Strymon Timeline User Manual⁚ A Comprehensive Guide
This comprehensive guide provides a detailed overview of the Strymon Timeline, a highly versatile delay pedal renowned for its extensive range of delay effects and exceptional audio quality; The manual covers all aspects of the Timeline, from its front panel controls and rear panel connections to its diverse delay machines, each offering a unique sonic character and feel. It also includes detailed instructions on saving presets, editing parameters, and connecting external devices like expression pedals and the Strymon MultiSwitch for expanded control.
Introduction
The Strymon Timeline is an innovative delay pedal designed to empower musicians with a vast array of delay effects, each offering a distinct sonic character and unparalleled sonic depth. This comprehensive user manual serves as your guide to unlocking the full potential of this exceptional pedal, enabling you to craft a wide range of delay sounds from crisp and clear studio-quality digital delays to the rich and nuanced warmth of tape delay machines.
The Timeline features twelve distinct delay machines, each meticulously engineered to provide comprehensive control over its sonic character. From the classic clarity of digital delays to the nuanced warmth of tape echoes, the Timeline offers a diverse palette of delay effects, catering to a wide range of musical styles and preferences. This manual delves into the intricacies of each delay machine, providing detailed explanations of its unique features, parameters, and potential applications.
Beyond its impressive array of delay effects, the Timeline also boasts an intuitive user interface, allowing for easy navigation and control over its vast sonic capabilities. This manual walks you through the front panel controls, rear panel connections, and the process of saving presets, ensuring that you can seamlessly navigate the Timeline’s features and harness its sonic power with confidence.
Front Panel Controls
The Strymon Timeline’s front panel is thoughtfully designed to provide intuitive control over its vast sonic capabilities. It houses a comprehensive set of knobs and buttons, each dedicated to shaping and manipulating the delay effects in a precise and expressive manner. These controls allow you to meticulously fine-tune every aspect of your delay, from the basic delay time and feedback levels to the more nuanced modulation effects and tone shaping options.
The central focus of the front panel is the large VALUE encoder, which serves as the primary control for adjusting delay parameters. This encoder is surrounded by a ring of buttons that provide access to various functions, including selecting delay machines, navigating through banks and presets, engaging the looper, and activating infinite repeats. The front panel also features dedicated knobs for controlling critical delay parameters such as REPEATS, TIME, MIX, FILTER, GRIT, SPEED, DEPTH, and TYPE, allowing you to fine-tune the sonic character of your delays with precision.
Additionally, the front panel includes two footswitches, labeled A and B, for engaging or bypassing presets. The footswitches also provide access to additional functionality, including the ability to hold down footswitch B for infinite repeats and utilizing the A footswitch to start and stop the built-in looper. The front panel’s intuitive layout, combined with the comprehensive set of controls, ensures that you have complete control over your delay effects, allowing you to craft unique and expressive sounds.
Rear Panel
The Strymon Timeline’s rear panel houses a robust array of connections, designed to seamlessly integrate the pedal into your signal chain and provide extensive control options. This panel serves as the gateway for connecting external devices, expanding the Timeline’s functionality and allowing for a more personalized and expressive experience.
The rear panel features a pair of high-impedance INPUTS, enabling you to connect your guitar or other instruments directly to the Timeline. These inputs offer a wide dynamic range, ensuring that your signal remains clear and pristine throughout the delay process. The rear panel also provides two OUTPUTS, labeled LEFT and RIGHT, for sending your delayed signal to your amplifier or other audio devices. The LEFT output serves as the mono output, while the RIGHT output enables stereo operation, providing a wider and more immersive soundscape.
In addition to the standard inputs and outputs, the rear panel includes a dedicated EXP jack for connecting an expression pedal or external switch. This connection allows you to control various parameters in real-time, such as delay time, feedback, or even the filter cutoff frequency, adding a dynamic and interactive element to your performance. The rear panel also features a MIDI input and output, enabling you to control the Timeline remotely with a MIDI controller, synchronize the delay with external MIDI clocks, or even send MIDI program changes to other devices.
Delay Machines⁚ Common Parameters
The Strymon Timeline’s twelve delay machines, while each offering unique sonic characteristics, share a set of common parameters that provide a foundation for shaping and customizing your delay sounds. These parameters act as a universal control set, allowing you to fine-tune the essential aspects of your delay effects across all the different machines.
The most fundamental parameter is TIME, which controls the delay time, determining how long it takes for the delayed signal to return. This parameter offers a wide range, allowing you to create subtle delays for subtle thickening or expansive delays for ethereal textures. The REPEATS parameter governs the feedback level, determining how many times the delayed signal repeats. A lower setting results in a shorter delay trail, while a higher setting creates a longer, more reverberant effect.
The MIX parameter balances the wet (delayed) signal with the dry (original) signal, allowing you to control the overall blend of the effect. The FILTER parameter shapes the tonal character of the delay repeats, enabling you to sculpt the frequency response and add a unique sonic signature. Finally, the GRIT parameter adds a subtle touch of warmth and saturation, introducing a touch of analog grit to the delay signal, enhancing its organic character.
Delay Machines⁚ Digital
The Digital delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a quintessential representation of the classic, crystal-clear digital delay sound. It embodies the pristine, uncolored delay characteristic of digital technology, offering a wide range of delay tones that can be tailored with precision. This delay machine is highly adaptable, allowing you to create a spectrum of delay sounds, from the modern, crisp delays favored in contemporary music to the iconic 80s delays that defined a sonic era.
The Digital delay machine provides a foundation for crafting a variety of delay sounds. By adjusting the Filter, Grit, and Modulation controls, you can shape the tonal character of the delay repeats, adding warmth, saturation, and movement to the sound. The Filter knob allows you to sculpt the frequency response, while the Grit knob introduces a subtle touch of analog warmth and saturation. The Modulation control adds a touch of vibrato or chorus to the repeats, adding depth and movement to the sound.
The Digital delay machine is a versatile tool for both subtle and dramatic delay effects, offering a foundation for crafting a wide range of delay sounds, from crisp and clean to richly textured and atmospheric.
Delay Machines⁚ Dual
The Dual delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a powerful tool for creating complex and layered delay effects. It features two independent delay lines that can be run in series or parallel, allowing you to create a wide range of delay textures and sonic spaces. The second delay line tracks the first at selectable time ratios, adding a layer of complexity and depth to the sound. This allows you to create intricate rhythmic patterns, cascading delays, and lush ambient soundscapes.
The Dual delay machine provides a wealth of creative possibilities. You can set the delay lines to run in series, creating a cascading delay effect where the second delay line follows the first, creating a sense of depth and space. Alternatively, you can run the delay lines in parallel, creating a richer, more layered delay effect where both delay lines are heard simultaneously. The selectable time ratios allow you to control the relationship between the two delay lines, creating a variety of rhythmic and textural effects.
The Dual delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a versatile and powerful tool for creating a wide range of delay effects, from subtle and nuanced to bold and experimental.
Delay Machines⁚ Pattern
The Pattern delay machine on the Strymon Timeline offers a unique and creative approach to delay effects. It provides a selection of different repeat patterns that can be used to create a wide range of rhythmic and ambient sounds. These patterns range from simple and repetitive to complex and intricate, allowing you to create a variety of sonic textures and rhythms. The Pattern delay machine is ideal for creating rhythmic delays, ambient textures, and experimental soundscapes.
The Pattern delay machine is controlled by a series of parameters that allow you to fine-tune the sound. The SMEAR parameter adds a subtle amount of tape-like flutter to the repeats, giving them a warmer, more organic feel. The SHUFFLE parameter randomly shifts the timing of the repeats, creating a more unpredictable and rhythmic effect. The STUTTER parameter introduces a rhythmic stutter effect, creating a chopped and distorted sound. With a wealth of options, the Pattern delay machine allows you to create a wide range of sounds, from subtle rhythmic patterns to complex and experimental textures.
The Pattern delay machine is a powerful tool for creating a variety of rhythmic and ambient delay effects. Its unique selection of repeat patterns and adjustable parameters allow you to create a wide range of sounds, from subtle and rhythmic to complex and experimental.
Delay Machines⁚ Reverse
The Reverse delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a refined take on the classic reverse delay effect. This delay machine plays back the input signal in reverse, creating a unique and otherworldly sound. Unlike traditional reverse delays, the Timeline’s Reverse delay machine is designed to be musical and predictable, ensuring that the reversed signal always sounds natural and controlled. The delay is triggered by the input signal, making the reversed sound always musically aligned with the original signal.
The Reverse delay machine features several parameters that allow you to fine-tune the effect. The TIME parameter controls the length of the delay, allowing you to create short, punchy reverses or long, ethereal trails. The REPEATS parameter controls the number of times the reversed signal is repeated, allowing you to create a dense and layered effect. The FILTER parameter controls the tone of the reversed signal, allowing you to shape the sound to your liking.
The Reverse delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a versatile and creative tool for adding depth and dimension to your sound. Its musical and predictable nature makes it easy to use, while its adjustable parameters allow you to create a wide range of unique and otherworldly sounds.
Delay Machines⁚ Ice
The Ice delay machine on the Strymon Timeline offers a unique and captivating delay effect that slices the input signal into fragments and plays them back at selectable intervals. This creates a fragmented and glitchy delay sound, reminiscent of frozen audio or a broken record. The Ice delay machine allows you to manipulate the playback interval from -1 octave to 2 octaves, providing a vast range of sonic possibilities.
The INTERVAL parameter controls the playback interval, allowing you to determine how much the audio is shifted in pitch. At -1 octave, the audio is played back an octave lower than the original signal, while at 2 octaves, the audio is played back two octaves higher. The SMEAR parameter controls the amount of pitch shifting applied to the delayed signal, creating a more pronounced or subtle pitch-shifting effect. The FILTER parameter shapes the tone of the delayed signal, allowing you to sculpt the sound to your liking.
The Ice delay machine is a powerful tool for creating experimental and avant-garde sounds. Its ability to fragment and manipulate the audio signal in a variety of ways makes it a unique and versatile delay effect. It can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from subtle and atmospheric to aggressive and chaotic.
Delay Machines⁚ Duck
The Duck delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a dynamic delay effect that reacts to your playing with adjustable sensitivity and release time. As the sensitivity is increased, the ducking effect becomes more pronounced, creating a rhythmic interplay between the dry signal and the delayed signal; This effect can be used to create a variety of rhythmic patterns, from subtle ducking to aggressive sidechaining.
The SENSITIVITY parameter controls how responsive the ducking effect is to your playing. At lower settings, the ducking effect is subtle and only slightly affects the delayed signal. At higher settings, the ducking effect becomes more pronounced, creating a more noticeable rhythmic interplay. The RELEASE parameter controls how quickly the delayed signal recovers after it has been ducked. A longer release time creates a more pronounced ducking effect, while a shorter release time creates a more subtle effect.
The Duck delay machine is a powerful tool for creating rhythmic and dynamic effects. Its ability to react to your playing in real time makes it a versatile effect that can be used to create a variety of creative sounds. Whether you’re looking to add subtle rhythmic accents or create dramatic sidechain effects, the Duck delay machine is a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
Delay Machines⁚ Swell
The Swell delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a variable attack time delay that allows you to create a gradual build-up of sound, adding depth and atmosphere to your playing. This effect can be used to create a variety of sounds, from subtle swells to dramatic crescendos. The SWELL parameter controls the rate at which the delayed signal builds up. At lower settings, the swell is slow and gradual, creating a subtle and atmospheric effect. At higher settings, the swell is faster and more dramatic, creating a more pronounced effect.
The Swell delay machine is a great tool for adding a touch of atmosphere to your sound. It can be used to create a variety of effects, from subtle swells to dramatic crescendos. This effect works well with both single notes and chords; The Swell delay machine is a versatile tool that can be used to create a variety of unique and creative sounds.
The Swell delay machine is a great way to create a sense of anticipation and build-up in your music. It can also be used to create dramatic effects, such as a delayed guitar solo that gradually swells in volume. This machine is a valuable tool for creating unique and expressive sounds.
Delay Machines⁚ Trem
The Trem delay machine on the Strymon Timeline is a delay with a synchronized tremolo effect applied to the repeats. This creates a rhythmic pulsating sound that can add a unique and dynamic dimension to your delays. The Trem delay machine offers a range of options for shaping the tremolo effect, allowing you to create a wide array of sounds.
The TREM parameter controls the depth of the tremolo, allowing you to adjust the amount of volume fluctuation in the repeats. At lower settings, the tremolo effect is subtle, adding a gentle pulse to the repeats. At higher settings, the tremolo effect is more pronounced, creating a dramatic rhythmic effect. The SPEED parameter controls the rate of the tremolo, allowing you to adjust the speed at which the volume fluctuates. At lower settings, the tremolo effect is slow and deliberate, creating a smooth and flowing effect. At higher settings, the tremolo effect is faster and more rhythmic, creating a more pronounced effect.
The Trem delay machine is a versatile tool for adding a unique and dynamic dimension to your delays. It is a great way to create a rhythmic pulsating sound that can add a unique and dynamic dimension to your delays. The Trem delay machine is a great way to add a touch of movement and energy to your sound. It can be used to create a variety of effects, from subtle tremolo to dramatic rhythmic pulses.
