JamMan Special ROM V0.2 Users Guide
Three Button Footswitch <go back to table of contents>
The new Stec Special software provides support for "3 button footswitches" which provide access to 1 extra function from each of the rear panel "FOOTSWITCHES" jacks.  The only comercial version of the switch I know about is made by Digitech (FS-300 at $50). Check their web site for more info. Other footswitches, including the cheap one that comes with the JamMan, can be modified to add the the third switch. The modification is to simply connect the anodes of two signal diodes (1N914, 1N4148) to the tip and ring while the cathodes are tied together and connected to the third switch.

All of the footswitches MUST be "momentary, normally open". "Momentary" means that the switch only makes contact when it is being pressed. "Normally Open" means that when it is not being pressed the switch is open.

Using an appropriately wired footswitch, the following functions can be accessed:

FootSwitch 1:
- Tap
- Bypass/Reset
- Fade Main*

FootSwitch 2:
- Channel
- Function
- Page*

* The third switch

Tap
This button works the same as in the original JamMan: Initially "taps" in the loop size but thereafter toggles the selected Function on and off.

Bypass/Reset
This button toggles the Main Bypass on and off (dry is not bypassed) when pressed. Holding this button resets (clears) all the loops.

Fade Main
Pressing this button begins a Main Fade operation. An "F" is displayed and the three mode leds cycle up or down to show fading up or down. Note that during fades, other operations are disabled. Pressing the button during a fade stops the fade.

Holding the button during a fade reverses the direction. As such, the fade can be used to control the audio level of the loops as a group.

When the fade reaches silence, the system enters the bypass mode. Pressing the BYPASS button immediately turns the audio back on but pressing Fade Main gradually fades the audio back on. When full level is reached, normal operation is restored. This can though of as an extention of the bypass mode.

Channel
This select the current channel. Presses cycle through the available channels (number of initialized channels + 1). Holding the button selects the channel. If the channel has not yet been initialized, an initialization is enqueued which will start at the next loop boundry. If the channel has been initialized, holding the Channel button makes the displayed channel "Active" (Functions can now be applied to that channel).

Function
This button steps through the available functions. When a function number is displayed, pressing the TAP button enables the Function.

Page
This selects the current Page. Presses cycle through the available Pages (number of initialized pages + 1). Holding the button selects the Page. If the Page has not yet been initialized, an initialization is enqueued which will start at the next loop boundry. If the page has been initialized, holding the Page button enques loading the page (and its loops and channel settings).