TC electronic M300 Owner's Manual

M300

DUAL ENGINE PROCESSOR

UUSSEERR’’SS MMAANNUUAALL

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1 Read these instructions.
2 Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not block any ventilation openings.

Install in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.

8 Do not install near any heat sources such

as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the

polarized or grounding-type plug. A
polarized plug has two blades with one
wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding
prong. The wide blade or the third prong
are provided for your safety. If the provided
plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an
electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.

10 Protect the power cord from being walked

on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.

11 Only use attachments/accessories

specified by the manufacturer.

12 Unplug this apparatus during lightning

storms or when unused for long periods of
time.

13 Refer all servicing to qualified service

personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has
been dropped.

• This equipment should be installed near the
socket outlet and disconnection of the
device should be easily accessible.

• Do not install in a confined space.

• Do not open the unit - risk of electric shock
inside.

Caution:

You are cautioned that any change or
modifications not expressly approved in this
manual could void your authority to operate this
equipment.

Service

• There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

• All service must be performed by qualified
personnel.

Warning!

• To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock,
do not expose this apparatus to rain or
moisture.

• This apparatus must be earthed.

• Use a three wire grounding type line cord
like the one supplied with the product.

• Be advised that different operating voltages
require the use of different types of line
cord and attachment plugs.

• Check the voltage in your area and use the
correct type. See table below:

Voltage Line plug according to standard

110-125V UL817 and CSA C22.2 no 42.

220-230V CEE 7 page VII, SR section

107-2-D1/IEC 83 page C4.

240V BS 1363 of 1984.

Specification for 13A fused
plugs and switched and
unswitched socket outlets.

The lightning flash with an arrowhead
symbol within an equilateral triangle, is

intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage"
within the product's enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert

the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the
product.

a

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Certificate Of Conformity

TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240
Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own
responsibility that following products:

M300 - Dual Engine Processor

- that is covered by this certificate and
marked with CE-label conforms with
following standards:

EN 60065 Safety requirements for mains
(IEC 60065) operated electronic and

related apparatus for household
and similar general use

EN 55103-1 Product family standard for

audio,video, audio-visual and
entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional
use. Part 1: Emission.

EN 55103-2 Product family standard for

audio, video, audio-visual and
entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional
use. Part 2: Immunity.

With reference to regulations in following
directives:
73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC

Issued in Risskov, March 2002

Anders Fauerskov

Chief Executive Officer

EMC / EMI.

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 residential installations. 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.

For the customers in Canada:

This Class B digital apparatus complies with
Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est
conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

b

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Front Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Rear Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Signal Flow Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Typical M300 Setups . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

BASIC OPERATION

How To Operate the M300

Input/Output Section . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

The Multi-effects Engine . . . . . . . . . .18

The Reverb Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

The Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Miscellaneous

Factory Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

MIDI channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Sysex ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

M300 software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Routings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

EFFECTS

Multi-effects

Dynamic Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Tape Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Studio Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

PingPong Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

SlapBack Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Phaser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Tremolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Chorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

De-Esser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Reverbs

Reverb types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [e-mail] Rev 3.2 – SW – V 1.00English Version

Prod. No: E60501601

APPENDIX

MIDI Implementation Chart . . . . . . . .30

MIDI Continuous Controllers . . . . . . .31

Reset Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

MIDI Bulk Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . .32

QUICK START - IF YOU JUST CAN’T WAIT

If you just can’t wait to hear the great
effects waiting for you in your new M300
Dual Effects processor, follow the few steps
in this quick setup guide:

• Unpack the M300 and check for possible

damages that could have been caused by
transport.

• Read the safety instructions.

• Take a few minutes to register online via:

www.tcelectronic.com or send in the
registration card. Customers registered
online will be notified directly via E-Mail
about new tips&tricks and manual updates.

Consider the M300 as two effects processors in
one box. We call these two processors
“Engines”. The Multi-Effect Engine creates one
of the following effects: Delay, Chorus, Flanger,
Phaser, Tremolo, De-Ess or Compression.
The Reverb Engine creates Reverb.
These two Engines can be used separately or
in conjunction.

Connections & Routing:

The M300 has two routing options that require
two different ways of connecting.
The Routing mode is set on the M300 rear
panel and should correspond to your current
setup.

Serial Routing (switch in OUT

position)

- utilizing both effect Engines in serial.

Dual Send/Return (switch in IN

position)

- ideal if you need to send signal from two
different AUX sends on your mixer and return
on a stereo Aux or two other channels.

For detailed explanations on Routings and
connections please read page 22.

• When all audio connections are made
connect power.

• Set the M300 in Preset Off mode using the
PRESET ON/OFF key:

The M300 is in Preset Off mode when the
display reads as illustrated above.

• Set all controls in 12 o’clock position to
hear factory settings.

(For Dual Send/Return mode set MIX to 100%)

• Select an Effect from the Multi-effects section

• Select a Reverb type from the Reverb
Section.

• Start playing music through the M300.

• Adjust Input level to a level just below the
point where the two INPUT PPMs turn red.

• Set the desired Mix between the Dry and
Wet signal of the entire M300 using the MIX
control.

• Set the desired balance between the Multi­Effects section and the Reverb section using
the EFFECT BALANCE knob.

• Now tweak the controls for the two sections
until you have the effects intended.
(When using the Dual Send/Return mode
always set MIX to 100%)

For any questions left unanswered by this
manual feel free to visit our online support
center; TC Support Interactive, which can be
accessed via: www.tcelectronic.com

Latest manual revision can always be
downloaded from www.tcelectronic.com

Serial mode

Dual Send/Return
mode

4

5

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on the purchase of your TC Electronic M300 Dual Engine processor.

The M300 is a Dual Engine effects processor that is extremely easy to use. Making no
compromises when it comes to quality we proudly present the M300 in the affordable price range.
With top quality effects and the intuitive user-interface we are convinced that you will enjoy the
M300 now and in the future. The M300 is so easy to use that this manual may seem nearly
redundant to the front panel itself.
However, read on for explanations of basic setups and routing-options to achieve maximum
performance from your new M300.

The Dual Engine Structure lets you combine various effects with high quality Reverbs.

Engine 1

• Dynamic Delay

• Studio Delay

• Tape Delay

• Delay

• PingPong Delay

• SlapBack Delay

• Vintage Phaser

• Phaser

• Hard Tremolo

• Soft Tremolo

• Flanger 1 & 2

• Chorus

• Compressor

• De-Esser

• Off

Engine 2

• Concert Hall • TC Classic Hall

• Living Room • Vocal Studio

• Club • Vocal Room

• Plate I • Vocal Hall

• Plate II • Drum Box

• Spring • Drum Room

• “Live” Reverb • Large Cathedral

• Ambience • Off

6

FRONT PANEL OVERVIEW

INPUT knob

Adjusts the Input level.

1/L and 2/R LEDS

3 color LEDs indicating Input
level on Left and Right Inputs.
Green : -40dB
Yellow : -6dB
Red : -1dB

MIX knob

Adjusts the mix between the
wet and the dry signal. 100%
“Wet” is achieved at fully
clockwise position.

EFFECTS BALANCE knob

Adjusts the balance between
the Effects Engine and the
Reverb Engine. Maximum
effect from both Engines is
achieved at 12 o’clock
position.

DIGI IN button and LED

LED Of

f
Digital Input is set to Off. The
M300 processes only the
signal present on the Analog
Inputs.

LED Green
The M300 is locked correctly
to the Digital Input signal.

LED Flashing
Digital In is selected but no
digital signal is received or the
signal is corrupt. The M300
automatically returns to
internal clock and Analog
operation.

BYPASS knob and LED

Bypass function varies
depending on the selected
Routing (set on the rear
panel):

Dual Send Return routing:
Bypass operates as “mute”.

Serial routing:
Bypass routes the Input signal
to Output.

MULTI-EFFECT selector

Selects between the 15 effects
& Off in the Multi-effects
Engine.

TIMING knob & TAP key

Tap the global tempo using the
TAP key by tapping quarter
notes. Now use the timing
knob to multiply the tapped
tempo.
The range varies from 0.5 to 2.

Example:

• Tap quarter notes at Tempo
120 BPM. This equals 500
milliseconds.

• The range of the TIMING
knob is 0.5 to 2 giving you a
Delay time varying from:
250ms to 1000ms.
Note that the Slapback
Delay type has a shorter
range as the Slapback
Delay type by nature is a
short Delay.

TIMING knob as
AMOUNT/DRIVE control

For the Compressor and De­Ess algorithms (marked with
an “*”) this knob has different
functions:
De-Ess

: Amount

Compressor : Drive

FEEDBACK/DEPTH knob

Controls the Feedback or
Depth parameter depending of
the selected effect.
Delay : Feedback
Phaser : Depth
Tremolo : Depth
Flange : Depth
Chorus : Depth

FEEDBACK/DEPTH knob as
FREQ/RATIO control

For the Compressor and De­Ess algorithms (marked with
an “*”) this knob has different
functions:
De-Ess

: Frequency

Compressor : Ratio

-3, -6, -12 LEDs

These LEDs indicate the
applied gain-reduction when
Compressor or De-Ess
algorithms are selected.
It is worth noticing that the
Compressor uses Automatic
Make-up Gain to naturally
compensate for the decreased
gain.

7

FRONT PANEL OVERVIEW

REVERB Type selector

Selects between 15 different
Reverb types or sets the
Reverb Engine to “Off”.

PRE DELAY knob

Controls the relative Pre Delay
of the selected Reverb.

DECAY knob

Controls the relative Decay of
the selected Reverb.

COLOR knob

Controls the relative Color of
the selected Reverb.

LOAD/HOLD TO STORE key

This key has two functions.

• Press once to load the
preset selected via the
CURSOR UP/DOWN keys.

• Press and hold to store the
current preset.

PRESET ON/OFF key

The M300 has two preset
modes.
Preset “Of

f” mode:
The display reads as illustrated
above - no numbers.
In this mode the M300 will play
effects according to the front
panel controls.
When going from Preset “On”
to Preset “Off” mode the
effects will always be updated
according to the positions of
the front controls.

Preset “On” mode:
The display reads a specific
preset number.
In this mode you can recall
various user presets by using
the UP/DOWN arrows followed
by LOAD.
(Note that the M300 holds no
stored factory presets apart
from the default settings in the
various effects).

Toggling between the Preset
On/ Preset Off modes
generates two situations:

From “On” to “Of

f”:
Preset is updated according to
the positions of the front
controls.

From “Of

f” to “On”:
The display starts to blink the
previously recalled preset
number while still processing
according to the front controls.
To actually load the preset
press LOAD.

Set MIDI channel

Press and hold the PRESET
ON/OFF key approx. 2.5 sec.
Now set the desired MIDI
channel 1 to 16 or “o” for
OMNI (receives on all
channels) or OF for Off, using
the ARROW UP/DOWN keys.
Via this menu a Bulk Dump
can also be performed. (see
page 31).
Press PRESET ON/OFF key
once to exit the MIDI channels
set mode.

EDITED KNOBS LEDs

The LEDs are relevant in
Preset “On” mode only. They
indicate when the front
controls do not match the
settings in the actually recalled
preset.

ARROW UP/DOWN keys

Scroll between presets when
in Preset “On” mode.

8

REAR PANEL

Balanced
Jack
Analog
Inputs

Pedal
Input

MIDI
In/Out

Routing Switch

Balanced
Jack
Analog
Outputs

Digital
S/PDIF
Input/
Output

Power
Input
100 - 240V

ROUTING switch

Switches between Dual Send/Return and Serial
Input modes.

Dual Send/Return mode:
Switch is In, and Green LED on front is On.

Serial mode:
Switch is Out and Green LED on front is Off.

Read much more about these Routing options
on pages 22/23. See also the suggested
setups at pages 10-15.

Analog Input

Analog Input on 1/4 inch connectors.
Use Left Input for connecting a mono signal.

If you connect to Left Input only and use
Dual Send Return mode the Input signal

is fed to both the Multi-effects Engine
and the Reverb Engine, and you can then use
the M300 as two independent effect units with a
common Output.

Analog Output

Analog Output is a Stereo Output on two 1/4”
Jack connectors.

Pedal Input

The Pedal Input gives you the possibility to
Bypass and “tap” the Global Tempo via
momentary switches. The Global tempo can be
used to set Delay time.
The connection is a 1/4” Stereo Jack with
Bypass on tip and Tap Tempo on ring.

9

SIGNAL FLOW

Jack Cable
Mono to Mono

MIDI Cable

DIN CONNECTOR
5POLE - MALE
180 degrees

DIN CONNECTOR
5POLE - MALE
180 degrees

max. 10m

SHIELDED CABLE (3 or 5 wires + screen)

GND
TIP

TIP
GND

TIP
RING
GND

GND
RING
TIP

Jack Cable
Stereo