TACSYNTH
MANUAL (Version 0.947)
-------------------------------------
"TACSYNTH " (The Analog Cottage Synthedit Analog Emulator)
Tacsynth was built using the powerful
Synthedit SE1
program. It consist of typical sections found on most analog mono
synthesizer :
VCO, VCF, VCA, Pitch Controls and Clocks, Bias, ADSR....
For
philosophical
reasons and versatility, a minimum M.I.D.I configuration has been
implemented (only MIDI Out to CV /Gate is
available), but MIDI usage is NOT recommended due to a high latency time).
Tacsynth is a real-time synth designed for “Live performance” in the same vein of the legendary “M” or “Realtime” sequencers, but with no preset digital FM canned sounds : You have to create your own instruments from scratch using analog substractive synthesis! So, Tacsynth is best used as a true standalone analog emulator, like the early analog mono synths, designed for the true analog-niks!
Although
it is basically
a mono synth, it can generate orchestrated polyphonies of timbres and
polyrhythic rhythms, thanks to
its 8 voices capabilities. Also, its complex clocking devices allows
very
sophisticated rhythms to be programmed
(1/2,2/3,2/4,3/4,4/4,6/4,5/7,3/8,6/8 to
name a few). If needed, these rhythms can be further divided to
generate even
more complex rhythms or they can be added to the rhythms generated by
the two
probability clocks)..
Tacsynth
is an ideal
tool to explore automated tonal/atonal "Jazzy" melodic
sequences, generated by a 24 steps Sequencer or by a 64
events Binary Sequencer, Seedable Probability Generators, Chaotic
Generators,
Pseudo-random Generators and other voltage controlled modules. All
parameters
are easily accessible, by mouse tweaking. Also, the intuitive X/Y
Joystick
brings great control flexibility for 'Live' automated performances.
I
have also added four
basic percussion modules (in case you don't have any percussion modules
at hand
on your Lap-Top) :A Snare drum, a Kick, a Hi-Hat and a Ride Cymbal!
In my
opinion, the
result is surprisingly good : the sounds don't appear to be "digital"
at all : On the contrary, they sound very analog to me, even acoustic,
at
times!
This
is an example of
what I have been advocating for years : analog synths should be kept
strictly
monophonic! : Each voice should have its own VCF and Envelope
generators, in order
to enhance the timbre of the sounds! Also, there should be plenty of
controllers to tweak, in order to emphasize the lively and dynamic
"beatings" of frequencies and harmonics!
TACSYNTH
MODULES
Tacsynth is a mono synth consisting of eight
independent synthesizer voices
: each voice consist of four VCO's, a VCF, two ADSR Envelopes, and
various
sound
treatment modules : FM, Lfo (Vibrato), Sync, Clipping, Rectifying, and
Ring
Modulation.
Voltage
Controlled
Oscillators (32 VCO's, four per voice)
The VCO's are located in the left section of the synth. There are 8 voices (F1 to F8). Each voice consist of four VCO’s: they all share the same fundamental freq(Fn) : the frequency bias of each VCO is set by selecting a different octave range (from -5 octaves to +5octaves) and a different transposition height (from 0 to 11 steps per octave). For syncing purposes, VCO A can be synced to VCO B, and/or VCO C to VCO D.
By design,
VCO B FM input is used
for sound
treatments: building complex timbres by interactions with VCO A output
: Sync, FM, Clipping and Rectifying are among the many
functions
available. Also, VCO A and VCO B outputs can be ring modulated
together. Finally, VCO C and D are only set in parralel and
mixed
to the final outputs.
VCO
(Voltage Controlled
Oscillator)
For clarity
sake, let us
focus on VCO1 first line of controls:
F1 : Initial frequency knob (for
all four VCO's).
PW-M : Knob used to set the
Pulse-Width
ratio for all VCO's : a selector located under the module let you
switch the
type of Pulse Wide Modulation (PWM) needed : LFO 9, LFO 10 or Nothing -
(Default)
aVib : Knob setting the amount of
preset
FM modulation index(Vibrato)to all VCO's : the frequency is internally
preset to 6.5
Hz and is not accessible on the patchboard).
aFMb : Knob setting the amount of
re injection of VCO A output to VCO B frequency input.(FM)
aCLP1o : Knob setting the LOW ratio
of clipping of VCO A output.
aCLPHi : Knob setting the HIGH ratio of clipping of VCO A output.
aRectb : Knob setting the amount of full wave diode rectification of VCOA clipped output into VCO B frequency input.
Note: A selector
switch located under the clipper allows external modulations of the
Low/high sections of the clipper.
(The
clipper is only operative when the Rectifier knob is opened and set to
the
amount of rectification needed!
ab/Ring
:Pot
mixing VCO A+B into Ring
Modulator output (Default is AB (Left)= No ring modulator) .
SyncAB: Upper Selector for syncing VCOA frequency output to VCO B frequency input.
SyncCD: Lower Selector for syncing VCO C frequency output to VCOD frequency input.
Oct (Top): Selector to switch the octave
range of VCO
A (from -5 to +5 Octaves)
Oct
(Bottom) : Selector
to switch the octave range
of VCO B (from -5 to +5 Octaves)
Tr
(Top)
: Selector to switch the frequency
transposition of VCO A (from 0 to 11, within the
octave).
MIX
a/b : Knob
for mixing VCOA with
VCOB for that voice (Default is 12 o'clock).
Oct (Top): Selector to switch the octave
range of VCO
C (from -5 to +5 Octaves)
Oct
(Bottom) : Selector
to switch the octave range
of VCO D (from -5 to +5 Octaves)
Tr
(Top)
: Selector to switch the frequency
transposition of VCO C (from 0 to 11, within the
octave).
Waveform
(Center Left)
: Selector to switch VCO A and B
desired
waveform outputs(Saw, Ramp, Triangle,
Pulse, White noise, Pink noise, Sine).
Waveform
(Center Right)
: Selector to switch VCO C and D
desired waveform outputs(Saw, Ramp,
Triangle, Pulse, White noise, Pink noise, Sine).
Scale
Quantizer
(left)
: Up/Down select switch for desired
scale quantization
Major scale
Natural scale
Harmonic scale
Melodic scale
Pentatonic
scale
Whole Tone
scale
Blues scale
Chromatic
scale (Default)
M+C5 scale
Middle Eastern
scales
M. Ussad
M. Hawa
M. Abu Sa
M. Zanku
M: Rahawi
M. Hussain
M. Higazi
M. Iraq
M. Istahar
M. Kirafkar
M.Buzuik
VCO1
Control Inputs : A Rotary Switch selecting the
melodic generators and
CV’s controlling
VCO1 initial frequency :
A= Seedable
Probability
Generator C (+/- 12 o'clock)
B= Seedable
Probability
Generator D (+/- 1 o' clock)
Henon Chaotic
Generator's X
output (+/- 2 o ' clock)
Henon Chaotic
Generator's Y
output (+/- 3 o' clock)
12 Steps
Sequencer (or
8 steps Binary Sequencer) (+/- 3.30 o'clock)
Sample
& Hold ouput (+/-
4 o'clock)
Ext Keyboard
(+/-
5
o'clock)
Null : No
voltage whatsover
(6 o' clock)
1Gn : Knob to set the Gain
of
Voice1 audio outputs) .
1Out : Push-on Switch to connect
Voice1
outputs to VCF1 audio input.
Note : All
above controls
are identical for all eight Voices
VOLTAGE
CONTROLLED
FILTER (8 Moog-type Filters)
The eight
Voltage
Controlled Filters are located in the top middle of the synth.
For clarity
sake, let us
focus on VCF1 first line of controls:
Fc 1 : Knob to set the Frequency
cut-off
point of VCF1.
Q1 : Knob to set the amount of
resonance
(Q factor) of VCF1.
Env : Knob to set the amount of
envelope output modulation of VCF1 Frequency cut-off.
10Fc1-8
: Rotary
switch selecting the
individual VCF Fc.which
will be
controlled by LFO10 output.
10Fc1-8 : Knob to set the amount of FM
by
LFO10.
VCXF
(Upper): Selector
to switch the CV signal
inputs (Lfo9, Lfo10, +V, S&H,
Sequencer (SQ), A, B) : this is used for Vector Cross-Fading between
VCF voices
1 and 2 (in X) and voices 3 and 4 (in Y). Note :
the CV signals for
voices 3+4 are inverted (-1)
XF
Select 1-4 (Upper): Push-on switch to select/deselect
XF1-4 (default is OFF).
XF1-4
(Upper):
Knob to set the amount of VC
Cross-fading between voices 1-4.
VCXF(Lower):
Push-on
switch to select the control
signals (Lfo9, Lfo10, +V, S&H, Sequencer , A, B) for Vector
Cross-Fading
between VCF voices 5+6 (in X) and 7+8 (in Y). Note:
the CV signals for
voices 7-8 are inverted (-1).
XF
Select 5-8 (Lower): Push-on switch to select/deselect
XF 5-8(default is OFF).
XF5-8
(Lower):
Knob to set the amount of VC
Cross-fading between voices 5-8..
11Fc1-8
: Rotary
switch to select the individual VCF Fc.voice which will be controlled
by
S&H output.
11Fc1-8 : Knob to set the amount of S&H output sent to
the individual VCF
Fc.voice.
Pan : Knob to select the position
of
the local Pan for each voice.
Note : All
above controls
are similar for all eight VCF's.
ENVELOPES
(16 Envelopes) : 8 ADSR for VCF Fc.control + 8
ADSR for VCA amplitude controls.
LED (Left) : Red LED showing the Gate
activity for that voice.
Gates
control inputs
: Selector to select which gates
will trigger the individual envelope generator : Individual Dividers
outputs D1-2, D3-4, D5-6, D7-8 or Gate Arrays (GA1, GA2), Trigger
(T+), Keyboard Gate (KG),
Probability Gates C and D).
A : Knob setting the Attack
segment
of the envelope.
D : Knob setting the Decay
segment of
the envelope.
S : Knob setting the Sustain
segment
of the envelope.
R : Knob setting the Release
segment
of the envelope.
LED Outputs (Right) : Red LEDS
showing
the evolution in time, for each envelope
EQ,
PAN & VCA Output :
VCAGn : Knob controlling the VCA
Master
Gain output.(Default= 5 o’clock fully clockwise)
VCGN : Knob controlling the amount
of
Amplitude Modulation (AM) of the VCA (Default =7 o'clock) .
VCA-VC
Selector
: Swich selecting the additional
controls for VCA
Amplitude modulation
:A, B, Lfo9, Lfo 10, S&H, SEQ, KB CV, Trigger (T).
Pan
(Global Pan)
: Knob controlling the Left/Right manual panning settings of the VCA.
VCPAN
(Global Pan) : Knob controlling the amount of
automated Left/Right VC Panning (by A, B, Lfo9, Lfo 10, S&H,
SEQ, KB,
Trigger).
Syn/Perc : Knob to mix synthesizer
audio
outputs/Percussion audio outputs.
EQ Cut
: Knob
controlling the EQ Fc.
EQ-Q: Knob controlling the EQ
resonance.
EQGN : Knob controlling the EQ Gain.
VCCut : Switch for Selecting LFO9 or
LFO10 controlling the EQ
Fc.
EQ Mode : Selector to switch the EQ modes (LP, BP1, BP2, Band reject (Notch),HP, Low shelf, Peak, High shelf, All Pass).
Note: Always adjust the Gain knob to the type of filter
selected (Max=4 o'clock position).
EQ/DIR
: Switch
for selecting between EQ
and non-EQ (Dir).
CONTROLS
8
Steps Binary Sequencer (64 different events per cycle)
SB1
to
SB8
: 8 Knobs, to select the DC
voltages for each step (A red LED on the top right of the knob shows
when the
steps are activated)!
Clock
input : Selector
switch to select the type of clock needed.
CYC B: One-shot push-on switch for automated
"cycle RST ".
RST B: One-shot push-on switch for manual
RST.
Note : This is
not a normal
sequencer!: Several steps might be ON at the same time!
TRUTH
TABLE
Binary
sequences operate as
follows : 000,001,010,011,100,101,110,111.
Example :
Steps 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 time -->
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event 1
= Steps 2 and 1 are activated
together (the two voltages are summed)
2
= Step 2 alone
3
= Steps 1 and
2 are activated together
4
= step 3 alone
5
= steps 1 and 3 are activated together
6
= steps 2 and 3 are activated together
7
= steps 1 and 2 and 3 are activated together
8
= steps 4 alone
9
= steps 1 and 4 are activated together
10
= steps 2 and 4 are activated together
11
= steps 1 and 2 and 4 are activated together
12
=
steps 3 and 4
13
= steps 1 and 3 and 4 are activated together
14
= steps 2 and 3 and 4 are activated together
15
= steps 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 are activated
together
16
= step 5 alone
17
= step 1 and 5 are activated together
18
= step 2 and 5 are activated together
19
= steps 1 and 2 and 5 are activated together
20
=steps 3 and 5 are activated together
21
= steps 1 and 3 and 5 are activated together
22
= steps 2 and 3 and 5 are activated together
23
= steps 1 and 2 and 3 and 5 are activated
together
24
= steps 4 and 5 are activated together
25
= steps 1 and 4 and 5 are activated together
26
= steps 2 and 4 and 5 are activated together
27
= steps 1 and 2 and 4 and 5 are activated
together
and so
on......
