Vibe Machine™ V-1
Vibe Machines with serial numbers from and including #703 work with all expression pedals so please be careful when choosing your expression pedal.
Vibe Machine V-1 questions
Here you can find questions and answers regarding:
– Expression pedals for Vibe Machine V-1 from serial No. #703
– Expression pedal speed range calibration mode (from serial No. #703)
– Expression pedals for the older Vibe Machine V-1 (under and including serial No. #702)
– V-1 optical/electronic design
– output buffer jumper
– fuzz /OD pedals and Vibe Machine
– TFC connector purpose
– Heart beat mode
– Position in the chain
– Power supplies for Vibe Machine V-1
Q: What expression pedal can I use for the Vibe Machine V-1 from serial No. #703?
A: For Vibe Machines from and including serial No. #703 you can use any expression pedal that has a 5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, 100k or 250k linear pot. We always recommend Mission Engineering expression pedals. For this upgraded version of our V-1 pedal you can use the EP-1 model from Mission, but you can also use any other expression pedal with a linear pot, e.g. Roland EV-5, Boss FV500, M-Audio EXP or any other cheaper pedal with a linear pot.
Q: What is the purpose of the expression pedal speed calibration mode on the Vibe Machine V-1?
A: Only Vibe Machine V-1s from serial No. #703 onwards have this mode. This mode can be used for a specific expression pedal when the expression pedal does not have the same full speed range from 0% to 100% as the pedal’s speed potentiometer. For example, when your expression pedal has only 10% to 90% resistance range for full physical movement from up to down, then your speed range will be only from 10% to 90% of the possible speed range. But you can now calibrate your expression pedal to have the full speed range from minimum to maximum. For many expression pedals you won’t need to calibrate the speed range. The procedure for entering this mode is very simple. How to use this mode is explained clearly in the pedal’s manual, or see the instructional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BwnqkT9XPY (12’43”-14’45”)
Q: Hi I bought my Vibe Machine a little over a year ago in October 2013, and I love it, but recently I have been experiencing an issue with my pedal. When I turn the speed knob up nothing happens until it´s at 12:00 at which point it starts to get very fast immediately. The same thing happens when I turn it down, and it doesn’t slow down until it reaches 12:00 where it then has no speed at all. Is there something I can do to fix this? Best regards.
A: Thank you for your email, sorry to hear you have been experiencing this issue, we have a quick and easy solution for you, it sounds like your Vibe Machine has entered it’s calibration mode for an expression pedal during power up. We did have a few pedals from that batch (October 2013) that had calibration mode issues, these were entering this mode by accident when powering up if the speed knob was set at exactly 12:00. This mode is used for calibrating expression pedals that do not have the full resistance range from 0% to 100%. But even without an expression pedal your VM may have entered this mode:
https://drybell.com/documents/Vibe_Machine_V-1_Users%20_Manual_rev3.pdf
A demonstration of how to initiate the expression pedal calibration mode and then how to return the pedal back to its default settings is shown here in this video from 12:50 (13:52 for resetting):
As you were unaware that you had entered this mode you accidentally calibrated the pedal causing the speed knob to behave in the way you have described. The pedal can only enter calibration mode in the first three seconds of power up. This situation can be avoided by setting the speed knob at minimum or maximum when turning on your pedal, but if this happens again, using the instructions in the video you are now able to quickly reset your pedal to its normal parameters. We fixed this issue as soon as it was reported by the first customer. Now with the newer pedals you have to move the speed knob between 10 and 14 o’clock to enter this mode during power up, making it impossible to happen by accident. I hope this has helped. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Best regards, zvonch
/Feedback email from customer/ Hi again.. Aaah, that worked like a charm. Thank you very much. I´m back in Gilmour-land again.. 🙂 Best sounding vibe I´ve ever heard, hands down. Keep it up and best regards
Q: What expression pedal can I use for Vibe Machines under serial No. #703?
A1: For Vibe Machines under serial No. #703 we RECOMMEND that you use Mission Engineering EP-100K professional expression pedal (SKU: EP-100K-RD). This expression pedal has a 100kOhm potentiometer and is designed just for the older Vibe Machine V-1. You can buy this expression pedal directly from Mission Engineering: http:// missionengineering.com/?product=ep-100k-for-drybell-vibe-machine.
Also check the video demo from Gearmanndude: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIKgEojCk54
You need a TRS cable for connecting between the EP-100K and the Vibe Machine V-1. Mission Engineering produces a wide range of high quality TRS cables for many types of expression pedals. Please contact Mission for cable details and lengths.
A2: For cheaper expression pedals you can use volume pedals with 100kOhm potentiometers like Proel GF-12 or Bespeco VM12. With these you will need a Y TRS cable.
A3: Wah pedal can’t be used as an expression pedal, but it is possible to modify it (using just Hot Potz II) to be expression pedal. If you have experience with soldering you can build your own custom expression pedal. All Vibe Machine V-1 under serial No. #703 works with Crybaby™ Hot Potz II (100kOhm) potentiometer. For example, you can use your unused wah enclosure as an expression pedal. Please find the wiring diagram in the Vibe Machine manual.
Q:Does the Vibe Machine™ use a phase modulator optical design?
A: Yes, the Vibe Machine is a miniature version of the classic Uni-Vibe®. It uses photoresistors and a filament lamp. The optical system located inside the Vibe Machine is a special reduced-size reconstruction of the classic Uni-Vibe® modulator. The optical system design in its reduced version completely replaces the electric/audio characteristics of the classic Uni-Vibe optical system. Given that, the main goal was to make a compact size vibe pedal, the optical system simply had to be smaller. This optical system is the most complicated part of the Vibe Machine and intensive work went in to its design. Please see the Vibe Machine technical story from February 15 2013 in our news section.
Q: What is the purpose of the output buffer jumper in the Vibe Machine V-1?
A: The output buffer jumper activates the buffer behind the Uni-Vibe circuit. This output buffer reduces any potential interferences and hums when using long cables. Also, with the buffer set to ON you will find more high frequencies in your sound. For impedance details, please see the manual. If you use fuzz pedals, please try out both options with the buffer on and off. You will get different characteristics of the fuzz with each buffer setting.
Note: The Vibe Machine V-1 is always true bypass. If the output buffer jumper is set to ON, the buffer is only active when the Vibe Machine is switched on.
Q: What is a TFC™ output/link?
A: The TFC ™ is a simple output which is active when the pedal is on (the LED lights up). In that case, a DC signal of approximately 8V appears. This TFC link is used for controlling and managing your pedal-board, as well as for some other equipment that is not necessarily on the pedal-board (e.g. light show). With TFC link you can’t remotely control the bypass of V-1 pedal.
Q: On the back side of the unit where power connector and TFC output is located, there is a plastic phillips screw near the Intensity control. What is the purpose of this screw?
A: The plastic screw on the rear side fastens a linear voltage regulator from the inside. Please do not touch the screw 🙂
Q: Past halfway on the intensity knob, I can hear bass frequencies being produced at the rate set up with the speed knob, even when no input signal… Pretty similar to a heartbeat actually. Is it normal and part of the vibe design?
A: A more pronounced pulsing feel is normal on the Vibe Machine when the intensity and speed is high. The Vibe Machine is designed to have a bit of a stronger heart beat sound than other vibe pedals. The heart beat starts at relatively high speed when you turn the intensity pot higher than 2 o’clock. If you don’t like it, you should simply use the less intensity. This is a normal part of V-1 design, so all Vibe Machines have this heart beat sound on high intensity and high speeds.
Q: Where in the chain do you recommend it sits, pre or post gain/fuzz?
A: We recommend you connect your Vibe pedal before your gain effects, but there is no right or wrong position, this is purely a matter of taste and which way round you prefer tonally. For example, regarding the fuzz, V-1 can sound fantastic in both cases, before and after fuzz or OD. This depends especially on the type of the fuzz, each fuzz reacts in a different way. For example, if you use the fuzz/OD after the Vibe Machine you should definitely try it with the buffer switched off. Also, try decreasing the volume trimmer, you will get different sounds.
Q: If I run the Vibe Machine at 16V, how does that affect the pedal? More headroom? Any tonal changes?
A: Vibe Machine works with a standard 9V adapter. If you use the Vibe Machine at 16V nothing special will happen except it will heat a bit, but that is normal. It has no more headrom. There will be no difference in the sound if a 16V adapter is used. That’s because the Vibe Machine has the voltage regulator inside. This is the advantage because as with some vibe pedals the throb sound can be disrupted when experimenting with the power supply voltage. The MINIMUM voltage for the VM must be 8.9V.
Q: What is the reccomended minimum mA (milliamps) output on power supply for Vibe Machine V- 1?
A: For older Vibe Machine V-1s (under serial No. #703) we recommend that you use adapters and power supplies with a minimum of 120mA output. For Vibe Machines from serial No. #703 you need to use a minimum of 150mA output on your power supply.