Owner’s Manual Owner’s Manual E 1 1 E
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Mains powered apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Table of Contents Introduction....................................................................................... 4 Welcome aboard! ............................................................................ 4 Main features................................................................................... 4 Signal path ...................................................................................... 4 Quick Start ....................................................................................
Introduction WELCOME ABOARD! T hanks for choosing the VOX DA15. To ensure a long and trouble-free relationship with your new amp, please read this manual carefully, use the amp as directed and keep the manual for future reference. MAIN FEATURES • • • • • The amplifier provides eleven distinctive sound styles that can be used in various musical genres. Eleven high-quality effects are built in and seven are multi effects that let you use two effects simultaneously plus Noise Reduction.
Quick Start nce you’ve satisfied your primal urge to play, I’d like to suggest you give this manual a chance — it’s been written by a fellow guitar nut and this amp boasts some killer bells ‘n’ whistles that will warrant your interest. In short, it’ll be worth your while, we promise. This said, here’s the “Quick Start” — enjoy! I look forward to taking you through the amp in more detail once you’re done...
CREATING YOUR OWN SOUNDS 1. Press the top panel MANUAL button. The MANUAL LED will light which means you’re in Manual mode. HINT: You can also create your own sounds in Preset mode or Channel Select mode. However, the process is a bit easier to understand in Manual mode, since the positions of all knobs (except the EDIT 1 knob) are exactly what you’re hearing. In other words, what you see is what you get! 2.
The Guitarist’s Guided Panel Tour In this chapter we’re going to take a look at the top and rear panels of your amp. A. Top Panel 2 4 1 3 5 1. INPUT SECTION This is where you plug in your guitar. 2. AMP SECTION Here’s where you make your settings. STYLE selector switch This switch selects a sound style. The eleven sound styles include clean sounds, slightly-distorted bluesy sounds, crunchy rhythm sounds, and high-gain lead sounds.
TREBLE, MIDDLE, and BASS This trio of knobs allows you to dial in the exact amount of high, mid, and low frequencies. Also, as you’d expect (and hope!), the exact manner in which each one of these controls behaves and also interacts with the others is dependant on the type of sound selected. Turn to the “Sound Styles and Effects” section (page 18) for more information. MASTER This adjusts the overall volume. This setting will vary the amount of distortion created by the power amp.
HINT: You can also adjust the speed or time, by holding down the TAP button and turning the EDIT 1 knob. (This is the EDIT 2 mode) NOTE: If the BYPASS LED is lit, you won’t be able to use the TAP switch to set the time. (The TAP LED will be dark.) BYPASS (EDIT 3) and LED If you don’t want to use an effect, press this button to turn the effect off (i.e., bypassed). If the effect is bypassed, this LED will be lit. NOTE: You can’t adjust the effect parameters if the BYPASS LED is lit.
B. Rear Panel 1 2 3 1. AC POWER This is where you connect the included power cord. 2. FOOT SW You can connect the optional VFS2 dual foot switch here, and use it to switch programs or bypass the effect while you perform. 3. LINE/PHONE Use this jack if you’re plugging directly in to a mixer, recording device, or if you’re using headphones. The output signal from this jack is taken before the power amp, and the character of the guitar amp cabinet is applied to it.
About the three operating modes T he DA15 contains eleven preset programs. To select one of these, enter Preset mode by pressing the PRESET button and turn the STYLE selector. There are also two rewritable channel programs which you can select by pressing the CH button or by using the optional VFS2 foot switch. PRESET MODE (SELECTING A PRESET PROGRAM) In Preset mode, simply turn the STYLE selector to choose a preset program that contains “typical” settings for each type of sound Style.
SWITCHING CHANNELS With either the CH1 or CH2 LED lit, press the CH switch. The channel will change each time you press the button, and the program stored in each channel will be recalled. (The physical settings of the top panel selector knobs and control knobs are ignored at this time.) HINT: If the optional VFS2 dual foot switch is connected to the rear panel, you can use it to switch programs. For details, refer to “Using the VSF2 dual foot switch” (page 17).
Creating and storing your own program T here are two ways you can do this; by tweaking an existing preset program that’s close to what you have in mind, or by starting from scratch. CREATING YOUR OWN PROGRAM Let’s start from scratch. 1. Choose any program in Preset or Channel Select mode, or select Manual mode. HINT: Since we’re starting from scratch it doesn’t matter what program you choose. 2. Use the BYPASS button to bypass the effect. (The BYPASS LED is lit.
8. When you’ve come up with a sound you like, store the program. NOTE: In Preset or Channel Select mode, the changes you made will be lost if you switch to a different program, Manual mode or turn off the power without storing the program first. NOTE: The effect bypass setting isn’t stored as part of the program. ADJUSTING THE NOISE REDUCTION Here’s how to adjust the noise reduction HINT: When you use a high-gain amp type such as “HIGAIN1,” “HIGAIN2” or “HIGAIN3,” we recommend that you use noise reduction.
STORING YOUR PROGRAM When you’ve come up with a sound you like, you should store (write) the program. 1. Press the WRITE button. The CH1 or CH2 LED will blink. 2. Press the CH button to select the channel to where you want to store your program. The program will be stored in the channel where the indicator is blinking. HINT: If, during this process, you decide that you really don’t want to store the program, you can press the TAP button to cancel at this point.
RESTORING THE FACTORY SETTINGS Here’s how you can restore the factory settings. NOTE: If you do this, the programs you saved in Channel 1 and 2 will be completely erased, and will be reset to the factory settings. NOTE: Effect and noise reduction settings made in the Manual mode will also be erased. NOTE: Never turn off the power while initialization is taking place. 1. Turn the power off. 2. While holding down both the CH and WRITE buttons, turn the power on.
Using the VFS2 dual foot switch I f the optional VFS2 dual foot switch is connected to the rear panel FOOT SW jack, you can use it to switch programs or turn effect bypass on/off. VFS2 left switch (switch 1): Switches channel programs VFS2 right switch (switch 2): Switches bypass on/off, or turn Manual mode on SWITCHING THE CHANNEL PROGRAM (SWITCH 1) Each time you press the VFS2’s left switch (switch 1), you’ll alternate between CH1 and CH2.
Sound Styles and Effects In this section, we’ll discuss the eleven sound styles and effects. STYLES You know that there is a plethora of great sounding amps out there, and that the quest for the ultimate sound can be endless. After countless hours of soul searching, earnest discussions (not to mention the occasional friendly argument!), calls to tone-wise friends (some professional players, some not ...
7. CRUNCH 2 This style has a fat, roaring sound with a distinctive, cranium-crushing crunch. Rolling back your guitar’s volume produces a bright, clean sound that’s perfect for chord work and will cut through any mix. 8. HIGAIN 1 This style’s toneful, high gain punch and girth results in a highly aggressive, tonebreathing monster capable of mondo-gain while retaining individual note definition. 9.
EFFECTS The DA15 provides eleven of the most popular effects (some settings actually combine two effects). You can adjust the SPEED parameter of modulation effects or the TIME parameter of delay/reverb effects simply by pressing the TAP switch twice. In addition to using the EDIT 1 knob to adjust the most important parameters, you can make more detailed adjustments by holding down the TAP button or BYPASS button while turning the EDIT 1 knob.
COMP Want to play a clean passage that needs to be nice, smooth, and even? Need a bit more sustain on a lead line? Then look no further; COMP is the effect for you. It’s modeled on a compressor pedal that is hugely popular due to the percussive clean sound it can produce — making it perfect for ’80s and ’90s pop and funk rhythm work. It can also add a singing, mellow, sustain to lead lines — clean or dirty. EDIT 1 “SENS” EDIT 2 [TAP+EDIT 1] “ATTACK” Adjusts the sensitivity of the compressor.
FLANGER A model of a truly classic flanger that “unchained” a highly influential modern guitarist who many hail as the “godfather of two-handed tapping.” TAP “SPEED” Sets the modulation speed in a range of 0.1...10 [Hz]. EDIT 2 “SPEED” This lets you use the knob to make fine adjustments [TAP+EDIT 1] to the parameter. EDIT 3 “RESONANCE” Adjusts the amount of resonance. [BYPASS+EDIT 1] TREMOLO This effect is based on the highly acclaimed tremolo circuit found in some guitar amps.
DELAY This is a model of one of the most respected analogue tape echo machines ever made. In the original, the “echo” is produced by a playback head and the exact “delay time” is set by varying the motor speed. Many professionals prefer these “lo-fi” units because of the warm, dark echoes they produce. TAP “TIME” EDIT 1 “MIX” EDIT 2 “TIME” [TAP+EDIT 1] EDIT 3 “FEEDBACK” [BYPASS+EDIT 1] Sets the delay time in a range of 1...1486 [ms]. Adjusts the mix amount of the delay.
Troubleshooting 1. The amp isn’t powering up when the POWER switch is ON. ➢ Is the power cable plugged into the AC power connector on the rear panel of the amp? ➢ Is the power cable plugged into an AC outlet? ➢ Is the AC outlet switched on and actually working? ➢ Does the power cable work? 2.
4. There’s no sound from the LINE/PHONE jack when you use it. ➢ Check that the top panel MASTER volume isn’t turned all the way down. ➢ Make sure sound is coming from the amp. IMPORTANT NOTE: You’ll need to unplug your headphones or cable from the LINE/ PHONE jack to do this, since plugging something into this jack automatically mutes the amp’s speakers. If there’s still no sound from the amp, go to page 24 “There’s no sound coming from the amp.
Specifications Number of styles: 11 Number of effects: 11 Noise reduction: 1 Number of programs: 11 preset, 2 user Input/output jacks Top panel: 1 x INPUT Rear panel: 1 x FOOT SW jack, 1 x LINE/PHONE jack Power amp output: Maximum 15W RMS @ 8 ohms Speaker: 1 x VOX original (8 inch 8 ohm) Signal processing A/D conversion: 24-bit D/A conversion: 24-bit Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz Power supply requirements: AC, local voltage Power consumption: 23W Dimensions (W x D x H): 427 x 226 x 387 (mm)/16.81 x 8.
Programmer’s Cheat Sheet Wanna remember how you set up your favorite programs? Well, this is the place to do it! Simply copy the sheet below and mark up by drawing lines or coloring.
Owner’s Manual Owner’s Manual IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS This product has been manufactured according to strict specifications and voltage requirements that are applicable in the country in which it is intended that this product should be used. If you have purchased this product via the internet, through mail order, and/or via a telephone sale, you must verify that this product is intended to be used in the country in which you reside.
