Upgrading the Zebra-Trem from versions prior to v1.11

This page describes a syncing problem found in pedals sold before June 2024, and provides a way to solve the problem.

It turns out that the clock in the Zebra-Trem's microcontroller isn't very accurate. The margin of error is around six seconds per hour, or around 0.1%. As a result, some customers have had difficulty syncing the Zebra-Trem with external timers, such as a metronome or a click track.

If you don't need to sync to external timers, the steps below probably aren't necessary.

If you do need to sync to external timers, you'll need:

Preparing for the calibration

  1. Power up your Zebra-Trem, being sure not to press the tap switch during power-up.
  2. Connect your Zebra-Trem to a PC or laptop using a USB data cable.
  3. The Zebra-Trem should show up as an external device called CIRCUITPY.
  4. Download this .zip file, and extract the code.py file it contains onto the Zebra-Trem.
  5. The LED should now be magenta.
  6. Eject the CIRCUITPY device.
  7. Disconnect the Zebra-Trem from the USB cable.
  8. Disconnect the Zebra-Trem from the power supply.

Calibrating

  1. Power up your Zebra-Trem, with the tap switch PRESSED.
  2. During power-up, the LED will quickly flash yellow two or three times, then go blue for a second, green for a second, then steady blue.
  3. Get the stopwatch ready and zeroed.
  4. Simultaneously, click down the wave | edit knob on the Zebra-Trem, and start the stopwatch.
  5. The LED should now be yellow.
  6. When the stopwatch reaches exactly one hour, click down the wave | edit knob again.
  7. The LED should now be green.

If any of the calibrating steps go wrong, just disconnect the power from the Zebra-Trem and restart the calibrating steps.

If the LED doesn't behave as described, please get in touch.

After calibrating

  1. Eject the CIRCUITPY device.
  2. Disconnect the Zebra-Trem from the USB cable.
  3. Disconnect the Zebra-Trem from the power supply.
  4. Power up your Zebra-Trem, being sure not to press the tap switch during power-up.
  5. Download and install the latest software from the Downloads tab on the Zebra-Trem page.

Conclusion

The instructions above describe how you can get your Zebra-Trem calibrated so that it'll sync with external timers. Alternatively, you can get in touch to discuss having us do it for you.