Accel FX8 Command Center Switcher Looper User Manual

							          
              
             
                   
SWITCHER / LOOPER 
 
 
Features: 
- Compact footprint:  
  18.90” (480mm) L x 2.36” (60mm) W x 2.05” (52mm) H 
- Instant recall (no latency). 
- True bypass design. 
- 8 loops in total, 7 series loops and 1 separate loop.  
- 2 dedicated foot switches (latch type). 
- Individual Tuner/Mute switch. 
- Master bypass access. 
- Store up to 80 presets, 4 presets per banks, 20 banks. 
- Programmable Live/Rehearsal mode: 
  (Active Bank Setup Mode “ABS”). 
- Factory Reset. 
- Intuitive operation.  
 
 
 
 
USER’S MANUAL 
 
 
        
 
 
 
Read this manual before using your FX8 Command Center in order to 
ensure proper and safe operation.  
						

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Contents 
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 
Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 
(1)  BANK DN ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 
(2) BANK UP........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 
(3) A B C D .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 
(4) TUNER / Mute ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 
(5)  NUMERICAL (LCD) DISPLAY ...................................................................................................................................... 4 
(6) Master Bypass Access ................................................................................................................................................... 4 
(7) LOOP on/off indicator ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 
(8) FS1/FS2 (Footswitch indicators) .................................................................................................................................... 4 
(9) INPUT ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 
(10) TUNER ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 
(11)  (S1,R1), (S2,R2) (S7,R7) ......................................................................................................................................... 4 
(12) OUTPUT....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 
(13) DC Jack ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5 
(14) LOOP8 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 
(15) FOOTSWITCH Jacks ................................................................................................................................................... 5 
Set up: ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 
Primary Functions: .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 
Secondary Functions: ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 
Restoring Factory Presets: ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 
Specifications .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 
Signal Flow Chart .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 
Operational Flow Chart ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 
Typical Setup Configuration Diagrams ................................................................................................................................. 10 
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 
Warranty ................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 
 
 
Read all Warnings and Cautions before operating your FX8 Command Center 
1. Keep these instructions – The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. 
2. All warnings, cautions and instructions should be adhered too for safe operation of your FX8 Command 
Center. 
3. Follow all operating and use instructions for safe operation of this unit. 
4. WARNING!!! To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this device to rain or moisture. 
The unit should not be exposed to liquids of any kind. Any objects or containers filled with liquids, such 
as drinks or beverages shall not be placed on top of the unit.  
5. Clean only with a dry cloth. 
6. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched. Especially near the plugs, convenience 
receptacles, and at the point where they exit from the unit. 
7. Follow all instructions and recommendations regarding attachments/ accessories specified by the 
manufacturer. 
8. Only use this unit as prescribed and specified by the manufacturer to power effects pedals. 
9. Caution: Unplug the unit during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. 
10. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Service is required when this device has been damaged in 
any way such as; if any liquid or foreign objects have gotten inside the unit; if it has been exposed to 
rain or moisture; has been dropped; or does not otherwise operate normally.  
						

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Introduction  
 
The Accel FX8 Command Center is a convenient, compact and intuitive guitar effect pedal switcher. It is primarily 
designed to switch multiple guitar effects pedals at the same time using a single footswitch. Different combinations of 
effects pedals can be stored on different patches allowing the player to easily change between multiple effects loops with 
the ease of a single footswitch.  W hen using your Accel programmable switcher it is important to understand which mode 
you currently in.  There are two primary modes, “Program Mode” and Recall Mode”. Remembering this is foundational and 
will keep you from attempting to program a function when in recall mode or attempting to recall a loop when in program 
mode. This User’s Manual presents basically the same instructions/operations in different ways using different formats (in 
case for some reason the user understands one format over the other). At the end of the manual, there is a Glossary to 
help clear up any terms the user may not understand. Once the switcher hooked up properly, the user should be able to 
go through this manual in about a half an hour or so and understand all the switchers functions. Be sure to keep the 
manual for reference, especially as a reminder for the lesser used functions.    
 
Accel switcher primary functions (most used functions): 
Program Mode: Programs recall switches (A/B/C and D) to recall chosen effects loops and footswitches into a chosen 
bank.   
Recall Mode: Recalls your effects loops using A/B/C/D preset switches. This switcher also has a “master bypass” 
indicated by a blue led above the BANK UP switch and a “tuner/ mute” switch/ led. 
 
Accel switcher secondary functions (less used functions):  
ABS (Active Bank Pool Set Up): Narrows the bank range to “hide” unneeded banks for a time.  
BPS (Active Bank Pool Setup): Toggles between two completely different pools of banks. 
Reset: The reset function restores factory default settings.   
  
 
 
 
 
Overview 
 
  
       
 
REAR VIEW 
 9   10   11                                                                                  12 13 14 15 
                  
(1)  BANK DN      
BANK DOWN switch 1(SW1);  
In “Recall Mode”, press this switch to decrease the bank number.  
In “Program Mode”, hit this switch to shift the programming between loop1~4 (“L” in LCD Display ) and loop5~8 (“H” 
in LCD Display). 
To toggle between “ Recall Mode” and “Program Mode” hold this switch down for a couple seconds. Check for more 
details in the “Programming Loops and Foot switches” section (page 4). 
  
						

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(2) BANK UP 
BANK UP switch (SW2); 
In “Recall Mode”, press this switch to increase the bank number. 
In “Program Mode”, press this switch to program the amp footswitches (FS1/FS2). Holding down this 
switch will toggle between “Recall Mode” and “Active Bank Setup Mode (ABS)”, for more complete of 
the “active bank setup mode” (page 5). 
 
(3) A B C D 
In Recall Mode: 
Preset switches “A” “B” “C” or “D” recall previously programmed loops for those switches. 
(Pressing the same preset switch again will “Bypass” the switcher, as indicated by the blue led above the bank up 
switch).  
In Program Mode, “A” engages loop4 or loop8, “B” for loop3 or loop7, “C” for loop2 or loop6, “D” for loop1 or 
loop5. 
 
(4) TUNER / Mute 
When this switch is engaged, the OUTPUT jack will be muted and the TUNER jack connects to INPUT jack. 
     
(5)  NUMERICAL (LCD) DISPLAY 
In Recall Mode: 
 The numerical display indicates the active BANK. 
In Program Mode: 
“L” indicates loop1~4 are ready to be programmed, “H” indicates loop5~8 are ready to be programmed. 
In “Active Bank Setup”  (ABS) Mode: 
A blinking “Blue LED” above “Bank Up” indicates the ABS program mode has been activate. (See the “ABS Section on 
page 5  for programming the ABS Function). 
 
(6) Master Bypass Access 
     To bypass the effects looped into the switcher, simply press any active recall switch  
     “A, B, C, D” (the active switch will be indicated by a solid red LED above the switch). W hen this switch is  
     pressed again, that switches LED will turn off. A blue LED above the “BANK UP” switch will turn solid blue.  
     This will indicate that the switcher is in “Bypass Mode”. Select any switch A-D to exit bypass mode and enter  
     back into recall mode. (You cannot program the switcher in bypass mode). 
 
(7) LOOP on/off indicator 
 The indicator is on when a loop is engaged. 
 
(8) FS1/FS2 (Footswitch indicators) 
The indicator is on when FS1/FS2 is open, off when FS1/FS2 is latched. 
 
(9) INPUT  
Connects to Guitar. 
 
(10) TUNER 
Connects to tuner. 
 
(11)  (S1,R1), (S2,R2) (S7,R7) 
Loop pairs, connects SEND (S*) to guitar pedal input, RETURN(R*) to guitar pedal output. 
 
(12) OUTPUT 
OUTPUT jack of the switcher, the input signal reaches this jack via loop1~7. 
  
						

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(13) DC Jack 
5.5 x 2.1 mm type, use negative center DC 9V / 350 - 500mA power supply (this unit will not function properly under 
350mA’s).  
 
(14) LOOP8 
Loop8 is a separate loop, IN8 is input of this loop, S8 sends the signal and R8 returns it, OUT8 is the output of 
loop8. S8 also functions as latching N.C (Normally Closed) switch which works as footswitch to control 
amplifier channel while OUT8 also functions as latching N.O (Normally Open) footswitch. 
This is nice to have when you are using your amp to achieve your overdriven or distortion tones instead of a 
pedal, since most modulation and time based effects in general sound more natural when applied to the 
signal after it has been overdriven. However if you are using pedals for your overdrive you can simply place 
your time based and modulation effects after your overdrive pedal. In which case you can use Loop 8 in front 
of the amp as shown in Configuration 1 on page?     
 
(15) FOOTSWITCH Jacks 
There are two footswitch jacks FS1 and FS2 which can switch the amplifier channel, The TIP and RING of FS1/ 
FS2 are normally closed (indicators are off), the indicators will be on when FS1/FS2 is open. FS1 is a stereo 
(TRS) jack, the ring of FS1 jack connects to the TIP of FS2, FS1 allows a stereo cable connection between the 
FX8 Command center and amplifiers which has a stereo footswitch jack 
 
 
 
 
Set up: 
1) Connect the effects pedals to the Accel programmable switch as shown under one of the “Typical 
Configuration Drawings” in this user’s manual, (pages 10 and 11). Make sure to use a 9V input at least 350mA.    
2) Reference the “Over View section (pages 3 – 5) for component a feature identification. 
3) Power up switcher.  
     
For this unit to function properly use only a 9V power supply between 350 - 500mA. 
(Warning: Use only a 9V power supply.  Do not use more than a 9V power supply, this will over heat the 
switcher and will not be covered under warranty)  
 
 
 
   
						

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Primary Functions: 
  
   
						

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Secondary Functions: 
  
						

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Restoring Factory Presets: 
 
 
 
 
Specifications 
Dimensions ......................................................................................... 480(L) x60(W)X52(H) mm 
Weight ............................................................................................................................... 1000g 
Power Supply ....................................................................................... DC9V (Negative Center) 
Current Drain ........................................................................................................... max. 350mA 
 
 
 
 
Signal Flow Chart 
 
 
   
						

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Operational Flow Chart 
  
						

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Typical Setup Configuration Diagrams