Electro-Harmonix KEY9 Datasheet

- WARRANTY INFORMATION -

WARNING: Your KEY9 comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI power supply

(same as used by Boss® & Ibanez®: 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The KEY9 requires 100mA at 9VDC
with a center negative plug. Using the wrong adapter or a plug with the wrong polarity may
damage your KEY9 and void the warranty.

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 contact EHX Customer Service at
718-937-8300 or [e-mail] for a Return Authorization Number. Along with your
pedal, please include a brief description of the problem as well as your name,
address, telephone number, copy of your receipt, and a check or money order.

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.
Download the EHX NYC app for iOS from the App Store. Android coming soon.
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.



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

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

- FCC COMPLIANCE -

KEY9

Electric Piano Machine

Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix KEY9 Electric Piano
Machine. The KEY9 transforms the tone of a guitar and/or keyboard into a convincing
electric piano emulation, including several variations of the classic Rhodes and
Wurlitzer sounds. The KEY9 also features lively recreations of vibes, mallets, an
organ, and even steel drums! Based on the popular EHX B9 and C9 pedals, the KEY9
swerves into electro-acoustic territory via knobs that control DRY and KEY volume, as
well as preset-specific features that are adjusted with the CTRL 1 and CTRL 2 knobs.

GETTING STARTED

Connect the supplied power adapter to the 9V power jack. Plug your instrument into
the INPUT jack; connect your amp to the KEYS OUTPUT jack. Set the DRY knob to
minimum and all the other top row knobs to about mid position. Select the preset
named DYNAMO and step on the footswitch to turn on the LED. Play your instrument
and adjust controls to your liking.

DRY VOLUME KNOB

Controls the volume of the untreated instrument level at the KEYS OUTPUT jack.

KEYS VOLUME KNOB

Controls the overall volume of the selected KEYS preset.

CTRL 1 & CTRL 2 KNOBS

See the preset descriptions on the next page for details.

BYPASS FOOTSWITCH

Press the BYPASS Footswitch to toggle the KEY9 between buffered Bypass and Effect
mode. The status LED lights when in Effect mode.

DRY OUTPUT JACK

DRY outputs the signal present at the INPUT jack through a buffer circuit. The dry
signal is outputted regardless if the KEY9 is in Effect or Bypass mode.

KEYS OUTPUT JACK

KEYS outputs the mix set by the DRY and KEYS controls.

PRESET DESCRIPTIONS

1. DYNAMO - An evocation of the “Dyno My” modified Fender Rhodes electric

pianos of the 1970s and 1980s. Ctrl 1 adds bass to the lower strings of your
guitar. Ctrl 2 adjusts the "tine" or high-end overtones.

2. WURLI - The classic sound of the Wurlitzer electric piano. Ctrl 1 adjusts tremolo

depth. Ctrl 2 sets tremolo speed.

3. SUITCASE - This preset pays tribute to the sound of a Fender Rhodes electric

piano routed through a phase shifter. Ctrl 1 adds a bass octave and adjusts the
“tine” or high-end overtones. Ctrl 2 sets the phase shifter speed.

4. MALLETS - Here we have the sound of a wood marimba. Ctrl 1 adjusts chorus

depth. Ctrl 2 sets chorus speed.

5. EIGHTY EIGHT - This preset emulates a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano with

built-in tremolo. Ctrl 1 adjusts tremolo depth. Ctrl 2 sets tremolo speed.

6. TRI-GLORIOUS - The sound of a Dytronics/Dyno My CS-5 Tri Stereo Chorus.

Ctrl 1 adjusts chorus depth. Ctrl 2 sets chorus speed.

7. VIBES - The sound of a metal vibraphone with motorized tremolo. Ctrl 1 adjusts

the high pitch attack. Ctrl 2 sets tremolo speed.

8. ORGAN - This preset offers a highly touch-responsive percussive organ. Ctrl 1

adjusts the high frequencies (treble). Ctrl 2 sets the rotating speaker speed.

9. STEEL DRUMS - This preset conveys the metallic sound of a steel drum. Ctrl 1

adjusts chorus depth. Ctrl 2 sets chorus speed.

PRESET TEMPLATES

Please see the enclosed setting sheet for suggestions on how to set the knobs for
each preset. A blank user settings page is also included. Photocopy the blank user
setting page to keep a record of your preferred sounds. Or, download a PDF of blank
settings at http://www.ehx.com/assets/instructions/key9-presets-outlines.pdf.

NOTES AND SPECIFICATIONS

 Buffered bypass
 Input impedance: 1M
 Output impedance (for both output jacks): 500
 Current draw: 100mA

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

TIPS ON GETTING OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THE KEY9

1. The KEY9 is generally best used as the first pedal in an effects chain. Place
modulation, delay and reverb effects after the KEY9. The unit will not perform well if
placed in the effects loop of a guitar amp.

2. The KEY9 typically performs best using the bridge pickup of a guitar, although
some presets do sound good on the neck pickup. If a guitar’s pickup has a weak
output, performance can be improved by putting a clean boost or a compressor in
front of the KEY9. Avoid placing a distortion or overdrive in front of the KEY9. Placing
distortion or overdrive in front of the KEY9 will muddy up the input signal and cause

the tracking to be unstable. If overdrive or distortion is desired it’s best to place it

after the KEY9.

3. Some guitar amplifiers have an uneven, peaky frequency response that may cause
some sounds to be over accentuated. Use a compressor in front of or after the KEY9
to help smooth out this “peakiness.”

4. The KEY9 upper frequency range is limited for sounds such as Vibes or Mallets.
This limitation is due to nature of the actual sounds of these percussive-oriented
instruments, where harmonics decrease as the note is played increasingly higher. On
guitar, the usable range for these sounds goes up to the 15th fret of the high-E
string. The harmonics of the attacks are just too high above that and all that is left is
the sound’s attack. As a point of reference, think about the top notes on a piano,
where just about all you can hear is the attack in the form of hammer noise.

5. The KEY9 tracks great and will follow whatever you play, but sloppy guitar playing
will sound like a sloppy electric piano player. The KEY9 will bend notes as you bend
them on the guitar. However, electric pianos do not bend, so for a more authentic
sound avoid or limit bending.