Electro-Harmonix 8-Step Program Instruction Manual
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WARNING: Your 8-STEP PROGRAM comes equipped with an ElectroHarmonix 9.6DC-200BI power supply (same as used by Boss® & Ibanez®:
9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The 8-STEP requires 100mA at 9VDC with a center
negative plug. The 8-STEP does not take batteries. Using the wrong adapter
may damage your unit and void the warranty.
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. Additionally, the 8-STEP can be connected to
devices that have Control Voltage (CV) inputs.
Special Features of the 8-STEP PROGRAM:
Sequence length is selectable between 1 and 8 steps
Four available Direction Modes: Forward, Reverse, Bounce and Random
Depth and Glide of the sequence output is encoder adjustable
Tap Tempo Footswitch allows you to set the tempo with your foot and can be
divided down for faster tempos from the same tap tempo
Three available Play Modes: Loop, 1-Shot and Step-Thru (Manual)
Reset Footswitch instantly resets the sequence back to its beginning
Expression In allows external control over Rate, Depth, Glide or Sequence Length
Expression In doubles as an External CV Clock input allowing the 8-STEP to be
synced to an external clock
MIDI IN jack allows the 8-STEP tempo to be synced to MIDI Clock
Full MIDI control over every parameter on the 8-STEP
Comes supplied with a TRS cable for expression control. Use a standard ¼” TS
instrument cable for CV control (0-5V)
Save and load up to 10 presets. Add the optional 8-STEP FOOT CONTROLLER to
save and load up to 100 presets
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- 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. Move the step sliders, labeled 1 through 8, to wherever you like.
out, try every other slider at their minimum and maximum positions.
6. Make sure no other plugs are inserted to the other 3 inputs on the 8-STEP.
7. Press the PLAY FSW. You should see the step LEDs above the sliders moving to
the right in sequential order. After Step 8, the sequence starts over with Step 1.
8. If you see no movement at all in the step LEDs, the sequence length could be
set to 1: press and release the MODE knob until only the SL LED is lit. Turn the
MODE knob clockwise until the digit display, directly below the three mode LEDs,
shows 8.
9. If the sequence plays all the steps just once and then stops, then you are in 1-
Shot mode. If the sequence advances one step with each press of the PLAY FSW
you are in Step-Thru mode. To get back to Loop mode press and hold the PLAY
FSW for 3 seconds. After 3 seconds the digit display momentarily displays its
new mode (either L: loop, 1: 1-Shot or t: Step Thru). Release the PLAY FSW and
repeat this procedure until it flashes an L.
10. If the sequence is moving but not in sequential order from step 1 to step 8,
change the Direction setting to Forward: press and release the MODE knob until
only the DIR LED is lit. Turn the MODE knob counter-clockwise until the digit
display shows F.
TAP in a Tempo and Divide your Tapped Tempo
1. Make sure no Tap Divide LEDs are lit; this is quarter note mode, which yields a
sequence tempo equal to the tempo you tap. If one or more of the TAP DIVIDE
LEDs is lit, press and release the TAP DIVIDE button until all of its associated
LEDs are off.
2. Press and release the TAP FSW at least twice. After the second tap, the
sequence will change to the new tempo.
on the TAP FSW for improved accuracy.
3. Press the TAP DIVIDE button to increase the sequencer’s tempo. The 8-STEP
always assumes you tap in quarter notes. The note graphics next to the LEDs
indicate the timing of each sequencer step with relation to the quarter note you
tapped in.
Tip:
When all TAP DIVIDE LEDs are lit, it is a 32nd note.
Tip:
We recommend three or more taps
Tip:
To start
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Reverse, Bounce and Random Direction Sequences
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Turn the MODE knob until you see the lower case r, for Reverse mode. Now you
should see the sequence counting backwards from Step 8 to Step 1 and then
jumping back to Step 8 again to repeat the sequence.
4. Now turn the MODE knob clockwise one click, you should see a lower case b, for
Bounce mode. In Bounce mode, the sequence counts up sequentially from Step
1 and then down sequentially from Step 8.
5. Again turn the MODE knob clockwise one click, you should see the upper case R,
for Random mode. In Random mode, each sequence step is chosen at random
between Step 1 and the setting for Sequence Length. Sometimes the 8-Step will
randomly choose the same step two or three times in a row, this is normal.
Changing Sequence Length
The Sequence Length parameter sets the maximum step for the sequence. Forward and
Bounce Sequences always start with Step 1 and run up to the step specified by Sequence
Length. Reverse sequences start with the maximum step and countdown to Step 1.
Sequence Length can be set to any integer between 1 and 8.
1. With the sequence running, press and release the MODE knob until only the SL
LED is lit. You will see a number between 1 and 8 on the digit display.
2. Try turning the MODE knob until the number 4 is displayed. You will see the
sequence travelling between Step 1 and Step 4.
3. Go ahead and try any other number you like for the maximum step setting.
Adjusting the Glide Parameter
Glide determines the time it takes to change from one step’s slider position to the next
step’s slider position. A Glide setting of 0 yields the fastest change between steps. A setting
of 9 is the slowest Glide setting.
1. Ensure that you hear the 8-Step sequencing an external device. You will only
notice the change in the Glide parameter if you hear the sequencer acting on
another device.
2. Press and release the MODE knob until only the GL LED is lit.
3. You should see a number between 0 and 9 displayed on the digit. Turn the
MODE knob clockwise to increase this number, counter-clockwise decreases the
number.
4. As you change the GL setting you should hear the speed of the sequence change
from one step to the next.
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Please Note:
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 10 0% Depth. A setting of 9 is
110% but it will not increase the output from sliders set to the maximum level any further,
it will only increase the output of sliders set below maximum.
1. Ensure that you hear the 8-Step sequencing an external device. Adjusting the
2. Press and release the MODE knob until all three mode LEDs are lit. When all
3. Turn the MODE knob to change the DEPTH setting. Turning MODE Counter-
Changing Play Modes: Loop, 1-Shot and Step-Thru
There are three available Play modes:
beginning to end and back to the beginning again.
sequence one time with each press of the PLAY FSW.
STEP’s internal tempo and goes through the sequence, one step at a time, each time you
press the PLAY FSW. In Step-Thru mode, the sequence loops back to the beginning when
you come to the end of the sequence.
1. Play mode is changed by pressing and holding the PLAY FSW for three seconds.
2. After three seconds of holding the PLAY FSW, the display will temporarily display
3. After the PLAY mode has changed, release the PLAY FSW. To change the PLAY
4. You must release the PLAY FSW between PLAY mode changes before you can
When the 8-Step is set to fast tempos, a high setting for the GLIDE
DEPTH parameter is only apparent when you hear the sequencer acting on
another device.
three mode LEDs are lit, the 8-STEP is set to DEPTH mode.
clockwise will decrease the DEPTH setting, turning clockwise increases the
DEPTH setting.
Loop
mode continuously loops the sequence from
1-Shot
mode goes through the entire
Step-Thru
the mode that it just changed to. It displays L for Loop, 1 for 1-Shot and t for
Step-Thru. It will show the new Play Mode for 1.5 seconds, and then go back to
whatever it was previously displaying.
mode again, press and hold the PLAY FSW for another 3 seconds.
change the PLAY mode again.
mode removes the 8-
Using the RESET Footswitch
1. Each time you press the RESET FSW, the sequence starts over with its first step .
2. If Direction is set to Forward or Bounce, pressing the RESET FSW will cause the
sequence to jump to Step 1.
3. If Direction is set to Reverse, pressing the RESET FSW will cause the sequence to
jump to the maximum step set by the Sequence Length parameter. For example,
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when Direction equals Reverse and Sequence Length is set to 8, pressing the
RESET FSW forces the sequence to jump to Step 8.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. If the 8-STEP is playing its sequence and is synced to either MIDI Clock or
External CV Clock, when you press the RESET FSW it will not immediately restart
the sequence, instead it waits for its current step to finish and then restarts the
sequence on the next step, doing this helps the 8-STEP remain in sync with the
external tempo control.
Using an Expression Pedal with the 8-STEP
1. Connect the plug from your Expression pedal into the jack labeled EXP IN on the
right side of the 8-STEP. A list of acceptable expression pedals include: ElectroHarmonix Expression Pedal, Boss® FV-500L, M-Audio® EX-P, Moog® EP-2,
Roland® EV-5 or another 8-STEP PROGRAM. You may also connect Control
Voltage to the EXP IN jack with a TS cable, the acceptable control voltage range
is 0V to 5V.
2. The EXP. MODE button, located between the RESET and PLAY FSWs, selects the
function for the expression pedal to modulate. The functions include: RATE,
DEPTH, GLIDE, SEQuence LENGTH and off (no LEDs lit). External CV Clock may
also be selected with the EXP. MODE button but we will talk more about this in a
later section.
3. For this example, choose RATE, which is the tempo of the expression pedal. Each
time you press and release the EXP. MODE button, the 8-Step will select the next
mode, then cycle back to RATE.
4. Moving the expression pedal from the heel to toe position will increase the rate
of the tempo. The heel position is a slow rate, the toe position is equal to the
setting of the RATE slider.
5. If you have tapped in a tempo, your tap tempo will be at the heel of the
expression pedal. As you move the pedal forward the tempo increases.
6. Now press the EXP. MODE button to modulate DEPTH. As you move the
expression pedal, the overall amplitude of the sequence changes. Toe yields the
largest amplitude.
Using the 8-STEP as an Expression Pedal Thru
1. Connect the plug from your Expression pedal into the jack labeled EXP IN on the
right side of the 8-STEP.
2. Stop the sequence by pressing the PLAY FSW.
3. Reset the sequence by pressing the RESET FSW.
4. Press and release the EXP. MODE button until the DEPTH setting is selected.
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5. Move the currently active slider to the position where you would like your toe
setting to be.
6. Begin using the expression pedal.
Using External CV Clock
1. Connect the external clock source to the EXP IN jack on the right side of the 8 -
STEP using a TS (mono) ¼” instrument cable.
2. 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.
3. The maximum frequency for the external clock is 50Hz. There is no minimum
frequency.
4. Enter External Clock mode by pressing and holding the EXP. MODE button. After
approximately three seconds, all four EXP. MODE LEDs will light up. Once you
see the LEDs light, release the button, you are now in External Clock mode.
When all four EXP. MODE LEDs are lit, you are in External Clock mode.
5. Press the PLAY FSW and begin the external clock, the sequence will advance in
sync with the external clock.
6. To exit External Clock mode, press and release the EXP. MODE button once.
Entering/Exiting Preset Mode on the 8-STEP
1. Press and hold the MODE knob until you see a P on the digit display, the hold is
approximately 2 seconds. Once you see the P, release the MODE knob.
2. After displaying the P for 1.5 seconds, the digit will then show the current preset
number. If you happen to have the 8-STEP FOOT CONTROLLER attached to the
FC jack, the display will not show the preset number but instead displays an F for
Foot Controller.
3. While in preset mode, all three MODE LEDs are off.
4. To exit Preset mode, turn the MODE knob clockwise until the digit displays an E,
standing for exit. Now press and release the MODE knob. The 8-STEP exits
Preset mode and displays the last MODE you were in.
Loading Presets on the 8-STEP
1. You can save and load 10 presets on the 8-STEP main unit when no optional
Foot Controller is attached.
2. Make sure you are in Preset mode, using the steps outlined above.
3.
To load a preset:
a. Turn the MODE knob until you see the desired preset number
displayed. The available presets are 0 through 9.
b. Press and release the MODE knob. The decimal point next to the
number will light, indicating that a preset is loaded. If the sequence is
running at the time you load the preset, it cues the new preset to load
after the current sequence plays out to its end and then loads the new
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preset. The digit display blinks rapidly while a preset is waiting in the
Preset Cue.
c. 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.
d. 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. Whether a preset is currently loaded or not, turn the MODE knob to
the number you want to save the preset into.
b. Press and hold the MODE knob for two seconds. After two seconds,
the three MODE LEDs and the digit display will blink rapidly indicating
that the preset has been saved. You can release the MODE knob once
the LEDs begin blinking.
Syncing to MIDI Clock
1. Connect the MIDI output of your master device to the MIDI IN connector on the
8-STEP.
2. Set the 8-STEP’s TAP DIVIDE setting to the dotted 1/8
th
note LED. When synced
to MIDI clock, the dotted 1/8th note is actually the quarter note divide, giving you
a 1:1 ratio with the MIDI tempo.
3. Press Play on the master device. The 8-STEP senses the presence of MIDI Clock
and the PLAY command and then automatically resets the sequence and begins
playback of the sequence from its first step.
4. Press Stop on the master device to stop the 8-STEP’s sequence.
5. Feel free to try the different TAP DIVIDE modes to change the speed of the 8-
STEP’s tempo in relation to the tempo of the MIDI master.
Tip:
For best results,
change the TAP DIVIDE setting on the 8-STEP while playback is stopped on the
MIDI master rather than while in the middle of playback. The 8-STEP’s position
in the sequence will line up better with the MIDI master.
Using MIDI Commands to Control the 8-STEP
Just about every parameter on the face of the 8-STEP can be controlled via MIDI Control
Change (CC) and Program Change (PC) messages. For this example we will adjust the 8STEP’s Rate and engage the Play FSW.
1. Connect the MIDI output of your master device to the MIDI IN connector on the
8-STEP.
2. From the factory, the 8-STEP’s default MIDI channel is Channel 1. Set your MIDI
master device to Channel 1.
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3. Set up your MIDI master device to control MIDI CC #24. CC #24 controls the
RATE slider on the 8-STEP.
4. 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.
5. Now set your MIDI device to output MIDI Program Change #100, this may be
#101 on some devices.
6. 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.
7. Check the MIDI chart at the end of this manual for a complete list of all of the
MIDI command assignments and the parameters they control on the 8-STEP.
Changing the 8-STEP’s MIDI Channel
1. Press and hold the RESET FSW. After 3 seconds you will see the GL and SL LEDs
blink, while the DIR LED is off. At this point the current MIDI channel is
displayed on the digit display.
2. While continuing to hold down the RESET FSW, turn the MODE knob clockwise to
increment the MIDI channel and counter-clockwise to decrement the MIDI
channel.
3. The range of available channels is 1 through 16 plus a setting displayed as
where all MIDI channels are recognized. Since there is only one digit available on
the display, the digit’s decimal LED lights up to indicate the tens placeholder. So
Channel 12 is shown by displaying the number 2 plus the decimal LED:
Channel 2 would be shown by displaying only the number 2
4. To enable all MIDI channels, turn MODE clockwise past Channel 16. An
displayed on the digit, now all MIDI channels are recognized.
5. Once you have selected your chosen MIDI channel, release the RESET FSW. The
MIDI channel selection remains in memory even after power cycling.
6. The MIDI channel is a global parameter; it is not saved with presets.
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