Boss VF-1 Effect Processor

Hi,
I recently bought a VF-1 second hand and while testing I noticed a 
(in my opinion) strange behaviour: When I switch the input 
sensitivity switch from -20 to +4 the meters correctly show the lower 
input level but overall the signal gets louder (in some patches much 
louder!). It makes no difference using the High-Z or the rear inputs, 
the signal gets boostet up.
Is this the normal behaviour of the VF-1 or did I bought a faulty 
unit?
Another thing that annoys me that the +4-setting is much better 
sounding for distortions, but nearly useless for input-triggered FX 
like Phasers or Wha's.
Hope someone can clear me up.
Thanks,
Phil

Hi Phil,

I too have the same behaviour on my VF-1. The recommended setting for
an electric guitar in the Hi-Z input is -20db.

As for the distortion sounds, did you re-adjust the input level to
obtain a comparable signal level at the entry of the amplifier
simulator module for both switch positions? 

You will undeniably get nasty sounding digital artifacts in the
distortion if the input to the amp module is too high. 

Another (somewhat obvious) issue is the "psychoacoustic effect" of
having the ouput of the unit much louder, giving the impression of a
fuller sound in the distortion. 

My rule of thumb when programming a new patch is to set the audio
level input/output of every program module near to the limit for a
full E chord, giving the unit more latitude for the digital signal
representation. In my case, (twin humbucker les paul), I need to set
the input level knobs to their minimum at -20db.

Also, try changing the output mode of the unit in the settings menu
for "power amp", "guitar amp combo", "guitar amp stack", etc... You'll
notice the envelope of the output sound changes the distortion's aspect.

The VF-1 requires a lot of fiddling around with settings to get the
sound you are looking for, but after a while, if you respect the
formentionned "rule of thumb", you will get straight to what you are
looking for.

Fred.

--- In BossVF1@yahoogroups.com, "phguru" <phguru@y...> wrote:

> Hi,
> I recently bought a VF-1 second hand and while testing I noticed a 
> (in my opinion) strange behaviour: When I switch the input 
> sensitivity switch from -20 to +4 the meters correctly show the lower 
> input level but overall the signal gets louder (in some patches much 
> louder!). It makes no difference using the High-Z or the rear inputs, 
> the signal gets boostet up.
> Is this the normal behaviour of the VF-1 or did I bought a faulty 
> unit?
> Another thing that annoys me that the +4-setting is much better 
> sounding for distortions, but nearly useless for input-triggered FX 
> like Phasers or Wha's.
> Hope someone can clear me up.
> Thanks,
> Phil

Hi Fred,
Could you expand on what you mean by setting the "audio level 
input/output of every program module near to the limit for a full E 
chord?"  I'm unclear as to where you are setting the levels since I 
only see a single level meter in the parameters for each effect.
Thanks,
Bert


--- In BossVF1@yahoogroups.com, "fosterrath" <fosterrath@y...> wrote:
> Hi Phil,
> 
> I too have the same behaviour on my VF-1. The recommended setting 
for
> an electric guitar in the Hi-Z input is -20db.
> 
> As for the distortion sounds, did you re-adjust the input level to
> obtain a comparable signal level at the entry of the amplifier
> simulator module for both switch positions? 
> 
> You will undeniably get nasty sounding digital artifacts in the
> distortion if the input to the amp module is too high. 
> 
> Another (somewhat obvious) issue is the "psychoacoustic effect" of
> having the ouput of the unit much louder, giving the impression of 
a
> fuller sound in the distortion. 
> 
> My rule of thumb when programming a new patch is to set the audio
> level input/output of every program module near to the limit for a
> full E chord, giving the unit more latitude for the digital signal
> representation. In my case, (twin humbucker les paul), I need to 
set
> the input level knobs to their minimum at -20db.
> 
> Also, try changing the output mode of the unit in the settings menu
> for "power amp", "guitar amp combo", "guitar amp stack", etc... 
You'll
> notice the envelope of the output sound changes the distortion's 
aspect.
> 
> The VF-1 requires a lot of fiddling around with settings to get the
> sound you are looking for, but after a while, if you respect the
> formentionned "rule of thumb", you will get straight to what you 
are
> looking for.
> 
> Fred.
> 
> --- In BossVF1@yahoogroups.com, "phguru" <phguru@y...> wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I recently bought a VF-1 second hand and while testing I noticed 
a 
> > (in my opinion) strange behaviour: When I switch the input 
> > sensitivity switch from -20 to +4 the meters correctly show the 
lower 
> > input level but overall the signal gets louder (in some patches 
much 
> > louder!). It makes no difference using the High-Z or the rear 
inputs, 
> > the signal gets boostet up.
> > Is this the normal behaviour of the VF-1 or did I bought a 
faulty 
> > unit?
> > Another thing that annoys me that the +4-setting is much better 
> > sounding for distortions, but nearly useless for input-triggered 
FX 

> > like Phasers or Wha's.
> > Hope someone can clear me up.
> > Thanks,
> > Phil

--- In BossVF1@yahoogroups.com, "stratoskier" <stratoskier@y...> wrote:
> Hi Fred,
> Could you expand on what you mean by setting the "audio level 
> input/output of every program module near to the limit for a full E 
> chord?"  I'm unclear as to where you are setting the levels since I 
> only see a single level meter in the parameters for each effect.
> Thanks,
> Bert

When you are editing the individual module settings, the stereo input
level meter changes to mono input and output level meters (Look
*really* closely at the display). Input is the left bar, output is the
right bar.

Hi Fred,
Thanks for the reply. I'm glad my little red box is fine :)
I'm still "struggling" with the amp-simulator, but got at least some 
useable "light-overdrive"-sounds out of it. I guess the amp-simulator 
copes better with humbuckers than with my Telecaster's single coils. 

Phil 


--- In BossVF1@yahoogroups.com, "fosterrath" <fosterrath@y...> wrote:
> Hi Phil,
> 
> I too have the same behaviour on my VF-1. The recommended setting 
for
> an electric guitar in the Hi-Z input is -20db.
> 
> As for the distortion sounds, did you re-adjust the input level to
> obtain a comparable signal level at the entry of the amplifier
> simulator module for both switch positions? 
> 
> You will undeniably get nasty sounding digital artifacts in the
> distortion if the input to the amp module is too high. 
> 
> Another (somewhat obvious) issue is the "psychoacoustic effect" of
> having the ouput of the unit much louder, giving the impression of a
> fuller sound in the distortion. 
> 
> My rule of thumb when programming a new patch is to set the audio
> level input/output of every program module near to the limit for a
> full E chord, giving the unit more latitude for the digital signal
> representation. In my case, (twin humbucker les paul), I need to set
> the input level knobs to their minimum at -20db.
> 
> Also, try changing the output mode of the unit in the settings menu
> for "power amp", "guitar amp combo", "guitar amp stack", etc... 
You'll
> notice the envelope of the output sound changes the distortion's 
aspect.

> 
> The VF-1 requires a lot of fiddling around with settings to get the
> sound you are looking for, but after a while, if you respect the
> formentionned "rule of thumb", you will get straight to what you are
> looking for.
> 
> Fred.