Empress Effects buffer plus User manual

user manual

Thank you for purchasing the Empress Buffer+ Stereo. This pedal
was designed to be the complete I/O interface for your pedalboard
while maintaining the highest fidelity of your guitar signal.
We've kept all the features of our Buffer+, such as the foot-
switchable boost, input pad, noise filters, and variable input loading,
and have added a ton of additional features such as input meters
and clip level indicators, AB/AY switching, external switch control,
and of course, full stereo in/out connectivity.
On top of all that, configurable signal routing ensures that the
Buffer+ Stereo will handle just about any rig you can throw at it. So
before you plug in, read The Initial Setup guide to ensure your
Buffer+ Stereo is ready to rock!
- Cody Gilchrist, lead designer.

tuner out
loop out 1
in 2
in 1
out 1
out 2
loading
buffer
buffer
buffer
buffer
LED
Meter
LED
Meter
LED
Meter
LED
Meter
input
pad
input
pad
pre-
emphasis
noise filter
pre-
emphasis
noise filter
de-
emphasis
noise filter
de-
emphasis
noise filter
boost
boost isolation
x-former
summing
loop in 1
loop in 2
Buffer+ Stereo Simplified Circuit
** If nothing is plugged into in 2,
the signal from in 1 will be
automatically routed to loop out 2.
This doesn't apply to Instrument
Select or FX Loop Modes.
loop out 2
*** Signal from the loop outs is
internally passed to the loop
ins if nothing is connected to
the loop in jacks.
* in instrument select modes,
the tuner out will be fed from
the selected input, otherwise it
is always fed from in 1.
*
**
***
***

Controls at a Glance
stompswitch: function assigned by the stomp function
toggle swith. Can engage/disengage the boost, switch
between A and Y, or A and B. Hold for 1 second to mute
out 1 and out 2 for silent tuning.
stomp function: sets the function of the stomp switch. In the boost
position, the stomp switch will toggle the boost circuit on and o. In
AB position the stomp switch will toggle the active output between
out 1 and out 2. In the AY position the stomp switch will toggle the
active output between out 1 and both out 1 and out 2.
*note: some modes do not incorporate all of the dierent stomp functions. In
those cases the toggle switch will not have any eect on the stomp function.
input pads: pads the input by either 6dB or 12dB. This can be
useful for padding a very hot signal from an fx loop or active
instrument. It can also be useful for matching levels from dierent
instruments (ie. passive and active pickups, or single coil and
humbucking guitars).
input LEDs: illuminate green when signal is present. If the signal
gets too hot and clips the input, a red clip indicator LED will
illuminate and hold for 2 seconds.
boost: sets the amount of boost to be applied when
the boost is engaged. Ranges from 0 to +30dB.

Controls at a Glance
output LEDs: indicate which outputs are active.
noise lter: helps eliminate certain types of noise from your
signal path, especially white noise and hiss generated from
digital pedals. It will reduce this noise on any pedal that is inside
its dedicated loop.
For stereo noise reduction, make sure to set both the noise lter
switches to the same setting. This is also true for any operating
mode in which the signal is being sent out of loop out 1 but
returning into loop in 2, such as the FX Loop Modes 11 and 12.
Note that when using the noise lter with distortion and overdrive pedals in
the loop, you might notice a change in the high frequency response. If this is
the case, it can usually be corrected by some gentle EQ, or you may opt to put
your drive pedals before the buer+ stereo.
out 2 polarity: inverts the polarity of the signal from out 2. This
can be useful if you have an eect that inverts polarity, or if you
have stereo amps widely spaced.
input 1 loading: varies the load seen by your guitar pickups at
in 1. Turning the knob fully clockwise increases the load and
allows the full frequency range of your guitar to pass through. As
you turn the knob counter-clockwise you'll begin loading down
your guitar, changing the response of the pickups and rolling o
some high frequencies.

Initial Setup / Startup Configuration
The Startup Configuration is where you'll set the Buffer+ Stereo's
operating mode, choosing from 12 available modes. Here, you can
also configure an external momentary switch to either activate the
boost circuit (on/off) or to instantly mute the output for silent
tuning.
To enter Startup Configuration, connect power to the pedal
while holding down the stomp switch. The blue boost LED will flash
quickly to let you know you've entered Startup Configuration. The
current mode will now be displayed via the signal indicator LEDs.
Pressing the stomp switch will scroll up to the next available mode.
As you scroll through the available modes, the signal indicator LEDs
will light sequentially to show you which mode will be selected upon
exiting Startup Configuration.
For example, Mode 1 starts with the green in 1 LED lit. When you
press the stomp switch the in 1 LED will change to orange, and you
are now able to select Mode 2. Press it again, the in 1 LED will

change to red, and you are now able to select Mode 3. Press it
again and the in 2 LED will be lit green, and you are now able to
select Mode 4 etc. This pattern continues until you reach Mode 12
and then starts over again at Mode 1.
To configure an external switch (momentary - normally
open), use the stomp function toggle switch. Set it to the left
position (Boost) to use an external switch as a boost. Set it to the
right position (AY) to use an external switch as an instant silent
tuning switch. The middle position (AB) is for no external switch.
The red "tuner on" LED will flash each time you change the switch
position to show you it has registered a change.
To save your settings and exit Startup Configuration,
hold down the stomp switch for 2 seconds. The blue boost LED will
flash quickly, followed by the corresponding mode LED to
acknowledge your selection. The Buffer+ Stereo will now enter your
selected mode every time it starts up, unless you change it again by
going back into the Startup Configuration.

Mode 1 - Un-summed Loop Ins
This is the standard operating mode for a stereo setup. In this
mode, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are sent to out 1 and out 2
respectively.
A wet/dry rig can be created by using a mono effects chain
returning to loop in 1 and leaving in 2 and loop in 2 disconnected.
this will route in 1 directly to out 2. Amp 1 will be wet, amp 2 will
be dry.

Mode 2 - Summed Loop Ins
This mode uses summing to take stereo effects and bring them back
to a mono output. Perhaps the most useful case for this mode
would be for someone who sometimes runs a stereo rig, but also
plays gigs with a mono rig. You could leave your pedalboard
connected in a stereo configuration and just switch over to mode 2
for gigs with only 1 amp.
In this mode, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are sent to both out 1 and out
2. The signals are summed internally.

Mode 3 - Loop In 1 Only
This mode is designed for a mono effects chain feeding 2 amps.
In this mode, loop in 1 is sent to both out 1 and out 2. loop in 2
cannot be used.
This mode is for using a mono in/mono out effects chain and
sending the signal to two amps. This mode is necessary so that the
dry signal, which would normally show up at loop in 2 when nothing
is connected to it, does not get to the output.

Mode 4 - Unsummed/Summed Loop Ins Combination
In this mode, when the stomp function toggle switch is set to AY, in
the A state, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are summed and sent to out 1.
In the Y state, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are sent to out 1 and out 2
respectively, and are therefore not summed.
If the stomp function toggle is set to boost, loop in 1 and loop in 2
are summed and sent to both out 1 and out 2, just as they are in
Mode 2. If the stomp function toggle is set to AB, loop in 1 and loop
in 2 are sent to out 1 and out 2 respectively, just as they are in
Mode 1.

Mode 5 - Loop Select
This mode allows you to select between loop in 1 and loop in 2.
When the stomp function toggle switch is set to AB, in the A state,
loop in 1 is sent to both out 1 and out 2. In the B state, loop in 2 is
sent to both out 1 and out 2. When the stomp function toggle
switch is set to AY, in the A state, loop in 1 is sent to both out 1 and
out 2. In the Y state, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are summed and sent to
both out 1 and out 2.If the stomp function toggle is set to boost,
loop in 1 and loop in 2 are summed and sent to both out 1 and out
2.

Mode 6 - Loop Summing Select
This mode allows you to switch between two states. In the first
state, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are not summed, and are sent to out 1
and out 2 respectively. In the second state, loop in 1 and loop in 2
are summed and sent to both out 1 and out 2.
- The stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- The white output indicator LEDs are used to indicate which state
you're in. When they are lit, the loop ins are summed.

Mode 7 - Instrument Select, mono return to both outputs
This mode allows you to have two separate instruments plugged
into in 1 and in 2, and use the stomp switch to switch between
them. In this mode, loop in 2 is sent to both outputs.
- The stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- A red LED will illuminate on either in 1 or in 2 which represents the
inactive input.

Mode 8 - Instrument Select, stereo return and summed loops
This mode allows you to have two separate instruments plugged
into in 1 and in 2, and use the stomp switch to switch between
them. In this mode, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are summed and sent to
both outputs.
- The stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- A red LED will illuminate on either in 1 or in 2 which represents the
inactive input.

Mode 9 - Instrument Select, stereo return and un-summed Loops
This mode allows you to have two separate instruments plugged
into in 1 and in 2, and use the stomp switch to toggle between
them. In this mode, loop in 1 and loop in 2 are sent to out 1 and out
2respectively, and are not summed.
- The stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- A red LED will illuminate on either in 1 or in 2 which represents the
inactive input.

Mode 10 - Instrument Select - separate rigs, shared effects
This mode allows you to connect two separate rigs (for example, an
electric guitar and amplifier to in 1 and out 1 respectively, and an
acoustic guitar and PA system to in 2 and out 2 respectively) and a
single mono effects chain, and use the stomp switch to select which
rig is active. The effects chain will be used by whichever rig is active.
- The stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- A red LED will illuminate on either in 1 or in 2 which represents the
inactive input.

Modes 11 & 12 - FX Loop
Mode 11 (boost at amp input)
This mode allows you to buffer an effects chain in front of your
amp, as well as in the amp's fx loop.
When the stomp function toggle is set to boost, the fx loop is
always engaged and the boost can be toggled on/off with the stomp
switch. The boost is applied to the amp's input.
When the stomp function toggle is set to AY, in the A state, the
amp fx loop is bypassed. In the Y state, the amp fx loop is engaged.
notes:
- In order to avoid ground loops, the effects connected to loop out 1
must return to loop in 2 and be sent from out 2 into the amplifiers
input. The amp's fx send will then go into in 2 and out of loop out 2
to the fx loop effects chain. From there you'll come back in loop in 1
and then send out 1 to the amplifiers fx return.

- The AB position of the stomp function toggle switch is not used.
- Both noise filters must be set the same for effective noise filtering.
Mode 12 (boost at amp's FX loop return)
This mode functions exactly the same as Mode 11, with the only
difference being that the boost is applied to the amplifiers fx return
as opposed to the preamp input.

Silent Tuning: The tuner out can be used for silent tuning by holding
the stomp switch down for about one second. This will mute the
signal being sent from out 1 and out 2. The boost LED will illuminate
red to indicate that you are in silent tuning mode. Press the stomp
switch again to exit silent tuning mode. The Buffer+ Stereo will
return to whichever state it was in prior to entering silent tuning
mode.
You may also activate silent tuning instantly via an external switch.
External Switch: The Buffer+ Stereo can be configured to use an
external switch to either engage the boost circuit on/off, or to
instantly enter silent tuning without having to hold the onboard
stomp switch. The switch can be configured at startup in Startup
Configuration, and must be a momentary (non-latching) normally
open switch. See Startup Configuration for a full explanation on how
to set it up.