Manual & FAQ

Empress Superdelay User Manual

Q: Is the dry signal analog?
A: It's completely digital. So the dry signal does go through converters. We tried making the dry signal analog, but found that we got better results (lower noise) with a completely digital solution.

Q: Can the SD delay pedal be made to only store 4 presets? I don't need all 8!
A: What you can do is duplicate your 4 settings. So preset 1 is the same as preset 5, 2 is the same as 6, etc. Now you just have to scroll through 4 presets.

Q: Will the SD work with Voodoo Lab Pedal Power?
A: Yes. You can power the Empress Superdelay from outputs 5 or 6 of the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+. You'll need to use the red barrel connector. You must set the corresponding DIP switch away from the NORMAL position. Also, since the Superdelay requires nearly 300mA, you should only use the other output for a much lower current pedal.

Q: Can you mod the SD so that it has an external tap tempo jack?
A: No, we don't do that mod, but it's fairly easy. You have to replace the tap stompswitch with an isolated 1/4" jack. The stompswitch is latching, so the signal you send the SD has to be latching as well. One problem you'll have is with switching presets, since the tap stompswitch is part of the preset system.

Q: Why did you choose positive tip instead of negative tip? Are you just trying to be annoying?

A: I wish we didn't have to go with the positive tip adapter. Unfortunately, it seems once you go above 200mA the standard seems to switch from negative tip to positive. We couldn't find a good supply of negative tip wall wart power supplies that would supply the required current.

Q: How much is shipping to (insert non-North American country here)?
A: $45 USD. It's probably cheaper for you to find an Empress dealer close to you.

Q: What expression pedals work with the SD delay pedal?
A: The pinout for the expression pedal is TIP=signal, RING=3.3V power, SLEEVE=ground. So your expression pedal has to have that pinout. Here's a list of pedals that we know work. Please let us know if you find any other pedals that work with the SD.

M Audio EX-P (set polarity switch on the back to "M-Audio")
www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/EXP-main.html
Roland EV-5
www.roland.com/products/en/EV-5/index.html
VP 3
www.bck.co.uk/htm/Pedals/pedal1.htm
Lead Foot LFX-1
www.thomann.de/thoiw2_lead_foot_lfx1_prodinfo.html
Boss FV-500L
www.roland.com/products/en/FV-500L/index.html
Moog EP-2
www.moogmusic.com/controllers/?section=product&product_id=21143

Q: Can I plug a VC signal into the expression pedal input?
A: Yes, but there are a couple things you want to do. The range that the SD accepts is from 0V to 3.3V. Don't let the voltage get above 3.3V. Also, you'll need to plug in a TRS cable with the RING disconnected. This is so the power that the SD provides on the RING terminal doesn't short to ground. That would be bad news.

Q: My Expression pedal only controls effect in the first 10% of it's travel, what's going on?
A: Expression pedals come in two pinouts. Some put the signal on the tip of the TRS cable (what the Superdelay expects), some put the signal on the ring. If it's on the ring, all the action will happen in the first 10% of the pedal's travel.

Q: I'm having problems saving presets.
A: The little black button has to be held down while hitting the preset stompswitch. Some people hit both the black button and the stompswitch at the same time. This won't work all the time.

Q: Is the SD capable of self-osciallation?
A: Oh yes. And it actually sounds pretty nice.

Q: In looper mode, can you mess with the speed of the loop once it's been recorded?
A: Nope. That would have been cool :-(

Q: Can you reverse the loop once it's been recorded?
A: Yes, as long as you're going between submode B and C.

Q: Can you apply filters/modulation to a recorded loop?
A: Oh yes.

Q: How do you get back to manual mode from the presets?
A: When you’re toggling between the presets (with the middle stompswitch), there’s a state right after the last preset where the leds blink quickly. If you hit the tap stompswitch at this point, you go to manual mode.

Q: Can you use a delay type or any preset while looping? What about as a loop plays?
A: The looper can be saved as a preset. But you can’t save a loop, and go to another mode, then come back and hear the loop. Since loops are saved to the delay line, they are written over when you are using the delay. You also can’t have a delay sound going while using the looper, it’s a pretty simple looper.

Q: Does the delay feedback trail off, or is it a hard stop when switching presets or bypassing?
A: When you switch the presets, the current preset fades out, and the new preset fades in. It takes about a fifth of a second. So no, the delay from the previous preset doesn’t trail off.

Q: If you play some guitar into the pedal with the delay set to a certain setting, and then tap a new setting, what happens to the feedback? Does it cut off, or does all previous delay feedback automatically re-adjust to the new time?
A: When you tap in a new delay time, the delayed sound doesn’t cut off, but it doesn’t adjust either. I think one of the videos shows exactly how this sounds.

Q: What is the latency on this unit?
A: Latency is super low, a couple milliseconds.

Q: How many taps does it take to set the tempo?
A: It only takes two taps to set the tempo. But if you tap more times, it averages the taps to give you a more accurate time.

Q: How are the LEDs that indicate presets in sunlight?
A: Actually, one of the beta testers pointed out that the brightness of the leds sucked. So we cranked the brightness as high as we could and that made him happy. We've had customers say it works great in the sunlight.

Q: Is the artwork screen printed or a decal?
A: Screenprinted. It looks hot.

Q: I want to buy the SD but I hear you're working on version 2 which is going to be stereo and have a bunch of new amazing features!
A: Sorry, just a rumour. We're not going to work on version 2 any time soon. Maybe in 2015...

Q: Can I use the BBE Supa-Charger to power the SD?
A: No. The Empress Superdelay requires 300 mA and the BBE says it only gives 200mA on output 5&6. We've had the SD tested on the Voodoo Pedal Power and it works great.

Q: The Superdelay isn't working when I power it with my pedal board power supply. What's wrong?
A: Make sure that your power supply can source 300mA of current at 9 to 12 Vdc. Also, the polarity of the plug must be positive tip. Most power supplies use cables that are negative tip, so you're going to need a reverse polarity cable. We've found that the PPREV and PPREV-R from Voodoo Lab work really well.