ZVEX BLISS FACTORY User manual

INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
We may have finally caught bliss. This is the very famous five-knob, two
germanium transistor fuzz we’ve always dreamed of collaborating with
ZVEX on. In short, it’s a souped-up Fuzz Factory™with digital control
and a resonant low pass filter. Although the five knobs are named for the
parameters over which they seem to have the most control, please don’t
hold us to it. They are controls for various operating levels and biases,
shaping you a personalized fuzz. Like all Chase Bliss Audio™pedals,
all of these settings can be stored in presets, ramped, or controlled via
expression pedal. Every knob and switch is connected to a little digital
brain while your guitar signal stays 100% analog and never gets
digitally processed.
LPF
Sets the cutoff frequency for a low pass filter. All the way
clockwise is open, no frequencies being cut. As the knob
is turned counterclockwise high frequencies are removed.
In the maximum counterclockwise position, depending on
where the LPF toggle is set, most or all high frequencies
are cut.
AUX FUNC TOGGLE
This toggle selects the function applied to the signal
when the AUX stomp is pressed. When the toggle is set
to the STAB setting, the STAB control will be maxed out
when the footswitch is activated. Setting the toggle to
LPF will allow the user to change between the max LPF
setting and the knob defined LPF setting each time the
footswitch is activated. Finally, the AUX stomp can be
used to close the GATE (max CW) by setting the AUX
FUNC toggle to GATE. Alternatively, if put the AUXPOL
dip switch in “D” (down) the polarity of these functions
will be reversed. Make sure you have the AUXPOL dip
switch in the “UP” position by default.
FAT TOGGLE
This toggle selects the amount of sub frequencies
allowed into the fuzz circuit and changes the nature of
the self-oscillation pitches. NORM is typical Factory™
configuration. FAT and FATTER increases the sub
frequencies, respectively. This means the pedal can
oscillate at much lower registers, giving it some very
interesting thunder broom synth qualities. This fatness
lends itself particularly well to the bass guitar, and rips
equally well on guitar.
VOLUME
Sets the output level.
DRIVE
Increases distortion when used as a “normal” fuzz and
adjusts feedback pitch and tonal thickness, if you’re
that kind. This control becomes meaningless when
COMP is all the way right.
GATE (RAMP)
When there are no dip switches assigned to ramp any
controls, this knob controls the gate. Turn to right to
eliminate squeals, hiss, and buzz. Stop just as they
disappear, or use to tune in exact feedback pitch, if
you’re that kind. Turning to the left opens the gate. If
a dip switch is engaged for ramping, you can set this
knob to control any of the five parameters individually
or simultaneously (VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, LPF),
and have it either modulate (bounce) or ramp-and-hold
(rise or fall) via dip switches in the back of the pedal. In
this case, this knob controls the ramp time in which this
takes place.
STAB
Use all the way right for classic fuzz and to avoid
squealing. Turn left for fuzz that is more soft and
squishy, as well as to create self-oscillation.
COMP
Adds attack characteristic when turned to left, which
gets softer to right, and suddenly pinches tone when all
the way right. Also use to tune in fat feedback fuzz, if
you’re that kind. Lower the STAB and see what happens
to this control.

LPF TOGGLE
This toggle selects the type of low pass filter associated
with the LPF control. Select the left position for a one-
pole, gentle low pass filter – this is typical of many low
pass filter “tone” controls in guitar pedals. The middle
position is a two-pole, resonant low pass filter. The
right position is a two-pole, low pass filter with enough
resonance to self-oscillate, be careful with this setting!
BYPASS STOMP
Activates or bypasses the effect. This can be changed
to a momentary bypass or momentary active via a dip
switch in the back of the pedal.
AUX STOMP
Activates the auxiliary function defined by the AUX
FUNC toggle. This stomp can also be set to latching or
momentary active via a dip switch on the back.
LOWER TOGGLE
This switch recalls presets. The right position recalls
preset #1, the left position recalls preset #2. The middle
position will always reflect wherever the knob positions,
toggle positions, and dip switch positions are currently
at (live mode). In order to save to the right preset
slot, you hold down the right stomp (BYPASS) for 3
seconds, and then hold down both stomp switches
simultaneously for another 3 seconds. The LED blinks
and your setting is saved. For the left slot, you do the
same thing, but hold the left stomp (AUX) first. If you
recall a preset, and move a knob, you will notice that
the LED above the toggle goes dim. This is to signify
that something has changed on the preset. If you want
to save this change in the preset, you will have to save
it again.
IN / OUT
¼” mono jack.
EXP / CV
¼” TRS jack for expression pedal (parameter selectable
via dip switch in the back of the pedal). Tip goes to
wiper. Can also be used for 0-5V Control Voltage (CV)
on tip – the ring should be left floating in this case.
There are many expression pedals that work with Chase
Bliss Audio products, contact us for more info.
MIDI/AUX
¼” TRS jack. This can be used to interface the pedal
with a Chase Bliss Midibox. There is much more
information on this in the MIDI manual. In addition, this
can be used as a secondary switch to activate / bypass
the AUX FUNC control with a momentary normally open
(NO) switch.
POWER & OTHER INFO
This pedal consumes ~50mA and should be operated
with a standard 2.1mm 9V DC center negative adapter
with current supply capabilities of 100mA or more. Input
impedance of this device varies dependent on fuzz
settings, and output impedance is less than 1k.
EXPRESSION / CV CONTROL & DIP
SWITCHES
The VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, and LPF dip
switches in the left bank allow you to control
parameters via Expression Pedal / CV. If you have
something plugged into the EXP / CV jack but do not
have any parameters selected via dip switch, you can
control the GATE knob via expression or CV. It behaves
like it has the “rise” dip switch engaged. Top or bottom
sweep can be selected via the “sweep” dip switch.
SETTING EXPRESSION /
CV RANGE
The range of the expression / CV is controlled by the
parameter knob position and the “SWEEP” dip switch.
For example, if you wanted an expression pedal to
control the VOLUME parameter from zero volume to
unity gain, you would make sure the “SWEEP” dip
switch is in the bottom position and set the VOLUME
knob at unity gain. If you need more volume you simply
turn the VOLUME knob up slightly. This will increase the
maximum range of the expression pedal. This allows
you to control multiple parameters with an expression
pedal, but you can fine tune the range that you want
for each parameter.
UNDERSTANDING THE
DIP SWITCHES
When you save a preset, all of this information
gets saved. The indicated parameters below
correspond to the ramp function or an expression
pedal (if one is plugged in).
A very important thing to remember is that ramping
always gets reset when bypassing. The parameters’
current knob position control where the parameters
ultimately will either start or stop ramping.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2)
this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.

SUNDAY FUNDAY
TURBO TEAM
Example presets continued on next page
The VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, and LPF dip
switches on the left side simply turn that parameter
on or off for ramping or expression / CV capability.
The VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, and LPF dip
switches on the right side control whether or not
the parameters will rise (go clockwise in ramp
mode) or fall (go counterclockwise in ramp mode).
It also controls how the parameters will behave
with an expression pedal plugged in.
BOUNCE: When on (and no expression pedal),
parameters will go back and forth (i.e. modulate),
if it’s off, parameters will ramp and hold.
MOTAUX: Momentary engage or bypass for AUX
stomp. It changes from “momentary engage” or
“momentary bypass” dependent on what state (i.e.
active or bypass) the pedal was in when this dip
switch was changed. If the channel was engaged,
then it acts as a momentary bypass. If the channel
was in bypass, then it acts as a momentary engage.
MOTBYP: Momentary engage or bypass for the
pedal. It changes from “momentary engage” or
“momentary bypass” dependent on what state (i.e.
active or bypass) the pedal was in when this dip
switch was changed. If the channel was engaged,
then it acts as a momentary bypass. If the channel
was in bypass, then it acts as a momentary engage.
SHAPE: Allows for either triangular / linear ramping
(default) or square.
AUXPOL: This enables whether the AUX switch
starts in with the knob position and snaps to max
CW position when engaged, this would be the “U”
or up setting. Alternatively, if in the “D” or down
position the selected AUX FUNC setting would start
in max CW position and snap to knob position when
AUX is activated. Make sure you start with this dip
switch in the default (UP) position.
SWEEP: This controls where ramp sweeps. In “T”
(top), the expression control will occur between the
current knob position and the max position (fully
clockwise). In “B” (bottom) the expression control
will occur between the current knob position and
the minimum position (fully counterclockwise).
NOTE: It may seem overwhelming and difficult for users to take
all this in at first. Our suggestion is always to forget about the
dip switches for a while when you get the pedal. Get to know
the basic functionality of it, and then if/when you want to
experiment with ramping or expression, it will likely be easier.
Some of these concepts are much easier to explain
and demonstrate on video, and we have many tutorials
available on our youtube channel at
www.youtube.com/ChaseBlissAudio.
We also love to hear from customers and answer
questions so feel free to write us anytime at
chaseblissaudio.com/contact
All presets created by Andy Othling
Hear them at soundcloud.com/chaseblissaudio

MUD PIE
TAFFY LEE FUBBINS
FRIDAY NIGHT
BART HARLEY JARVIS
Example presets continued on next page

NOT A JOKE SHIRT
MP PORKINS
CERTIFIED TOAD
PLASTIC MEATBALLS