Overview
The Ceres ONE™ preamp is a reimagined version of the Ceres in a small format. In terms of tones it picks up where the original Ceres left off by adding gain, more usable low-end, with increased dynamics and touch sensitivity.
Ultimately, the Ceres™ line of preamps distill our KSR sound into a small package, the Ceres ONE is about half the size. At only 2.7″ x 4.7″, it features many of the same functions present on all our amps — such as the Mode and Feel switches. Moreover, this pedal provides the ultimate mobile tone versatility from weekend gigs to fly rigs. It delivers the KSR signature sound to any board or interface for live and studio applications.
Hookup
Top mounted jacks allow for easy integration into your existing pedal board. We still managed to include our exclusive Bypass Mode switch — True Bypass, Buffered Bypass, and Clean Bypass. In True and Buffered bypass the pedal operates as expected, no tonal coloration. The Clean Bypass mode enables the top row of Tone and Volume knobs accessing the Clean channel. These various Bypass Modes allow for integration into any style of rig — from driving a power amp directly (Clean mode), hitting a clean amp down the chain on your pedal board (True Bypass mode), or at the start of your pedal board, driving your other pedals into a clean amp (Buffered mode).
The preferred operating method is to run the Ceres ONE™ into the input of the effects loop return of any amplifier head or directly into a power amp, such as our PA50 or PA-Rack amps, but it will also work when run into a clean channel with some EQ tweaking.
Time based effects (delay, chorus, flange, etc) should be placed after the Ceres ONE™, before the power amp. A simple loop switcher can even be used to create effects loop(s) between the Ceres ONE™ and power amp. Or, you can use one of our rackmount amps with a built-in MIDI switchable effects loop.
Controls
The Ceres ONE™ footswitch button activates the pedal’s gain channel. A nice feature also included is a mute — simply hold the button to activate it.
The gain control operates more similarly to our full size KSR amps and the original. Your ears will appreciate no unwanted top-end artifacts typically associated with solid-state circuits. The EQ controls function just as you’re used to on our full-size amps, with the full sweep of each control being totally usable.
Here is a quick overview of the switch functionality of the pedal, mirroring our signature amplifiers:
Feel:
Up = Thick, Center = Tight, Down = Fat (this is opposite of the original Ceres)
Mode:
Up = Ares/Orthos Crunch, Center = Artemis/Gemini Red Mode, Down = Colossus Lead 1
Note: All modes have added usable gain on tap from the original Ceres.
Connections
Looking at the front of the pedal, the top right jack is the input, then 9V power in, then the output. The external control jack input is on the bottom left side of the pedal.
The 9V DC input requires at most 100 mA to function. This is accessible via the high-current output of a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power, or similar. Please do not exceed 9V as the pedal will shutdown to protect the internal electronics. We generate optimal voltages internally, so providing more than 9V is simply not necessary, or possible.
The Control port is a 3.5mm (1/8″ headphone) TRS jack that allows control of the pedal channels and future expansion. Simply use an 1/8″ to 1/4″ TRS cable / adapter to connect this to momentary contact closure relays, and you can completely control the pedal, just as you can with the two foot switches.
Manufacturing
We are proudly manufacturing this pedal completely in our Cincinnati facility. CNC machining, powder coating, laser etching, silk screening, circuit board assembly are all performed under our roof — no outsourcing.
