Electro-Harmonix Stereo Talking Machine User Manual

1
STEREO TALKING MACHINE
Vocal Formant Filter
Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix Stereo Talking Machine, a
highly customizable envelope-controlled digital vowel filter. The Stereo Talking
Machine (STM) utilizes multiple moving filters to turn your guitar in a growling,
gurgling, snarling monster.
- Special Features of the Stereo Talking Machine -
• Nine selectable voices: Seven human vowel filter combinations, a classic wah-wah filter,
and the legendary dual band filter of the EHX Bassballs
• Ability to reverse the sweep of each voice, doubling your sound options
• Attack/Decay knobs to separately control the rise and fall speeds of the filter sweep
• Sensitivity control to adapt the effect’s response to your playing style
• Stereo Outputs for true stereo imaging and panning
• Expression Pedal option to manually control filter sweep
• Programmable distortion to make your guitar really growl
• Programmable internal LFO for automatic filter modulation
• Effects Loop side-chain
• 9 fully programmable presets
– VOICE DESCRIPTIONS –
Each voice option in the STM sweeps between two distinct filter settings, mimicking
the way a human mouth moves to form particular vowel sounds. The direction of the
filter sweep can be reversed using the SENSITIVITY knob.
Sensitivity +
Sensitivity -
EE
Feed
Cereal
EE-ER
Hurry
Peer
AH-I
Glide
Papaya
AH-OO
Factual
Now
I-A
Height
Bayonet
AH
Era
Far
OW-EE
Feud
Chewy
The WAH and BB voice options simulate a classic wah-wah pedal filter and the EHX
Bassballs filter respectively.
WARNING: Your Stereo Talking Machine comes equipped with an Electro-
Harmonix 9.6DC-200 power supply (same as used by Boss
®
& Ibanez
®
: 9.6 Volts
DC 200mA / Center Negative). The Stereo Talking Machine requires 185mA at
9VDC with a center negative plug. The STM does not take batteries. Using the
wrong adapter may damage your unit and void the warranty.

Electro-Harmonix Stereo Talking Machine Specifications

General

Technology	Analog
Weight	1.5 lbs
Effect	Vocal Effects
Controls	Blend, Tone
Inputs	1 x 1/4"
Power Supply	9V DC

Summary

Special Features of the Stereo Talking Machine

VOICE DESCRIPTIONS

QUICK START GUIDE

Setup Instructions

Guides users through connecting cables and powering on the Stereo Talking Machine for initial use.

Preset and Manual Settings

Explains how to select presets and configure manual settings using knobs and footswitches.

Sweep Level LEDs Explanation

Details the function of the Sweep Level LEDs, indicating filter positions during operation.

PRIMARY KNOB FUNCTIONS

Blend Control

Adjusts the wet/dry balance of the effect output, mixing processed and dry signals.

Voice Type Selection

Selects one of nine distinct filter types or 'voices' for the sound.

Attack Knob Function

Controls the rise time, or speed, of the filter sweep from rest to maximum position.

Decay Knob Function

Manages the fall time, or speed, of the filter sweep from maximum to rest position.

Sensitivity Knob Function

Adjusts filter response to playing dynamics and reverses sweep direction (polarity).

PRIMARY SWITCH FUNCTIONS

Presets Encoder Functionality

Manages preset selection, saving, and toggling auxiliary functions on/off.

Bypass Footswitch and LED

Toggles the unit between effect mode and bypass mode; LED indicates active mode.

Preset Footswitch and LED

Loads selected presets and enters auxiliary knob edit mode for advanced adjustments.

AUXILIARY SWITCH FUNCTIONS

Auxiliary Functions Toggle

Enables/disables auxiliary functions like Fuzz, LFO, and Volume Control via the PRESETS knob.

Auxiliary Edit Footswitch

Allows editing of auxiliary function parameters by holding the PRESET footswitch.

AUXILIARY KNOB FUNCTIONS

Volume (Blend Knob) Control

Adjusts the overall output volume of the Stereo Talking Machine.

Fuzz Tone (Voice Knob) Control

Modifies the treble or high frequency response of the fuzz effect.

Fuzz Gain (Attack Knob) Control

Determines the amount of distortion or fuzz applied to the signal.

LFO Rate (Decay Knob) Control

Sets the speed or rate of LFO modulation applied to the filter sweep.

LFO Depth/Shape (Sensitivity Knob) Control

Controls the amount and type (triangle/sawtooth) of LFO modulation.

I/O CONNECTIONS

Input and Output Jack Usage

Details how to connect instruments, amplifiers, and external effects via various jacks.

Expression Pedal and Control Voltage Input

Explains the use of an expression pedal for manual filter control.

POWER SPECIFICATIONS

Power Requirements and Adapter

Specifies the voltage, current, and plug type for the AC adapter, and current draw.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Audio and Impedance Details

Lists sample rate, bit resolution, and input/output jack impedance values.

PRESETS MANAGEMENT

Preset Save Procedure

Step-by-step guide to saving custom sound settings to one of the nine programmable presets.

Preset Load Procedure

Instructions for loading saved presets using the footswitch or knob combination.

Preset Unload Procedure

How to revert to current knob settings from a loaded preset.

Factory Preset Restore Procedure

Method to reset all presets back to their original factory settings.