Source audio Vertigo Tremolo User Manual
Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing the Vertigo Tremolo. This powerful stereo effects pedal features a
collection of meticulously crafted tremolo sounds ranging from classic amp tones to modulated
filters that chart new sonic territory. With a simple control set, the Vertigo can work in a wide variety
of musical settings, and the powerful MIDI and Neuro control options under the hood provide access
to a vast array of additional tonal possibilities.
The Vertigo is housed in a durable, lightweight aluminum housing, packing rack mount power and
flexibility into a compact, easy-to-use stompbox.
The USB and Neuro ports transform the Vertigo from a simple tremolo pedal into a powerful multieffects unit. Using the free Neuro App (iOS and Android), a wide range of additional control
parameters and effect types are accessible. When used together with the Neuro Hub, the Vertigo is
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 1
fully MIDI-controllable and 128 multi-pedal presets, or “scenes,” can be saved for instant recall on
the stage or in the studio. The Vertigo can also connect directly to a passive expression pedal or the
Hot Hand for expressive control of any parameter.
The Quick Start guide will help you with the basics. For more in-depth information about the Vertigo
Tremolo, move on to the following sections, starting with Connections.
Enjoy!
- The Source Audio Team
Overview
Diverse Tremolo Sounds – Choose from traditional tremolo tones such as Optical, Harmonic, and
Bias, or delve deeper into unique sounds cooked up in the Source Audio lab.
Flexible Stereo Routing – The Vertigo is equally at home in a mono rig or a stereo rig. A variety of
routing modes such as True Stereo, Mono, Mono-to-Stereo, Sum-to-Mono and External Loop allow
the Vertigo to harness the true power of stereo signal chains.
Compact Design – The durable, anodized aluminum housing has a slim profile, a small footprint, and
sturdy hardware that will withstand the rigors of the road.
Universal BypassTM – True bypass or buffered bypass? The choice is yours. The Vertigo features high-
quality signal relays for true bypass and transparent buffers for analog bypass.
Preset Saving – Save your favorite sound by pressing and holding the footswitch. No need to
remember knob positions in the middle of a show.
Neuro Technology – The Neuro App opens up new possibilities for the Vertigo, including completely
new effect types, additional control parameters, and access to the Neuro Community, including free
presets from artists and other users. The Neuro Hub can store up to 128 presets for the Vertigo,
easily recalled with a MIDI controller.
Deep Control Set – Beyond the four knobs on the face of the Vertigo are many additional parameters.
The Neuro App provides access to the inner workings of the tremolo effect for advanced users who
want to create a unique signature sound.
Parametric EQ and Low Cut – A 4-band parametric EQ is included in the Vertigo, allowing for fine
tonal control, and a low cut filter tightens up the low end.
MIDI Control – All of the Vertigo’s parameters can be accessed and controlled using MIDI via the
Neuro Hub or USB. Class compliant USB-MIDI allows the Vertigo to work as a plug-and-play device
with recording software running on Mac and Windows, and the MIDI Learn feature makes control
mapping simple. The Vertigo can also sync to your DAW or other MIDI devices using MIDI clock.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 2
Quick Start
Power
To power the unit, connect the included 9V DC power supply to the jack labeled DC 9V on the back
panel.
Warning: Using a non-Source Audio supply, especially an unregulated supply, could damage the unit.
Please be very cautious when using 3rd-party power supplies.
Guitar/Audio Connections
Using standard ¼” mono cables, connect your guitar, bass, or other instrument to the INPUT 1 jack
and your amp (or the next audio device in the signal chain) to the OUTPUT 1 jack.
When the power and audio connections have been made, the Vertigo is ready to play.
Brief Knob, Footswitch, and Button Descriptions
Depth Knob: Controls the depth of the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO), which determines the
strength or prominence of the tremolo effect.
Speed Knob: Controls the frequency of the LFO, which determines the speed of the tremolo effect.
Shape Knob: Sets the shape of the LFO – choose between Sine, Square, Sawtooth, and more.
Level Knob: Controls the overall output level of the tremolo effect.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 3
Effect Switch: Selects between the three basic tremolo effect types – Normal (Optical), Harmonic, or
Bias.
Footswitch: Enables or bypasses the tremolo effect. The large LED will be lit green when the tremolo
effect is engaged.
Contents
Welcome .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Quick Start ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Connections ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Basic Tremolo Operation ......................................................................................................................... 9
Effect Types ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Controls .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Preset Storage and Recall ...................................................................................................................... 15
Universal Bypass TM ................................................................................................................................ 15
Stereo Routing ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Parametric EQ ........................................................................................................................................ 16
External Control ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Neuro App .............................................................................................................................................. 21
Specifications ......................................................................................................................................... 31
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................... 32
Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................................................................. 33
Rubber Feet ........................................................................................................................................... 35
Waste Disposal Notes ............................................................................................................................ 35
Warranty ................................................................................................................................................ 37
Version History ...................................................................................................................................... 38
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 4
Connections
Input Side Connections
Input 1
This is the primary input for guitar, bass, or other instruments. It can also accept line-level inputs.
Connect it to your instrument or other audio source using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Input 2
Input 2 can act either as an audio input or as the data connection for the Neuro App, or both at the
same time.
Input 2 as an Audio Input
The tip contact on Input 2 acts as a secondary input for guitar, bass, or other instruments. It is only
active when the Vertigo is configured with a signal routing that uses stereo inputs. Connect it to your
instrument (or the previous effect in the signal chain) using a mono (TS) ¼” cable. By default, the
Vertigo will auto-detect the routing mode. Other routing options are available using the Neuro App.
For more information about stereo routing, refer to the Stereo Routing section.
Input 2 as a Neuro App Data Input
The ring contact on Input 2 acts as a data connection for the Neuro App. Connect it to your mobile
device using a stereo (TRS) ¼” cable. It can also accept daisy-chained Neuro App data from another
Neuro-compatible pedal in the chain, provided that a TRS cable is used. The audio signal (if
applicable) will be on the tip contact of the plug, and the Neuro App data will be on the ring contact.
Input 2 only accepts data from the Neuro App. Data from the Neuro Hub comes from the Control
Input port.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 5
Output Side Connections
Output 1
This is the primary output. Connect it to your amplifier, recording interface, or the next device in
your effects signal chain using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Output 2
Output 2 can act either as an audio output or as the daisy-chain data connection for the Neuro App,
or both.
Output 2 as an Audio Output
The tip contact on Output 2 acts as the secondary audio output. It carries an audio signal when the
Vertigo is configured with a signal routing that uses stereo outputs. Connect it to your amplifier,
recording interface, or the next device in your effects signal chain using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Output 2 as a Neuro App Data Daisy-Chain Output
The ring contact on Output 2 acts as a data connection for the Neuro App, passing data from the
Vertigo to the next Source Audio effect in your signal chain. You can daisy-chain the Neuro App data
regardless of whether Output 2 is configured to output audio or not. Connect Output 2 to the next
device’s Neuro App Data input (usually Input 2) using a stereo (TRS) ¼” cable. The audio signal (if
applicable) will be on the tip contact of the plug, and the Neuro App data will be on the ring contact.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 6
Guitar In
Neuro In
Out to Amp
Neuro
Daisy-Chain
Guitar In
Neuro In
Out to Amp (Left)
Audio (Right)
and
Neuro Daisy-Chain
Out to Amp (Right)
Audio (Left)
Example Neuro Daisy-Chain Connections
Mono Audio Path with Neuro Daisy-Chain
In the case of a purely mono audio signal path, the Neuro data can be input to the first effect directly
from the mobile device and then carried on to the second effect via TRS cable.
Mono-To-Stereo Audio Path with Neuro Daisy-Chain
In the case of a signal path that splits a mono input to stereo outputs, the Neuro data can be input to
the first effect directly from the mobile device and then carried on to the second effect via TRS cable.
The audio signal is carried on the same cable.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 7
Power and Control Connections
DC 9V (Power)
Connect to the included 9 Volt DC power supply. The power supply must be regulated at 9 Volts
(direct current), able to source at least 180 mA (milliamps) of current, and the plug should have a tipnegative, sleeve-positive polarity (the center tip is ground and the sleeve is power).
USB
Connect to your computer (Mac or Windows) to the Vertigo’s USB port (denoted by the icon)
using a standard mini USB cable. The Vertigo is a class compliant USB device, meaning that it should
be recognized by Mac and Windows computers automatically. For more information about the
Vertigo’s USB capabilities, refer to the USB section of the User’s Guide.
Control Input
The 3.5 mm Control Input port connects to external control devices such as the Dual Expression
Pedal, Reflex Universal Expression Pedal, Neuro Hub, and Hot Hand Motion Controller. For more
information, refer to the Expression Pedal Input, Hot Hand Input, and Neuro Hub sections of the
User’s Guide.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 8
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
Basic Tremolo Operation
Tremolo, in its most basic form, is a periodic change in volume. A simple example is when the volume
of the output increases steadily for a fixed amount of time, then decreases steadily for a fixed
amount of time, and repeats that process over and over again. This is illustrated by the following
graph:
The blue line in the graph is known as the LFO. It changes the level of the output signal over time.
The frequency (a.k.a. “rate” or “speed”) of the LFO can be increased to get a more rapid change in
the output level, as shown in this graph:
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 9
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
The depth of the LFO can also be changed to make the tremolo effect more or less prominent, as
shown in this graph:
Finally, the shape of the LFO can be changed to give the tremolo effect a different character.
Sine wave:
Falling Sawtooth wave:
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 10
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
Square wave:
Effect Types
The Vertigo includes three basic effect types, with more effects available in the Neuro mobile app.
Normal (Optical)
Optical tremolo emulates some of the earliest incarnations of tremolo from the 60s, which relied
upon a neon light bulb and a photoresistor to create the effect. An LFO controlled the brightness of
the neon light, and the light that was picked up by the photo-sensitive resistor changes the output
gain. The nonlinear aspects of the light and the photoresistor give the optical tremolo its distinct
character. The Vertigo’s optical tremolo was inspired by a 1967 Fender Vibrolux®, which Bob Chidlaw
uses in his office to test sounds while he is creating our effects library.
Harmonic
Harmonic tremolo recreates a unique circuit included in some “brownface” amps made between
1959 and 1963, which alternately modulated the levels of the bass and treble bands in the audio
signal. The result is a very pleasing and complex tremolo that is has some characteristics reminiscent
of a phaser.
Bias
Bias tremolo is an approach to tremolo that involves modulating the bias voltage of the tubes in an
amplifier. This essentially pushes the tubes in and out of saturation, which creates a warm pulsing
sound. As a result of the mild distortion created by the tube saturation, bias tremolo sounds
pleasingly dirty.
Additional Effect Types
Additional effect types can be loaded into the Vertigo using the Neuro App on your mobile device
(iOS and Android).
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 11
Depth Knob
Effect Switch
Shape Knob
Speed Knob
Level Knob
Engage/Bypass
LED
Engage/Bypass
Footswitch
Control LED
Control Input Button
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
OUTPUT GAIN
TIME
Low Depth High Depth
Controls
Knobs
Depth Knob
Controls the depth of the LFO, which determines how prominent the tremolo effect is. When the
depth is set fully counter-clockwise, the tremolo effect will be most subtle. With some effect types,
such as optical and bias, this nearly bypasses the tremolo effect. When the depth is set fully
clockwise, the tremolo effect will be most prominent.
SA243 Vertigo Tremolo User’s Guide 12
Loading...