Zoom ARQ AR-48 User Manual
Aero RhythmTrak
A
Quick Guide
The Operation Manual can be downloaded from
the ZOOM website (www.zoom.co.jp/).
© 2017 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without permission is prohibited.
Contents
Using the A ...........................3
Connecting other devices ......................... 3
Preparations
Turning the power on and o .........4
Base Station power ................................... 4
Ring Controller power ............................... 4
Installing SD cards and
BTA-1 units .....................................6
The 4 Base Station areas ...............7
STEP keys ......................................7
SEQUENCE area
SEQUENCE area overview .............8
Creating patterns ............................9
Creating songs .............................10
SOUND area
SOUND area overview.................. 11
Instrument block structure ...........12
Editing instruments.......................14
Common operations................................14
SCALE layout settings ............................. 14
Oscillator .................................................15
Noise .......................................................16
Insert eects ............................................16
Filter.........................................................17
Volume envelope (ADSR) ........................17
Output mixer (OUTPUT) ..........................17
Eect send amount .................................18
LED settings ............................................18
MIDI settings ...........................................18
EFFECT area
EFFECT area overview .................19
Eect settings ...............................20
REC/PLAY area
REC/PLAY area overview .............21
Ring Controller
Ring Controller overview ..............22
Ring Controller operation buttons ...........22
Using the Ring Controller .............23
Arpeggiator ..............................................23
Setting the pad split ................................24
Using the eect .......................................24
Soloing ....................................................25
Muting .....................................................25
Using the grip area ..................................25
Other settings
STEP key setting items ................26
Specications
Specications ...............................27
Using the A
The A consists of a Base Station and a Ring Controller.
Ring Controller
Base Station
With the Base Station, you can create and save patterns, songs and other musical pieces, as well as
edit tones, for example. Use the Ring Controller for input when creating music.
Since the Ring Controller can be detached from the Base Station, you can hold it in your hand and
play it like an instrument. You can also connect it by USB or Bluetooth LE to a Mac computer or iOS
device and use it as a MIDI controller.
NOTE
BTA-1 units (sold separately) are necessary to connect by Bluetooth LE.
Connecting other devices
Using the A
Using the A
Audio source
for capture
Headphones
Mixer, audio system or
other playback device
OUTPUT
AUDIO INPUT MIDI OUT
DC IN
A
3
Sound module,
synthesizer or other
MIDI device
AC adapter
Computer
(USB connection)
Power button
Preparations
Preparations
Turning the power on and o
Base Station power
Turning the power on and o
1. Connect the included AC adapter
to the Base Station.
2. Press and hold p on the
Base Station.
The Base Station software version
appears on the screen.
3. Press and hold p to turn the
power OFF.
HINT
When the Ring Controller is connected to the
Base Station by USB, turning the Base Station
power ON/OFF will also turn the Ring Control-
ler ON/OFF.
NOTE
Use the AC adapter to power the A even
when it is connected to a computer or other
device by USB.
Ring Controller power
■
When connected by USB
When the Ring Controller is connected to the
Base Station or a computer by USB, it will
automatically turn on and operate on USB bus
power.
When operating on USB bus power, the Ring
Controller POWER LED will light red, and W
will be disabled.
POWER LED BATT LED
■
When using a BTA-1 and connected
by Bluetooth LE
If BTA-1 (sold separately) units have been
installed in the Base Station and Ring Controller
and they are connected by Bluetooth LE, the
Ring Controller will be powered by AA batteries.
In this case, the Ring Controller BATT LED will
light and W will be enabled.
HINT
• Press W to show the Ring Controller
remaining battery charge on the SOUND
display.
• Even if a BTA-1 is installed, it will operate
on USB bus power if connected by a USB
cable.
4
Turning the power on and o (continued)
■
Turning the Ring Controller on
1. Press W for at least 2
seconds.
This turns on the Ring Controller.
3. Install the batteries.
Be sure to orient the batteries correctly.
Preparations
■
Turning the Ring Controller o
1. Press W for at least 2
seconds.
HINT
• When connected to the Base Station by
Bluetooth LE, turning o the Ring Controller
will also turn o the Base Station.
• When operating on AA batteries, the BATT
LED will blink when the remaining battery
charge is less than 10%.
■
Changing the Ring Controller
batteries
The Ring Controller can be powered by two AA
batteries.
1. Turning the Ring Controller o
2. Unlock and remove the battery
compartment covers.
The Ring Controller has battery compart-
ment covers in two places.
Turning the power on and o
4. Replace and lock the battery
compartment covers.
NOTE
Always replace both batteries at the same time
with new batteries.
Ring Controller underside
Remove
Unlock
5
Preparations
Installing SD cards and BTA-1 units
■
Loading and removing SD cards
2. Remove the BTA-1 connector
1. Turn the power o.
2. Open the SD card slot cover on the
Installing SD cards and BTA-1 units
Base Station.
3. Insert the SD card into the slot.
To eject an SD card:
Push the card further into the slot and
then pull it out.
NOTE
• If no SD card is loaded in the A, cap-
tured data cannot be saved and patterns and
songs that are created cannot be backed up.
• When inserting an SD card, be sure to insert
the correct end with the top side up as
shown.
• Before using SD cards that have just been
purchased or that have been formatted on
a computer, they must be formatted by the
A.
• Formatting SD cards (→ Operation Manual)
■
Installing BTA-1 units
1. Turn the power o.
covers on the Ring Controller and
Base Station.
3. Insert the BTA-1 units into the
connectors.
To remove a unit, pinch it with your fin-
gers and pull it out.
NOTE
• When wireless transmission using BTA-1
units is active, the blue BTA-1 LEDs will light.
• Communication at up to 10 meters is pos-
sible in an unobstructed indoor space with
BTA-1 units. If interference from electromagnetic waves, for example, prevents communication, try the following.
- Bring the Ring Controller and the Base Station closer together.
- Move obstacles between the Ring Controller and the Base Station.
- Stop unnecessary 2.4 GHz transmissions or
move interfering devices further away. (These
include Wi-Fi access points, smartphones
and other devices that use Wi-Fi, as well as
microwave ovens, audio monitors, lighting
controls and other devices that communicate at 2.4 GHz.)
6
The 4 Base Station areas
The Base Station is divided into four areas according to use.
Preparations
SOUND
area
EFFECT
area
SEQUENCE
area
REC/PLAY
area
Sound area: Used to control the parameters of instruments assigned to pads. Parameters related to
the instrument are shown on the display.
Sequence area: Use to set the tempo and other sequence parameters. The display shows pattern and
song names.
REC/PLAY area: Use to control sequences, including playback and recording.
Eect area: Use to control eects applied to output.
STEP keys
The Base Station also has 32 STEP keys (0) that show pattern sequences and the states of pat-
terns assigned to songs.
31
32
30
Bar 1
Bar 2
Step
1
2
3
4
…
■
PATTERN mode
29
…
Press a Ring Controller pad, to show the sequence for that
instrument on the 0 step keys.
If the pattern is longer than two bars, the 0 indications will
switch every two bars.
To check the sequence, press B for bars 1-2 and b
for bars 3-4.
You can change the last step in one cycle on the Base Station by pressing 0 while pressing L.
For example, you can create patterns in triple time by setting the cycle to 24 steps.
4 Base Station areas/STEP keys
■
SONG mode
In SONG mode, use Base Station 0 to add patterns for
playback in order starting with 0-1.
7
…
1
2
3
4
…
32
31
Pattern playback order
30
29
Pattern 1–384 Song 1–99
SEQUENCE area
SEQUENCE area overview
The A can save up to 384 patterns and 99 songs.
In patterns, you can use up to 16 instruments (sound sources) and record sequences that are 1–4
bars long. The instruments, sequences, parameters controlled by the Ring Controller, quantization and
other settings are saved for each pattern separately.
In songs, you can combine multiple patterns to create a complete piece of music.
SEQUENCE area overview
Instrument 1
Instrument 1
Instrument 1
Instrument 2
Instrument 2
Instrument 2
Instrument 3
Instrument 3
…
Instrument 3
…
Instrument 16
Instrument 16
Instrument 16
…
Bar 1 Bar 2
Use the SEQUENCE area to work with patterns and songs.
Switch between PATTERN and
SONG modes
Selected
pattern or song
number
Pattern 1
Song
Song sequence
sequence
Song sequence
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 4
Pattern 3
Pattern 4
Pattern 4
Set
tempo
Selected pattern
or song name
Swing amount
(rhythmic groove) setting
Copy selected pattern or
Create new patterns and
songs
Tempo setting
This can be set to 40.0–250.0 BPM
song
Change pattern or song
name
8
Select pattern or
song
Erase selected pattern or
song
Creating patterns
SEQUENCE area
15
14
13
12
11
10
PAD layout
16
1
Selected
instrument
Instruments
8
9
In PATTERN mode, use the Ring Control-
ler to play instruments.
Use W and X to switch
between PAD layout for playing multiple
instruments and SCALE layout for playing
the selected instrument in a scale.
Enter PATTERN mode
Press Y to enter PATTERN mode.
Select a pattern
Turn H in the SEQUENCE area to select the pattern number.
Conrm the instruments
Tap the pads on the Ring Controller if you want to listen to the
sounds of the input instruments.
When a pad is tapped, its instrument becomes "selected" and
it lights white. The name and parameters of the instrument are
shown on the SOUND display.
Press X to change the Ring Controller to SCALE layout.
SCALE layout
2
3
4
5
6
7
D#
Notes
G#
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
Selected
C2
instrument
C3
D
C#
C
B
A#
A
C1
C
Creating patterns
HINT
By pressing Y as you tap a pad, you can select its instrument without playing its sound.
1 Start real-time input
Press R to enter standby, and press P to
start real-time input.
In PAD layout, tap the pads of instruments
to input them in time with the pattern that is
playing back in a loop.
In SCALE layout, tap the pads of notes to
input them in time with the pattern that is
playing back in a loop.
Instruments
16
15
1
2
3
…
Notes
G
F#
…
C
C#
D
…
While pressing a pad that corresponds to
the instrument to input, press the 0 keys
to edit the sequence for that instrument.
In addition, you can tap pads while pressing
a 0 key to input instruments (in PAD lay-
out) or notes (in SCALE layout) to input them
at that step.
2 Start step input
Instruments
16
15
1
2
3
…
Steps
31
32
30
29
…
End real-time input
Press S to end real-time input.
9
1
2
3
…
4
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