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9 volt DC, Center Neg.
300mA min*
output jack input jack
gnd lift
xlr jack
bypass LED drive LED
bypass switch
*The use of an isolated power supply is recommended for powering all Walrus Audio
Pedals. Daisy chain power supplies are not recommended.
drive switch
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a limited lifetime warranty.
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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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The Badwater is a bass tone magnification
device sonically highlighting what makes
bass so crucial to music. The all-in-
one bass pre-amp and DI features
optical compression, overdrive,
and a four-band EQ section.
Enhance your bass rig’s
capabilities by dialing
in everything from
warm cleans to gritty
chords and punchy
drives to bright and
crisp slap sounds.
Volume: The Vol knob sets the
overall output volume of the
pedal. The Badwater has quite
a bit of volume on tap so the
Volume knob will be helpful
to find the sweet spot for
interacting with the rest of your
rig.
Sustain: The internal optical
compressor is first in the signal
path, and always turned on. The
Sustain control lets you add in
compression for long sustaining
notes and chords while
smoothing out your transients.
With Sustain at minimum, the
compressor will have minimal
effect, but as you increase, you
will start to hear longer notes
and squashed transients.
Low: Allows you to boost or cut
low frequencies by +/- 12dB to
beef up your signal or tame the
low end.
Low Mid & LMF: Allows you
to boost or cut by +/-10 dB
and sweep from 500 Hz to
2.4 kHz.
High Mid & HMF: Allows you to
boost or cut by +/- 10 dB and
sweep from 3.5 kHz to 7.5 kHz.
High: Allows you to boost or cut
high frequencies by +/- 12dB
to bring sparkle and clarity or
smoothen it out.
Drive: Sets the amount of gain
applied to your signal through
the drive section: from minimal
breakup to driven distortion.
Voice: Lets you select between
3 options for how much low
and high frequency content is
allowed into the drive section.
The top voice allows more HF
into the drive, the middle allows
a middle range of frequencies
into the drive, and the bottom
allows the most LF into the drive.
Blend: The Blend knob allows
you to blend between your
fully clean and fully distorted
signal. With this control at
minimum, the output is your
original fully clean input with no
distortion. As you turn the knob
to the right, more distortion
is added. At maximum, the
output is the fully distorted
signal with no clean blended
in. Blending the clean and
distorted signals can allow you
to increase note clarity as the
clean and dirty channels run
parallel to each other inside of
the Badwater.
Level: Adjust the level of the
drive section, so when you turn
on the drive, you can either
boost, cut, or continue playing
at unity gain.
Bypass Switch: Turns the entire
effect on or off.
Bypass LED: Illuminated when
the effect is engaged.
Drive Switch: Turns the drive
section of the effect on or off.
Drive LED: Illuminated when the
drive section is engaged.
Input Jack: 1/4 inch cable from
instrument.
Output Jack: 1/4 inch cable to
amplifier.
XLR Jack: Badwater features
both 1/4 inch and XLR out
options, so you’re always ready
with a usable bass rig. Use
the XLR to connect directly
to the front-of-house or use
the 1/4 inch out to run to an
amp. Both outputs can be run
simultaneously for direct and
live amp stage monitoring.
The Badwater does not accept
power from phantom power.
Phantom power will be blocked
out and will not damage the
Badwater, but it is best to avoid
turning on phantom power
when the unit is connected.
GND Lift: Isolates the GND pin
on XLR to help reduce hum if
present. Leave out for normal
operation.
9v Jack: 9-volt DC,
Center Negative, 300mA min.
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