EBS RETRACER DELAY User Manual

1

USER GUIDE

w w w . e b s s w e d e n . c o m

GETTING STARTED
WITH THE
EBS RETRACER

INTRODUCTION: 2

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EASY MODE: 4

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EXPERT MODE: 5

GETTING STARTED IN EASY MODE: 6

EASY & EXPERT MODE OPERATIONS: 6

EXTENDED EDITING IN EXPERT MODE: 8

REFERENCE GUIDE FOR THE
SETTINGS MENU & SUB MENUS: 10

HOW TO CONNECT THE RETRACER
WITH OTHER DEVICES: 12

HOW TO SET UP AND USE
THE LOOP MODE: 13

HOW TO USE AND CALIBRATE
AN EXPRESSION PEDAL WITH RETRACER: 14

USER GUIDE

GETTING STARTED
WITH THE
EBS RETRACER

2

USER GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

The ReTracer has tons of options to change, create and
organize delay effects. To get you started, let’s begin with
learning about the two main ways to operate the ReTracer,
EASY MODE and EXPERT MODE.

Easy Mode is where you quickly navigate between presets, but with

limited access to editing them. Easy Mode is probably what you will use
when you are on stage.

Expert Mode unlocks more editing features and might be where you
will operate when you build, fine-tune and organize your own presets.

We recommend that you start with Easy Mode. Try some of the factory
presets, turn the knobs and learn what the controls do in general use.
Later, you will discover that each knob can get a new function when you
enter a new editing layer.

See the illustration on the next page for a reference overview of all the
controls and their possible functions.

3

USER GUIDE

Multi-functional control for

- Tone

- Other variables on some presets
(indicated by text on the screens
upper left corner)

- Various Engine parameters in
Expert Mode only (indicated on
the screen, depending on which
engine and parameter layer selected)

Multi-functional control for

- Effects Mix Level

- Use to scroll through lists
whenever a scroll menu
appear on screen.

- Name settings.

- Various Engine parameters in
Expert Mode only (indicated
on the screen, depending on
which engine and parameter
layer selected)

Multi-functional button for

- Navigation between presets
in Easy Mode.

- Enter Load/Edit menu if
pressed and hold.

- Navigate between Engine Settings
layers in Expert Mode.

Multi-functional button for

- Navigation between presets
in Easy Mode.

- Enter Quick Save if
pressed and hold.

- Navigate through Engine
Settings layer in Expert Mode.

Multi-functional switch for

- On/off

- Escape to previous menu

- Panic reset (if hold until ”PANIC”
appears on screen).

- Hold down to de-activate

Footswitch Navigation if
Footswitch Navigation is active.

- Go to ”Previous” preset in the bank
(when footswitch navigation
function is active).

Multi-functional switch for

- Tap tempo.

- Set/save changes.

- Hold delay (in/out).

- Hold down to
activate Footswitch Navigation

- Go to ”Next” preset in the bank
(when footswitch navigation
function is active).

Combination function

- Hold Tap and press - or +
to change Tap tempo
subdivision.

Combination function

- Press and hold - then press +
to enter Engine Selection menu.

- Press and hold + then press ­to enter the pedals Setting Menu.

Multi-functional control for

- Feedback

- Various Engine parameters in

Expert Mode only (indicated on
the screen, depending on which
engine and parameter layer)

Multi-functional control for

- Delay time

- Various Engine parameters in
Expert Mode only (indicated on
the screen, depending on which
engine and parameter layer)

IMPORTANT!
Visit www.ebssweden.com/content2/ebs-retracer-delay-workstation and click on the “Register for updates”
tab to register for the Retracer email list to get instant news about firmware and software updates, tutorials
and other useful info related to your pedal. Make sure to have the latest firmware installed.

GETTING STARTED
WITH THE
EBS RETRACER

4

USER GUIDE

BRIEF Overview of EASY MODE:

Easy Mode is the default mode when you turn on the pedal for
the first time.

. In “EASY MODE” Use

A

or B to choose next or

previous preset.*

. Use LEVEL, TONE, F.BACK and DELAY to modify the sound.
. To SAVE changes to the preset, press and hold

B

until Save pops
up on screen, then press “TAP/SET” to save and exit the menu.

NOTE: Default presets need to be saved as a new preset if you
want to keep any changes you have made.

. To change any of the global settings for the pedal:

1. Press and hold B and press A to access the Settings Menu

2. Use the “LEVEL” control to scroll through the menu, press
B to open up a labels sub-menu, and use the “DELAY”
knob to change the parameter values that show up in the
right column.

3. Then press “TAP/SET” to save the changes or “ACTIVE” to
escape.

Changes in global settings will be the default settings when creating
a new preset from scratch. You can change the corresponding
values to follow a specific preset in Expert Mode (see next page, as
well as bullet 10-12 in the following guide).

* To fast-scroll to a preset further down the list or in a different
bank, press and hold A to access the LOAD menu, then select
bank using “Tone” and preset using the “F.Back” knob. Press “TAP/
SET” to load selected preset and “ACTIVE” to escape the menu.

5

USER GUIDE

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EXPERT MODE:

To activate Expert Mode, go to the global Settings Menu, scroll to
GENERAL using the LEVEL knob, press B and then scroll to EXPERT.

Change the value in the right column to “ON” by turning the DELAY
knob. Press Tap/Set to save and exit. The pedal is now operating in
Expert Mode.

. To navigate between presets in Expert Mode you need to press and

hold A until “Load” appears on screen. Then select bank and
preset using the “Tone” and “F.Back” knobs. Press “TAP/SET” to
load a selected preset and bank, or “ACTIVE” to escape.

. “Expert Mode” unlocks engine-specific parameters that you can

change and save with your preset. To enter the first layer of engine
parameters, simply press B or A . You will now see the name of
the engine that your preset is based on. Indicators in the corners
of the screen shows what kind of parameters you can change with
each knob.

NOTE: Most engines have more than one layer of engine
parameters, if so, the corner indicators will change when you press

B

or A from the first engine parameter settings layer.

. Once you have changed parameters you want and decided to save

them, press and hold B to enter SAVE and press TAP/SET to save
and exit to your preset.

The following pages features step-by-step instructions to some of the
most common operations, as well as more details about the various
settings options.

GETTING STARTED
WITH THE
EBS RETRACER

6

USER GUIDE

GETTING STARTED in Easy Mode:

1. SELECT A PRESET

Press B or A to select a factory preset (indexed from Z00 to
Z31). You can change basic parameters to a preset on the fly with
the FOUR CONTROL KNOBS.

NOTE: changes will be lost when you move on to the next
preset. You can make changes and save to a preset following the
instructions in bullet 4.

EASY & EXPERT MODE Oper ations:

2. SET DELAY TIME

TAP the tempo for desired delay time or use the DELAY knob to

dial in a time from 50ms to 1.5s.

3. SET TEMPO SUBDIVISION

You can change the tempo subdivisions from, for example, quarter
notes to 8th note triplets. To do that, hold down TAP and press B
or A repeatedly until you find the desired subdivision. Use Quick
Save as described below to save the changes to your preset.

4. PROGRAM (PRESET) QUICK SAVE

Use the Quick Save function to save changes to a preset. Press and
hold B to enter the program save menu. Then push TAP/SET to save.

If you started from a factory preset you need to save it with changes
as a new preset. The Retracer will suggest the first available slot
to save your new preset on. Use TONE to select bank (from A to
G) and F.BACK to select entry (from 0 to 31). When done, press

TAP/SET to save and continue. You will now be prompted to Label

your new preset. Turn the LEVEL knob to select a character, use B to
move to the next character position and A to go back to the previous

character. Push TAP/SET when done to save and exit (or ACTIVE to exit
without saving).

Quick Save works in both Easy and Expert Mode.

1.

2A4.