Source audio Soundblox PRO Classic Distortion User Manual
CLASSIC DISTORTION
USERS GUIDE
SA142
WELCOME
OVERVIEW
Thank you for purchasing the Soundblox Pro Classic
Distortion. The Pro Classic Distortion features a collection
of classic distortion, fuzz, and overdrive tones in a exible,
easy to use format. It offers a wide variety of boutique quality
sounds normally available only in expensive single effect
analog pedals. The Pro version offers extended features over
the Soundblox Classic Distortion such as 6 user presets
selectable via 3 footswitches, a 7-band graphic equalizer,
and much more. Like the other Soundblox effects pedals,
®
the Pro Classic Distortion is also “Hot Hand
Ready”.
The Quick Start guide will help you with the basics. For
more in-depth information about the Pro Classic Distortion
(Classic Pro), move on to the following sections.
Enjoy!
The Source Audio team
DIVERSE SOUND PALETTE
Featuring
BOOST/EQ
STATE-OF-THE-ART DSP
Featuring our
24-bit converters.
6 USER PRESETS
Easy to congure user presets in two banks selectable via
for quick access of your favorite sounds.
7-BAND EQUALIZER
Ultra-precise
EXTENDED CONTROL
An expression input
banks. A
MOTION CONTROL
All Soundblox and Soundblox Pro pedals are “Hot Hand Ready” and can
be used with any Hot Hand motion sensor to extend the capabilities of
the unit.
ACTIVE ANALOG BYPASS
Bypass is fully routed around the
signal degradation.
11 varieties of classic distortion sounds with an added CLEAN
mode.
56-bit Digital Signal Processor, the SA601, and crystal clear
3 footswitches
7-band equalizer for in-depth tone control saved per preset.
(EXP IN) allows morphing of sounds between preset
MIDI input allows external access to presets and parameters.
DSP and active input ensures zero
QUICK START
SENSOR
IN
SENSOR
OUT
GUITAR IN GUITAR OUT
9V DC
EXP IN
MIDI IN
SENSOR
IN
SENSOR
OUT
GUITAR IN GUITAR OUT
9V DC
EXP IN
MIDI IN
125 250 500 1K 2K
(NG) (HG) (HS) (HA) (HR)
4K 8K
+12
-12
0
< >
+12
-12
0
DRIVE 1 MIDRANGE
CLEAN BOOST / EQ
DRIVE 2 OUTPUT
HH ENABLE
CALIBRATEPRESET BANK
4-61-3
BACKPAGE
MODE
BENDER
SMOOTH TUBE
POWER STAGE
CRUNCH TUBE
TS9000
BIG PI
EL RATON
FUZZ FAÇADE
METAL
OCTAVE FUZZTUBE DRIVE
0
CLASSIC DISTORTION
14
25
36
1. POWER
To power the unit, connect the included
the
9V DC jack (A) on the back panel. Note:Using a different supply
could damage the unit and void the warranty.
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
input and output are mono signals.
GUITAR OUT jack, again with a standard ¼" cable. Both
DC adapter power supply to
3. BRIEF KNOB, FOOTSWITCH, AND BUTTON DESCRIPTIONS
See Controls section for more details.
A DRIVE1:adjusts the pre-drive for the selected effect.
B DRIVE2:adjusts the post-drive for the selected effect.
C PRESETBANKBUTTON: select preset bank A (presets 1, 2, and 3) or
B (presets
4, 5, and 6).
D EFFECTKNOB:selects the type of distortion.
E MIDRANGE:boosts or cuts the midrange frequencies between the
two drive controls.
F OUTPUT:adjusts the output level of the effect.
G HHENABLEandCALIBRATE:for Hot Hand use only.
H EQSECTION:the two buttons select the frequency band to edit and
the knob adjusts the value of the selected band.
I FOOTSWITCHES:Enables/Disables a selected preset depending
on the currently selected preset bank. Press and hold to save an
edited preset.
A
A E
B
C
D
F
G
H
CB
I
Quick Start | 54 | Quick Start
THEORY OF OPERATION
The Classic Pro features distortion effects that are re-creations of popular pedal and amplier based distortions. We have chosen names for the
distortions that will be suggestive of the sounds you will get with all of
the controls in the central part of their range. We are not trying to imply
exact simulations of the various analog effects. Rather, this is a different
take on classic sounds based more upon evaluating the sounds by ear
and overall circuit function instead of attempting to do a mathematical
model or emulation (which, incidentally, we think is really not possible
for distortions).
The following list describes the major new features available in the
Classic Pro:
Architecture
Most analog fuzzes and distortions have multiple points where the signal
passes through a distortion circuit, an op-amp, a transistor, or a diode.
We provide two such cascaded distortion functions, each with a
control in front of it. The
tions. The graphic
MIDRANGE control sits between the two distor-
EQ is at very end of the chain.
DRIVE controls
The DRIVE knobs control the gain of the two distortion curves. You can
obtain the same amount of overall gain through the system with various
combinations of the two controls: one high and the other low, both in the
middle, etc. However, the resulting sound will be different. Distortion
from
DRIVE 1 has more EQ applied to it than the distortion from DRIVE 2.
Essentially, you just have to experiment and listen to the results.
DRIVE
MIDRANGE control
This control provides
12 dB of cut or boost to a midrange frequency band
which is approximately two octaves wide. The exact frequency is different
depending on which distortion has been selected.
Graphic EQ
The
7-band graphic equalizer can be adjusted in 1 dB steps. Moving
bands up or down
So don’t think that you have to make big adjustments with the
graphic
EQ is at the end of the processing, after the distortion.
1 dB can make a signicant change to the sound.
EQ. The
CLEAN BOOST / EQ
In this setting, the distortion curves are straight lines (meaning there is
no distortion). The graphic
control is also still active in this mode. The
set around
9 o’clock to ensure that the signal doesn’t clip. Although the
EQ can be adjusted to taste. The MIDRANGE
DRIVE controls will need to be
distortion curves are at, there still comes a point where the signal will
clip if the
If both
DRIVE is turned up too far.
DRIVES are turned up, there will be a raspy sound as the signal
peaks are hard clipped. In general, this doesn’t sound very good. However, if the
DRIVE controls are cranked, the resultant distortion is not bad
at all despite consisting only of digital hard clipping. Don’t believe that?
Give it a try. This distortion sound can be improved by rolling off the
RANGE
control and using the graphic EQ to further shape the sound.
MID-
If the
MIDRANGE control is increased, a hotter signal will be applied to
the second distortion curve and you might need to reduce
accordingly. Maxing out both
DRIVE controls will probably be excessive.
Most of the distortion avors sound better with more moderate
DRIVE 2
DRIVE
settings. DRIVE 1 and your guitar volume both directly control the signal
applied to the rst distortion curve. Using a higher setting of
DRIVE 1, you
can set your guitar volume quite low for a cleaner tone and increase your
guitar volume when you need more distortion.
Theory of Operation | 76 | Theory of Operation
Loading...