ENGL Z11-S.A.C. Operator´s Manual

MIDI SWITCHER

Z11-S.A.C.

Operator´s Manual

Please, first read this manual carefully!

The Z11 S.A.C. MIDI Switcher serves to switch certain functions of amps via MIDI. It works with all ENGL
amps that are not equipped with MIDI interfaces, for example the Powerball 100, Thunder 50, Screamer, and
E530 19" rack preamp models, as well as most other amps equipped with 1/4" jack plugs that accept
single-pole, single-throw (SPST) footswitches. The Switcher lets you save the settings for these functions - Lead
channel on, Hi Gain on, Mid Boost on, FX Loop on, and the like - to as many as 128 MIDI memory slots, and
access these patches at will via a MIDI footcontroller. You can also selectively access eight POLY channels via
MIDI or receive MIDI program change commands 1 to 128 in OMNI mode. The ENGL MIDI Switcher provides
six switch loops, accessible via three stereo 1/4“ jacks. These provide convenient connections to amps with
multiple stereo 1/4“ jack inputs, each wired to accept one dual footswitch.
The Switcher now also features an S.A.C. Out that lets you control ENGL amps with an S.A.C. port directly via
MIDI using just one cable. The Switcher serves as an MIDI-to-S.A.C. interface, which affords you tremendous
flexibility: You can use the device as a conventional switcher with six switch loops, as a MIDI-to-S.A.C. control
unit (for ENGL amps only), and even as a MIDI switching center for two ENGL amps, addressing one amp like a
conventional switcher and the other via the S.A.C. Out circuit. This comes in very handy when you want to do
things like control two Powerball amps in parallel and simultaneously via MIDI.
Another very practical feature of this device is its nifty power feed: When used in conjunction with an ENGL
MIDI Z-9, Z- 12, or Z-15 Footcontroller, the Switcher provides power for the footcontroller via the MIDI cable.
Just one cord is all it takes - the MIDl cable routed to the footcontroller! Although the Switcher is easy to
operate and offers loads of comfortable handling options, you should nonetheless read this manual carefully
and heed all cautions. Keep it in a safe place for further reference when you have questions or need to
troubleshoot your setup.
To keep it simple, this manual uses the term amp to mean any type of amplifier - combo, head, and 19"
preamp and power amp, and the term Switcher for the ENGL MIDI Switcher.

Components

1. ENGL Z-11 S.A.C.MIDI Switcher

2. 4 adhesive rubber pads

3. 2 velcro strips

4. Operator's Manual

5. AC power pack

Front Panel Features

MIDI SWITCHER

WRITE

MIDI

CHANNEL

SWITCH

LOOP 1

1 2

1 WRITE

Press and hold the WRITE button for about one second to store the settings for switch loops 1 through 6

S

WITCH

LOOP 2

3

4

S

WITCH

LOOP 3

S

WITCH

LOOP 4

567

S

WITCH

LOOP 5

S

WITCH

LOOP 6

8

after you have selected a MIDI memory slot. The Status LED above this button lights up briefly to tell you this
setting has been saved. You can update or change one or multiple settings whenever you wish. The new
settings are stored when you press the WRITE button. A delay of about one second prevents inadvertent
deleting or overwriting. The previous setting(s) is/are overwritten.
The red Status LED indicates the following:
A) The LED flashes slowly three times after you power the device up, indicating a system self-test is
underway. The LED extinguishes to tell you that the system is operating normally.
B) The LED flashes rapidly after you switch the device on to indicate a system error. The problem may be
a defective EEprom.
C) The LED flashes rapidly after you have selected a MIDI memory slot. This means MIDI program change
command was sent via a MIDI channel other than the channel selected on the Switcher, which is why the
Switcher cannot go to this memory slot. See section 2, MIDI CHANNEL, for more on this. The LED will stop
flashing as soon as the Switcher receives a new MIDI program change message on the selected
MIDI channel, and the Switcher will go to the target memory slot.
D) The LED lights up briefly when you press the WRITE button or shortly thereafter. This tells you
the settings for all switch loops have been saved to the selected memory slot.
E) If you press the WRITE button and the LED lights up constantly, this indicates that the device cannot store
the setting because you did not select a MIDI memory slot after you powered the Switcher up. The LED
also lights up constantly if you press the WRITE button while the Switcher's status is as described in
scenario C) above to indicate that the device cannot store the setting because the sending device is
communicating via a MIDI channel other than the channel selected on the Switcher.
F) If the LED flashes at regular intervals after you change the status of one or more switch loops, this
indicates that the loop configuration and the loop configuration stored in the selected MIDI memory slot
are no longer the same.

2 MIDI CHANNEL

Use these DIP switches to set the MIDI channels to OMNI or POLY 1 through 8 to enable MIDI data

reception. The table below shows the DIP switch settings for the respective channels. You'll find the same
table on the Switcher's top panel.

MIDI Data Switch settings code switches:
reception via 1 2 3 4

OMNI-Mode up x x x
POLY Channel 1 down up up up
POLY Channel 2 down up up down

up

1234

down

POLY Channel 3 down up down up
POLY Channel 4 down up down down
POLY Channel 5 down down up up
POLY Channel 6 down down up down
POLY Channel 7 down down down up
POLY Channel 8 down down down down
x => setting does not affect mode

3 SWITCH LOOP 1
Press this button to determine Switch Loop 1's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (12).

The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 1 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 1.
LED on => Switch Loop 1 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 1.
Changing Loop 1's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 1 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example Channel Up/Down on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

4 SWITCH LOOP 2

Press this button to determine Switch Loop 2's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (12).
The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 2 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 2.
LED on => Switch Loop 2 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 2.
Changing Loop 2's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 2 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example Channel 1/2 - 3/4 on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

5 SWITCH LOOP 3

Press this button to determine Switch Loop 3's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (13).
The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 3 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 3.
LED on => Switch Loop 3 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 3.
Changing Loop 3's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 3 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example Master A/B on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

6 SWITCH LOOP 4

Press this button to determine Switch Loop 4's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (13).
The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 4 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 4.
LED on => Switch Loop 4 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 4.
Changing Loop 4's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 4 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example Middle-boosted on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

7 SWITCH LOOP 5

Press this button to determine Switch Loop 5's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (14).
The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 5 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 5.
LED on => Switch Loop 5 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 5.
Changing Loop 5's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 5 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example FX Loop Off/On on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

8 SWITCH LOOP 6
Press this button to determine Switch Loop 6's status. This circuit is wired to a stereo 1/4“ jack (14).

The red LED above the button indicates the status:
LED off => Switch Loop 6 is an open circuit, which deactivates function* 6.
LED on => Switch Loop 6 is a closed circuit, which activates function* 6.
Changing Loop 6's status also triggers an S.A.C. message in serial data format that is sent to the
S.A.C. Out (15) port. For Loop 6 this S.A.C. command lets you control a given ENGL amp function – for
example noise Gate Off/On on the Powerball-2 – directly via the S.A.C. port.

* This is the amp function controlled via the given loop. A function is normally activated by closing
a switch loop circuit.