Acoustic boxTM live1.0 rel A Owner’s Manual

Introduction

1.2 SUMMARY OF FEATURES

• Impressivesoundquality

• Independentparametricequalizerperchannel

• IndependentvolumecontrolforPAoutandAmpout

• 48Vphantompower

• Mastermute

• Compactsizeandlight

• ManufacturedinItaly

• Neutrikaudioconnectors

• IntegratedtoroidalpowersupplyUS-EUselectable

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1.1 MESSAGE TO THE USERS

ThankyoufromallofusatVintageRevolutionforpurchasingtheAcousticBoxpreamp.Wehopeitwillprovetobethebestinvestmentofyourmusicalcareer.

OurobjectiveindesigningtheAcousticBoxwassimple:toeliminatecompro-mise.Webelievethatthisdevicewillexceedevenyourwildestexpectationsforlivestageorstudiorecording

Enjoyyourpurchase.

From the team at VR

Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Thisproducthasbeendesignedandmanufacturedtomeetstrictsafetyandqual-itystandards.Itisveryimportantthatyouareawareofthefollowinginstallationandoperationprecautions:1. Read and keep these instructions and heed all warnings

Youshouldreadallthesafetyandoperatinginstructionscarefullybeforeoperat-ingthisapparatus.Retainthismanualforfuturereferenceandadheretoallwarn-ingsinthemanualorontheapparatus.

2. Water and moistureThepresenceofelectricitynearwatercanbedangerous.Donotusetheappara-tusnearwater–forexamplenexttoabathtub,asink,inawetbasementornearaswimmingpool,etc.

3. Object or liquid entryTakecarethatobjectsdonotfallandliquidsarenotspilledintotheenclosurethroughanyopenings.Liquidfilledobjectssuchasvasesshouldnotbeplacedontheapparatus.

4. CleaningUnplugtheunitfromthemainssupplybeforecleaning.Thecaseshouldnormallyonlyrequireawipewithasoft,damp,lint-freecloth.DONOTusepaintthinnersorotherchemicalsolventsforcleaning,whichwilldestroyprintsandpaintwork.DONOTusealcoholorhouseholdcleaningproducts.DONOTUSEWATER.

5. Power sourcesOnlyconnecttheapparatustoapowersupplyofthetypedescribedintheoperatinginstructionsorasmarkedontheapparatus,andinstalltheunitnearthepoweroutlet(socket).Appliancecouplerisconsideredasdisconnectdevice.Itshallremainreadilyoperable..

6. Power-cord protectionPowersupplycordsshouldberoutedsothattheyarenotlikelytobewalkedon,

bent,stretchedorpinchedbyitemsplaceduponoragainstthem,payingparticu-larattentiontocords,plugs,conveniencereceptaclesandthepointwheretheyexitfromtheapparatus.

7. GroundingEnsurethatthesafetypurposeofthepolarisedorgrounding-typeplugsoftheap-paratusisnotdefeated.Iftheprovidedplugdoesnotfitintoyouroutlet,contactaqualifiedelectriciantoreplacetheobsoleteoutlet.

8. Abnormal smellIfanabnormalsmellorsmokeisdetectedfromtheapparatus,turnthepoweroffimmediatelyandunplugtheunitfromthewalloutlet.Contactyourdealerim-mediately.

9. Servicing and maintenanceNoneofthepartsinsidetheenclosureofthisapparatusisserviceablebytheuser.DONOTopentheenclosureandDONOTattempttomodifytheinternalcircuitry.Allservicingandmaintenancebeyondwhatdescribedinthismanualshouldbereferredtoqualifiedservicepersonnel.

10. Damage requiring serviceTheapparatusshouldbeservicedbyqualifiedservicepersonnelwhen:• Objectshavefallenonto,orliquidhasbeenspilledintotheapparatus,or• Theapparatushasbeenexposedtorain,or• Theapparatusdoesnotappeartooperatenormallyorshowsamarkedchangeinperformance,or

• Theapparatushasbeendroppedand/ortheenclosuredamaged.

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The lightning flash 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.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover or back. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

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.

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, unplug the apparatus when there is high probability of lightning.

The apparatus MUST BE EARTHED. Use a three wire type power cord like the one provided with the apparatus.

Working with Presets

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CE & RoHS Compliance - Warranty

3.2 RoHS COMPLIANCEThisdevicehasbeenmanufacturedincompliancewithDirective2002/95/EContheRestrictionoftheUseofcertainHazardousSubstancesinElectricalandElectronicEquipment(RoHS).

This marking indicates that this product must not be dis-posed with other household waste throughout the EU. To dispose of your product, please use your local return and collection system, or contact the retailer where the product was purchased or Vintage Revolution B.V.

3.1 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Acoustic box live

ConformstothefollowingProductSpecifications:

Safety: EN60065/IEC60065EMC: EN55103-1,EN55103-2

TheproductcomplieswiththerequirementsoftheLowVoltageDirective73/23/EECandtheEMCDirective89/336/EECasamendedbyDirective93/68/EEC.

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Before Getting Started

3.3 DISPOSAL

4.1 BOX CONTENT

ThefollowingitemsshouldbeincludedinyourAcousticBoxlivepackage:• TheAcousticBoxlivepreamp• Powercord

4.2 SHIPPING, STORING AND TRANSPORTING

GreatcarewastakeninthemanufacturingandpackagingofyourAcousticboxpreamp.Everythingshouldbeincludedandinperfectworkingorder.

Damagedunitsshouldneverbesentdirectlytous.PleaseinformthedealerfromwhomyouacquiredyourPedalProofthedamage,aswellasthetrans-portationcompanythatdeliveredittoyou.Youmustfollowthestepsaboveinordertoretainthevalidityofyourwarranty.

Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22

Working with Presets

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Power information

Power chord: ConnectonlypowerchordsupplywiththeAboxtothisinput.Theotherendofthechordmustbeconnectedtoanearthedmainsocke

Voltage selector: SelecttheACvoltagecorrespondingtoyourlocalACpower

Fuse Holder: T0,1AH250V.Alwaysreplacethefusewiththecorrectvalue

Abox in detail

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6 Channel 1 (CH1)TheCH1isahighinputimpedancechanneldesignedforpassivetransducer(eg.piezoormagneticpickup)anditcanhandleupto0dBuwithoutdistor-tion.UseamonojackfromtheleftsideinproximityoftheCH1toconnecttoyourpickup.

Ifyouareproperlyconnected,yoursoundwillbemonitoredviatheCH1lamp.

6.1 Parametric equalizer (CH1)TheCH1isequippedwithaparametricequalizerdesignedtocontrolthemidsofyourpassivepickup.Itoperatesbetween360Hzto4KHzbycorrectingwithin+/-12dB.

Ifyouuseapiezotransducer,byattenuatingatleast6dBthefrequencyaround2.5KHz,youwillreducethemetallic-nasalresponcerenderingthesoundmuchmorenatural.

6.2 Level control (CH1)TheLEVELknobcontrolstheoutputsignaloftheCH1.IfyouaretuningtheCH1’sequalizerorifyoudonnotintendtouseCH2keeptheLEVELofCH2tominimum.

7 Channel 2 (CH2)TheCH2hasalowbalancedinputimpendacedesignedforconnectingtoeitheractiveorpassivemicrophoneviaanXLRbalancedcable.

Ifyouarecorrectlyconnectedtoyourmic,theCH2’slightwillmonitoryour

micsignalstrength.

7.1 Parametric equalizer (CH2)Thechannel1isalsoequippedwithparametricequalizerdesignedtocontrolthelow/lowmidsofyourmic.Itoperatesbetween100Hzto1.8KHzbycorrect-ingwithin+/-12dB.

Abox in details

7 Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22

7.3 Notch filter

Theprogrammablenotchfilteronchannel2canbeactivatedordeactivatedusingtheswitchplacedontopofthenotchfrequencytuner.Ifyouneedtousethenotchfilterturnonthisswitchandtunethefreauencywiththecorre-spondingknob(50Hz-250Hz)

7.4 Phase switch CH2Thephaseswitchallowsfor180°phaseshiftbetweenCH2andCH1whentheswitchisengaged.

7.5 Low pass shelving filter

Whenthefilterisengaged,itattenuateschannel2of6dBintherange1KHz-20KHz.Thislowpassfilterisveryhandyforthosewhoperformwithadrummerandneedhighvolumeonstage.Therefore,theadvantageofthisfilteristoreduce,whenengaged,thecontributionoftheunwantedsignalscomingfromtheotherinstruments/noisepresentsonthestage.Byreducingthemiccontributioninthisfrequencyrange,thefilterallowshighervolumewithlessfeedback

7.6 Level control (CH2)TheLEVELknobcontrolstheoutputsignaloftheCH2.IfyouaretuningtheCH2’sequalizerorifyoudonotintendtouseCH1keeptheLEVELofCH1to

minimum.

8 Mixed channel CH1+CH2

ThemixedchannelisthesignalobtainedbyaddingtheprocessedchannelsCH1andCH2.EachindividualchannelcontributionissetbytheLEVELcontrolknob(seesection6.2and7.6)

8.1 Tone control

ToequalizethemixedchannelstheAboxusesafulltonecontrolsectionLOW-MID-HIGHdesignedtobeeffectiveonacousticinstruments.

TheMIDtonecontrolcanbeseenasamasterMIDwhileeachparametricEQsarefinetuningandcanbeaccuratelyplacedontheproperfrequencyspot.

8.2 Phase ALL switch Whentheswitchisengaged,thephaseALLswitchallowsfor180°phaseshiftbetweenCH1+CH2andtheacousticsignal.Thisswitchishandyforcontrol-lingthefeedbackandforgettingagoodbassresponseoftheblendedsignaladdingonyouracousticsound.

8.3 Master muteTheMuteswitchallowssmoothlytomutesimultaneouslytheAMP-OUTandthePA-OUT.Thisswitchisparticularlyhandywhenthereisaneedtooperatesilent-ly(connect/disconnectyourpiezo/mics,checktheincomingsound,etc...)

Abox in detail

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8.4 Ground LiftThisswitchtacklesthegroundloopissueencounteredwhenAMPandPAaresimultaneouslyconnectedtotheAbox.

IfyouexerienceaHum,setthisswitchtoLIFTposition.

8.5 LEVEL AMPTheLEVELAMPknoballowsyoutocontroltheoutputsignallevelthatisdi-rectedintoyourAMPviatheunbalancedJACK.

8.6 LEVEL PATheLEVELPAknoballowsyoutocontroltheoutputsignallevelconnectedtoyourPA/MIXERviaXLRbalancedcable.

9 Acoustic Box in practice

Thissectionwillguideyoutodoyoursoundcheckinafewminutesandobtainthebestsoundresultwiththepreamp

Beforesupplyingpowertothepreamp,makesurethatthemainsvoltageisproperlyselcted(seepage5)

9.1 Preparation

TurnontheAboxusingthepowerswitchandmutetheoutputusingthemuteswitch(positionup)ontheAbox.

Connectallyourinputs(micand/orpiezo)andoutputconnections(PAand/orAMP.

Verifyingusingthelightmonitorsthatthepickup/micareproducingasignalinthechannel/s

PlacetheAMPandPALEVELknobsat12o’clockandsilencetheLEVELknobsofbothinputchannels

9.2 Using condenser/membrane mic and piezo

Thissectioncontainssomefinetuningtipsforthosewhousecondensermic(DPA4099,ATM350,AKGC414,Neumannu87,etc..)ordynamicmic(SHURESM57,SM58,etc..)incombinationwithpiezopickup.

IncreasetheLEVELofCH1tillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.

SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorrespondingfrequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusingapiezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usetheMIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.InmostofthecasesplacingtheMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.

Beforeaddingthemicsignal,deactivatethenotchfilter,thelowpassfilterandthephaseswitchCH2bysettingthecorrespondingswitchesindownposition.

GentlyincreasetheLevelofchannel2tillthelevelofthesecondchannelisaddingthebottomend.UsethephaseswichCH2toadjustthephaseshiftbetweenthetwochanelsifrequired.

Ifyouexperiencelowfrequencyresonance/feedbackturnonthenotchandtuneituntillthelowfrequencyresononace/feedbackisremoved.

UsetheLowPassFiltertoremove6dBsomeofthemidshighfromthemicchannel.Thatmaybeusefullifyouareperformingwithadrummer.

AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHformthetonecontroloftheblendedsignaltoimprovethesoundquality.

9.3 Using AKG C411 and piezo

IncreasetheLevelofChannel1tillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.

SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorrespondingfrequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusingapiezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usetheMIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.InmostcasesplacingtheMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.BeforeaddingtheAKGC411signalfromCH2,deactivatetheNotchandactivatethelowpass.

Abox in details

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PlacetheFREQ’snob(CH2)to100HzandthecorrespondingMIDknobto15o’clock.IncreasetheLEVELuntillyouhaveenoughlowendfromtheCH@@

CH2.AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHformthetonecontroloftheblendedsignaltoimprovethesoundquality.

9.4 Using only piezo

IncreasetheLevelofChannel1untillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.

SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorrespondingfrequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusingapiezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usetheMIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.InmostcasesplacingtheMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.

KeeptheLevelofchannel2tominimumsinceyouwillnotusethischannel.AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHfromthetonecontroloftheblendedsignaltoimprovethesoundquality.

9.5 How to avoid feedback issues when you play with mic and piezo.

AudiofeedbackisaspecialkindofpositivefeedbackwhichoccurswhenasoundloopexistsbetweenyourmicandtheAMPorPAspeaker.

Thetwomajorparametersthatdeterminestheamountoffeedbackarethedistancefromyourcabinetandvolumeofyourmic.

Therearetwomainfrequenciesmostsensitivetofeedback.ThefirstareaistheLOW-LOWMID(100Hz-250Hz)andthesecondareaistheMIDarea(400Hz-1.5KHz).FortheLOW-LOWMIDareathenotchfilterisaperfectsolution.FortheMIDareayoucanusetheLOWPASSSHELVINGFILTERswitchandtheMIDknob.

Bychangingthephaseoftheblendedchannel(PhaseALLswitch)youvirtu-allymoveyourinstrumentintoanotherphysicallocationandthereforeyouchangethefeedbacksettings.

ByboostingthelowendwiththeparametriqEQaround100HZandreducing

theLEVELofCH2,youcanhaveagreatbottomendwithlowfeedback.Thisofcourseworkswellifyouareusingthemicincombinationwiththepiezo.Withoutthepiezoyouwouldmisscompletelythesounddefinition.

Abox in detail

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10 Technical specification

Connections

Input:

•CH1:JACKpassivechannel;1/4”Dia.StandardMonoJack

•CH2:XLRbalancedphantompower+48V;

Output:

•AMPOUT(MixofCH1&CH2):JACKunbalancedconnection;maximum9VRMS@470Ohms;1/4”Dia.StandardMonoJack

•PA-OUT(MixofCH1&CH2):XLRbalancedconnection;maximum9VRMS@100Ohms

Electrical characteristics:

CH1-Channel1(passivechannel)

•Impedance5Meg.Signallevelupto0dBu;

•AdjustableChannel1level

•ParametricequalizerofChannel1:Frequencyrange360Hz-4KHz

•MIDlevelcorrection:+/-12dB.

CH2-Channel2(activechannel,+48VPhantomPower)

•Impedance2K.SignalleveluptoCH2is-20dBu;

•ParametricequalizerofChannel2:Frequencyrange100Hz-1.8KHz;

•MIDlevelcorrection:+/-12dB;

•Notchfilter:attenuation17dB.Tuningrange50-250Hz;

•Lowpassshelvingfilterintherange1KHz-20KHzwithattenuationof6dB.

Tonecontrols(mixofCH1&CH2)

•Low:+/–12dBShelf@40Hz

•Low:+/–12dBBell@700Hz

•High:+/–12dBShelf@3KHz

Power IN

•110Vor230Vselectable.

•Consumptionlessthe5W

Phantom power on XLR CH2

•+48V

Size

•11x22x5WxLxHcm[4.3x8.6x1.9inches]

Weight

•920gr.[2.02pound]