Darkness - Audio effect pedal Dreadbox - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Analog Stereo Reverb Pedal
Dimensions	121 x 66 x 51 mm
Weight	0.4 kg
Power Supply	9V DC, center negative, 100 mA minimum
Controls	Mix, Decay, Dampen, Tone, Level
Inputs	2 x 1/4" TS (Left/Mono, Right)
Outputs	2 x 1/4" TS (Left, Right)
Bypass	True Bypass
Reverb Types	Spring, Plate, Hall, Room, Reverse
Audio Quality	24-bit / 48 kHz (digital conversion in analog path)
Current Draw	100 mA
Construction	Aluminum enclosure, powder coated
Warranty	2 years limited
Included Accessories	None (power supply sold separately)
Maintenance	Wipe with dry cloth; avoid moisture
Safety	Use only with specified power supply
Spare Parts	Contact Dreadbox for parts
Repairability	Serviceable by qualified technician
General Info	Designed and assembled in Greece

Frequently Asked Questions - Darkness Dreadbox

How do I power the Darkness pedal?

Use a standard 9V DC power supply with center negative polarity and at least 100 mA current rating. Do not use batteries or unregulated supplies.

What reverb types are available on the Darkness?

The Darkness offers Spring, Plate, Hall, Room, and Reverse reverb types, selectable via a rotary switch.

Can I use the Darkness with a guitar and a synth at the same time?

Yes, the Darkness has stereo inputs and outputs. You can plug two mono instruments (e.g., guitar and synth) into the left and right inputs for independent processing.

Is the Darkness true bypass?

Yes, the Darkness features true bypass switching, ensuring your dry signal remains uncolored when the effect is off.

What is the maximum input level?

The Darkness can handle instrument-level signals up to +8 dBu. For line-level signals, reduce input level to avoid clipping.

How do I clean the pedal?

Wipe the enclosure with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners. Avoid getting moisture into the jacks or power socket.

Can I use the Darkness with headphones?

No, the Darkness is designed for line-level outputs. Use it with an amplifier, mixer, or audio interface. For silent practice, connect to an audio interface with headphone output.

What does the Dampen control do?

The Dampen control adjusts the high-frequency damping of the reverb tail. Higher values result in darker, warmer reverb, while lower values give a brighter sound.

Is the Darkness compatible with expression pedals?

No, the Darkness does not have an expression pedal input. All parameters are controlled via front-panel knobs.

Where is the Darkness manufactured?

The Darkness is designed and assembled in Greece by Dreadbox.

USER MANUAL Darkness Dreadbox

Darkness, is the polar opposite of brightness and understood as a lack of illumination or an absence of visible light. Also Scotus (σκότος), primordial Greek god of darkness.

9VDC center pin negative
standard effect pedals power

Diagram of a device panel with four circular components and yellow directional arrows indicating movement or force (no text or symbols)

Stereo OutputStereo Inj

Reverb Spread

Also known as size

Effect Mix

Dry/wet balance. A 50/50 setting is achieved at 3 'oclock. At max, the dry signal is off

Decay amount

Also known as feedback

ON/OFF footswitch

or Page 2

While holding this footswitch down, allows you to access Page 2, where you can control some additional parameters (for more info check the next page)

Change what the Control knob affects

This allows you change what the control knob affects, but can also engage some different playing modes (depending on your Page)

Control knob

This affects a different parameter, depending on the Mode switch and Page (for more info check the next page)

Hold footswitch / or Page 3

Pressing this, will loop 150ms of your input signal. While holding it down allows you to access Page 3- the Gate parameters (for more info check the next page)

STEREO REVERB

DARK NESS

暗闖

1. Getting started

Connect your instrument (or audio signal) into the L and R INPUTS, on the back side. If your instrument or audio is mono (a guitar for example) just connect it to any of the inputs.

Then connect the output of the pedal to your amp or monitors/mixer. If you only need to use a mono output, you can use any of the L or R OUTPUT jacks.

Finally, use a 9VDC, center negative standard effect pedal's power supply with at least 150mA. Darkness is not a True By Pass effect, and requires power in order to allow sound to pass through it.

2. Using Darkness

On power up, the pedal will remember your last setting and will begin with it by default. To activate the effect, just press the ON footswitch swiftly. Remember that the controls are set on a JUMP mode, meaning that their value will not change unless you move them.

The HOLD footswitch will loop the next (after the button is pressed) 150ms of you current input. If no singal is send, this will not have anythign to loop, thus the switch will kill the effect.

While on hold, no new input is processed, but you can still use the controls to process the looped sound.

There are 3 control pages:

A. The main controls page that include the actual controls you read on the panel.
B. The secondary controls page, that you can access while holding the ON footswitch down

C. The GATE controls page, which you can access while holding the HOLD foot-witch down

For a detailed visual view, check next page.

MAIN PAGE

- Spread: Reverb size

- Mix: Dry / Wet balance

- Decay: Reverb decay time

- Control:

It depends on the Mode switch position

switch on 1 = Shifter semitone (+/-12). 50% is no pitch

switch on 2 = Shifter mix

SECONDARY CONTROLS PAGE

- Spread: No Function

- Mix = Reverb filter. Left for Low Pass Right for High Pass

- Decay = LFO depth. No LFO at 50%. Left for Sample and Hold, Right for Triangle

- Control = LFO rate. The LFO always targets the Spread.

- Mode switch = Tails On/Off. Left is Off. Having the tails On, will allow the Reverb Tail to be audible, even if the effect is turned OFF via the Left footswitch.

GATE CONTROLS PAGE

- Spread: No Function

- Mix = Threshold. Controls the ease that the gate closes

- Decay = Attack time. After the gate opens, controls the time it will take for the effect to reach the max programmed volume

- Control = Release time. After the gate closes, controls the time it will take for the effect close

- Mode switch = Gate On/Off. Left is Off. Having the Gate Off, the knobs will have no effect.

SPECIFICATIONS

- CMOS Buffered Bypass

- 9VDC center pin negative supply 150mA at least

-True stereo

- All IN/OUT are TS mono jacks

- dimensions: 14x10x5 cm

- weight: 0,525 kg

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MAIN PAGE

SECONDARY CONTROLS

GATE CONTROLS

DARK NESS

STEREO REVERB

暗聞

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