Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy Manual

DELUXE MEMORY BOY
Tap Tempo Analog Delay
Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy, a true analog
delay with the ability to tap in the delay time. The Deluxe Memory Boy (DXMB) also includes two
types of delay time modulation, an effects loop in the feedback path of the delay block, an input
gain control, tap tempo divide and optional expression pedal control over four parameters:
Delay Time, Feedback, Modulation Depth and Modulation Rate. The DXMB is true bypass.
WARNING: Your Deluxe Memory Boy comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI
power supply (same as used by Boss™ & Ibanez™: 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The Deluxe Memory Boy
requires 100mA at 9VDC with a plug that is center negative. The DXMB does not take batteries. Using
the wrong adapter may damage your unit and void the warranty
-CONTROLS and INDICATORS -
KNOBS
DELAY Knob – Sets the delay time from 34 mS to 700 mS. As you turn the DELAY knob
clockwise, the delay time will increase. If you tap in the delay time, using the TAP Footswitch,
the DELAY knob's setting will be ignored until you move it again. If you turn the DELAY knob
after tapping in a delay time, the DELAY knob's setting will supersede the last tap tempo that
was entered. Turning the DELAY knob, while listening to your echoes, will bend the pitch of your
notes. The DELAY knob can also be used to set the maximum delay time for expression pedal
control. N.B.: the TAP DIVIDE button functions have no effect on the DELAY knob; pressing this
button while the DELAY knob controls the delay time will not change the delay time.
FEEDBACK Knob – Controls the amount of signal that is circulated from the output of the
delay block to its input. Turning the FEEDBACK knob clockwise increases the number of echoes.
Setting the FEEDBACK control to its maximum clockwise position will cause the DXMB to run-
away, or self-oscillate. If instead you only want to hear one echo for each of your notes, turn
the FEEDBACK knob down to its full counter-clockwise position. The FEEDBACK knob is also
used to set the maximum amount of feedback for expression pedal control.
DEPTH Knob – Sets the amount of triangle or square wave modulation that is applied to the
delay time. The DEPTH knob has a center detent which signifies the off position for no
modulation. Triangle wave modulation occupies the counter-clockwise half of the DEPTH knob,
square wave modulation the clockwise half of the DEPTH knob. As you turn DEPTH counter-
clockwise from the center-detent's off position, the amount of TRIANGLE wave modulation
increases, to its maximum setting at full counter-clockwise on the DEPTH knob. As you turn the
DEPTH knob clockwise from the center-detent position, the amount of square wave modulation
applied to the delay time increases, to its maximum setting at full clockwise on the DEPTH knob.
The DEPTH knob is also used to set the maximum amount of modulation for expression pedal
control.
RATE Knob – The RATE knob's main function is to set the rate or speed of modulation. As you
turn the RATE knob clockwise the modulation rate will increase. The DEPTH knob must be set to
somewhere other than the off position to hear the RATE knob change modulation speed.
Additionally the RATE knob sets the maximum rate of modulation for expression pedal control.
The DXMB has a low cut tone control feature which the RATE knob adjusts. Enter low cut
mode by pressing and holding down the EXP. MODE button for 2 seconds. After two seconds, all
of the EXP. MODE LEDs will light solid and you can release the button. At this point, the RATE
knob no longer adjusts the rate of modulation but instead sets the frequency for the DXMB's low
cut filter. As you turn RATE clockwise, less bass will be present in the delayed signal. To
completely bypass the low cut filter so that the full bass response comes through, turn the RATE
knob down to the full counter-clockwise position. To exit low cut mode, press and release the
EXP. MODE button. The DXMB will save the low cut setting, even after power cycling, and it will
remain at that setting until adjusted again. The default setting from the factory is for the low cut
filter to be bypassed.
GAIN Knob – Sets the input gain for the DXMB. As you turn the GAIN knob clockwise, the
input gain will increase. The total gain range is -6 dB to +20 dB. The gain block is the first stage
that the input signal goes through in the circuit. Both the dry and wet signals mixed by the
BLEND knob go through the gain block.
BLEND Knob – The BLEND knob is a wet/dry control allowing you to vary the mix between
direct and delayed signals at the OUTPUT jack of the DXMB. Set the BLEND knob to the full
clockwise position for an output that is 100% wet. Set the Blend knob to full counter-clockwise
for an output that is 100% dry. Setting BLEND anywhere in between will mix the wet and dry
signals together.
SWITCHES & LEDs
BYPASS Footswitch and STATUS LED – The BYPASS FSW is used to toggle the DXMB
between effect mode and true bypass mode. The red STATUS LED will light up when in effect
mode and turn off in bypass.
TAP Footswitch – The TAP FSW is used to tap in the delay time. Stomp on the TAP FSW two
times and the delay time will jump to the time between taps (if all the TAP DIVIDE LEDs are
off). If you tap more than twice, it will average the tap tempo for all taps. The DXMB will always
take into account the TAP DIVIDE setting when determining the delay time from the tap tempo.
For example, if your tap time is 1 second and the TAP DIVIDE setting is eighth notes, the actual
delay time is changed to 0.5 seconds. The maximum delay time, when tapped in, is 1.5
seconds; though at this delay time the effect will sound quite lo-fi. The DXMB will save
and recall the tap tempo when power cycling.
N.B.: The delay time for the DXMB is always set by the last method used. If you tap in a delay
time, the DELAY knob's setting is ignored. After tapping in a delay time, if you turn the delay
knob, the tap time will be forgotten and replaced by the current position of the DELAY knob.
BEAT LED – The green BEAT LED always blinks at a rate that reflects the current delay time,
whether you used the TAP FSW or the DELAY knob to set the delay time. The BEAT LED will
also reflect the actual delay time rather than your tap time. For example, if your tap time is 900
mS but have the TAPE DIVIDE setting at eighth note triplet, the actual delay time is 300 mS so
the BEAT LED will blink every 300 mS. If you are modulating the delay time, the change in delay
time due to modulation will also be reflected in the BEAT LED.