Operation Manual Thank you for selecting the ZOOM 508 (hereafter simply called the "508"). Please take the time to read this manual carefully so you can get the most out of your 508 and ensure optimum performance and reliability. Retain this manual for future reference. ZOOM CORPORATION NOAH Bldg., 2-10-2, Miyanishi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183, Japan PHONE: 0423-69-7116 FAX: 0423-69-7115 Printed in Japan 508-5000 1 Major Features · Compact, dedicated delay unit with up to 4000 ms delay time and eight delay types (Four types x two variations). · On-board "Zfx-2" DSP (Digital Signal Processor) developed by Zoom, and an innovative design used solely for its delay effects. Achieves superior quality delay sound on a par with high-end devices. · You can switch between 24 patches to store diverse settings based on your preference. · Seamless function that enables smooth patch transitions without cutting the delay sound when the patch is switched. · Ample functions to support powerful live performances, including a hold function for continuing the delay sound until the foot switch is pressed, and a tap function for setting the delay time in the interval between when the foot switch is pressed. · Integrated auto-chromatic tuner for guitar. You can tune your insturment easily anywhere, any time. You can also leave the tuning function disabled all the time. · The optional FP01 expression pedal enables foot control of the mix level for the delay sound. · Dual power supply design allows the unit to be powered from an alkaline battery (6LR61) or an AC adapter. 2 Safety Precautions USAGE AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS In this manual, symbols are used to highlight warnings and cautions for you to read so that accidents can be prevented. The meanings of these symbols are as follows: This symbol indicates explanations about extremely dangerous issues. If users ignore this symbol and handle the device incorrectly, serious injury or death could result. This symbol indicates explanations about dangerous issues. If users ignore this symbol and handle the device the wrong way, bodily injury and damage to the equipment could result. Usage precautions Electrical interference For safety considerations, the 508 has been designed to provide maximum protection against the emission of electromagnetic radiation from inside the device, and from external interference.However, equipment that is very susceptible to interference or that emits powerful electromagnetic waves should not be placed near the 508, as the possibility of interference cannot be ruled out entirely. Whatever the type of digital control device, the 508 included, electromagnetic damage can cause malfunctioning and corrupt or destroy data. Since this is an ever-present danger, thorough care should be taken to minimize the risk of damage. Warning Caution Please observe the following safety tips and precautions to ensure hazard-free use of the 508. About power Warning Since power consumption of this unit is fairly high, we recommend the use of an AC adapter whenever possible. When powering the unit from a battery, use only an alkaline type. Cleaning Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the 508. If necessary, slightly moisten the cloth. Do not use abrasive cleanser, wax, or solvents (such as paint thinner or cleaning alcohol), since these may dull the finish or damage the surface. AC adapter operation · Be sure to use only an AC adapter which supplies 9 V DC, 300 mA and is equipped with a "center minus" plug (Zoom AD-0006). The use of an adapter other than the specified type may damage the unit and pose a safety hazard. · Connect the AC adapter only to an AC outlet that supplies the rated voltage required by the adapter. · When disconnecting the AC adapter from the AC outlet, always grasp the adapter itself and do not pull the cable. · If the unit is not to be used for a long time, disconnect the AC adapter from the outlet. Connecting cables and input and output jacks You should always turn off the power to the 508 and all other equipment before connecting or disconnecting any cables. Also make sure to disconnect all cables and the AC adapter before moving the 508. Battery operation · Use only a 9 V (alkaline) battery (6LR61). · The 508 cannot be used for recharging. Pay close attention to the labelling of the battery to make sure you choose the correct type. · If the 508 is not to be used for an extended period of time, remove the battery from the unit. · If battery leakage has occurred, wipe the battery compartment and the battery terminals carefully to remove all remnants of battery fluid. · While using the unit, the battery compartment cover should be closed. Environment Caution · · · · Avoid using your 508 in environments where it will be exposed to: Extreme temperature High humidity or moisture Excessive dust or sand Excessive vibration or shock Handling Caution · The 508 is a precision instrument. Except for the foot switches, do not push other parts with your feet or subject them to strong force. · Take care that no foreign objects (coins or pins etc.) or liquids enter the unit. · Be sure to turn the power to all equipment off before making connections. · Before moving the unit, turn the power off and disconnect all cables and the AC adapter. Alterations Caution Never open the case of the 508 or attempt to modify the product in any way since this can result in damage to the unit. 7 Selecting Patches Bank switching Banks A, b, C, d, E, F are available BANK F PATCH DOWN PATCH UP PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 Patch switching 24 patches are available BANK E PATCH 1 PATCH 2 The 24 patches can be easily selected by pressing the patch pedals. The right patch pedal switches to the next patch and the left patch pedal switches to the previous patch. In the initial condition, the 508 is set up so that the patch pedals select patches continuously, but you can also set up the unit so that patches are switched only within a certain bank of four patches. [For details, see section 9 Patch Switching (Application: Bank Hold ON).] Banks are selected with the VALUE +/keys. Press the VALUE+ key to select the next bank, and the VALUE- key to select the previous bank. For example, to switch from Patch 2, Bank A to Patch 3, Bank C, the patch pedal would have to be pressed nine times. Instead, you can press the VALUE+ key twice to switch to Bank C, and then press the patch pedal (UP) just once to select Patch 3. PATCH 3 PATCH 4 BANK UP BANK d PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 BANK C PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 BANK DOWN BANK b PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 BANK A PATCH 1 PATCH 2 Bank/patch switching when Bank Hold is off (initial setting) PATCH 3 PATCH 4 8 Using the Bypass/Tuner Mode The effects of the 508 can be turned off (bypassed) temporarily, so that only the original sound of the instrument is heard. In this mode, the auto-chromatic tuning function via the LED display is also active. Tuner ON/OFF Pressing the EDIT key and the STORE key simultaneously for more than one second in Play mode will allow you to select whether or not to activate the tuning function in Bypass mode. When you change the setting, the display will show"tunEr oFF" (tuning function off) or "tunEr on" (tuning function on) according to the setting. Calibration Select reference pitch for auto-chromatic guitar tuner (calibration). * The reference pitch (A) can be adjusted in the range from 435 to 445 Hz. When the BANK key is pressed in Bypass/Tuner mode, this is shown as "35" to "45" on the display for a second. Adjust to the suitable value. At power-on, the setting is 440 Hz (40). Bypass mode Pressing both patch pedals simultaneously activates the Bypass mode. Press both pedals together Bypass ON/OFF The bypass function is invoked by pressing the left and right patch pedals simultaneously. To cancel the Bypass/Tuner mode, just press one of the patch pedals. To cancel the Bypass mode, simply press one of the patch pedals. The unit then reverts to the previously selected patch. Currently selected patch is displayed Press Release immediately Tuning function (only when the tuning function is ON) Tuner mode The 508 is initially set so that the auto-chromatic tuning function for the guitar activates automatically when the Bypass mode is invoked. In Bypass mode, pick an open string to be tuned. The closest note will be shown on the display. Input signal standby condition Regular tuning & w Do = C Do# = C# Regular tuning & #w & 4th string Re# = D# Regular tuning & #w 6th string 1st string Fa# = F# Regular tuning & w La = A La# = A# Regular tuning 5th string & #w & w w w Mi = E Fa = F & w So = G So# = G# 3rd string & #w & w Re = D & & #w Si = B 2nd string When the tuning function is active, the parameter cursor LEDs serve as tuning meter, designed to enhance tuning precision during fine adjustments. Turning tuning function off If you do not want to activate the tuning function in Bypass Pitch is too high Correctly tuned Pitch is too low mode, press the STORE and EDIT keys simultaneously for more than one second in Play mode. The tuning function will be turned off, and this setting will be stored even when the power is turned off. When you turn the function off, the display will show "tunEr oFF" (tuning function off). To turn the tuning function on, press the same keys simultaneously again. The display will show "tunEr on" (tuning function on). NOTE: Please note that the tuning function may not operate properly if other effect modules between the guitar and the 508 are on. 3 What Are Banks and Patches? · PATCH A group of the settings for a certain effect type is called a PATCH. The 508 comes with 24 preset patches which can be changed (edited) by the user. 4 PATCH LIST The 508 has memory capacity for 24 patches. At the factory, these are programmed with recommended settings. The user can freely change the contents of any patch, and it is also possible to restore the factory settings. BANK PATCH PATCH NAME LEAD DELAY SPACY ARPEGGIO SOUND ON SOUND JAZZ CLUB MUTE CUTTING DEEP OLD DELAY ODD METER WARM WRAP DOTTED EIGHT SWEET TONE TRIPLET EDGE DELAY HOLLOW BODY BRIGHT DELAY RHYTHM BOUNCE ETHNIC MY ROOM 150 BPM SHADOW SHORT REVERB HQ DUBBLING 4 SEC DELAY SOFT ECHO COMB FILTER SHORT ECHO COMMENT Long delay for lead play Fantastic effect by twin delay Play Brian's harmony Room ambience for jazz guitar Good for muted cutting play Old fashioned echo sound Progressive rock? Warm echo sound Makes dotted eighth note Makes triplet rhythm Enhanced effect Makes acoustic feel sound using comb filter Long delay effect with bright tone Play sixteenth single Imagine Arabian desert Room ambience using stereo echo Playing quarter note makes eighth note 70's echo sound Small reverberation effect Fat doubling effect, good for distortion sound Ultra long delay with much feedback Analog feeling echo sound Intense comb filter effect Short echo sound for global use · BANK The 508 calls up patches in sets of four, called a "bank". A BANK F BANK E BANK d BANK C BANK b BANK A PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 3 PATCH 4 b C d E F 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 Seamless Function With conventional delay and multi-effect units, the sound cuts off unnaturally when patches are switched. For example, when switching from a solo performance using a long delay to a patch with a short delay for backing, the delay of the previous patch stops abruptly the instant before the next patch starts, causing the reverberation to sound unnatural. This type of problem experienced by guitarists is solved by the 508's revolutionary seamless function. This function holds the delay sound of the previous patch after it has been switched, so that the transition from one patch to the next is performed smoothly. The seamless function can be used in two ways. One method is to leave the time for the delay sound as it is set in the patch. The other method is to force the delay sound to decrease at the timing decided by the seamless function. It is not necessarily preferable to leave the seamless function on normally. Rather, it should be switched on and off to suit the musical circumstances under which patches are switched. (The on/off status of the seamless function can be stored for each patch.) By combining the seamless and hold functions, you can perform solo by using new patches while holding the riff and rhythm pattern (repeat playback). For details, see [12. Effect Parameters] . Conventional patch switching Patch is switched Seamless function Patch is switched PATCH 1 PATCH 2 PATCH 1 PATCH 2 Sound is cut PATCH 1 delay The delay sound of PATCH 1 overlaps the sound of PATCH 2 6 Controls, Functions and Connections Front Panel TUNER indicator In the 508, this indicator sh ...