The Distortion Unit - Schippmann ebbe und flut User Manual

8.4 The distortion unit

The distortion unit provides the frontpanel components [distortion] (5) and [low/high] (6) and the au-
dio output "COMP OUT" (21) on the rearpanel. The distortion unit saturates signals more or less in a
specific way in order to change their overtone structure.
front: (5) [distortion]
The following figure shows the characteristics curve of the distortion unit. Each curve corresponds to a
different setting of the [distortion]-knob (5). There is allmost no distortion in fully counter clockwise
position, while saturation increases when turning clockwise.
Signal Output Voltage
left to right
left to right Signal Input Voltage
Fig. 8.4.1 Characteristics curve of the distortion unit
'Signal Input Voltage' means the current signal voltage at the input. This could be e.g. the voltage curve
of a sinewave or the sound of an electric guitar, generated at the pickup. 'Signal Output Voltage' means
the corresponding output voltage.
The characteristics curves describe how distortion changes when the [distortion]-knob (5) is turned
clockwise. In fully counter clockwise position, the input signal is transferred almost linear with an amp-
lification of 0 db to the output. Turning clockwise, the curves show the signal driven more and more
into saturation. In other words, an decreasing level is needed for a specific constant distortion resp. a
constant input level provides increasing distortion.
Settings close to fully counter clockwise position provide a soft saturation at increasing input voltages.
When turning clockwise, the saturation becomes harder until it allmost turns into clipping.
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