IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost Manual de usuario
Level up your live rig
USER MANUAL
Contents
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Table of Contents
Contents 2
English 3
Z-TONE Buffer Boost 3
Register your Z-TONE Buffer Boost 3
Overview 4
1 Power up the Z-TONE Buffer Boost 5
2 Dedicated guitar features 5
2.1 JFET / PURE input 5
2.2 Pick-Up selector 6
2.3 Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control 6
3 Typical applications 8
3.1 Home studio 8
3.2 Professional studio 9
3.3 Live 10
4 Specifications 11
Warranty 11
Support and more info 11
Regulatory 12
English
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Z-TONE Buffer Boost
Thank you for purchasing Z-TONE Buffer Boost.
Your package contains:
• Z-TONE Buffer Boost
• 4x rubber feet
Z-TONE Buffer Boost offers a high-quality instrument preamp with exceptionally low noise and wide frequency
response, and multiple circuit topologies to adapt to any type of guitar, pick-up and style.
Z-TONE Buffer Boost offers a balanced XLR output to connect to mixers & PAs. Skip the amp and perform
direct, or mix clean and processed signals to create even more tonal options. It also runs on a standard 9V
battery or 9V pedal power supply, so it’s easy to drop onto your existing pedalboard.
Register your Z-TONE Buffer Boost
By registering, you can access technical support, activate your warranty and receive free JamPoints™ which will
be added to your account. JamPoints™ allow you to obtain discounts on future IK purchases! Registering also
keeps you informed of all the latest software updates and IK products.
Register at: www.ikmultimedia.com/registration
English
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Overview
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1. GAIN control - adjusts the input gain: center for unity gain; -8dB when fully counterclockwise, +8dB when
fully clockwise.
2. BOOST control - adjusts the amount of boost over a 10dB range.
3. PASSIVE/ACTIVE - Pick-Up selector - this selector allows you to match the type of pick-up installed on the
connected instrument.
4. Z-TONE™ - Variable impedance control - the front control named Z-TONE™allows you to change the input
impedance on the instrument input allowing for a unique possibility for tone shaping on your instruments.
5. JFET/PURE - Preamp topology selector - this selector allows you to select two different preamp topologies
for your connected instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type.
6. GND LIFT - when the GND LIFT switch is depressed, the ground connection is interrupted.
7. Balanced output - High performance transformer coupled balanced output with ground lift option.
8. Main output (unbalanced) - Electronically buffered, grounded unbalanced output.
9. Instrument input - 1/4” (6.35mm) jack type - Connect your instrument here (e.g., guitar).
10. LINK output - LINK connector is wired in parallel with the INPUT: the LINK connector can be used both as
a direct unbalanced output of the INPUT signal. You can, for example, connect LINK with the input of an
amplifier. Z-TONE input impedance control also affects LINK output.
11. BYPASS - this footswitch, when activated (LED OFF), will bypass the gain, the boost and Z-Tone stage. The
LED will turn ON when bypass in not engaged.
12. BOOST - this footswitch will activate the boost section. The LED will turn ON when activated.
13. 9V DC input and 9V battery compartment. To access to the battery compartment it is necessary to remove
the screw holding the cover.
English
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1 Power up the Z-TONE Buffer Boost
Z-TONE Buffer Boost runs on a standard 9V battery, +48v phantom power from your mixer or 9V pedal power
supply, so it’s easy to drop onto your existing pedalboard. If the battery is installed and P48 phantom power is
provided on the balanced out, the +48V will have priority over battery.
To access to the battery compartment it is necessary to remove the screw holding the cover.
2 Dedicated guitar features
2.1 JFET / PURE input
Thanks to the front panel selector it is possible to select two different preamp topologies for your connected
instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type.
The discrete JFET (field-effect transistor) circuitry adds a tiny bit of color and harmonics to the signal, giving your
instruments a bit of added warmth.
Pure circuitry results in a more linear response featuring the absolutely cleaner signal path possible, for best
transparency and clarity.
Each amplifier topology offers complimentary sonic performance to the other, and both are widely used in
professional recording and stage work. Note: this control only works when the Pickup selector is on the Passive
position.
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2.2 Pick-Up selector
PICK-UP
Z-TONE Buffer Boost works perfectly with both Passive and Active guitar or bass pickups, having independent
circuitry that suits perfectly both topologies. Passive electric guitar pickups exhibit significantly higher output
impedance than the active counterpart, among other significant tone differences, but neither of the two is
“better” or “worse” than the other: indeed they have different behaviors. To properly couple this diversity of
guitar pickups in the most musically pleasing manner, Z-TONE Buffer Boost offers a pickup selector that allows
the artist to select between Active (when using an active pickup) and Passive (when using a passive pickup).
2.3 Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control
All passive pickups (being them single coil, humbucker, split, etc..) have a certain sound character that is also
determined by the loading impedance. The Z-TONE™ front control allows you to change the input impedance
on the instrument input therefore allowing for a very creative way of shaping the tone of your instruments.
The beauty of this system is that it allows you to discover tonal shades from your instruments that you never
heard before, by shaping the tone right at the source, within the pickups, instead of what is normally done with
post-processing tools of any kind.
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Feel free to experiment without rules with this knob! You will find your tone becomes generally more thick and
bold by reducing the impedance (control is moved clockwise) and, on the other hand, more crisp and sharp
when rotated counter-clockwise.
For example if you find your high gain tones to be too harsh, try setting this control at mid position, and you’ll
experience what the Z-TONE can magically do.
If you’re recording a bass (with passive pickups) and find it sounds a bit thin, try the same. The sound will
immediately feel more bold, solid and bigger.
The key here is experimentation! Feel free to check it out on your instruments, on various configurations, the
possibilities are really endless.
Settings start from the highest impedance value (named “Sharp”) to the lowest impedance value (named “Bold”)
The Z-TONE circuit only works with passive pickups of any kind.
Using it on active pickups will not provide any significant useful change to the sonics of the instrument.
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3 Typical applications
Learn how to get your best guitar and bass tone using Z-TONE Buffer Boost performing live on stage or
recording in a pro recording studio or your home studio.
3.1 Home studio
High-end guitar/bass direct recording in a home studio
INPUT
MIC IN
+48V
BALANCED OUTPUT
GUITAR / BASS
This setup allows you to record a DI guitar track at the highest possible quality into your DAW for further plug-in
processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, any audio interface can become the best audio interface for
guitar and bass.
High-end guitar/bass amp+DI recording in a home studio
INPUT
INPUT
MIC IN 1
MIC IN 2
+48V
BALANCED OUTPUT
LINK
GUITAR / BASS
DI SIGNAL
AMP/MIC SIGNAL
This setup allows for simultaneous recording of a DI guitar track and miked amp—at the highest possible
quality—into your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, your audio interface
with 2 microphone inputs can become the best guitar and bass interface.
English
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3.2 Professional studio
High-end guitar/bass direct recording in a pro studio
INPUT
BALANCED OUTPUT
GUITAR / BASS
LINE IN
MIC IN
+48V
The setup below allows you to record a DI guitar track at the highest possible quality in your DAW for further
plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, you can still plug into your existing high-end modern or
vintage mic preamps and capture amazing guitar or bass tone.
High-end guitar/bass amp+DI recording in a pro studio
INPUT
INPUT
MIC IN
MIC IN
+48V
BALANCED OUTPUT
LINK
GUITAR / BASS
LINE IN LINE IN
DI SIGNAL
AMP/MIC
SIGNAL
The following setup allows for simultaneous recording of a DI guitar track and miked amp—at the highest
possible quality—into your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, you can still
plug into your existing modern or vintage mic preamps and capture amazing guitar or bass tone.
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