Audio Damage Errorbox User Manual

Errorbox, Digital bit-mangling effect

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Errorbox

Digital Bit-Mangling Effect

ADM03

Errorbox employs three different digital distortion techniques
to mangle your signals: sample-rate reduction, bit-depth
reduction, and Audio Damage’s proprietary ERR function.
Sample-rate reduction causes frequency-dependent distortion
by measuring and reproducing the level of signals at a lower-

than-normal rate. Bit-depth reduction removes information
about the amplitude of signal, creating noisy approximations of
the original. ERR introduces errors into the signal, damaging it
in unpredictable ways. Errorbox’s effects range from a subtle
vintage digital vibe to complete sonic obliteration.

Control voltages present at the

jacks are added to the values set

with the knobs.

Positive voltages at the SRR jack

lower the sampling rate; negative

voltages raise it.

Positive voltages at the BRR jack

reduce the number of bits used to

represent the signal; negative

voltages increase the bit

resolution.

Positive voltages at the ERR jack

increase damage caused by the

ERR function; negative voltages

decrease it.

The useful range of voltage for the

CV jacks is ±5V.

SRR controls the sample-rate reduction.
Turning this knob up lowers the sampling
rate (which increases the amount of
distortion). The sampling rate ranges from
48kHz to 48Hz. You’ll find that sample-rate
reduction affects higher frequencies first.

BRR controls the bit-resolution reduction.
Turning this knob up reduces the number of
bits used to reproduce the signal, making it
noisier and sometimes louder. The number
of bits ranges from 16 to 1. The effect varies
with the amplitude of the input signal.

We’re not going to tell you exactly what ERR
does, but turning the knob up wreaks an
increasing amount of havoc with the signal.
The BRR and ERR knobs are somewhat
complementary in that the effect of the ERR
function is less noticeable at high settings of
the BRR knob.

The audio input signal goes in

here. The hardware will be

happiest if the signal level is

within ±7V.

The processed signal comes out here. It may
or may not bear much resemblance to the
input signal.

• Obviously the main intent of this module is to induce a
serious amount of digital-sounding distortion. This, in the
words of a famous convicted felon, is a good thing.
However, subtle amounts of sample-rate- or bit-resolution
reduction can add a subtle sheen or fuzziness, adding
character to the sound without destroying it.


the harsh high frequencies inherent in digital distortion,
preserving the interesting textures present in lower
frequencies.
• Errorbox is a quick and effective tool for turning a ho-hum
analog VCO into something with old-school digital charm.

Following this module with a low-pass filter can roll off

Assembled in USA from US and foreign components.

Revision 1.0

©2013 Audio Damage, Inc.

www.audiodamage.com

Knobs

Control-Voltage Jacks

Audio Input Jack

Audio Output Jack

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