8-STEP PROGRAM Analog Expression/CV Sequencer Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix 8-STEP PROGRAM. The 8-STEP is an analog sequencer that connects to the expression pedal input of many different types of effects pedals, keyboards and other devices. Think of the 8-STEP as replacing your expression pedal, controlling parameters in a sequential fashion rather than continuously as you normally do with an expression pedal.
- QUICK START GUIDE Basic Sequence Using Forward and Loop Mode 1. Plug the TRS cable into the EXP/CV OUT on the left side of the 8-Step. Use a TS cable for CV control. 2. Connect the other end of the TRS (or TS) cable into the expression (or CV) input on an external device. 3. Connect the output plug from the supplied AC Adapter to the 9V jack at the top of the 8-STEP. Plug the AC Adapter into a wall outlet. 4. Push the RATE slider on the 8-STEP to the 50% setting. 5.
Reverse, Bounce and Random Direction Sequences 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. With the sequence running, press and release the MODE knob until only the DIR LED is lit. The mode LEDs are located directly under the MODE knob. All of the displayed parameters in the Direction mode are displayed with letters: F = Forward, r = Reverse, b = Bounce, R = Random on the digit display located directly below the three mode LEDs. Turn the MODE knob until you see the lower case r, for Reverse mode.
Please Note: When the 8-Step is set to fast tempos, a high setting for the GLIDE parameter may yield a sequence that does not change very much from one step to the next. How GLIDE reacts can depend on the tempo of the sequence. Adjusting the Depth Parameter The Depth parameter adjusts the total output level of the sequence from 0 (no output) to 9 (maximum output). An output setting of 8 is equivalent to 100% Depth.
4. 5. 6. when Direction equals Reverse and Sequence Length is set to 8, pressing the RESET FSW forces the sequence to jump to Step 8. Pressing the RESET FSW while the sequence is currently playing back does not pause the sequence, it forces the sequence to start over and then keeps going. Pressing the RESET FSW while the sequence is paused, forces the current step to jump back to the start of the sequence but it does not begin playing the sequence back.
5. 6. Move the currently active slider to the position where you would like your toe setting to be. Begin using the expression pedal. Using External CV Clock 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Connect the external clock source to the EXP IN jack on the right side of the 8STEP using a TS (mono) ¼” instrument cable. The clock signal must be between 0V and 5V. If the clock signal goes below 0V, the 8-STEP may not be able to properly read the external clock signal. The maximum frequency for the external clock is 50Hz.
c. d. preset. The digit display blinks rapidly while a preset is waiting in the Preset Cue. At this point if you turn the MODE knob to a different preset number, the number blinks indicating that a different preset number is loaded. Additionally, at this point if you move a slider or change a parameter, the decimal point will blink indicating that a preset has been loaded but edited from what was initially loaded. Saving Presets on the 8-STEP 1. Ensure you are in preset mode 2. To save a preset: a.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Set up your MIDI master device to control MIDI CC #24. CC #24 controls the RATE slider on the 8-STEP. Send out a range of values on CC #24 from 0 to 127. As the values increase, the RATE will increase on the 8-STEP. Now set your MIDI device to output MIDI Program Change #100, this may be #101 on some devices. Send MIDI PC #100. When you do the 8-STEP will immediately begin playback, as if you had pressed the PLAY FSW on the unit. Send PC #100 again to pause playback.
- CONTROLS, INDICATORS & I/OThe following descriptions detail all of the sliders, knob, switches, LEDs (lights) and I/O jacks on the 8-STEP PROGRAM: STEP 1-8 SLIDERS & LEDS 8-STEP’s sequences are composed of up to 8 Steps. Each step has its own independent slider for setting the expression or CV level. As you push a step slider upward, its output level increases.
you increase its value. Turning the MODE knob clockwise increases the Glide value. Please Note: high values of GLIDE with fast tempos will reduce the sequencer’s output amplitude. DIR (Direction): Selects between four settings for the sequencer’s playback direction. Turning the MODE knob clockwise presents the choices in the following order: F (Forward): The sequence counts up from Step 1 to the maximum step set by the Sequence Length (SL) parameter, and then jumps back to Step 1 again.
is displaying a different preset number from the preset that is actually loaded. At this point you can press and release the MODE knob to load the blinking preset number into the Preset Cue. PRESET CUE: If you load a preset while a sequence is running the 8-STEP does not immediately load the preset but instead cues up the preset and then waits for the current sequence to end.
press PLAY, it will start the sequence immediately, from whatever step you were on. For example if the sequence is paused on Step 4, when you press the PLAY FSW, the sequence starts with Step 4. If the sequence is playing, when you press the PLAY FSW, the sequence will stop on whatever step was active at the time of pressing PLAY. If you want to begin the sequence with Step 1, press the RESET FSW before pressing PLAY.
always Step 1; for Reverse, the first step is equal to the Sequence Length setting; for Random, pressing the RESET FSW jumps to a new random step. When the 8-STEP is running off its internal tempo, whether set by the RATE Slider or TAP FSW, pressing the RESET FSW immediately forces the sequencer to its first step. If the 8STEP is synced to either MIDI Clock or External CV Clock, the sequence will jump to its first step when it advances past the current step rather than immediately jumping to the first step.
The BEAT LED, located above the TAP FSW, always blinks at the current tempo whether the tempo is set by your TAP tempo, the RATE slider, MIDI Clock or External CV Clock. Please Note: The TAP FSW is ignored when the 8-STEP is synced to MIDI Clock or External CV Clock. TAP DIVIDE BUTTON & LEDS Located between the TAP and RESET FSWs, the TAP DIVIDE button allows you to divide down your Tap Tempo to create faster tempos in relation to what you tapped.
EXP. MODE RATE EXP. MODE Description Allows external control over the 8-STEP’s internal tempo whether the tempo master is the RATE slider, TAP Tempo or MIDI Clock.
EXP/CV OUT Jack The 8-STEP’s sequence is output through this jack. When connecting to the Expression input on an external pedal or other device, normally you will want to connect the TRS cable that came supplied with the 8-STEP to the 8-STEP’s EXP/CV jack. If you are connecting the 8-STEP to a CV input, use a standard ¼” mono/TS instrument cable instead, the same type of cable you would plug into a guitar.
- PRESETS & FACTORY RESTORE The 8-STEP PROGRAM holds up to 100 presets in its internal flash memory. The first 10 presets, numbered 0 through 9 are accessible on the 8-STEP’s top panel. The remaining presets are only accessible when using either the optional 8-STEP PROGRAM FOOT CONTROLLER or via MIDI. All user parameters are saved in presets, including the position of the expression pedal at the time you save. Two parameters that are not saved into the presets are the MIDI Clock tempo and the MIDI Channel.
6. 7. 8. You can load a different preset by pressing and releasing the MODE knob again. The new preset will be cued, awaiting the current sequence to finish. To unload a preset, press and release the MODE encoder. To exit Preset Mode, turn the MODE knob clockwise until an E is displayed. Press and release the MODE knob to exit. LOADING PRESETS WITH 8-STEP FOOT CONTROLLER 1. Press and release the UP or DOWN footswitch on the 8-STEP Foot Controller.
SAVING PRESETS WITH THE 8-STEP FOOT CONTROLLER 1. Turn the SELECT knob on the 8-STEP Foot Controller to the preset number that you want to save to. Empty preset numbers will cause the middle decimal on the Foot Controller to light up indicating the preset is empty. 2. Press and hold down the SELECT knob on the 8-STEP Foot Controller. After two seconds the digits on the 8-STEP Foot Controller will start blinking. 3. The preset has been saved; you can release the SELECT knob. SAVING PRESETS WITH MIDI 1.
- MIDI The 8-STEP PROGRAM can be controlled by MIDI Control Change (CC) and Program Change (PC) messages as well as sync to MIDI Clock. Every parameter on the 8-STEP’s top panel can be controlled via MIDI CC as well as saving and loading all 100 presets. All buttons and footswitches can also be controlled by MIDI PC messages. MIDI PC messages can directly load all 100 presets.
MIDI channels 10 through 16 are displayed with the aid of the decimal LED in the digit display. Since the 8-STEP has only one digit available, the ones column of the number is displayed in the digit and the tens column is represented by the decimal. For example MIDI channel 15 is displayed as a 5 on the digit display with the decimal LED lit (5.). MIDI channel 5 is displayed as a 5 on the digit display but with no decimal LED lit (5). The MIDI channel remains saved in flash memory during power cycles.
28 DEPTH Smoothly controls the DEPTH parameter over its entire range 29 TAP DIVIDE Controls the TAP DIVIDE setting 30 EXPression MODE Controls the EXPression MODE setting 31 PLAY MODE 33 Encoder MODE Controls the PLAY MODE setting. Whenever this setting changes, the digit display flashes the new mode. Directly sets the Encoder MODE 34 PLAY FSW 35 RESET FSW Engages PLAY function. In Step-Thru mode both 0 and 127 advance the sequence.
MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE MESSAGES Presets saved within the 8-STEP can be loaded using an external MIDI device through MIDI Program Change messages. The MIDI PC messages must be set to the same channel as the 8-STEP or set the 8-STEP to accept all channels. Please Note: This manual describes PC messages as having a range of 0 to 127; some devices use the range 1 to 128. The total range is the same; you may need to adjust the PC number by 1.
- WARRANTY INFORMATION Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro-Harmonix will repair or replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to operate due to defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. This applies only to original purchasers who have bought their product from an authorized Electro-Harmonix retailer.
