Rocktron HUSH 2X User manual

HUSH 2X
Instruction Manual

Your HUSH 2X™pedal has been tested and complies with the following Standards and
Directives as set forth by the European Union:
Council Directive(s):
89/336/EEC Electromagnetic
Compatibility
Standard(s): EN55013, EN50082-1
This means that this product has been designed to meet stringent guidelines on how much
RF energy it can emit, and that it should be immune from other sources of interference when
properly used. Improper use of this equipment could result in increased RF emissions, which
may or may not interfere with other electronic products.
To insure against this possibility, always use good shielded cables for all audio input and
output connections. This will help insure compliance with the Directive(s).
For more information about other Rocktron products, please see your local dealer or one of
our importers closest to you (listed on the Rocktron website
(www.rocktron.com).
Read all instructions contained in this manual.
Keep these instructions
Heed all warnings
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean with dry cloth
Copyright © 2014 GHS Corporation
All Rights Reserved.
Compliance

Do not block any ventilation openings (if applicable). Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other ap-
paratus (including ampliers) that produce heat.
This product is not equipped with a plug or cable. This unit runs on a 9 Volt Battery, if a
9Volt DC adapter is the used please follow adapter manufacturer’s operation instructions.
Only use attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer.
Do not use this product with any case, stand tripod, bracket or table that is not specied by
the manufacturer. Insure that the case, stand, tripod, bracket etc. is properly adjusted and
setup (follow all instructions). Extra care and caution should be taken to avoid tip over
and injury.
Unplug this apparatus during lightening storms or when unused during long periods of time.
Refer all service to qualied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as power supply or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus or if the apparatus has been exposed to rain
or moisture, does not operate normally or has been dropped.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THIS EQUIPMENT. QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
SHOULD SERVICE THIS EQUIPMENT ONLY. DO NOT MAKE ANY INTERNAL
ADJUSTMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO THIS EQUIPMENT AT ANY TIME OR TAMPER
WITH INTERNAL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AT ANY TIME. FAILURE TO FOL-
LOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY VOID THE WARRANTY OF THIS EQUIPMENT
AS WELL AS CAUSING A SHOCK HAZARD.
OPERATING TEMPERATURE
Do not expose this unit to excessive heat. This unit is designed to operate between 32 F and
104 F (0 C and 40 C). This unit may not function properly under extreme temperatures.
Precautions

Introduction
Got hiss? Get HUSH!
Rocktron provides a new twist on the world famous HUSH
guitar noise reduction with the HUSH 2X. Essentially a
“double HUSH”, the 2X offers two completely separate
channels of HUSH noise reduction in a single small unit
designed to sit right on top of your guitar amp/head or in
a rack drawer, freeing up space on your pedal board. The
HUSH 2X is also TRUE BYPASS.
This unique design allows you to choose if you want to run
HUSH after your pedal board and into the input of your
head with one circuit, and into the effects loop with the
other circuit offering new versatility in a single HUSH unit.
You get total HUSH control both in front, and in the effects
loop, of your amp! The HUSH 2X will also allow you to
use one HUSH circuit before, and another after, a single
pedal or with two different pedal chains on your pedal
board/rack drawer. Selector switches allow you to turn
each HUSH circuit on or off.
The same great HUSH signal cleanup is provided with up to
65dB of effective noise reduction for eliminating hiss, un-
wanted feedback and noise from pickups and stage lighting.
Guitar Player Magazine wrote that a “HUSH” pedal will
work for all guitar-related noise problems: it’s perfect” and
“its potent noise-killing abilities will be fully appreciated.”

For maximum noise reduction results, place the HUSH after
your distortion and modulation effects (chorus, anger,
phaser, etc.) but before any delay or reverb effects. If you
are already comfortable rolling back your guitar’s volume
pot, simply turn your distortion and other effects in the
chain before the HUSH to “ON”, roll back your volume
pot, adjust the HUSH Threshold control to remove any hiss
you hear, and you are ready to go!
Make sure you pay attention to the proper setup by placing
the HUSH AFTER your noisy stomp boxes or in your
amp’s effects loop. The HUSH is NOT designed to take the
input directly from your guitar WITHOUT some process-
ing happening between the guitar and the noise reduction.
When setup correctly, with your signal going from your
preamp and effects, or from your distortion and effects, into
the HUSH, you will love how it cleans up the excess noise,
including pickup buzz! The HUSH can also be used in
your amplier’s effects loop. However, if you are running
multiple effects through this loop, the HUSH should always
be the last dynamic device in the signal chain, but before
digital delays or reverbs.
The HUSH will give you the same great HUSH noise
reduction used by thousands of high prole artists for years!
The switches on the HUSH 2X controls On/Off status of
each channel as shown by the LED indicator. The HUSH
2X runs on a 9V Alkaline battery, or may also be powered
by Rocktron’s DC OnTap Universal Power Supply adaptor.
Introduction continued....

Descriptions

Descriptions continued.........
CHANNEL 1 - THRESHOLD Control determines
the minimum input level at which the HUSH lter
and downward expander will begin to operate.
Setting this control too high will result in a loss of
sustain, as notes will tend to die out much faster
than they should. Conversely, when set too low, the
expander will close too late (if at all) and the noise
oor will remain audible
CHANNEL 1 - SWITCH - This switch allows for the
HUSH to be bypassed when noise reduction is not
required.
CHANNEL 1 - ON/OFF Led - When lit, the LED
indicates that the HUSH is currently active in the
signal path.
CHANNEL 1 - INPUT Jack - Using a standard 1/4”
guitar cable, plug into this jack AFTER any noisy
pedal/effect or from an “effects send”.
CHANNEL 1 - OUTPUT Jack - Using a standard
1/4” guitar cable you can plug in another pedal from
this jack or plug directly into your amplier or to the
“effects return.”
1
2
3
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5

Descriptions continued.........
6
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8
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CHANNEL 2 - THRESHOLD Control determines
the minimum input level at which the HUSH lter
and downward expander will begin to operate.
Setting this control too high will result in a loss of
sustain, as notes will tend to die out much faster
than they should. Conversely, when set too low, the
expander will close too late (if at all) and the noise
oor will remain audible
CHANNEL 2 - SWITCH - This switch allows for the
HUSH to be bypassed when noise reduction is not
required.
CHANNEL 2 - ON/OFF Led - When lit, the LED
indicates that the HUSH is currently active in the
signal path.
CHANNEL 2 - INPUT Jack - Using a standard 1/4”
guitar cable, plug into this jack AFTER any noisy
pedal/effect or from an “effects send”.
CHANNEL 2 - OUTPUT Jack - Using a standard
1/4” guitar cable you can plug in another pedal from
this jack or plug directly into your amplier or to the
“effects return.”

9VDC Input - This input jack requires 9VDC
from the Rocktron DC OnTap power supply (sold
separately).
BATTERY COMPARTMENT (not shown in photo)
- The battery compartment is found on the back/
bottom of the HUSH 2X. Use a 9V battery.
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12
Descriptions continued.........

Typical Connection - Noisy Pedal

Typical Connection - Effects Loop

Typical Connection - Noisy Pedal & Effects Loop

HUSH Information
In most applications, the signal from an instrument
being played is much louder than the noise level.
Therefore, much of the noise is not heard when an
instrument is being played. However, when you
stop playing or let a note decay, the instrument level
drops below the noise level and the noise becomes
much more audible. Setting the THRESHOLD
controls just above the level of the noise causes the
HUSH 2X to begin to decrease the output level so
that the noise is never heard.
The HUSH 2X incorporates the latest
advancements in HUSH noise reduction
technology. HUSH 2X’s discrete threshold control
circuit utilizes a voltage-controlled amplier (VCA)
as a downward expander which can control the
gain between the input and output of the HUSH 2X
from unity to over 60dB of gain reduction. When
the input signal is above the threshold level set by
the THRESHOLD control, the VCA will remain at
unity gain (i.e. the output level will remain equal to
the input level). As the amplitude drops below the
threshold point, downward expansion will begin.

HUSH Information
When downward expansion begins, the VCA acts
like an electronic volume control and gradually
begins decreasing the output signal relative
to the input signal. For example, if the input
signal were to drop below the threshold point
by 10dB, the output would drop approximately
12dB. As the input signal drops further below the
threshold point, downward expansion increases
exponentially. This means that if the input signal
dropped 20dB below the threshold point, the output
level would drop approximately 30dB. A 30dB
drop below the threshold would result in a drop of
60dB of the output signal (30dB of gain reduction).
The absence of any input signal will result in the
expander reducing the gain so that the noise oor
is inaudible.

The Variable Integrated Release (V.I.R.) technol-
ogy contained in each HUSH circuit automatically
adjusts the release rate of the expander based on
the dynamic decay rate of the incoming signal. If
the input signal stops suddenly, downward expan-
sion will occur rapidly (similar to a gate). If the
input signal decays slowly, expansion will occur
slowly without disrupting the dynamic decay of the
input signal.
The THRESHOLD control should be adjusted by
listening to the noise oor while not playing. Turn
the THRESHOLD control clockwise to the point
where the noise oor becomes inaudible. Turning
too far past this point will cause the downward ex-
pander to attenuate the output level too quickly and
not allow the signal to decay as long as it should.

Specications:
Maximum Input
Maximum Output
Input Impedance
Output Impedance
Current Consumption
Power Requirements
Dimensions
Weight
7dBu
-1dBu
220kΩ
1kΩ
30mA
9V Alkaline Battery or
Rocktron DC OnTap
Universal Power Supply
(sold separately). Nega-
tive Tip
125mm x 78mm x
61mm
5” x 3.25” x 2.5”
0.7kg
1.5lbs

How to change the battery:
To change the battery, remove the battery compart-
ment cover on the back/bottom of the unit. Re-
move the old battery and replace it with a new 9V
Alkaline battery. Replace battery in the same area
as the old battery was located. Replace the battery
compartment cover on the unit.

The HUSH 2X can also run on a 9V DC power supply
for operation (not included). We recommend any of
these:
Rocktron DC OnTap 110V USA Plug - Model: 006-2017
Rocktron DC OnTap 220V Euro Plug - Model: 006-2018
Rocktron DC OnTap 240V UK Plug - Model: 006-2022
Rocktron DC OnTap 100V Japan - Model: 006-2033
Rocktron PowerTap (powers your whole pedalboard)
The HUSH 2X jack accepts a 2.1mm Plug - Tip Nega-
tive/Barrel Positive
(All Rocktron DC OnTap adapters are “switching power
supplies and can be used world wide with the right plug
adapter)
Save yourself tons of money in batteries by using the
Rocktron DC OnTap Universal Power Supply to power
this pedal (sold separately). The Rocktron DC OnTap
provides a constant ow of power to the pedal, unlike a
battery that will degrade over time. The Rocktron DC
OnTap Universal Power Supply can also power up to 20
pedals and can be used with both 110V and 220V power
sources.
Check, www.rocktron.com for more information on the
DC OnTap and where to purchase.

Rocktron - A Division of GHS Corporation
2813 Wilber Ave
Battle Creek MI 49037
USA
www.rocktron.com
[email protected]
tel: [phone]
rev. 4-4-14
2014.1