Wampler TERRAFORM User manual

FULL USER GUIDE

1

WELCOME

Without doubt the WAMPLER TERRAFORM is the first of a new
breed of pedals from WAMPLER. We’ve completely thrown
ourselves into the realms of digital to bring you the best multi
modulation pedal that is very easy to use, has all the essential
features, and still carries that legendary Wampler tone.

We’ve taken 11 all original and custom designed modulation effects
and put them inside one small footprint stompbox… we’ve made it
fully programmable, true stereo, split mono (so you can separate
effects from pre gain to post gain), given it midi control (including
the ability to midi map and control Tap Tempo), presets, an
expression input that you can assign to ANY of the parameters…
And most importantly, we’ve made those 11 effects that sound
better than you could have ever imagined and every bit Wampler.

We don’t doubt for a minute that you hate reading manuals as
much as we do, so we’ve tried to make this simple for you, we
don’t really like talking in techy gibberish or blinding you with a
bunch of nerdy stuff you literally have no interest in, so you won’t
find any (much) here!

If you’d rather watch a bunch of videos on how to use the
TERRAFORM, go hit up the Wampler site and checkout some of the
videos – www.wamplerpedals.com

CONTENTS

Page
OVERVIEW 2

§ Control familiarization.

LIST OF EFFECTS 3

§ The complete run down of each of the effects.

ROUTING 6

§ How to play your Terraform in Stereo, Mono and Pre/Post

(Amp FX loop and in-line).

EXPRESSION PEDAL 9

§ Plugging in, setting up and storing within a patch.

PRESETS 10

§ How to store, how to recall, how to control with a controller,

by hand or by stomp.

MIDI 11

§ Don’t be scared, it’s quite easy. Channel, patch changes and

tap tempo control via your midi controller.

L.E.D. GUIDE / TROUBLE SHOOTING 12

§ Why are the LEDs showing different colours? How to

completely reset my TERRAFORM?

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS 14

§ Some examples of how to get some TOANZ from your

TERRAFORM, these are not gospel, just an indication as
your hands, your ears, your brain your guitar, your amp
and everything else are likely to differ from ours…

WARRANTY / POWER REQUIREMENTS 19

§ All the legal stuff, DO’s and DO NOT’s and how to power your

TERRAFORM.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page

2

POWER

This pedal was designed around the use
of a 9v power source. To avoid damage
to this pedal, do NOT exceed 18vDC (it
can take it, but 9v is where it works
best), do not use center pin positive
adapters and do NOT use AC power.
Using an incorrect power adapter can
lead to damage and will void the
warranty on the pedal. This pedal
draws approximately 107mA at 9v and
approximately 108mA at 18v.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page

3

THE EFFECTS (*CW – clockwise, CWW – counter clockwise)

DIMENSION

Rate: Controls the rate of the chorus: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Controls the depth of the chorus: CCW is shallow, CW is deep.
Variable: Adjusts the amount of low-end present in the effect.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: When just a single wave chorus isn’t enough for you, we
add some more. This doesn’t make it more chorusy (did I just make a word up
there?), it adds a lot of depth. If the chorus makes your tone wet, the Dimension
has the option to completely soak it. Balance the BLEND control to find the point
where it washes over the signal to the amount that makes you happy, or even the
amount it makes you sea sick.

CHORUS

Rate: Controls the rate of the chorus: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Controls the depth of the chorus: CCW is shallow, CW is deep.
Variable: Adjusts the amounts of low-end present in the effect.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: We all love it and I think at some point have used far too
much of this effect. The TERRAFORM is voiced to give you the most control over
your chorus as possible. If you love the old Japanese style, roll that bass end off
(VARIABLE), if you love the vintage American style, roll it back in (VARIABLE).
Balance the BLEND to ensure it doesn’t wash over too much, or totally wash over
everything. Turn the BLEND up fully clockwise to achieve a cool vibrato effect
(secret effect block right there, free of charge, you’re welcome!)

HARMONIC TREMOLO

Rate: Speed of tremolo effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Depth of tremolo effect: CCW is shallow, CW is deep.
Variable: Adjusts the width of the tremolo effect: CW is much WIDER

than CCW.

Blend: Controls the cut off frequency between the low and high filters.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db

INTERESTING STUFF: This is the secret weapon of so many tremolo sounds, it’s
wet, kinda like a Rotary but without all the rotation stuff. Perfect for bringing out
the funk, quite the exclusive tone. Use the VARIABLE control to see how far you
want to push the width and balance it with the BLEND, finding the sweet spot
between those two is the key to achieving the perfect Harmonic Tremolo effect.
The DEPTH control is your friend here, minimum is almost none, near maximum is
full sine wave and when you have that depth control all the way round CW, you
have a total choppy Squarewave.

TREMOLO

Rate: Speed of tremolo effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Depth of tremolo effect: CCW is shallow, CW is deep.
Variable: Adjusts the width of the tremolo waveform: CW is much WIDER

than CCW.
Blend: Adjusts the width of the stereo effect: CCW is mono, middle is 90°
wide, CW is 180° wide

Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db

INTERESTING STUFF: “It ain’t the blues if it ain’t got no Tremolo on it” (source

unknown, I didn’t just make it up, I promise). Well, you know, it’s kinda true
though ain’t it. To add that slight wobble right up to a total chop fest… The
DEPTH control is very important, minimum is almost none, near maximum is full
sine wave and when you have that depth control all the way round CW, you have
that perfect choppy Square-wave Tremolo.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page

4

AUTO SWELL

Rate: Attack time of the swell: CCW is fast, CW is slow.
Depth: Depth of modulation: CCW no modulation, CW high modulation.
Variable: Volume (pick attack) sensitivity: CCW is quick, CW is slow.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db

INTERESTING STUFF: This one is all about finding the balance with your attack
time (RATE) and pick attack (BLEND) response. When you hit it right, you will be
able to control the speed it comes in and make your playing dynamic, find the
sweet spot on the pick attack (VARIABLE) to the point where you can bring in
beautiful chord pads by playing softer, and have the notes arrive quicker when
playing single notes.

ROTARY

Rate: Controls the maximum speed of the horn (higher frequencies): CCW
is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Controls the maximum speed of the woofer (lower frequencies):
CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Variable: Horn and woofer acceleration, or ‘ramp speed’: CCW slow, CW
fast.
Blend: Balance between woofer and horn: CCW 100% woofer, CW 100%
horn.

Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db
TAP TEMPO: Activates ‘ramp’ (the time between fast and slow speeds, as

controlled by the VARIABLE knob).

INTERESTING STUFF: The power of the ROTARY is in the ramp. Switching between
the ‘resting state’ (which is lots of rotations a second) on slow and ‘BOOM’ (which
is lots more rotations a second) on fast, is what makes it sound so awesome.
Finding that ramp speed is key, once you have found it, you can make your chord
changes pop as the rotary speeds up or slows down as you do move across the

song. With a little natural speaker compression and grit thrown in as well, you
have that full ROTARY cabinet at your feet, but without the backache.

U VIBE

Rate: Controls the speed of the effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Filter depth: CCW is small range, CW is high
Variable: Waveshape: CCW maximises the higher part of the throb, CW

maximum emphasises the lower

Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: Finally, a Wampler Vibe effect. We’ve made this as wet as
possible, with the control over the thump that we all know and love. When you
have the VARIABLE control set up towards the CW position, that classic Vibe
thump is there. Perfect for running into a dirty signal. When it’s more CWW, the
higher part of the wave is bought forward, making it a much cleaner and more
subtle effect. Find your place. Turn up the Vibe and party like it’s 1967, baby.

PHASER

Rate: Controls the speed of the effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Controls the depth of the filter. CCW is shallow, CW is much

deeper

Variable: Controls the stereo width of the swoop.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: The one to tweak here is the BLEND control. A lot of your
favorite PHASER tones are NOT a straight 50/50 between dry and wet, or even a
100/0 balance, finding the right point on your BLEND control allows the PHASER
to sit within your tone, now… it can sit right on top, in the background or just
peeking out from behind the tone curtain to give you some movement.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page

5

FLANGER

Rate: Controls the speed of the effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Controls the depth of the effect (maximum is “through zero

flanging”).
Variable: ‘Feedback’ level: CCW is no feedback, middle is some feedback,
CW is high negative feedback.

Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: All the fun stuff here is in the VARIABLE, BLEND and DEPTH
control. You’re gonna have to keep an eye on the blend control, as the natural
place, you would think, is to put it straight up at noon. This MAY make it
overbearing, so drop it down so it’s not dominating the sound. Don’t be surprised
if you have it MUCH lower than you think, it’s perfectly natural. The VARIABLE
controls the type of whoosh you get, and the DEPTH cam change the response in
a heartbeat.

ENVELOPE FILTER

Rate: Controls the speed of the attack and release.
Depth: Adjusts the envelope sensitivity. CCW is much less sensitive than

CW

Variable: The “Q” of the filter: CCW is not resonant, CW is resonant.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: Best to start with the RATE and VARIABLE at high noon and
the blend maxed, this will give you a real good feel for the effect before you start
tweaking. This is the point where you start moving the DEPTH control to darkness
of the effect. Remember, the difference from the AUTOWAH is that the effect
reacts to your pick attack!

AUTO WAH

Rate: Adjusts the speed of the effect: CCW is slow, CW is fast.
Depth: Adjusts the range of the filter: CCW is low sensitivity, CW is

maximum.

Variable: The “Q” of the filter: CCW is thin, CW is fatter.
Blend: Mixes the dry with the wet: CCW is fully dry, CW is fully wet.
Volume: Overall volume of effect: CCW -6db, middle is 0db, CW +6db.

INTERESTING STUFF: Best to start with the RATE and VARIABLE straight up and
the blend maxed, this will give you a feel for the effect before you start tweaking.
This is the point where you start moving the DEPTH which controls how high the
filter goes and the Q will control the resonance.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page

6

ROUTING

The TERRAFORM gives you two options, full true stereo or mono
(NORMAL mode), and within that NORMAL mode you can separate
the TERRAFORM to place certain effects in different places within
your signal chain by going PRE/POST.

STEREO

Place the NORMAL/PRE POST switch to NORMAL

If you are lucky enough to be running a full stereo rig, or even a
wet/dry/wet rig, the TERRAFORM will make your tone ENORMOUS.
We’ve examined every effect individually to make sure they exist
and perform in the best possible way in stereo. You will experience
the kind of washy tones that will surround you, engulf you and
make you feel like you are swimming in a glorious spring water pool
of delicious modulated wetness. And yes, I did just say that,
because… well, it’s true. Open your sound, open your amps up, and
get those swimming shorts on. It’s time to go for a dip.

MONO

Place the NORMAL/PRE POST switch to NORMAL

If you don’t have two amps, you can still enjoy the depth of the
TERRAFORM. Simply plug your input signal into the PRE/L jack, and
use either output jack to your amp.

PRE/POST

Place the NORMAL/PRE POST switch to PRE/POST

To make the most of assigning individual effects into specific places
in your mono signal chain, it’s time to explore the PRE/POST
options. For example, a lot of players like their U VIBE before their

gain stages (whether that be an amps preamp stage, or their
favorite dirt pedal) and the CHORUS after (again, either in the
effects loop of the amp or after their dirt pedals. You can program
the TERRAFORM (in PRE/POST mode) to place each effect either
PRE or POST.

The TERRAFORM ships with some effects pre and some post, here
is how they are when you first fire it up.

PRE – U Vibe, Phaser, Flanger, Envelope Filter, Auto Wah

POST - Dimension, Chorus, Tremolo, Harmonic Tremolo, Auto
Swell, Rotary

STEREO / MONO

TERRAFORM will understand if you are running in mono - Make
sure routing switch is set to NORMAL.

WAMPLER TERRAFORM Page