Tube Rotosphere MK II - Audio effect pedal Hughes Kettner - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL Tube Rotosphere MK II Hughes Kettner

• Read all of these instructions!
• Save these instructions for later use!
• Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product!
• Do not use this product near water, i.e. bathtub, sink, swimming pool, wet basement, etc.
• Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product or to persons!
• Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
• This product should not be placed near a source of heat such as a stove, radiator, or another heat producing amplifier.
• Use only the supplied power supply or power cord. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or local power company.
• Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.
• Never break off the ground pin on the power supply cord.
• Power supply cords should always be handled carefully. Periodically check cords for cuts or sign of stress, especially at the plug and the point where the cord exits the unit.
• The power supply cord should be unplugged when the unit is to be unused for long periods of time.
• If this product is to be mounted in an equipment rack, rear support should be provided.
• This product should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by Hughes & Kettner.
• Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
• Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
• Clean only with dry cloth.
• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are -provided for the safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
• Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

- When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.

- If liquid has been spilled into the product.

- If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

- If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed.

- If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.

- If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need of service!

• Adjust only these controls that are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require exten-sive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal operation.
• Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause a permanent hearing loss.
• Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to sufficiently intense noise for a sufficient time.

The U.S. Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specified the following permissible noise level exposures:

Duration Per Day In Hours	Sound Level dBA, Slow Response
8	90
6	92
4	95
3	97
2	100
1 1/2	102
1	105
1/2	110
1/4 or less	115

• According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of the above permissible limits could result in some hearing loss.
• Ear plug protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating this amplification system in order to prevent a permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits as set forth above. To ensure against potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels such as this amplification system be protected by hearing protectors while this unit is in operation.
• Fuses: Replace with IEC 127 (5 x 20 mms) type and rated fuse for best performance only

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF FIRE AND SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO MOISTURE OR RAIN. DO NOT OPEN CASE; NO USER SERVICE-ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

IMPORTANT ADVICE ON SAFETY! PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND KEEP FOR LATER USE!

- The unit has been built by Hughes & Kettner in accordance with IEC 60065 and left the factory in safe working order. To maintain this condition and ensure non-risk operation, the user must follow the advice and warning comments found in the operating instructions. The unit conforms to Protection Class 1 (protectively earthed).

• HUGHES & KETTNER ONLY GUARANTEE THE SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE UNIT IF:
• Assembly, extension, re-adjustment, modifications or repairs are carried out by Hughes & Kettner or by persons authorized to do so.
• The electrical installation of the relevant area complies with the requirements of IEC (ANSI) specifications.
• The unit is used in accordance with the operating instructions.
• The unit is regularly checked and tested for electrical safety by a competent technician.

WARNING:

• If covers are opened or sections of casing are removed, except where this can be done manually, live parts can become exposed.
• If it is necessary to open the unit this must be isolated from all power sources. Please take this into account before carrying out adjustments, maintenance, repairs and before replacing parts.
• The appliance can only be insulated from all power sources if the mains connection is unplugged.
• Adjustment, maintenance and repairs carried out when the unit has been opened and is still live may only be performed by specialist personnel who are authorized by the manufacturer (in accordance with VBG 4) and who are aware of the associated hazards.
• Loudspeaker outputs which have the IEC 417/5036 symbol (Diagram 1, below) can carry voltages which are hazardous if they are made contact with. Before the unit is switched on, the loudspeaker should therefore only be connected using the lead recommended by the manufacturer.
• Where possible, all plugs on connection cables must be screwed or locked onto the casing.
• Replace fuses only with IEC 127 type and specified rating.
• It is not permitted to use repaired fuses or to short-circuit the fuse holder.
• Never interrupt the protective conductor connection.
• Surfaces which are equipped with the „HOT“ mark (Diagram 2, below), rear panels or covers with cooling slits, cooling bodies and their covers, as well as tubes and their covers are purposely designed to dissipate high temperatures and should therefore not be touched.
• High loudspeaker levels can cause permanent hearing damage. You should therefore avoid the direct vicinity of loudspeakers operating at high levels. Wear hearing protection if continuously exposed to high levels.

MAINS CONNECTION:

• The unit is designed for continuous operation.
• The set operating voltage must match the local mains supply voltage.
• Caution: The unit mains switch must be in position OFF before the mains cable is connected.
• The unit is connected to the mains via the supplied power unit or power cable.
• Power unit: Never use a damaged connection lead. Any damage must be rectified by a competent technician.
• Avoid connection to the mains supply in distributor boxes together with several other power consumers.
• The plug socket for the power supply must be positioned near the unit and must be easily accessible.

PLACE OF INSTALLATION:

• The unit should stand only on a clean, horizontal working surface.
• The unit must not be exposed to vibrations during operation.
• Keep away from moisture and dust where possible.
• Do not place the unit near water, baths, wash basins, kitchen sinks, wet areas, swimming pools or damp rooms. Do not place objects containing liquid on the unit - vases, glasses, bottles etc.
• Ensure that the unit is well ventilated.
• Any ventilation openings must never be blocked or covered. The unit must be positioned at least 20 cm away from walls. The unit may only be fitted in a rack if adequate ventilation is ensured and if the manufacturer's installation instructions are followed.
• Keep away from direct sunlight and the immediate vicinity of heating elements and radiant heaters or similar devices.
• If the unit is suddenly moved from a cold to a warm location, condensation can form inside it. This must be taken into account particularly in the case of tube units. Before switching on, wait until the unit has reached room temperature.
• Accessories: Do not place the unit on an unsteady trolley, stand, tripod, base or table. If the unit falls down, it can cause personal injury and itself become damaged. Use the unit only with the trolley, rack stand, tripod or base recommended by the manufacturer or purchased together with the unit. When setting the unit up, all the manufacturer's instructions must be followed and the setup accessories recommended by the manufacturer must be used. Any combination of unit and stand must be moved carefully. A sudden stop, excessive use of force and uneven floors can cause the combination of unit and stand to tip over.
  • Additional equipment: Never use additional equipment which has not been recommended by the manufacturer as this can cause accidents.
  • To protect the unit during bad weather or when left unattended for prolonged periods, the mains plug should be disconnected. This prevents the unit being damaged by lightning and power surges in the AC mains supply.

CONSEILS DE SECURITE IMPORTANTS! PRIERE DE LIRE AVANT L'EMPLOI ET A CONSERVER POUR UTILISATION ULTERIEURE!

• Welcome to Hughes & Kettner
• Connections and Control Features
• Recommended Applications and Standard Connections
• Troubleshooting
• Technical Data

WELCOME TO HUGHES & KETTNER

Thank you for choosing the Hughes & Kettner

TUBE ROTOSPHERE MK II. We designed this device to provide you with a high-quality, tube-driven emulator that delivers the sound and the dynamics of the original rotary speaker cabinet. The TUBE ROTOSPHERE

MK II is a compact, easy-to-operate signal processor for enhancing the tone of your keyboard or guitar.

In addition to these traditional applications, the

TUBE ROTOSPHERE MK II lets you experiment with a host of other instruments such as synthesizers, bass guitars, etc. and even vocals. The only limits is your imagination.

The TUBE ROTOSPHERE MK II's rotary speed adjustment, control features and handling options are based on the sought-after original tube Leslie®'s of the 60's. Those of you who have used this or a similar device will soon come to terms with the TUBE

ROTOSPHERE MK II. For those of you who are less experienced with rotary cabinets, this manual provides all the information you need to put a wicked tailspin an your sound. It also contains valuable advice on cable connections and application potions.

We wish you loads of fun and success with your TUBE ROTOSPHERE MK II!

Hammond ^® and Leslie ^® are registered trademarks of the Hammond-Suzuki Corporation.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER USED AN ACTUAL ROTARY CABINET, THE FOLLOWING SECTION DESCRIBES HOW THIS TYPE OF DEVICE WORKS AND WHAT IT'S PRIMARY FEATURES ARE:

1. A rotating tweeter in the upper section and a rotating bass woofer in the bottom section. The speakers rotate at different speeds and in opposite directions. This complex motion generates a blend of Doppler effects, phase shifting, ever-changing room reflections and alternating frequency dampening that is responsible for the characteristic sound of a Leslie®.

2. Tube amplifiers. The rotating speakers play a decisive role in shaping the sound, but Tube amplifiers are essential to the highly desirable Hammond® tone. Originally regarded as a shortcoming, the tendency of tube amps to generate soft, musical distortion at full throttle was soon found to be a highly desirable audio characteristic. Hence the legendary Hammond® sound was born. Innovative players found that they could vary the level op distortion within a wide range by manipulating a tube amp's volume setting. Classic examples of highly distorted organ sounds in conjunction with a Leslie" rotary cabinet include the songs, "Born to Be Wild", "Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Smoke on the Water". To this day, the dynamic response of tube amps is unique. No other technology can rival the way tubes compress signals and generate overtones in response to signal level.

3. Breaker switch: The breaker cuts off the power supply to the rotary motor. The rotating speaker slows down until it reaches a full stop. The breaker switch is an essential feature of the TUBE ROTO-SPHERE MK II.

4. Speed: The two different basic speeds (Slow and Fast) can be varied via the breaker.

CONNECTIONS AND CONTROL FEATURES

Potentiometers:

Drive: Adjusts the input impedance (gain) and thereby the distortion level.

Output: Adjusts the output volume level.

Rotor Balance: Adjusts the balance of volume between the tweeter and bass rotary speaker.

LEDs:

Flashing LEDs: The right LED indicates the speed of the upper rotor, the left LED the speed of the lower rotor.

Tube Sat: This LED illuminates at the threshold of tube saturation, i.e. when the signal starts distorting.

Effect On: This Led illuminates green when the effect is activated.

Slow/Fast: This LED illuminates when the device is set to slow speed.

Switches:

Slow/Fast: Selects the speed range to either slow or fast. A couple of trim pots let you adjust the FAST speed separately for the woofer and horn. These two trimmers are located to the left and right of the BALANCE knob. Use a small screwdriver to adjust them. Feel free to try out different settings for the two rotors and dial in the combination of speeds that you like best.

Breaker: The button that controls the BREAKER function was replaced with an on/off switch. While the old model required you to hold the button down with your foot to arrest the rotary action, now you can simply activate and deactivate the BREAKER at the touch of a button. That frees up your foot to operate other effect devices or, in the case of organs, bass pedals.

When you stop the rotary action, the simulated woofer and horn always return to the same default position. This ensures that varying rotor positions don't color the sound of the pedal and that you get

consistent tone when you use the Tube Rotosphere purely as a tube preamp.

Bypass: Switches the overall effect on and off.

Rear panel:

Input Right/Mono: mono signal input or right stereo signal input jack Sensitivity: -20 to +10 dB; input impedance 1 M ohms

Input Left: left stereo signal input jack Sensitivity: - 20 to + 10 dB; input impedance 1 M ohms

Output Right/Mono: mono signal output or right stereo signal output jack Level: 0 to +12 dB; impedance 3 K ohms

Output Left: left stereo signal output jack Level: 0 to +12 dB; impedance 3 K ohms

Mode Switch: Adjusts the impedance and pre-EQ filtering for either keyboard or guitar.

Remote: stereo jack for external Bypass and Slow-Fast switch. (tip = Bypass; ring = Slow-Fast switching)

Power Supply: input jack for the included power pack (12 volt, 750 mA).

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS AND STANDARD CONNECTIONS

1. Keyboard mono:

Use a cable equipped with standard 1/4" plugs to connect the output from your keyboard to the ROTOSPHERE mono input. Connect the ROTOSPHERE mono output to your keyboard amp's input or your mixing console's Line In.

2. Keyboard mono to stereo:

Connect your keyboard to the ROTOSPHERE input as described above and connect the ROTOSPHERE outputs to the stereo Line In jacks at your stereo keyboard amp or mixing console.

3. Keyboard stereo:

Connect the right and left stereo outputs of your keyboard to the corresponding inputs and the right and left ROTOSPHERE outputs to the corresponding inputs of your amp or mixing console.

To dial in clean rotor sounds, set the Drive control so that the Tube Sat LED just starts to illuminate at the loudest volume you intend to use. You can turn the Drive control up further to set the level of tube distortion. Set the ROTOSPHERE Output level control and the gain controls at the mixing console so that the mixing console's input channel is not overloaded. You do not want the mixing console itself to add harsh, undesirable distortion to the signal.

4. Guitar mono to the preamp input:

(We recommend this option only when you do not have any type of loop available in your amp where you could patch in the signal post-preamp.) Use a cable equipped with standard 1/4" plugs to connect your guitar's output jack to the ROTOSPHERE mono input. Connect the ROTOSPHERE mono output to your amp's input. Please make sure you dial in a high enough level via the Drive control, as guitar signal levels are substantially lower than keyboard signal levels. Set the Mode Switch at first to Guitar Mode. This will adapt the frequency response for guitar applications, somewhat similar to the RED BOX®. Check out the sound of both modes and choose the one you prefer. It is not absolutely essential to use Guitar Mode exclusively.

5. Guitar mono to your amp's loop through the ROTOSPHERE:

Use a cable equipped with standard 1/4" plugs to connect the FX Send jack from your amplifier to the ROTOSPHERE mono input jack, and the ROTOSPHERE mono output to the FX Return of your amp. The FX loop is located between the preamp and power amp, and has a higher signal level. Subsequently, the effect will have a better signal-to-noise ratio and will sound better.

6. Guitar mono to stereo in an amp's FX loop.

If your amp has an effect loop with a mono send and stereo returns, use a cable equipped with standard 1/4" plugs to connect the FX. Send jack of your amplifier to the ROTOSPHERE mono input jack and the ROTOSPHERE stereo output jacks to the amp's stereo FX Returns.

7. Guitar stereo in the loop of an amp/rack system:

Use two standard 1/4" plug cables to connect the FX Sends L + R to the corresponding inputs of the ROTOSPHERE and the ROTOSPHERE outputs to the amp's stereo FX RETURNS L + R.

8. External Footswitch:

The Remote jack lets you connect an external foot-switch or MIDI switcher. You can switch the effect on and off (Bypass) and switch back and forth between Slow and Fast. Please refer to the section "Control Features" to check the pin assignments of the stereo 1/4" jack. Also be aware of the fact that you can only switch these functions remotely when the unit itself is set to Bypass and Fast. With these settings, the switches are "Off" and LEDs do not illuminate.

TROUBLESHOOTING

WARNING: DO NOT USE ANY POWER SUPPLY OTHER THAN THE INCLUDED ORIGINAL ROTOSPHERE AC POWER PACK!

The ROTOSPHERE is a tube-driven device and draws a great deal of current compared with most pedal devices. A weaker power supply could easily compared with most pedal devices. A weaker power supply could easily overheat, burn itself out and destroy the ROTOSPHERE along with it, possibly causing a fire and leading to further damage and injury.

Level problems: If you are using a guitar with this effect, note that electric guitars have low output signal levels and that you must turn the Drive control up to a suitable level. We highly recommend that you

patch the ROTOSPHERE into a loop, as these feed a substantially higher signal level to the effect.

Noise: The TUBE ROTOSPHERE is an analog Leslie® emulator. We designed it to deliver a sound as true as possible to the original Leslie® sound. The integrated tube is primarily responsible for the highly desirable tube tone. But we aware that the way these components are configured and the nature of the rotary effect add an audible noise level to the signal. If you set the Drive control (in other words, they input sensitivity) to a suitable level for the input signal, you will find that peripheral noise remains at a minimum level.

Tube: When you switch the ROTOSPHERE on (when you plug in the power pack), the Tube Sat LED will illuminate until the tube has heated up to operating temperature. If the tube is already warm, this delay will naturally be shorter. If the LED does not illuminate, double-check the power pack to make sure it is plugged in all the way. If the LED continues to illuminate for longer than the standard warm-up period, then the tube is defective and needs to be replaced. If you find that the effect generates disharmonic distortion or sounds muddy, in all likelihood the tube is worn out and needs to be replaced.

The tube should be replaced by qualified service technicians only.

Tip: In mono mode, the left channel will deliver a more intense effect signal than the right (right channel input, left channel output; do not access the right channel output).

NOTE: THE ROTATION SPEED AND INITIAL ACCELERATION OF THE ROTSPHERE ARE FIXED PRESETS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL ROTARY CABINET SPECIFICATIONS. THESE CANNOT BE MANIPULATED, NOT EVEN BY AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN.

Symptoms and solutions:

• Distortion is too brittle and edgy (with a keyboard): Check the Mode switch to see if it is set to Guitar Mode, and adjust your mixing console input gain.
• The output level of the ROTOSPHERE seems unusually low (in mono mode): Check if you are accessing the correct mono input.
• The effect signal is too loud in comparison to the original signal (in mono mode): Check if you are accessing the correct output (R, Mono).
• Distortion in Bypass mode: The input signal level is too high. It may not exceed + 12 dB. Reduce the output level of your keyboard, or reduce the Drive control, or both.
• The LEDs do not illuminate: Double-check that the power supply is correctly plugged in, or check the circuit breakers in your AC current.
• The LEDs illuminate, but you are not getting a signal: Check the cables and/or the connected instrument.
• The external footswitch does not work: Pull the stereo 1/4" plug out and set the Bypass and Slow-Fast to Off (the LEDs located above the switches do not illuminate). Now reinsert the plug. The foot-switch should operate as intended.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Weight with AC power pack	4.5 lbs
Weight without AC power pack	3.75 lbs

Dimensions

Width	205 mm (8 in)
Height	80 mm (31/8 in)
Depth	215 mm (81/2 in)

Maximum current consumption 720 mA at 13.4 V AC

Maximum power draw	10 VA
Power supply	Use original power pack only
Tube	1 x ECC 83 or 12 AX 7A

Input sensitivity

Right/Mono	-20 to +10 dB
Left	-20 to +10 dB at
Input impedance	1 M ohms

Output level

Right/Mono	0 to + 12 dB
Left	0 to + 12 dB
Impedance	3 k ohms

TUBE ROTOSPHERE® MK II

INDEX

This is to certify that

TUBE ROTOSPHERE MK II

complies with the provisions of the Directive of the Council of the European Communities on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC Directive 89/336/EEC) and the low voltage Directive (73/23/EEC). This declaration of conformity of the European Communities is the result of an examination carried out by the Quality Assurance Department of STAMER GmbH in accordance with European Standards EN 50081-1, EN 50082-1 and EN 60065 for low voltage, as laid down in Article 10 of the EMC Directive.