, it’s also possible to get several
notes feeding back at the same time. The first 15 settings (labeled MULTI
BAND) on the effect knob use band splitting while the last 8 (labeled
SINGLE BAND) do not.

CLEAN
BOOST

22

OCTAVE

13

14

20

OCTAVE

21

15

16

17

18

19

NORMAL

SINGLE
BAND

FOLDBACK

FOLDBACK

MULTI

BAND

6 | Theory of Operation

06

05

04

NORMAL

07

03

08

02

01

101112

09

00

The shapes of the distortion curves are also different from standard

distortions. Normally, as the input signal voltage rises, the output voltage
also rises, but begins to level off and finally pins (or clips) at a maximum
value. With a foldback curve, for large enough values of the input, the out­put will begin to decrease. With more extreme amounts of foldback, after
decreasing for a while, the output can begin to increase again. Maximum
foldback has many regions where the output alternates between increas­ing and decreasing. This kind of distortion curve adds a lot of high fre­quency content to the output. It also can provide a lot of control over the
sound based on the level of the input signal. With heavy foldback, chords
containing only octaves and fifths tend to sound best. Other intervals can
cause some strange, although not necessarily undesirable sounds.

Using a special shape of the distortion curve, strong second harmonics
can be created, sounding like a note an octave higher. Rolling off the bass
tone control will help maximize the octave impression. Complex chords
don’t typically work well for octave settings. The result is very sensitive to
the input signal level (as long as the NOISE GATE and DRIVE controls are
not set too high) and can give a sort of auto-wah effect. Try dialing down
the bass volume for some interesting effects.

A conventional distortion effect tends to turn the bass signal into square
waves. Playing harder only makes the transition from negative clip­ping to positive clipping a little bit steeper. With our foldback and octave
algorithms, a slightly higher input can have a radical effect on the shape
of the output signal.

Theory of Operation | 7

CONNECTIONS

GUITAR IN: Connect your bass or other instrument here using a standard

MONO ¼" cable.

GUITAR OUT: Connect this to your amp, pedal, or other audio device.

MULTI-FUNCTION IN (optional): The multi-function input is a flexible

control input for use with external controllers. It can accept digital or
analog signals which allows the Soundblox 2 Multiwave Bass to interface
with the following accessories:

• SA110/SA115 Hot Hand Wireless Adapter

• SA111 Hot Hand Wired Sensor

• SA161 Source Audio Dual Expression Pedal

• Source Audio Soundblox 2 MIDI Adapter

MULTI-FUNCTION OUT (optional): Use a Source Audio daisy-chain cable
to connect this jack to the sensor input of another Soundblox pedal.

9V DC: Connect the included 9 Volt DC power supply here. Use of a non­Source Audio power supply may cause damage. Please be very cautious
when using a 3rd party power supply.

GUITAR IN

GUITAR OUT

8 | Connections

MULTI-

FUNCTION

IN

MULTI-

FUNCTION

OUT

9V DC