Thermionic Culture VULTURE Users Manual

THERMIONIC

CULTURE

TC VHE ULTURE ULTURE

valve distortion unit

OPERATING MANUAL

WARNING

Do not take this unit seriously. The Culture Vulture is a ‘fun’
effects unit and has been designed for maximum pleasure!

However, for your personal safety, please read this operating
manual and this warning thoroughly before using the equipment.

This unit must be installed in such a manner that operator access
to the mains plug is maintained. Where the product is to be rack
mounted, this may be achieved by having access to the
disconnection device for the whole rack.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, it is essential that the unit is
disconnected from the mains supply before removing the cover.

Please also note that the power supply capacitors within this unit
can remain charged even after the mains supply has been
disconnected. It is essential that these capacitors are discharged
after the mains supply has been disconnected and the covers
have been removed.

In the event that this unit has been dropped or has suffered an
impact, an electrical safety test must be carried out before
reconnection to the mains supply.

This equipment is not intended for use in explosion hazard
environments. It must be used and stored in studio conditions,
such that the ambient relative humidity does not exceed 80%, nor
is the temperature to be allowed to drop to a level, which would
cause dew point to be reached.

Please ensure that adequate ventilation is provided and that the
ventilation slots are not obstructed. When rack mounting this
equipment, a fan may be required to provide sufficient airflow.

©Thermionic Culture Ltd, October 2005 1

CONTENTS

Section Page
1 Introduction 3

2 Controls & Meters 4

3 General Operational Hints 5
4 Inputs and Outputs 7
5 Servicing and Maintenance 8

5.1 Valves 8

5.2 Operating voltage / Fuse 8
6 Specification 9

© Thermionic Culture Ltd, October 2005 2

1 Introduction

The Culture Vulture is the first and only all valve unit, dedicated
to producing the best harmonic distortion money can buy.

It can ‘warm’ a sound gently, or create a noise like a 200 watt
guitar stack overdriven with all speakers slashed.

The Culture Vulture is a two channel unit for adding harmonic
distortion to a variety of input sources. By biasing and
configuring the distortion valve (6AS6), three types of distortion
with infinite variations can be achieved.

Although the unit can be ‘clean’ (less than 0.2% THD), added
valve distortion may be quite desirable, improving naturality and
smoothing off unwanted digital spikes. But The Culture Vulture
can be used for effects! Push it and try it!

The user has total control over the type and amount of
distortion, which can be changed from even to odd harmonics or
a combination of both. Starved, the sound from The Vulture
becomes thin and loses its body, overfed, it becomes fatter and
more rounded.

The Culture Vulture features two channels which can be used
independently on individual tracks, or put across a whole stereo
mix.

© Thermionic Culture Ltd, October 2005 3