Vox AD10VT User Manual

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IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS

• Read these instructions.

•Keep these instructions.

•Heed all warnings.

•Follow all instructions.

• Do not use this apparatus near water.

•Mains powered apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or
splashing and that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall
be placed on the apparatus.

• Clean only with dry cloth.

• Do not block any ventilation openings . Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’ s instructions.

• Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type
plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.
The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet. (f or U.S.A. and Canada)

• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly
at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit
from the apparatus.

• Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

• Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for
long periods of time.

•Turning off the power switch does not completely isolate this product
from the power line so remove the plug from the socket if not using it
for extended periods of time.

•Install this product near the wall socket and keep the power plug
easily accessible.

•WARNING—This apparatus shall be connected to a mains socket
outlet with a protective earthing connection.

• Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such
as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or
objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been
dropped.

• Do not install this equipment on the far position from wall outlet and/
or convenience receptacle.

• Do not install this equipment in a confined space such as a box for
the conveyance or similar unit.

• Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by
the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used,
use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol
within an equilateral triangle, is intended
to alert the user to the presence of
uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within
the product's enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying
the product.

THE FCC REGULATION WARNING (for U.S.A.)

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Ho we v er,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:

•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

•I

ncrease the separation between the equipment and receiver .

•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.

•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help.

Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can
void the user’ s authority to operate this equipment.

CE mark for European Harmonized Standards

CE mark which is attached to our company's products of
AC mains operated apparatus until December 31, 1996
means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and CE
mark Directive (93/68/EEC).

And, CE mark which is attached after January 1, 1997
means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC), CE
mark Directive (93/68/EEC) and Low Voltage Directive (73/
23/EEC).

Also, CE mark which is attached to our company's products
of Battery operated apparatus means it conforms to EMC
Directive (89/336/EEC) and CE mark Directive (93/68/EEC).

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS

This product has been manufactured according to strict
specifications and voltage requirements that are applicable
in the country in which it is intended that this product should
be used. If you have purchased this product via the internet,
through mail order, and/or via a telephone sale, y ou must
verify that this product is intended to be used in the country
in which you reside.

WARNING: Use of this product in any country other than
that for which it is intended could be dangerous and could
invalidate the manuf acturer's or distributor's warr anty.

Please also retain your receipt as proof of purchase
otherwise your product may be disqualified from the
manufacturer's or distributor's warranty.

Table of Contents

Introduction....................................................................................... 1

Welcome aboard! ............................................................................ 1

Main features................................................................................... 1

Signal path ...................................................................................... 2

Valve Reactor Technology .............................................................. 2

Quick Start ........................................................................................ 3

Setup ............................................................................................... 3

Checking out the preset programs .................................................. 4

Switching between the channels of a program................................ 4

Creating your own sounds............................................................... 4

The Guitarist’s Guided Panel Tour ................................................. 5

A. Top Panel.............................................................................................. 5

B. Rear Panel ............................................................................................ 8

About the three operating modes ................................................. 10

Preset mode (selecting a preset program) .................................... 10

Channel Select mode (selecting a channel program) ................... 10

Manual mode................................................................................. 11

Creating and storing your own program...................................... 12

Creating your own program........................................................... 12

Adjusting the noise reduction ........................................................ 13

Storing your program..................................................................... 14

Checking the settings of a program (original values) .................... 14

Restoring the factory settings........................................................ 15

Using the VFS2 dual foot switch................................................... 16

Amp models and effects ................................................................ 17

Amp models .................................................................................. 17

Effects ........................................................................................... 23

Troubleshooting ............................................................................. 27

Specifications ................................................................................. 29

Programmer’s Cheat Sheet ........................................................... 30

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ii

Introduction

W

ELCOME

hanks for choosing the VOX AD15VT, AD30VT, AD50VT or AD100VT Valvetronix amp.
To ensure a long and trouble-free relationship with your new amp, please read this

T

M

• The AD15VT, AD30VT, AD50VT and AD100VT use Valve Reactor technology, and

• Sophisticated modeling technology is used to provide eleven different amps. They

• Eleven high-quality effects are built in and seven are multi effects that let you use two

•You can store your favorite amp and effect settings as a program, which contain two dif-

• In Manual mode the sound you hear will reflect the physical settings of the knobs.

• If you connect the optional VFS2 dual foot switch (sold separately*), you can use it to

• The power level control (

• The external speaker out jack (AD50VT/AD100VT only) lets you connect a guitar

• The effect send/return jacks (AD100VT only) allow you to connect your external effect

manual carefully, use the amp as directed and keep the manual for future reference.

AIN

FEATURES

feature a power amp circuit containing a 12AX7 (ECC83) dual triode valve (“vacuum
tube”) that would normally be used in a preamp. This allows the amp to produce the
true sound and feel of a bona fide all valve (tube) amp.

range from classic vintage amps of the past to current expensive high-end valve
amps, and are accessible at the turn of a knob.

effects simultaneously plus Noise Reduction.

ferent settings (CH1 and CH2). You can switch between these settings from the top
panel, or by using the optional VFS2 foot switch connected to the rear panel (Channel
Select mode). In addition, there’s one preset program for each amp type (Preset mode).

switch programs or bypass effects.

output wattage of the power amp. This means that even when the master volume is
turned up to the max to drive the Valve Reactor power amp, you can adjust the volume
without losing any tone.

speaker cabinet (8 ohm) of your choice.

processor in a loop connection.

ABOARD

!

The AD15VT doesn’t have this feature.

) lets you adjust the

1

S

IGNAL

Your guitar sound passes through the following sections.
(You can refer to “The Guitarist’s Guided Panel Tour” while you read the explanation that
follows.)

V

ALVE

T

HE

PATH

Power Amp model

Effect

AUTO WAH / COMP

R

EACTOR

P

OWER

alve Reactor technology was first used on the VOX AD60VT & AD120VT Val­vetronix amps.

(

AMP

)

Pre Amp model

Choose one of 11 types

T

ECHNOLOGY

THE

G

AND

LORY

Effect

MODULATION

DELAY / REVERB

!

Master Vol

Class A

Class AB

Determined by the
Pre Amp selection

Speaker

V

Since conventional modeling effects for line recording are not used directly with a
speaker, they do not include a power amp circuit, output transformer, or speaker. In other
words, they only have a preamp circuit.
A real valve amp sound, however, is produced not just by the preamp, but also by the tone
and distortion of the power amp, and by the constant changes in impedance that are cre­ated by the power amp driving the speakers. The AD15VT, AD30VT, AD50VT & AD100VT
contain an actual low-wattage valve power amp circuit, a virtual output transformer (patent
applied for) that uses solid-state components to simulate an output transformer, and a
dummy speaker circuit that simulates the varying impedance of a real speaker. This
means that although it’s low-power, the power amps used in both the AD15VT, AD30VT,
AD50VT & AD100VT have the same circuit structure of an actual all-valve (tube) amp.

While much of the tone creation and shaping carried out is done in the digital
domain, the Valve Reactor power amp is 100% analogue. The resulting journey your gui­tar’s signal takes through the analogue world of the power stage plays a major role in pro­viding the all-important feel and tone of the original amps we modelled.
The Valve Reactor power stage is, to all intents and purposes, a bona fide valve (tube)
push-pull power amplifier, but in miniature. It utilizes a 12AX7 (ECC83) valve (a dual tri­ode device — meaning “two valves in one”) and is equipped with an output transformer,
just like a “real” valve amp.

The power amp output signal is designed to “read” the constantly changing impedance
curve of the dummy speaker circuit system and feed this information back to the virtual
output transformer — just like an all valve amplifier does. This information permits the
behavior of the valve stage to vary with the speaker load (impedance), which is another
important part of “real world” valve tone.

2

O

Apart from the vital valve tone this ingenious power amp design provides, it also
allows us to replicate various “circuit characteristics” that are unique to the all-valve
power stages of the amps we’ve modelled. These “characteristics” include: Class A or
Class AB operation, Presence and Resonance (low end) control circuitry (both found in
the negative feedback circuit that some, but not all, valve power amps have) and power
output. Being able to match such vital characteristics helps ensure that each and every
one of our models is as tonally authentic as possible — as opposed to the usual “close
but no cigar” norm of digital modeling. And just so you know, this patented in USA power
amp technology is unique to VOX Valvetronix.

Quick Start

nce you’ve satisfied your primal urge to play, I’d like to urge you to give this man­ual a chance — it’s been written by a fellow guitar nut and this amp boasts some

killer bells ‘n’ whistles that warrant your interest. In short, it’ll be worth your while,
we promise. This said, here’s the “Quick Start” — enjoy! I look forward to taking you
through the amp in more detail once you’re done...

HINT: If you’re not sure of the location of a control or switch referred to in this Quick Start

section, you can refer to the illustrations in the section entitled “The Guitarist’s Guided
Panel Tour” (page 5).

ETUP

S

1. Turn the MASTER volume control on the amp all the way down.

2. Plug one end of the supplied power cord into the AC power connector on
the rear panel, and plug the other end into a wall outlet.

3. Plug your guitar into the INPUT jack on the top panel.

4. Turn on the POWER switch.

5. Slowly raise the MASTER volume to adjust the volume.

HINT: The rear panel POWER LEVEL control controls the output level of the power amp,

letting you adjust the volume while keeping that great-sounding power-amp distortion!
(The AD15VT doesn’t have this feature.)

NOTE: You won’t hear any sound for a few seconds while the valves warm up. This isn’t a

malfunction, this is how a tube operates normally.

3

C

HECKING

1. Press the top panel PRESET button.

The PRESET LED will light (this means you’re in Preset mode).

2. Turn the AMP selector to select an amp type.

For each amp type you select, a preset containing a typical sound for that type will
be selected; i.e., the GAIN, VOLUME, TREBLE, MIDDLE, BASS, and effect set­tings will be switched automatically. If you want to hear the amp without effects,
press the effect bypass button.

WITCHING

S

1. Press the top panel CH (Channel) button.

The CH1 or CH2 LED will light, and the program assigned to the corresponding
channel will be recalled (Channel Select mode).

2. CH1 and CH2 will alternate each time you press the CH button.

REATING

C

HINT: You can store your favorite settings in each channel of the program. For details,

see “Storing your program” (page 14).

OUT

YOUR

THE

BETWEEN

OWN

PRESET

THE

SOUNDS

PROGRAMS

CHANNELS

OF

A

PROGRAM

1. Press the top panel MANUAL button.

The MANUAL LED will light (you’re in Manual mode).

HINT: You can also create your own sounds in Preset mode or Channel Select mode.

However, the process is a bit easier to understand in Manual mode, since the positions of
all knobs (except the EDIT 1 knob) are exactly what you’re hearing. In other words, what
you see is what you get!

2. Use the AMP selector to select an amp, and adjust the GAIN, VOLUME, TRE­BLE, MIDDLE, and BASS accordingly.

3. If you want to use an effect, use the EFFECTS selector to select an effect
type, and use the EDIT 1 knob to adjust the depth of the effect. For modula­tion-type effects like CHORUS or TREMOLO, or the DELAY/REVERB effect,
just press the TAP button twice to set the modulation speed or the delay/
reverb time to the corresponding interval — it doesn’t get much easier than
that!

If you don’t want to use an effect, press the BYPASS button. You can edit more
effect parameters but you’ll have to read the manual to find out how.

4. When you’ve come up with a sound you like, write it as described in “Stor­ing your program” (page 14).

4

The Guitarist’s Guided Panel Tour

In this chapter we’re going to take a look at the top and rear panels of your Valvetronix
amp.

A. Top Panel

1

4

1. I

NPUT

This is where you plug in your guitar.

2. A

Here’s where you make your settings.

SECTION

MP

SECTION

AMP selector switch

This selects one of the amp type models. As mentioned earlier, each model repli­cates the preamp (with its gain and tonal response), the power amp operation
(class A or AB), negative feedback circuitry (or lack thereof), and the response of
the tone controls and their placement within the circuit. The all-important power
amp stage is also reconfigured according to the original. The amp types include
the legendary VOX AC30TBX, and provide eleven models that faithfully simulate
classic valve amps. For details, turn to “Amp models and effects” (page 17).
Preset mode (when the PRESET LED is lit) lets you select preset programs that
contain typical sound and effect settings for each amp type.

2

3 4

GAIN

This adjusts the preamp gain. Higher settings will give you more distortion

VOLUME

This adjusts the volume.

5

TREBLE, MIDDLE, and BASS

This trio of knobs allow you to dial in the exact amount of high, mid, and low fre­quencies. Also, as you’d expect (and hope!), the exact manner in which each one
of these controls behaves and also interacts with the others is dependant on the
amp model selected. Turn to the “Amp models and effects” section (page 17) for
more information.

NOTE: In keeping with the originals, certain models will produce almost no sound if

all of these three tone controls are turned all the way down (counter-clockwise).

NOTE: Not all of the original amps that we modeled actually have all three of the Tre-

ble, Middle, and Bass controls. In such cases, we allow you to use all three knobs to
effectively increase the tonal range of the original. Turn to the “Amp models and
effects” section (

page 17

) for more information.

MASTER

This adjusts the volume that is output from the preamp to the Valve Reactor power
amp. This will vary the amount of distortion created by Valve Reactor.

NOTE: The MASTER volume control is NOT programmable.

NOTE: The GAIN control also affects the amount of distortion. For some settings,

there may be virtually no distortion.

3. EFFECT SECTION

Here you can make settings for effects and noise reduction. For details on each effect,
refer to “Amp models and effects” (page 17).

EFFECTS

Selects the type of effect. You can use the TAP button, EDIT 1 knob and Bypass
button to adjust the parameters of each effect. When you select an effect type, the
effect parameters will be initialized and Effect Bypass will be defeated.

EDIT 1

Use this to adjust the parameters of each effect. By using this knob in conjunction
with the TAP and BYPASS buttons as described below, you can adjust three differ­ent parameters. (That is, if the BYPASS LED is dark.)

•Turn EDIT 1 (without pressing a button) (EDIT 1)

•Turn EDIT 1 while pressing TAP (EDIT 2)

•Turn EDIT 1 while pressing BYPASS (EDIT 3)

If the BYPASS LED is lit (the effect is bypassed), you can hold down the TAP but­ton and turn the EDIT 1 knob simultaneously to adjust the noise reduction sensi­tivity.

NOTE: You can’t adjust the effect parameters while the BYPASS LED is lit.

6

TAP (EDIT 2) and LED

This button enables you to set the speed of a modulation-type effect (such as
CHORUS or FLANGER) the delay time REVERB length; simply press the button
twice at the desired interval.
The LED blinks at the specified speed or time.

HINT: To set the time to exactly match the tempo of a song, press the TAP button sev­eral times along with the song.

HINT: You can also adjust the speed or time, by holding down the TAP button and
turning the EDIT 1 knob. (This is the EDIT 2 mode)

NOTE: If the BYPASS LED is lit, you won’t be able to use the TAP switch to set the
time. (The TAP LED will be dark.)

BYPASS (EDIT 3) and LED

If you don’t want to use an effect, press this button to turn the effect off (i.e.,
bypassed). If the effect is bypassed, this LED will be lit.

NOTE: You can’t adjust the effect parameters if the BYPASS LED is lit.

HINT: While the effect is bypassed, you can adjust the noise reduction sensitivity by

holding down the TAP button and turning the EDIT 1 knob.

HINT: The bypass setting is remembered even when you switch modes, switch pro­grams, or turn off the power.

HINT: The Bypass button can be used to modify effect parameters (EDIT 3). Press
and hold Bypass and simultaneously turn the EDIT 1 knob. See the chart on page 23
for what parameters can be controlled.

4. PRESET/MANUAL/CHANNEL SECTION

PRESET and LED

This button puts your Valvetronix amp into Preset mode and you can use the AMP
selector to select a “typical” setting for each amp type. If the PRESET LED is lit,
you’re in Preset mode!

MANUAL and LED

This button puts your Valvetronix amp into Manual mode which means the physi­cal position of each knob (except for the EDIT 1 knob) determines exactly what
you will hear. This means that the amp will operate just like a conventional guitar
amp. If the MANUAL LED is lit, you’re in Manual mode.

CH (Channel), CH1/CH2 LEDs

This button switches between the two channels and The LED of the selected
channel will light. In Preset or Manual mode, the CH1 and CH2 LEDs will be dark.
If from either of these modes you then press this CH button, you’ll switch to Chan­nel Select mode, and the channel (1 or 2) that you selected most recently will
become active.

7