BASS ENVELOPE FILTER USER’S GUIDE SA143
WELCOME Thank you for purchasing the Soundblox Pro Bass Envelope Filter. The BEF Pro is a highly flexible envelope filter effect unit specially optimized for the bass guitar. With 23 individual filter types, the BEF Pro contains a wide range of sounds, from traditional filter effects to advanced & unique filter sounds. The BEF Pro offers a unique and useful variety of control options.
OVERVIEW DIVERSE SOUND PALETTE Featuring 23 types of envelope filter and phaser effects. FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE CONTROL A highly bass-optimized envelope follower with multiple sweep and speed control options. MODERN DESIGN A thoughtfully designed box which features rugged construction and sleek looks. STATE-OF-THE-ART DSP Our proprietary 56-bit Digital Signal Processor, the SA601, and crystal clear 24-bit converters. LO-RETAIN Our unique mixing algorithm carefully preserves the lowest bass frequencies.
QUICK START 1. POWER To power the unit, connect the included DC adapter power supply to the 9V DC jack (A) on the back panel. Note: Using a different supply could damage the unit and void the warranty. 2. GUITAR/AUDIO CONNECTIONS Next, plug your bass (or other instrument) into the jack labeled GUITAR IN (B) via a standard ¼" cable. Connect your amp (or other audio device) to the GUITAR OUT jack (C), again with a standard ¼" cable. Both input and output are mono signals. 3.
D Speed: Controls the attack and decay speed of the envelope follower, the LFO speed, or the motion-sensitivity of the Hot Hand. Mix: adjusts the ratio of clean to wet signals. E F PRESET BANK BUTTON: select preset bank A (presets 1, 2, and 3) or B (presets 4, 5, and 6). G MOD SOURCE: selects between ENVELOPE, LFO, and HOT HAND as the modulation source for the filter effect. H TAP TEMPO ENABLE: Enables a tap tempo function for use with the LFO.
FEATURES The Soundblox Pro Bass Envelope Filter is a very flexible envelope filter effect. The unit features multiple filter types ranging from simple to complex, which can all be controlled by an Envelope Follower, an LFO (Low-Frequency Oscillator), the Hot Hand Motion Sensor or an Expression Pedal. An Envelope Follower is an algorithm that responds to the amplitude (or volume) of the incoming signal and creates a control signal based on the input level.
CONNECTIONS GUITAR IN Connect your bass guitar or other instrument here using a standard MONO ¼" cable. GUITAR OUT Connect this to your amp, pedal, or other audio device. EXPRESSION IN (optional) Connect a passive expression pedal that uses a TRS plug here. The expression pedal is assignable to a variety of parameters. SENSOR IN (optional) Connect an optional Hot Hand sensor here, either wired or wireless.
CONTROLS: KNOBS EFFECT (not labeled) The effect knob selects which filter type will be used. There are 23 effect positions (0 through 22) around the knob as well as a setting for EQ ONLY. In the EQ ONLY mode, the envelope filter effect is bypassed but the equalizer still applies. For information on the individual settings see the Effect Types section.
FREQUENCY The Frequency knob sets the center frequency of the filter sweep in all modulation modes. Turning the knob counterclockwise will result in the filter moving over lower frequencies for a darker sound. Turning the knob clockwise will result in the filter sweep moving over higher frequencies for a brighter sound. FREQUENCY SPEED The Speed knob controls the attack and decay time of the envelope follower or the rate of the LFO.
CONTROLS: EQUALIZER One of the key features of the BEF Pro is the 7-band graphic equalizer. Each band can be adjusted up or down in 1 dB steps from -12 dB to +12 dB. The display shows 1 dB steps by lighting adjacent LEDs with varying brightness. The factory default places the EQ after the MIX control applying the EQ to both the wet and dry signals. Alternatively, a special Backpage parameter (See Backpages instructions) offers the option of placing the EQ on just the wet signal.
CONTROLS: OTHER BUTTONS PRESET BANK There are six available user presets in two banks. Switch between banks by pressing the PRESET BANK button. When preset bank A is selected, pressing the corresponding footswitches will select presets 1, 2, or 3. When preset bank B is selected, the footswitches select presets 4, 5, and 6. The indicator lights above each footswitch alternate from green for bank A to red for bank B.
CONTROLS: FOOTSWITCHES There are three footswitches on the BEF Pro. From left to right, the footswitches correspond to presets 1, 2, and 3 for preset bank A and 4, 5, and 6 for bank B. Pressing any of the buttons will engage a given preset. Pressing the footswitch for the currently engaged effect will put the unit into bypass mode. Pressing another switch will engage the corresponding preset without going into bypass.
EFFECT TYPES The following are brief technical descriptions of the filter effects included in the BEF Pro. Some of the filter types are intended to approximate, but not exactly copy, some common and well-known bass envelope filter effects. These are marked below. 4 POLE LOW PASS 10 09 08 11 12 SINGLE PEAK 13 14 07 15 TRIPLE PEAK 16 06 17 05 04 2 POLE LOW PASS 03 18 PEAK & NOTCH 19 02 01 22 00 EQ ONLY 20 21 PHASERS 2 POLE FILTERS 00 Three two-pole resonant low-pass filters in parallel.
05 Peak, Notch, Resonant low pass. A resonant peak, followed by a notch, followed by a resonant low pass. 06 Resonant low pass, Peak, Peak. As the response of the low pass filter falls, the fall is interrupted by two peaks. The low pass resonant peak moves in the opposite direction from the additional higher frequency peaks. 07 Two resonant low pass filters in parallel. This setting creates sounds similar to the EHX Bass Balls. 4 POLE FILTERS 08 Resonant four pole low pass.
TRIPLE PEAKS 14, 15 Three peaks moving together. 16, 17 Three peaks moving in opposing directions. PEAKS AND NOTCHES 18 Peak, Notch, Peak. 19 Notch, Peak, Notch. PHASERS 20 Notch, Notch. A pair of frequency response notches creates a standard two notch phaser. There is a little feedback to boost the non-notched frequencies. 21 Notch, Notch, Notch. A three notch phaser with some feedback. 22 Two notch phaser with high feedback EQ ONLY – No Filter 23 EQ Only.
PRESET SAVING An edited preset can be saved by pressing and holding a footswitch as described in the Controls: Footswitches section. But keep in mind that an edited preset can be saved to any one of the 6 preset locations. For example if preset 1 has been selected and edited, it can be saved to preset location 3 by pressing and holding the 3/6 footswitch. Once the preset has been saved to that location, the new location will be the selected preset.
SYNCHRONIZING THE LFO: The LFO will start from zero in its pattern every time the pedal is switched on or a new tempo has been set using tap tempo. This facilitates the synchronization of the LFO to other musicians or recorded tracks. Resynchronization will also happen when switching from one preset to another. USE WITH AN EXPRESSION PEDAL: A passive expression pedal can be connected via the BEF Pro’s expression input.
USE WITH HOT HAND ® While the primary function of the BEF Pro is as a standalone effect pedal you also have the option of exploring some additional functions by plugging in a Hot Hand sensor. After connecting the sensor, use the MOD SOURCE button to select Hot Hand mode. In Hot Hand mode, some knobs assume an alternate function (see below). Hot Hand Basics: The Hot Hand motion sensors are sold separately and come in either wired or wireless versions. Both will work with the BEF Pro.
Select either the X or Y axes by turning the knob to the right or the left, respectively. Once an axis is selected, turn the knob toward either extreme labeled SLOW to smooth out fast changes from the sensor signal. Turning the knob towards SLOW provides the most amount of smoothing causing the effect to react to only large, deliberate motions of the sensor. Turning the knob all the way to FAST sets the smoothing at a minimum.
MIDI CONTROL The BEF Pro can optionally be controlled by an external MIDI controller, such as the Hot Hand MIDI-EXP controller, through the MIDI input. All of the knob parameters as well as several other Backpage parameters are controllable via MIDI Continuous Controller messages. Individual presets can also be selected by MIDI Program Change messages. The unit can also be put into bypass in this way. The following table describes the use of the MIDI input.
BACKPAGE PARAMETERS The BEF Pro has some additional editable parameters accessible via the special Backpage mode. Pressing the MOD SOURCE and TAP TEMPO ENABLE buttons simultaneously enables the Backpage mode, as indicated on the main control panel. All Modulation Source LEDs and the Tap Tempo Enable LED will be lit to indicate that the unit is in Backpage mode. The Backpage mode can be exited by pressing the two buttons simultaneously again.
Below is the list of editable Backpage parameters. Expression Pedal Depth (XD) The ‘XD’ parameter can be used to modify the range or depth of an expression pedal connected to the BEF Pro. Many of the available parameters assignable to the expression pedal input will sound best when the depth is not set to its maximum range. - A single light in the +12 position denotes the maximum depth of positive value. - A single light in the -12 position denotes the maximum depth of negative value.
For example, in the case of the Sweep Range knob, this means that rocking the expression pedal forward while the knob is set to its full counter-clockwise position may pass the signal from maximum negative sweep through zero modulation to maximum positive sweep.
Octave Extension (OE) This Backpage parameter offers a choice between a seven or eight band equalizer. The illumination of the bottom most LED signifies the selection of the factory default 7-band EQ. The illumination of the second LED from the bottom signifies the selection of an 8-band EQ. The additional 8th EQ band is one octave above the highest band in the default setting (8 Kilohertz).
EQ Location (EL) There are two possible EQ locations within the pedal’s signal chain. The lowest LED in the EQ Location column signifies the factory default setting, which places the EQ after the mix control, thereby affecting both the wet and dry signal. Selecting the other LED position applies the EQ only to the wet signal, leaving the dry signal unaffected. LFO Shape Control (LS) The BEF Pro offers nine different LFO shapes.
MIDI Channel (Effect Knob) The label numbers around the effect knob correspond to MIDI Channels 1 through 16. Channel 1 is the default. This is a global setting and not saved for individual presets. Don’t forget to save the preset after editing the Backpage parameters. All of the Backpage parameters except the MIDI Channel are saved per preset. To reset values to the default, press both left and right column select buttons at the same time.
SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions • L: 7 inches (18.1cm) • W: 6 inches (18.1cm) • H: 2 inches (including knobs) Power • 110mA @ 9 VDC (max 145mA w/ Hot Hand Wireless Adapter) • NEGATIVE tip power jack Audio Performance • 115dB DNR audio ADC • 24-bit audio conversion • 56-bit digital data path • Analog bypass Total including knobs: • H: 2.125 inches (5.5cm) Weight • 1.75 lbs TROUBLESHOOTING Noise Near noise source Move pedal away from power supplies and other equipment.
LIMITED WARRANTY Source Audio, LLC (hereinafter “Source Audio”) warrants that your new Source Audio Soundblox Effects Pedal, when purchased at an authorized Source Audio dealer in the United States of America (“USA”), shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the original purchaser. This Limited Warranty does not extend to the batteries which are purchased as is.
