Darkglass Exponent e500 User manual

DARKGLASS.COM
EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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OWNER'S MANUAL

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EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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Contents
Before we get started� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4
Select the correct voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Use an appropriate load and cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Use the right MIDI cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Exponent 500 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �5
Getting started � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �6
Connecting your gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Potentiometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Preset button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Mute button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Chromatic tuner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Clipping indicators � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �7
Quick-Pots � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8
Using the Darkglass Suite� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9
Connecting to the Suite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Basic navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Presets view � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10
Presets � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11
Creating a preset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Adding effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Editing the signal chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Editing effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Quick-Pot Binding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Preset color selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Storing presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Previewing, sharing, and loading presets. . . . . . . . . . . 18
Importing presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Tips and tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Quick effect actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Quick preset actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Effects � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Amp EQ ........................................21
Darkglass GEQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Generic GEQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cabsim .........................................21
Compression. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
FET compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Distortion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Alpha Omicron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Microtubes B3K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Vintage Microtubes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Mint Chocolate Chorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Flamingo Flanger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
mo**erf***er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Time Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

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Plate Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Hall Reverb .....................................23
Room Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Digital Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Preamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Leo Bass ........................................23
Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
suppressor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
MIDI � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �25
MIDI switch type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
USB MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
MIDI configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
USB audio interface � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26
USB audio channel routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Bluetooth audio � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26
Settings� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �27
Custom name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Automatic speaker mute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Firmware update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Technical specification � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28
Warning � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
Warranty� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29

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EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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Before we get started
Welcome to Exponent 500! Before we get start-
ed, there are a few things we need to do to
make sure your Exponent stays in tip-top shape!
Select the correct voltage
Before plugging in e, please ensure that the voltage
selector on the back of the unit is set to the correct
mains voltage.
Use an appropriate load and cables
The speaker output has a minimum load of 4 .
Never use the speaker output with an instrument cable.
e500 can be operated without a cabinet.
Use the right MIDI cable
Use the 7-pin MIDI connector only with the Darkglass
MIDI footswitch.
Usethe5-pin MIDI connectorwith other MIDI equipment.

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Exponent 500

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EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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Getting started
Connecting your gear
Connect your instrument with an instrument cable to
the main ¼” input jack on the front panel.
Connect to one or more of the following:
• Mixing desk or audio interface with the XLR output
• Headphones to the headphone output
• Outboard gear to the FX loop
• Speaker output to a cabinet using the speakON
Combo jack
• 4  minimum load
• A speakON or a ¼” speaker cable can be used.
• Never use an instrument cable.
KBy default, the speaker output is muted when
headphones are connected. This can be disabled in the
Darkglass Suite.
Potentiometers
There are seven potentiometers on the front face of e.
Set input gain with the INPUT pot.
Set master volume with the MASTER pot.
The XLR output is unaffected by the MASTER volume.
The remaining five pots are Exponent 500’s Quick-Pots.
Changes to the Quick-Pots are automatically saved.
K The current position of each Quick-Pot is always shown
on its surrounding LEDs.
Preset button
Pressing the preset button changes through presets 1
to 5 and a bypass signal. The current preset is shown
with a single LED next to the preset number. When e
is bypassed, all preset LEDs show a dim white color.
Long-press the preset button to start Bluetooth pairing.
All preset LEDs will breathe white while pairing is active.
Mute button
Pressing the mute button toggles mute on the physical
outputs. When e is muted, all preset LEDs will
illuminate with a dim red color.
KFX send and USB audio outputs are unaffected by the
mute control.
Chromatic tuner
The chromatic tuner is always active in both bypass and
mute and tunes to any note between A0 to A#5.
The note being tuned is shown on the matching Quick-
Pot letter: tuning A shows on Quick-Pot A, tuning B
shows on Quick-Pot B, and so on.
• Tuning F is shown on Quick-Pots A and B.
• Tuning G is shown on Quick-Pots D and E.
Sharp notes are displayed on the preset LEDs, when the
dim preset LEDs turn fully bright.

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Clipping indicators
Exponent 500 has clipping indicators that show signal
clipping at different parts of the signal chain.
Exponent 500’s Quick-Pots flash red while clipping.
When Quick-Pots A and Bflash red, the instrument
input is clipping. Reduce input gain with the INPUT pot.
When Quick-Pots D and E flash red, at least one of the
outputs is clipping (XLR/speaker/headphones). Reduce
the level of the signal chain, or use the Mixer E to
reduce the output levels.
When Quick-Pots C and Dflash red, the FX return is
clipping. Reduce the output volume of your outboard
effects.
When Quick-Pots B and Cflash red, the FX send is
clipping. Reduce the level of the signal going to the FX
send in the Darkglass Suite.
In the Darkglass Suite, you can use the Mixer E to
individually adjust the levels of each output and the FX
send/return.
Input Clipping
Output Clipping
Effects Return Clipping
Effects Send Clipping

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Quick-Pots
There are five Quick-Pots on Exponent 500’s front panel.
By default, these pots are mapped to the Amp EQ’s four
frequency bands and a preset-specific control.
In the Darkglass Suite, you can freely bind the Quick-
Pots to your selection of any five controls from the
effects in your signal chain.
The Quick-Pot feedback shown on the ring of LEDs
depends on the type of control that is bound. The color
displayed on the Quick-Pot is determined by the type of
the effect it is bound to.
For example, a Quick-Pot bound to one of the Amp EQ’s
bands is centered at the 12 o’clock position. Moving the
pot left of center reduces the band’s level, and moving
the pot right of center increases the band’s level.
A Quick-Pot bound to the FET Compressor ratio will act
like a switch with five positions. Similarly, bypass and
other switch controls show the appropriate feedback.
And, of course, Quick-Pots can act like traditional
potentiometers.
Quick-Pots are bound if there is a color on the center
RGB LED. Quick-Pots without bindings have no LED
feedback.
Changes to the Quick-Pots are automatically saved to
the active preset.
Default bindings on
Factory 2
Custom preset and
bindings

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Using the Darkglass Suite
Exponent 500 comes preloaded with five versatile
factory presets. Using e with the Darkglass Suite isn’t
necessary, but we recommend it!
Darkglass Suite unlocks the full potential of Exponent
500 by providing an interface to interact and modify the
signal chain running on each preset.
Use the iOS or Android versions of the Darkglass Suite
to create, edit, share, and apply presets. Please make
sure your Darkglass Suite version is 4.3.0 or newer!
Connecting to the Suite
Long-press the preset button to start Bluetooth pairing.
The preset LEDs will breathe white while pairing.
Open the Darkglass Suite and press Pair. After a short
moment, you should be connected and the Pedal Board
will be visible.
Basic navigation
The Pedal Board is the main overview of your signal
chain where you can construct your presets.
One preset is shown at a time. Each of the five presets
can be accessed using the five dots at the bottom of the
screen.
KTip: Pressing an active preset’s dot will switch to e500’s
bypass channel!
The signal chain is processed from top to bottom.
Effects at the top of the signal chain are processed
first, and their output is fed into the next effect, and
so on. Physical outputs are shown as smaller blocks,
representing the FX loop Q, speaker output S, XLR
output T, and headphones .
Pedal Board

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Presets view
Pressing on the preset name on the Pedal Board opens
the Presets view. This contains a list of all of your presets.
By default, this list contains the five factory presets.
Other presets that you store or import will also be found
in this list.
Press the Signal chain button Fto return to the signal
chain overview.
Press the Import button Jto import presets via preset
sharing codes.
Preset syncing with the MyPedal Cloud is coming soon!
Presets view

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Presets
On Exponent 500, you have full control over each
preset’s signal chain. Effect configuration, placement in
the signal chain, physical output and FX loop routing,
Quick-Pot bindings… it’s up to you!
There are only a couple rules. There is a maximum of
eight effects per preset, and the total CPU load of the
effects in your preset cannot exceed 100%. Only one
cabinet simulation effect can be added to each preset.
The MASTER volume level is global on Exponent 500
and is not part of the preset data.
Creating a preset
Let’s create a preset! To speed things up in this example,
we’ve already added a Vintage Microtubes and a
Flamingo Flanger to the signal chain.
To add an effect to the signal chain, press the + button
at the bottom of the signal chain to browse the list of
effects.
Current signal chain on
preset 1

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Adding effects
Open the list of effects by pressing + at the bottom of
the signal chain.
Every effect available is listed here. Scroll through the
list to find EQs, compressors, distortions, modulations,
and utilities.
Selecting an effect from the list of effects opens the
Effect Explorer. This shows a preview of the effect, a
short description, and a CPU load value if this effect is
added to the signal chain.
Note that an effect must be added to the signal chain
before it has an audible effect and can be tweaked!
K Tip: Swipe left and right in the Effect Explorer to
preview effects in the list!
Press the Load button Dto add the effect to the signal
chain.
In this example, the Hall Reverb is being added to the
signal chain.
List of effects
Effect explorer

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Editing the signal chain
By default, effects added to the signal chain are placed
at the top of the signal chain.
Move effects and the outputs/FX loop by dragging and
dropping each block.
In this example, the Hall Reverb is moved after the
XLR output. This means that the processed instrument
signal sent to the XLR output has only been processed
with the Vintage Microtubes and Flamingo Flanger.
The same signal is then processed with the Hall Reverb,
and sent to the FX loop, speaker output, and headphones
output.
Use the Mixer Eto set the levels of each of the outputs
and FX send/return. Mixer settings are unique to each
preset.
Default placement
Reverb moved in chainMixer

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Editing effects
Tap on any effect in the signal chain to bring up the
Effect View.
In the Effect View, you can interact with the effects in
your current signal chain. Changes made in the Suite
will be updated in real-time on Exponent 500.
Swipe up and down in the Effect View to view and edit
each effect in your signal chain.
The current effect’s CPU load Dis shown along with
the total CPU load of the current preset.
Press the Reset button Hto reset the effect’s settings
back to default.
KTip: Press the effect name at the bottom of the Effect
View to swap effects in place!
Note that updating effects with the Quick-Pots and
changing presets with the preset button does not auto-
matically refresh in the Suite. Pull-to-refresh the signal
chain or change presets with the Suite to pull the latest
changes from Exponent 500.
Press the Binding button Ato access the Quick-Pot
Bindings.
Effect View

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Quick-Pot Binding
Press the Binding button Ato access the Quick-Pot
Binding view.
Here, you can select five controls from your signal chain
to bind to the front panel of Exponent 500.
Swipe up and down to select an effect from your signal
chain.
Tap on a control to open the binding menu. In the bind-
ing menu, you can select which Quick-Pot the control is
mapped to.
In this example, the Vintage Microtubes drive is bound
to Quick-Pot E.
KTip: Tap on bound Quick-Pots to jump to that effect in
the Binding view!
To unbind a Quick-Pot, tap on the bound control. Select
Unbind from the Binding menu.
Binding menu
Binding menu

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Preset color selection
Each preset has a unique color assigned to it.
Long-press on the preset dot at the bottom of the
screen to open the color selection�
Color changes are automatically applied and saved to
Exponent 500.
The color will be visible on the front panel preset LEDs
when the preset is active.
Preset color selection

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Storing presets
Presets and changes made directly on Exponent 500 are
automatically saved to Exponent 500’s internal memory.
While Exponent 500 has five preset channels, you can
store as many presets as you like in the Darkglass Suite.
These presets can then be applied to one of Exponent
500’s preset channels or shared with a preset sharing
code.
From the pedal board, press the Store button Ito store
the preset in the Presets view. Give the preset a name
and author and press Store.
The signal chain configuration, effect settings, output
and FX loop routing, Quick-Pot bindings, preset color,
and mixer settings are stored in the preset.
Storing a preset
Stored preset in the
presets view

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Previewing, sharing, and loading presets
From the Presets view, tap on a stored preset to open
the Preset Preview. This allows you to preview the
preset’s signal chain, Quick-Pot bindings Aand mixer
E settings . The preset name and author can also be
modified.
Presets can be shared with others. Press the Copy
button O to generate a preset sharing code. This code
is automatically copied to your clipboard.
KTip: Preset sharing codes also work as offline backups!
Press the Load preset button Cto load the preset to
a preset channel of your choice. When loading presets,
Exponent 500 will automatically change to the correct
preset channel.
Preset preview
Loading a preset

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Importing presets
Import presets via preset sharing codes using the
Import button J in the Presets view.
When the preset sharing code is on your clipboard,
press Paste preset code to enter the code. The name
and author of the preset is shown after pasting.
Press Import to open the Preset Preview. You can
preview the preset’s name and author, signal chain,
Quick-Pot bindings A , and mixer settings E. .
Store the preset in your preset list by pressing the Store
button .
The preset is now stored in your list of presets.
Importing a preset
Previewing the imported
preset

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Tips and tricks
Quick effect actions
Quickly bypass an effect by swiping left on the effect
and pressing the Bypass button L. This is equivalent to
bypassing the effect in the Effect View.
Delete effects from the signal chain with the delete
button R.
Quick preset actions
Swipe left on stored presets in the Presets view to quickly
load presets C or delete them Rfrom the preset list.
Factory presets cannot be deleted.
Swipe left to bypass/delete Bypassed effect Swipe left to load or delete
preset