Ruppert acouswitch junior User manual

Ruppert Musical Instruments
20a, rue de Bascharage
L - 4995 Schouweiler
Luxembourg
Tel./Fax: [phone]
Web: www.rmi.lu
E-Mail: [email protected]
20a, rue de Bascharage
L - 4995 Schouweiler
Luxembourg
Tel./Fax: [phone]
Web: www.rmi.lu
Ruppert Musical Instruments
20a, rue de Bascharage
L - 4995 Schouweiler
Luxembourg
Tel./Fax: [phone]
Web: www.rmi.lu
Ruppert Musical Instruments
ACOUSWITCH JUNIOR
User Manual

Congratulations!
With the RMI Acouswitch Junior you have pur-
chased a high-quality piece of musical equip-
ment that will open up new dimensions in am-
plication of acoustic instruments and signal
routing. When developing the RMI Acouswitch
Junior we focused on the needs and wishes of
the professional musician who is not willing to
compromise on either sound or the technical
quality of the equipment. The RMI Acouswitch
Junior is manufactured, assembled and tested
in Germany to the highest quality standards
using only the best brand components avail-
able to ensure optimal treatment of the elec-
trical signal from your instrument.
The RMI Acouswitch Junior is an all-rounder,
equally suitable for electric and acoustic in-
struments. Whether the signal comes from
a magnetic or a piezo pickup, the high-end
preamp of the RMI Acouswitch Junior will
ensure that their specic characteristics are
uncompromised.
Due to its functional design, the RMI Acous-
witch Junior offers an “all-in-one” solution for
every musician who performs on stage with
both electric and acoustic instruments. The
RMI Acouswitch Junior can be used in stand-
alone mode or as the control centre of a pedal
board.
It is an A/B input switcher, a high-end pre-
amp, a clean booster, a 4-band EQ, an FX loop
switcher and last but not least a profession-
al-quality active DI box. The different operat-
ing modes allow a variety of uses united in the
smallest space.
I wish you every success with your RMI Acous-
witch Junior.
Yours,
Jacques Ruppert

Summary
Introduction 4
Setting the operating modes 5
Description 8
Examples of possible setups 13
Tech Talk 16
Signal Flow Diagram 18
Technical data 19
Product Guarantee 20

4
Introduction
Why a specic preamp/switcher/DI pedal for
acoustic instruments AND electric instru-
ments? The reasons are obvious:
Many musicians use different instruments
on stage, switch between electric and acous-
tic guitars, between cello and electric guitar
or other instruments back and forth, which
they also like to independently mute, boost
or send though a few effects as well as route
them arbitrarily to an amp or to a DI-box, or a
mixer. However, acoustic instruments have a
characteristic attack with a very steep initial
transient followed by a weak electrical signal.
On top of this, the frequency range of acoustic
instruments goes from deep fundamentals
(e.g. the low C-string of a cello approx. 65 Hz)
to very high overtones that have a crucial im-
pact on the timbre of the acoustic instrument
even though they are approaching the upper
limits of the audible spectrum.
These characteristics of acoustic signals
make enormous demands on the electronics.
Only equipment specically designed for the
purpose is able to handle such a demanding
signal pattern adequately. The Acouswitch Ju-
nior is able to meet these requirements.
Functions and applications overview
The Acouswitch Junior offers versatile ap-
plications that can be adjusted before use.
For details on how the modes can easily be
switched see Setting the operating modes. If
you have any questions feel free to contact our
support [email protected]
- Acouswitch Junior as A/B input switcher
The inputs A and B have an impedance of
5 MOhm each. Both inputs can be used for
different instruments.
The A/B foot switch permits toggling between
the two inputs. If no cable is connected to the
instrument B input, the signal from instru-
ment A can be routed to channel A or B by
using the A/B foot switch. Where and how your
instrument signal is switched, depends on the
selected operating mode. In Classic Mode the
selected instrument is always routed to both
outputs, whereas in Electro Acoustic Mode
the outputs are alternately muted depending
on the selected instrument input. In Teacher’s
Mode there is a mix-function, which means
that you can also toggle between A+B and B
only. For details about the switching functions
see Changing the operating mode of the A/B
switch (p. 5).
- Acouswitch Junior as high-end preamp
with 4-band EQ
Channel A of the Acouswitch Junior features a
high-end preamp and a 4-band EQ specically
designed for acoustic instruments. Featuring
bass, low mids, high mids and treble controls,
it is easy and intuitive to use.
In stand-alone use the pedal can drive a pow-
eramp, an active monitor or an in-ear monitor-
ing system.
Channel B pursues the philosophy of not rout-
ing the signal through unneeded electronics,
but rather keeps it pure and unprocessed. For
this reason channel B has no EQ. Since each
channel has its own volume controller, the vol-
ume of both channels can be easily balanced in
any operating mode.
- Acouswitch Junior as FX looper
The Acouswitch Junior has one serial FX loop,
which depending on the operating mode can
be switched. In Loop Boost Mode this FX loop

5
Setting the operating modes
can be switched together with the boost func-
tion. How to change the mode of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch to Loop Boost Mode see
Changing the operating mode of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch (p. 6).
- Acouswitch Junior as clean booster
Depending on the operating mode of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch a second, controllable am-
plier stage can be added via the foot switch
behind the serial FX loop.
The nal amplication of the booster can be
adjusted via the BOOST potentiometer. The
mode in which the boost function is switched
exclusively is called the Boost Mode. Here, the
Mute/Loop/Boost button switches the booster
on and off. In Mute Mode this second amplier
stage is always on, so the nal volume can be
adjusted via the BOOST potentiometer.
- Acouswitch Junior as DI box
The Acouswitch Junior can be used to send the
output signal directly to a mixing console. The
high-quality components and features of the
Acouswitch Junior (high-end preamp, ground
switch, PRE/POST signal processing switch,
rugged construction) make the Acouswitch
Junior an excellent DI box, be it in a live setting
or in a recording situation.
Additional features
- TUNER OUT: Connect your tuner here to keep
it out of the signal path and prevent poten-
tial sound losses. This way the tuner can be
on all the time allowing you to check your
tuning on the y.
- Lehle True Sound Technology (for details
please consult the chapter Tech Talk p. 16).
- Specially design to protect the controls from
damage and to prevent inadvertent chang-
es to the settings.
- The design of the housing permits easy
installation: the ultra-at base and remov-
able rubber feet allow the unit to be securely
attached to the pedal board using Velcro or
similar.
Changing the operating mode of the A/B switch
To change the operating mode of the A/B
switch (line-in, foot switch on the right) pro-
ceed as follows:
1. Disconnect the Acouswitch Junior from the
power supply. As a precaution, we recom-
mend to disconnect all other cables or at
least to ensure that all devices connected to
the Acouswitch Junior are turned off. Other-
wise unwanted noise could occur.
2. Keep the A/B button pressed.
3. Connect the Acouswitch Junior to the mains
supply by plugging the power supply plug
into the tting input jack (9-15 V, leftmost)
of your Acouswitch Junior.
4. The LED above the A/B button now ashes a
sequence of 3 different ashing signals:
● • (ashes 1x) → Classic Mode
●● • • (ashes 2x) → Electro Acoustic Mode
●●● • • • (ashes 3x) → Teacher’s Mode
Depending on the ashing signal that is
shown at the moment you release the A/B
button, you choose Classic Mode, Electro
Acoustic Mode or Teacher’s Mode. The se-
lected mode will stay even when you dis-
connect your Acouswitch Junior from the
power supply, until you set another operat-
ing mode as described above.

6
In Classic Mode input A and B are switched
alternately, so B is muted when A is on and
vice versa. If input A (INST A) is selected, the
LED above the foot switch will shine blue, if
INST B is activated, the LED will light up
(steady) white. The outputs Line Out and DI
Out are always on, so the selected instrument
signal is always routed to both outputs.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – INST A selected – EQ – Line
Out and DI Out on.
LED shines white – INST B selected – no EQ –
Line Out and DI Out on.
No mixing function.
In Electro Acoustic Mode, as in Classic Mode,
the two instruments are switched alternately,
so B is muted if A is on and vice versa. The
special feature of this mode is that each in-
put is exclusively assigned to an output. The
respectively other output will then be muted.
Instrument A, which is supposed to be an
acoustic instrument, will then be routed to
the DI Out. Instrument B, an electric guitar
for example, will be solely routed to Line Out,
which could be connected to a guitar amp for
example.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – INST A selected – EQ – DI
Out on – Line Out muted.
LED shines white – INST B selected – Line Out
on – DI Out muted.
No mixing function.
In Teacher’s Mode, there is now a mixing func-
tion: If the LED shines blue, both inputs are se-
lected and will also be routed to both outputs.
So, two instruments can be amplied simulta-
neously and connected e.g. with a guitar amp
via Line Out and with a mixer via DI Out. This
way, two players can use the same amp (for
example teacher and student).
If you switch now and the LED shines white,
only input B will be active and routed to both
outputs.
In Teacher’s Mode, the mix-function also al-
lows to use two pickup systems for the same
instrument (e.g. mic and piezo) simultaneously
and mix, boost, switch and lter them with the
Acouswitch Junior.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – Mix on, INST A and INST B,
Line Out and DI Out on. Signal A with EQ, Sig-
nal B without EQ.
LED shines white – INST B only, Line Out and
DI Out on. The instrument signal stays clean.
Changing the operating mode of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch
To change the operating mode of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch (foot switch on the left)
proceed as follows:
1. Disconnect the Acouswitch Junior from the
power supply. As a precaution, we recom-
mend to disconnect all other cables or at least
to ensure that all devices connected to the
Acouswitch Junior are turned off. Otherwise
unwanted noise could occur.
2. Keep the Mute/Loop/Boost button pressed.
3. Connect the Acouswitch Junior to the mains
supply by plugging the power supply plug
into the tting input jack (9-15 V, leftmost)
of your Acouswitch Junior.
4. The LED above the A/B button now ashes a
sequence of 4 different ashing signals:
● • (ashes 1x) → Mute Mode
●● • • (ashes 2x) → Loop Mode
●● • • • (ashes 3x) → Boost Mode
• • • • (ashes 4x) → Loop Boost Mode
Depending on the ashing signal that is
shown at the moment you release the A/B
button, you choose Loop Boost Mode, Boost

7
Mode or Mute Mode. The selected mode will
stay even when you disconnect your Acous-
witch Junior from the power supply, until you
set another operating mode as described
above.
In Mute Mode, the serial FX loop (Loop) and
the boost are active, when the LED is off
(dark); when the LED shines blue, all will be
muted.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – Mute on – Line Out and DI
Out muted.
LED is off – Loop and Boost on.
In Loop Mode, the Mute/Loop/Boost button af-
fects only the loop function.
The serial effects loop is active when the LED
shines blue. The boost function is always ac-
tive. In this conguration, the Mute/Loop/Boost
button has no mute function.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – Loop on, Boost on, Mute in-
active.
LED is off – Loop off, Boost on, Mute inactive.
In Boost Mode the Mute/Loop/Boost button af-
fects only the boost function.
The serial FX loop is active whether the instru-
ment signal is boosted or not. In this congu-
ration, the Mute/Loop/Boost button also has no
mute function.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – Boost and Loop on, Mute
inactive.
LED is off – Boost off, Loop on, Mute inactive.
In Loop Boost Mode, the Mute/Loop/Boost
button switches the serial FX loop along with
the booster.
In this conguration, the Mute/Loop/Boost but-
ton has no mute function. When the LED shines
blue, the Boost function (intensity can be set via
the Boost potentiometer) is selected, as is the
serial FX loop. If the LED is off, in Loop Boost
Mode boost function and FX loop are off.
Shortly:
LED shines blue – Loop and Boost on, Mute
inactive.
LED is off – Loop and Boost off, Mute inactive.

8
Description
11 10 9 8
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
20
19
18 17
16 15
14 13
12
21
1. Input INST A
Connect your rst instrument here.
We recommend this input jack for acoustic
instruments, because this input to channel A
has the tone controls, and is routed to the DI
Out in Electro Acoustic Mode. The input gain
for this channel can be adjusted via VOL A.
2. Input INST B
Connect your second instrument here – or the
2nd pickup of the same instrument.
In Electro Acoustic Mode, INST B is the appro-
priate input jack for the electric instrument,
because the signal from INST B then will be
routed to LINE OUT. Channel B pursues the
philosophy of not routing the signal through
unneeded electronics, but rather keeps it
pure and unprocessed. The input gain for this
channel can be adjusted via VOL B.
If only Input A is being used the foot switch
toggles the input A signal between channel A
and channel B. This allows to set up your basic
sound on your amp using the straight-through
channel B and to have a second sound-setting
available by pressing the foot switch, either for
a second instrument or for a change of style.
3. LINE OUT
Connect your amplier here.
When operating the Acouswitch Junior in
Electro Acoustic Mode the amp for the electric
instrument should be connected here. In this
mode, only the signal from INST B is routed to
the LINE OUT, but not the signal INST A.

9
4. TUNER OUT
Connect your tuner here.
Connecting your tuner here guarantees that
the tuner is completely out of the signal path
and does not cause sound losses. It allows you
to keep your tuner on all the time so that you
can check your tuning and intonation control
on the y. To defeat the sound while tuning, set
the Mute/Loop/Boost button to Mute Mode and
then switch the Mute/Loop/Boost button until
the LED shines blue. Then, the MUTE button
defeats both the LINE OUT and the DI OUT.
5. SEND output (Serial Loop)
Connect the rst effect you want to run in the
serial loop here.
The serial loop allows to integrate an external
effects unit.
6. RETURN input (Serial Loop)
Connect the output of the last effect connected
to the SEND of the serial loop here.
If the Return jack is not used, the signal from
the send jack is present. The return socket can
also be used for a third active instrument. If
the Loop or Loop Boost Mode is active (see
Changing the operating modes of the Mute/
Loop/Boost switch), the Loop Boost button will
activate the third instrument.
7. External power supply
Connect your external power supply here (9-15
V DC or 7-12 V AC; 150 mA min.).
Battery operation is not suitable for this device.
The external power supply should provide not
less than 9 V and not more than 15 V. Either
alternating (AC) or direct current (DC) sources
can be used and the polarity is not relevant. AC
power sources from 7 to 12 V can also be used.
The voltage supplied is internally rectied, l-
tered, stabilised and then brought to 18 V. To get
the best out of your pedal setup we recommend
that you use high-quality power supplies with
isolated output sections in your setup!
8. Volume control channel A
Adjust with this control the volume of channel A.
This control adjusts the volume of channel
A. To permit optimal matching of the volume
between channel A and channel B this control
enables you to boost and to cut the signal, the
neutral position is at 12 o’clock. The high-end
preamp used here allows you to connect the
Acouswitch Junior directly to a power amp.
9. Bass control
Adjust with this control the amount of bass in
your tone of channel A.
The bass control B is specically designed for
acoustic instruments in order to cut or boost
the low frequencies by +/- 15 dB with a peak
lter characteristic of about 80 Hz.
10. LM control
Adjust with this control the amount of low mids
of channel A.
This control is designed for cutting and boost-
ing the low mids by +/- 15 dB with a peak lter
characteristic. The spectrum to be controlled is
already preset and is at 360 Hz.
11. HM control
Adjust with this control the amount of high
mids of channel A.
This control is designed for cutting and boost-
ing the high mids by +/- 15 dB with a peak
lter characteristic. The spectrum to be con-
trolled is already preset and is at 2 kHz.
12. Treble control
Adjust with this control the amount of treble of
channel A.

10
With the treble control you can cut or boost
high frequencies by +/- 12.5 dB via a shelving
lter at 10 kHz.
13. Volume control channel B
Adjust with this control the volume of channel B.
This control adjusts the volume of channel
B. To permit optimal matching of the volume
between channel A and channel B this control
enables you to boost and to cut the signal, the
neutral position is at 6 o’clock.
14. BOOST control
Adjust with this control the boost level or the
output volume of the entire device.
Whether the booster is switched on or always
is on, depends on the mode of the Mute/Loop/
Boost control see Changing the operating
mode of the Mute/Loop/Boost switch (p. 6). The
booster is behind the serial FX loop. In Boost
Mode the booster can be used as solo boost.
In Loop Boost Mode the serial loop is switched
together with the Boost. For all modes applies:
BOOST control rightmost (1 o’clock): no gain;
control leftmost (11 o’clock): gain of +12 dB.
The signal level can therefore only be boosted,
but not cut with this potentiometer.
15. Status display for foot switch A/B
This LED shows different switching statuses
depending on the adjusted mode.
Classic Mode
LED shines blue – INST A selected – EQ – Line
Out and DI Out on.
LED shines white – INST B selected – no EQ –
Line Out and DI Out on.
No mix function.
Electro Acoustic Mode
LED shines blue – INST A selected – EQ – DI
Out on – Line Out muted.
LED shines white – INST B selected – Line Out
on – DI Out muted.
No mix function.
Teacher’s Mode
LED shines blue – Mix on, INST A and INST B,
Line Out and DI Out on. Signal A with EQ, Sig-
nal B without EQ.
LED shines white – INST B alone, Line Out and
DI Out on. Instrument signal stays unchanged.
For details see Changing the operating mode
of the A/B switch (p. 5).
16. Status display for MUTE/LOOP BOOST
This LED shows different switching statuses
depending on the adjusted mode.
The LED shines blue, when the preset function
is on. That means:
In Mute Mode:
LED shines blue – Mute on, all is muted.
LED is off – Loop and Boost on.
In Loop Mode:
LED shines blue – Loop and Boost on, Mute
inactive.
LED is off – Loop off, Boost on, Mute inactive.
In Boost Mode:
LED shines blue – Boost and Loop on, Mute
inactive.
LED is off – Boost off, Loop on, Mute inactive.
In Loop Boost Mode:
LED shines blue – Loop and Boost on, Mute
inactive.
LED is off – Loop and Boost off, Mute inactive.
For details see Change the operating mode of
the Mute/Loop/Boost switch.