SECTION FOUR
About the Effects
The effects included with the VGS50 may require an explanation as to what they do and what the different parameter adjustments mean. For this reason we have included this section detailing the different effects and their parameters.
Effects Definitions
Compression - A compressor is a tool used to limit the dynamic range of an instrument. In other words, it sets a boundary for how loud the instrument will be able to get. The nature of limiting the dynamics of an instrument tends to provide a smooth, even texture to the sound of the instrument.
The VGS50 has three different compressor settings: Low, Medium, and High. These different settings are determining the threshold of the compressor. The threshold is the strength that the incoming signal must be before the compression will begin.
Distortion - Distortion is one of the most common effects in music today. What it is basically doing is adding so much gain to the signal that it deforms or distorts the wave form. In other words, distortion will make the incoming signal so strong that it “squares off” the top and bottom of an otherwise rounded wave.
The VGS50 has 8 different distortion types to choose from: American Stack, Classic Combo, British Stack, Overdrive, Grunge, Clean Valve, Blues Valve, and Saturated Valve. Some of these distortions use the tube and some use transistors to achieve the distortion. The distortions using the tube will be indicated by a lit Tube icon (9).
EQ - An Equalizer is used to enhance a particular range of frequencies. It will either boost, or cut specific frequencies in your signal. It can be compared to the tone controls of a home stereo. The “High EQ” is the treble control, the “Mid EQ” adjusts the
Noise Gate - A Noise Gate is like the name implies. It is a gate that will shut when you are not playing, and open when you are playing. When the gate is closed, it will not allow ambient noise to come through. A noise gate uses a threshold, which is the level of volume that a signal must be in order to open the gate. If your guitar signal is not strong enough to cross the threshold, the gate will not open, and no sound will be heard. The gate on the VGS50 is also used for volume swells. When you have selected the gate to act as a volume swell, you can strum your guitar, and the sound will fade in.
Chorus - A Chorus is an effect that adds thickness to your guitar signal. It is splitting your guitar signal, adding a short delay to half of the signal, and then changing the delay time at an even pace. This results in the pitch of the delayed signal fluctuating slightly, giving the illusion of two guitars playing together.
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