Venus Z

Venus Z is a unique preamp. Featuring all the modern punchy tone you expect from a Gallien Kruger as well as all the warmth and dynamics you expect from a tube preamp, Venus Z is a stage and studio workhorse with the flexibility to dial in a wide range of tones. Venus Z packs a high-voltage 12AX7 circuit with an active EQ section and a transformer-based D.I. balanced output all in a convenient, pedalboard-friendly package.

Venus Z’s EQ is boost/cut, where a “flat” response is all controls at 12 o’clock. The EQ center points are Bass: 60Hz, Lo Mids: 250Hz, Hi-Mids: 1kHz, and Treble: 7kHz. The switchable high-pass filter rolls off all low-end content below 90Hz at a rate of -6dB per octave.

The 1/4″ OUT provides an output from the preamp that can be run to a monitor, power amplifier, etc. The 1/4″ DRY output is a parallel pass-through from the input allowing you to run an unaffected signal out to an external amplifier for more flexible routing.

The VOLUME knob on the face of the pedal only affects the 1/4″ OUT, whereas the trimmer knob on the side of the pedal affects the XLR output level. Since these outputs feed from the same output there is some interdependency of the two level controls, so it is recommended that the XLR level be set first. Once the XLR level is set the 1/4″ VOLUME control will not affect the XLR signal, but adjusting the XLR’s level control will affect the 1/4″ output. Ideally once your front of house or direct recording level is set you shouldn’t be adjusting it, but you still have the option to adjust the level to your monitor or amplifier without affecting the front of house or recording level.

Venus Z has an input impedance of 1MΩ, but an input impedance of up to 10MΩ is available on request for a small fee. Please contact me prior to ordering to arrange this modification.

As a tube pedal, Venus Z requires a high amount of current to operate correctly. I recommend a 9-12VDC power supply capable of delivering at least 400mA. Using less than this can damage the power supply and/or the pedal.

Enclosure size: 4.7 in x 3.7 in x 1.34 in (119 mm x 94 mm x 34 mm)

View the manual for the Venus Z here.