Disaster Area Designs
www.disasterareadesigns.com
DPC-8EZ Operation Manual
Firmware revision 1.05
May 2014
Thank you for purchasing the Disaster Area DPC-8EZ Pedal Controller. The DPC-8EZ is a compact effects switching system with built-in MIDI control. It is designed to switch up to eight separate effects loops and to change presets on an external MIDI device simultaneously, to simplify tone changes in a live or studio setting.
CONNECTIONS:
Connect your guitar using a 1/4" shielded instrument cable to the input. The DPC8EZ features the Disaster Area Z-Mode Buffer, which allows the player to tailor the buffer response to work with all kinds of pedals in the DPC-8EZ effects loops. Please refer to the Z-Mode configuration section for details on setting up the buffer.
The red jack underneath the buffered input is the Tuner Send jack. The Tuner Send jack is always active, and is separately buffered. The Tuner Mute function will mute the main output (and the insert send in Stereo Link mode) but the tuner send stays active even when the main output is muted. The tuner send may also be connected to the insert return to split the input signal into two stereo paths.
The next four pairs of 1/4" jacks are the sends and returns for the first set of four effects loops. The top (black) jacks are the send channels, and the lower (red) jacks are the returns.
The two jacks in the middle of the panel are the “insert” connections. The insert jacks are reversed in color from the loop send / receive jacks – the insert send is red and the return jack is black. The insert is an always-on loop that is ideal for connecting a volume pedal, compressor, or other pedal that does not need to be switched on and off. The insert may also be used as a “split point” for connecting to an amp and effects with the 4-cable method, or to split the DPC-8EZ in two sections for stereo use. Please note that the insert return jack is fed through a buffer, to eliminate loading due to long cable lengths in the insert loop. The insert buffer is identical to the main Z-Mode buffer but is set at the default low impedance setting and cannot be changed.
The next four pairs of ¼” jacks are the sends and returns for the second set of four effects loops. Like the first four loops, the top (black) jacks are the send channels, and the lower (red) jacks are the returns.
The final jack is the main output (red.) When the pedal is set to tuner mute, the main output is shorted to ground through a relay and its output is muted.
The MIDI input and Output are described in the MIDI section below.
The USB-Mini-B jack is used for firmware update and customization. The USB jack also functions as a USB MIDI interface, and works with most computers and tablets without driver installation.
The power jack is 2.1mmID, center negative, 9V DC 85mA minimum. The DPC-8EZ may be powered by one of the standard outputs on the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus, or by most available power supply units. Disaster Area Designs recommends a multi-output isolated power supply for the DPC-8EZ, rather than a daisy-chained single power supply.
CONFIGURATION:
The left-most switch (button 5) is the mode / bank switch. The other four switches are the select switches. Throughout this document, they may be referred to as B1B4. Holding the buttons when the DPC-8EZ boots allows you to change the way the controller operates.
Autoconfig – Hold Button 1 at boot
Hold button 1 at boot to enter Autoconfig mode. While in this mode, sending MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) 99 will set the DPC-8 receive channel. The value of the command received will set the MIDI channel. The Disaster Area DMC Gen2 and DPC- 5 controllers will send this command at boot. Connect the DMC or DPC MIDI OUT to the DPC-8EZ MIDI IN with a standard MIDI cable. Power on the DPC-8EZ while holding Button 1, then power on the DMC or DPC controller. The DPC-8EZ will configure itself and then flash to indicate its status.
Startup Mode – Hold Button 2 at boot
Hold Button 2 to set the DPC-8EZ to start up in Preset Mode or Manual Mode. If you primarily use the controller in one mode or the other then you can set the DPC-8EZ to always start in your desired mode.
Stereo Link – Hold Button 3 at boot (REV 1 PCB ONLY)
Hold Button 3 to set the DPC-8EZ to Stereo Link mode. While in this mode, the DPC8EZ loops will switch together in pairs for use with stereo effects. Loops 1+5, 2+6, 3+7 and 4+8 switch together in this mode.
Insert Assign – Hold Button 3 at boot (REV 2 PCB ONLY) Works for serial numbers ~290+
Rev 2 boards have the ability to assign the location of the insert jacks. The default position of the insert is jack pair 5, between loops 4 and 5. Hold down button 3 at boot to enter the assign mode. Tap B1 and B2 to assign the insert position. When the insert is in the correct location, hold B3 to save. PLEASE NOTE that the insert jacks themselves move to reflect this assignment. If the insert is assigned to position 3 (blue LED above button 3) then you will need to place your volume pedal after loop 2 in the 3rd jack pair. It may be helpful to reverse the jack nuts on the insert jack pair to show their function.
MIDI Send – Hold Button 4 at boot
Hold Button 4 at boot to enable or disable MIDI sending from the DPC-8EZ. If MIDI sending is enabled, MIDI commands will be sent when selecting a preset, turning loops on and off, or enabling the mute. If MIDI sending is disabled, the DPC-8EZ MIDI input and output still function, but the output only serves as a MIDI “thru,” to pass
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