Electro-Harmonix V256 Vocoder User manual

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V256
Vocoder
Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix V256 Vocoder. The V256 is a
versatile and easy to use vocoder with the added benefit of being in a compact pedal format.
Musicians no longer need large rack equipment, computer plugins, or large keyboards to get
a wide array of classic and modern vocoder sounds as well as a few very unique vocal
transposition effects. The V256 includes internal synthesizers for easy vocoding without an
external instrument.
Special Features of the V256:
 3 VOX-ROBO vocoder modes that feature a robotic synthesizer
 Single, Major, and Minor modes feature a drone synthesizer
 3 Brand new vocal transposition modes including TRANSPOSITION, INSTRUMENT CTRL, and
REFLEX-TUNE
 Vocoder bands adjustable from a vintage sounding 8 bands to a smooth sounding 256 bands
 TONE, GENDER BENDER, and PITCH controls
 Save and load up to 9 presets: 1 preset for each mode.
 Scroll through the presets using the MODE knob or PRESET footswitch.
 Built-In balanced Mic Pre-Amp with switchable Phantom Power and Gain adjustment.
 Effect output on balanced XLR line output and 1/4” unbalanced instrument output
WARNING: Use only the AC Adapter that the V256 comes supplied
with. Do not use any other AC Adapters. Using other AC adapters,
even those made by Electro-Harmonix, could cause harm to the unit,
the adapter or you. The V256 does not use batteries.

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- QUICK START GUIDE -
BASIC MIXER CONNECTION SETUP
1. Connect your microphone to the MIC input on the right side of the V256 using a
balanced XLR cable.
2. Using an unbalanced instrument cable, plug your instrument into the INST Input Jack on
the right side of the V256.
3. Connect a balanced XLR cable to the EFFECT output jack on the left side of the V256.
Connect the other end of the XLR cable to the line input of a mixer.
4. Connect an unbalanced instrument cable from the INST output jack on the left side of
the V256. Connect the other end of the instrument cable to the instrument input of a
mixer, or the input of an amplifier.
5. Plug the AC Adapter into a wall outlet.
6. Plug the barrel connector of the AC Adapter into the 9V power jack at the top of the
V256. Polarity is center negative .
7. If using a condenser microphone, flip the Phantom Power switch up to the top position,
otherwise leave it off. The Phantom Power switch is located on the right side of the
V256, next to the XLR MIC input.
8. Push the MIC BYPASS footswitch until its associated LED is OFF. Sing into the
microphone, you will hear your dry vocal at this point. Adjust mixer settings as well as
the MIC GAIN switch on the V256 to obtain optimal mic levels.
BASIC AMPLIFIER CONNECTION SETUP
1. Connect your microphone to the MIC input on the right side of the V256 using a
balanced XLR cable.
2. Using an unbalanced instrument cable, plug your instrument into the INST Input Jack on
the right side of the V256.
3. Connect an unbalanced instrument cable from the INST output jack on the left side of
the V256. Connect the other end of the instrument cable to the input of a guitar, bass,
or keyboard amplifier.
4. Plug the AC Adapter into a wall outlet.
5. Plug the barrel connector of the AC Adapter into the 9V power jack at the top of the
V256. Polarity is center negative .
6. If using a condenser microphone, flip the Phantom Power switch up to the top position,
otherwise leave it off. The Phantom Power switch is located on the right side of the
V256, next to the XLR MIC input.
7. Push the MIC BYPASS footswitch until its associated LED is OFF. Play the instrument,
you will hear only dry instrument signal at this point.

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8. The factory setting for the INST output of the V256 is 100% dry instrument signal only.
In order to use the V256 in this mode the INST output blend needs to be adjusted.
9. Hold down the MIC BYPASS footswitch and adjust the BLEND knob. Fully CCW is 100%
instrument signal. As you turn the knob CW more V256 effect signal is added and at
noon, the mix of dry instrument to V256 effect will be even. As you continue to turn the
knob CW past noon, the dry instrument level will decrease and at fully CW the mix will
be 100% V256 effect.
10. After the BLEND knob is adjusted for the desired mix, release the MIC BYPASS
footswitch and the instrument output mix will be set. If the MIC BYPASS is not held
down, moving the blend knob will make no difference to the INST output mix.
BASIC VOCODER SETTINGS
1. Now that the V256 is hooked up and ready to go, here is a sample setting to get started.
2. Turn the MODE knob until the mode VOX-ROBO 1 is selected and set the other
parameters as follows:
-BLEND FULLY CW
-BANDS NOON
-TONE NOON
-GENDER NOON
-PITCH FULLY CW
3. Press and release the MIC BYPASS footswitch so that the effect is now ON and the LED
is lit.
4. Play the instrument and sing into the microphone at the same time. You will now hear
your voice modulating the sound of the carrier instrument.
5. To use the internal synthesizer, turn the PITCH knob to noon.
6. Sing into the microphone and you will hear your voice modulate the robotic synth.
7. These basic settings also apply to the single, major, and minor drone modes.
BASIC VOCAL TRANSPOSITION SETTINGS
1. Turn the MODE knob until the mode TRANSPOSITION is selected and set the other
parameters as follows:
-BLEND FULLY CW
-BANDS NOON
-TONE NOON
-GENDER NOON
-PITCH NOON
2. In this setting the vocal transposition will be at unity. Using the XLR output, turn BLEND
to noon for a subtle double tracking effect.
3. Adjust the GENDER BENDER knob to hear a more male or female version of your voice.
4. Turn the PITCH knob fully CW to hear 1 octave up, and fully CCW to hear 1 octave
down.

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BASIC INSTRUMENT CONTROL SETTINGS
1. Turn the MODE knob until the mode INSTRUMENT CTRL is selected and set the other
parameters as follows:
-BLEND FULLY CW
-BANDS NOON
-TONE NOON
-GENDER NOON
-PITCH 2 O’CLOCK
2. Sing into the mic and you will hear your original vocal pitch. Play a single note line on
your instrument as you sing, you will hear your voice but the pitch will now track the
instrument’s notes.
3. Turn the BANDS knob to 2 o’clock and hear how your voice now slides to new notes as
you play your instrument.
BASIC VOCAL REFLEX-TUNE SETTINGS
1. Turn the MODE knob until the mode REFLEX-TUNE is selected and set the other
parameters as follows:
-BLEND FULLY CW
-BANDS NOON
-TONE NOON
-GENDER NOON
-PITCH FULLY CCW
2. Without playing an instrument sing into the mic. You will hear your pitch being hard
corrected to a chromatic scale.
3. Turn the BANDS knob fully CCW and sing into the mic. You will hear the pitch correction
happen much more gradually giving your vocal performance a more natural sound.

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- DESCRIPTION OF MODES -
The V256 has 9 modes to choose from. Each mode gives the musician a different sonic
palette to work with. In addition, each mode may change the functionality of some of the
V256’s knobs. In this section we will describe each mode and the functionality of the knobs
that change with each mode.
Use the MODE knob to scroll through the 9 modes. Turning the MODE knob clockwise goes
up the LED ladder. Turning the MODE knob counter-clockwise goes down the LED ladder.
Below is a table displaying the function of each knob as it relates to a selected mode. Arrows
indicate the function that occurs as the knob is turned to or towards the extreme knob
position in that direction. The up arrows indicate the center position of the knob.

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VOX-ROBO Modes
VOX-ROBO Modes 1, 2, and 3 are identical. This provides the flexibility to save 3 separate
ROBO presets. These modes function as standard vocoders using an external instrument as
the carrier signal, and in addition have robotic internal synthesizers that can be used as the
carrier signal and controlled with the PITCH knob. When the PITCH knob is fully CCW or fully
CW, the internal synthesizer is silenced. When the PITCH knob is at noon the robotic tone is a
C3 note. When the internal synthesizer is on, and an external instrument is played, they will
be mixed together and used as the carrier signal simultaneously.
You can “play” the internal synthesizer using a MIDI keyboard or sequencer.
DRONE Modes
The Drone modes have a more natural, musical sounding tone than the robotic modes. Just
as in the VOX-ROBO modes, the instrument input is always active as a source for the carrier
signal.
SINGLE DRONE –The single drone is a single pitch drone based on an organ sound. When
the PITCH knob is at noon, the pitch is a C3 note. The PITCH knob controls this note up to
+/-1octave. At fully CW or fully CCW, the drone is silenced.
MAJOR DRONE –The major drone is a three note major triad based on an organ sound.
When the PITCH knob is at noon, the chord is C4 major. The PITCH knob functions are the
same as in “SINGLE DRONE”.
MINOR DRONE –The minor drone is a three note minor triad based on an organ sound.
When the PITCH knob is at noon, the chord is an A4 minor. The PITCH knob functions are
the same as in “SINGLE DRONE”.
You can “play” the internal drone synthesizer using a MIDI keyboard or sequencer.
THE FREEZE FUNCTION
In any of the vocoder modes in the V256 when the MIC BYPASS footswitch is held down
while an instrument is being played, the V256 will freeze whatever is being played through
the INST input at the moment the MIC BYPASS button is pressed. The V256 will freeze this
sample for as long as the MIC BYPASS footswitch is held down. This frozen sample can also
be saved into a preset. Simply save the preset while the MIC BYPASS footswitch is held down
and the instrument sample is frozen.

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When the preset is recalled, the frozen sample as well as any drones that were saved will be
recalled. In order to clear the saved frozen sample, hold the MIC BYPASS footswitch without
any instrument input, or turn the pitch knob to fully CCW. This will clear the frozen sample
however if the preset is reloaded the frozen sample will return. In order to clear the frozen
sample from the preset, turn the pitch knob fully CCW so the frozen sample stops playing,
then save a new preset in the current mode.
This feature can be used together with the internal synthesizers and can also be used to
freeze MIDI triggered notes.
VOCAL TRANSPOSITION MODES
TRANSPOSITION
In this mode the V256 does not require an external instrument. The V256 will transpose the
vocal signal by an amount determined by the PITCH knob. At noon the transposition is at
unity. At fully CW it is +1 octave and at fully CCW it is -1 octave.
The BANDS knob can be used to control how quickly the intervals change when controlled by
a MIDI input. At noon, the transposition interval will change instantaneously. As the knob is
moved CW the notes will change to new intervals more slowly creating a portamento type of
effect. As the knob is moved CCW the notes will change to new intervals more slowly, and
vocal pitch changes will also be delayed. Blended with the original vocal, this effect can be
used to add complexity to a double tracked vocal sound where the V256 effect sound will
reach new vocal pitches a little slower than they are sung.
A MIDI controller can control the amount of transposition. When two notes are played
together, the interval between those two notes will be applied to the transposition. When a
MIDI note is played, the setting of the PITCH knob will no longer be relevant and the original
vocal pitch will be heard. As a second note is played along with the first note, the interval
created will be applied to the vocal transposition. The MIDI notes being played are irrelevant,
only the interval matters. When the MIDI notes are released, the transposition will go back to
where the PITCH knob is set.
INSTRUMENT CTRL
In this mode the V256 will replace the vocal pitch with the pitch of an external instrument.
The PITCH knob controls the threshold of how loud the instrument must be in order for the
V256 to replace the vocal note. At fully CCW, the instrument has the least effect, and at fully
CW the V256 will never revert back to the dry vocal pitch. The pitch will remain at the last
instrument controlled note until a new note is played.

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In this mode the BANDS knob controls how fast the pitch changes. At noon, the pitch will
change instantly. As the knob is turned CW the instrument controlled pitch will slide to new
notes more slowly. As the knob is turned CCW, the instrument controlled pitch changes will
slow in the same manner and in addition the original dry vocal notes will change more slowly.
When the external instrument falls below the threshold setting and the V256 reverts back to
the singer’s original vocal performance, as the singer changes pitch, notes will slide to one
another with a portamento effect.
A MIDI keyboard or sequencer can be used as the control instrument allowing you to play or
automate the notes you want to replace your vocal notes.
REFLEX-TUNE
In this mode the V256 works as an automatic pitch corrector and will quantize the dry vocal
pitch to nearest note depending on the scale and key set by the user. When the PITCH knob
is fully CCW, and there is no external instrument being played, the V256 will quantize to a
chromatic scale. If there is an external instrument being played, the V256 will determine the
key based on the chords being played and will quantize to the determined key in a diatonic
scale. To revert back to the chromatic scale, turn the PITCH knob to noon and back to fully
CCW. When the V256 is in chromatic mode, only the REFLEX-TUNE LED will be lit.
As the PITCH knob is turned CW, a different combination of LEDs will light depending on the
position of the PITCH knob. The combination of LEDs indicates the diatonic key scale setting
for the V256. The table in the “controls” section, under “PITCH” explains which keys are
represented by the LEDs.
The BANDS knob controls how fast the pitch changes from one quantized note to another.
Fully CCW is the slowest change and creates the most natural sounding performance. At noon
the quantized notes are changed instantaneously with no vibrato, creating the most dramatic
effect. At fully CW the note changes are still abrupt but more of the original vibrato is let
through.

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- PRESETS -
The V256 can save one preset for each of the 9 modes. Each preset will pertain directly to the
mode you have saved it in. Once a preset is saved, the V256 will remember the preset after
power has been disconnected.
Saving a preset will save the setting of all 5 of the black knobs. The V256 will also save any
frozen samples that are created by holding the MIC BYPASS footswitch. You must hold down
the MIC BYPASS footswitch while saving the preset to save the frozen sound.
The V256 will not save the state of the MIC BYPASS footswitch, the MIC GAIN toggle switch
or the PHANTOM POWER toggle switch.
PRESET SAVE PROCEDURE:
1. To save the knob positions as they are currently set, press and hold down the MODE
knob.
2. Hold down the MODE knob for 3 seconds. Nothing will occur for 2 seconds, then all the
mode LEDs will blink for 1 second.
3. After the LEDs stop blinking, release the MODE knob. The PRESET LED will light up solid.
The PRESET LED is located to the left of the PRESET footswitch.
4. Your preset has been saved in the mode that is currently lit.
PRESET LOAD PROCEDURE:
USING THE MODE KNOB
1. To Load a preset you previously saved: turn the MODE knob to the mode where the
preset was saved.
2. Press and release the MODE knob. The PRESET LED will light up to indicate that the
preset has loaded. Please Note: The current knob positions are no longer valid.
USING THE PRESET FOOTSWITCH
1. To Load a preset you previously saved using the PRESET footswitch: press and release
the PRESET footswitch. The PRESET LED will light up to indicate that the preset has
loaded for the currently selected mode. Please Note: The current knob positions are no
longer valid.
2. If you press and release the PRESET Footswitch while a preset is already loaded into the
current mode, the V256 will jump down to the next mode and load its preset. For
example, if you have a preset loaded into VOX-ROBO 1 mode and press the PRESET
footswitch, the V256 will then select VOX-ROBO 2 as its current mode, with its preset
loaded.

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After loading a preset, if you move a knob, the knob’s new location will supersede the
presets stored value for that knob. At this point, the PRESET LED will blink rapidly to
indicate that a knob has been moved. If you then turn the knob back to its position, as
saved in the preset, the PRESET LED will stop blinking.
If the PRESET LED is blinking rapidly, when you press the PRESET footswitch, it will re-
load the preset for whichever mode you are currently in.
PRESET UNLOAD PROCEDURE:
A preset can be unloaded to restore the current knob positions so they represent what you
hear. There are two ways to unload a preset, press and release the MODE knob or turn the
MODE knob to another mode. If a frozen sample is saved into a preset, it can be cleared by
holding the MIC BYPASS footswitch without playing the instrument, or by turning the PITCH
knob fully CCW. To erase the frozen sample permanently from the preset, the preset must
be saved again while the frozen sample is cleared.
- CONTROLS, INDICATORS & I/O-
BLEND
This knob sets the mix of dry vocal signal to V256 effect. Fully CCW is 100% dry, you will
hear only your dry vocals. Noon is an even mix of dry vocal and effect signal. Fully CW is
100% wet, you will only hear the V256 effect.
The BLEND knob also controls the mix of instrument signal to vocoder effect on the INST
output jack. To set the INST output mix hold down the MIC BYPASS footswitch and turn the
BLEND knob. Fully CCW will be 100% instrument signal or MIDI controlled internal
synthesizer. Noon will be an even mix of dry instrument and effect signal. Fully CW will be
100% effect signal. From the factory, the INST output jack is set for 100% dry signal. The
V256 will remember your last setting of the INST mix control through all modes. Each preset
can save a different setting.
BANDS
In all modes EXCEPT TRANSPOSITION, INSTRUMENT CTRL, and REFLEX-TUNE the BANDS
knob sets the number of bands for the vocoder. Fully CCW is 8 bands for a more lo-fi gritty
sound. Center position is 256 bands with no vocal resonance, for a smooth vocoder sound. As
the knob is turned CW from noon, the V256 will add filtered resonance from the vocal pitch
into the 256 bands. This adds complexity to the vocoder sounds as some bands are
accentuated by the vocal pitch.