Alexander SYNTAX ERROR User manual

SYNTAX ERROR
audio computer system
404 E. Main St, Garner, NC 27529 [phone] alexanderpedals.com
GREAT TONES. DOING GOOD.
NEO
SERIES
The Syntax Error takes your tones back to the dial-up era, when video games were measured
by their bits and telephones were wired to your wall. Inside, the primitive sounds of
microchips await.
It’s time to blow the dust out of your cartridges and plug in your controllers. Set your modem
for 14,400 baud and let the games begin.
The sonic scientists at Alexander Pedals have been working overtime to cram
the most pedal into the smallest box, and we now present the Neo Series!
Each Neo Series pedal incorporates an advanced 32-bit microcontroller adding
presets, expression, and MIDI capability.
MultiJack
Expression, Footswitch, or MIDI
Output
Stereo output on ring
Input
Instrument or line level
USB Mini-B
MIDI or rmware update
DC 9V
80mA, center negative
Select Button
Hold to access ALT knobs
Foot Switch
Tap to bypass, hold for next preset
CONTROLS
Sample (Bonus): Adjusts the sampling rate of the audio computer system. Sampling rate is
minimum / most degradation with this knob clockwise. Hold the select button and turn this
knob to set the Bonus parameter, which controls a different function in each mode.
Code: Controls a different parameter in each mode. In Stretch mode, this knob controls the
sample clock direction and speed. In Cube mode, this controls the gain of the distortion.
And in Ring mode, it adjusts the speed of the modulation sample-and-hold.
Mix (Volume): Controls the amount of effected signal. Turn fully clockwise to “kill” the dry
signal. Hold the select button and turn this knob to set the Volume of both wet and dry
signals.
Tweak: Controls a different parameter in each mode. In Stretch mode, this knob controls the
length of the sample buffer. In Cube mode, this controls the cutoff frequency of the low-pass
lter. In Ring mode, this sets the depth of the sample and hold lter modulation.
EFFECT MODES
Tap the Select Button to move to the next mode.
Stretch: This one will really mess with your drummer’s head. We sample the incoming audio
and stick it in a buffer, then play it back. Pretty standard, right? Wrong. Turn the Tweak knob
to set the length of the buffer, then set the Code knob to adjust the sample playback clock.
The clock speed adjusts from +1 (normal speed) to -1 (reverse playback!) Use the Bonus
control to change the feedback into the delay line for trippy echo tones.
Hint: Set the Code knob near noon to completely break everything.
Cube: This is probably the most normal sounding thing in here. The Code knob controls
the gain and mix on a cubic distortion algorithm. Here’s how we do it: (abs(INPUT^3))^3.
It sounds great, if you like math. Every distortion circuit (or program!) needs a tone control
so we added a resonant low-pass lter. The tone lter is bypassable, just turn the knob fully
counter-clockwise. The Bonus parameter controls the resonance of the lter.
Ring: This mode combines a ring modulator with a sample and hold LFO. Code controls
the speed of the sample and hold, while Tweak controls its depth. Set Code to minimum
to disable the LFO for a “normal” ring modulator (is that a thing?) The Bonus parameter
controls the EQ of the modulated signal.
Freq: Shifts the frequencies of the input signal by a xed amount. This one will change the
pitch of incoming audio but unlike a traditional pitch shifter it doesn’t maintain the intervals
between the notes you play into it. The Code knob adjusts the amount of frequency shift and
the Tweak knob controls the amount of signal that gets fed back into the shifter. Want more
options? Use the Bonus knob to change the time delay of the feedback, for comb ltering
and anging textures. This mode ranges from beautiful bubbles to gargling nightmares, and
don’t forget you can add in the crush effects from the Sample knob to grunge things up!
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEO

MIDI CONTROL
Connect a compatible MIDI controller to the Neo pedal to access its full feature set!
The Neo pedal can accept MIDI over USB from a computer or mobile device, or from a MIDI
controller using a 1/4” cable. The Neo pedals are compatible with interface converters made
by Disaster Area Designs and Empress.
The following commands are accepted by the Neo pedal:
MIDI Program Change: Load Presets 0-15
0-3 are the four Red presets on the pedal itself.
4-7 are the Green bank
8-11 are the Blue bank
12-15 are the White bank
MIDI Continuous Controller 93: Tap Tempo
(supported pedals only)
MIDI Continuous Controller 97: Ramp
Send value 1-8 to set the ramp speed
Send any other value to trigger the ramp
MIDI Continuous Controller 100: Expression Pedal
Value 0 = Heel down, Value 127 = toe down
MIDI Continuous Controller 102: Bypass
Value 0-63 = Bypass, Value 64-127 = Engage
MIDI Continuous Controller 50-57: Pedal Knobs
Value 0 = CCW, Value 127 = CW
CC 50 = Lower right main CC 54 = Lower right alt
CC 51 = Upper left main CC 55 = Upper left alt
CC 52 = Upper right main CC 56 = Upper right alt
CC 53 = Lower left main CC 57 = Lower left alt
MIDI Continuous Controller 59: Mode Select
Accepts values 0-7 to select modes 1-8.
(Not all Neo pedals support the full 8 modes.)
MIDI Channel Assignment:
Set the Neo pedal to Cong mode by holding Select at boot, then send a MIDI program
change on your desired MIDI channel to set the Neo pedal’s MIDI channel. Hold the Select
button to save the MIDI channel assignment.
CONFIGURING YOUR NEO PEDAL
Power on the pedal while holding the Select button to enter
conguration mode. Release the button when the main LED
turns violet.
Tap the Select button to choose the MultiJack function. The
upper program LED will change colors to indicate the function.
Green = Expression Pedal, Orange = Foot Switch, Red = MIDI
Connect a MIDI controller to the EXP port and send a program
change to set the Neo Pedal’s MIDI channel.
Turn the lower left knob to set the Ramp Morph speed. The low-
er program LED will change colors to indicate the speed setting.
Green = slow, Orange = medium, Red = fast.
Turn the lower right knob to set the main LED brightness.
Hold the Select button to save the conguration and exit.
EXPRESSION AND RAMP MORPH
The Neo Series feature a comprehensive expression control setup. Connect an expression
pedal to the Neo pedal MultiJack (red) and sweep its treadle until the heel is down. Turn the
knobs to your desired setting. Now sweep the expression pedal until its toe is down, and turn
the Neo pedal’s knobs to a new setting. You should now be able to sweep the expression
pedal and hear the change in the Neo pedal! Please note that the Neo pedal’s physical
knobs won’t move when you sweep the expression pedal but the pedal settings will change
internally. The main LED will fade in and out to indicate the expression pedal position.
If you set up the EXP port on the Neo pedal for use with a foot switch, you can use it in the
same way as the expression pedal. Tap the foot switch to make the Neo pedal Ramp down,
then tap again to Ramp up. You can adjust the knob positions at these two settings and the
Neo pedal will ramp between them at the speed you selected in setup. Neat!
If you prefer to use MIDI commands to control your pedal, both Expression and Ramp are
accessible using MIDI continuous controller (CC) messages. Please consult the MIDI Control
section for more details.
Please note that both the main AND alternate knob functions may be controlled by the
expression or ramp controls!
BYPASS AND PRESETS
Tap the foot switch to toggle the pedal between bypass and active. The bypass signal is
buffered and 100% analog. The dry signal path is routed through the DSP to maintain time
and phase alignment with the effect signal.
Hold the bypass footswitch to move to the next preset. The Neo Series pedals have 16
presets, four of which are accessible on the pedal itself. The main LED will blink one, two,
three, or four times to indicate the current preset.
Hold the select button down, then hold the footswitch down to save. The pedal will save the
current settings to the active preset. The main LED will blink to indicate the preset has been
saved.
404 E. Main St, Garner, NC 27529 [phone] alexanderpedals.com
GREAT TONES. DOING GOOD.