VOX amPlug Brian May Headphone Guitar Amplifier Owner’s Manual

amPlug Brian May Headphone Guitar Amplifier

About the VOX amPlug Brian May

The VOX amPlug Brian May is a headphone guitar amplifier that can be directly plugged into the jack on your guitar to achieve a distinctive Brian May guitar sound, as well as a traditional VOX crunch sound. This unit features four different effects as well as nine rhythm functions that are useful for practicing.

Part Names and Functions

1. Input plug: Connect this to your guitar. Swivel the plug as shown in Fig. 2. Adjust the plug angle according to the guitar you’re using. When using an amPlug Cabinet, connect it to the AMPLUG IN jack on this unit.
2. PHONES jack: Connect a pair of headphones, a mixer, recording device or an amPlug Cabinet here.
3. STANDBY/ON/CH button, lamp: Long-press the button to turn the unit on/off. Press this button to switch between channels.
4. GAIN control: This adjusts the amp gain.
5. TONE control: This adjusts the tone of the amplifier.
6. VOLUME control: This adjusts the overall volume of the amplifier.
7. FX/RHYTHM lever switch: Long-press the lever switch to start or stop the rhythm. Press or rotate the lever switch to set the effect and rhythm. This control works differently when the rhythm is stopped and when it is playing. While rhythm is stopped: Adjusting the effects. While rhythm is playing back: Using the rhythm.
8. TAP button: This sets the effect and rhythm speed. This control works differently when the rhythm is stopped and when it is playing. While rhythm is stopped: Adjusting the effects. While rhythm is playing back: Using the rhythm.
9. AUX jack (stereo): Connect this jack to a portable music player or similar device with a 3.5 mm TRS (stereo mini) cable (Fig. 4). Adjust the playback volume on the connected player accordingly. You can record the output audio from this unit to a device such as a smartphone or tablet if you use a CTIA-compliant 3.5 mm TRRS cable (Fig. 5). This is a monaural output.

Setup

1. Adjusting the effects: Press or rotate the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to set the effect and rhythm. While the rhythm is stopped, adjust the effects using the FX/RHYTHM lever switch.
2. Push and slide on the triangular mark on the battery cover at the rear of the unit to remove the cover.
3. Insert two AAA batteries as shown in Fig. 6, while making sure they are correctly oriented.Installing the batteries:

If you’ll be using this product for an extended period of time, it’s recommended to use alkaline or nickel-metal hydride batteries.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Connect the input plug to your guitar and adjust the plug angle according to the guitar you’re using.
2. Connect a pair of headphones, a mixer, recording device or an amPlug Cabinet to the PHONES jack.
3. Long-press the STANDBY/ON/CH button to turn the unit on/off. Press this button to switch between channels.
4. Adjust the GAIN control to adjust the amp gain.
5. Adjust the TONE control to adjust the tone of the amplifier.
6. Adjust the VOLUME control to adjust the overall volume of the amplifier.
7. Press or rotate the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to set the effect and rhythm. While the rhythm is stopped, adjust the effects using the FX/RHYTHM lever switch. While rhythm is playing back, use the TAP button to adjust the effect and rhythm speed.
8. Connect the AUX jack to a portable music player or similar device with a 3.5 mm TRS (stereo mini) cable. Adjust the playback volume on the connected player accordingly. You can record the output audio from this unit to a device such as a smartphone or tablet if you use a CTIA-compliant 3.5 mm TRRS cable.

Thank you for purchasing the VOX amPlug Brian May Head-phone Guitar Amplifier. To help you get the most out of your purchase, please read this manual carefully.

About the VOX amPlug Brian May

The amPlug Brian May is a unit that can be plugged directly into the jack on your guitar to achieve a distinctive Brian May guitar sound, as well as a traditional VOX crunch sound. This unit features four different effects as well as nine rhythm functions that are useful for practicing.

Part names and functions

1. Input plug: Connect this to your guitar. Swivel the plug as shown in Fig.
2. Adjust the plug angle according to the guitar you’re using.

When using an amPlug Cabinet, connect it to the AMPLUG IN jack on this unit.

CAUTION

• When unplugging the amPlug from your guitar, grasp the unit near the base of its input plug. Grasping it at the end may break the unit.
• Turn the volume of the amPlug all the way down if you want to use the unit without connecting it to an input plug. Failure to do so may make the input signal unstable, resulting in loud noise.
• Disconnect the amPlug from your guitar before leaning your guitar against a wall or laying it on the floor. If you fail to do so, this unit or your guitar may come into contact with the floor or other surface and break.

PHONES jack

Connect a pair of headphones, a mixer, recording device or an amPlug Cabinet here.

STANDBY/ON/CH button, lamp
Long-press the button to turn the unit on/off. Press this button to switch between channels. Turning the power on/off” (see page 2) Selecting a channel and adjusting the tone” (see page 2)

GAIN control
This adjusts the amp gain.

TONE control
This adjusts the tone of the amplifier.

FX/RHYTHM lever switch
Long-press the lever switch to start or stop the rhythm. Press or rotate the lever switch to set the effect and rhythm. This control works differently when the rhythm is stopped and when it is playing. While rhythm is stopped: “Adjusting the effects” (see page 2) While rhythm is playing back: “Using the rhythm” (see page 3)

TAP button
This sets the effect and rhythm speed. This control works differently when the rhythm is stopped and when it is playing. While rhythm is stopped: “Adjusting the effects” (see page 2) While rhythm is playing back: “Using the rhythm” (see page 3)

AUX jack (stereo)
Connect this jack to a portable music player or similar de-vice with a 3.5 mm TRS (stereo mini) cable (Fig. 4). Adjust the playback volume on the connected player accordingly. You can record the output audio from this unit to a device such as a smartphone or tablet if you use a CTIA-compliant 3.5 mm TRRS cable (Fig. 5). This is a monaural output.

CAUTION

• When connecting the amPlug to external equipment such as a mixer or recorder, turn down the volume to the minimum position on your external equipment before connecting this unit. After connecting this unit, turn on the amPlug and then adjust the volume of your external equipment accordingly.
• Use a cable that’s no longer than 3 m (for the AUX and PHONES jacks) to prevent malfunctions.
• Be sure that the audio equipment you connect to the PHONES jack supports a stereo connection. Also, be sure that the plug is firmly inserted all the way into the jack. If you connect monaural equipment or fail to insert the plug all the way into the jack, the device may perform unexpectedly or the batteries may run down more quickly.

Setup

Installing the batteries

1. Push and slide on the triangular mark on the battery cover at the rear of the unit to remove the cover.
2. Insert two AAA batteries as shown in Fig. 6, while making sure they are correctly oriented.

If you’ll be using this product for an extended period of time, we recommend that you use alkaline or nickel-metal hydride batteries. The lamp lights dimly when the battery power is low, and the lamp turns off when the battery power is depleted. Here’s when you should replace the batteries:

• For nickel-metal hydride batteries: when the lamp lights dimly
• For alkaline or zinc-carbon batteries: when the lamp goes dark

CAUTION

Remove depleted batteries from the unit immediately. Leav-ing depleted batteries in could result in malfunctions such as degradation of rechargeable batteries, electrolyte leakage or other problems. You should also remove the batteries if you will not be using the unit for an extended period of time.

Making connections

1. Connect the input plug of this unit to your guitar. Adjust the plug angle so that it’s easy to use.
2. Connect your headphones or other monitoring equipment to the PHONES jack.

Turning the power on/off

1. Rotate the VOLUME control counterclockwise to turn the volume all the way down.
2. Long-press the STANDBY/ON/CH button to turn the power on (the lamp lights up).
3. To stop playing, long-press the STANDBY/ON/CH button to turn the power off (the lamp goes dark). Remove the plug from the jack.

Selecting a channel and adjusting the tone

1. Press the STANDBY/ON/CH button to select channel 1 (green) or 2 (red).

   • CH1 (green): traditional VOX crunch sound
   • CH2 (red): routes the signal through a treble booster circuit for a sparkling tone with bite that’s distinctive of the Brian May sound.
     NOTE: When using CH2, you may notice some additional noise, and some feedback may occur depending on the settings. Use caution with the volume settings.

2. Use the GAIN, TONE and VOLUME controls to adjust the tone and volume.

Adjusting the effects

1. Long-press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to stop the rhythm when the rhythm is playing.
2. Press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to select the effect type. Hold down the TAP button and press the lever switch to switch between types in reverse order. When you switch the effect types and the effect returns to the first setting (effect off), the lamp briefly blinks orange.
3. Rotate the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to adjust the effect intensity.
4. Press the TAP button two or more times to set the effect time and speed.
5. Rotate the FX/RHYTHM lever switch while holding down the TAP button to fine-tune the value.

Effect type (Type)

1. Off

2. Delay (Brighton Rock)*
   A stereo delay that pans from left to right.

   • Lever switch L/R: Amount of delay sound sent to the mix
   • TAP button interval: Delay time (40 ms–1 s)

3. Delay: A stereo delay that slightly varies the L/R time to create a sense of depth

   • Lever switch L/R: Amount of delay sound sent to the mix
   • TAP button interval: Delay time (40 ms–1 s)

4. Phaser (Keep Yourself Alive A recreation of the phase effect sound used in this song.

   • Lever switch L/R: Modulation depth
   • TAP button interval: Modulation speed (0.1–10 Hz)

5. Chorus: A stereo chorus that creates a wavering sound that’s rich and spacious.

   • Lever switch L/R: Modulation depth
   • TAP button interval: Modulation speed (0.3–10 Hz)
   • Brian May signature effect

Using the rhythm

1. Long-press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to play the rhythm. The lamp blinks in time with the rhythm.
2. Press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to select the rhythm pattern. Hold down the TAP button and press the lever switch to switch between patterns in reverse order. When you switch the rhythm pattern and the pattern returns to the first pattern (rhythm 1), the lamp briefly blinks orange.
3. Adjust the rhythm volume by rotating the FX/RHYTHM lever switch.
4. Press the TAP button two or more times to confirm the rhythm tempo. Rotate the FX/RHYTHM lever switch while holding down the TAP button to fine-tune the value. You can set the tempo over a range of 40–240 BPM.
5. Long-press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch to stop the rhythm.

The tempo for “We Will Rock You” returns to its initial value when you turn on the power or select this rhythm pattern.

Auto power-off function

If no buttons or controls are used or there is no signal input via the input plug for approximately 30 minutes, the unit automatically turns off.

CAUTION

• When the input level is extremely low or there is very little change in the sound, the unit may determine that there is no input.
• The unit may interpret noise as input depending on the settings and environment, even if the guitar is not being played.
• The auto power-off function will not engage while a rhythm is being played back.

Restoring the factory settings

The channel, effect and rhythm settings are saved auto-matically. This shows how to restore these settings to their factory defaults.

1. Turn off the power.
2. While keeping the FX/RHYTHM lever switch rotated coun-terclockwise, long-press the STANDBY/ON/CH button.
3. Once the lamp slowly blinks red, take your finger off the button and lever switch.
4. To execute, long-press the FX/RHYTHM lever switch for approx. two seconds.

The lamp lights up green, and the command is executed. Once the settings are finished, the power automatically turns off.

• To cancel, long-press the STANDBY/ON/CH button to turn off the power.

Specifications

• Input/output jacks: Phones jack (3.5 mm stereo mini phone jack), AUX jack (CTIA-compliant 3.5 mm TRRS mini phone jack)
• Power supply: Two AAA batteries or AAA nickel-metal hydride batteries
• Battery life: 10 hours/16 hours (using alkaline batteries, when FX or RHYTHM is on/off); 3 hours/5 hours (using zinc-carbon batteries, when FX or RHYTHM is on/off)
• Dimensions (W × D × H): 87 × 33 × 39 mm (3.43″ × 1.3″ × 1.54″), with plug folded down
• Weight: 40 g (1.41 oz.), not including batteries
• Included items: two AAA batteries

Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice for improvement. All product names and company names are the trade-marks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Vox Amplification Ltd.
1 Harrison Close, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PA. UK
2022 VOX AMPLIFICATION LTD.
Copyright Duck Productions Ltd. 2022 www.voxamps.com

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