DryBell Vibe Machine - User Manual

professional handmade pedals Vibe Machine V-1, User’s manual ENG, rev.1 , 12/2011
www.drybell.com
DryBell
Doc. No. DM0923 / Page 1
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Vibe Machine
™
Thank you for purchasing Vibe Machine pedal from DryBell. Vibe Machine is a high quality Uni-Vibe ® type pedal fully developed in high-end class. It was designed
with discrete transistors, just like the classic Uni-Vibe®, but made with small electronic SMD technology. Its reduced size makes it perfect for a smaller pedalboard.
Currently (2011), Vibe Machine is the smallest vibe pedal in the world with all original Uni-Vibe® options and more. Enjoy!
INTENSITY (pot) 1
Controls the depth and the character of the chorus (vibe) or vibrato sound and it defines the strength and dynamic of a heart beat. The heart beat starts from the 2
o’clock position to the maximum. A contour of the intensity potentiometer is custom designed to enable a quick and easy set up of different vibe sounds.
SPEED (pot) 2
A speed potentiometer adjusts speed pulsations of the vibe (chorus) or vibrato sound. Its size and placement makes foot control possible.
VOLUME (side trimmer) 3
This trimmer adjust the level of the clean input signal. At minimal setting the volume is reduced by 4dB, and maximum setting gives slight boost to input signal. The
volume trimmer is set on a one-time basis. For setting it, please use a small plastic screwdriver.
VIBRATO/CHORUS (switch) 4
Selects between the chorus (the classic vibe) and the vibrato sound.
BRIGHT/ORIGINAL (switch) 5
For a brighter sound, turn the switch to BRIGHT position. This setting turns on the input FET buffer. If the Vibe Machine is the first (or only) in your effect chain, it will
use over the entire tonal range of your pickups. Original Uni-Vibe® has a relatively low input impedance and a warm sound, which can be obtained by setting the
switch to ORIGINAL on Vibe Machine. If you are more a vintage fan, switch to the ORIGINAL position for a darker sound. If any other pedal with a similar buffer is
placed before the Vibe Machine, BRIGHT/ORIGINAL switch has no effect.
PEDAL+ (external speed pedal jack) 6
For external speed control you can use a classic passive volume pedal or an expression pedal. Try to use linear 100kΩ potentiometers (18). Excellent results can also
be achieved with a classic wah (crybaby) potentiometer. See the wiring diagram of the external speed control pedal (ESC pedal) on page 2 of this manual.
TFC OUTPUT (control output for Pedal Traffic system) 7
When the V-1 pedal is turned on, a control voltage appears on the TFC output. If you use DryBell Pedal Traffic (or another similar automatic looper), connect Vibe
Machine to the Pedal Traffic. This system significantly extends the capabilities of your pedalboard. For example, you can turn the Vibe Machine on, and automatically
any other pedal in your chain is activated/deactivated. All this with only one press of the Vibe Machine footswitch. This is just one example. Visit www.drybell.com for
more information.
LESLIE SPEED ACCELERATION (internal jumper) 8
If you use an external speed control pedal (ESC pedal), it is possible to turn on Leslie cabinet mechanical inertia. When this option is enabled, every time you move the
pedal ESC to a new position, the oscillations gradually speed up or slow down to the new position. This option has no effect on a regular speed potentiometer of the
Vibe Machine, only on the ESC pedal if it's connected. To activate the Leslie speed acceleration option, you need to remove 4 screws (17) and a rear lid of the pedal,
and set the jumper (8) to 'ON' position. By default, this option is disabled.
OUTPUT BUFFER (internal jumper) 9
Original Uni-Vibe® has a high output impedance. Therefore, longer cables from a pedalboard to an amplifier tend to drown treble tones. As high impedance lines are
more sensitive to interferences, hum and noise are increased. If the output buffer is activated, i.e. impedance line is low, all mentioned interferences are reduced. By
default, this option is enabled. To deactivate the output buffer you need to remove 4 screws (17) and a rear lid of the pedal, and set the jumper (9) to 'OFF' position.
RANGE & SYMMETRY (factory-set side trimmers) 10
These trimmers are used for setting the correct throb sound. They are factory set. If you still want to experiment, use a small plastic screwdriver for an adjustment.
TRUE BYPASS with PULSING LED (footswitch) 11, 12
Each time you press the footswitch (11), the effect is turned on or off. Vibe Machine has a true bypass system. This means that when the pedal is off, internal circuits
have no effects on the original sound. When the effect is active, the red LED (12) will flash in a vibe oscillations rhythm.
POWER SUPPLY (no battery, only adapter) 13
You can use unregulated or regulated adapter 9V DC / 100mA. The maximum recommended voltage on DC power supply input is 16V. The maximum allowable short-
term voltage is 25V. If you use high voltages in the recommended range (16V max), Vibe Machine will generate more heat, this is normal. Vibe Machine has an
internal protection against reverse power polarity and static discharges.
INPUT and OUTPUT (jacks) 14,15
On the input jack plug in your guitar or the output of the previous pedal. To the output jack connect your amplifier or input of the following pedal in the chain.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Model: V-1
Manufacturer Part Number: DB2408
Input impedance ORIGINAL: 50kΩ
Input impedance BRIGHT: 1MΩ
Output imp. W/O output buffer: 100kΩ
Output imp. with output buffer: 50Ω
External power supply: Adapter 9V DC, (8.9Vmin > 16Vmax!)
Power supply connector type: Barrel, Plug 5.5mm/2.1mm, Center Negative
Current: 85mA Maximum
SPECIFICATIONS (Continued):
TFC output ON / OFF voltage: ON state = 8.3V DC, OFF state = 0V
TFC output impedance: 500Ω
TFC output connector type: Barrel, Plug 4.0mm/1.7mm, Center Positive
Length: 112 mm / 4,42 inch
Width (W/O jacks): 60 mm / 2,37 inch
Height (W/O potentiometers): 31 mm / 1,22 inch
Weight: (W/O package): 0,270 kg / 0,56 lb
Weight: (with package): 0,48 kg / 1,06 lb
Standard color/finish: Red Candy Metallic
Note: Uni-Vibe ® is registered trademark of Jim Dunlop Manufacturing. Vibe Machine™ is a trademark of DryBell Electronic Musical Equipment Laboratory.

Summary

Introduction to Vibe Machine

Intensity Control

Speed Control

Vibrato;Chorus Mode

Bright;Original Tone Switch

External Speed Pedal Jack

Connects a passive volume or expression pedal for external speed control.

Leslie Speed Acceleration

Internal jumper to enable mechanical inertia for external speed pedal.

Output Buffer

Internal jumper to reduce output impedance and noise for long cables.

True Bypass Footswitch

Power Supply

Connects to 9V DC adapter; maximum recommended voltage is 16V.

Input and Output Jacks

Vibe Machine Specifications

General Specifications

Details model, part number, impedance, and power supply requirements.

Continued Specifications

Provides TFC output, dimensions, weight, and color finish details.

Views and Settings

Inside View Jumpers

External Speed Control Wiring

Start Settings

Package and Support

Warranty Information

Details on 1-year basic and 5-year extended warranty coverage.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

The DryBell Vibe Machine V-1 is a high-quality, Uni-Vibe® type pedal designed for guitarists seeking classic vibe and vibrato sounds in a compact form factor. It utilizes discrete transistors, similar to the original Uni-Vibe®, but incorporates small electronic SMD technology, making it suitable for smaller pedalboards. The Vibe Machine V-1 is noted as the smallest vibe pedal in the world (as of 2011) to offer all original Uni-Vibe® options and more.

Function Description

The pedal features several controls to shape its sound:

• INTENSITY (pot) 1: This potentiometer controls the depth and character of the chorus (vibe) or vibrato sound, defining the strength and dynamics of the "heartbeat" effect. The heartbeat effect begins from the 2 o'clock position and extends to the maximum. The custom-designed contour of this potentiometer allows for quick and easy setup of various vibe sounds.
• SPEED (pot) 2: This potentiometer adjusts the speed of the pulsations for both the chorus and vibrato sounds. Its size and placement are optimized for foot control during live performance.
• VOLUME (side trimmer) 3: An internal trimmer adjusts the level of the clean input signal. At its minimal setting, the volume is reduced by 4dB, while the maximum setting provides a slight boost to the input signal. This trimmer is intended for a one-time setup and requires a small plastic screwdriver for adjustment.
• VIBRATO/CHORUS (switch) 4: This switch allows users to select between the classic chorus (vibe) sound and the vibrato sound.
• BRIGHT/ORIGINAL (switch) 5: For a brighter sound, this switch activates an input FET buffer. If the Vibe Machine is the first or only pedal in the effect chain, it will utilize the full tonal range of your pickups. The original Uni-Vibe® had a relatively low input impedance and a warm sound, which can be replicated by setting this switch to "ORIGINAL" on the Vibe Machine. This position is recommended for a darker sound, especially for vintage enthusiasts. If another pedal with a similar buffer is placed before the Vibe Machine, this switch will have no effect.
• PEDAL+ (external speed pedal jack) 6: This jack allows for external speed control using a classic passive volume pedal or an expression pedal. Linear 100kΩ potentiometers (18) are recommended for optimal results, though classic wah (crybaby) potentiometers can also be used effectively. A wiring diagram for the external speed control pedal (ESC pedal) is provided in the manual.
• TFC OUTPUT (control output for Pedal Traffic system) 7: When the V-1 pedal is turned on, a control voltage is sent to the TFC output. This feature allows the Vibe Machine to integrate with DryBell Pedal Traffic or similar automatic loopers, enabling the pedal to turn on and automatically activate/deactivate other pedals in the chain with a single press of the Vibe Machine footswitch. This significantly extends the capabilities of a pedalboard.

Usage Features

The Vibe Machine V-1 offers several internal features that enhance its versatility:

• LESLIE SPEED ACCELERATION (internal jumper) 8: This internal jumper enables a Leslie cabinet mechanical inertia effect when an external speed control pedal (ESC pedal) is connected. With this option activated, moving the ESC pedal to a new position will cause the oscillations to gradually speed up or slow down to the new setting, mimicking the inertia of a physical Leslie speaker. This feature only affects the ESC pedal, not the regular speed potentiometer of the Vibe Machine. To activate it, users must remove 4 screws (17) and the rear lid of the pedal, then set the jumper (8) to the 'ON' position. By default, this option is disabled.
• OUTPUT BUFFER (internal jumper) 9: The original Uni-Vibe® had a high output impedance, which could lead to treble loss over longer cables and increased susceptibility to interference, hum, and noise. The Vibe Machine includes an optional output buffer to address this. When activated (default setting), the impedance line is lowered, reducing these issues. To deactivate the output buffer, users must remove 4 screws (17) and the rear lid of the pedal, then set the jumper (9) to the 'OFF' position.
• RANGE & SYMMETRY (factory-set side trimmers) 10: These internal trimmers are factory-set to achieve the correct "throb" sound. While they are not intended for user adjustment, a small plastic screwdriver can be used for experimentation if desired, though users should note their original positions to revert to default settings.
• TRUE BYPASS with PULSING LED (footswitch) 11, 12: The footswitch (11) toggles the effect on or off. The Vibe Machine features a true bypass system, ensuring that when the pedal is off, its internal circuits have no effect on the original signal. When the effect is active, the red LED (12) will flash in rhythm with the vibe oscillations.
• POWER SUPPLY (no battery, only adapter) 13: The pedal operates solely on an external adapter (no battery) and accepts unregulated or regulated 9V DC / 100mA power. The maximum recommended voltage is 16V DC, with a maximum allowable short-term voltage of 25V. Using higher voltages within the recommended range (up to 16V) may cause the Vibe Machine to generate more heat, which is normal. The pedal includes internal protection against reverse power polarity and static discharges.
• INPUT and OUTPUT (jacks) 14, 15: The input jack (14) connects to your guitar or the output of the preceding pedal. The output jack (15) connects to your amplifier or the input of the subsequent pedal in the chain.

Maintenance Features

• Rubber Feet 16: The package includes four adhesive rubber feet (16) that can be placed on the bottom of the Vibe Machine pedal. If using a velcro strip for pedalboard installation, the rubber feet are not necessary. When mounting velcro, ensure it allows for the removal of the four lower screws (17) for internal access.
• Warranty: DryBell E.M.E.L. provides a one-year basic warranty covering defects in materials or craftsmanship from the date of purchase. Footswitch and internal bulb replacement are covered for the first six months. If a defect occurs within the warranty period, it will be repaired without service charges. If the product cannot be repaired and the model is no longer produced, it will be replaced with a newer or similar model. The warranty period will be extended if repairs exceed 30 days (excluding transportation). The warranty transfers to new owners if the product is sold. Transportation costs for warranty service are paid by the owner. The warranty covers manufacturing defects under normal use according to DryBell recommendations and instructions. It does not cover loss, theft, misuse, mechanical damage, liquid damage, device falling, unauthorized modification, shock surge, lightning, improper storage, or natural disasters. DryBell assumes no liability for damages resulting from product use.
• Extended Warranty: The original purchaser is entitled to a free product repair during an extended warranty period, which runs from the expiry of the basic warranty (1 year) to five years from the date of purchase. If the product warranty has expired, repairs are performed with original parts and are charged. During the extended warranty, transportation costs in both directions are paid by the original purchaser.

DryBell Vibe Machine Specifications

General

Type	Vibrato/Chorus
Bypass	True Bypass
Power Supply	9V DC
Technology	Analog
Power Supply Polarity	Center Negative
Controls	Speed, Intensity, Volume
Input Impedance	1M Ohm
Output Impedance	10 kOhm