Strymon MAGNETO User manual

Re
Four Head dTape Echo & Looper
Rev B

Magneto is a tape-voiced multi-head delay designed for maximum musicality and flexibility. Please download the complete user manual for a full
description of features and in-depth operating tips.
1234
1234
REPEATS
(LEVEL)
PLAYBACK
LEVELS
FEEDBACK
SWITCHES
MONO SIGNAL
STEREO SIGNAL
WET
(LEVEL)
PLAYBACK HEADS
REC LVL
INPUT RECORD HEAD
TAPE
SPEED WOW & FLUTTER CRINKLE
TRANSPORT CONTROL AND MECHANICS
REVERB
DRY
(LEVEL)
SPRING
(LEVEL)
OUTPUT
TAPE AGE
P
A
N
LOW CUT
• Tape-Voiced Delay machine with four playback heads, one record head
• Three operational modes: Echo, Sound-on-Sound Looper, Phrase
Sampler
• Varispeed algorithm with dynamic machine mechanics, 8:1 speed range
• Input record level (REC LVL) for clean reproduction to warm, fat
saturation
• Maximum Delay/Loop Time: 15 seconds at max Speed, two minutes at
min Speed
• Self-oscillating for tone generation
• Transport controls (buttons and CV inputs) for real-time performance
options
• Independent Spring Reverb
• Individual Playback Head Level controls
• Individual Head feedback assignment independent of playback level
• Phase aligned clock out (CLK OUT) CVs sync with clock in (CLK IN) CV
• Delay TAP Range: 50ms-15s
• Clock Period CV Input Range: 50ms-15s
QUICK START GUIDE

MODES
ECHO: (GREEN LED) Four head tape delay, with
four playback heads and one record head.
LOOP: (AMBER LED) Sound-on-Sound looper.
Tape head 4 is the looper playback head while
tape heads 1-3 provide delay repeats for the
incoming signal.
SAMPLE: (RED LED) Phrase sampler records
an audio phrase between two taps of the TAP
button. Transport RESTART ( ) triggers phrase
playback.
SELFOSCILLATION
Magneto will self-oscillate with Repeats set to
maximum, allowing for chaotic melodies when
played with the Speed knob in Pitch Quantize, or
controlled externally through the Speed CV input.
SPEED / PITCH
Sets the speed of the tape machine. The tape
speed also affects the fidelity of the delay repeats.
Set high (faster tape speed) for cleaner delay
repeats or low for a warmer tape sound. WOW
& FLUTTER and CRINKLE have a more dramatic
impact at lower speeds.
TAP and SPEED are independent functions. The
TAP button changes the head spacing to achieve
the desired delay time at the current machine
speed. Any changes to the SPEED knob will result
in a proportional change to the delay time of all
the heads. Any audio in the delay line will shift
in pitch proportional to the change in speed.
See complete manual for in-depth detail.
BASIC CONTROLS
HALF
QUARTER
NORMAL
DOUBLE
(Highest Fidelity)
(Lowest Fidelity)
TAP
Function depends on MODE selection.
ECHO: Tap a delay time with two successive
presses.
LOOP: Tap to splice in, tap again to splice out, tap
a third time to clear loop.
SAMPLE: Tap to start sample record, tap again
to stop recording, tap a third time to clear
the sample memory. Once sample has been
recorded, use RESTART in the Transport to
playback the sample.
PITCH QUANTIZE MODE
Press and hold the TAP button at any time to
enter PITCH QUANTIZE mode (AMBER TAP
LED), which restricts the SPEED/PITCH knob
values to relative speeds corresponding to the
pitch intervals of user selectable scales. A list
of available scales and instructions for selecting
them can be found in the complete manual.

DRY: Sets the level of DRY (input) signal sent to the output.
REC LVL: Controls the level of the incoming unprocessed signal fed to the
Delay Line Record head. When turned up, the delay signal becomes fatter and
more saturated. Turn knob down to get cleaner delay signals.
PLAYBACK LEVEL 1-4: Sets the playback level for each tape head.
LOW CUT: Controls the low frequency shaping of the echo repeats. Set
to minimum for extended low frequency bandwidth. Set to maximum for
extremely high-passed, magnetic drum style repeats.
TAPE AGE: Controls the bandwidth of the tape. Set to minimum for a fresh,
full bandwidth tape. Turn clockwise for warmer repeats. At maximum setting,
a mildly peaking filter response creates atmospheric repeats at high feedback
settings.
SWITCHES
HEADS: Selects between three different
modes for the tape heads. Even spacing,
triplet spacing, and rhythmic shifted pitches.
PAN: Selects between three different stereo panning modes for the tape heads. When only one output jack is
connected, all head signals will appear at that output summed to mono. With two jacks connected and PAN
switch in center, custom panning is achieved by holding down the feedback button and turning the Level knob
for each head. See complete manual for in-depth detail.
KNOBS
WET: Sets the level of delay signal sent to the output.
REPEATS: Controls the feedback level of the delay repeats for the tape heads
that have their FEEDBACK toggle set to ON.
CRINKLE: Controls the amount and severity of tape irregularities including
friction, creases, splices, and contaminants. Set to minimum for a fresh, clean
tape. Set to maximum for a tape that has been mangled and chewed.
WOW & FLUTTER: Controls the amount of mechanically related tape speed
fluctuations. Turn the knob fully counterclockwise for a perfectly tuned tape
machine or fully clockwise for a tape machine in need of service.
SPRING: Controls the output mix of the integrated spring reverb tank. The DRY
and WET knobs control the signals feeding into the spring reverb effect.
TONE CHARACTERISTICS

CV INPUTS (05V RISING EDGE TRIGGER)
CLK IN: Sets the delay time in quarter notes. (0 – 5v rising edge trigger) Clock
period range – 50ms to 15s.
REC GATE: Toggles the record head ON and OFF, REC LVL LED lit BLUE when
input signal to the delay line is muted.
SHIFT: Toggles the SHIFT effect for the Playback heads on and off.
INFINITE ( ): Toggles INFINITE transport control on and off.
FORWARD/REVERSE ( ): Toggles the FORWARD/REVERSE transport function.
RESTART ( ): Engages the RESTART transport function.
PAUSE ( ): Toggles the PAUSE transport function.
TAP: Controls the function of the physical TAP button. Sets delay time in ECHO
mode. Sets splice in/out/clear in LOOP mode. Sets sample record start/stop/clear
in SAMPLE mode.
CONTINUOUS CV INPUTS (5V TO +5V)
The knob corresponding to the continuous CV inputs acts as an
offset that is mixed with the CV input.
SPEED: Controls the tape speed. (-3V to +3V, calibrated for
1V/octave).
WET: Modifies the WET level.
REPEATS: Modifies the REPEATS level.
SPRING: Modifies the SPRING reverb level.
CONTROL VOLTAGES
CV CLOCK OUTPUTS
CLK 1- 4 OUTs: Send clock outputs of Playback heads 1-4.
Dependent on the HEADS switch setting and the ECHO/LOOP/
SAMPLE mode setting. Output clocks are always at 50% duty
cycle and are phase aligned with incoming Clock or Tap signals.
Examples are for a clocked or tapped delay time of 1000ms.
ECHO MODE
EVEN:
CLK 1 OUT: 1/16 note clock output (ex. 250ms)
CLK 2 OUT: 1/8 note clock output (ex. 500ms)
CLK 3 OUT: dotted 1/8 note clock output (ex. 750ms)
CLK 4 OUT: 1/4 note clock output (ex. 1000ms)
TRIPLET:
CLK 1 OUT: 1/16 note triplet clock output (ex. 167ms)
CLK 2 OUT: 1/8 note triplet clock output (ex. 333ms)
CLK 3 OUT: 1/4 note triplet clock output (ex. 667ms)
CLK 4 OUT: 1/4 note clock output (ex. 1000ms)
SHIFT:
CLK 1 OUT: 1/8 note triplet clock output (ex. 333ms; 3x speed)
CLK 2 OUT: 1/8 note clock output (ex. 500ms; 2x speed)
CLK 3 OUT: 1/2 note clock output (ex. 2000ms; half speed)
CLK 4 OUT: 1/4 note clock output (ex 1000ms; full speed)
In LOOP and SAMPLE modes, CLK1, CLK2, and CLK3 are the
same as in ECHO mode, but CLK4 is the loop or sample length
clock output.

S1-S2 DIP SWITCHES (REAR PANEL)
AUDIO INS AND OUTS
S1 - FEEDBACK CV MODE:
ON: Allows CV trigger control of the FEEDBACK ON/OFF
buttons when transport CV jack is plugged in while Transport
LED is OFF. Also provides CV control of the Transport
controls when a CV jack is plugged in when Transport LED is
RED. Each transport CV can be assigned to either Transport
or Feedback ON/OFF.
OFF: Standard CV control of transport whenever transport CV
jacks are plugged in. (DEFAULT is OFF.)
S2 - DUAL SPLIT MODE:
ON: Selects Dual Split mode where LEFT audio IN/OUT is a
mono four head tape delay, and RIGHT audio IN/OUT is mono
spring reverb.
OFF: Standard stereo IN/OUT with the delay signal feeding
into the Spring reverb. (DEFAULT is OFF.)
ON
1 2
INS AND OUTS FEEDBACK LOOP
LEFT/RIGHT IN: Left and Right audio
inputs. Use LEFT IN for mono input.
SEND: Summed input signal + delay repeats are sent out to be
processed by other devices.
LEFT/RIGHT OUT: Left and Right audio
outputs. If only one output is connected,
Delay output sums to mono. RETURN: Externally processed signal is returned and fed to
the Record Head.
Delay repeats are summed to mono when both SEND/RETURN jacks are
connected; dry signal retains stereo image.
An insert between the summed input signal + delay repeats and the Record
Head. Can be used for sending delays and loop playback out to be processed
by external effects via the SEND jack, and looped back into Magneto via the
RETURN jack.

>> Download the complete manual at strymon.net/support/magneto <<
FEEDBACK ON/OFF: (GREEN LEDs) Enables or disables feedback of the corresponding
tape head signal to the record head.
TRANSPORT CONTROLS: (RED LEDs) allows for control of the corresponding
transport function.
TRANSPORT: Press to toggle functionality of the four buttons above it. Selected function indicated by LED color.
INFINITE: Disables the Record head and continuously plays the
most recent delay cycle or loop length audio.
FORWARD/REVERSE: Reverses the playback direction of the tape
from the moment the function is engaged.
RESTART: Restarts the playback of the loop or sample from the
starting point in LOOP or SAMPLE mode. Aligns shifted head
audio in ECHO operation. Restarts deck immediately from PAUSE,
without mechanical lag.
PAUSE: Stops/Starts the playback of the tape with mechanical
slowdown/startup effect. The speed of the slowdown/startup
effect can be adjusted by PLAYBACK LEVEL 4 knob when the
TRANSPORT and PAUSE buttons are RED (transport is paused).
PUSH BUTTON CONTROLS
MOMENTARY MODE:
INFINITE, REVERSE and PAUSE functions can be individually configured to respond to Gate signals instead of rising edge triggers. The TRANSPORT buttons will no
longer be latching. Example: Tape playback is reversed only while pressing and holding REVERSE button. See complete manual for in-depth detail.