TC Electronic VPD I User manual

DRIVE LEVELBOOST
REMOTEOUTPUT POWER INPUT
BOOST ON
MAX MAX MAXMIN MIN MIN
vintage pre-drivevintage pre-drive
SPK.SIM TONEBASS
RESONANCE
MID-BOOST
FLAT FLAT
TOP-BOOST
VPD1
Users manual
VPD1
vintage pre-drive

2
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Overview & Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Setup Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
My Favorite Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
TABLE OF CONTENT

3
INTRODUCTION
The new VPD1, is an all-analog vintage pre-drive pedal capable of producing
vintage tube style guitar tones. Based on TC's characteristic guitar pedal
design, VPD1 features a drive section and an additional boost section with a
resonance filter that allows for emphasizing treble or mid frequencies when the
boost is activated. Furthermore a speaker simulation filter allows for excellent
sound also in direct recording setups.
VPD1 differs from a traditional drive pedal by covering the full range guitar
signal, and it is perfect for reproducing those warm driven vintage tones that
you can normally get from a tube amp with the master volume turned all the
way up.
Simplicity, great sound, and timeless design make up the holy trinity of the
VPD1 vintage pre-drive pedal. This pedal is all about bringing out the best in
your favorite guitar/amp setup without any unwanted coloring of tone or quality-
compromising add-ons. VPD1 would therefore serve as an excellent companion
for the G-System from TC Electronic. The basic drive section delivers a
distinguished vintage overdrive allowing every characteristic of your instrument
to shine through. When you kick in the boost section, you get a saturated lead
sound with plenty of gain and sustain. Additional features on the boost section
are the Top and Mid boost emphasis filters that really let your tone cut through.
Questions and Support
Should you have questions left unanswered by this manual, please seek
additional information at TC Support accessed via www.tcelectronic.com.

4
OVERVIEW & FUNCTIONS
DRIVE LEVELBOOST
REMOTEOUTPUT POWER INPUT
BOOST ON
MAX MAX MAXMIN MIN MIN
vintage pre-drivevintage pre-drive
SPK.SIM TONEBASS
RESONANCE
MID-BOOST
FLAT FLAT
TOP-BOOST
VPD1

5
OVERVIEW & FUNCTIONS
1 Output
1/4” jack connection.
2 Remote Control Connection
With external relays such as the ones available on a TC Electronic
G-System it is possible to externally switch modes on the VPD1.
The VPD1 connection is a stereo 1/4” jack.
• Tip to ground alternates On/Off
• Ring to ground alternates Boost On/Off
• Tip and ring not connected gives Bypass mode.
3 Power Input
VPD1 needs an external power supply capable of delivering 9VDC
120mA.
4 Input
1/4” jack connection for input signal.
5 Boost
When Boost is activated, the Drive channel is driven harder, thus
giving more overdrive. The Boost control setting determines the
amount of boost that is sent to the Input of the drive channel.

6
6 Flat / Top Boost / Mid Boost - selector
When the Boost channel is active it is possible to add a Top-boost or
Mid-boost filter. If you prefer no filter, choose “Flat”.
· Top position: Top Boost (1kHz)
· Mid position: Off (no filter)
· Down Position: Mid Boost (500Hz)
7 Drive
Sets the amount of drive on the Drive channel.
8 Level
Sets the Output level of the pedal when it is active.
9 Bass
Bass attenuation for the Boost channel.
10 SPK SIM - Speaker Simulation
Press the small countersinked button using the point of a ballpoint pen
or similar to activate the speaker simulation filter. The filter simulates
the frequency response of a guitar speaker by rolling off high-end
frequencies after a carefully calculated pattern.
BOOST ON
vintage pre-drive
RESONANCE
MID-BOOST
FLAT FLAT
TOP-BOOST
OVERVIEW & FUNCTIONS

7
OVERVIEW & FUNCTIONS
This filter is ideal for direct recordings.
When the speaker filter is “on” it is active also when the
VPD1 is in bypass mode.
11 Tone
Use the Tone control to attenuate high-end frequencies if needed.
The Tone control operates on both channels.
12 Boost LED
Indicates when VPD1 is in Boost mode.
13 On LED
Indicates when VPD1 is active.
14 Boost Channel switch
Press to activate Boost channel. The VPD1 must be “on” for the Boost
channel to be active.
15 On/Off switch
Press to activate VPD1.

8
Live applications
• Connect your guitar to the VPD1 Input connector and connect the VPD1
Output to your guitar amp.
• Make sure that you have a 9VDC power supply connected to the pedal.
• Start by setting your basic overdrive sound by using the "Drive" and
"Level" potmeters. Use the Tone control to roll off some high frequencies if
necessary.
• Now kick in the "Boost" section by hitting the BOOST switch.
• Set the level of the overdrive via the Boost knob. Experiment with the
Resonance filters to create the special mid range sound that will allow your
guitar to cut through any wall of sound.
• Use an external switching device to remote control on/off and boost
functions. Please refer to the “overview” section of the manual for more
info on this subject.
Direct recording for studio application
• Connect your guitar to the VPD1 Input and the VPD1 Output to your mixer.
Depending on the type of channel in the mixer you connect to, you may
need to adjust the channel’s input gain.
• Activate the Speaker Simulation filter on the VPD1. Use e.g. the point of a
ballpoint pen.
• For advice on setting levels, drive and Resonance Filters, please follow
the advice described above under “Live applications”.
SETTING UP

9
SETUP EXAMPLES
Combo amp
DRIVE LEVELBOOST
REMOTEOUTPUT POWER INPUT
BOOST ON
MAX MAX MAXMIN MIN MIN
vintage pre-drivevintage pre-drive
SPK.SIM TONEBASS
RESONANCE
MID-BOOST
FLAT FLAT
TOP-BOOST
VPD1
INPUT
POWER SUPPLY
OUT IN
DRIVE LEVELBOOST
REMOTEOUTPUT POWER INPUT
BOOST ON
MAX MAX MAXMIN MIN MIN
vintage pre-drivevintage pre-drive
SPK.SIM TONEBASS
RESONANCE
MID-BOOST
FLAT FLAT
TOP-BOOST
VPD1
MIXER
INPUT
POWER SUPPLY
OUT IN
Activate Speaker Sim.
VPD1 with Combo
VPD1 in Direct Recording setup

10
SETUP EXAMPLES
• Use a Stereo to Stereo jack cable for Relay switching of on/off and
channel status.
VPD1 with G-System

11
SUGGESTED SETTINGS
Crunchy
A straight driven sound just breaking
up in that full-bodied bluesy tone.
Over Drive
The Drive section at max, giving you
a bit more edge. Notice how the
true guitar characteristics still shine
beautifully through.
Below you’ll find some suggested settings based on the following setup: a
Stratocaster, a Marshall JCM 800 and a 4x12 speaker cabinet. Depending on
your guitar’s output level and the gain setting of your amp, the Drive and Boost
settings may need to be adjusted slightly to attain sounds matching the
descriptions.

12
SUGGESTED SETTINGS
High Gain
The Boost section kicked in at a 12
o'clock position starting to hit the
High Gain style.
Top Boost
The Top Boost resonance filter allows
your tone to cut through any wall of
sound.

13
MY FAVORITE SETTINGS

14
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Input
Input impedance 1M
Max Level in 5V RMS (16 dBu)
Output
Max level out 5V RMS (16 dBu)
Mono Jack connected Single ended output
Output impedance 124 ohm (Single ended output)
Stereo Jack connected Pseudo balanced output
Output impedance 248 ohm (Pseudo balanced output)
Remote
Tip “ON/OFF” remote
(Tip shorted to sleeve = ON, Open = OFF)
Ring: “BOOST” remote
(Ring shorted to sleeve = BOOST,
Open = NO BOOST)
Note: Always use Stereo jack Plug.
Power
DC 9V regulated (Absolute maximum voltage: 12 Volt)
DC plug centre-pin Negative
Consumption: 120 mA
Dimensions 121 x 96 x 36 mm

TC ELECTRONIC A/S • SINDALSVEJ 34 • DK - 8240 • DENMARK • WWW.TCELECTRONIC.COM
Prod No. - 606026012