Effectrode TUBE-VIBE User manual

Specifications
• Input impedance: greaterthan1MOhm
• Outputimpedance: less than1KOhm
• Controls: Intensity, Speed and Volume
• Features: stagger-tuned capacitors
• Expression pedal: RolandEV-5orEV-7.
• LED: pulsateswithmodulation speed
forvisualsong tempo matching.
• L.F.O.: DC (frozen)-10Hz
• Powerrequirements: 12VDC@1Amp
• Dimensions: width7.5"depth4.8"height1.3"
• Weight: 2lb(on Earth);0.8lbs(on Mars)
• Construction:soliddie-cast aluminum box
• Finish: Retropurplepowdercoat
Serial#
Copyright ©2014 Effectrode
â
AudiophilePedals
Owner’sManual
12 BroughtonCrescent,Barlaston,
Staffs,UK.ST12 9DB
www.effectrode.com
TV-5A

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Introduction
The Tube-Vibe is ano-compromisere-design ofthe
Shin-EiShifteeUni-Vibe usedtocreatemanyclassic
recordingsbyartistssuchasDaveGilmour,Robin
TrowerandJimiHendrix.This innovativeeffects
pedalcontainsthe samefourphotocells,lightbulb
and stagger-tunedcapacitors asthe originalUni-
Vibe,howeverinsteadofbudget transistors itutilises
premiumvacuumtubesinthe pre-amplifier,mixer
and phase-shift circuitry.High-quality,audiograde
componentscoupledwiththis puretube signalpath
givethe Tube-Vibe avelvetrichness and
dimensionaltonewhichwasunattainablewiththe
Uni-Vibe -yourguitartone will remainpristine and
intactwithnoloss oflowsorhighs.The
lamp/photocell drivercircuitiscapableofextremely
smoothsweepsanddeep,swampytonesfora
powerfulanddistinctsignaturevibesound.The
resulting audioqualityis outstanding-significantly
betterthantheoriginalUni-Vibeoranyofthe
modernre-issues!
Thankyoufortrusting Effectrode tobeyoureffects
company.Wewishyou manyyears ofmusical
enjoymentfromthis very special,hand-crafted,all-
tube pedal.
Phil Taylor– Designer
Tubes
The 12AU7tubeinthe Tube-Vibe can be swapped
withmany9-pindoubletriode tubes,including
12AT7,12AX7,12AY7,etc.Thesesubstitutions
typically yieldhighergainandmildoverdrivefora
Lesliestylegrowlaswell astonaldifferences
depending onthetube type,manufacturer,etc.Mil-
SpecNOSarerecommended,iftheycanbe
obtained.
Pots
This pedalis fitted withcustommanufactured Omeg
sealed forlifepotentiometers.Thesearesealed
unitssodustcannotenterthemand will notdry out
sodo notrequireperiodic cleaning orlubricating.
Also,ouruniquepotbushing systemprotectsthepot
from mechanicaldamage (i.e. being stepped on!)

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Expression pedal inputallowsthespeedofthe
sweep tobecontrolledwithanexpression pedal,
suchasthe Roland EV-5orEV-7.Ifusing a
modified passivevolumepedal,theinternal
potentiometermust havearesistanceofintherange
of10Kto250Kand shouldbeconnected asshown
inthe figurebelow.
Tip: wiper(pin2)
Ring:+5V(pin3)
Shield:GND (pin1)
ExternalVCO The Tube-Vibe modulationspeed
can alsobecontrolled using anexternalVCO
(voltage controlledoscillator).Voltagerangemustbe
0to5volts.
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Controls
Speed knob controls the rateofnotchsweep across
the audiospectrum. Incounter-clockwisepositions
the modulation ratewill be atit’s slowesttocreatea
dreamy,swirling andspaciouseffect. Turningthis
knob fully counter-clockwisewill‘freeze’the
sweepingofthe notchestoproducehollowsounding
acoustic timbres.Rotating theknob clockwise
producesaprogressively deeper,swampysound
simulating a‘Leslie’rotating speakersystem.
Intensity knobis used torestrictthe sweepofthe
vibe formoresubtleeffects.Inchorusmode it
controls the thickness &throbofthe vibe sound.
Centering this knobat the 12 o'clock position is good
starting pointforachieving aclassic Uni-Vibe chorus
effect. Invibratomode,itminimizespitchde-tuning,
making thesound moreuseable(slowvibratowith
full sweep producesaseasick sound).
Volume knob setsthe outputlevelwhen the Tube-
Vibe is engaged.Inthe centre12o’clock position
gainis roughly unity.Turning this controlfully
clockwiseyieldsasubstantial+6dBofgainboost,
whichallowsthis pedaltobe seamlessly matched
and integrated intoanyrigorstudioset-up.
Chorus/Vibrato switchselectsbetweentheclassic
Hendrix/TrowerUni-Vibe chorus(switch‘down’) and
de-tuningpitch-bendvibrato. (switch‘up’)

Classic/Smooth switchselectsbetween the classic,
deepUni-Vibethrob(switch‘up’) and smoother,
moreetherealchorusvoicing (switch‘down’).
Internal Blend trimmerallowsthe ‘dry’ and
effectified signals tobe mixed incontinuously inany
proportionforawide paletteoftonaltextures.When
fully counter-clockwiseonly ‘dry’signalis present
and whenfully clockwiseonly effectified signalis
present. Ifthe Blend trimmeris setnearthecenter
12 o’clock position then the mix ofthe ‘dry’ and
effectified signals arebalanced,producing lush,
liquid-chorusHendrix/Trowersounds.Thenotch-
depthand thusthedepthofthe vibe can befine-
tunedbyadjustmentaroundthis centerposition.
Rotatingthis controlcounter-clockwisewill reduce
the vibe depthbydecreasing the notchdepth.
Toaccess the Blend trimmer,firstdisconnectthe
powertothepedal,carefully unscrewthe six screws
underneaththe pedalandthen removethe base-
plate.
Footswitch allowsselection betweeneffectified
(chorusorvibrato)andnon-effectified (dry) signal.
Silenttruebypass switching ensuresthereareno
‘pops’ orthumpwhenengaging the effectand that
thereis absolutely no loss oftonefromyourguitarto
yourampwhen the effect is disengaged.
Note:Manyeffectspedals degrade the sound quality
ofelectric guitars.Forthis reason tubeamplifier
manufacturers often recommend the useofparallel
effectsloops,instead ofseriesones.The tubesignal
pathin Effectrode pedals is builttodemanding
audiophilestandardstoensurehi-fidelityand signal
integrityatall times,withthebenefitthatyourguitar
tone always remainspureand intact.