Precautions
Notice regarding disposal (for EU)
Location
When this "crossed-out wheeled bin" symbol is displayed on
the product, owner's manual, battery, or battery package, it sig-
Using the unit in the following locations can result in a malfunction.
nifies that when you wish to dispose of this product, manual,
• In direct sunlight
package or battery you must do so in an approved manner. Do
• Locations of extreme temperature or humidity
not discard this product, manual, package or battery along with
• Excessively dusty or dirty locations
ordinary household waste. Disposing in the correct manner will
• Locations of excessive vibration
prevent harm to human health and potential damage to the en-
• Close to magnetic fields
vironment. Since the correct method of disposal will depend on
Power supply
the applicable laws and regulations in your locality, please contact your lo-
Please connect the designated AC adapter to an AC outlet of the correct
cal administrative body for details. If the battery contains heavy metals in
voltage. Do not connect it to an AC outlet of voltage other than that for which
excess of the regulated amount, a chemical symbol is displayed below the
your unit is intended.
"crossed-out wheeled bin" symbol on the battery or battery package.
Interference with other electrical devices
Radios and televisions placed nearby may experience reception interference.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS
Operate this unit at a suitable distance from radios and televisions.
Handling
This product has been manufactured according to strict specifications
and voltage requirements that are applicable in the country in which it
To avoid breakage, do not apply excessive force to the switches or controls.
is intended that this product should be used. If you have purchased this
Care
product via the internet, through mail order, and/or via a telephone sale,
If the exterior becomes dirty, wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. Do not use liquid
you must verify that this product is intended to be used in the country in
cleaners such as benzene or thinner, or cleaning compounds or flammable
which you reside.
polishes.
WARNING: Use of this product in any country other than that for which it
Keep this manual
is intended could be dangerous and could invalidate the manufacturer's or
After reading this manual, please keep it for later reference.
distributor's warranty. Please also retain your receipt as proof of purchase
Keeping foreign matter out of your equipment
otherwise your product may be disqualified from the manufacturer's or
Never set any container with liquid in it near this equipment. If liquid gets into
distributor's warranty.
the equipment, it could cause a breakdown, fire, or electrical shock.
Be careful not to let metal objects get into the equipment. If something does
* All product names and company names are the trademarks or registered
slip into the equipment, unplug the AC adapter from the wall outlet. Then
trademarks of their respective owners.
contact your nearest Korg dealer or the store where the equipment was pur-
chased.
THE FCC REGULATION WARNING (for USA)
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.
Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the user's
authority to operate this equipment.
Thank you for purchasing the Korg pitchblack POLY polyphonic pedal
Connections
tuner. To help you get the most out of your new instrument, please read
To your effect pedals
this manual carefully.
Maximum 200
milliamps
Controls
DC cascade cable
10 9 8
7
DC 9V OUT
DC 9V IN
BYPASS
To your effect
6
pedals or amps etc.
5
2
4
3
Turn off the power to all devices before you make any connections
to avoid damaging your equipment.
The INPUT and BYPASS jacks are mono. Stereo (TRS) cables
1
will not work.
INPUT jack
Connect a cable from your instrument to the INPUT jack of the tuner.
1.
TUNER ON/OFF switch
When you do this, the calibration setting will blink for several seconds in
2.
TUNER ON LED indicator
the note name display.
3.
INPUT jack (mono)
TIP
Connecting a cable to the Input jack will turn the power on, but the
4.
True BYPASS jack (mono)
tuner will not be in tuner mode. Press the TUNER ON/OFF switch
5.
Display
6.
Meter Display
to engage tuner mode.
7.
DC 9 V IN jack
BYPASS jack
8.
DC 9 V OUT jack
Connect a cable from the BYPASS jack to your effect pedals or amp
9.
DISPLAY button
10. CALIB (FLAT/CAPO) button
etc. When the tuner is switched on, the signal from the INPUT jack will
be muted for silent tuning.
Installing the battery
The pitchblack POLY was designed with a True Bypass circuit. When
the tuner is not active, your tone will not be affected by any circuitry.
1. Open the battery cover that's located on the
DC 9 V IN jack
bottom of the tuner.
If you use an optional AC adapter for power, be sure that it is 9 volt
2. Attach the battery to the battery clip, making
(
) and at least 600 mA.
sure that the polarity is correct.
Using an AC adapter other than what Korg recommends may
3. Install the battery and close the cover.
cause a malfunction or damage.
When the battery nears the end of its life,
DC 9 V OUT jack
the TUNER ON LED will blink. When this
If you're using an optional AC adapter, you can supply power to more
happens, install a new battery as soon as
than one effect pedal with an optional DC cascade cable.
possible.
When using an optional DC cascade cable, make sure that the to-
tal amount of current consumption for the connected pedals does
not exceed 200 mA. Furthermore, pay attention to the required
polarity of the effect pedals when connected.
Do not connect the AC adapter to the DC 9V OUT jack. Doing so
will cause a malfunction or damage.
If the pitchblack POLY is activated using a battery, you cannot sup-
ply power from the DC 9V OUT jack.
Tuning
1 Press the TUNER ON/OFF switch to activate the tuner; the TUNER
AC adapter (9V,
,
600 milliamps or greater,
ON LED will light up. Because the pitchblack POLY has a True By-
sold separately)
pass circuit, you can only tune "silently", meaning you will not hear
To AC outlet
your audio signal through an amp etc.
TIP
The TUNER ON/OFF switch only functions if an instrument is con-
nected to the INPUT jack.
Guitar or bass
TIP
When using the battery, if no audio signal is input within 20
INPUT
minutes (or within 4 hours when using an AC adapter), the tuner
will turn off automatically. In addition, there will be no output from
the BYPASS jack. If this occurs, press the TUNER ON/OFF switch
again to activate the tuner in order to use your instrument.
2. Set the calibration, flat/capo setting, and meter display setting as
necessary.
3. Play all the open strings on your instrument, and tune them so that
the green LED in the display lights up.
When you tune a string, the tuner will detect the string that you're
currently tuning, and will show its precise pitch in the meter display.
You can turn off the meter display by holding down the DISPLAY
button for one second or longer.
TIP
The tuner will automatically detect whether your instrument is a
guitar or a 4/5/6-string bass. With normal tuning, the tuner will
indicate E, A, D, G, B, E (from thick to thin strings) for a guitar. For
a bass, the tuner will indicate Low-B, E, A, D, G, Hi-C.
Bass
Guitar
Hi-C
E
G
B
D
G
A
D
E
A
Low-B
E
4. If you want to tune a single note on your instrument, tune while
watching the meter display.
The display will indicate the note name that is closest to the pitch
you input.
5 After you finish tuning your instrument, press the TUNER ON/OFF
switch to turn the tuner off. Now your signal will be heard through
your amp etc.
Adjusting the calibration
The pitchblack POLY comes from the factory with the calibration set to
A=440Hz. If an adjustment is necessary, you can do so within a range of
436–445Hz.
1 Press the CALIB button.
The calibration indication "C" will appear, and then the current value
will be shown in the display for several seconds.
2 While the current calibration setting is shown in the note name dis-
play, press the CALIB button again to adjust the setting.
Each time you press the CALIB button you will cycle through the fol-
lowing settings.
0: 440 Hz, 1: 441 Hz, 2: 442 Hz, 3: 443 Hz, 4: 444 Hz, 5: 445 Hz, 6:
3: Half-strobe meter
436 Hz, 7: 437 Hz, 8: 438 Hz, 9: 439 Hz
Tune your instrument so that the stream
stops and only the center LED is lit. The right
3 When you have selected the desired calibration setting, wait ap-
side of the meter display will strobe if the
proximately two seconds without pressing any buttons. The new set-
note is sharp, and the left side of the meter
ting will blink several times in the note name display indicating that
display will strobe if the note is flat. When the pitch is correct,
the calibration has been set. The pitchblack POLY will automatically
only the center LED will light up.
return to tuner mode.
4: Split meter
The regular meter and half-strobe meter will
Flat/capo settings
be shown simultaneously. The position of the
You can use flat, drop D, and capo settings.
half-strobe meter will be reversed left and
With the factory settings, "0: Normal tuning" is selected.
right.
1. Hold down the CALIB (FLAT/CAPO) for at least one second.
The flat/capo indication "F" will appear, and then the current setting
3. When you've chosen the desired setting, wait for two seconds
will be shown in the display for several seconds (lit blinking).
without pressing any buttons.
The display indication will blink several times, and the meter
2. While this setting is shown, press the CALIB (FLAT/CAPO) button to
display setting will be made. The tuner will then return to its
select the desired flat or capo setting.
normal state, allowing you to tune.
You can specify the number of semitones by which the pitch is
raised or lowered. You can also specify drop D tuning (only the gui-
Specifications
tar's 6th string is tuned to D).
0: Normal tuning
Tuning:
12-note equal temperament
-1: Lowered one semitone ... -5: Lowered five semitones (flat tuning)
Detection range:
E0 (20.12 Hz)–C8 (4186 Hz), sine wave
D: Drop D tuning
Calibration range:
A4 = 436–445 Hz (1 Hz steps)
1: Raised one semitone ... 7: Raised seven semitones (capo support)
Detection accuracy:
±1 cent
Input impedance:
1 M-ohm (tuner on)
3. When you've made the desired setting, wait for two seconds without
Connects:
INPUT jack, BYPASS jack, DC 9V IN
pressing any buttons.
jack, DC 9V OUT jack (Maximum 200
The display indication will blink several times, and the flat/capo
milliamps)
setting will be made. The tuner will then return to its normal state,
Power supply:
one 9 V type battery or AC adapter (9 V,
allowing you to tune.
, 600 milliamps or greater)
Meter display setting
Battery life:
approximately 5 hours continuous use
You can specify the display pattern shown in the meter's display. You
with tuner on (6F22, Poryphonic input
can choose one of four patterns. With the factory settings, "1: Regular
continuously, Regular meter)
meter" is selected.
Current consumption: maximum 45 mA
Dimensions (W x D x H): 68mm x 120mm x 47mm/2.68" x 4.72" x
1. Press the DISPLAY button.
1.85" (including rubber feet)
The current setting is shown for several seconds in the display
Weight:
294g/10.37 oz (including battery)
(litblinking).
Included items:
one 9 V battery
2. While this setting is shown, press the DISPLAY button to select the
Options (sold separately):
desired display pattern. The setting will change each time you press
AC adapter (9V,
the button.
* Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice for
1: Regular meter
improvement.
Tune your instrument so that the center LED of
the meter display is lit. The LED illumination will
move from the center toward the right if the note is
sharp, or from the center toward the left if the note
is flat.
2: Strobe meter
Tune your instrument so that the illumination stops
flowing in the meter display. The illumination will
flow from left to right if the note is sharp, or from
right to left if the note is flat.
, 600 milliamps)
Need help?
Do you have a question about the pitchblack POLY and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers