Operation Manual © ZOOM Corporation Reproduction of this manual, in whole or in part, by any means, is prohibited. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Usage Precautions 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 matters. If users ignore this symbol and Warning handle the device the wrong way, serious injury or death could result. This symbol indicates explanations about dangerous matters. If users ignore this symbol and handle the device the wrong way, bodily injury and damage to the equipment could result. Caution Warning · High humidity or moisture · Excessive dust or sand · Excessive vibration or shock Handling · Never place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the A2 since this can cause electric shock. · Do not place naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, on the A2 since this can cause fire. · The A2 is a precision instrument. Do not exert undue pressure on the keys and other controls. Also take care not to drop the unit, and do not subject it to shock or excessive pressure. · Take care that no foreign objects (coins or pins etc.) or liquids can enter the unit. Caution Connecting cables and input and output jacks You should always turn off the power to the A2 and all other equipment before connecting or disconnecting any cables. Also make sure to disconnect all connection cables and the power cord before moving the A2. Please observe the following safety tips and precautions to ensure hazard-free use of the A2. Power requirements 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 batteries, use only alkaline types. [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 at the cable. · During lightning or when not using the unit for an extended period, disconnect the AC adapter from the AC outlet. Alterations Warning Never open the case of the A2 or attempt to modify the product in any way since this can result in damage to the unit. Volume Caution Do not use the A2 at a loud volume for a long time since this can cause hearing impairment. Usage Precautions Electrical interference For safety considerations, the A2 has been designed to provide maximum protection against the emission of electromagnetic radiation from inside the device, and protection from external interference. However, equipment that is very susceptible to interference or that emits powerful electromagnetic waves should not be placed near the A2, as the possibility of interference cannot be ruled out entirely. With any type of digital control device, the A2 included, electromagnetic interference can cause malfunctioning and can corrupt or destroy data. Care should be taken to minimize the risk of damage. [Battery operation] · Use four conventional IEC R6 (size AA) batteries (alkaline). · The A2 cannot be used for recharging. · Pay close attention to the labelling of the battery to make sure you choose the correct type. · When not using the unit for an extended period, remove the batteries 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. Cleaning Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the A2. 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. Environment Warning To prevent the risk of fire, electric shock or malfunction, avoid using your A2 in environments where it will be exposed to: · Extreme temperatures · Heat sources such as radiators or stoves Please keep this manual in a convenient place for future reference. 2 ZOOM A2 Contents SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Usage Precautions .............................. 2 Features......................................................................................... 4 Terms Used in This Manual ......................................................... 5 Controls and Functions / Connections ....................................... 6 Selecting a Patch .......................................................................... 8 Using the Tuner ........................................................................... 10 Using the Rhythm Function ....................................................... 12 Editing a Patch ............................................................................ 14 Storing/Copying Patches ........................................................... 16 Using the Feedback Control ...................................................... 18 Manual operation of feedback control .......................................18 Automatic detection of feedback frequency .............................19 Using Manual Mode .................................................................... 20 Using an Optional Foot Switch or Pedal ................................... 21 Using the foot switch (FS01) .......................................................21 Using the expression pedal (FP01/FP02)................................... 22 Restoring Factory Defaults ........................................................ 24 Linking Effects ............................................................................ 25 CONTROL module and GLOBAL module ..................................25 Effect Types and Parameters ..................................................... 26 How to read the parameter table ...............................................26 MODEL ........................................................................................... 27 MIC .................................................................................................28 COMP/LIMIT ...................................................................................28 LO EQ .............................................................................................28 HI EQ ...............................................................................................29 ZNR .................................................................................................29 MOD/EFX .........................................................................................29 DELAY/REVERB ............................................................................. 31 CONTROL .......................................................................................33 GLOBAL ..........................................................................................34 Specifications .............................................................................. 35 Troubleshooting .......................................................................... 35 A2 Preset Pattern ............................................................ Back cover The FCC regulation warning (for U.S.A.) This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. ZOOM A2 3 Features Thank you for selecting the ZOOM A2 (simply called the "A2" in this manual). The A2 is a sophisticated effect processor for acoustic guitar with the following features. Latest technology for top performance Excellent sound quality is assured by signal processing circuitry featuring 96 kHz/24 bit sampling and internal 32-bit processing. Frequency response remains flat to 40 kHz, and signal-to-noise ratio is an amazing 100 dB. Full array of effects optimized for acoustic guitar Out of a versatile palette of 47 effects, up to eight (including ZNR) can be used simultaneously. In addition to standard effects such as compressor and delay/reverb, the A2 offers effects which simulate the sound of famous acoustic guitars, a mic simulator, and other specialized acoustic guitar effects. Select optimum characteristics for pickups and amps The A2 allows you to select the best frequency response for your pickup and amp. This is great for eliminating sonic problems that can occur when playing an acoustic guitar through a guitar amplifier. Automatic suppression of acoustic feedback The feedback control feature pinpoints the frequency where acoustic feedback (howling) occurs and provides an efficient cure. The function can be activated by foot switch during a performance. Advanced interface Rotary selectors and three parameter knobs make operation extremely quick and intuitive. The muting interval when switching patches has been reduced to less than 8 milliseconds, allowing virtually seamless patch changes. Rhythm function and auto-chromatic tuner Rhythm patterns created from highly realistic PCM sources are convenient for use instead of a metronome during practice or for quick session work. The auto-chromatic tuner designed for guitar makes tuning a snap. Support for foot switch and expression pedal By connecting an optional foot switch (FS01) to the CONTROL IN jack, you can switch banks, specify the rhythm tempo, and switch feedback control on and off with your foot. Or use an expression pedal (FP01/FP02) to vary the volume or tone in real time. Dual power supply principle allows use anywhere The A2 can be powered from four IEC R6 (size AA) batteries or an AC adapter. Continuous operating time on batteries is approximately 7.5 hours with alkaline batteries. Please take the time to read this manual carefully, in order to get the most out of your A2 and to ensure optimum performance and reliability. 4 ZOOM A2 Terms Used in This Manual This section explains some important terms that are used throughout the A2 documentation. IN MODEL MIC COMP/LIMIT LO EQ HI EQ ZNR MOD/EFX DELAY/REVERB OUT Effect module As shown in the illustration above, the A2 can be thought of as a combination of several single effects. Each of these is referred to as an effect module. Among others, there is a module for ZNR (ZOOM Noise Reduction), as well as a modeling (sound simulation) module (MODEL), compressor/limiter module (COMP/LIMIT), modulation/special effects module (MOD/EFX). Parameters such as effect intensity can be adjusted for each module individually, and modules can be switched on and off. Effect type Most effect modules comprise several different effects which are referred to as effect types. For example, the MOD/EFX module comprises chorus, flanger, delay, phaser, and other effect types. Only one of these can be selected at any time. Effect parameter All effect modules have various parameters that can be adjusted. These are called effect parameters. In the A2, effect parameters are adjusted with the parameter knobs 1 - 3. Similar to the knobs on a compact effect, these change aspects such as tonal character and effect intensity. Which parameter is assigned to each knob depends on the currently selected effect module and effect type. Patch In the A2, effect module combinations are stored and called up in units referred to as patches. A patch comprises information about the on/off status of each effect module, about the effect type used in each module, and about effect parameter settings. The internal memory of the A2 holds 80 patches (40 of these can be rewritten by the user). Bank and area A group of ten patches is called a bank. The memory of the A2 comprises a total of eight banks, labelled A to d and 0 to 3. Banks A - d form the user area which allows read/write patches. Banks 0 to 3 are the prese ...