Zoom A1 FOUR akoestisch multi-effectpedaal, A1X FOUR akoestisch multi-effectpedaal Zoom A1XFOUR Quick Guide

Multi-Effects Processor

Quick Guide

You must read the Usage and Safety Precautions before use.

The Operation Manual can be downloaded from the ZOOM website (www.zoom.jp/docs/a1four_
a1xfour).
This page has les in PDF and ePub formats.
The PDF le format is suitable for printing on paper and reading on a computer.
The ePub format can be read with electronic document readers and is designed for reading on
smartphones and tablets.

© 2019 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without permission is prohibited.
Product names, registered trademarks and company names in this document are the property of their respective companies.
You might need this manual in the future. Always keep it in a place where you can access it easily.
The contents of this manual and the specifications of the product could be changed without notice.
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overview

The has numerous effects that change the sound of an instrument.
Up to five can be used at the same time. Other features include a looper that can
playback already recorded phrases, a rhythm machine and a tuner.
In addition, by using the MAA-1, the effects can also be applied to the sounds of in-

struments that are normally captured with a mic.

Operation modes

The

performing.

• MEMORY mode

Use this mode to select patch memories with the footswitches.

• STOMP mode

Use this mode to turn effects in a patch memory on and off with the footswitches.

• EDIT mode

In this mode, edit the types and parameters and effects used in a patch memory.

has three operation modes that can be used as needed while

MEMORY mode

2

EDIT modeSTOMP mode

Signal ow

Patch memory

2 3 4 5

1

①

Effect

②

Level

③

Output

EQ

④ ⑥

Looper

Post

Output
volume

OUTPUT

INPUT

④

Looper

Pre

⑦

Tuner

⑤

Rhythm

AUX IN

The input instrument sound passes through effects 1 – 5 in order.

Up to ve effects can be selected and ordered as desired.

The patch memory level is adjusted.

The level can be adjusted separately for each patch memory.

The overall sound is adjusted.

Adjust the tone of the

. This setting is retained even when the

patch memory is changed.

Recorded phrases can be played back in a loop.

You can record playing and create mono loop phrases that are up to 30 seconds
long. Can be set to before (Pre) or after (Post) the effects and EQ.

Drum sounds can be played back using built-in rhythm patterns.

You can play along with built-in rhythms.

Adjust the overall level.

Adjust the

volume. This setting is retained even when the patch

memory is changed.

Tune the connected instrument.

Use either the guitar tuner or the chromatic tuner.

3

Installing batteries

Open the battery compartment cover on the bottom of the product and insert 4

1.

AA batteries.

NOTE

By default, ECO mode setting is ON, so the power will automatically turn off
if no use occurs for 10 hours.
ECO mode can also be set to “OFF” on the SETTING screen.

Making connections

Minimize the volume of

1.

the output device.

Acoustic guitar with

Connect an instrument

2.

to the INPUT jack.

Use the MAA-1 to con­nect a mic.

Connect a PA system or

3.

headphones to the OUT-

PUT jack.

Raise the output device

4.

volume.

NOTE

If distortion occurs, lower
the level of the connected
instrument.

HINT

•

If a dedicated AC adapter (ZOOM AD-16) is connected, it can run on AC power.

• Power for operation can also be supplied through the USB port.

• By connecting an audio device, for example to the AUX IN jack, you can
play along with another sound source.

pickup, electric violin,
etc.

2

Audio device, etc.

MAA-1

AC adapter

3

Computer
(Mac/Windows)

1, 4

Using the Mac/Windows Guitar Lab application, you can manage patch
memories and edit and add effects.

4

Connecting a mic

Using the MAA-1, the

have pickups, including harmonicas, violins, trumpets, saxophones and other string
and brass instruments.

Open the battery compartment

1.

cover on the back of the MAA-1 and

insert 2 AA batteries.

Connect the mic to the MAA-1.

2.

can be enjoyed with instruments that do not

2

MAA-1

Connect the MAA-1 to the

3.

INPUT jack.

Turn the MAA-1 power on.

4.

• Set

When connecting a condenser mic or
other device that requires phantom
power, set it to the +48V position.

to the ON position.

will light red.

4

5

3

Adjust the MAA-1 input level.

5.

• Turn

Adjust so that lights green.

If the input level is too high,

NOTE

When connecting devices that are not compatible with phantom power, do

not set

.

will light red.

to +48V. Doing so could damage the device.

5

Selecting patch memories (MEMORY mode)

The is preloaded with 50 patch memories.

Select patch memories to use in MEMORY mode.

• Patch memories

These store effect on/off states and parameter setting values. Effects are saved
and recalled in units of patch memories.

• Banks

These are groups of 10 patch memories.

The MEMORY mode screen opens when the

starts up.

Switching patch memories

• Press

This switches to the higher-numbered patch memory.

.

• Press .

This switches to the lower-numbered patch
memory.

Switching banks

• Press

The LED for the selected bank lights.

– .

Patch

memory

10 – 19

Adjusting the overall audio character and output level

In MEMORY mode, turn

– to ad-

just the overall audio character and output
level of the

.

Low-

frequency

level

Patch memory

number

Patch

memory

20 – 29

frequency

memory

Middle-

level

Patch memory

Patch

30 – 39

High-fre-

quency

level

name

Patch

memory

40 – 49

Patch

memory

50 – 59

Overall

level

6

Turning effects on and off (STOMP mode)

In STOMP mode, you can use the footswitches to turn on/off each of the effects used
in the patch memory.

Activate STOMP mode.

1.

• Press

Select an effect.

2.

• Press

The selection moves to the right.

Turn the effect on/off.

3.

• Press

This turns the selected effect on/off.

.

.

Selected

.

1

23

ON OFF

HINT

You can also press the – that corresponds

to an effect to turn it on/off.

7

1 2 3 4 5

Effect positions and numbers

Editing effects (EDIT mode)

In EDIT mode, you can change the effects used in patch memories and adjust their pa­rameters.
mode.

1.

Select a patch memory in MEMORY mode beforehand to edit it in EDIT

Activate EDIT mode.

• Press

Unit number

Select an effect to edit.

2.

• Press

Turn the effect on/off.

3.

• Press the same

2 again.

Adjust the effect parameters.

4.

.

Effect name

Parameter

– .

OFF

1

4

2, 3

– as in step

ON

If an effect has 5 or more parameters, use to change the screen.

NOTE

When the AUTO SAVE function is ON, changes to effects will be automatical­ly saved.

8

• Effect type

Effect types cover a variety of effects, including reverb, chorus and distortion.

• Category

Effects are grouped into categories. When selecting effects, you can switch by cat­egory.

Selecting effect types

• Press

This switches to the next/previous effect type.

NOTE

In the following cases, "PROCESS OVERFLOW” will appear and the effect will
be bypassed. Bypassing can be ended by deleting some effects or changing
their types.

• When the processing power limit is exceeded

• When trying to use 3 or more effects that have 5
or more parameters

HINT

See Guitar Lab for the explanations of each effect.

Selecting effect categories

• While pressing

After the category name appears, the effect type will change to the rst effect in the cate­gory.

/ .

…

, press .

…

HINT

Select effects in the PEDAL category on the to use effects that can
be controlled by the expression pedal.

9

Using the tuner

Use this to tune the connected instrument.

Activate the tuner.

1.

• Press

and at the same

time.

To close the tuner, press or .

Tune the instrument.

2.

• Play the sound that you want to tune
and adjust its pitch.

The nearest note name and pitch detuning
will be shown on the display and by the LEDs.

2

1

Pitch detuning

Nearest note

When the pitch is accurate, the LED at the
center of the meter will light green and the
LEDs to the left and right will light red.

Flat In tune Sharp

Setting the tuner

• Turn and to set whether the sound is output

while tuning (BYPASS/MUTE) and the standard pitch.

• Press to open the SETTING screen where you

can set the tuner type and drop tunings.

10

Instrument

sound output

Standard

pitch

Preventing feedback

The anti-feedback function can be used by selecting Anti FB. This effect can detect and
cut the frequency band that is feeding back to reduce it.

Activate EDIT mode.

1.

• Press

Select the effect that will be used to

2.

assign Anti FB.

• Press

Assign Anti FB to the beginning of the
effect chain to maximize its effective­ness.

Selecting the effect category.

3.

• While pressing

Select the effect type.

4.

• Press

Anti FB.

Turn the effect on.

5.

• Press

Detection of the feedback frequency band will begin, and “Scanning” will appear on the
display.
When the frequency band has been found, the message will disappear and the anti-feed­back function will become active.

HINT

The FREQ parameter can be set to a value other than AUTO to specify a fre­quency band.

.

– .

, press

and select FILTER.

or , and select

– again.

1

5

2, 6

3, 4

11

Using rhythms

You can play along with built-in rhythms.

Activate the rhythm function.

1.

• Press

To return to the previous mode, press

Start rhythm playback.

2.

• Press

To stop rhythm playback, press .

.

.

.

1

2

Setting the rhythm

Turn

– to change the rhythm set-

tings.

12

Rhythm

pattern

Pre-count

ON/OFF

Tempo Rhythm

volume

Using the looper

You can record playing and create mono loop phrases that are up to 30 seconds long.

Activate the looper.

1.

• Press

To return to the previous mode, press

Record a phrase.

2.

.

.

• Press

To stop recording, press .

To cancel, press

Play back the phrase.

3.

• Press

To stop playback, press .

Overdub the loop.

4.

• Press

To end overdubbing (and continue playback), press .

.

.

.

2, 3, 4

during loop playback.

HINT

To clear the loop, press and hold when loop playback is stopped.

Setting the looper

• Turn

– to change looper settings.

• Changing the recording time, looper posi­tion or tempo will clear the recorded loop.

• The looper can be placed before (Pre) or after
the effects (Post). Set to Pre, the sound before

Recording

time

Loop

playback

Stop mode

Looper

position

effects are applied can be looped. Then, the
sound can be changed by switching patch memories and editing the effects.

Looper
volume

1

13

Setting list

Press to open the SETTING screen.

Press
spond to the icons.

– to open the following settings, which corre-

1 2 3 4 5

1. CHAIN (effect reordering)

Effects in the current patch memory are shown in a list, and can be reordered by pressing

– for the starting location and destination.

2. PATCH (edit patch memory names and adjust volume)

Item Explanation

CHAR Change the character at the cursor position in the patch memory name.

Move the cursor position in the patch memory name.

SKIP

VALUE Adjust the patch memory volume.

Change the type of character at the cursor position in the patch memory name.

3. SAVE (save and swap patch memories)

To save a patch memory by overwriting another patch memory, use , and –

to select a patch memory number, and press and at the same time.

To swap a patch memory, turn to select SWAP when conducting the procedure above.

4. SETUP (set operation functions)

Item Explanation

BPM Set the tempo used for the effects, rhythms and looper.

AUTO SAVE

PRESELECT

BANK HOLD

This function can automatically save effect parameter changes when they are made.
When OFF, a save conrmation screen will open whenever you switch patch memories.

Use this function to select a non-adjacent patch memory and switch to it directly. Use
and to select the patch memory, and press and at the same time.

Limit to patch memories in the same bank when using and to switch
patch memories.

5. PWR/LCD (make power and the display settings)

Item Explanation

BATTERY Set the type of battery used so the amount of remaining battery charge can

be accurately shown.

ECO The power can automatically turn off if no use occurs for 10 hours.

BACKLIGHT Set how long the display backlight stays illuminated.

CONTRAST Adjust the display contrast.

HINT

See the Operation Manual for detailed information about each setting.

14

Specications

Maximum number of simul­taneous effects
Number of patch memories 50
Sampling frequency 44.1 kHz
A/D conversion 24-bit 128× oversampling
D/A conversion 24-bit 128× oversampling
Signal processing 32-bit
Display 128×32 dot-matrix LCD
Inputs INPUT Standard mono phone jack

AUX IN Stereo mini jack

Outputs OUTPUT Standard stereo phone jack (combined line/headphone)

Input S/N 120 dB
Noise oor (residual noise) −97 dBu
Power AC adapter (9V DC 500mA, center negative) (ZOOM AD-16)

USB USB MIDI, USB Micro-B

External dimensions

Weight

5

Rated input level: −20 dBu
Input impedance (line): 470 kΩ

Rated input level: −10 dBu
Input impedance (line): 1 kΩ

Maximum output level:
Line +2 dBu (10 kΩ or more output impedance)
Headphones 17 mW + 17 mW (32 Ω load)

4 AA batteries (about 18 hours continuous operation time when using alkaline
batteries with the LCD backlight off)

• Power can also be supplied through the USB port.

• When using a cable designed only for power, other USB functions cannot be used.
156 mm (D) × 130 mm (W) × 42 mm (H)

156 mm (D) × 216 mm (W) × 52 mm (H)

340 g (excluding batteries)

610 g (excluding batteries)

MAA-1

Input XLR balanced input (2: hot)

Output Standard mono phone jack

Power 2 AA batteries

External dimensions 177 mm (D) × 23 mm (W) × 25 mm (H)
Weight 70 g (excluding batteries)

Note:

• 0 dBu = 0.775 V

• Continuous operation times are from in-house testing methods. Actual times will vary greatly according to operating conditions.

Input gain: +3 – +30 dB
Input impedance: 10 kΩ
Maximum input level: +4 dBu
+48 V phantom power

Nominal output level: −20 dBu
Maximum output level: +7 dBu
Output impedance: 1 kΩ

Continuous operation time (when phantom current is 3 mA)

About 15 hours (using alkaline batteries)
About 15 hours (using nickel metal hydride batteries)

15

ZOOM CORPORATION

4-4-3 Kanda-surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 Japan

www.zoom.co.jp

Z2I-3709-02