DigiTech FreqOut Natural Feedback Creator Guitar Pedal User Manual

Warranty Information

DigiTech is proud to offer the following warranty on its products:

1. Please register online at digitech.com within ten days of purchasing your product to validate this warranty. This warranty is valid only in the United States of America.
2. DigiTech warrants that this product, when purchased new from an authorized DigiTech dealer in the USA and used exclusively in the USA under normal conditions of use and maintenance, will be free from material defects and faulty workmanship. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser and is not transferable.
3. DigiTech's liability under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of demonstrably defective materials, provided the product is shipped to DigiTech WITH A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER, covering all parts and labor for a period of up to one year. Please contact DigiTech to obtain a Return Authorization Number. The company is not liable for consequential damages resulting from the product's use as part of a circuit or assembly.
4. The buyer is responsible for providing proof of purchase. A copy of the original sales receipt must be presented to obtain warranty service.
5. DigiTech reserves the right to make changes in the design of the product, additions to the product, or improvements to the product without being obligated to make the same changes, additions, or improvements to previously manufactured products retroactively.
6. The product warranty for the buyer is void if the main assembly of the product is opened and tampered with by anyone other than a certified DigiTech technician, or if the product is operated with AC voltages outside the manufacturer's recommended voltage range.
7. The above warranty conditions supersede all other express or implied warranties, and DigiTech assumes no obligation or liability in connection with the sale of this product, nor does it authorize any person to assume any such obligation or liability. DigiTech or its distributors shall under no circumstances be liable for special damages or consequential damages or any delay in performance or fulfillment of this warranty due to reasons beyond its (their) control.

NOTE: The information contained in this manual may be changed at any time without notice. Some information in this manual may be inaccurate due to product changes made after the completion of this manual version and therefore undocumented. The information in this version of the user manual supersedes all previous versions.

Technical Support & Service

If you require technical assistance, please contact DigiTech Technical Support. Please ensure you have all details readily available to describe the problem accurately. You should know your unit's serial number, which is located on a label on the unit's chassis. If you have not yet registered your product, please take the time now and visit digitech.com.

Before sending a product to the factory for service, we recommend reading this manual. Please ensure you have correctly followed the installation steps and operating procedures outlined. For further technical assistance or service, please contact our technical support department at the telephone number (+82) 1800-6951 or visit digitech.com. If you must send a product to the factory for service, it is ABSOLUTELY necessary to first contact our Technical Support to obtain a Return Authorization Number.

WE REGRETTABLY MUST REJECT PRODUCTS RECEIVED AT THE FACTORY WITHOUT A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER.

Please read the warranty information applicable to the first end-user. If, after the warranty period expires, you decide to use our factory service, we will charge a reasonable fee for parts, labor, and packaging. In all cases, you are responsible for the shipping charges for transport to the factory. If your unit is still covered by warranty, DigiTech will pay for return shipping.

Please use the original packaging materials for shipping the unit whenever possible. Label the package with the sender's name and the following words in red: DELICATE INSTRUMENT, FRAGILE! Please insure the package accordingly. You must pay the shipping charges to the factory in advance. Do not ship via parcel post.

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the DigiTech® FreqOut Natural Feedback Creator pedal. The FreqOut is a revolutionary pedal that adds different feedback harmonics to any guitar signal without coloring the original tone. By activating the effect, a user-selectable harmony of the input note is amplified, creating a controlled, natural-sounding feedback sustain through any amplifier or amp modeler at any volume.

The FreqOut has 7 different harmonic types to choose from, as well as controls for the level of feedback gain and the onset time (the time it takes for the feedback to reach its full strength). The LED ladder provides a visual indication of the feedback onset. The Dry switch determines whether the dry signal is audible (on) or muted (off), and the Momentary switch allows the footswitch to operate as a momentary (on) or latching (off) switch.

How to Use FreqOut:

1. Start by setting the GAIN, ONSET, and TYPE knobs to 12 o'clock.
2. Set the MOMENTARY switch to "OFF" and the DRY switch to "ON".
3. Engage the effect using the EFFECT footswitch – the LED in the middle of the LED ladder will light up to indicate the effect is on.
4. Play a single note on your guitar – the feedback sustain should become audible. Repeat this process, adjusting the GAIN and ONSET knobs to the desired amount of feedback and the desired onset rate.
5. Select the desired harmonic frequency using the TYPE knob. For more information, see "Using the Harmonic Types" on page 4.
6. If you want to create a swelling effect (reminiscent of an *EBow™), turn the DRY switch off. Otherwise, leave it on.
7. Set the MOMENTARY switch to your desired EFFECT footswitch operation. For more information on the MOMENTARY switch operation, see the "Momentary Switch" legend under "User Interface" on page 2.

Features:

• Controllable, natural-sounding feedback for electric guitar
• 7 Feedback Harmonic Types
• Adjustable Feedback Gain and Onset-Time controls
• The LED ladder indicates the effect's on/off status and the feedback onset status
• Dry On/Off switch
• Options for momentary/latching footswitch operation
• True Bypass
• Compact design
• Solid construction

*EBow is a trademark of Heet Sound Products.

User Interface

The FreqOut pedal features the following controls and connections:

1. "Power" DC Jack:

Connect the recommended power supply to this jack. (See "Specifications" on page 6). A power supply is required to operate the FreqOut pedal. Battery power is not available.

2. Feedback LEDs:

The center LED lights up to indicate that the FreqOut effect is engaged. When the effect is active, the LEDs light up from the inside out to indicate the onset rate of the feedback effect.

3. Output Jack:

Connect this jack to the input of an amplifier or the input of the next pedal on your pedalboard.

4. Effect Footswitch:

Engages or disengages the FreqOut effect. The effect footswitch can operate as a latching or momentary switch depending on the position of the Momentary switch.

5. Momentary Switch:

Determines the operation of the Effect Footswitch. In the "ON" position, the effect is only active as long as the Effect Footswitch is held down. Use this setting to apply feedback only to specific notes or passages during a performance.

In the "OFF" position, the Effect Footswitch operates like standard effect pedals, switching the effect between engaged and bypassed modes with each press of the Effect Footswitch. Use this mode when the feedback should be more apparent during a performance and not applied to specific notes or phrases.

NOTE: When the Momentary switch is set to "ON", the FreqOut uses a buffered bypass signal path. When the Momentary switch is set to "OFF", the FreqOut provides a true bypass signal path.

6. Gain & Onset Knobs:

Gain Knob – Controls the level of feedback gain. Use lower settings for a subtle effect. Use higher settings to boost the feedback/sustain effect.

Onset Knob – Determines how long it takes for the feedback to reach its full strength. Lower knob settings shorten the time, while higher knob settings lengthen the time.

7. Type Knob:

Selects one of seven feedback types:

• SUB – Produces feedback one octave below the note.
• 1ST – Produces feedback of the first harmonic (unison) of the note.
• 2ND – Produces feedback of the second harmonic of the note.
• 3RD – Produces a third harmonic feedback of the note.
• 5TH – Produces a fifth harmonic feedback of the note.
• NAT LOW – Produces various feedback frequencies in the lower overtone range.
• NAT HIGH – Produces various feedback frequencies in the higher harmonic range.

See "Using the Harmonic Types" on page 4 for more detailed information on using the different Harmonic Types.

8. Dry Switch:

Toggles the dry signal on or off while the effect is engaged.

NOTE: When the Momentary switch is set to "ON" and the Dry switch is set to "OFF", no dry signal is passed through the FreqOut.

9. In-Jack:

Connect your instrument to this jack.

Using the Harmonic Types

The Harmonic Feedback Types

The first five harmonic feedback types allow you to obtain feedback with a predictable, repeatable frequency. The feedback is selectable at a sub-octave, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 5th harmonic, where harmonic is defined as a multiple of your note's frequency. For example, the 5th harmonic is five times your note's frequency (which is actually 2 octaves above a major third interval of the original note).

The Natural Feedback Types

The two Natural Feedback types (NAT LOW and NAT HIGH) behave more like natural feedback. When using these feedback types, you may get different feedback each time you play the same note.

Here are some tips to help you guide the feedback as you desire when using the natural feedback types:

• Obtaining Low-Frequency Feedback: Try playing softer, rolling off your tone, and using the neck pickup.
• Obtaining Higher-Frequency Feedback: Try picking your notes harder, opening up the tone control, and using the bridge pickup.
• Obtaining Transition Feedback: In general, higher-frequency feedback is more likely to transition to lower frequencies as the note decays. Follow the instructions above for obtaining higher-frequency feedback to achieve more feedback transitions.

NAT LOW vs. NAT HI

Both feedback types have similar behavior, but NAT LOW limits the feedback frequencies to a lower range and does not allow feedback at the 5th harmonic or higher. This limitation ensures that you do not get feedback that sounds "major" on minor chords. NAT HI allows the feedback to go slightly higher, thus increasing the likelihood of the feedback transitioning to the middle.

Making Connections / Power Supply

Here's how to connect the FreqOut pedal to your rig:

1. Turn down the amplifier's master volume control.
2. Make all audio connections on the FreqOut as shown in the following diagram.
3. Plug the device connector of the supplied power supply into the POWER input jack and its power plug into an outlet.
4. Strike your guitar and gradually turn up your amplifier's master volume control until the desired volume level is reached.

Connection Diagram

The diagram shows the FreqOut pedal with its connections:

• INPUT: Connect your guitar here (labeled "EIN" for input).
• OUTPUT: Connect to your amplifier or next pedal (labeled "AUS" for output).
• POWER: Connect the 9VDC power supply (PS0913DC-NETZTEIL).
• OTHER PEDALS: Shows connections to other pedals via "EIN" (IN) and "AUS" (OUT) jacks.
• OPTIONAL: Indicates an optional connection.

Note: Use only unbalanced TS instrument cables.

NOTE: Since the FreqOut pedal emulates the interaction between your guitar and an amplifier, it is recommended to place it at the beginning of your effects chain. This provides a pure guitar signal and allows the pedal to properly generate the feedback overtones.

Specifications

Electronics

• Controls: Feedback, Momentary On/Off, Dry On/Off, Gain, Onset, Type, Effect On/Off
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > -106dB (A-weighted); ref = max level, 22 kHz bandwidth
• THD: 0.004% @ 1 kHz; ref = 1 dBu with unity gain
• A/D/A Converter: 24 bit

Input

• Input Type: 1/4" unbalanced (TS)
• Max. Input Level: +5 dBu
• Input Impedance: 1 MΩ (Effect engaged or effect bypassed with momentary switch engaged)
• True Bypass: (Effect bypassed with Momentary Switch Off)

Output

• Output Type: 1/4" unbalanced (TS)
• Max. Output Level: +10 dBu
• Output Impedance: 1 kΩ (Effect engaged or effect bypassed with momentary switch engaged)
• True Bypass: (Effect bypassed with Momentary Switch Off)

Physical Specifications

• Dimensions: 4.75" (L) x 2.875" (W) x 1.75" (H)
• Weight: 0.8 lbs. (0.363 kgs.)

Power

• Power Consumption: 2.1 Watts (235 mA @ 9VDC)
• Power Requirements: External 9-V-GS Adapter

Recommended Power Supply

• Power Supply: PS0913DC-04 (US, JA, EU, AU, UK)
• Polarity: +
• Output: 9 VDC 1.3 A

Contact & Support

WEB: digitech.com

SUPPORT: support@digitech.com

FreqOut User Manual
5082465-A

© 2022 CORTEK Corp. All rights reserved.
DigiTech is a registered trademark of CORTEK Corp.