Darkglass Exponent e500 User manual

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

DARKGLASS.COM
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 MANUAL v1.0
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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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EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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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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EXPONENT 500 MANUAL v1.0
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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