The menu structure of the Switchblade was designed to offer programming power with ease and speed. The menu is divided into 3 simple groups: Preset, Setup, and Preset Manager. The Preset group is used to create programs of Patches, gain settings, etc - patching scenes that can be recalled to rewire your entire rig. The Setup group is used to program global parameters common to all presets and setups.  The third menu is a single page used to load presets, into the cycling banks of the Preset Manager. 

The screen for PLAY mode and the PROGRAMMING Menu are shown below. All other diagrams on this page begin from here...

1. THE PRESET MENU GROUP

PRESET NAMING:  This page is used to assign a 12 character name to the preset. This is the name displayed on the screen when the preset is loaded during normal operation

PATCHING AND GAIN: This menu is used to create patches and set the gain levels of the connections.  To create a patch, scroll to the desired audio source name on the left side of the menu (such as "guitar" ), then scroll to the desired audio destination on the right side of the menu (such as "amp").  Finally,  scroll to the desired gain setting for this particular patch. If the gain is set to "OFF" then this patch is disconnected from the circuit. If you wish continuous control for a particular patch, move the cursor to the lower right section.  A second gain number will appear that normally tracks the first gain number.  If this number is changed to be different from the first, then the 2 gain values determine the start and stop gains for this patch. Note that the start gain can be higher or lower than the stop gain to allow cross fading between patches.  This particular patch can now be assigned to 1 of 2 continuous controllers represented in the display by an "up" or "down" pointing arrow.

REVIEW: This timesaver allows you to quickly review all the connections you have made in a preset and is accessed by pressing and holding the "Select" switch while in the Patch menu.  Pressing the Select Switch again returns you to the Patching and Gain menu at the same location presented in the review menu so quick updates can be made during the review process.

MIDI OUT:  This menu is used to create the outgoing MIDI program change command burst that is sent whenever this preset is selected.  Since all MIDI devices are displayed by name, it is easy to quickly set up the burst to all your effects.

VU METER DISPLAY: This menu is used to monitor the audio level of any of the inputs on an individual basis.  The meter is calibrated in 2 dB increments from 0dB to -34dB.  The input number being monitored is also displayed in this menu and the number can be scrolled using the UP or DOWN buttons.

CONTROL OUTPUT STATE: (all models except Studio Switchblade):   This menu is used to activate or deactivate each of the control relays for this preset that are used to turn on or off the reverb or overdrive channels of amplifiers.  All relays can be overridden using reserved Program change numbers or Controllers ("Instant Access" switches used on some foot controllers).

AUTOSWEEP PARAMETERS:  Used to turn on or off the automatic sweep function for this preset and to select the type of sweep (smooth sweep, multi pan, and single shot) and the sweep cycle time (250 ms to more than 13 seconds).  The Autosweep can be used in place of one of the continuous controllers available. If the Autosweep is turned off for a particular preset than the external controller is automatically assigned.

THE SETUP MENU GROUP

COPY : Copy one preset to another to simplify creating a new preset that is similar to another preset already programmed.

EFFECT CONFIGURATION :  Use this menu to assign names to the effects, instruments and amps connected to the inputs and outputs.  In addition, use this menu to assign MIDI channels to any MIDI effects you have attached to the Switchblade as well as the channel number of the Switchblade itself.  This menu is also sets up the Remote Programming feature which is used for ultra fast reprogramming of the group gain of a preset while in the play menu to increase or decrease the overall volume of a preset with respect to other presets. This menu greatly simplifies programming of the presets since all patching or MIDI program change number assignment is performed by calling up the patches or MIDI devices by name instead of having to remember what loops they are connected to or what channel they were assigned to.

BACKUP : Backup and restore the entire Switchblade memory for archiving purposes or to load in and save collections of the entire Switchblade memory.

CONTROL TYPES : Individual "footswitch simulator" control outputs on the Switchblade can be set as either a static state (on or off) type of output or a pulse type output (off-on-off) whenever a preset is selected.  This feature allows compatibility between the Switchblade and those amps and effects that expect to see either push on/push off or momentary types of footswitches in their footswitch inputs. (All models except Studio Switchblade)
 
CONTROLLER ASSIGNMENT:  Allows control change number assignments to each of two continuous controller symbols.  The symbols are then used during preset programming instead of numbers to simplify and speed up the task of assigning a controller to a patch.

INPUT CONFIGURATION:  (All models except Switchblade 8)  Turns on or off the individual trims on any of the inputs.

PRESET SWITCHING TIME MENU: Used to program the fade out-switch-fade in time when switching from preset to preset.  Adjustable from 0ms (instant) to 1000ms.

THE PRESET MANAGER MENU GROUP

This menu is the only menu in the third group and is used to load selected presets into the Preset Manager.  There are 20 banks available and 10 empty locations in each bank.  If a bank is not filled, then the bank will "short cycle".  For example, loading only 2 presets into a bank will allow rapid toggling between the two presets when the footswitch is pressed.  You can quickly move to a preset that is not in the list by using your MIDI foot controller.