Maintenance
Flashback X4 Delay – Manual (2014-06-24) 31
Updating the firmware
TC may provide updates for the built-in software
of your pedal, the firmware. Updating your TC
pedal’s firmware requires…
– a computer running Microsoft Windows or
OSX with a standard USB interface
– the specified DC power supply for your pedal.
Preparing the firmware update
– Download the newest firmware from the “Sup-
port” page for your TC pedal. There are up-
daters
– for Microsoft Windows (these are ZIP ar-
chives containing the firmware installer) and
– for OS X (these are disk image files contain-
ing the firmware installer).
– Unplug all cables (including the power supply)
from your TC pedal.
– Connect the pedal to your computer using a
USB cable.
– Press and hold the leftmost footswitch on your
TC pedal.
– Insert the DC power supply plug.
– The leftmost LED on your pedal should turn
green. This indicates that the pedal is ready to
receive the software update.
– Release the footswitch.
– Your TC pedal will now be recognized as an
updatable device.
Applying the firmware update
– Quit all MIDI-related applications (e.g. your
DAW) on your computer and launch the firm-
ware updater you have downloaded in step1.
– In the firmware updater app, select your TC
pedal from the drop-down list under the
“STEP 1” heading.
– When the “Update” button under the “STEP 2”
heading turns green, click it.
The updated firmware will now be transferred to
your TC pedal. Wait for the progress bar to reach
100%. When the update procedure is complete,
the pedal will automatically restart.
Switching the pedal from true
bypass to buffered bypass mode
True Bypass and Buffered
Bypass explained
True Bypass mode is a hard-wire bypass that
gives absolutely no coloration of tone when the
pedal is bypassed. This is the default mode for
your effect pedal.
Using True Bypass on all pedals is a perfect
choice in setups with a few pedals and relatively
short cables before and after the pedals.
If…
– you use a long cable between your guitar and
the first pedal or
– if you use many pedals on your board or
– if you use a long cable from your board to the
amp,
…then the best solution will most likely be to set
the first and the last pedal in the signal chain to
Buffered Bypass mode.
Can you hear the difference between a pedal in
True Bypass or Buffered Bypass mode?
Maybe, maybe not – many factors apply: active/
passive pick-ups, single coil/humbucker, cable
quality, amp impedance and more. We cannot
give a single ultimate answer. Use your ears and
find the best solution for your setup!