User Manual

Table Of Contents

Part 1

Foreword

1 Reader warning

The triangle symbol with an exclamation mark indicates important messages concerning

the correct operation of the product.

2 On the proper use of a loadbox

The TORPEDO PI-101 - Wall of Sound Edition plugin may be used either with recorded tracks of a guitar/bass

preampliﬁer or of a tube/solid state amp by using a loadbox (like the Two Notes Torpedo LB-202 or Torpedo VB-

101). While using the line output of a preampliﬁer or an amp is easy and safe, using the speaker out of a tube

amp with no speaker requires some attention.

In the normal use of a tube ampliﬁer, it is recommended to always connect its power output to a speaker

cabinet prior to powering it up. Not doing so can lead to partial or complete destruction of the output stage

of the tube ampliﬁer. The electronic term that describes the speaker cabinet with respect to the ampliﬁer is the

"load": we say the cabinet "loads" the ampliﬁer.

Most tube ampliﬁer makers protect their products with fuses or other protection systems, but some ampliﬁers

still remain not or insufﬁciently protected. It is impossible to predict the behavior of all the ampliﬁers on the market

in case of use without a load.

The correct use of your ampliﬁer with a loadbox requires some precautions. Because of the silence while

playing, it is much easier to accidentally run your ampliﬁer beyond the reasonable limits set by the manufac-

turer than when using a speaker cabinet. This can lead to faster tubes wear and, in some cases, more serious

inconveniences.

During the ﬁrst tests at high volume on the ampliﬁer, monitor the color of the

tubes and the general state of the ampliﬁer. Red glowing tubes or any appear-

ance of smoke are signs of a problem that could lead to partial or complete

destruction of the ampliﬁer.

Keep in mind that the "sweet spot" - the perfect running point of the ampliﬁer, the one that will give you the

tone you’re looking for - is rarely obtained at maximum volume. In addition, the volume control of the ampliﬁer

is usually logarithmic, which means the volume goes up quickly on the ﬁrst half of the potentiometer rotation,

reaches its maximum at 12 o’clock, and doesn’t change much beyond this point. Therefore, you can reach the

maximum volume of your ampliﬁer even if the volume potentiometer is not set at maximum.

Two Notes Audio Engineering Torpedo PI-101 4