Source Audio Soundblox 2 Multiwave Distortion User Manual

MULTIWAVE DISTORTION

USER’S GUIDE

SA220

WELCOME

Thank you for purchasing the Soundblox 2 Multiwave Distortion. The
Soundblox 2 Multiwave is the newest incarnation of our original highly­acclaimed Multiwave Distortion. The Soundblox 2 Multiwave 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 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 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 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.

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 guitar (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)

• SUSTAIN: adjusts input gain to the front-end compressor.

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

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

• OUTPUT: adjusts the output level of the effect.

• EFFECT KNOB: selects the type of distortion.

• NOISE GATE: controls the noise gate threshold level.

• FOOTSWITCHES: Enables/Disables a preset depending on the
selected footswitch. Press and hold to save an edited preset.

SUSTAIN

NOISE

GATE

LOW

(EXP)

HIGH

(HH)

MED

(MIDI)

FOLDBACK

MULTI

BAND

NORMAL

OCTAVE

101112

09

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

13

21

22

00

CLEAN
BOOST

MULTIWAVE

14

15

NORMAL

16

17

FOLDBACK

18

SINGLE

19

BAND

20

OCTAVE

BOOSTCUT

™

TREBLE

MID

BASS

DISTORTION

OUTPUT

TONE
SHAPE

DRIVE TONE

Quick Start | 5

THEORY OF OPERATION

The Soundblox 2 Multiwave 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.

OCTAVE

101112

FOLDBACK

MULTI

BAND

6 | Theory of Operation

06

05

04

NORMAL

09

08

07

03

02

01

00

CLEAN
BOOST

13

14

15

NORMAL

16

17

FOLDBACK

18

SINGLE

19

BAND

20

OCTAVE

21

22

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
guitar 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 SUSTAIN and DRIVE controls
are not set too high) and can give a sort of auto-wah effect. Try dialing
down the guitar volume for some interesting effects.

A conventional distortion effect tends to turn the guitar 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 guitar or other instrument here using a stan-

dard 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 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