Zoom A3 User manual

Thank you very much for purchasing the ZOOM .
Please read this manual carefully to learn about all the functions of the so that you will
be able to use it fully for a long time.
Keep this manual in a convenient place for reference when necessary.
Usage and Safety Precautions …………… 2
Introduction ………………………………… 3
Terms Used in This Manual………………… 3
Part Names ………………………………… 4
Turning the Power ON ……………………… 6
Adjusting the Tone and Volume …………… 8
Adjusting Effects …………………………… 10
Using the Boost Function ………………… 15
Using the Anti-Feedback Function ………… 16
Selecting and Saving Patch Memories …… 18
Changing Patch Memories ………………… 20
Changing Various Settings ………………… 22
Using the Tuner ……………………………… 28
About the Firmware………………………… 30
Restoring the to its Factory
Default Settings ………………………… 32
Effect Types and Parameters ……………… 33
Troubleshooting …………………………… 42
Specifications ……………………………… 43
OPERATION MANUAL
Contents
© 2013 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reproduction of this document in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

2
Usage and Safety Precautions
Usage and Safety Precautions
In this manual, symbols are used to highlight warnings
and cautions that you must read to prevent accidents. The
meanings of these symbols are as follows:
Interference with other electrical equipment
In consideration of safety, the has been designed to minimize
the emission of electromagnetic radiation from the device and
to minimize external electromagnetic interference. However,
equipment that is very susceptible to interference or that emits
powerful electromagnetic waves could result in interference if
placed nearby. If this occurs, place the and the other device
farther apart. With any type of electronic device that uses digital
control, including the , electromagnetic interference could
cause malfunction, corrupt or destroy data and result in other
unexpected trouble. Always use caution.
Cleaning
Use a soft cloth to clean the panels of the unit if they become dirty.
If necessary, use a damp cloth that has been wrung out well. Never
use abrasive cleansers, wax or solvents, including alcohol, benzene
and paint thinner.
Malfunction
If the unit becomes broken or malfunctions, immediately
disconnect the AC adapter, turn the power OFF and disconnect
other cables. Contact the store where you bought the unit or
ZOOM service with the following information: product model, serial
number and specific symptoms of failure or malfunction, along
with your name, address and telephone number.
Copyrights
t 8JOEPXT®, Windows Vista®, Windows®7 and Windows®8
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft®.
t .BDJOUPTI®and Mac OS®are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Apple Inc.
t "MMPUIFSUSBEFNBSLTQSPEVDUOBNFTBOE DPNQBOZ OBNFT
mentioned in this documentation are the property of their
respective owners.
Note: All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned in this manual
are for identification purposes only and are not intended to infringe on the
copyrights of their respective owners.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Usage Precautions
Warning
Precautions
Something that could cause serious injury
or death.
Something that could cause injury or
damage to the equipment.
Warning
Caution
Other symbols
Prohibited actions.
Required (mandatory) actions.
Operation using batteries
Use 4 conventional 1.5-volt AA batteries (alkaline or nickel-metal
hydride).
Read battery warning labels carefully.
Always close the battery compartment cover when using the unit.
AC adapter handling
When disconnecting the AC adapter from an outlet, always pull the
body of the adapter itself.
During lightning storms or when not using the unit for a long time,
disconnect the power plug from the AC outlet.
Battery handling
Install the batteries with the correct +/- orientation.
Use a specified battery type. Do not mix new and old batteries or
different brands or types at the same time. When not using the unit
for an extended period of time, remove the batteries from the unit.
If a battery leak should occur, wipe the battery compartment and
the battery terminals carefully to remove all battery residue.
Connecting cables with input and output jacks
Always turn the power OFF for all equipment before connecting any
cables.
Always disconnect all connection cables and the AC adapter before
moving the unit.
Alterations
Never open the case or attempt to modify the product.
Operation using an AC adapter
Use only a ZOOM AD-16 AC adapter with this unit.
Do not use do anything that could exceed the ratings of outlets and
other electrical wiring equipment. Before using the equipment in a
foreign country or other region where the electrical voltage differs from
that indicated on the AC adapter, always consult with a shop that carries
ZOOM products beforehand and use the appropriate AC adapter.
Volume
Do not use the product at a loud volume for a long time.
Product handling
Do not drop, bump or apply excessive force to the unit.
Be careful not to allow foreign objects or liquids to enter the unit.
Operating environment
Do not use in extremely high or low temperatures.
Do not use near heaters, stoves and other heat sources.
Do not use in very high humidity or near splashing water.
Do not use in places with excessive vibrations.
Do not use in places with excessive dust or sand.

3
Introduction
Acoustic modeling restores body tone
Presets for 16 body types and 28 model types simulate the sonic characteristics of a variety
of acoustic guitars with different body shapes and material properties. By choosing a body
and model according to the guitar that you are using, you can share the original rich and
beautiful tone of your acoustic guitar with audiences when you perform live.
High-quality preamp can be used with both pickups and mics
The preamp was designed especially for acoustic guitars and can be used with piezoelectric,
magnetic and passive pickups. In addition, you can connect a condenser microphone to the
XLR mic input, which can provide phantom power, and mix that signal with the pickup signal
to shape the sound. This acoustic guitar preamp offers a full array of features. The 3-band EQ
can be used to adjust the tone according to the environment. The BALANCE knob can be used
to set the ratio of the original sound (DRY) and the sound after the effects (WET). The super
low noise design provides a 120dB S/N ratio and a –100dBm noise floor.
40 types of acoustic guitar effects
The 40 effects, which have a focus on chorus, delay, reverb and other spatial effects, can make
acoustic tones even more beautiful. Other effects include a compressor that suppresses input
peaks and evens the volume level, an air effect that simulates the sense of space from room
tone and a detuning effect that creates a sound like a 12-string guitar. You can use any 2 of
these effects together as you like.
Anti-feedback function with minimal effect on tone quality
The Anti-feedback function can quickly and effectively eliminate feedback during a
performance. Just step on the Anti-feedback switch to automatically detect the frequency that
is causing feedback and surgically apply a steep filter to cut that frequency band. The Anti-
feedback function can handle up to 3 different frequencies that are causing feedback.
Clean boost of up to 12 dB
The Boost function can reduce the volume differences of fingerpicking, strumming chords and
other guitar playing techniques, as well as increase amplification during solos. You can also
adjust the sound when the boost is active with the TONE parameter.
Introduction
Ter m s Us e d in Th is Ma nu a l
Patch memory
The ON/OFF status and the parameter settings of each effect are stored as ”patch memories”.
The can store 20 patch memories.

4
Part Names
Part Names
Top PanelLeft Panel Right Panel
Rear Panel
Pickup input jack
BALANCED
OUT connector
OUTPUT jacks
USB
connector
Microphone
input jack
Equalizer knobs
Balance knob
Master level knob
Parameter
knobs
Mic gain knob
Pickup gain knob
Effect switch
Boost footswitch
Anti-feedback
switch
Anti-feedback
footswitch
Boost switch
Effect footswitch
Display
Body type selector
DC9V AC
adapter jack
POWER (eco) switch
GROUND switch
Use this switch to connect or disconnect
the BALANCED OUT connector with the
ground.
Set it to “LIFT” (pushed in) to separate
the signal path from the grounding pin.
Set it to “CONNECT” (not pushed in) to
connect it to the grounding pin.
Pickup type selection switch
Use to set the best input characteristics
for the type of pickup used.
Set it to PIEZO when using an acoustic
guitar with a piezoelectric pickup or
MAGNETIC when using a magnetic
pickup. You can also set it to FLAT if you
do not want any pickup adjustment.
Headphones
ZOOM AC adapter (AD-16)
Computer
Microphone
PA system
Acoustic Guitar

5
Part Names
Top PanelLeft Panel Right Panel
Rear Panel
Pickup input jack
BALANCED
OUT connector
OUTPUT jacks
USB
connector
Microphone
input jack
Equalizer knobs
Balance knob
Master level knob
Parameter
knobs
Mic gain knob
Pickup gain knob
Effect switch
Boost footswitch
Anti-feedback
switch
Anti-feedback
footswitch
Boost switch
Effect footswitch
Display
Body type selector
DC9V AC
adapter jack
POWER (eco) switch
GROUND switch
Use this switch to connect or disconnect
the BALANCED OUT connector with the
ground.
Set it to “LIFT” (pushed in) to separate
the signal path from the grounding pin.
Set it to “CONNECT” (not pushed in) to
connect it to the grounding pin.
Pickup type selection switch
Use to set the best input characteristics
for the type of pickup used.
Set it to PIEZO when using an acoustic
guitar with a piezoelectric pickup or
MAGNETIC when using a magnetic
pickup. You can also set it to FLAT if you
do not want any pickup adjustment.
Headphones
ZOOM AC adapter (AD-16)
Computer
Microphone
PA system
Acoustic Guitar

6
Turning the Power ON
Turning the Power ON
t Lower the volume of any connected amplifier or other audio equipment all
the way.
1To turn the power ON
t Turn the connected amplifier or other audio equipment ON and raise its
volume.
When using batteries When using an adapter
Bottom of the unit
Connect an AD-16 adapter.Open the cover on the bottom of the unit
and insert batteries in the compartment.
Using the POWER switch eco setting
When set to eco, if the is not used for 10 hours, its power will
automatically turn off.
If you want to keep it on all the time set the POWER switch to ON.

7
Turning the Power ON
2Display information
The Home Screen shows the current effect
Edit Screen shows parameters being edited
t 5IFQPTJUJPOTPGUIFWJSUVBMLOPCTDIBOHFXJUIUIFQBSBNFUFSWBMVFT
t 1SFTT to return to the Home Screen when any other screen is open.
HINT
t *GUIFSFBSFPSNPSFQBSBNFUFSTUIBUDBOCFBEKVTUFENVMUJQMFQBHFUBCTXJMMCFTIPXO
HINT
Position of the selected effect in order Graphic for selected effect
Virtual knob
Page tabs
Effect type
Parameter names
Parameter values
Function of the parameter knob below

8
Adjusting theTone and Volume
Adjusting the Tone and Volume
1To select the body type
3To select the model type
2To adjust the input sensitivity
Choose the body type that matches your guitar.
t 5VSO .
t 5VSO . t 5VSO .
NOTE
t 5IJTIBTOPFGGFDUPOUIFNJDJOQVU
t 5IJTJTOPUTBWFEXJUIQBUDINFNPSJFT
t 4FFQBHFGPSJOGPSNBUJPOBCPVUUIFCPEZUZQFTUIBUDBOCFTFMFDUFE
NOTE
t 4FUTPUIF-&7&-JOEJDBUPSEPFTOPUCMJOLSFE
For the pickup input For the mic input
t 1SFTT on the Home Screen.
t 1SFTT to select Effect 1.
t 5IFNPEFMUZQFBQQFBSTPOUIF)PNF4DSFFO
t 6TF and to select the model type.
NOTE
t 'PSEFUBJMTBCPVUUIFNPEFMUZQFTTFFQBHF

9
Adjusting theTone and Volume
4To adjust the equalization
5To adjust the amount of the original sound
6To adjust the master level
Adjust the balance between original (DRY) and effected (WET) signals.
t 5VSO .
t 5VSO .
t 5VSO .
NOTE
t 5IFFGGFDUFETJHOBMJTUIFTPVOEDSFBUFECZUIFQJDLVQTFMFDUJPOQSFBNQFGGFDUCPPTUBOEFRVBMJ[FS
settings.
t : Adjust to boost or cut low frequencies (around 60Hz) by up to ±12dB.
t : Adjust to cut middle frequencies (around 700Hz) by up to –12dB.
t : Adjust to boost middle frequencies (around 400Hz) by up to 12dB.
t : Adjust to boost or cut high frequencies (around 8kHz) by up to ±12dB.
HINT

10
Adjusting Effects
Adjusting Effects
Confirm that the Home Screen is shown.
1To turn an effect ON and OFF
2To select the effect to adjust
t 1SFTT .
t 1SFTT .
t 1SFTT , or to select the effect to
adjust.
t &GGFDUTUIBUBSF0''BQQFBSHSBZ
HINT
t
The selected effect appears on the Home Screen.
t 5IJTTXJUDIFTUIFFGGFDUTIPXOPOUIFEJTQMBZ0/BOE0''
OFF ON
NOTE
t&GGFDUJTEFEJDBUFEUPNPEFMUZQFT4FFQBHF

11
Adjusting Effects
NEXT
EDIT
3To select an effect type
t 1SFTT or .
t 5IFFGGFDUUZQFDIBOHFT
Effect processing capacity
The allows you to combine 3 effects as you like. However, if you combine
effect types that require great amounts of processing power, the available
processing capacity might not be enough. If the processing required for an effect
exceeds the available capacity, the effect is bypassed and a ”DSP Full!” message
appears. This can be avoided by changing 1 or more of the effect types or setting
them to THRU.
NOTE
t "OFGGFDUSFRVJSFTUIFTBNFBNPVOUPGQSPDFTTJOHQPXFSXIFUIFSJUJT0/PS0''
t 4FFUIFTFDUJPOTUBSUJOHPOQBHFGPSJOGPSNBUJPOBCPVUFGGFDUUZQFTBOEQBSBNFUFST
HINT
NOTE
t "NPEFMUZQFDBOPOMZCFTFMFDUFEGPS&GGFDU

12
Adjusting Effects
Adjusting Effects
5To adjust parameters
t 5VSO , and .
t 1SFTTBOEIPME for 1 second.
t 5IFFEJUJOHTDSFFOPQFOTXIFSFZPVDBOBEKVTUQBSBNFUFST
t 5VSO to choose the category.
t 1SFTT .
4To select the effect category
t 1SFTT to cancel.
t &GGFDUDBUFHPSJFTDBOPOMZCFTFMFDUFEGPS&GGFDUTBOE
HINT

13
Adjusting Effects
NEXT
EDIT
6To change the page
t 1SFTT when the Edit Screen is open.
t 5IFOFYUQBHFPQFOT
7To use theTapTempo function
Delay effects and some modulation and filter effects can be synchronized to
the tempo. Select an effect that can be synchronized, and set itsTime, Rate
or other parameter that can be synchronized to a or note value.
The tempo can be set by tapping the footswitch or a knob.
NOTE
t #ZEFGBVMUwhen pressed and held, the footswitch is set to activate the Tuner. To tap the tempo with the
footswitch, the setting must be changed so that it activates Tap Tempo when pressed and held.
(See page 24.)
t 5FNQPTFUUJOHTBSFTBWFETFQBSBUFMZGPSFBDIQBUDINFNPSZ
t 1SFTTBOEIPME for 1 second.
To set the tempo by tapping the footswitch

14
Adjusting Effects
t Press and hold for 1 second
to return to the Home Screen.
NOTE
t *G ZPVQSFTTwhen becomes
unlit and the effect turns OFF for 1 second.
t 0QFOBOFGGFDUUIBUDBOCFTZODISPOJ[FEUPUIFUFNQP4FFQBHF
t 5VSO , and .
t 5BQ 2 or more times at the desired
tempo.
t 1SFTT 2 or more times at the desired tempo.
To set the tempo with the parameter knobs
8To return to the Home Screen
t 1SFTT .
t :PV DBOQSFTTon any effect screen to return to the
Home Screen.
HINT
Adjusting Effects

15
Using the Boost Function
t "EKVTUQBSBNFUFST
Boost : Turn .
Tone : Turn .
Using the Boost Function
BOOST
1To turn the boost ON and OFF
2To adjust parameters
t 1SFTT .
t 5IJTUVSOTUIF#PPTUGVODUJPO0/PS0''
OFF ON
NOTE
t *GUIFTPVOECFDPNFTEJTUPSUFEXIFOUIF#PPTUGVODUJPOJT0/BEKVTUUIFNBTUFSMFWFM
t 5IF#PPTU0/0''TFUUJOHJTOPUTBWFE*UJTBMXBZT0''XIFOUIFVOJUTUBSUTVQ
t 1SFTT .
t 1SFTT or .
3To complete the setting
You can increase the volume by up to 12 dB, allowing you to adjust the volume used
during solos or when switching from strumming to finger picking.

16
Using the Anti-Feedback Function
Using the Anti-Feedback Function
1To eliminate feedback
t 1SFTT .
t &BDIUJNFZPVQSFTT , the unit detects the feedback frequency. Up
to 3 frequencies can be cut at once.
t "GUFSEFUFDUJOHUIFGSFRVFODZDBVTJOHGFFECBDLUIF"OUJGFFECBDLGVODUJPO
turns ON.
OFF Detecting (blinking) ON
The frequency range that is causing feedback can be detected automatically and cut
to stop the feedback.
NOTE
t 8IFOUIF"OUJGFFECBDLGVODUJPOJTUVSOFEPGGUIFEFUFDUFEGSFRVFODJFTBSFGPSHPUUFO
t 8IFOUIFVOJUJTEFUFDUJOHUIFGFFECBDLGSFRVFODZJUXJMMCFDBODFMFEJGZPVVTFBOZPUIFSTXJUDIPSLOPC
NOTE
t 5IF"OUJGFFECBDL0/0''TFUUJOHJTOPUTBWFE*UJTBMXBZT0''
when the unit starts up.
t "GUFSEFUFDUJPODPNQMFUFTUIFTDSFFOTIPXTUIFOVNCFSPGGFFECBDLGSFRVFODJFTUIBUBSFCFJOHDVU
t 5PUVSOPGGUIF"OUJGFFECBDLGVODUJPOQSFTT again when 3 frequencies have been set.
HINT
1 frequency 2 frequencies 3 frequencies

17
Using the Anti-Feedback Function
ANTI FEEDBACK
2To adjust parameters
t 1SFTT .
NOTE
t "GUFSEFUFDUJPOUIFEFQUIPGFBDImMUFSJTBVUPNBUJDBMMZTFUUP%&&1
t "EKVTUUIFEFQUIBNPVOUGSFRVFODZJTDVU
Depth of 1st filter: Turn .
Depth of 2nd filter: Turn .
Depth of 3rd filter: Turn .
t 1SFTT or .
3To complete the setting

18
Selecting and Saving Patch Memories
Selecting and Saving Patch Memories
You can save up to 20 effect settings as patches in the memory.
When shipped from the factory, the automatic patch saving function is active.
Changes to settings are saved automatically as soon as they are made.
t 1SFTT on the Home Screen.
t 5VSO to select MEMORY.
t 1SFTT .
t 5VSO to select a patch memory.
1To select a patch memory

19
Selecting and Saving Patch Memories
MEMORY STORE
t 1SFTT on the MEMORY screen.
t 1SFTT .
t $IBOHFUIFOBNFBOETFMFDUXIFSFUPTBWF
the patch memory.
NOTE
t "GUFSUIFTFUUJOHTBSFTBWFEUIF.&.03:TDSFFOSFPQFOT
Turn to move the cursor.
Turn to change the character.
Press to change the type of character/symbol.
Turn to select where to save the patch memory.
2To save a patch memory
t :PVDBODBODFMTBWJOHQBUDINFNPSZTFUUJOHTBOESFUVSOUPUIF.&.03:TDSFFOCZQSFTTJOH instead
of .
HINT

20
Changing Patch Memories
Changing Patch Memories
You can set in advance the order that patch memories are changed when you press
the footswitch. You can add up to 20 patch memories to this order.
t 1SFTT on the Home Screen.
t 5VSO to select MEMORY.
t 5VSO to select a patch memory to add it to
or remove it from the order.
t 1SFTT .
t 1SFTT .
1To ad d or r em ove p at ch m em or i e s t o a li st
that the footswitch cycles through
t 1SFTTBOEIPME to remove all patch memories from the footswitch list.
HINT