tech21 Boost R.V.B. User manual

POWER REQUIRE ENTS
* Utilizes standard 9V alkaline battery (not included). NOTE: Input jack activates battery.To conserve
energy, unplug when not in use. Power Consumption: approx. 50mA, for battery life of approximately
10 hours.
* USE DC POWE SUPPLY ONLY! Failure to do so may damage the unit and void warranty.
DC Power Supply Specifications:
-9V DC regulated or unregulated, 100mA minimum;
-2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).
Optional factory power supply is available: Tech 21 odel #DC2.
WARNINGS:
*Attempting to repair unit is not recommended and may void warranty.
*Missing or altered serial numbers automatically void warranty. For your own
protection: be sure serial number labels on the unit’s back plate and exterior
box are intact, and return your warranty registration card.
ONE YEAR LI ITED WARRANTY. PROOF OF PURCHASE REQUIRED. Manufacturer
warrants unit to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one (1) year from date of pur-
chase to the original purchaser and is not transferable. This warranty does not include damage resulting
from accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, or incorrect current or voltage. If unit becomes defective within
warranty period, Tech 21 will repair or replace it free of charge. After expiration, Tech 21 will repair
defective unit for a fee.
ALL REPAIRS for residents of U.S. and Canada: Call Tech 21 for Return Authorization
Number. Manufacturer will not accept packages without prior authorization, pre-paid freight (UPS
preferred) and proper insurance.
FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE & SERVICE:
Contact Tech 21 weekdays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST.
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
T: 973-777-6996 • F: 973-777-9899
E: [e-mail] • www.tech21nyc.com
©2007 Tech 21 USA, Inc. OWNER’S ANUAL

TECH 21, THE COMPANY
Tech 21 was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination of a trained ear and
electronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta made his invention commercially available
to players and studios around the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pioneered
Tube Amplifier Emulation in professional applications for recording direct and performing
live, and created an entirely new category of signal processing. There have since been
many entries into this niche, yet SansAmp continues to maintain its reputation as the
industry standard.
With a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals and MIDI products, as
well as “traditional” style amplifiers for guitar and bass. Each product is thoughtfully and
respectfully designed by B. Andrew Barta himself with the player in mind. Our goal is to
provide you with flexible, versatile tools to cultivate, control, refine and redefine your own
individual sound. Tech 21 takes great pride in delivering consistent quality sound, studio to
studio, club to club, arena to arena.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
The Boost .V.B. is an analog reverb emulator pedal that uniquely incorporates a clean
boost function for up to 9dB of additional volume. With boost and reverb in a single pedal,
your solos will jump out with greater dimension.
This pedal is designed with user-tweakable, “lo-fi” analog technology. By manipulating the
controls, you can infuse degrees of warmth and life characteristic of vintage reverbs. The
circuitry intentionally injects the inherent imperfections of vintage reverbs, which is what
makes them so seductive and nostalgic. A single, continuously-variable Time control provides
a full sweep of reverb. umble contours the low end of the reverb. The Mix, Feedback,
Tone and Level controls are 100% analog for warm, organic sounds. The Boost .V.B.
enables you to explore and custom tailor such reverb styles as spring, plate and natural
room/hall ambiance.
As with each Tech 21 product, the controls are designed to give you the flexibility to
obtain your desired sound. It is our hope that the Boost .V.B. will be a useful tool for
stimulating your creativity and, ultimately, providing the inspiration to play your best.
THE INS AND OUTS
1/4” INPUT: 1megOhm high impedance input, same as traditional tube amps. Also switches
battery power on/off. To avoid battery drain, unplug when unit is not in use.
1/4” OUTPUT: 1kOhm low impedance output drives long cables without loss of signal
integrity, even in bypass.
SIGNAL LEVEL TO INPUT/CONNECTIONS
The Boost .V.B. is designed to accommodate instrument level signals to the Input, such as the
output of a guitar, the output of distortion pedals, etc. For normal operation, signal level to Input
should be close to that of a standard electric guitar (approx -10dBm / 250mV).
NOTE: Some amplifier effects loops are line level, which will cause the Boost .V.B. to distort. It
will also compress the signal and reduce the output. The same may hold true for mixing boards.
Therefore, you may need to obtain a level matching transformer.
Be aware that line level signals will not damage the Boost .V.B., however the resulting sound may
not be particularly desirable.
GUIDE TO CONTROLS
TI E
Controls the decay time of the reverb from short to long. This single, continuously-variable con-
trol provides a smooth, full sweep to easily dial in the exact amount of reverb with one turn of
the knob.
TONE
100% analog shelving filter of 6dB per octave. Effects the high-end of the reverb signal. At maxi-
mum (5 o’clock), it has no effect. As you reduce the setting, it will decrease the high-end to round
off the signal and add warmth.
Tone Tips: Higher settings will yield a brighter, snappier, more in-your-face presence. Lower set-
tings will be darker, more distant. In general, and for a more natural sound, the reverb should be
slightly darker than your guitar signal or they may clash with each other.
FEEDBACK
100% analog circuit. Feeds back the reverb signal to the input to increase the amount of reverb.
Different from the Time control, Feedback is primarily useful to achieve various spring reverb
effects. We recommend using sparingly, as too much can cause oscillation or undesirable feedback.
Feedback tips: For optimal spring reverb, slowly increase Feedback just to the point of oscil-
lation, then reduce until it stops. For wild special effects, experiment with Feedback on the brink -
-or past-- the point of oscillation.
IX
100% analog circuit. Adjusts the ratio of direct and reverb signal. While most reverb pedals pro-
vide a maximum 50/50 mix ratio via a level control, the Tech 21 Mix control offers a sweep from
100% dry to 100% wet. This gives you more flexibility when you want to run through a parallel
effects loop without annoying phase cancellation, and to make the reverb signal louder than the
direct signal for special effect.
RU BLE
Controls the amount of low-end content of the signal. At maximum (5 o’clock), there is no effect.
Decreasing the setting from max will remove low end to make it tighter, which is useful for spring
and plate reverb settings in particular.
LEVEL / BOOST
100% analog circuit. Adjusts the overall output level. Increasing from unity gain (12 o’clock) pro-
vides additional boost, up to 9dB.
Level tip: If you have a 100% wet signal going through a parallel effects loop, use the Level to
adjust the mix of dry and effected signal.

BYPASS
Buffered bypass eliminates the shortcomings associated with “true bypass” (pops and clicks, and
high-end loss when multiple pedals are connected together), as well as signal loss associated with
other types of switching circuits.
TRAILS
Going into bypass mode with Trails engaged (down position) causes the reverb signal to naturally decay,
rather than stopping abruptly.
PLACEMENT NOTES
The general rule of thumb with time-based effects, is to place them last in the signal chain. Here
are some points to consider:
1) Into an amp’s effects loop. This will give you the cleanest, most true representation of
the effect because it is last in the chain --after the amp’s tone shaping, compression and distor-
tion. It is the closest way to replicate how reverbs are used in a recording studio.
2) In front of a distorted amp, amp emulator or distortion pedal. This is not rec-
ommended for any reverb effect because the distortion and compression will all change how the
reverb sounds. With the Boost .V.B., in particular, it will also impact the functionality of the Mix
and Feedback controls.
3) After an amp emulator (such as a SansAmp) or distortion pedal into an amp.
Set your amp completely clean to achieve the same results as running through an effects loop.
NOTEWORTHY NOTES
1) To find the best settings for interacting with your other gear, you may need to use rad-
ically different settings for each individual way you use it. You need not be discouraged or suspect
something is wrong with the unit. If you’ve got your sound, you’ve simply found the right balance to
complement each individual type of gear.
2) When recording through a studio mixer, set the Boost .V.B. at 100% wet. Use the
AUX send/return of the mixer and use the effects knob on the mixer channel to bring in the
desired amount of reverb.
3) The Boost R.V.B. is very responsive. Our controls are unusually sensitive and tend
to perform well beyond what would be considered “normal.”
4) LED indicator light. When battery runs low, the LED will become noticeably dim. Power
consumption is 50mA. With a fresh battery, you can expect the Boost .V.B. to operate for
approximately 10 hours of continuous use --more than enough for a full gig. To conserve battery
life, unplug the unit during breaks and any other time it is not in use. We recommend opting for a
power supply (Tech 21 Model #DC2 or equivalent), as it is environmentally-friendlier, will ensure
operation, save money on batteries, and relieve stress trying to remember when you last changed
the battery.