Orbis Duo was built as a multipurpose Preamp/EQ/Reverb pedal with phantom power (48V) onboard, 2 input channels, 2 outputs and special output for headphone. It has 2 combo inputs - this means that you can plug in XLR balanced jacks as well as standard instrumental (or linear) 1/4" jacks. It is built especially for use with handpans and tongue drums, however, it could be used with any other musical instruments - guitars, bass, or else. And of course, you can use it with other pedals, effect processors, etc.
The idea of building such a device appeared after we have developed our active OM pickups with XLR output that need phantom (48V) power. This feature allows using longer cables without the loss of the signal and external interference
Orbis Duo has 2 inputs and 2 outputs and a special knob named "Link" - you can use it in mono or stereo mode. So, it is possible to connect 1 or 2 instruments (or you can plug in 1 or 2 OM pickups, or connect 1 or 2 outputs of Guda Double Fx model) and use 1 or 2 outputs of Orbis Duo. I.e. Possible combinations are:
- 1 input and 1 output - connect 1 instrument (guitar, bass, Guda Fx, or else) or 1 OM pickup and use 1 output to connect the pedal to the amplifier, sound mixer, combo, or else
- 2 inputs and 2 outputs - connect 2 instruments (guitars, basses, 2 Gudas or both outputs of Guda Double Fx or stereo output of the stereo guitar or else) or 2 OM pickups and use 2 output to connect the pedal to the stereo amplifier, sound mixer, different channels of the sound card or else. Or even use 2 different amps or combos
- 2 inputs and 1 output - connect 2 instruments (guitars, basses, 2 Gudas, or both outputs of Guda Double Fx or stereo output of the stereo guitar or else) or 2 OM pickups and use 1 output to connect the pedal to the amplifier, combo, sound mixer. Pressing the "Link" knob makes it possible to use both channels and direct the sound to the single (Left) output. So, if you want to use 2 instruments or 2 OM mics but you have only 1 input in your amplifier or combo, you can press the Link button and use 2 instruments but in mono mode
- Also, you can use both inputs with headphones
Orbis Duo pedal has 3-band EQ and internal filters that cut useless frequencies and do not allow to overload the signal. Using EQ you can tune the desired sound. Different instruments have different sounds, some are more bright, some have more bass. So for better sound, it is necessary to tune the EQ - add or cut bass, middle and treble
Main features of Orbis Duo Preamp/EQ/Reverb pedal:
- 2 channels
- 2 combo (XLR/Linear) inputs for using with any type of musical instrument
- 2 Outputs
- Mono or Stereo modes
- Headphones output
- 3 band EQ
- Duo Reverb effect (each channel has its own reverberation)
- 48V phantom power onboard for using with OM pickups
- Durable steel body with 2 decorative natural wood sides
- 12V DC power supply included
Control knob and buttons:
- Mute knob
- Reverb on/off knob
- Link knob
- B/U knob – eliminates hum when using unbalanced jacks. Unpressed position for XLR (Balanced) and pressed position for linear (1/4” unbalanced) input jacks
- Phantom power knob – should be in pressed position if using with OM pickups. Otherwise unpressed
- Master Volume
- Channel 1 Volume
- Channel 2 Volume
- Bass
- Middle
- Trebble
- Channel 1 input
- Channel 2 input
- Left (mono) output
- Right output
- Headphones volume
- Power (9V AC)
Using of Orbis Duo with musical instruments and different sound devices
Using Orbis Duo preamp with OM pickups and Handpans or Tongue drums
One of the most essential features of Orbis Duo is phantom power. It allows the use of OM pickups - these handpan mics are active and need external power (like condenser microphone). So, you can plug in 1 or 2 OM mics into the Orbis Duo and use it with any handpan or tongue drum.
For using Orbis Duo with single OM pickup:
- Plug in the power supply into the Orbis Duo (use only our power supplies or make sure that yours is transformer type and has 9V AC and at least 500 mA). The indicator in the middle (between the buttons) lights up blue
- Press the "Mute" knob so the indicator lights up red
- Insert OM mic into the CH1 input.
- Place the OM mic on the surface of your handpan/tongue drum. We recommend using the rear side of the instrument however you can place it anywhere you like
- Connect CH1 output of Orbis Duo to the input of your amp, combo, sound mixer, sound card, or else and activate your device
- Activate the "Phantom" knob on the Orbis Duo rear side
- Make sure that B/U knob is in unpressed position (Balanced mode activated)
- Press the "Mute" knob again so the indicator goes out
- Turn Gain1 and Master volume of the Orbis Duo unit to get the volume needed
- Use Bass, Treble, and Middle knobs to get the tone you like. You can also use the EQ and volume knobs on your amplifier or sound mixer.
- You can activate the Reverb effect on Orbis Duo by pressing the "Reverb" button
For using Orbis Duo with 2 OM pickups (MONO mode):
- Plug in the power supply into the Orbis Duo (use only our power supplies or make sure that yours is transformer type and has 9V AC and at least 500 mA). The indicator in the middle (between the buttons) lights up blue
- Press "Mute" knob so the indicator lights up red
- Insert first OM mic into the CH1 input.
- Insert second OM mic into the CH2 input.
- Place both OM mics on the surface of your handpan/tongue drum. We recommend using the rear side of the instrument however you can place it anywhere you like.
- Connect CH1 output of Orbis Duo to the input of your amp, combo, sound mixer, sound card, or else and activate your device
- Press "Link" button located between "Channel 1 Gain" and "Channel 2 Gain" knobs
- Activate "Phantom" knob on the Orbis Duo rear side
- Make sure that B/U knob is in unpressed position (Balanced mode activated)
- Press "Mute" knob again so the indicator goes out
- Turn "Channel 1 Gain" and "Channel 2 Gain" knobs and Master volume of the Orbis Duo unit to get the volume needed
- Use Bass, Treble, and Middle knobs to get the tone you like. You can also use the EQ and volume knobs on your amplifier or sound mixer.
- You can activate the Reverb effect on Orbis Duo by pressing the "Reverb" button
For using Orbis Duo with 2 OM pickups (STEREO mode):
- Plug in the power supply into the Orbis Duo (use only our power supplies or make sure that yours is transformer type and has 9V AC and at least 500 mA). The indicator in the middle (between the buttons) lights up blue
- Press "Mute" knob so the indicator lights up red
- Insert first OM mic into th CH1 input.
- Insert second OM mic into th CH2 input.
- Place both OM mics on the surface of your handpan/tongue drum. We recommend using the rear side of the instrument however you can place it anywhere you like.
- Connect CH1 output of Orbis Duo to the first input of your amp, combo, sound mixer, sound card, or else
- Connect CH2 output of Orbis Duo to the second input of your amp, combo, sound mixer, sound card, or else and activate your device
- Make sure that the "Link" button is unpressed
- Activate the "Phantom" knob on the Orbis Duo rear side
- Make sure that B/U knob is in unpressed position (Balanced mode activated)
- Press the "Mute" knob again so the indicator goes out
- Turn "Channel 1 Gain" and "Channel 2 Gain" knobs and Master volume of the Orbis Duo unit to get the volume needed
- Use Bass, Treble and Middle knobs to get the tone you like. You can also use the EQ and volume knobs on your amplifier or sound mixer.
- You can activate the Reverb effect on Orbis Duo by pressing the "Reverb" button
Using Orbis Duo preamp with Guda Fx or Guda Double Fx models
- Plug in the power supply into the Orbis Duo (use only our power supplies or make sure that yours is transformer type and has 9V AC and at least 500 mA). The indicator in the middle (between the buttons) lights up blue
- Press "Mute" knob so the indicator lights up red
- Connect the cable to the output of the Guda Fx or 2 cables to both outputs of the Guda Double Fx (however you can use only one output of the Guda Fx if needed)
- Connect the cable to the CH 1 input of the Orbis Duo (or 2 cables to CH1 and CH2 inputs if played with Guda Double Fx)
- Connect CH1 output of Orbis Duo to your amp, sound mixer, combo, soundcard, or else. You can use both outputs for stereo sound (please read above)
- Turn Gain1 and Master volume of the Orbis Duo unit to get the volume needed
- Use Bass, Treble and Middle knobs to get the tone you like. You can also use the EQ and volume knobs on your amplifier or sound mixer.
- You can activate the Reverb effect on Orbis Duo by pressing the "Reverb" button
- Make sure that B/U knob is in pressed position (unalanced mode activated). Also you can turn of Phantom power by pressing the know on the rear side
You do not need phantom power to be activated! so it has to be turned off (however, if it is activated, you can still play your Guda)
Using Orbis Duo preamp with Guitars and other electric or electric-acoustic instruments
- Plug in the power supply into the Orbis Duo (use only our power supplies or make sure that yours is transformer type and has 9V AC and at least 500 mA). The indicator in the middle (between the buttons) lights up blue
- Press "Mute" knob so the indicator lights up red
- Connect the cable to the output of your guitar, bass or else
- Connect the cable to the CH 1 input of the Orbis Duo (or 2 cables to CH1 and CH2 inputs if your instrument has stereo output)
- Connect CH1 output of Orbis Duo to your amp, sound mixer, combo, soundcard, or else. You can use both outputs for stereo sound (please read above)
- Turn Gain1 and Master volume of the Orbis Duo unit to get the volume needed
- Use Bass, Treble and Middle knobs to get the tone you like. You can also use the EQ and volume knobs on your amplifier or sound mixer.
- You can activate the Reverb effect on Orbis Duo by pressing the "Reverb" button
- Make sure that B/U knob is in pressed position (unalanced mode activated). Also you can turn of Phantom power by pressing the know on the rear side
Using Orbis Duo preamp with Heaphones.
We added the headphones output and headphones volume knob in latest generation of Orbis Duo pedal, This feature allows to use Orbis Duo without speakers or combos or else. Also, you can use your phones for monitoring – very useful feature if you play with lots of other instruments and want to hear and control the sound of your handpan, guitar, etc.
Just plug in the phones in the headphones input at the rear side of the pedal. And turn the headphones volume knob set the volume knob to the desired position
