Vintage Revolution Acoustic box live1.0 rel A User manual

Acoustic boxTM live1.0 rel A
Owner’s Manual

Introduction
1.2 SUMMARY OF FEATURES
• Impressivesoundquality
• Independentparametricequalizerperchannel
• IndependentvolumecontrolforPAoutandAmpout
• 48Vphantompower
• Mastermute
• Compactsizeandlight
• ManufacturedinItaly
• Neutrikaudioconnectors
• IntegratedtoroidalpowersupplyUS-EUselectable
2
1.1 MESSAGE TO THE USERS
ThankyoufromallofusatVintageRevolutionforpurchasingtheAcoustic
Boxpreamp.Wehopeitwillprovetobethebestinvestmentofyourmusical
career.
OurobjectiveindesigningtheAcousticBoxwassimple:toeliminatecompro-
mise.Webelievethatthisdevicewillexceedevenyourwildestexpectations
forlivestageorstudiorecording
Enjoyyourpurchase.
From the team at VR

Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Thisproducthasbeendesignedandmanufacturedtomeetstrictsafetyandqual-
itystandards.Itisveryimportantthatyouareawareofthefollowinginstallationand
operationprecautions:

1. Read and keep these instructions and heed all warnings
Youshouldreadallthesafetyandoperatinginstructionscarefullybeforeoperat-
ingthisapparatus.Retainthismanualforfuturereferenceandadheretoallwarn-
ingsinthemanualorontheapparatus.
2. Water and moisture
Thepresenceofelectricitynearwatercanbedangerous.Donotusetheappara-
tusnearwater–forexamplenexttoabathtub,asink,inawetbasementornear
aswimmingpool,etc.
3. Object or liquid entry
Takecarethatobjectsdonotfallandliquidsarenotspilledintotheenclosure
throughanyopenings.Liquidlledobjectssuchasvasesshouldnotbeplacedon
theapparatus.
4. Cleaning
Unplugtheunitfromthemainssupplybeforecleaning.Thecaseshouldnormally
onlyrequireawipewithasoft,damp,lint-freecloth.DONOTusepaintthinnersor
otherchemicalsolventsforcleaning,whichwilldestroyprintsandpaintwork.DO
NOTusealcoholorhouseholdcleaningproducts.DONOTUSEWATER.
5. Power sources
Onlyconnecttheapparatustoapowersupplyofthetypedescribedinthe
operatinginstructionsorasmarkedontheapparatus,andinstalltheunitnearthe
poweroutlet(socket).Appliancecouplerisconsideredasdisconnectdevice.It
shallremainreadilyoperable..
6. Power-cord protection
Powersupplycordsshouldberoutedsothattheyarenotlikelytobewalkedon,
bent,stretchedorpinchedbyitemsplaceduponoragainstthem,payingparticu-
larattentiontocords,plugs,conveniencereceptaclesandthepointwherethey
exitfromtheapparatus.
7. Grounding
Ensurethatthesafetypurposeofthepolarisedorgrounding-typeplugsoftheap-
paratusisnotdefeated.Iftheprovidedplugdoesnottintoyouroutlet,contact
aqualiedelectriciantoreplacetheobsoleteoutlet.
8. Abnormal smell
Ifanabnormalsmellorsmokeisdetectedfromtheapparatus,turnthepoweroff
immediatelyandunplugtheunitfromthewalloutlet.Contactyourdealerim-
mediately.
9. Servicing and maintenance
Noneofthepartsinsidetheenclosureofthisapparatusisserviceablebytheuser.
DONOTopentheenclosureandDONOTattempttomodifytheinternalcircuitry.
Allservicingandmaintenancebeyondwhatdescribedinthismanualshouldbe
referredtoqualiedservicepersonnel.
10. Damage requiring service
Theapparatusshouldbeservicedbyqualiedservicepersonnelwhen:
• Objectshavefallenonto,orliquidhasbeenspilledintotheapparatus,or
• Theapparatushasbeenexposedtorain,or
• Theapparatusdoesnotappeartooperatenormallyorshowsamarked
changeinperformance,or
• Theapparatushasbeendroppedand/ortheenclosuredamaged.
3
The lightning flash symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated ‘dangerous voltage’ within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
shock to persons.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover or back. No user
serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to
rain or moisture.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, unplug the apparatus when there
is high probability of lightning.
The apparatus MUST BE EARTHED. Use a three wire type power cord like the
one provided with the apparatus.

Working with Presets
4
CE & RoHS Compliance - Warranty
3.2 RoHS COMPLIANCE
ThisdevicehasbeenmanufacturedincompliancewithDirective2002/95/
EContheRestrictionoftheUseofcertainHazardousSubstancesinElectrical
andElectronicEquipment(RoHS).
This marking indicates that this product must not be dis-
posed with other household waste throughout the EU.
To dispose of your product, please use your local return
and collection system, or contact the retailer where the
product was purchased or Vintage Revolution B.V.
3.1 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Acoustic box live
ConformstothefollowingProductSpecications:
Safety:  EN60065/IEC60065
EMC:  EN55103-1,EN55103-2
TheproductcomplieswiththerequirementsoftheLowVoltageDirective
73/23/EECandtheEMCDirective89/336/EECasamendedbyDirective
93/68/EEC.

3-4
Before Getting Started
3.3 DISPOSAL
4.1 BOX CONTENT
ThefollowingitemsshouldbeincludedinyourAcousticBoxlivepackage:
• TheAcousticBoxlivepreamp
• Powercord
4.2 SHIPPING, STORING AND TRANSPORTING
GreatcarewastakeninthemanufacturingandpackagingofyourAcoustic
boxpreamp.Everythingshouldbeincludedandinperfectworkingorder.
Damagedunitsshouldneverbesentdirectlytous.Pleaseinformthedealer
fromwhomyouacquiredyourPedalProofthedamage,aswellasthetrans-
portationcompanythatdeliveredittoyou.Youmustfollowthestepsabove
inordertoretainthevalidityofyourwarranty.

Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22
Working with Presets
5
Power information
Power chord: ConnectonlypowerchordsupplywiththeAboxtothisinput.Theotherendofthechordmustbeconnectedto
anearthedmainsocke
Voltage selector: SelecttheACvoltagecorrespondingtoyourlocalACpower
Fuse Holder: T0,1AH250V.Alwaysreplacethefusewiththecorrectvalue

Abox in detail
6
6 Channel 1 (CH1)
TheCH1isahighinputimpedancechanneldesignedforpassivetransducer
(eg.piezoormagneticpickup)anditcanhandleupto0dBuwithoutdistor-
tion.UseamonojackfromtheleftsideinproximityoftheCH1toconnectto
yourpickup.
Ifyouareproperlyconnected,yoursoundwillbemonitoredviatheCH1lamp.
6.1 Parametric equalizer (CH1)
TheCH1isequippedwithaparametricequalizerdesignedtocontrolthe
midsofyourpassivepickup.Itoperatesbetween360Hzto4KHzbycorrecting
within+/-12dB.
Ifyouuseapiezotransducer,byattenuatingatleast6dBthefrequency
around2.5KHz,youwillreducethemetallic-nasalresponcerenderingthe
soundmuchmorenatural.
6.2 Level control (CH1)
TheLEVELknobcontrolstheoutputsignaloftheCH1.Ifyouaretuningthe
CH1’sequalizerorifyoudonnotintendtouseCH2keeptheLEVELofCH2to
minimum.
7 Channel 2 (CH2)
TheCH2hasalowbalancedinputimpendacedesignedforconnectingto
eitheractiveorpassivemicrophoneviaanXLRbalancedcable.
Ifyouarecorrectlyconnectedtoyourmic,theCH2’slightwillmonitoryour
micsignalstrength.
7.1 Parametric equalizer (CH2)
Thechannel1isalsoequippedwithparametricequalizerdesignedtocontrol
thelow/lowmidsofyourmic.Itoperatesbetween100Hzto1.8KHzbycorrect-
ingwithin+/-12dB.

Abox in details
7
Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22
7.3 Notch filter
Theprogrammablenotchlteronchannel2canbeactivatedordeactivated
usingtheswitchplacedontopofthenotchfrequencytuner.Ifyouneedto
usethenotchlterturnonthisswitchandtunethefreauencywiththecorre-
spondingknob(50Hz-250Hz)
7.4 Phase switch CH2
Thephaseswitchallowsfor180°phaseshiftbetweenCH2andCH1whenthe
switchisengaged.
7.5 Low pass shelving filter
Whenthelterisengaged,itattenuateschannel2of6dBintherange1KHz-
20KHz.Thislowpasslterisveryhandyforthosewhoperformwithadrummer
andneedhighvolumeonstage.Therefore,theadvantageofthislteristo
reduce,whenengaged,thecontributionoftheunwantedsignalscoming
fromtheotherinstruments/noisepresentsonthestage.Byreducingthemic
contributioninthisfrequencyrange,thelterallowshighervolumewithless
feedback
7.6 Level control (CH2)
TheLEVELknobcontrolstheoutputsignaloftheCH2.Ifyouaretuningthe
CH2’sequalizerorifyoudonotintendtouseCH1keeptheLEVELofCH1to
minimum.
8 Mixed channel CH1+CH2
Themixedchannelisthesignalobtainedbyaddingtheprocessedchannels
CH1andCH2.EachindividualchannelcontributionissetbytheLEVELcontrol
knob(seesection6.2and7.6)
8.1 Tone control
ToequalizethemixedchannelstheAboxusesafulltonecontrolsectionLOW-
MID-HIGHdesignedtobeeffectiveonacousticinstruments.
TheMIDtonecontrolcanbeseenasamasterMIDwhileeachparametricEQs
arenetuningandcanbeaccuratelyplacedontheproperfrequencyspot.
8.2 Phase ALL switch
Whentheswitchisengaged,thephaseALLswitchallowsfor180°phaseshift
betweenCH1+CH2andtheacousticsignal.Thisswitchishandyforcontrol-
lingthefeedbackandforgettingagoodbassresponseoftheblendedsignal
addingonyouracousticsound.
8.3 Master mute
TheMuteswitchallowssmoothlytomutesimultaneouslytheAMP-OUTandthe
PA-OUT.Thisswitchisparticularlyhandywhenthereisaneedtooperatesilent-
ly(connect/disconnectyourpiezo/mics,checktheincomingsound,etc...)

Abox in detail
8
8.4 Ground Lift
ThisswitchtacklesthegroundloopissueencounteredwhenAMPandPAare
simultaneouslyconnectedtotheAbox.
IfyouexerienceaHum,setthisswitchtoLIFTposition.
8.5 LEVEL AMP
TheLEVELAMPknoballowsyoutocontroltheoutputsignallevelthatisdi-
rectedintoyourAMPviatheunbalancedJACK.

8.6 LEVEL PA
TheLEVELPAknoballowsyoutocontroltheoutputsignallevelconnectedto
yourPA/MIXERviaXLRbalancedcable.
9 Acoustic Box in practice
Thissectionwillguideyoutodoyoursoundcheckinafewminutesandobtain
thebestsoundresultwiththepreamp
Beforesupplyingpowertothepreamp,makesurethatthemainsvoltageis
properlyselcted(seepage5)
9.1 Preparation
TurnontheAboxusingthepowerswitchandmutetheoutputusingthemute
switch(positionup)ontheAbox.
Connectallyourinputs(micand/orpiezo)andoutputconnections(PAand/
orAMP.
Verifyingusingthelightmonitorsthatthepickup/micareproducingasignalin
thechannel/s
PlacetheAMPandPALEVELknobsat12o’clockandsilencetheLEVELknobs
ofbothinputchannels
9.2 Using condenser/membrane mic and piezo
Thissectioncontainssomenetuningtipsforthosewhousecondensermic
(DPA4099,ATM350,AKGC414,Neumannu87,etc..)ordynamicmic(SHURE
SM57,SM58,etc..)incombinationwithpiezopickup.
IncreasetheLEVELofCH1tillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.
SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorresponding
frequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusinga
piezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usethe
MIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.Inmostofthecases
placingtheMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.
Beforeaddingthemicsignal,deactivatethenotchlter,thelowpasslterand
thephaseswitchCH2bysettingthecorrespondingswitchesindownposition.
GentlyincreasetheLevelofchannel2tillthelevelofthesecondchannelis
addingthebottomend.UsethephaseswichCH2toadjustthephaseshift
betweenthetwochanelsifrequired.
Ifyouexperiencelowfrequencyresonance/feedbackturnonthenotchand
tuneituntillthelowfrequencyresononace/feedbackisremoved.
UsetheLowPassFiltertoremove6dBsomeofthemidshighfromthemic
channel.Thatmaybeusefullifyouareperformingwithadrummer.
AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHformthetonecontroloftheblendedsignalto
improvethesoundquality.
9.3 Using AKG C411 and piezo
IncreasetheLevelofChannel1tillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.
SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorresponding
frequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusinga
piezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usethe
MIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.Inmostcasesplacing
theMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.BeforeaddingtheAKGC411signal
fromCH2,deactivatetheNotchandactivatethelowpass.

Abox in details
9
Rev. 2.0 - EN EU - fw 5.22
PlacetheFREQ’snob(CH2)to100HzandthecorrespondingMIDknobto15o’
clock.IncreasetheLEVELuntillyouhaveenoughlowendfromtheCH@@
CH2.AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHformthetonecontroloftheblendedsignal
toimprovethesoundquality.
9.4 Using only piezo
IncreasetheLevelofChannel1untillyouhaveagoodaudiblevolume.
SettheMID’s(CH1)knobto15o’clockandsearchwiththecorresponding
frequency(FREQ)knobforthemostunpleasentfrequency.Ifyouareusing
apiezoitshouldbebetween12and15o’clock.Onceyouarethere,usethe
MIDknobtoremoveituntillthesoundismorenatural.Inmostcasesplacing
theMIDknobat9o’clockwilldothejob.
KeeptheLevelofchannel2tominimumsinceyouwillnotusethischannel.
AdjustyourLOW-MIDS-HIGHfromthetonecontroloftheblendedsignalto
improvethesoundquality.
9.5 How to avoid feedback issues when you play
with mic and piezo.
Audiofeedbackisaspecialkindofpositivefeedbackwhichoccurswhena
soundloopexistsbetweenyourmicandtheAMPorPAspeaker.
Thetwomajorparametersthatdeterminestheamountoffeedbackarethe
distancefromyourcabinetandvolumeofyourmic.
Therearetwomainfrequenciesmostsensitivetofeedback.Therstareais
theLOW-LOWMID(100Hz-250Hz)andthesecondareaistheMIDarea(400Hz-
1.5KHz).FortheLOW-LOWMIDareathenotchlterisaperfectsolution.Forthe
MIDareayoucanusetheLOWPASSSHELVINGFILTERswitchandtheMIDknob.
Bychangingthephaseoftheblendedchannel(PhaseALLswitch)youvirtu-
allymoveyourinstrumentintoanotherphysicallocationandthereforeyou
changethefeedbacksettings.
ByboostingthelowendwiththeparametriqEQaround100HZandreducing
theLEVELofCH2,youcanhaveagreatbottomendwithlowfeedback.This
ofcourseworkswellifyouareusingthemicincombinationwiththepiezo.
Withoutthepiezoyouwouldmisscompletelythesounddenition.

Abox in detail
10
10 Technical specification
Connections
Input:
•CH1:JACKpassivechannel;1/4”Dia.StandardMonoJack
•CH2:XLRbalancedphantompower+48V;
Output:
•AMPOUT(MixofCH1&CH2):JACKunbalancedconnection;maximum9V
RMS@470Ohms;1/4”Dia.StandardMonoJack
•PA-OUT(MixofCH1&CH2):XLRbalancedconnection;maximum9VRMS
@100Ohms
Electrical characteristics:
CH1-Channel1(passivechannel)
•Impedance5Meg.Signallevelupto0dBu;
•AdjustableChannel1level
•ParametricequalizerofChannel1:Frequencyrange360Hz-4KHz
•MIDlevelcorrection:+/-12dB.
CH2-Channel2(activechannel,+48VPhantomPower)
•Impedance2K.SignalleveluptoCH2is-20dBu;
•ParametricequalizerofChannel2:Frequencyrange100Hz-1.8KHz;
•MIDlevelcorrection:+/-12dB;
•Notchlter:attenuation17dB.Tuningrange50-250Hz;
•Lowpassshelvinglterintherange1KHz-20KHzwithattenuationof6dB.
Tonecontrols(mixofCH1&CH2)
•Low:+/–12dBShelf@40Hz
•Low:+/–12dBBell@700Hz
•High:+/–12dBShelf@3KHz
Power IN
•110Vor230Vselectable.
•Consumptionlessthe5W
Phantom power on XLR CH2
•+48V
Size
•11x22x5WxLxHcm[4.3x8.6x1.9inches]
Weight
•920gr.[2.02pound]