thumper th100 owners manual.v1.0

The Thumper TH100 Throat MicrophoneThe Pounder P2 In-Ear Microphone

Owners Manual[DSP Program v1.0 - August 2012]

Table of ContentsWelcome to Awesome! 3Hooking It Up! 4The Signal Flow! 5The Mute Button! 7DIP Switch Settings! 8Troubleshooting! 10Cool Customizations! 11Installing Software Updates/Upgrades! 12Technical Info (Specs & Stuff)! 14Wrapping Up / Special Thanks! 15

Thumper TH100 & Pounder P2 :: Owners Manual ::

Welcome to AwesomeWhether you call it vocal percussion, beatbox, mouth drumming, beatstrument (beatbox+instrument at same time), or just spitting on the audience, your sound is important to you and I’m glad you’ve decided to trust your sound with the Thumper...we won’t let you down.

You have just decided to strap a digital signal processing powerhouse to your neck & hip and it is awesome. While this microphone is jam-packed with awesome, it will not: improve your rhythms, improve your groove, improve your fundamental sounds, or improve your attractiveness to the opposite sex (debatable). For that, I am sorry...nothing I can do about that.

I tried to write up as much info as I could think of to put in here, because I feel it’s most important to understand what your gear is doing, that way you can use it to the fullest. Hopefully, it won’t bore you too much!

I know that I make microphones for a small subset of the music community, but beatboxing & vocal percussion is an amazing art and one that needs its own category of equipment.

Strap It On!

--> freddie


Hooking It UpWired SetupIf you are going to use a wired setup, you’ll need to convert the output of the BeatPack into a “microphone level” signal. To do this, you’ll need to use a little box called a “DI Box” or “Direct Input Box.” Sometimes your microphone pre-amp will have a “DI Input” or “Instrument Input.” That will work too.

If you connect the output of the BeatPack to a “Line Input” on your mixer, you may not get very good results. I don’t recommend it.

Wireless SetupAny guitar or bass/guitar wireless transmitter will work with your BeatPack. There is no conversion or adapter necessary. You just need a short cable to connect the 1/4” unbalanced output of the BeatPack to the wireless transmitter.


The Signal FlowInput - This is where the microphone signal comes into the belt-pack. The belt-pack will not power on and the LED will not light until this cable is plugged in.

ADC - The analog signal of the microphone is converted to a digital stream.

Low-Pass Filter (bypassable)- We filter out all of the high-frequencies from the signal. The “cutoff” or “corner” frequency of this filter is controlled using DIP switches #3 & #4 (see section on DIP Switch Settings). This type of filter has a tendency to drop the volume a little bit, so we add back a few dB of gain when the filter is engaged. The result: less higher frequency content in your signal (hihats, most snares, and frictional noise from the collar rubbing against your throat).

Dynamic Bass Enhancement (bypassable) - The Dynamic Bass Boost provides input level-dependent bass boost. Lower level signals are boosted more than higher-amplitude signals. Using a variable-Q filter, this algorithm dynamically adjusts the amount of boost. The result: fatter, rounder sound.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) (bypassable) - The volume is pumped up and kept fairly-constant using a compressor. The result: a louder output that is “punchier.”

High-Pass Filter - To keep the sound from getting muddy, we filter out the frequencies below 25Hz. The result: a tighter sound.


DAC - The digital stream is converted back to an analog signal.

Output - We output to a 1/4” unbalanced connector, similar to that of a bass guitar.


The Mute ButtonThere is a small red button next to the input jack on the BeatPack. This is your MUTE button. Then you mute your signal, your volume will slide quickly, and smoothly, down to zero. When you un-mute, your volume will slide back up to “full.” No pops or clicks, neat right?

This button is also useful if you’re switching to singing another part, like a solo. It can also be used in performance by temporarily removing your low-end THUMP and then bring it back in for a dramatic texture change.

There are two types of mute available in your TH100: Momentary and Latching. Momentary mute will only keep the signal muted while you are holding down the MUTE button. When in latching mute mode, when you press the MUTE button, your signal will mute. When you press the button again, it will un-mute.

The muting type is controlled via DIP switch #8. If this switch is set to OFF, then muting is momentary. If this switch is set to ON, then muting is latching.

If you are in latching mute mode, the BeatPack will boot-up and automatically be muted. Simply press the MUTE button once and you are ready to perform.


DIP Switch SettingsYou can control some parameters of the DSP using the tiny DIP switches that are visible through a cut-out in the BeatPack enclosure. You can use a pen or small screwdriver to slide the switches up and down. This is not something you would do during a performance, but more during sound-check or at home.

To turn a setting ON, slide the switch up, away from the numbers.

Where Are The Switches?


DIP Switch Settings

Switch Description Factory Default

1 Bias Voltage ON/OFF (DO NOT TOUCH) ON

2 Low-Pass Filter ON/OFF ON

3 Low-Pass Filter Cut-off Frequency ON

4 Low-Pass Filter Cut-off Frequency ON

5 Bass Enhancement ON/OFF ON

6 Pounder Processing ON/OFF OFF

7 Automatic Gain Control (AGC) ON/OFF OFF

8 Latching Mute Switch ON/OFF ON

Low-Pass Filter Cut-off Frequencies

DIP Switch #3 DIP Switch #4 Frequency Cutoff

OFF OFF 300 Hz

OFF ON 241 Hz

ON OFF 183 Hz

ON ON 125 Hz


Troubleshooting

Problem Possible Solutions

Where is the power switch? There is none! The unit will remain powered off until you plug in the input cable from the throat mic. Don’t leave this plugged-in when you are not using the mic or you will drain your battery.

When I move around the input jack, it makes a thumpy/poppy noise.

Your input jack is broken. Contact VOCOMOTION and then send it back for repair.

I’m not hearing any output. This could be from several different issues:1) Make sure there is a fresh

battery in the BeatPack.2) Make sure your throat mic or

in-ear mic is connected to the input jack.

3) The LED should light up.4) DIP switch #1 should be set

to ON.5) Are you holding down the

MUTE button? Don’t do that.6) With battery removed, make

sure the EEPROM chip is still inserted in socket (see Installing Software Updates section)


Cool CustomizationsThe DSP processor inside your BeatPack has been programmed with the standard Thumper & Pounder program. You can purchase customized DSP programs from VOCOMOTION for an additional charge.

Some Possible Customizations

• Volume Control - The MUTE button can be changed to control the output volume. Each press of the button lowers the volume by 25%, until it reaches 0% (muted). On the next press it goes back to 100% and continues to cycle on each press.

• Cut-Off Frequency - The low-pass filters use a cut-off frequency that can be selected using the DIP Switches. There are only 4 frequencies selectable in the standard program. You can have custom frequencies set in the DIP Switches for you.

• EQ - If you’d like customized EQ settings, they can be programmed in for you.

• Repurpose The Mute button - Maybe you don’t need a mute button. Maybe you’d rather engage an effect with that button, like subharmonic synthesizer or even a chorus effect. It can be done.


Installing Software Updates/UpgradesThis is not as simple as plugging the BeatPack into your computer and downloading a program, but it’s really not that hard to do.

Your software update or upgrade will arrive stored on a small memory chip, called an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). You will need to remove the old EEPROM from the BeatPack and insert the new EEPROM in its place.

There is a tiny dimple on the top of the chip, this dimple needs to be pointing away from the battery. Be careful not to bend the pins when inserting the chip. Bents pins are bad.

Upgrade Steps1. Remove the silicone boot from around the BeatPack.2. Locate and remove the four small screws hold the

enclosure closed (two are under the battery door).3. Locate and remove the existing EEPROM chip, just next

to the DIP switches (see photo on next page).4. Insert the new EEPROM chip, making sure the small

dimple in the chip is facing the end of the circuit board with the audio connectors on it.

5. Close up BeatPack and replace screws.

I believe in you. You can do this.


Technical Info (Specs & Stuff)

Audio Engine 28/56-bit, 50 MIPS digital audio processor

Sample Rate 48 khz

Bit-Depth 24 bits

Signal-To-Noise Ratio (SNR)

100 dB

Output Impedance 560 ohms

Output Connector 1/4” TS Unbalanced

Controls Pushbutton Mute

Configuration 8 position DIP Switch

Power Supply 9V Battery

BeatPack Dimensions 4.63 x 2.84 x 1.00 in.

VOCOMOTION is constantly striving to maintain the highest professional standards. As a result of these efforts, modifications may be made from time to time to existing products without prior notice. Specifications and appearance may differ from those listed or shown.

Designed by VOCOMOTION in Illinois. Assembled in Utah. Both in the USA.


Wrapping Up / Special Thanks

How to Contact VOCOMOTION

VOCOMOTION8800 Bronx Ave, Suite 103Skokie, IL [email protected]://vocomotion.com

Special ThanksJill+Jack+Leah Feldman, Miriam+Barry Feldman, David+Judy+Matt+Tracey+Tyler+Max+Charlie+Olivia Eidelman, Dr. Ramkumar Ramaswamy, Chris Gibbs+Florida Probe, Dane Tate+xqp audio, Metin Gunsay, Jonathan Minkoff+Judy Fontana, Diana+Marty+Maya Gasper, Robin Rodriguez, Kevin Child...and ALL the Kickstarter backers!

The Thumpiest Kickstarter Contributors: Mike Jankowski and David Longo

Time to go do awesome things with your new toy! Go!

Please do it!


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://vocomotion.com

http://vocomotion.com

VOCOMOTION warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of 90 days for parts and labor from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty is enforceable only by the original retail purchaser.

During the warranty period VOCOMOTION shall, at its sole and absolute option, either repair or replace free of charge any product that proves to be defective on inspection by VOCOMOTION or its authorized service representative. In all cases disputes concerning this warranty shall be resolved as prescribed by law.

To obtain warranty service, the purchaser must first call or write VOCOMOTION at the address and telephone number printed below to obtain a Return Authorization Number and instructions concerning where to return the unit for service. All inquiries must be accompanied by a description of the problem. All authorized returns must be sent to VOCOMOTION or an authorized VOCOMOTION repair facility postage prepaid, insured and properly packaged. Proof of purchase must be presented in the form of a bill of sale, canceled check or some other positive proof that the product is within the warranty period. VOCOMOTION reserves the right to update any unit returned for repair. VOCOMOTION reserves the right to change or improve design of the product at any time without prior notice.

This warranty does not cover claims for damage due to abuse, neglect, alteration or attempted repair by unauthorized personnel, and is limited to failures arising during normal use that are due to defects in material or workmanship in the product. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE LENGTH OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.

IN NO EVENT WILL VOCOMOTION BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING, AMONTH OTHER THINGS, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, DAMAGE BASED ON INCONVENIENCE OR ON LOSS OF USE OF THE PRODUCT, AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

This warranty only applies to products sold in the United States of America or Canada. The terms of this warranty and any obligations of VOCOMOTION under this warranty shall apply only within the country of sale. Without limiting the foregoing, repairs under this warranty shall be made only by a duly authorized VOCOMOTION service representative in the country of sale. For warranty information in all other countries please refer to your local distributor.


thumper th100 owners manual.v1.0

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