electro-harmonix Q-TRON Plus Envelope Filter with Effects Loop User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- electro-harmonix
Table of Contents
electro-harmonix Q-TRON Plus Envelope Filter with Effects Loop
Q-TRON+ Envelope Controlled Filter with External Loop and “Response”
Control
Congratulations on your purchase of the Q-Tron+ enhanced envelope controlled
filter. It is a very powerful tool for musical expression. Please take a few
minutes to familiarize yourself with the Q-Tron+ features and controls.
Envelope controlled filters are unique sound modifiers since the intensity of
the effect is controlled by the user’s player dynamics. The volume (also known
as the envelope) of the musician’s notes are used to control a swept filter.
As the volume of your notes changes, so does the peak frequency of the filter.
CONTROLS
Gain Control (0-11) In normal mode, the gain control acts as a filter
sensitivity control and has no effect on the unit’s output volume. In Boost
mode, the Gain control functions as both a volume control and the filter
sensitivity control.
Boost Switch (Normal/Boost) Normal mode passes input signal through the
filter at its original level. Boost mode increases the signal gain to the
filter according to the Gain control setting.
Response Switch (Fast/Slow) Changes the sweep response between two
optimized settings. “Slow” response creates a smooth vowel-like response.
“Fast” response produces a snappy response identical to the original Q-Tron.
Drive Switch (Up/Down) Selects the direction of the filter sweep.
Range Switch (Hi/Lo) Emphasizes vowel-like sounds in low position and
overtones in high position.
Peak Control (0-11) Determines the resonance peak or Q of the filter.
Turning the control clockwise increases the Q and creates a more dramatic
effect.
Mode Switch (LP, BP, HP, Mix) Determines what frequency range the filter
will pass. Emphasize bass with Low Pass, midrange in Band Pass and treble with
the High Pass. Mix mode combines BP with the dry instrument signal.
Bypass Switch (In/Out) Toggles between effect mode and True Bypass. When
the Q-Tron+ is in bypass, the effect loop is also bypassed. Your Playing
Dynamics-The Q-tron’s effect is controlled by the user’s player dynamics.
Strong attack will yield a more dramatic effect, while a softer playing yields
more subtle ones.
Effects
The Effects loop allows you to place an additional musical effect between
the QTron’s preamp and filter sections without any alteration of the envelope
drive. This allows the full dynamic response to your playing while greatly
increasing the sound possibilities: Fuzz, soft distortion, echo and chorus,
octave divider etc. When you use an external effect in the Effect’s Loop, the
footswitch on the external effect can control whether the signal is “in” or
”out”. The Q-Tron footswitch will always switch between the Q-Tron process and
the original input signal regardless of the state of the external effect .
Jacks
Input Jack- Musical instrument signal input. The input impedance presented
at this jack is 300 k.
Effects Out Jack- Output to amplifier. The output impedance is 250 .
FX Loop Send Jack- Musical instrument signal output to external musical
effect. The output impedance is 250 .
FX Loop Return Jack- From External musical effect output to Q-Tron+ filter
process. The input impedance presented at this jack is 300 k.
AC Adaptor
Your Q-Tron+ comes equipped with a 24 volt DC (inner positive) / 100mA
external power adapter. Use only the power adapter that is supplied! Using the
wrong adapter can cause serious bodily injury and may damage your unit. This
will void the warranty.
**Operation
**
Set all controls to minimum. Connect your instrument to the input jack and your amplifier to the effect out jack. Optionally connect an external effect to the Effects Loop. The unit’s power LED should be lit. Set the Q-Tron’s controls to the following:
Drive Switch: UP
Response Switch : Slow
Range Switch: Low
Mode Switch: BP
Peak Control : Maximum
Boost Control: Normal
Gain Control: Variable
Vary the gain control until the Overload Indicator LED lights on the loudest notes that you play. If no effect is noticeable, depress the Bypass switch to engage the effect. With this setting the user should be able to approximate the sound of an automatic wah-wah pedal. Experiment with these settings to see how the Q-Tron reacts to playing dynamics. Adjusting the Gain and Peak controls will vary the amount and intensity of the effect. For tonal variations adjust the Range, Mode and Drive controls.
To attain an effect similar to an original Mu-Tron III, set the Q-Tron’s
controls to the following:
Drive Switch : Down
Response Switch: Fast
Range Switch: Low
Mode Switch: BP
Peak Control : Mid Point
Boost Control: Boost
Gain Control: Variable
Vary the gain control until the Overload Indicator LED lights on the loudest
notes that you play. Increasing gain will saturate the Filter, yielding the
famous “chewy” Mu-Tron like sounds. Adjusting the peak control will vary the
intensity of the effect. For tonal variations, adjust the Range, Mode and
Drive controls.
Options for use
The Q-Tron+ can be used with a wide variety of electronic instruments. Here
are some setting tips for use with different instrument types.
Range Control- Lo range is best for rhythm guitar and bass. Hi range is
best for lead guitar, brass and winds. Both ranges work well for keyboards.
Mix Mode: Works especially well with bass guitar (may require higher peak
settings).
Drive Switch: Down drive works well with Bass guitar. Up Drive is best
with guitar and keyboards. The Q-Tron+ can also be used in conjunction with
other effects pedals. Here are some interesting combinations.
Q-Tron+ and Big Muff (or tube amp distortion)- Place the distortion
device after the Q-tron+ in the signal chain, or effects loop. The use of
distortion will dramatically increase the intensity of the Q-Tron’s effect.
You can also place the distortion before the Q-Tron+ but this combination
tends to flatten the dynamic response range of the effect.
Q-Tron+ into a Q-Tron +-(or another Q-Tron in effects loop)- Try this
with one unit in the up drive position and the other in the down drive
position.
Q-Tron+ and Octave Multiplexer – Place the octave divider before the
Q-Tron+ in the signal chain or in the effects loop. Use an octave divider,
which maintains the natural envelope of the signal. This combination will
yield sounds similar to an analog synthesizer.
Q-Tron+ and compressor, flanger, reverb etc in effects loop – create
interesting tonal colors while retaining full control of the Q-Tron+’s filter
sweep. Try experimenting with other effects and effect placement (before
Q-Tron+, after it or in the effects loop) to achieve your own unique sound.
When used properly the Q-tron will provide a lifetime of playing pleasure.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete
and return the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro-
Harmonix will repair or replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to
operate due to defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year
from date of purchase. This applies only to original purchasers who have
bought their product from an authorized Electro-Harmonix retailer. Repaired or
replaced units will then be warranted for the unexpired portion of the
original warranty term.
If you should need to return your unit for service within the warranty period,
please contact the appropriate office listed below. Customers outside the
regions listed below, please contact EHX Customer Service for information on
warranty repairs at info@ehx.com or
+1-718-937-8300. USA and Canadian
customers: please obtain a Return Authorization Number (RA#) from EHX Customer
Service before returning your product. Include with your returned unit: a
written description of the problem as well as your name, address, telephone
number, e-mail address, and RA#; and a copy of your receipt clearly showing
the purchase date.
United States & Canada
EHX CUSTOMER SERVICE
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
c/o NEW SENSOR CORP.
47-50 33RD STREET
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101
Tel: 718-937-8300
Email: info@ehx.com
References
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