Eclectro-Harmonix SYNTH9 User manual

SYNTH9
Synthesizer Machine
Congratulations on purchasing the Electro-Harmonix SYNTH9 Synthesizer
Machine. The SYNTH9 does for analog synthesizers what the B9 did for organs
and the KEY9 did for electric pianos: now anyone with an electric guitar can play
analog synth emulations of classic Moog®, Oberheim®and ARP®synthesizers,
amongst others, without the need for extra devices such as cumbersome 13-pin
MIDI pickups!
WARNING: Your SYNTH9 comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI power
supply (same as used by Boss®& Ibanez®: 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The SYNTH9 requires
100mA at 9VDC with a center negative plug. Using the wrong adapter or a plug with the
wrong polarity may damage your SYNTH9 and void the warranty.
GETTING STARTED
Connect the supplied power adapter to the 9V power jack. Plug your instrument
into the INPUT jack. Connect your amp to the SYNTH OUTPUT jack. Set the DRY
knob to minimum (fully counterclockwise) and set the other top row knobs to 12
o’clock. Select a preset (“OBX” is a good starting point) and step on the
footswitch to turn on the LED. Play your instrument and adjust controls to your
liking. For further inspiration check out the SYNTH9’s SUGGESTED FACTORY
SETTINGS insert. Make copies of the included SYNTH9 USER SETTINGS page to
keep track of your favorite sounds and settings.
CONTROLS AND I/O JACKS
DRY VOL KNOB
The DRY VOL knob controls the volume of the untreated instrument signal
present at the SYNTH OUTPUT jack.
SYNTH VOL KNOB
For all presets except MINI MOOD, the SYNTH VOL knob controls the overall
volume of the selected preset at the SYNTH OUTPUT jack. In MINI MOOD,
SYNTH VOL controls the volume of the non-portamento synthesizer; CTRL 1
controls the volume of the portamento synthesizer.
CTRL 1 & CTRL 2 KNOBS
See the preset descriptions on the following pages for details.
PRESET KNOB
Turn the white numbered knob to select a preset sound.

INPUT JACK
Plug your instrument or the output of another effects pedal into this ¼” jack.
See Tips 1 & 2 on the following page for more on connecting your SYNTH9.
DRY OUTPUT JACK
The DRY OUTPUT jack outputs the signal present at the INPUT jack through a
buffer circuit. In either EFFECT or BYPASS mode, the dry signal is always present
at the DRY OUTPUT jack.
SYNTH OUTPUT JACK
The SYNTH OUTPUT jack outputs the mix set by the DRY and SYNTH volume
controls. In BYPASS mode, SYNTH OUTPUT outputs the buffered bypass signal.
BYPASS FOOTSWITCH
Press the BYPASS footswitch to toggle the SYNTH OUTPUT jack between
buffered BYPASS and EFFECT mode. The status LED lights when you are in
EFFECT mode.
PRESET DESCRIPTIONS
1. OBX –An emulation of the meaty sounding Oberheim®OB-X. CTRL 1 is a
tone control. Use CTRL 2 to select between 4 octaves.
2. PROFIT V –The Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 provides inspiration for our
versatile PROFIT V preset. CTRL 1 adjusts the sweep time of a downward
filter envelope. CTRL 2 selects between 8 intervals of either octaves or 5ths.
3. VIBE SYNTH –A polyphonic synthesizer with decaying harmonic content
and vibrato. CTRL 1 sets the power and sweep range of harmonics. CTRL 2
adjusts both vibrato rate and depth simultaneously. As you turn CTRL 2
clockwise the vibrato rate and amount increases.
4. MINI MOOD –A big sounding Moog®inspired synthesizer that blends a
portamento synth with a non-portamento synth. (Portamento is when notes
glide from one to another.) Turn the SYNTH VOL knob to set the volume of
the non-portamento synthesizer. Use CTRL 1 to adjust the output volume of
the portamento notes. CTRL 2 sets portamento time. This preset works best
when you play monophonically, one note at a time, where every note is
picked. To play faster licks, try turning down CTRL 1.
5. EHX MINI –An emulation of the classic Electro-Harmonix Mini Synth. CTRL
1 sets filter envelope sweep time and direction. When CTRL 1 is set to a
point within its counter-clockwise range, it sets the attack time for the filter
sweep; when set clockwise beyond “noon” it controls the decay time of the
filter sweep. CTRL 2 selects between 4 octaves.

6. SOLO SYNTH –A fuzz-synth preset where a synth oscillator and a fuzz
square wave guitar are combined to create one single extreme synth tone!
CTRL 1 is a tone control. CTRL 2 selects between 4 octaves.
7. MOOD BASS –The Mini Moog®and Taurus pedals served as inspiration for
this preset. MOOD BASS works best when played monophonically. CTRL 1
adjusts the sweep time of a downward filter sweep. CTRL 2 chooses
between 3 octaves.
8. STRING SYNTH –Our emulation of an ARP®string synth. CTRL 1 is a tone
control. CTRL 2 sets filter sweep attack time.
9. POLY VI –Inspired by the Korg®Polysix. CTRL 1 is a tone control. CTRL 2
sets modulation depth.
NOTES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Buffered bypass
Input impedance: 1M
Output impedance (for both output jacks): 500
Current draw: 100mA
TIPS ON GETTING OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THE SYNTH9
1. The SYNTH9 is generally best used as the first pedal in an effects chain.
Place modulation, delay, and reverb effects after the SYNTH9. The unit will
not perform well if placed in the effects loop of a guitar amp.
2. For optimal playability, set the guitar’s pickup selector to the bridge pickup
and turn the volume knob all the way up (“10”).
3. Avoid placing a distortion or overdrive in front of the SYNTH9, which could
muddy up the input signal and cause the tracking to be unstable. If you
want to add overdrive or distortion, place it after the SYNTH9.
4. The SYNTH9 has a built in compressor that is active on the synth sounds at
all times. We recommend you do not insert another compressor into your
signal chain while the SYNTH9 is in effect mode.
5. The usable tracking range on the SYNTH9 extends up to about the 23rd fret
on the high-E of a standard guitar and down to the open A-string on a bass
guitar. The SYNTH9 sounds equally good on bass as it does guitar.
Korg and Arp are registered trademarks of Korg Inc.
Moog is a registered trademark of Moog Music.
Oberheim is a registered trademark of Music Corp. IP Ltd.
Sequential is a registered trademark of Dave Smith Instruments.

- WARRANTY INFORMATION -
Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete and return
the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro-Harmonix will repair or
replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to operate due to defects in materials or
workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. This applies only to original
purchasers who have bought their product from an authorized Electro-Harmonix retailer.
Repaired or replaced units will then be warranted for the unexpired portion of the original
warranty term.
If you should need to return your unit for service within the warranty period, please
contact the appropriate office listed below. Customers outside the regions listed below,
please contact EHX Customer Service for information on warranty repairs at in[email protected]
or [phone]. USA and Canadian customers: please obtain a Return
Authorization Number (RA#) from EHX Customer Service before returning your product.
Include  with your returned unit  a written description of the problem as well as your
name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, RA#, and a copy of your receipt clearly
showing the purchase date.
United States & Canada
EHX CUSTOMER SERVICE
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
c/o NEW SENSOR CORP.
55-01 2ND STREET
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Europe
JOHN WILLIAMS
ELECTRO-HARMONIX UK
13 CWMDONKIN TERRACE
SWANSEA SA2 0RQ
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
To hear demos on all EHX pedals visit us on the web at www.ehx.com
Email us at inf[email protected]
FCC COMPLIANCE
Note: 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. However, 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.
 Increase 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.
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment under FCC rules.