Fender SWITCHBOARD User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
ENGLISH

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
CONTROL PANEL 1
REAR PANEL 2
BASICS AND SETUP 3
CONTROL FUNCTIONS 5
Navigation 5
Modes 5
Edit Menu 6
Tuner 6
LOOP MODE 7
Entering Loop Mode 7
Loop Mode Screen 7
Eects On/O 8
Footswitch On/O 8
Internal Volume Pedal 9
Entering Edit Menu 9
LOOP MODE EDITOR 9
Entering Loop Mode Editor 9
Loop Mode Editor Screen 10
LOOP MODE: CREATING PRESETS 14
Save to Favorites 15
Save to Bank 15
BANK MODE 16
Entering Bank Mode 16
Bank Mode Screen 16
Bank Mode: Activating Presets 16
Bank Mode: Scrolling 17
PRESET EDITOR 19
Entering Preset Editor 19
Preset Live Loop Control 19
Preset Editor Screen 20
BANK MODE: CREATING PRESETS 23
FAVORITES 24
Favorites Editor 24
Creating Favorites 24
Loading Favorites to Preset Slots 24
Converting Favorites to Presets 25
BANK EDITING 25
Renaming Banks 25
Editing/Clearing Bank Presets 26
Editing Bank Order 26
GLOBAL SETTINGS 27
EXP Pedal Calibration 27
Loop Color 27
Screen Brightness 27
Display Mode 28
LED Brightness 28
Momentary Switching 28
Version 28
FIRMWARE UPDATES 29
FACTORY RESET 29
SPECIFICATIONS 29
Click on any item below to go to that section; click any page
number to return to the table of contents.

This owner’s manual provides a thorough guide to the features and function of the Switchboard Eects Op-
erator. It’s the ultimate pedalboard control solution—a versatile command center and performance-friendly
footswitch interface that lets you toggle pedal groups on and o, reorganize your signal path and even
change setting on MIDI-enabled pedals. With a built-in tuner, input/output buers, internal volume pedal
and 500 presets slots to save your tones, Switchboard unleashes the full potential of your pedalboard.
1
CONTROL PANEL
A. FOOTSWITCH : Multi-function footswitch used to
toggle loop  on and o, engage preset  or select
the currently highlighted menu item. Press and hold
footswitch to toggle a loop or preset momentarily for
as long as the footswitch is pressed.
B. FOOTSWITCH 2: Multi-function footswitch used
to toggle loop 2 on and o and engage preset 2.
Press and hold footswitch to toggle a loop or preset
momentarily for as long as the footswitch is pressed.
C. FOOTSWITCH 3:Multi-function footswitch used
to toggle loop 3 on and o and engage preset 3.
Press and hold footswitch to toggle a loop or preset
momentarily for as long as the footswitch is pressed.
D. FOOTSWITCH 4:Multi-function footswitch used to
toggle Loop 4 on and o, engage preset 4, or return to
previous menu. Press and hold footswitch to toggle
a loop or preset momentarily for as long as the
footswitch is pressed.
E. FOOTSWITCH 5: Multi-function footswitch used to
change modes, toggle loop 5 on and o and move
down in the current menu.
F. FOOTSWITCH FS: Multi-function footswitch used
to activate internal tuner, toggle FTSW out jack
conductors on and o and move up in the current
menu.
G. DISPLAY WINDOW: Full-color LCD shows current
mode and parameter/bank selections.
H. ENCODER: Multi-function rotary control with press-
switch function. For viewing, selecting and adjusting
presets, settings and other functions.
SWITCHBOARD EFFECTS OPERATOR

2
REAR PANEL
I. MONO/STEREO SWITCH: Selects between mono (TS
jack) and stereo (TRS jack) operation for loop  return
and output jacks. Set to STEREO for use with stereo
eect pedals in loop .
J. INPUT: ¼” mono instrument input (high impedance).
K. OUTPUT: Stereo-capable ¼” output (low-impedance)
for connecting to amplier or next pedal in signal path.
L. LOOP 1 SEND/RETURN: ¼” mono send and return
jacks for connecting a pedal to eect loop 1. Connect
the Switchboard send jack to the eect pedal input
jack and the Switchboard return jack to the eect pedal
output jack.
M. LOOP 2 SEND/RETURN: ¼” mono send and return
jacks for connecting a pedal to eect loop 2.
N. LOOP 3 SEND/RETURN: ¼” mono send and return
jacks for connecting a pedal to eect loop 3.
O. LOOP 4 SEND/RETURN: ¼” mono send and return
jacks for connecting a pedal to eect loop 4.
P. LOOP 5 SEND/RETURN: ¼” mono send and stereo
cable return jacks for connecting an effect pedal to
effect loop 5. Any stereo effects should be placed
here.
Q. EXP PEDAL: ¼”TRS jack for connecting an expression
pedal.
R. FTSW OUT: ¼”TRS jack for latching or momentary
footswitch control; for use with many amplifier and
effect pedal controls such as channel switching,
reverb on/off, tap tempo and more.
S.MIDI OUT: Connect external MIDI device here to
send MIDI PC and CC messages.
T. USB-C: USB-C jack for firmware updates.
U. POWER IN: Connect a 2.1mm center-negative 9VDC
power supply rated at 500mA or more. Switchboard
can be powered by most pedalboard power supplies;
check your power supply manual for compatibility.

BASICS AND SETUP
SIGNAL PATH AND LOOPS
Switchboard gives the user complete control over
the signal path—the route a signal takes from an
instrument through eect pedals and other ele-
ments into an amp. The order of eects in a signal
path greatly aects the resulting tone; using ef-
fects loops, Switchboard can recongure the order
and status (ON or bypassed) of your pedals.
Switchboard shows the signal path using a graphic
display. Read left (input) to right (output), the order
and status of each eect loop is indicated using loop icons numbered 1-5, while the order and status of the
internal volume pedal is indicated by the Volume Pedal icon.
PRESETS AND BANKS
Switchboard saves signal paths and parameter combinations into 400 preset slots, each of which includes
the preset name, signal path arrangement, buer status, footswitch status and any assigned MIDI messages.
Presets are stored in groups of four called banks. Switchboard’s 100 banks can be named and are easily
scrolled through using foot controls in Bank Mode. Recalling presets lets the player rearrange the signal path
and turn multiples pedals on and o with the push of a single footswitch.
One example of organizing a bank is to name it after a particular song, then save up to four presets in it us-
ing names of specic sections of the song, such as INTRO, VERSE, CHORUS and SOLO.
3
PRESET
5
B1
B2
2
3
4
1
V
FTSW:
T
R
FAVORITES
In addition to the 400 preset slots noted above, 100 more Favorite slots are available. Saving a preset as a
Favorite is a fast and eective way to use it in multiple banks simultaneously. Favorite presets are easily load-
ed into any preset slot across all banks, and all instances of a given Favorite are linked so that any changes
made in the Favorite editor automatically update in all preset slots where the Favorite is saved.
LOOP 3
ON
LOOP 2
OFF
LOOP 5
ON
LOOP 4
ON
VOLUME
PEDAL
ON
BASIC PRESET SAMPLE BANK
LOOP 1
OFF
SLOT 1 SLOT 2 SLOT 3 SLOT 4 SLOT 5 SLOT 6
1
2
3
5
4
V
1
2
3
5
4
V
4
- PRESET NAME 004
3
- PRESET NAME 003
2
- PRESET NAME 002
1
- PRESET NAME 001
01 : BANK NAME 01
5
2
1
3
4
V
3
5
2
4
V
1
1
2
V
5
4
3

4
SETUP
To setup Switchboard, organize your pedals into ve groups and assign each of these to one of the ve num-
bered rear-panel SEND/RETURN jack pairs, referred to from right to left as loops 1 through 5. Ten patch cables are
needed to connect all ve loops to Switchboard. For stereo operation, Loop 5 requires the left and right signals
to be converted into TRS patch cable (left tip/right ring) going into the Loop 5 RETURN jack.
For more advanced control, Switchboard can send footswitch control to an amp, send MIDI messages to
external gear, and control the internal volume pedal using a TRS expression pedal. The rear-panel FTSW jack
is compatible with amps and pedals that can operate with a TRS (double footswitch) or TS (single footswitch)
ground-shorting pedal (refer to your amplier’s manual for compatibility).
SETUP TIPS
• PHYSICAL PLACEMENT: For easy access to its input and output, placing Switchboard at lower right on a pedalboard is
recommended.
• SIGNAL PATH PLACEMENT: Place Switchboard as close to the beginning of your signal path as possible to make full use
of its onboard tuner, internal volume pedal and high-quality buers. Note that Switchboard’s internal buers can
be turned o for use with impedance-sensitive pedals (such as a vintage fuzz) in one of the loops.
• GROUPING LOOPS 1-4: Loops 1 through 4 can be rearranged in any order quickly and easily. Consider how your pedals
physically t on your pedalboard when assigning them to loop numbers—for example, you may want to place reverb
near the end of the signal path, but the pedal may t best on your board closest to the loop 1 SEND and RETURN jacks.
To minimize cable runs and maximize pedalboard space, use loop 1 for reverb and rearrange Switchboard’s internal loop
order to place loop 1 near the end of the signal path.
• LOOP 5: Loop 5 is stereo enabled, oering the ability to send output from stereo eects (a ping-pong delay, for
example) to a stereo input or two ampliers. To enable stereo output, switch the rear-panel STEREO SELECTION
SWITCH to STEREO. Note that Loop 5 can only send a stereo signal when it is in the last position in the signal path;
placing any other loop or the volume pedal after Loop 5 in the signal path will defeat the stereo eect and result
in a summed mono signal being sent to both left (tip) and right (ring) Switchboard outputs.
• PATCH CABLES: Straight-ended patch cables are recommended to connect eect loops to Switchboard, minimizing
cable overlap and rear-panel interference.
FTSW
CONNECT TO AMP
OR PEDAL
FOOTSWITCH JACK EXP PEDAL
MIDI PC/CC
COMMANDS

5
CONTROL FUNCTIONS
MODES
Switchboard operates in two modes—LOOP MODE and BANK MODE, both of which put exible and reliable
real-time eect control conveniently at your feet. Both modes can be changed at any time during operation with
the work done in each remaining in place until the user returns, providing two active pathways for performing,
writing or creating new presets.
LOOP MODE delivers perfor-
mance-focused real-time pedal-
board control and is ideal for
creating presets. BANK MODE is a
streamlined interface for recalling
saved presets from the 100 avail-
able banks.
Switchboard rst powers up in
LOOP MODE by default and subse-
quently powers up in the mode it
was last in when powered o.
Press and hold Footswitch 5 for one
second to toggle between LOOP
MODE and BANK MODE.
NAVIGATION
Switchboards has several menus for selecting, editing and saving parameters and settings; these are easily navi-
gated using either the encoder or the footswitches:
FUNCTION FOOTSWITCH ENCODER
SCROLL UP FOOTSWITCH FS ROTATE RIGHT
SCROLL DOWN FOOTSWITCH 5 ROTATE LEFT
SELECT FOOTSWITCH 1 PRESS
BACK FOOTSWITCH 4 LONG PRESS (1 SECOND)
Footswitch menu controls Encoder menu controls
01 : BANK 1
4
-
2
- PRESET NAME 002
1
- PRESET NAME 001
3
- PRESET NAME 003
LOOP MODE
1
2
3
5
4
V
FTSW:
B1
B2
T
R

6
TUNER
Press and hold Footswitch FS for one second to activate Switchboard’s onboard tuner; press it again to exit and return
to LOOP MODE. The LED above Footswitch FS illuminates red when the tuner is active.
Note that output is muted when the tuner is active, and footswitches 1-5 retain their function from the previous
screen (i.e., turning eects on/o, changing presets). Active loops or presets are indicated by ashing LEDs above their
corresponding footswitches. Any changes made while tuning will remain in eect when the tuner screen is exited.
EDIT MENU
The EDIT MENU has access to editing parameters, saving options and global settings. It can be accessed at
any time from the LOOP MODE or BANK MODE screens by pressing and holding the encoder for one second.
EDIT FAVORITES
GLOBAL SETTINGS
EDIT CURRENT PRESET
EDIT BANKS
EDIT MENU
EXIT
EDIT FAVORITES
GLOBAL SETTINGS
EDIT CURRENT PRESET
EDIT BANKS
EDIT MENU
EXIT
TUNER
E
TUNER
E

7
LOOP MODE
LOOP MODE delivers performance-focused real-time pedalboard control and is ideal for creating presets. It
oers straightforward manual on/o control of the ve eects loops, footswitch control of the rear-panel FTSW
jack and control of the internal volume pedal using the rear-panel EXP jack and an external expression pedal.
LOOP MODE controls the footswitches in real time, consequently locking the ENCODER’s scroll and press
functions to prevent accidental changes. LOOP MODE parameters such as loop order and buer status are
easily edited using the LOOP MODE EDITOR.
ENTERING LOOP MODE
Press and hold Footswitch 5 for one second to enter
LOOP MODE from any other mode. When doing so, pa-
rameters set in the last LOOP MODE session are loaded.
The LOOP MODE screen displays four types of symbols
that quickly and easily indicate control function status
and position: Loop symbols (ve), the Volume Pedal sym-
bol, Buer symbols B1 and B2, and the FTSW symbol.
LOOP MODE SCREEN
The LOOP MODE screen displays the signal path graphic, buer icons and FTSW icon to indicate current status
of all loops, buers, internal volume pedal and the FTSW jack. The status and order of each eects loop is indi-
cated by its loop icon, which changes as a loop is turned on and o.
LOOP ICONS: The ve loop symbols indicate the placement order of each eect loop and its on/o status. Loop
icons are numbered 1-5 to correspond to the footswtiches and SEND and RETURN jack pairs; the corresponding
footswitch is used to toggle that eects loop on or o regardless of the loop’s location in the signal path.
INTERNAL VOLUME PEDAL ICON: The larger Volume Pedal symbol (V) indicates the signal path placement
and on/o status of the internal volume pedal.
BUFFER ICONS: The circular B1 and B2 symbols in the lower corners indicate on/o status of the input (B1)
and output (B2) buers. Because they can’t be toggled on and o with a footswitch, their status is indicated
using a solid-gray symbol (ON) or a gray-outlined symbol (OFF).
FTSW FOOTSWITCH ICON: The FTSW symbol at bottom center displays the on/o status of the rear-panel
FTSW conductors controlled by Footswitch FS. The box indicates the conductors being controlled—T (tip) and
R (ring)—and turns blue when the FTSW output is active.
LOOP MODE
5
B1
B2
3
2
4
1
V
FTSW:
T
R
LOOP MODE
5
B1
B2
3
2
4
1
V
FTSW:
T
R
Inactive output buer B2 (outlined)
Active input buer B1 (gray)
Active footswitch in tip (T) conguration (blue)
Active volume pedal (V) in position 5
Active loop icons (blue)
(loop 3 in position 1, loops 5
and 4 in positions 3 and 4)
Inactive loop icons (outlined) (loop
2 in position 2, loop 1 in position 6)

8
EFFECTS ON/OFF
In LOOP MODE, footswitches 1-5 are real-time controls that toggle each loop on and o. Turning an eect loop
on sends the instrument signal out of Switchboard and through the eects in that loop, then back into Switch-
board in the order shown onscreen. When all eects are bypassed, Switchboard oers buered or true bypass
depending on the buer status described previously.
To toggle an eect loop on or o in LOOP MODE, simply press the footswitch assigned to that eect loop (indicat-
ed by loop number). When a loop is on, its corresponding onscreen loop icon will ll in and the LED above the cor-
responding footswitch will illuminate.
Footswitches 1-4 feature momentary
capability to trigger their respective
loops; useful for quick boosts or to
accent a single ri. To do this, simply
press and hold the footswitch. The
corresponding loop will be engaged
while the footswitch is held down and
will turn o automatically when the
footswitch is released. This momentary
functionality can be congured on or
o for each mode using the MOMEN-
TARY FUNCTION option in the GLOBAL
SETTINGS menu.
Note that by default, loop icons will ll
in blue and footswitch LEDs 1-5 will
illuminate red. User-assigned colors
can be selected for each loop symbol and corresponding LED using the EDIT LOOP COLOR option in the GLOB-
AL SETTINGS menu.
FOOTSWITCH ON/OFF
In LOOP MODE, Footswitch FS functions as a latching or momentary control switch for the rear-panel FTSW
OUT jack, which can be used to control outboard gear (i.e., amp channel switching). The jack’s tip and ring
conductors can be triggered in-
dependently or together, letting
FTSW OUT act as a two-button
remote footswitch. The LED above
Footswitch FS will illuminate green
when FTSW OUT is activated.
By default, Footswitch FS connects
the tip conductor (T) of the FTSW
OUT jack to ground when ON
(Footswitch FS LED is illuminated)
and makes no connections when OFF
(Footswitch FS LED is not illuminated).
Using the LOOP MODE EDITOR, the
FTSW OUT jack can be congured
to choose among seven possible tip
(T) or ring (R) connections when in
ON or OFF status.
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
R
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
R
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
R
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
R
All loops bypassed Loop 1 ON
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
LOOP MODE
3
B1
B2
1
2
4
5
V
FTSW:
T
FTSW OFF FTSW ON