Users guide

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A Harman International Company

 CAUTION WARNING Contents
FOR YOUR PROTECTION,
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN

A T T E N T I O N : RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR

W A R N I N G : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC
SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The symbols shown above are internationally accepted sym- Water and Moisture: Appliance should not be used near water (e.g.
bols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement,
The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle or near a swimming pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do
not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.
Using the Talker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
means that there are dangerous voltages present within the
unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates
that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owners manual. POWER SOURCES: The appliance should be connected to a power
supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as
Control Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts
inside the unit. Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to ser- marked on the appliance.
vice the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified person-
GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so
Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
nel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manu-
facturers warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled that the grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeat-
on the unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for ed. Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
service. Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent damage.
POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed
so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed
upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, con-
Talker Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
venience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Program Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Notice For Customers If Your Unit Is Equipped With A Power Cord. SERVICING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, the user should
WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED. not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the oper-
The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following ating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified ser-
vice personnel.
Some Suggested Applications . . . . . . . . . . 7
code:
GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live
As colours of the cores in the mains lead of this appliance may not corre- CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire replace only with same type fuse.
ATTENTION: Utiliser un fusible de recharge de mme type.
Guitar & Mic With Distortion . . . . . . 7
spond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, pro-
ceed as follows:
The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire replace LAMP with manufacturers
recommended part ( Refer to service literature)
Drum Machine Loop . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
the terminal in the plug marked with the letter E, or with the earth
symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow.
The core which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal Keyboard/Drum Machine . . . . . . . . . . 7
marked N or coloured black.
The core which is coloured brown must be connected to the termi-
nal marked L or coloured red. U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING Bass/Vocal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment
A moulded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe.
plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation.
Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility. NEVER UNDER
Connect this equipment only to the power source indicated on the equip-
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ment rear panel. If the attachment plug needs to be changed, refer servicing
CUT MAINS PLUG INTO A 13 AMP POWER SOCKET. Do not use the
to qualified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The
mains plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers
green/yellow wire shall be connected directly to the unit's chassis. can be obtained from your local retailer. Replacement fuses are 13
WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit amps and MUST be ASTA approved to BS1362.
or in the system to which it is connected can result in full line voltage
between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or death can then
result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.
CONDUCTOR WIRE COLOR

L Line Brown Black

FCC COMPLIANCE N Neutral Blue White
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These Earth Grnd. Green/Yel. Green
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause DECLARATION OF
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter-
mined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to CONFORMITY
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following mea- Manufacturers Name: IVL Technologies Ltd.
sures: per DigiTech specifications
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Manufacturers Address: 6710 Bertram Place
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver that may Victoria, B.C.
cause undesired operation. Canada V8M 1Z6
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to declares that the products:
which the receiver is connected DigiTech Talker
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
1) This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the conform to the following product specifications:
Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations. EMC: EN 55022 (1987):
Cet appareil numrique de la class B respecte toutes lex exigences du CISPR 22 (1993) Class B
Rglement sur le matriel brouilleur du Canada. EN 50082-1 (1992)
2) Complies with Canadian ICES-003 Class B Supplementary Information:
Conforme au Rglement Canadien NMB0003 Classe B The product herewith complies with the requirements of the EMC
Directive 89/336/EEC (1989) as amended by the CE Marking Directive
93/68/EEC (1993).
IVL Technologies Ltd.
ELECTROMAGNETIC 6710 Bertram Place
Victoria, B.C.
COMPATIBILITY Canada V8M 1Z6
October 6, 1997
This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the
Brian Gibson, Vice President of Engineering
Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
European Contact: Your local DigiTech Sales and Service Office or
this device may not cause harmful interference, and
International Sales Office
this device must accept any interference received, including inter-
3 Overlook Drive Unit #4
ference that may cause undesired operation. Operation of this
Amherst, New Hampshire 03031, USA
unit within significant electromagnetic fields should be avoided.
Tel (603) 672-4244 Fax (603) 672 4246
use only shielded interconnecting cables.
 Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the DigiTech Talker.
This unique product features IVL Technology's Advanced Vocal
Synthesis which came about through research into physical model-
ing of the human voice. A radical new break-through in digital
signal processing, the Talker actually allows an instrument and a
voice to be combined to create expressive effects. The Talker also
boasts an actual hard-wired bypass for the instrument and mic
inputs to maintain a perfectly clean instrument signal when the
effect is not in use.
The Talker has a retro-space-age look and is housed in a heavy
duty stainless steel chassis that is both functional and attractive.
On stage or in the studio, the DigiTech Talker is an extremely ver-
satile effect with a wide variety of uses.
Use the Digitech Talker with:
Guitar Drums Keyboards
Bass Drum machines Seqencers
Pre-recorded Music

Using the Talker:

The Talker combines separate inputs (for example a guitar & a
TALKER vocal) to create unusual vocoder or talking effects. Plug your
INPUT OUTPUT
(Optional)
Guitar/Instrument microphone and guitar into the Talkers mic and instrument inputs.
Distortion Amplifier
Box
Select either the amp, mixer or "both" effect outputs. Run cables
to your amp and P.A. and set the Talker input levels.
Mixer
Speak or sing into the microphone as you play chords or individual
notes on your instrument to achieve the talking effect. Experiment
with other devices: sing over a sequencer line, try a keyboard with
Note: Additional connection information is printed on the underside of the
a vocal or pre-recorded tracks combined with a drum machine.
Talker case.
The possibilities are endless!
Press the Program switch with your foot to select between six dis-
tinctive program sounds. Press the Bypass switch to bypass the
effect.
Note: If using guitar as an input, a distortion or compression
device may be plugged in before the Talker to increase upper har-
monics and sustain. Run the output of the distortion box into the
instrument input of the Talker. Other effects (like echo) should go
after the Talker in the signal chain.
1
 Control Descriptions:
FRONT PANEL
Mic. In: adjusts the microphone input level.
Instrument In: adjusts the instrument input level.
Effect Out: controls the effect amount to the outputs.
Note: The above controls have no effect on Bypass levels.
Program LEDs: indicate which Program the Talker is set to.
Mic Clip LED: An LED flashing green with occasional orange
means your input is set properly; red indicates distortion.
Instrument Clip LED: An LED flashing green with occasional
orange means your input is set properly; red indicates distortion.
Bypass LED: A red LED means that the effect is bypassed.
Program Switch: Toggles sequentially between the six Programs.
Bypass Switch: Switches Bypass on or off.
In Bypass, the inputs are directly connected to their respective
outputs: instrument in > amp out, microphone in > P.A. out.
This is a hardwire bypass, as if the Talker isnt in the chain
when bypassed. The mic bypass will be at microphone levels.
BACK PANEL
Power Input: a Harman Pro Group PS-750 power supply is included
with your Talker.
Effect Routing Switch
Amp: effect out to amplifier only (P.A. output muted).
P.A.: effect out to P.A. system (mixer) (Amp output is muted).
Both: effect to both P.A. and amplifier simultaneously.
P.A. Level: Active when Effect Routing is in the Both position, this
Note: The Talker allows you to route your effect signal to a guitar amp and adjusts the level of effect to the P.A. output. This knob has no
a mixer simultaneously. When the Talker effect is being used, the output of effect when Effect Routing is set to either Amp or P.A.
the Talker is all effect (100% wet). When the Talker is Bypassed, the mic
Inputs:
input is passed through to the PA output, and the instrument input to the
Amp output, which makes the Talker invisible to your recording or sound Instrument: unbalanced 1/4" connector (mono) - instrument input.
reinforcement setup. If you have selected the Both option for effects routing, Mic: balanced XLR connector (mono) - microphone input.
you can balance the levels between the PA and the Amplifier with the PA Pad: switchable Microphone input pad (+4dB/-10dB).
Level knob.
Outputs:
Note: If you are using a single output (Amp or PA only), and you dont hear
Amp: unbalanced 1/4" connector (mono) - connects effect to amplifier.
any effect sound, check that the Effects Routing Switch is set correctly.
P.A.: balanced XLR connector (mono) - connects effect to P.A. system.
2 3
Talker Setup Setting the Mic input level.
Turn Bypass off (the Bypass LED should be off).
Connect Talker to your system. Set the Mic level by singing or talking into the microphone at your
Connect your microphone to the balanced XLR Mic In jack and loudest performance volume while adjusting the Mic In knob. The
select the -10 dBV or +4dBV setting with the Pad switch. Mic Clip LED should be green, just tickling the orange. If the LED is
Note: Many mics work at the -10 dBV setting. red, you have too much input. If the Mic level is still too hot press the
Connect your instrument to the unbalanced 1/4" Instrument In jack. pad switch to the +4 dBu setting.
Connect the unbalanced 1/4" Amp Output to your favorite Note: Because the Talker defaults to the NuVo pre-set on power up,
guitar/instrument amplifier. you will not hear anything until you talk or sing and play at the same
Optional: Connect an XLR cable from PA to your mixer or PA time. Also, keep in mind that the volume of your singing voice controls
amplifier. the volume of the Talker effect.
Select the Effect Routing switch to Amp, P.A. or Both for depending
which output(s) you want the effect sound to appear on. Setting the Instrument level.
Power up the Talker by plugging the AC adaptor cable into the Bypass should still be off.
Power Input jack. Watch the Instrument Clip LED while you play. Adjust the
Note: The Talker powers up in bypass mode with NuVo preset select- Instrument In knob until the Clip LED is green, just tickling the
ed (which takes approximately 5 seconds) orange. If the LED is red, you have too much input.

Ground loop note: When you use both the PA and Amp outputs, there Note: Once again, if you are in the NuVo preset then youll hear out-
is the possibility of hum due to ground loops between your amp and put only when you talk and play at the same time.
the PA system. If you experience hum in this setup, use only a proper Setting the levels between the Effect and the Bypassed sound.
audio ground lifting device such as one found in a DI box.
Sing or talk into the Mic while playing your instrument, to hear the
Amplifier distrotion note: If you prefer to use the the preamp distor- Talker "effect".
tion from your amplifier instead of running a distortion box before the Switch in and out of Bypass and adjust the Effect Out knob until you
Talker, you will hear less Talker effect unless you run the Talker into find the right balance between your instrument and the Talker. If the
the effects loop of your amp. The effects loop adds preamplifier distor- effect sound is louder than your instrument sound in Bypass, turn
tion before the Talker which makes the effect more distinct. down the Effect Out knob until it is the same (or maybe a little louder
Setting the Bypass levels. for soloing purposes).

Select Bypass (the Bypass LED should be on). Note: It is best not to adjust your instrument's output level while doing
Set your instrument and amp levels the way you normally do. If you this - use the Effect Out Knob for more or less volume.
have the P.A. output connected, adjust the levels on the P.A. to set- Setting the balance between the Amp output and the PA output
tings you normally use.
When you have set up both an amplifier and a mixer as outputs, and
Note: For maximum enjoyment, its important to set up the proper lev- you have chosen Both with the Effect Routing Switch, you may
els for the Talker effect. want to use the PA Level knob on the back panel to balance the rela-
tive volume of the effect signal going to the PA output with the
bypassed mic volume. It can also be used to balance the level of the
PA output compared to the Amp output.
Note: This control has no effect on the Bypassed signal
Note: The PA output when using the Talker effect is an amplified sig-
nal, and is capable of much higher levels than the bypassed mic sig-
nal. You may want to trim the effect level back with the PA Level knob
4 to match your mixers input. 5
 Program Descriptions: Some Suggested Applications:
NuVo: This is the most intelligible program. Play a chord and Guitar & Microphone With Distortion:
speak or sing into the mic and you will be able to hear the words
One way to set up when you are using guitar and some effects is to
clearly.
place your Talker after the distortion or compression effects. Using
NuWah: (Guitar effect only, no vocal needed). This is an auto- distortion with a guitar into the Talker can increase intelligibility and
matic wah feature that is somewhat like an envelope follower but sustain. Other effects such as echo, reverb, phaser and flanger, should
the wah is very human sounding. be added after the Talker.
TazMania: (Use instrument and mic, or mic alone). This pro- Drum Machine Loop:
gram uses white noise to generate a devilish voice. The gate fea-
Run the left and right outputs of a drum machine into the Mic Input
ture is active so that the user can switch back and forth between
and the Instrument Input of the Talker. Set the input levels and adjust
the effect and the guitar sound without pressing the Bypass
the Effect Output. You may need a 1/4" to XLR cable adapter for the
switch.
Mic In. Try taking drums with different rhythms and panning them
TalkBox: This program features vocoder which has been EQ'd hard left and hard right to hear them modulate against each other.
to sound more like the old Talkboxes such as the "Golden
Keyboard/Drum Machine:
Throat", Heil "Talk Box", etc.
Connect a synthesizer or sampler to the Instrument Input and a drum
Alien: This program features an old style vocoder or alien
machine into the Mic Input to achieve a rhythmic keyboard effect. Try
sounding effect.
using a sustained string or pad type of keyboard sound. Also try mod-
AutoTalk: This is an automatic vocoder-type effect. Play your ulating a sustaining bass sound or a sub-bass waveform with just the
guitar with the effect on (youll hear the normal guitar sound), bass drum output of a drum machine or a recorded bass or bass drum
then sing or say something into the mic. This will automatically track.
switch into the AutoTalk effect. When you finish vocalizing, the
Bass/Vocal:
Talker will automatically switch back to your guitar sound.
Same set-up as a guitar. For maximum effect use distortion or com-
pression effects before the Talker Input.
Pre-recorded loop:
Run the stereo outputs of a CD or tape player into the Mic Input and
the Instrument Input of the Talker. Set the Input levels and adjust the
Effect Output. You may need a 1/4" to XLR cable adapter for the Mic
Input.
Recorded tracks:
If you have a multi-track recorder, experiment with using pre-recorded
vocal or instrumental tracks as either the Mic or Instrument inputs, as
well as against live mic or instrument input, to generate new effect
tracks.
Note: The general rule of thumb is that the sound source that has
more sustained notes and a wider frequency signal should be in the
Instrument input, and the source that has more rhythmic variation or
expressive changes in volume and timbre should be in the Mic input.
6 7
Specifications:
Microphone path Instrument path
Signal/Noise -91dB -90 dB
(A weighted)
Frequency 10 Hz to 14.5 kHz 10 Hz to 14.5 kHz
Response (-3db)
Input range -34 dBV-+15 dBV -14 dBV-+15 dBV
Output range - to 11.3 dBV - to 11.3 dBV
THD+N: 0.04% 0.04%
(A weighted)
Input Impedance: 20 kOhm 500 kOhm
Bypass Hard-wired Hard-wired
Connectors:
Input balanced XLR unbalanced 1/4" mono

Output balanced XLR unbalanced 1/4" mono

Size: 8" X 2.75" X 7.25"

Weight: 6 lb. / 2.7 Kg.
Adapter O/P 9.75 VAC @ 820 mA
Rating:
Use Only Harman Pro Group PS750 power adapter
(as supplied with the Talker)

Manual rework 1.1 February 11, 1999

Specifications subject to change without notice.