Zoom ARQ AR-48 User manual

Aero RhythmTrak
A
The Operation Manual can be downloaded from
the ZOOM website (www.zoom.co.jp/).
Quick Guide
© 2017 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without permission is prohibited.

Using the A...........................3
Connecting other devices ......................... 3
Preparations
Turning the power on and o .........4
Base Station power................................... 4
Ring Controller power ............................... 4
Installing SD cards and
BTA-1 units.....................................6
The 4 Base Station areas ...............7
STEP keys ......................................7
SEQUENCE area
SEQUENCE area overview.............8
Creating patterns............................9
Creating songs .............................10
SOUND area
SOUND area overview.................. 11
Instrument block structure ...........12
Editing instruments.......................14
Common operations................................14
SCALE layout settings.............................14
Oscillator .................................................15
Noise .......................................................16
Insert eects............................................16
Filter.........................................................17
Volume envelope (ADSR) ........................17
Output mixer (OUTPUT) ..........................17
Eect send amount .................................18
LED settings ............................................18
MIDI settings ...........................................18
EFFECT area
EFFECT area overview ................. 19
Eect settings...............................20
REC/PLAY area
REC/PLAY area overview .............21
Ring Controller
Ring Controller overview ..............22
Ring Controller operation buttons...........22
Using the Ring Controller .............23
Arpeggiator..............................................23
Setting the pad split ................................24
Using the eect .......................................24
Soloing ....................................................25
Muting .....................................................25
Using the grip area..................................25
Other settings
STEP key setting items ................26
Specications
Specications...............................27
Contents

3
AUDIO INPUT MIDI OUT
OUTPUT
Audio source
for capture
Sound module,
synthesizer or other
MIDI device
Computer
(USB connection)
Headphones
AC adapter
DC IN
Mixer, audio system or
other playback device
A
The Aconsists of a Base Station and a Ring Controller.
Ring Controller
Base Station
With the Base Station, you can create and save patterns, songs and other musical pieces, as well as
edit tones, for example. Use the Ring Controller for input when creating music.
Since the Ring Controller can be detached from the Base Station, you can hold it in your hand and
play it like an instrument. You can also connect it by USB or Bluetooth LE to a Mac computer or iOS
device and use it as a MIDI controller.
NOTE
BTA-1 units (sold separately) are necessary to connect by Bluetooth LE.
Connecting other devices
Using the A
Using the A
Using the A

4
Base Station power
1. Connect the included AC adapter
to the Base Station.
2. Press and hold pon the
Base Station.
The Base Station software version
appears on the screen.
3. Press and hold pto turn the
power OFF.
HINT
When the Ring Controller is connected to the
Base Station by USB, turning the Base Station
power ON/OFF will also turn the Ring Control-
ler ON/OFF.
NOTE
Use the AC adapter to power the Aeven
when it is connected to a computer or other
device by USB.
Ring Controller power
■When connected by USB
When the Ring Controller is connected to the
Base Station or a computer by USB, it will
automatically turn on and operate on USB bus
power.
When operating on USB bus power, the Ring
Controller POWER LED will light red, and W
will be disabled.
POWER LED BATT LED
Power button
■When using a BTA-1 and connected
by Bluetooth LE
If BTA-1 (sold separately) units have been
installed in the Base Station and Ring Controller
and they are connected by Bluetooth LE, the
Ring Controller will be powered by AA batteries.
In this case, the Ring Controller BATT LED will
light and Wwill be enabled.
HINT
• Press Wto show the Ring Controller
remaining battery charge on the SOUND
display.
• Even if a BTA-1 is installed, it will operate
on USB bus power if connected by a USB
cable.
Preparations
Turning the power on and o
Preparations Turning the power on and o

5
■Turning the Ring Controller on
1. Press Wfor at least 2
seconds.
This turns on the Ring Controller.
■Turning the Ring Controller o
1. Press Wfor at least 2
seconds.
HINT
• When connected to the Base Station by
Bluetooth LE, turning o the Ring Controller
will also turn o the Base Station.
• When operating on AA batteries, the BATT
LED will blink when the remaining battery
charge is less than 10%.
■Changing the Ring Controller
batteries
The Ring Controller can be powered by two AA
batteries.
1. Turning the Ring Controller o
2. Unlock and remove the battery
compartment covers.
The Ring Controller has battery compart-
ment covers in two places.
Ring Controller underside
Unlock
Remove
3. Install the batteries.
Be sure to orient the batteries correctly.
4. Replace and lock the battery
compartment covers.
NOTE
Always replace both batteries at the same time
with new batteries.
Preparations Turning the power on and o
Turning the power on and o (continued)

6
■Loading and removing SD cards
1. Turn the power o.
2. Open the SD card slot cover on the
Base Station.
3. Insert the SD card into the slot.
To eject an SD card:
Push the card further into the slot and
then pull it out.
NOTE
• If no SD card is loaded in the A, cap-
tured data cannot be saved and patterns and
songs that are created cannot be backed up.
• When inserting an SD card, be sure to insert
the correct end with the top side up as
shown.
• Before using SD cards that have just been
purchased or that have been formatted on
a computer, they must be formatted by the
A.
• Formatting SD cards (→Operation Manual)
■Installing BTA-1 units
1. Turn the power o.
2. Remove the BTA-1 connector
covers on the Ring Controller and
Base Station.
3. Insert the BTA-1 units into the
connectors.
To remove a unit, pinch it with your fin-
gers and pull it out.
NOTE
• When wireless transmission using BTA-1
units is active, the blue BTA-1 LEDs will light.
• Communication at up to 10 meters is pos-
sible in an unobstructed indoor space with
BTA-1 units. If interference from electromag-
netic waves, for example, prevents commu-
nication, try the following.
- Bring the Ring Controller and the Base Sta-
tion closer together.
- Move obstacles between the Ring Control-
ler and the Base Station.
- Stop unnecessary 2.4 GHz transmissions or
move interfering devices further away. (These
include Wi-Fi access points, smartphones
and other devices that use Wi-Fi, as well as
microwave ovens, audio monitors, lighting
controls and other devices that communi-
cate at 2.4 GHz.)
Preparations Installing SD cards and BTA-1 units
Installing SD cards and BTA-1 units

7
The Base Station is divided into four areas according to use.
SEQUENCE
area
REC/PLAY
area
SOUND
area
EFFECT
area
Sound area: Used to control the parameters of instruments assigned to pads. Parameters related to
the instrument are shown on the display.
Sequence area: Use to set the tempo and other sequence parameters. The display shows pattern and
song names.
REC/PLAY area: Use to control sequences, including playback and recording.
Eect area: Use to control eects applied to output.
The Base Station also has 32 STEP keys (0) that show pattern sequences and the states of pat-
terns assigned to songs.
■PATTERN mode
Press a Ring Controller pad, to show the sequence for that
instrument on the 0step keys.
If the pattern is longer than two bars, the 0indications will
switch every two bars.
To check the sequence, press Bfor bars 1-2 and b
for bars 3-4.
You can change the last step in one cycle on the Base Station by pressing 0while pressing L.
For example, you can create patterns in triple time by setting the cycle to 24 steps.
■SONG mode
In SONG mode, use Base Station 0to add patterns for
playback in order starting with 0-1.
3
12
4
…
30
29 31 32
…
Step
Bar 1
Bar 2
3
12
4
…
30
29 31 32
…
Pattern playback order
Preparations 4 Base Station areas/STEP keys
The 4 Base Station areas
STEP keys

8
The Acan save up to 384 patterns and 99 songs.
In patterns, you can use up to 16 instruments (sound sources) and record sequences that are 1–4
bars long. The instruments, sequences, parameters controlled by the Ring Controller, quantization and
other settings are saved for each pattern separately.
In songs, you can combine multiple patterns to create a complete piece of music.
Instrument 1
Instrument 2
Instrument 3
…
Instrument 16
Song sequence
Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4
Instrument 1
Instrument 2
Instrument 3
…
Instrument 16
Song sequence
Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4
Instrument 1
Bar 1 Bar 2
Instrument 2
Instrument 3
…
Instrument 16
Song
sequence
Pattern 1–384 Song 1–99
Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4
Use the SEQUENCE area to work with patterns and songs.
Switch between PATTERN and
SONG modes
Swing amount
(rhythmic groove) setting
Create new patterns and
songs
Change pattern or song
name
Copy selected pattern or
song
Erase selected pattern or
song
Tempo setting
This can be set to 40.0–250.0 BPM
Selected
pattern or song
number
Select pattern or
song
Selected pattern
or song name
Set
tempo
SEQUENCE area SEQUENCE area overview
SEQUENCE area
SEQUENCE area overview

9
Enter PATTERN mode
Press Yto enter PATTERN mode.
Select a pattern
Turn Hin the SEQUENCE area to select the pattern number.
Conrm the instruments
Tap the pads on the Ring Controller if you want to listen to the
sounds of the input instruments.
When a pad is tapped, its instrument becomes "selected" and
it lights white. The name and parameters of the instrument are
shown on the SOUND display.
Press Xto change the Ring Controller to SCALE layout.
HINT
By pressing Yas you tap a pad, you can select its instrument without playing its sound.
1Start real-time input
End real-time input
Press Rto enter standby, and press Pto
start real-time input.
In PAD layout, tap the pads of instruments
to input them in time with the pattern that is
playing back in a loop.
In SCALE layout, tap the pads of notes to
input them in time with the pattern that is
playing back in a loop.
1
15
2
16
3
…
Instruments
C
F# C#
G
D
…
…
Notes
Press Sto end real-time input.
2Start step input
While pressing a pad that corresponds to
the instrument to input, press the 0keys
to edit the sequence for that instrument.
In addition, you can tap pads while pressing
a 0key to input instruments (in PAD lay-
out) or notes (in SCALE layout) to input them
at that step.
3
12
4
…
30
29 31 32
…
1
15
2
16
3
…
Instruments
Steps
In PATTERN mode, use the Ring Control-
ler to play instruments.
Use Wand Xto switch
between PAD layout for playing multiple
instruments and SCALE layout for playing
the selected instrument in a scale.
PAD layout
Selected
instrument
SCALE layout
Instruments
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Notes
CC1
C2
C3
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
Selected
instrument
SEQUENCE area Creating patterns
Creating patterns

10
Enter SONG mode
Press Zto enter SONG mode.
Select a song
Turn Hin the SEQUENCE area to select a song.
Select a pattern to play back
Tap the pad on the Ring Controller for the pattern to play
back, and check it.
HINT
If the pattern you want to play back has not been assigned
to a pad, use !in the SOUND area to select the pattern to
assign to the pad.
1Start real-time input
Create a song
End real-time input
Press Rto start
real-time input.
Tap pads for patterns to
play them and add them
to the song in real time.
Press Sto end real-time input.
2Start step input
Press the blinking 0to add a new pattern
at that step.
Press a lit 0to see information about the
pattern at that position on the SEQUENCE
display. You can edit pattern information,
insert a new pattern, or delete this step, for
example.
Patterns
In SONG mode, the pads on the Ring Controller are assigned 16 patterns.
You can change the patterns assigned to each pad.
Tapping a pad starts playback of its assigned pattern.
Pattern
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
SEQUENCE area Creating songs
Creating songs