Electro-Harmonix Expression Pedal Instruction Manual

3. While the EHX logo continues to blink, rock the pedal all the way back to the

extreme Heel position and hold it there.

4. Press and release the CALIBRATE button once more.

5. The EHX logo will stop blinking to indicate that the Heel position has been

saved. The calibration procedure is complete.

If you accidentally press the CALIBRATE button and the EHX logo blinks, do not press
CALIBRATE again. After approximately 7 seconds, the EXPRESSION pedal will stop
blinking and ignore the button press.

RANGE Control

The RANGE dial located on the right side of the EXPRESSION pedal controls the Heel

EXPRESSION

EXPRESSION / CV PEDAL

Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix EXPRESSION pedal from
our ground-breaking NEXT STEP series! The EXPRESSION pedal has no moving
parts: it does not use a potentiometer, optics or magnetism to sweep expression
enabled controls on other devices. The result is a responsive expression pedal that
allows precise control over your expression or control-voltage capable effects and
instruments.

GETTING STARTED
The EHX EXPRESSION pedal ships from the factory with a TRS cable. The TRS cable
is necessary when connecting the EXPRESSION pedal to a device with an expression
control input. Plug one end of the included ¼” TRS cable into the OUTPUT jack of the
EXPRESSION pedal; connect the other end of the TRS cable into an effect or
instrument with an expression input. Within seconds the EHX logo in the center of the
pedal will light. Your EXPRESSION pedal is now ready for use. Please note: as long
as a plug is inserted into the OUTPUT jack, a drain is placed on the 9V battery inside
the EXPRESSION pedal. We recommend you unplug the OUTPUT jack when the
EXPRESSION pedal is not in use to extend battery life.

CALIBRATION
To ensure the EXPRESSION pedal responds to its full sweep range, it may be
necessary to calibrate the sweep of the EXPRESSION pedal when it is used on a
different surface since its last use. It is particularly important to calibrate if the
EXPRESSION pedal is used on a slanted surface. We also recommend calibrating the
EXPRESSION pedal during your first use of the pedal.

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

1. Place the pedal on the surface where it will be used.

2. Ensure the EXPRESSION pedal is sitting flat on the surface then press and

release the CALIBRATE button once; the EHX logo begins to blink indicating
the Toe position has been saved.

setting of the pedal’s sweep (or Toe setting with REVERSE engaged). As the numbers

on the dial increase, the expression sweep range increases. Minimum range occurs
when the control is set to 0; maximum range is achieved at a setting of 10. Please
note: When the REVERSE button is out, the RANGE control only restricts the Heel
setting, not the Toe. If REVERSE is pushed in, the RANGE control only restricts the
Toe setting, not the Heel.

BYPASS SETTING Control

This dial controls the EXPRESSION pedal’s output setting while in bypass mode. A

setting of 0 for BYPASS SETTING is equivalent to the Heel position. A setting of 10 on
the dial is equivalent to the Toe position. Setting the dial anywhere in between will
yield an intermediate bypass setting. Please note: the RANGE and REVERSE controls
have no affect on the BYPASS SETTING control. BYPASS SETTING always sweeps

through the entire EXPRESSION pedal’s range.

REVERSE Button

The REVERSE button reverses the direction of the EXPRESSION pedal’s output as it is

swept from Heel to Toe. This button has two positions: out and in. Set to out,
REVERSE is disengaged and the EXPRESSION pedal’s output increases as you move
the pedal from Heel to Toe. In most cases, this is the equivalent of turning a knob in
the clockwise direction or pushing a slider control upward. Pushing the REVERSE
button to the in position engages the Reverse function. When set to the in position,
the output of the EXPRESSION pedal decreases as you move the pedal from Heel to
Toe. This is the equivalent of turning a knob counter-clockwise or pushing a slider
downward. Please note: the REVERSE button does not change the polarity of the
TRS OUTPUT jack, it only changes the direction of the EXPRESSION pedal’s sweep.

OUTPUT Jack: TRS = EXP, TS = CV

The type of cable inserted into the OUTPUT jack determines the output state of the
EXPRESSION pedal. When a TRS cable (the cable supplied with the EHX EXPRESSION
pedal) is plugged into the OUTPUT jack, the pedal works as a standard expression
pedal with the following connections: TIP = potentiometer wiper or output signal,
RING = Toe position and SLEEVE = Heel position. This is the standard polarity for
the TRS plug of an expression pedal that many in the industry follow including all
EHX products as well as Boss®/Roland®, Moog®, Nord® etc. The REVERSE button
does not change the TRS plug polarity, it only changes the direction of the output
sweep.

If you plug a standard ¼” instrument cable, with mono TS plug, into the

EXPRESSION pedal’s OUTPUT jack, the EXPRESSION pedal output will automatically

change over to Control-Voltage (CV) mode. In CV mode you can use the
EXPRESSION pedal as a CV source. The maximum range in CV mode is 0V to 5V.
Adjusting the RANGE control will move the minimum voltage from 0V up to
approximately 4.5V, the maximum voltage of 5V does not change.

ENTERING/EXITING BYPASS
Toggle between bypass and effect mode by tipping the EXPRESSION pedal forward,
in the Toe direction, past the flat position of the EXPRESSION pedal. You do not need
to tip the EXPRESSION pedal all the way forward; 25% of the total forward travel will
do it. The EXPRESSION pedal needs to return to its flat position before you can
toggle between bypass and effect mode again. Please note: while in bypass mode,
the BYPASS SETTING control on the right side of the EXPRESSION pedal adjusts the
output setting.

When the EXPRESSION pedal is in effect mode, the EHX logo in the center of the
pedal will light up. In bypass mode, the logo does not light.

POWER
Plugging into the OUTPUT jack activates power from the internal 9 Volt battery. The
input cable should be removed when the unit is not in use to avoid running down the
battery. If an AC Adapter is used, the EXPRESSION pedal will be powered up as long
as the AC Adapter is correctly plugged in.

The EXPRESSION pedal’s power jack is located on the same side as the OUTPUT jack.
A 9 Volt AC Adapter capable of delivering at least 25mA of current at 9VDC is
required to power the EXPRESSION pedal. The inner ring of the 9 Volt AC Adapter
must be negative, the outer ring positive. The optional 9V power supply from Electro­Harmonix is 9.6DC-200BI (same as used by Boss® & Ibanez®) supplies 9.6 Volts
DC/200mA. The unit’s battery may be left in or taken out when the AC Adapter is in
use. The actual current draw of the EXPRESSION pedal is 12mA.

CHANGING THE BATTERY

1. Locate the battery door at the front of the EXPRESSION pedal, under the

Toe area of the top plate.

2. Remove the large black screw that holds the battery door to the case, most

coins or larger slotted screwdrivers can be used to remove this screw.

3. Connect your new 9V battery to the wired battery connector.

4. Insert the 9V battery into the battery holder clip on the battery door so that

the wired connector is on the same side as the hole in the battery door.

5. Place the battery door back into its window in the case of the EXPRESSION

pedal and re-install the screw.

Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete and
return the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro-Harmonix will
repair or replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to operate due to defects in
materials or workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. This
applies only to original purchasers who have bought their product from an authorized
Electro-Harmonix retailer. Repaired or replaced units will then be warranted for the
unexpired portion of the original warranty term. If you should need to return your
unit for service within the warranty period, please include a brief description of the
problem as well as you name, address, telephone number, copy of your receipt, and
a check or money order. The costs for shipping and handling are listed below.

United States - $12
Canada - $15
Europe and other countries - $25

Ship to:
Electro-Harmonix
C/O New Sensor Corporation
55-01 2nd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101

Attn: Service Department

Please make checks/money orders payable to New Sensor Corporation.

To hear demos on all EH pedals visit us on the web at www.ehx.com.
Email us at [e-mail]

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:



Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.



Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.



Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.



Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to
operated the equipment under FCC rules.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

- WARRANTY INFORMATION -

- FCC COMPLIANCE -