DigiTech Obscura Altered Delay User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

WARRANTY

We at DigiTech® are very proud of our products and back-up each one we sell with the following warranty:

1. Please register online at digitech.com within ten days of purchase to validate this warranty. This warranty is valid only in the
United States.

2. DigiTech warrants this product, when purchased new from an authorized U.S. DigiTech dealer and used solely within the U.S., to
be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service. This warranty is valid to the original purchaser
only and is non-transferable.

3. DigiTech liability under this warranty is limited to repairing or replacing defective materials that show evidence of defect,
provided the product is returned to DigiTech WITH RETURN AUTHORIZATION, where all parts and labor will be covered up to a
period of one year (this warranty is extended to a period of six years when the product has been properly registered through
our website). A Return Authorization number may be obtained by contacting DigiTech. The company shall not be liable for any
consequential damage as a result of the product’s use in any circuit or assembly.

4. Proof-of-purchase is considered to be the responsibility of the consumer. A copy of the original purchase receipt must be
provided for any warranty service.

5. DigiTech reserves the right to make changes in design, or make additions to, or improvements upon this product without
incurring any obligation to install the same on products previously manufactured.

6. The consumer forfeits the benefits of this warranty if the product’s main assembly is opened and tampered with by anyone
other than a certified DigiTech technician or, if the product is used with AC voltages outside of the range suggested by the
manufacturer.

7. The foregoing is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, and DigiTech neither assumes nor authorizes any person to
assume any obligation or liability in connection with the sale of this product. In no event shall DigiTech or its dealers be liable for
special or consequential damages or from any delay in the performance of this warranty due to causes beyond their control.

NOTE: The information contained in this manual is subject to change at any time without notification. Some information contained
in this manual may also be inaccurate due to undocumented changes in the product since this version of the manual was completed.
The information contained in this version of the owner’s manual supersedes all previous versions.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT & SERVICE

If you require technical support, contact DigiTech Technical Support. Be prepared to accurately describe the problem. Know the serial
number of your device – this is printed on a sticker attached to the chassis. If you have not already taken the time to register your
product, please do so now at digitech.com.

Before you return a product to the factory for service, we recommend you refer to this manual. Make sure you have correctly
followed installation steps and operating procedures. For further technical assistance or service, please contact our Technical Support
Department at [phone] or visit digitech.com. If you need to return a product to the factory for service, you MUST first contact
Technical Support to obtain a Return Authorization Number.

NO RETURNED PRODUCTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE FACTORY WITHOUT A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER.

Please refer to the Warranty information, which extends to the first end-user. After expiration of the warranty, a reasonable charge
will be made for parts, labor, and packing if you choose to use the factory service facility. In all cases, you are responsible for
transportation charges to the factory. If the product is still under warranty, DigiTech will pay the return shipping.

Use the original packing material if it is available. Mark the package with the name of the shipper and with these words in red:
DELICATE INSTRUMENT, FRAGILE! Insure the package properly. Ship prepaid, not collect. Do not ship parcel post.

INTRODUCTION

Thanks for choosing the DigiTech® Obscura stereo delay pedal. The Obscura was designed for the
selective guitarist who wants the highest quality delay in a compact package. The Obscura provides
such distinguishing features as organic delay algorithms, true bypass, constant high voltage operation,
and true stereo processing, making the Obscura an essential addition to the signal chain of players who
know about sound quality and demand the utmost in performance with superior tone and control.

The Obscura is more than just a digital delay pedal. Using the Repeat Hold feature, it can be used
for creating interesting real-time effects that will repeat as long as you like, even when the effect is
bypassed, allowing you to create amazing ambient effects and textures that you can play over the top
of.

The Obscura offers 4 delay types:

• Analog

• Tape

• Lo-Fi

• Reverse

To use the Obscura pedal, enable the effect with the Footswitch (the LED will light when the effect is
enabled). Adjust the LEVEL control to mix in the amount of delay effect. Select the desired delay type
with the DELAY TYPE selector knob. Adjust the TIME and REPEATS controls to set the delay time and
adjust the length of the delay repeats (or tail). To use Tap Tempo, press and hold the FOOTSWITCH for 3
seconds then tap in the tempo. Change the tone and quality of the delay with the TONE and DEGRADE
controls. Set the TAILS switch to the ‘ON’ position if you want the delay tails to decay naturally after
switching the effect off or want to use the Repeat Hold feature for additional real-time effect control.
Set the TAILS switch to the ‘OFF” position if you want the delay tails to end abruptly when switching the
effect off or want to utilize the true bypass feature.

FEATURES

• 4 Delay Algorithm Types

• Up to 2 Seconds of Stereo Delay Time

• Tap Tempo

• Delay Repeat Hold

• Tails On/Off Switch

• True Bypass

• Stereo 1/4” Inputs & Outputs w/ True Stereo Processing

• Constant High Voltage Power Rails

• Effect On/Off LED Indicator

• Soft Touch Vacuum Switch

• Included StompLock™ & Pedalboard Hook & Loop Pad

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USER INTERFACE

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1. Tails Switch

When this switch is set to the ON position, delay tails will decay naturally when the effect is
switched to bypass. When set to the OFF position, delay decays will end abruptly when the effect is
switched to bypass. When the Tails Switch is set to ON, the Obscura does not utilize true hardwire
bypass. If you always want to use true hardwire bypass, set the Tails Switch to the OFF position.

2. DC Power Jack
Connect the specified Harman power supply (sold separately) to this jack. Be sure to use the proper
power supply for your area’s mains line voltage. See ‘Specifications’ on page 14 for power supply
model information. The Obscura can only be powered using the external power supply.

3. Delay Type Selector Knob

Selects from the following delay algorithm types:

• ANALOG - Classic sound of a vintage bucket brigade analog delay circuit.

• TAPE - Emulates a classic tube tape echo.

• LO-FI - A low-fidelity delay that has limited bandwidth and reduced bit-depth to approximate

the effects of low sample rate and 8-bit signal processing used in vintage digital delays.

• REVERSE - A delay where the repeats are played backwards. No dry signal is present when
REVERSE is selected.

4. Tone Knob

Adjusts the frequency response of the delay effect, making it brighter or darker in tone.

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5. Degrade Knob

This knob controls the amount of degradation and its effect on the sound varies depending on
which delay type is selected. Here’s a description of the DEGRADE control for each delay type:

• ANALOG - Increases aliasing and grit.

• TAPE - Increases wow and flutter.

• LO-FI - Increases “input channel overdrive”.

• REVERSE - Increases “tape saturation”.

6. Input 1 (Mono)

Use this jack when only a single connection is needed. Connect your instrument, the output of a
pedal, or an amp effects send to this jack. Signals are heard at both outputs when only this jack is
used.

7. Indicator LED

This multi-color LED lights red to indicate when the effect is turned on. When using Tap Tempo, the
LED will flash at the rate of the delay time and will flash yellow, red, or green, depending on the
position of the TIME knob. See ‘Tap Tempo’ on page 8 for more information on using the Tap
Tempo feature.

8. Input 2

Connect a second input to this jack for stereo operation. Inputs 1 and 2 are processed separately
through the stereo delay effect then fed to Outputs 1 and 2, keeping true stereo separation
between channels.

9. Footswitch
Turns the effect on and off. The Footswitch is also used for tapping in the delay time when using
the Tap Tempo feature, see ‘Tap Tempo’ on page 8 for further information on using this feature.

10. Output 2

Connect this output to the input of a second guitar amplifier when a second amp is being used.
When only the Input 1 (Mono) jack is connected, guitar and delay signal can be heard in both
Outputs 1 and 2 when they are used.

11. Output 1 (Mono)

Connect this output to the input of a single guitar amplifier or amp effects return.

12. Repeats Knob

Controls the number of delay repeats. Turn this knob clockwise to increase and counter-clockwise
to decrease the number of repeats. Turn this knob to the 3 ‘o clock or higher position (indicated by
the screened line next to the knob) to engage Repeat Hold, see ‘Using Repeat Hold’ on page 9
for more information.

13. Time Knob
Controls the amount of delay time. When Tap Tempo is active, you can use the TIME knob to set the
tap multiplier. See ‘Tap Tempo’ on page 8 for information on using this feature.

14. Level Knob

Controls the delay level. Turn this knob clockwise to increase and counter-clockwise to decrease
the delay level. Note that when the REVERSE delay type is selected, no dry signal is added, so when
the LEVEL knob is at the minimum position, no signal will be heard.

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MAKING CONNECTIONS/APPLYING POWER

To connect the Obscura pedal to your rig:

1. Turn down the amplifier’s master volume control.

2. Make all audio connections to the Obscura as shown in ‘Tap Tempo’ on page 8.

3. Connect the appropriate Harman power supply (not included) to the POWER input connector

and connect the other end to an available AC outlet.

4. Strum your guitar and gradually increase your amplifier’s master volume control until the
desired level is achieved.

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