malekko N13-04391 Polyamorator Harmonizer + Delay Pedal User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- malekko
Table of Contents
N13-04391 Polyamorator Harmonizer + Delay Pedal
User Manual
BASIC OPERATION AND SAFETY
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Connect to an industry-standard 9 Volt DC power supply! Incorrect voltage and AC power supplies will damage your pedal and void the manufacturer’s warranty! We also recommend using our Malekko 9 Volt Wall Wart, available through our website.
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Do not use this apparatus near water.
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Clean only with a dry cloth.
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Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
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Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
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Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
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No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. -
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
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Refer to labels on the unit, including bottom cover, or other markings and pertinent information.
DESCRIPTION
POLYAMORATOR is a compact digital harmonize/delay/arpeggio pedal featuring three stages of harmonizing and delay with two pages for control adjustment and external tempo sync. Five of the six knobs change function depending on the page: Page 1 has controls for delay time, delay regen amount, stage one harmonizing, stage two harmonizing, stage three harmonizing. Page 2 has controls for sample size, wet/dry mix, stage one volume, stage two-volume, stage three-volume. The effect is three stages sequentially (arpeggio). The TIME adjustment changes the delay time for each stage exponentially. Each stage of harmonizing offers up to one octave up or down, in chromatic increments. TAP tempo input also works with an external clock. Any combination of Size, Time, Regen, Wet/Dry Mix, Stage One Volume, Stage Two Volume, Stage Three Volume, Stage One Harmonizing, Stage Two Harmonizing, and Stage Three Harmonizing settings, both positive and negative sweep can be assigned and controlled with an expression pedal or through CV input.
HOLD stomp for 1 second to select Page 1 or 2.
Flashing main LED indicates Page 2
Polyamorator Features include:
Master TIME control over arpeggio:
Stage One Delay Time – 670ms max
Stage Two Delay Time – 1.340ms max
Stage Three Delay Time – 2.000ms max
Harmonizing – Range is one octave up or down in chromatic increments
Size – This determines the amount of audio captured for harmonizing and
delaying.
A larger size increases delay latency.
Delay Regen – One repeat to full feedback
Mix – Set the mix from 100% dry to 100% wet.
Volume – Off to maximum per stage
Preamp Level – Attenuate or amplify input signal.
Tempo LED
EXP/CV input LED
Page 2 flashing LED edit indicator
Quick clear of all automation assignments
POLYAMORATOR USE GUIDE:
Page 1 Controls:
Top Row (Left to Right) : Pitch 1, Pitch 2, Pitch 3 (-12 semitones to +12
semitones)
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Delay Time, Regen, Preamp
Page 2 Alternate Functions (hold stomp for 1 second until Main LED starts
flashing):
Top Row (Left to Right) : Volume control for Pitch/Delay 1, 2, 3.
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Sample capture window size, Dry/Wet Mix, Preamp
External Control:
Left side: tap tempo input. Stereo TRS cable required. Tempo LED displays
rate.
Right side: expression pedal input. CV is compatible. EXP/CV LED lit when
external control is connected. All functions except PREAMP are expression
pedal assignable.
Polyamorator is a signature pedal for Peter Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport, Rebel Drones, and Radis Noir)
OVERVIEW CONTROL PAGE 1
PITCH CONTROL 1, 2, 3:
Each delay allows for +/- one octave.
Intervals are chromatic for easy selection.
12 o’clock is no pitch change.
TIME CONTROL:
Set the delay time for the arpeggio.
REGEN CONTROL:
Adjust the amount of delayed feedback.
TAP/SYNC JACK:
Use LIL BUDDY to tap in the tempo.
TAP TEMPO requires TRS 1/4” stereo in.
Use click track, analog clock, gates, or triggers to sync delays to external
tempo.
SYNC IN can use ¼” mono.
TAP/SYNC LED:
Flashes at delay rate.
MAIN LED:
Effect on/off.
Solid LED indicates PAGE 1 controls.
Flashing LED indicates PAGE 2 controls.
OUTPUT JACK:
1/4” mono out.
9VDC JACK:
Standard negative-tip 2.5mm barrel connector.
PREAMP CONTROL:
Active in both pages, not EXP assignable.
OVERVIEW CONTROL PAGE 2
VOLUME CONTROL 1, 2, 3:
Individual-level control per delay.
SIZE CONTROL:
Determine the amount in milliseconds of dry signal for processing.
This control determines overall effect characteristics.
MIX CONTROL:
Counterclockwise 100% dry to clockwise 100% wet.
PREAMP CONTROL:
Active in both pages, not EXP assignable.
EXP/CV JACK:
Use expression pedal or CV to adjust assignable controls.
TRS or mono 1/4” input.
EXP/CV LED:
Solid when expression pedal or CV is in use.
MAIN LED:
Effect on/off.
Solid LED indicates PAGE 1 controls.
Flashing LED indicates PAGE 2 controls.
INPUT JACK:
Mono 1/4” in.
POLYAMORATOR OPERATION
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POLYAMORATOR is three sequential delay stages, creating a four-note arpeggio.
Individual pitch and delay volume per stage with master delay time and regen. -
Two control pages allow this pedal to be compact yet extremely variable. Once the effect is on, holding the stomp switch down for one second will change the pages.
Solid main LED indicates Page 1 functions. Flashing the main LED indicates Page 2 functions. Obviously, the upside-down text is Page 2 functions. Once the desired page is selected, release stomp and make adjustments. -
A quick setup is to select page 2, turn all three volumes to the max, set MIX to 50/50 (12 o’clock), then set SIZE to 9 o’clock. At this approximate SIZE setting, the delays will be clean without any artifacts. Playing with the SIZE control will change the pedal’s character.
Select page 1, set TIME to about 2 o’clock for obvious delay/pitch settings. Probably set the REGEN off to start, then adjust the PITCH per delay. These PITCH controls are chromatic +/- one octave, with 12 o’clock giving no pitch change.
The pedal will recall the last setting when powered off, including expression control. -
Expression pedal assignment is fun, easy, and can be very confusing at first. To assign an expression to a control, HOLD the stomp switch while turning a control. The pedal needs to know that you are making an expression assignment or it will assume you are selecting the other page, so immediately turn a control pot when you hold the stomp.
Once you have made an assignment, you will need to set the pot to the other extreme. Example: HOLD stomp and sweep the REGEN pot all the way from 7 o’clock to 5 o’clock to set that control. Now you need to turn the REGEN pot back to 7 o’clock so the expression pedal will be able to sweep the control. If you leave the REGEN pot at 5 o’clock, the expression pedal will have no effect on the control.
You can assign all controls except preamp to the expression pedal or cv, and any control can be clockwise or counterclockwise. This means you can make assignments that change in opposite directions. For example, you can set delay 1 to -1 octave and delay 3 to +1 octave when the pedal is at its heel position, then when you move the pedal to the toe position, delay 1 will sweep up to +1 octave while delay 3 sweeps to -1 octave. Yes, crazy fun but very easy to get lost in the settings. -
Remove all expression pedal assignments by HOLDING the stomp switch down for 2 seconds while you connect the power plug. The tempo LED will change tempo when expression assignments have been cleared.
This will not zero out your settings; it will only remove the expression pedal assignments.
WARRANTY
This product is covered by the Malekko Heavy Industry warranty, for one year
following the date of purchase. This warranty covers any defect in the
manufacturing of this product. This warranty does not cover any damage or
malfunction caused by incorrect use – such as but not limited to, power cables
connected backward, excessive voltage levels, or exposure to extreme
temperature or moisture levels. The warranty covers replacement or repair, as
decided by Malekko Heavy Industry.
Please visit our website malekkoheavyindustry.com to obtain full warranty
information and to register your product for coverage.