Strymon DECO User Manual
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Strymon DECO User Manual

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  • Page 1 USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Tap Mode ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 Configuring MultiSwitch Plus ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 25 Using MultiSwitch Plus ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Saving Deco Presets with MultiSwitch Plus: ������������������������������������������������������������ 26 MIDI Functionality ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 Configuring Deco to Use MIDI ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 27 Saving Presets in MIDI Mode ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 MIDI Specifications �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������...

  • Page 3: Knobs And Switches

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Knobs and Switches Front Panel Controls - Tape Saturation VOICE Selects between two tape machine styles: classic: produces the response and saturation characteristics of 2-track mastering reel-to-reel machines� cassette: employs an auto level control (ALC) process, common to many high-end cassette recorders, resulting in a compressed, fat tone�...

  • Page 4: Front Panel Controls - Doubletracker

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Knobs and Switches Front Panel Controls - Doubletracker TYPE Selects phase and internal routing to tailor tonality and low-end: sum: the Reference and Lag Decks are summed in phase� invert: the Reference and Lag Decks are summed out of phase�...

  • Page 5: Front Panel Controls - Auto-Flange On/Off

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Knobs and Switches Front Panel Controls - Auto-Flange On/Off Press and hold the DOUBLETRACKER ON ON) footswitch (AUTO-FLANGE to achieve a recording studio-inspired, Auto-Flange effect� This engages a “virtual audio engineer” manning the faders and tape reels to create a smooth and predictable through-zero flange experience on the fly�...

  • Page 6: In Depth - Input Level & Saturation Ranges

    Deco accepts up to +10dBu of input signal� When using Deco in a hot effects loop of a guitar amp, or when driving Deco with a hot output from a synth or mixer insert, it is recommended to set the Power Up Mode - Input Mode option to Studio�...

  • Page 7: In Depth - Lag Time Ranges

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Knobs and Switches In Depth - Lag Time Ranges TAPE FLANGE -�3 to 3 ms • Set the BLEND to 50/50 (12 o’clock position) for the most pronounced flange effects� Very short LAG TIME •...
  • Page 8 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Knobs and Switches In Depth - Lag Time Ranges (cont�) SLAPBACK 50 to 150 ms • With the BLEND past 12 o’clock, the slap can be louder than the input� Try this with shorter First heard in the rock slap times�...

  • Page 9: Rear Panel I/O And Control

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Rear Panel I/O and Control AUDIO INPUT SELECTOR MONO : Use with a mono input signal, such as a guitar� Output is stereo� Use OUT L for mono connection� STEREO : Use with a stereo input signal� Output is stereo�...
  • Page 10 • 9VDC, center negative • 300mA minimum EXP / MIDI Multifunction communication jack for external control of Deco’s features and functions� Can be set to operate in one of the following modes� (See “Configuring the EXP/MIDI Jack” on page 19 for details�)

  • Page 11: Live Edit Functions

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Functions Use the following steps to enter Live Edit mode and access the second- ary functions of the controls� Any of the following secondary functions can be edited while in Live Edit mode�...

  • Page 12: Low Trim

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Functions Low Trim Applies a subtle high pass filter to reduce the low end, which can clean up some rumble and muddiness of your effected tone� Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch to enter Live Edit mode�...

  • Page 13: Doubletracker Boost / Cut

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Functions Doubletracker Boost / Cut Adjusts the amount of volume increase or decrease, +3dB or -3dB, applied to the Doubletracker, when enabled, to allow for precise level matching� Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch to enter Live Edit mode�...

  • Page 14: Wide Stereo Mode

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Functions Wide Stereo Mode Generates a wide stereo image by sending the Reference Deck signal to the Left Out and the Lag Deck to the Right Out� Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch to enter Live Edit mode�...

  • Page 15: Midi Clock Sync

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Functions MIDI Clock Sync Selects whether Deco’s echo repeats will sync to incoming MIDI Clock messages� Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch� Set the position of the TYPE...

  • Page 16: Respond/Ignore Midi Expression

    Live Edit Functions Respond/Ignore MIDI Expression When set to MIDI mode, this setting selects whether Deco will respond to MIDI Expression CC# 100 , values 0 (heel) to 127 (toe), to control the knob settings in the same manner as a TRS expression pedal�...

  • Page 17: Power Up Modes

    - tape saturation & doubletracker Power Up Modes Input Mode Deco provides two input modes to tailor the range of the Tape Saturation for your input signal� Press and hold the DOUBLETRACKER ON footswitch while power- ing up Deco� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch�...

  • Page 18: Bypass Mode

    - tape saturation & doubletracker Power Up Modes Bypass Mode Setting Deco to Buffered Bypass mode preserves the high frequency response of your instrument’s signal through your pedal chain and long cable runs� Press and hold the DOUBLETRACKER ON footswitch while power- ing up Deco�...

  • Page 19: Configuring The Exp/Midi Jack

    - tape saturation & doubletracker Power Up Modes Configuring the EXP/MIDI Jack Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch while power- ing up Deco� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch� Turn the LAG TIME (EXP/MIDI JACK) knob to select the function of the rear panel’s EXP/MIDI jack�...
  • Page 20 - tape saturation & doubletracker Configuring the EXP/MIDI Jack (cont�) Press either footswitch to store the EXP/MIDI jack mode and begin using Deco� NOTE: The EXP/MIDI jack mode setting persists across power cycles and is not saved per preset� pg 20...

  • Page 21: External Control

    NOTE: Your expression pedal assignment is saved per Favorite setting or MIDI preset� NOTE: If Deco is set to respond to MIDI EXPRESSION and the EXP/MIDI jack is set to MIDI mode, you can send MIDI CC# 100 with values 0 (heel) to 127 (toe) to perform the expression pedal setup�...

  • Page 22: Favorite Switch Setup And Compare Mode

    GREEN� Then, press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch until the TAPE SATURATION ON LED momentarily flashes BLUE to save the Favorite setting� Step on the external footswitch to toggle between your Favorite set- ting and the current setting on Deco� pg 22...
  • Page 23 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Favorite Switch Setup and Compare Mode (cont�) COMPARE MODE With a Favorite or MIDI preset recalled, as a knob or switch is adjusted, both LEDs flash GREEN when the current knob or toggle switch position matches the setting of the preset�...

  • Page 24: Tap Mode

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker External Control Tap Mode Connect a MiniSwitch or other external momentary footswitch with a TRS cable to tap in a Lag Time� Configure the EXP/MIDI jack for Tap mode� (See page 19 for more info�)

  • Page 25: Configuring Multiswitch Plus

    - tape saturation & doubletracker External Control Configuring MultiSwitch Plus Configure Deco and MultiSwitch Plus for remote access to three additional presets� Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch while connect- ing power to the pedal� Hold until both LEDs stop blinking�...

  • Page 26: Using Multiswitch Plus

    Step on an illuminated switch to bypass Deco� Saving Deco Presets with MultiSwitch Plus: Dial in the sound that you would like to save as your preset on Deco� Press and hold both footswitches on Deco until both the LEDs blink GREEN�...

  • Page 27: Midi Functionality

    MIDI Functionality Configuring Deco to Use MIDI Using MIDI unlocks a set of tools that can be used to load any of Deco’s 300 preset locations using a suitable MIDI controller or interface con- nected to the Deco EXP/MIDI jack� This requires a Strymon MIDI EXP cable or a MIDI controller/interface, such as Strymon Conduit, with at least one quarter-inch output�...
  • Page 28 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Configuring Deco to Use MIDI (cont�) STEP 1 – SET EXP/MIDI JACK TO MIDI MODE Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION footswitch while connecting power to the pedal� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch�...
  • Page 29 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Configuring Deco to Use MIDI (cont�) STEP 2 – SET MIDI CHANNEL Turn the SATURATION knob to set the MIDI communication channel� The TAPE SATURATION ON LED indicates status� Your SATURATION knob selections are as follows: •...
  • Page 30 TAPE SATURATION footswitch LED on if MIDI is properly con- nected and configured� NOTE: If you are only sending data to Deco using the Strymon MIDI EXP page 31 Cable, the MIDI OUT mode must be set to OFF� (See for details on configuring the MIDI OUT Mode�)
  • Page 31 Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch� Turn the TONE knob to select what kind of MIDI data is sent from Deco to other MIDI devices� Both LEDs will flash momentarily to indi- cate status�...

  • Page 32: Saving Presets In Midi Mode

    BLUE To save the current state of the pedal to any preset location, send the unit a MIDI Program Change on Deco’s currently selected MIDI channel� For example: • Send MIDI Program Change #10 to save the preset to the corre- sponding memory location on the pedal�...

  • Page 33: Midi Specifications

    Change 1 instead of 0� In these setups, increment the MIDI Program Change locations above by one� Deco always powers up in MIDI Patch Bank 0, so if you plan to stay within the first 127 presets, simply send a standard MIDI Program Change message to load a preset�...

  • Page 34: Midi Ccs

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker MIDI Specifications (cont.) MIDI CCs DECO - MIDI CC NUMBERS PARAMETER RANGE VALUE Bank Select (0=Bank 1, 1=Bank 2, 2=Bank 3) Tape Saturation Off/On 0, 127 (0=off, 1-127=on) Mode (1=classic, 2=cassette) Saturation 0-127 Volume...

  • Page 35: Factory Reset

    LEDs will change colors at the extremes of the knob range and blink to indicate when the reset is taking place� • TURN 1: AMBER • TURN 2: • TURN 3: AMBER • TURN 4: Both LEDs flash RED, Deco resets and restarts pg 35...
  • Page 36 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Factory Reset (cont.) FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS EXP/MIDI Jack: Assigned to Expression mode and configured to control the SATURATION knob Input Mode: Normal (Instrument level) Bypass Mode: True Bypass MIDI Channel: 1 MIDI OUT Mode: Off...

  • Page 37: Features

    • Full featured MIDI, accessible via TRS, supporting MIDI CCs, MIDI clock sync, access to 300 preset locations (requires Strymon MIDI EXP cable or MIDI > TRS interface such as Strymon Conduit) • USB-C jack for controlling via MIDI from a computer or for perform- ing potential future firmware updates •...

  • Page 38: Specifications

    Use an adapter with the following rating: 9VDC, center negative, 300mA minimum� © 2022 Damage Control Engineering, LLC� Strymon, the Strymon logo, and Damage Control Engineering are trademarks or registered trademarks of Damage Control Engineering, LLC� in the U�S� and/or other jurisdictions� pg 38...

  • Page 39: Appendix 1: Sample Settings

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Appendix 1: Sample Settings pg 39...
  • Page 40 MultiSwitch Plus B MultiSwitch Plus C PRETTY TAPE FLANGE LIVE EDIT FUNCTIONS Deco provides a way to adjust several parameters that do not have a dedicated knob or switch� These are called LIVE EDIT functions and each are described in...

  • Page 41: Appendix 2: Power Up Modes Quick Reference

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Appendix 2: Power Up Modes Quick Reference pg 41...

  • Page 42: General Options

    General Options Press and hold the DOUBLETRACKER ON footswitch while power- ing up Deco� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch� Adjust the desired functions with the knobs and buttons noted below� Press either footswitch to store your changes and exit power up mode�...

  • Page 43: Midi & Jack Options

    MIDI & Jack Options Press and hold the TAPE SATURATION ON footswitch while power- ing up Deco� Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch� Adjust the desired functions with the knobs and buttons noted below� Press either footswitch to store your changes and exit power up mode�...

  • Page 44: Appendix 3: Live Edit Controls Quick Reference

    Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Appendix 3: Live Edit Controls Quick Reference pg 44...
  • Page 45 Deco - tape saturation & doubletracker Live Edit Controls Quick Reference Deco provides a way to adjust several secondary functions that are avail- able on the controls (see “Live Edit Functions” on page 11)� Live Edit Functions are saved per preset�...

  • Page 46: Strymon Non-Transferable Limited Warranty

    In no event will Strymon be liable for more than the amount of the purchase price, not to exceed the current retail price of the prod- uct�...

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