Engl Z15 User manual

Z15
MIDI Footswitch
Operator´s Manual

Table of Contents page:
Introduction
Features and Functionality at a Glance
at a Glance:
Control Panel Features:
Connections on the rear panel of the foot controller:
Detailed descriptions of functions with examples and tips
1. Selecting MIDI patches:
2. Global settings:
Handling and Care
Glossary
Troubleshooting
Technical data
Graphical view of the four controller curves
Wiring of Principal Connectors
Layout: Control panel and Rear panel
3
3
Three-digit, 7 Segment LED Display 9
, ,
& , & 12
Via 12
Via 13
Setting the MIDI send channel in the routine 13
Setting parameters for expression pedal 1 via 14
Setting parameters for expression pedal 2 via 14
15
Configuring to 16
17
17
18
21
22
23
23
MIDI Output Cont. Controller 1 Cont. Controller 2
Switch Loop 1 2 Switch Loop 1 2
MIDI Program Bank Mode
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
MIDI Channel Setup
Controller 1 Setup
Controller 2 Setup
Switch Loops 1 4
Operating modes and Setup routines
MIDI Program bank mode MIDI Program direct access mode
Controller Setup
MIDI Channel Setup Switch Loop Setup
Internal Continuous Controller
0
1 2
3 4 Up button
567
8 9
Down
Power Supply
, , 4
, , 5
button 5
button, button 6
button, button, LED 1, LED 2, LED 3, LED, 7
button, button, button, 8
button, button 9
button 10
, 11
Internal Continuous Controller
2

Congratulations on your choice! With the Z-15 MIDI Foot Controller, you now
own an extremely robust and very versatile MIDI foot controller housed in a fetching
stainless steel chassis.
Among the hallmarks of this Footpedal are painstaking workmanship and finishing as
well as rigorously tested and carefully selected quality components. You'll find
guidelines on care and maintenance on page 17. Under the heading Tips from the
designer, you'll come across practical tips on the aforementioned features throughout
the manual. All critical information concerning the operation of this Footswitch board
is preceded by "NOTE", "CAUTION", "Read and heed" or some other eye-catching
comment. We're calling your attention to these remarks for reasons of safety or other
compelling motives, so please give them due consideration.
Your first impression may be that
handling the foot controller is complicated, particularly if you work with expression
pedals and want to define their parameters. To nip frustration in the bud, I suggest
you follow along with the examples on pages 12 to 17. This will give you a better
understanding of and hands-on experience with the foot controller's functionality. In
no time at all, you'll discover that it actually handles very comfortably and
conveniently.
A quick rundown of its features and functionality follows. It:
A few words of wisdom from the designer:
1. selects 128 MIDI patches (MIDI program numbers or for short).
2. selects MIDI (send) channels 1 to 16.
3. offers two inputs that accept two expression pedals, equipped with
potentiometers.
4. enables controller numbers to be assigned freely to each expression pedal.
5. allows four different control curves to be assigned to every continuous controller.
6. offers a variable transmission rate (send interval) for controller words to affect
the response of the remote controlled function.
7. features four Switch Loops. Statuses (open/closed) may stored for each
of the 128 MIDI patches. This convenient feature allows four switching
functions for external devices to be executed simultaneously at the
touch of a single button on the Z-15.
8. selects MIDI patches in groups of ten patches called banks or directly,
with the latter requiring confirmation.
9. offers a special feature - button-operated Internal Continuous Controllers.
10. A very practical power supply option: via a 5-pin MIDI cord connected to
ENGL amps, power amps or preamps equipped with a MIDI IN port featuring
phantom power that is enabled via the "ENGL MIDI Foot Controller" switch.
An outboard power unit is not required for this type of configuration.
1. Z-15 MIDI Foot Controller
2. This manual
MPN
Contents:
3

Control Panel Features
At page 23 of the manual, you'll find diagrams of the front panel.
In this section, we'll first look at the two operating modes and setup routines.
Please refer also to the condensed instructions printed on the control panel.
For purposes of clarity, buttons and their functions are shown in letters,
while readouts appearing in the display are bracketed by the symbols >...<.
is short for MIDI program number. In this manual, an is also called a MIDI
patch. Not to be confused with a MIDI channel!
In this mode, the foot controller lets you access directly groups of ten MIDI patches
each in the currently active bank by pressing the 0 to 9 buttons (Exception: MPN 000
and MPN 129, which do not exist). Use the and buttons to change from one
bank to another. activates automatically when the foot
controller is switched on.
Providing an alternative means of MIDI patch selection, in this mode and
serve to select MIDI patches in ascending and descending order, respectively. Press the
button to confirm and send the program change command. To activate this mode,
press the button in the first bank 00x until >Cn.1< appears in the display. Press the
button until the flashes in the display. Confirm your MIDI patch selection by
pressing the button or select the desired by pressing or . There is
another method of activating : Press in the last
bank 12x until >Cn.2< appears in the display. Press again until the flashes in the
display. Confirm the selected MIDI patch by pressing . In this mode, you can operate
the Internal Continuous Controller using the , and buttons, and configure Switch
Loops directly using the , , and buttons once you have confirmed the . In
other words you can program Switch Loops for each selected .
This setup routine serves to define specific parameters for and
. To access , press for about three seconds in the first bank 00x
until the display reads >Cn.1<. To access , press in the last bank 12x
for about three seconds until the display reads >Cn.2<. Select the controller number via
or , the control curve via the , , and buttons, and the send interval for
controller commands via the , , and buttons. To cancel and exit a
routine without programming or storing edited parameters, press twice, in
which case >End< appears in the display. Press to store the edited parameters, in
which case the display reads >Pro<.
italic
MPN MPN
Up Down
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Up Down
40 9
MPN
4 MPN Up Down
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode 9
9 MPN
4
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 MPN
MPN
continuous controllers 1
2 Controller 1 Setup 0 Controller 2 Setup 9
Up Down 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 Controller
Setup 9
0
MPN
MIDI Program bank mode
MIDI Program direct access mode
Controller Setup
:
:
:
:
4

MIDI Channel Setup
Switch Loop Setup
Internal Continuous Controller
Cn.1 Setup
:
:
:
This is also a setup routine; it serves to determine the MIDI channel by which MIDI data
are sent. To activate the routine, press and buttons
simultaneously for about three seconds until >c< appears at the display's first position,
followed by the currently selected MIDI channel, for example, >c12< for MIDI channel
12. Press or to select or change the MIDI send channel. To cancel and exit the
routine without programming or storing edited parameters,
press , in which case >End< appears in the display. Press to store the edited
parameters, in which case the display reads >Pro<
The four internal ( , , and ) are configured in
. You can program any desired Switch Loop configuration
to all 128 MIDI patches. First confirm the selected MIDI patch by pressing . Press the
buttons ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( )
to activate and deactivate the four . The four red LEDs below the display
light up to indicate the given switch loop is set to closed status. Press to store the
edited status; the display will read >Pro<.
This is a special MIDI foot controller function that is accessible in
e. When you enable it, use and as up and down buttons to increase and
decrease controller values (and vice versa in the case of a negative curve). When you
use this function, it responds according to the parameters programmed in the
routine in which you called up .
Though this may strike you being confusing, it's actually quite simple. You'll find a
detailed description with an example in section 2. on page 15. When you initially press
button , it sends the initial value (either , depending on the selected curve);
when you press it a second time, it sends the most recently selected controller value.
The Internal Continuous Controller is deactivated when both external continuous
controllers are in use or an external expression pedal is connected to the continuous
controller whose setup routine you used to activate
.
Select the MIDI patch xx0 in . When banks 1x - 12x are active,
pressing this button sends MIDI patch 10, 20, 30 and so forth up to 120 in accordance
with the selected bank.
MIDI patch 0 is not indicated as an actual number (in accordance with the MIDI
specification, 0hex corresponds to >001< ). When you press this button, the display
reads >00-<, with a dash rather than a number appearing at the far right position.
This setup routine serves to determine parameter values for .
MIDI Channel Setup Up Down
Up Down
MIDI Channel Setup
9 0
Switch Loops Switch Loop 1 2 3 4 MIDI
Program Direct Access Mode 4
5 Switch Loop 1 6 Switch Loop 2 7 Switch Loop 3 8 Switch Loop 4
Switch Loops 0
MIDI Program Direct
Access Mod 1 2
Controller Setup MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
3
MIDI Program Direct Access
Mode
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Continuous Controller 1
A detailed look at control and display features as well as ports and connectors
follows:
Note:
0 button
0 or 127
5

The first bank 00x must be active in order to access this routine. Press and hold the
button for about three seconds until the display reads >Cn.1<.
This feature serves to store initial and edited settings for
-> the MIDI channels in the routine;
-> the various parameters for and
(parameters are configured in Controller Setup routine;
-> the switching statuses of , , and in
. Press the button until >Pro< appears in the display
to indicate the write operation has been successfully concluded.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 01, 11, 21, 31 and so forth up to 121 within the selected bank.
When the or routine is enabled, this button
selects a positive linear curve (that is, a uniformly ascending curve) for the selected
continuous controller.
This option decreases controller values for the special
function available in . Note that if it is assigned to a
given controller's descending or negative curve, controller values increase when you
press the button. The send interval setting determines the rate at which the control
operation (that is, the speed at which controller values are sent) is executed when the
button is pressed. The parameters defining the , and
are determined by the configuration stored in the
routine from which you selected . You'll find a
detailed description with an example on page 15 and 16.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 02, 12, 22, 32 and so forth up to 122 within the selected bank.
When the or routine is enabled, this button
selects a negative linear curve (that is, a uniformly descending curve) for the selected
continuous controller.
This option increases controller values for the special r
function available in . Note that if it is assigned to a
given controller's negative curve, controller values decrease when you press the
button. The send interval setting determines the rate at which the control operation
(that is, the speed at which controller values are sent) is executed when the button is
pressed. The parameters defining the , and
are determined by the configuration stored in the routine
from which you selected . You'll find a detailed
description with an example on page 15 and 16.
MIDI Channel Setup
Continuous Controller 1
Continuous Controller 2 Switch Loops 1 2 3 4 MIDI Program Direct
Access Mode
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
Internal Continuous Controller
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
characteristic curve send interval
controller number Controller Setup
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
Internal Continuous Controlle
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
characteristic curve send interval controller
number Controller Setup
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
1
2
button
button
Write
Linear Positive
Cn. value down
Linear Negative
Cn. value up
:
:
6

3
4
Switch Loop 1
Switch Loop 2
Switch Loop 3
Switch Loop 4
Up
button
button
LED 1 - Indicator
LED 2 - Indicator
LED 3 - Indicator
LED 4 - Indicator
button
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 03, 13, 23, 33 and so forth up to 123 within the selected bank.
When the or routine is enabled, this button
selects a positive logarithmic curve (ascending according to a predetermined
logarithmic curve) for the selected r.
This option switches between the current (most recently sent) and the initial controller
value marking the beginning of the curve ( , depending on the selected
characteristic curve) for the special function. This
function is available in . You'll find a detailed
description with an example on page 15 and 16.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 04, 14, 24, 34 and so forth up to 124 within the selected bank.
When the or routine is enabled, this button
selects a negative logarithmic curve (descending according to a predetermined
logarithmic curve) for the selected .
In , the MIDI patch selected via or is
confirmed using this button, whereupon it is sent to the port.
This LED indicates the status of . LED lights up -> closed.
This LED indicates the status of . LED lights up -> closed.
This LED indicates the status of . LED lights up -> closed.
This LED indicates the status of . LED lights up -> closed.
When you press this button in , it selects the next higher
bank above the current bank (say, to go from 1x to 2x). The digit appearing at the ones
position flashes to indicate that you have left the current bank and that you must send
a MIDI program change message by entering the desired patch number (0 - 9). Once
you have entered an , the display indicates the selected MIDI patch and the ones
position stops flashing. To access a more remote bank, step to it by pressing the button
repeatedly or fast-forward to it by pressing and holding this button.
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
continuous controlle
Internal Continuous Controller
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
continuous controller
MIDI Program Direct Bank Mode Up Down
MIDI Out
Switch Loop 1 Switch Loop 1
Switch Loop 2 Switch Loop 2
Switch Loop 3 Switch Loop 3
Switch Loop 4 Switch Loop 4
MIDI Program Bank Mode
MPN
Up - Bank
Log. Positive
Cn. initial value
Log. Negative
confirm MPN
0 or 127
7

Up MPN
Up controller number
Up MIDI channel
Cn. S. I. 10ms
Switch Loop 1
Cn. S. I. 20ms
Switch Loop 2
Cn. S. I. 30ms
-
-
-
Press this button in to select MIDI patches directly.
Every time you press the button, the MIDI patch number increases by one. Pressing
and holding the button causes MIDI patches to scroll continuously in ascending order.
The display flashes, indicating the selected patch, until you confirm your selection by
pressing the button. The selected MIDI patch is sent to the port.
When you press this button in the given routine for
and , controller numbers increase by one, starting
from the currently assigned controller number, with each push of this button.
When you press this button in the routine, MIDI channel numbers
increase by one, starting from the currently assigned MIDI channel number, with each
push of this button
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 05, 15, 25, 35 and so forth up to 125 within the selected bank.
When you press this button in the and routines, it
sets a send interval of 10 ms (milliseconds) for the selected continuous controller's
value output rate.
In , this button lets you configure ;
that is, close or open it. LED 1 lights up to indicate it is closed.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 06, 16, 26, 36 and so forth up to 126 within the selected bank.
When you press this button in the and routines, it
sets a send interval of 20 ms (milliseconds) for the selected continuous controller's
value output rate.
In , this button lets you configure ;
that is, close or open it. LED 2 lights up to indicate it is closed.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 07, 17, 27, 37 and so forth up to 127 within the selected bank.
When you press this button in the and routines, it
sets a send interval of 30 ms (milliseconds) for the selected continuous controller's
value output rate.
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
4 MIDI Out
Controller Setup Continuous
Controller 1 Continuous Controller 2
MIDI Channel Setup
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode Switch Loop 1
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode Switch Loop 2
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
5
6
7
button
button
button
.
8

Switch Loop 3
Cn. S. I. 50ms
Switch Loop 4
Cn.2 Setup
End
MIDI Program Bank Mode
MIDI Channel Setup
Controller Setup
In , this button lets you configure ;
that is, close or open it. LED 3 lights up to indicate it is closed.
When you press this button in , the foot controller activates
MIDI patch 08, 18, 28, 38 and so forth up to 128 within the selected bank.
When you press this button in the and routines, it
sets a send interval of 50 ms (milliseconds) for the selected continuous controller's
value output rate.
In , this button lets you configure ;
that is, close or open it. LED 4 lights up to indicate it is closed.
This feature selects MIDI patch xx9 in . When you press this
button in banks 00x - 11x, a MIDI program message is sent to go to patch x9 in the
selected bank; that is, 09, 19, 29, 39 and so forth up to 119.
There is no MIDI patch number 129. When the button is pressed in the last
bank, the display reads >12-<, with a dash rather than a number appearing at the far
right position.
This function selects , which serves to configure the parameters for
: This setup routine can only be activated from the last bank
12x. Press and hold the button for about three seconds until the display reads >Cn.2<.
This function provides access to . Press the button to
switch from or to
. To quit , press this button again; the display
reads >End<.
In this mode, the display indicates the MIDI program number ( ). After changing
to another bank of ten patches, the digit at the far right flashes until a new patch is
selected and a program change message is sent by activating one of the to buttons.
The right digit in the display stops flashing when you return to the bank in which the
last MIDI patch was selected. After the foot controller is powered up, the ENGL logo
runs across the display until a button is activated.
In this mode, the display indicates the selected MIDI channel. After switching to
, >c< for channel appears along with the selected MIDI channel number
(example: >c12< for MIDI channel 12).
In this mode, the display indicates >Cn.1< or >Cn.2<, depending on the activated
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode Switch Loop 3
MIDI Program Bank Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode Switch Loop 4
MIDI Program Bank Mode
9
Controller 2 Setup
Continuous Controller 2
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
Controller 1 Setup Controller 2 Setup MIDI Program Direct Access
Mode MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
MPN
0 9
MIDI
Channel Setup
8
9
button
button
Three-digit, 7 Segment LED Display
Note:
In
In
In
9

Controller Setup
Continuous Controller 1
Continuous Controller 2
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
4
0
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
MIDI Channel Setup 9
Controller SetupMIDI Out
MIDI Out
Continuous Controller 1
Continuous Controller 2
Continuous Controller 1
MIDI Program Bank Mode
MPN
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
Routine. After about two seconds, the display shows the assigned
controller number. After about another two seconds, it indicates the curve assigned to
the continuous controller and the selected send interval for the given continuous
controller. The decimal point in the middle segment of the display indicates
parameters and controller values assigned to . The decimal
points at the center and at the right of the display indicate parameters and controller
values assigned to .
When in , the display indicates MIDI patches. When
the foot controller is set to this mode, the MIDI program numbers in the display flash
until you confirm them by pressing .
When you press button to store MIDI channels, MIDI controller parameters or switch
loop configurations, the display reads >Pro<.
The display indicates >End< when exiting and when
canceling without storing configurations by pressing the
button.
Immediately after you plug in an external expression pedal, the display indicates in
successive order the parameters assigned to it in the given as well as
the current controller value. At the same time, the controller value is sent to .
When you manipulate the external expression pedal, the display no longer shows MIDI
program numbers, indicating instead the controller values it is sending to . To
help you identify and distinguish between the two external continuous controllers, a
decimal point appears in the middle or tens position of the display to indicate
parameters and controller values assigned to . Parameters and
controller values assigned to the external are indicated via a
decimal point appearing in the display's right ones and middle tens positions.
Controller values are not preceded by zeros to make it easier to distinguish between
controller values and MIDI patches appearing in the display. For example, if
sends a controller value of 6, the display reads >.6< .
In the event that the operating voltage dips below the required level, the display will
read >Ulo<. The display reads >Uhi< in the event of excess power.
When you press this button in , it selects the next lower bank
below the current bank (say, to go from 5x -> 4x). The digit appearing at the ones
position flashes to indicate that you have left the current bank and that you must send
a MIDI program change message by entering the desired patch number (0 - 9). Once
you have entered an , the display indicates the selected MIDI patch and the ones
position stops flashing. To access a more remote bank, step to it by pressing the button
repeatedly or fast-forward to it by pressing and holding this button.
When you press this button in , it selects MIDI
In
For operations
When quitting modes via
When connecting an expression pedal
Power monitoring
-
-
MIDI Program Direct Access Mode
Write
End
Down Bank
Down MPN
Down button
10