Rolls RFX147 User manual

RFX147
ROTORHORN
Rotating Speaker Simulator
RFX
Salt Lake City, UT
8/01
LIMITED WARRANTY
This product is warranted to the original consumer purchaser to be
free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal installation,
use and service for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase as
shown on the purchaser’s receipt.
The obligation of Rolls Corporation under this warranty shall be
limited to repair or replacement (at our option), during the warranty period
of any part which proves defective in material or workmanship under
normal installation, use and service, provided the product is returned to
Rolls Corporation, TRANSPORTATION CHARGES PREPAID. Products
returned to us or to an authorized Service Center must be accompanied by
a copy of the purchase receipt. In the absence of such purchase receipt, the
warranty period shall be one (1) year from the date of manufacture.
This warranty shall be invalid if the product is damaged as a result
of defacement, misuse, abuse, neglect, accident, destruction or alteration
of the serial number, improper electrical voltages or currents, repair,
alteration or maintenance by any person or party other than our own
service facility or an authorized Service Center, or any use violative of
instructions furnished by us.
This one-year warranty is in lieu of all expressed warranties,
obligations or liabilities. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, OBLIGA-
TIONS, OR LIABILITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION
TO THE ONE YEAR DURATION OF THIS WRITTEN LIMITED
WARRANTY. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF
THIS OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED,
WHATSOEVER. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
special, incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or
exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
OWNERS MANUAL

SPECIFICATIONS
Input: Dual 1/4" unbalanced
Output: Dual 1/4" unbalanced
InputImpedance: 50k Ohms
OutputImpedance: 100 Ohms
Output Level: +5 dB max
DelayTime: 6 mS
Crossover Freq. 800 Hz
Size: 19 x 1.75 x 6 inches
Weight: 7 lbs
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your purchase of the RFX147 Rotorhorn.This unit is a line level
rack mount signal processor for duplicating the sound of a rotating horn speaker
cabinet electronically.It has a two-way crossover network to produce the effect of
bass and treble "rotors".The unit is housed in a single space 19" rack painted
steel chassis and is intended for live performance or studio work.The RFX147 is
simple to use and is ready to work on power up.
FEATURES
• Accurate simulation of "Leslie" fast and slow speeds
• Front panel and footswitch control of all functions
• Smooth sounding CHORUS effect
• MonoVIBRATO effect
INSPECTON
1.Unpack and Inspect the RFX147 package
If obvious physical damage is noticed, contact the carrier immediately to make a
damage claim.We suggest saving the shipping carton and packing materials for
safely transporting the unit in the future.
2.Please complete the Warranty Registration Card and return it to the factory.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
Introduction
Features
Inspection
Table of Contents
DESCRIPTION 2
Front Panel
Rear Panel
CONNECTION 3
OPERATION 4
SCHEMATIC 5
SPECIFICATIONS 6
A brief history of the rotating speaker effect
WARRANTY BACK COVER
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROTATING SPEAKER
Electronic devices that produce a“Leslie-like” sound have been available since
the sixties.Cheap solid state components and the need for more portable equip-
ment led to the development of numerous “electronic Leslies”and tremolo-vibrato
add-on devices.Few early Leslie simulators were authentic enough to fool even
causal listeners and rarely sounded like a real Leslie Speaker.Most relied on
simple phase-shift circuitry and their primary advantages were compactness and
low cost.Current equipment is much improved and it’s often difficult to tell the
difference between a real Leslie and a simulator, especially on recordings.
All mechanical rotary tremolo systems are based on the Doppler-effect. Discov-
ered by Austrian mathematician and physicist Christian Doppler (1803-1853) in
the early nineteenth century, the Doppler-effect is the apparent variation in pitch
that a stationary listener hears from a moving sound source.In practice, the
loudness of the sound also appears to vary and it is this combination of frequency
(vibrato) and ampli-tude (tremolo) modulation that give rotating speaker and other
Doppler-effect systems their characteristic sound.
Basic Doppler characteristics are easily created electronically.However, most
simulators don’t reflect sound or produce the unique audio characteristics of
mechanical systems.Rotating speaker elements also direct sound out the sides
and back of the cabinet which is reflected off nearby walls and surfaces.The
listener hears this combination of primary and reflected sound as a moving audio
field.Adding a second cabinet further enhances the effect.Even when the audio
source (organ) is mono, the rotating speaker elements and reflected sound create
a realistic stereo effect.
The RFX147 Rotorhorn simulates the Leslie speaker effect unlike any other
electronic simulator by utilizing an internal crossover.This provides a way to effect
the upper and lower frequencies differently much like a real rotating speaker.A
more authentic effect is thus produced.
1 6

DESCRIPTION
FRONT PANEL
INPUT LEVEL:Adjusts the amount of signal from your instrument to the RFX147
input circuitry.
OUTPUT LEVEL: Controls the amount of signal from the RFX147.
CHORUS/VIBRATO SWITCH:Selects between the Chorus/Rotating Speaker
effect mode and the monoVibrato mode.
DEPTH:Controls the delay time of the modulation circuitry.It essentially adjusts
the amount of effect.
RATE:Adjusts the amount of time taken to switch between Speed 1 and Speed 2.
SPEED 1: Adjusts the first modulation speed
SPEED 2: Adjusts the second modulation speed
ON/OFF SWITCH:Selects either the effected mode or bypass.
SPD SELECT SWITCH: Selects Speed 1 or Speed 2.
PWR LED:Indicates the RFX147 is conntected to a power source and the Power
Switch is in the ON position.
POWER SWITCH:Applies power to the RFX147.
REAR PANEL
FOOT
SWITCH LEFT OUT RIGHT OUT LEFT IN RIGHT IN
120 VAC
50/60 Hz 15 VA MADE IN U.S.A.
MODEL RP147
SERIAL NUMBER
147-
RISQUE DE CHOC - NE PAS ENLEVER
NRTL/C
WARNING:
To reduce the
risk of electric shock or fire,
do not expose this device to
rain or moisture.
:
CAUTION:
To reduce the risk
of electric shock do not remove
lid. No user serviceable parts
inside. Refer servicing to
qualified service personnel.
FOOT
PEDAL
120VAC 50/60HZ:Power cord - connect to a properly grounded AC outlet.
FOOT PEDAL:1/4" Tip Sleeve jack for connection to the optional RFX402 passive
volume/panner/control pedal, for adjusting SPEED 2. NOTE;WHENTHIS PEDAL
IS CONNECTED,THE FRONT PANEL SPEED 2 KNOB IS BYPASSED.
FOOT SWITCH: 1/4"TRS jack - connect to the provided RP8 two-button switch
for selecting Effect/Bypass and Speed1/Speed2.The EFFECT 1 switch bypasses
the effect, EFFECT 2 selectes Speed1 and Speed 2.
LEFT OUT:1/4" unbalanced jack for connection to an amplifier or mixer.
RIGHT OUT:1/4" unbalanced jack for connection to an amplifier or mixer.
NOTE:WHEN OPERATING IN MONO USE THIS JACK.
LEFT IN:1/4" unbalanced jack for connection to your keyboard, sound module, or
other instrument you wish to have the Rotorhorn effect.
RIGHT IN:1/4" unbalanced jack for connection to your keyboard, sound module,
or other instrument you wish to have the Rotorhorn effect.
NOTE:WHEN OPERATING IN MONO USE THIS JACK.
5 2
1
ROLLS CORPORATION
5968 South 350 West
Salt Lake City, UT
84107
1
Title: RFX147 ROTATING SPEAKER SIMULATOR Size: Document Number:
Date: 24 - Aug - 2001
Rev:
Sheet of
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B P A S S
R I N
L I N
L O U T R O U T
P O W E R
+12V
-12V
A C I N
P E D A L
B Y P A S S
+12V
+12V
+12V
+12V+12V
+12V
-12V
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+12V
-12V +12V
-12V
+12V
+12V
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+12V
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VB
-12V
+12V
-12V
+12V
R A T E
D E P T H
O U T V O L
-12V
R 4 10K
D 1
D 5 L D S G
Q 2 J 1 1 3
D 3
D 4
D 2
R 5
4 . 7 K
Q 3
2 N 3 0 6
C 1 1 U
R 1 1 0 0 K
R 2
100K
Q 4
2N 4124
P 4 50K
Q 5
2N 4124
R 3
10K
6 5
7
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U 8 B
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J 5 P H O N E 1 / 4
J 1 P H O N E 1 / 4 J 2 P H O N E 1 / 4 J 3 P H O N E 1 / 4 J 4 P H O N E 1 / 4
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U 1 B
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U 4 A
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1
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R
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7
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IN
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CLK1 2 CLK2 6
U 6 M N 3 0 0 7
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R 6 100K
R 7 100K
R 8 1 K
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R 1 7
R 1 8
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R 1
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1 K
R 1 6
10K
R 2 1
18K
R 2 2
4 . 7 K
R 2 3 220K
R 2 4
100K
R 2 7 100K
R 2 8 1 0 0
R 2 10K
R 3 0 22K
22K
R 3 4 10K
R 3 5 10K
R 3 6 10K
R 3 7
1 K
R 3 8
100K
R 3 47K
R 4 0
47K
R 4 1
1 K
R 4 2 1 K
R 4 3
10K
R 4 4
10K
R 4 5 1 M
R 4 8 470K
R 4
100K
R 5 0 220K R 5 1
100K
R 5 2 100K
R 5 3 4 7 K
R 5 4 22K
R 5 5
1 M R 5 6
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R 5 7
3 . 3 K
R 5 8
470K
R 5 10K
R 6 0 1 0 K
R 6 1
1 K
R 6 4
470K
R 6 5 100K
R 6 6
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R 6 8 100K
Q 8 2N 4124
D9
Q
13
CLK 11
Q
12
R
10 S8
VDD
14
VSS
0
U 7 B 4013
R 6 47K
R 7 0
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R 7 2 4 7 K
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C 2
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P 5 P 100K
P 1 0
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P 6 P 100K
P 7 P 100K
C
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RIN 2
1
GND 4
INV
5
6
OUT
7
0
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THD 9
DG 14
RIN 15
RC 16
GND 0
INV OUT
U 5 B N E 5 7 0
C 7
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CLK
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VDD 0
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Q 6 2 N 3 0 6
R 7 7 100K
R 7 8 100K
R 7 10K
1
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R 8 3 10K
B P A S S
+12V
D
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CLK
11
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R
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R 7 6 4 . 7 K
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RC
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R b R F X 1 4 7 . S C H
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C 4 1 1 U F
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1N 4001
1N 4001 1N 4001
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H 2 A
HD3
H 2 B
H 2 C
R 1 2 10K
R 1 3
R 1 4
SCHEMATIC

RIGHT IN
CONNECTION
Shown below in Fig 1 is a connection example for the RFX147.
NOTE:IFYOU ARE CONNECTING IN MONO, USE THE RIGHT INPUT AND
OUTPUT.
Connect the keyboard or module output(s) to the RFX147 INPUT(S), and the
RFX147 OUTPUT(S) to an amplifier, mixer, snake, etc.
Connect the RP8 footswitch to the FOOTSWITCH jack via a stereo 1/4" TRS to 1/
4"TRS cable.
If you have the optional RFX402p pedal, connect the CV OUT to the
FOOTPEDAL input via a stereo 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS cable.
Plug the power cord into a properly grounded AC outlet and switch the RFX147
power switch to the ON position.
OPERATION
To begin operating your Rotorhorn, first make sure all proper connections are
made, and the unit is on.We recommend mounting the unit in a secure 19" rack.
Press the effect ON/OFF switch, or press the EFFECT 2 switch on the RP8
footswitch to the OFF or bypassed mode so when you send signal to the unit you
hear an un-effected signal.Adjust the INPUT level control for maximum input
without distortion, adjust the OUTPUT level control to provide the proper amount
of signal for the next device. Remember that the more INPUT signal the RFX147
has to work with, the less OUTPUT is needed and thus there will be much less
noise created.The bypass level should match the effected level as closely as
possible.
Press in the CHORUS/VIBRATO switch so the RFX147 is in CHORUS mode.This
is the most effective rotating speaker effect.The VIBRATO is a mono effect.
Now engage the effect by pressing the ON/OFF switch or pressing the EFFECT 2
switch again on the RP8 footswitch. You should hear the effect.Use the RP8
EFFECT 1 switch or the SPD SELECT on the front panel of the RFX147 to switch
between the two speeds.This emulates the two speeds of the rotating speakers.
Figure 1 shows sample settings for the Rotorhorn.The DEPTH control is set for a
full sounding effect and the RATE control is set for a fairly quick change from
SPEED 1 to SPEED 2.SPEED 1 is set for a slow modulation and speed 2 is set
for the fastest modulation.
This is just a starting place.Experiment with different settings to acheive a sound
you like.
INPUT
LEVEL OUTPUT
LEVEL CHORUS
VIBRATO
DEPTH RATE SPEED 1 SPEED 2 ON
OFF SPD
SELECT
PWR
Fig 2.
Fig 1.
USING THE FOOT PEDAL - RFX402p
If you have the optional RFX402p, connecting it via the FOOTPEDAL jack on the
RFX147 rear panel will bypass the SPEED 2 control.The RFX402p will then
become the control for SPEED 2.
43