MegaBeat Audio
Darth Fader, User Manual
1
Description and features
Darth Fader
is a true bypass fader pedal which
allows you to FADE OUT/IN live in an ex-
tremely easy manner.
Main features:
•
True bypass to avoid tone-loss.
•
3 presets to save your favorite configura-
tions.
•
Adjustable fade duration from 1 to 40 sec-
onds.
•
Adjustable fade depth from 10 to 60 dB.
•
Completely hand-made by MegaBeat Au-
dio: from design and PCBs to painting and
assembly.
•
High input impedance and low output
impedance to keep your tone.
•
Power filtering to reduce noise introduced
by power adapters.
•
Reverse polarity protection.
•
Neutrik jacks.
•
Ultra low distortion and low noise high
performance audio operational amplifiers.
2
Audio Jacks
Input Jack
Signal input. Connect here your
instrument or the output of the previous device
on the signal chain.
Output Jack
Signal output. Connect to your
amplifier or the next device on the signal chain.
3
Power
This pedal can be powered with a battery or an
adapter. In both cases, the pedal has a power
filter that reduces noise and imperfections com-
ing from the power source.
Power is switched by the input jack, so if this
jack is not connected, the pedal will be off and
will not use any energy from the battery or the
power adapter.
Battery
This pedal can be powered with a 9V
battery. To replace the battery, carefully remove
the back cover held by screws. Alkaline batteries
are recommended.
Power Jack
This pedal can be powered with
a 9V DC adapter. Polarity is center negative as
indicated on the pedal. Although the pedal is
protected against wrong polarity, please ensure
that the correct polarity is used. The use of an
adapter with the wrong specs, including voltage,
may damage the pedal.
When an adapter is connected, the battery
is disconnected automatically to prevent it from
discharging.
4
Knobs
Mode
Knob
With this selector you can
choose among the three pedal modes: FADE
OUT, FADE OUT/IN and FADE IN. See Modes
section for more detailed information.
Duration Knob
With this Knob you can ad-
just the fade duration from 1 to 40 seconds.
Depth Knob
With this knob you can adjust
the fade depth (maximum attenuation of the
fade) from 10 to 60 dB. For example, a FADE
OUT with a Depth of 30 dB will start at max-
imum volume (0 dB) and fade out down to an
attenuation of 30 dB.
5
Leds & Footswitches
Fade
Footswitch
and
LED
With
this
footswitch you can start or stop the different
fades. The Fade LED will be red if a FADE OUT
is in progress, green if a FADE IN is progress
and off if the pedal is idle. See Modes section
for more detailed information.
Preset
Footswitch
and
LED
This
footswitch allows you to recall and save pre-
sets with your foot so you can do so during
your performance.
The Peset LED indicates
the active preset. See Presets section for more
information.
Attenuation LEDs
These LEDs show the
current attenuation of the pedal.
6
Modes
FADE OUT
This mode starts at the 0 dB
position (true bypass).
Pressing the Fade
footswitch, a FADE OUT will start. Once the
fade is finished, or at any time during it, you
can go back to the 0 dB position (true bypass)
by pressing the Fade footswitch again.
2
