TREX SpinDoctor User manual

spindoctor
Overdrive preamp
User manual

CONGR ATUL AT IONS
on your purchase of SpinDoctor, the revolutionary
analogue overdrive preamp from T-Rex Engineering.
Whether you use it as an intelligent distortion pedal
or a preamp for live performance or studio record-
ing, SpinDoctor gives you a wealth of options.
Read this manual carefully to learn how to make the
most of SpinDoctor in any situation. Get to know
your SpinDoctor well – and it will reward you with
all the gorgeous tube-driven tone your playing de-
serves.

USING SPINDOCTOR
You’ll find your SpinDoctor’s main controls on the top of the unit.
And using them couldn’t be easier. Here’s what you do:
1. Use the channel switches (A, B, C and D) to select a channel.
2. Set the controls for the channel you’ve selected.
3. Hit STORE to save your settings.
Main controls
You’ll find the following controls on the top of your SpinDoctor:
CHANNEL switches: Select the channel (A, B, C, D) you want to play
through or edit.
TUBE DRIVE knob: Turn it down for a clean tube sound
– crank it up for more overdrive.
TONE CONTROL knob and BASS, MID, TREB, PRES buttons:
Press a parameter button and use the knob to set the level.
OUT LEVEL knob:
Control the channel’s overall volume.
BOOST button: Hit this for even more overdrive gain.
STORE button: Press to store your channel’s settings.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Your SpinDoctor features all the input and output options you need to get
the perfect sound in any situation.
Plug your guitar into the INPUT jack, and run a cable from the OUTPUT jack
to your combo amp or power amp, or from the SIM. OUT to a studio mixer or
your computer’s AD converter.
When running SpinDoctor into a combo amp, make sure the HI/LOW button
on the bottom of the unit is in the “up” position (this lowers output).
If you use SpinDoctor as a preamp – either with a power amp or running into
a mixer/AD converter – keep the HI/LOW button in the “down” position.
SpinDoctor makes a great preamp for recording guitar in the studio.
When you’re in the studio, try using the SIM. OUT to simulate the sound
of real speaker cabinet. Use the SIM. LEVEL knob to adjust volume, and the
FREQUENCY button to define the character of your “cabinet”.
Your SpinDoctor also features a MIDI input for controlling the unit
remotely via an external MIDI device. Read on to learn how to use these MIDI
capabilities.

MIDI SETUP
TO AMP INPUT
FROM GUITAR
FROM MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
TO SPINDOCTOR
FROM MIDI BOARD
MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
GUITAR
FROM GUITAR TO POWER AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO HIGH - BOTTOM POSITION)
FROM GUITAR TO AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO LOW - TOP POSITION)
CABINET
POWER AMP
GUITAR
GUITAR
AMP
CABINET
FROM GUITAR
MIXER
TO MIXER LINE INPUT
GUITAR
AMP
SPINDOCTOR / COMBO SETUP
SPINDOCTOR / POWER AMP SETUP
SPINDOCTOR/MIXER SETUP
SPINDOCTOR /COMBO/ MIDI BOARD SETUP
Your SpinDoctor features a logical, easy-to-use MIDI implementation that lets
you extend the number of SpinDoctor channels from 4 to as many as 127.
These channels can be created, stored and selected remotely via an external
MIDI controller.
SpinDoctor is programmed to communicate via MIDI channel 1. On your MIDI
board, use MIDI programs 5–127 to create and store your additional SpinDoctor
channels. When you switch to one of these channels via your MIDI board, all 4
SpinDoctor channel indicator lights will light up.
You can also use MIDI to control SpinDoctor channels from your computer-
based recording software. For example, you can store the SpinDoctor channel
you used when recording a
song, and call it up auto-
matically each time you
open the song for further
recording or editing.
For help with using a MIDI
controller or recording soft-
ware, please see the instruc-
tions that came with your
controller/software.
Overdrive pedal with combo amp:
TO AMP INPUT
FROM GUITAR
FROM MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
TO SPINDOCTOR
FROM MIDI BOARD
MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
GUITAR
FROM GUITAR TO POWER AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO HIGH - BOTTOM POSITION)
FROM GUITAR TO AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO LOW - TOP POSITION)
CABINET
POWER AMP
GUITAR
GUITAR
AMP
CABINET
FROM GUITAR
MIXER
TO MIXER LINE INPUT
GUITAR
AMP
SPINDOCTOR / COMBO SETUP
SPINDOCTOR / POWER AMP SETUP
SPINDOCTOR/MIXER SETUP
SPINDOCTOR /COMBO/ MIDI BOARD SETUP
Preamp with power
amp:
TO AMP INPUT
FROM GUITAR
FROM MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
TO SPINDOCTOR
FROM MIDI BOARD
MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
GUITAR
FROM GUITAR TO POWER AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO HIGH - BOTTOM POSITION)
FROM GUITAR TO AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO LOW - TOP POSITION)
CABINET
POWER AMP
GUITAR
GUITAR
AMP
CABINET
FROM GUITAR
MIXER
TO MIXER LINE INPUT
GUITAR
AMP
SPINDOCTOR / COMBO SETUP
SPINDOCTOR / POWER AMP SETUP
SPINDOCTOR/MIXER SETUP
SPINDOCTOR /COMBO/ MIDI BOARD SETUP
SETUP OPTIONS
TO AMP INPUT
FROM GUITAR
FROM MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
TO SPINDOCTOR
FROM MIDI BOARD
MIDI BOARD (CH. 1)
GUITAR
FROM GUITAR TO POWER AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO HIGH - BOTTOM POSITION)
FROM GUITAR TO AMP INPUT
(SET HIGH/LOW BUTTON TO LOW - TOP POSITION)
CABINET
POWER AMP
GUITAR
GUITAR
AMP
CABINET
FROM GUITAR
MIXER
TO MIXER LINE INPUT
GUITAR
AMP
SPINDOCTOR / COMBO SETUP
SPINDOCTOR / POWER AMP SETUP
SPINDOCTOR/MIXER SETUP
SPINDOCTOR /COMBO/ MIDI BOARD SETUP
Studio preamp:

GUAR ANTEE
T-Rex Engineering offers a two-year guarantee on all our products. In the
unlikely event of a malfunction, please send your product to us in Denmark.
We will then repair or replace your product and send it back to you – free of
charge and usually within a week.
Please note that we cannot replace a product until we have received it here
in Denmark.
About T-Rex
Based in Vejle, Denmark,T-Rex Engineering makes classic and signature effects
pedals for the world’s best musicians. Our approach blends hi-tech innovation
with old-world craftsmanship – always in the service of killer tone.
TECHNICAL SPECS
INPUT: 1/4” standard jack
OUTPUT: 1/4” standard jack
SIM. OUT: 1/4” standard jack
MIDI input
Power supply connector
CAUTION!
Use included T-Rex power supply only
Input impedance: >1 MOhm
Output impedance: <10 kOhm
Power supply: 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz
Power consumption: max. 30 watts
Size: 255 x 186 x 65 mm
(in box: 370 x 230 x 110 mm)
Shipping weight: 3 kg
Powered by 2 high-grade T-Rex
12AX7 triode tubes

T-Rex Engineering ApS, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
www.t-rex-engineering.com, mail: [e-mail]
Sebastian Jensen
Production Director
Lars Dahl-Jørgensen
Development Director
Steen Meldgaard Laursen
Managing Director
ISSUED IN VEJLE, DECEMBER 2007