Expert Sleepers super disting EX Plus Alpha User manual

Firmware v1.1.1
User Manual
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Copyright © 2020 Expert Sleepers Ltd. All rights reserved.
This manual as well as the hardware and software described in it is furnished under licence and
may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such licence. The content of this
manual is furnished for informational use only is subject to change without notice and should not
be construed as a commitment by Expert Sleepers Ltd. Expert Sleepers Ltd assumes no
responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document.
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Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................5
A note on videos............................................5
Installation.........................................................6
Power requirements.......................................6
Connecting expansion modules.....................6
Jumpers.........................................................7
Inputs and Outputs.............................................8
Controls..............................................................8
A note on the pots.........................................8
Menus............................................................8
SD Card slot.......................................................9
Inserting a MicroSD card..............................9
Supported MicroSD cards.............................9
Overview..........................................................11
Single Mode.....................................................11
Single mode concepts..................................11
Single mode display & controls..................11
Single mode common parameters...............12
Single mode help.........................................13
Dual Mode.......................................................14
disting mk4 firmware version.....................14
Sample rate..................................................14
Scala support...............................................14
Favourites....................................................14
Help.............................................................15
Z push functions & the Knob Recorder......15
disting mk4 algorithms not included...........15
disting mk4 algorithms with improved
specifications...............................................15
Entering dual mode.....................................16
Accessing the main menu from dual mode. 16
Presets in dual mode....................................16
Dual display modes.....................................16
Presets..............................................................18
Load preset..................................................18
Save preset..................................................18
Reset preset.................................................18
Name preset.................................................18
Load from SD card......................................19
Save to SD card...........................................19
Load all from SD card.................................19
Save all to SD card......................................19
Mappings.........................................................20
CV Mappings..............................................20
Knob Mappings...........................................21
Button Mappings.........................................21
MIDI Mappings...........................................22
I2C Mappings..............................................22
Load mapping..............................................23
Save mapping..............................................23
Reset mapping.............................................23
Name mapping............................................23
Load from SD card......................................24
Save to SD card...........................................24
Load all from SD card.................................24
Save all to SD card......................................24
Single Mode Algorithms..................................25
1 – Matrix Mixer..............................................26
Parameters...................................................26
2 – Augustus Loop...........................................28
Algorithm-specific display..........................29
Outputs........................................................29
Parameters...................................................29
Default mappings........................................31
Delay time multipliers.................................32
Tap tempo....................................................32
Inertia free mode.........................................32
3 – SD Multisample.........................................33
Algorithm-specific display..........................33
Outputs........................................................34
Parameters...................................................34
Default mappings........................................36
Chord scales................................................36
Chord shapes...............................................36
Arpeggio modes..........................................36
WAV file defaults.......................................37
4 – SD 6 Triggers.............................................38
Algorithm-specific display..........................38
Outputs........................................................39
Parameters...................................................39
WAV file defaults.......................................39
5 – WAV Recorder..........................................40
Algorithm-specific display..........................40
Outputs........................................................41
Parameters...................................................41
Output options.............................................42
WAV file naming conventions and playlists...43
Per-algorithm defaults.................................43
Automatic '-natural' values..........................43
Automatic '-switch' calculation...................43
Settings.............................................................45
General........................................................45
MIDI/I2C.....................................................45
Favourites....................................................46
Calibration...................................................46
Reset Settings..............................................46
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Miscellaneous functions..................................46
Show firmware version...............................46
Reboot.........................................................46
Show MIDI history.....................................47
Show I2C history.........................................47
Show stats....................................................47
Tests............................................................47
5-pin DIN MIDI I/O........................................49
Connections.................................................49
MIDI "Low-Voltage Signaling"..................49
MIDI System Exclusive (SysEx).....................50
SysEx Header..............................................50
Received SysEx messages...........................50
01H – Take screenshot...........................50
02H – Display message..........................50
22H – Request version string.................50
Sent SysEx messages..................................50
32H – Message.......................................50
33H – Screenshot....................................50
Select Bus........................................................51
I2C Connection................................................52
Calibration.......................................................53
Firmware Updates............................................54
Where to get help.............................................54
Acknowledgments...........................................54
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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of an Expert Sleepers 'super disting EX plus alpha' (hereafter
'disting EX'). Please read this user manual before operating your new module.
A note on videos
Throughout this user manual you will find links to videos which illustrate the corresponding
sections of the text. In general these have been shot at UHD (4k) resolution which as well as
looking more awesome has the practical benefit of making the module's display easier to read. You
are advised to watch the videos in full resolution if possible. Be aware that some web browsers
notably Safari do not support watching YouTube videos in 4k.
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Installation
House the module in a Eurorack case of your choosing. The power connector is 16-pin Doepfer
standard1. If using the power cable supplied with the module the red edge of the cable is furthest
from the top edge of the PCB and carries -12V. ("-12V" is marked on the PCB itself next to this
end of the connector.) Be sure to connect the other end of the power cable correctly again so -12V
corresponds to the red stripe on the cable.
Power requirements
The disting EX draws up to 229mA on the +12V rail and 50mA on the -12V rail.
It does not use the 5V rail.
Connecting expansion modules
Turn off the power before connecting or disconnecting expansion modules.
1 http://www.doepfer.de/a100_man/a100t_e.htm
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Connect an ES-5 module via the header on the back of the disting EX marked “GT3/To ES-5”
using the 10-way cable provided. The red stripe should be oriented down on both modules as
shown in the photo above and in the ES-5 user manual2.
Connect an FHX-8GT or FHX-8CV module via the header on the back of the disting EX marked
“GT2/FHX Expansion”. The red stripe should be oriented down on both modules as shown in the
photo above.
Connect a MIDI breakout to the header on the back of the disting EX marked “GT4/MIDI”. See the
MIDI I/O section below.
A device or module that communicates via I2C (e.g. the 16n Faderbank3) can be connected via the
header marked “JP2”. See the I2C Connection section below.
Jumpers
There is one jumper header on the disting EX marked “JP1” which sets whether the system CV bus
line is used for pitch CV (the traditional use as implemented by Doepfer) or as the Select Bus. See
below for more on the disting EX's Select Bus implementation.
The photo above shows the jumper in the Select Bus position.
Regardless of this jumper position the disting EX always connects to the system gate bus.
2 https://expert-sleepers.co.uk/es5usermanual.html
3 https://16n-faderbank.github.io
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Inputs and Outputs
The disting EX has six analogue inputs and four analogue outputs on 3.5mm TS jack sockets. These
are designed to cope with any Eurorack signal (with a range of approximately ±10V) and are DC
coupled so can be used for CVs as well as audio.
The inputs are numbered on a white background; the four outputs are at the bottom of the module.
The disting mk4 labelling (Z/X/Y/A/B) is also printed on the panel in orange.
The jack sockets are illuminated lighting red for positive voltage and blue for negative voltage.
(Audio appears purple since it is a rapid alternation of positive and negative.)
Controls
The disting EX has two rotary encoders (labelled P & V notionally for 'parameter' and 'value') and
two rotary potentiometers (labelled L & R for 'left' and 'right'). All four of these controls also have
a push-button function.
A note on the pots
On the disting mk4 the Z pot and the Z input jack are permanently linked and the LEDs of the Z
jack display the combined signal from the pot and jack.
On the disting EX this is still the case when in dual mode but in single mode the pots are
completely independent of the jacks and the jack LEDs reflect only the incoming signal.
Menus
Video
Many of the module's non-realtime functions are accessed via a menu. The menu is accessed by
pressing 'P' (in single mode) or both 'P' & 'V' together (in dual mode).
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While the menu is active turning 'P' scrolls through menu items and pressing 'P' chooses the
current menu item (or descends to the next menu level if the current menu item is a submenu).
Pressing 'V' jumps back up one menu level. Holding down 'V' exits the menu completely.
SD Card slot
The disting EX has a MicroSD card slot to the left of the display.
Inserting a MicroSD card
Video
The exposed contacts of the card should face towards the display; the angled side of the card itself
points up.
The slot is of the "push-push" type - to remove the card push it in slightly and it will spring out.
Supported MicroSD cards
In theory any MicroSD card will work but in practice there is a huge variety of cards on the market
and we cannot possibly test them all. We recommend 32GB SDHC cards.
The MicroSD card must be formatted in FAT32 format which is the as-sold state for many cards. If
not cards can easily be reformatted to FAT32 in Windows or macOS.
The card also needs to be partitioned using the 'Master Boot Record' (MBR) scheme. In macOS's
Disk Utility you may need to select View->Show All Devices to inspect the partitioning scheme.
The Erase settings should look like this:
The speed of your SD card can be estimated using the 'Test SD speed' menu (under Misc->Tests).
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The maximum speed achievable with the disting EX is around 3 MB/s.
Technical note: the disting EX accesses the MicroSD card in SPI mode and so can never achieve
the rated speed of the card which assumes full SD bus access. It can however use High Speed mode
where available to double the throughput. Unfortunately whether a given card supports High Speed
mode over SPI seems to be hard to gauge from the specs – we've tested a number of cards rated at
UHS-I and above some of which support High Speed mode and some of which don't. For the
record the Samsung EVO range do; the Sandisk Extreme range does not. A card which does not
support High Speed mode will read around 1.8 MB/s on the disting EX's 'Test SD speed'.
A card that reads less than around 1.8 MB/s should be viewed with suspicion and is probably not a
good choice for card-intensive purposes such as playing or recording WAV files.
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Overview
The disting EX is a multifunction module. Its various functions are referred to as algorithms. Types
of algorithms include
•audio processing (audio in audio out e.g. delays reverbs)
•CV processing (CV in CV out e.g. quantisers)
•CV generation (e.g. envelopes)
•audio generation (e.g. VCOs WAV playback)
The disting EX builds on the rich legacy of the disting mk4 and can be used essentially as two
disting mk4s with a shared display. This is known as dual mode as is described in more detail
Error: Reference source not found.
The disting EX also includes its own unique algorithms which take over the whole module in what
we call single mode.
Because the disting mk4 has relatively few CV inputs and because its small display makes
accessing a large number of parameters awkward it tends towards a proliferation of algorithms
which are similar to one another but have say different means of CV control. In contrast the disting
EX's single mode algorithms tend to be fewer but much more configurable.
Single Mode
Single mode concepts
Video
The disting EX runs one single mode algorithm at a time. Switching algorithms is done via the
Algorithms menu (see above for basic information on using the menus).
There are two fundamental elements that define a single algorithm's operation the preset and the
mapping.
The preset is the state of the algorithm's parameters – a set of numerical values that control how the
algorithm works. For example the delay time of a delay effect or the choice of samples files in a
WAV playback algorithm.
The mapping defines how the parameters are controlled by a number of control sources –
primarily the module's own CV inputs but also MIDI I2C etc.
Changing algorithm resets the current preset and mappings to defaults.
Single mode display & controls
The display in single mode often varies with each algorithm but is based around the common
structure show below:
The first line simply shows the algorithm number and name.
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The second line shows the current parameter number and name. Turning the 'P' knob scrolls through
the parameters.
Video
The third line shows the current parameter's value and if appropriate its unit (the unit in the
screenshot above is “%”). You'll note that there are two values shown. The first (leftmost) is the
parameter's base value. This is the one set by the preset and is the one you edit when you turn the
'V' knob. The second value is the parameter's effective value. This is the value after control by CV
inputs etc. has been taken into account and is the actual value being used by the algorithm.
If a parameter is not under CV control these two values will always be the same. When CV control
is applied this offsets the base value by an amount related to the CV.
If the 'R' knob has not been set up in the mapping it defaults to changing the current parameter.
Since 'R' is an absolute positional control (a pot not an encoder) this can make it much easier to dial
in values quickly especially if the parameter has a large range.
Note that 'V' and 'R' are adjusting the same value just in different ways.
If the 'R' button has not been set up in the mapping it defaults to setting the current parameter to its
default value when pushed.
Holding 'V' shows a key of the current input and knob functions either as hardwired into the
algorithm or set by the mapping.
Single mode common parameters
Every algorithm in single mode shares a number of parameters. These are:
Name Min Max Default Unit Description
1 Attenuverter 1 -200 200 100 % Applies an attenuverter4 to input 1. A negative value
indicates that the CV will be inverted.
2 Attenuverter 2 -200 200 100 % As above for input 2.
3 Attenuverter 3 -200 200 100 % As above for input 3.
4 Attenuverter 4 -200 200 100 % As above for input 4.
5 Attenuverter 5 -200 200 100 % As above for input 5.
6 Attenuverter 6 -200 200 100 % As above for input 6.
The attenuverters affect the incoming audio/CV signal just like an attenuator knob on an analogue
module. Anything that uses the signal downstream (including parameter automation) uses the
attenuated signal.
4 An attenuverter is a Eurorack term for a combination of an attenuator and an inverter. These aren't strictly
attenuators because the gain goes above 100%.
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Single mode help
Video
Each algorithm's user manual section can be accessed via the Algorithms menu.
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Dual Mode
In dual mode the disting EX essentially behaves like two souped-up disting mk4s5.
We do not propose to reproduce the entire disting mk4 user manual6 here which is itself a 109 page
document. Instead below is a list of ways in which the disting EX in dual mode differs from a
disting mk4.
disting m 4 firmware version
This version of the disting EX firmware is synchronised with version 4.15 of the disting mk4
firmware. Please refer to that version of the disting mk4 user manual.
Sample rate
The disting mk4 runs at 75kHz in general with some algorithms running lower for performance
reasons. The disting EX runs at 96kHz.
Scala support
The 'logTables_16_20.bin' file is not required.
Favourites
Whereas on a disting mk4 these are set up with a text file on the MicroSD card on the disting EX
they are set via the Settings menu (see below).
5 https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/disting.html
6 https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/distingfirmwareupdates.html
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Input Y Input Y
Output B
Output A Output A
Input X
Input Z
Input X
Input Z
Z knob
S knob
Turn to change parameter value.
Hold & turn to choose parameter.
Press to enter menu.
Output B
Right disting mk4Left disting mk4
Z knob
S knob

Help
Video
The per-algorithm help is hardcoded into the firmware – it is not stored on the SD card. Also it
displays the help a page at a time rather than scrolling it a character at a time!
Z push functions & the Knob Recorder
On the disting mk4 the effect of pushing the Z knob is very algorithm-dependent – by default it
advances to the next parameter but an algorithm may override it to perform some other function
e.g. 'freeze' on the reverbs or the knob recorder.
The disting EX lets you choose this behaviour via the dual-mode menu Options->Z function. The
options are:
Function or Param As on the disting mk4 pressing Z advances to the next parameter unless the
algorithm defines another function for it.
Function Pressing Z always performs the algorithm-specific function if any.
Parameter Pressing Z always advances to the next parameter.
Knob Recorder Pressing Z is used to activate the knob recorder.
This choice is stored as part of a preset.
Note that this means you have the option of using the knob recorder with any algorithm not just
those for which the disting mk4 implements it.
When the knob recorder is chosen holding Z down while turning it causes the Z value changes to
be recorded. As soon as the knob is released the recording is played back in a loop. To end
playback turn the Z knob slightly to regain manual control.
disting m 4 algorithms not included
The following disting mk4 algorithms are not included in the disting EX:
•J-5 Audio Recorder & J-7 Mono Audio Recorder
◦You can use the disting EX's WAV Recorder mode instead.
•K-6 Clockable SD Delay K-7 Stereo Clockable SD Delay K-8 Stereo Clockable SD Delay
(Z clock) & N-8 Clockable SD Ping Pong
◦On the disting EX the equivalent non-SD versions have much longer delay times.
disting m 4 algorithms with improved specifications
•B-4 Clockable Delay/Echo
◦Operates at 96kHz and offers a maximum delay time of around 22 seconds.
•C-3 Clockable Ping Pong Delay (Z feedback) & C-4 Clockable Ping Pong Delay (Z input
pan)
◦Operate at 96kHz and offer a maximum delay time of around 11 seconds.
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•D-2 Tape Delay & M-6 Stereo Tape Delay
◦Maximum delay time is around 11 seconds (mono)/5.5 seconds (stereo). The algorithms
have an extra 'Coarse' parameter to access the extra delay time available.
•K-1 Wavetable VCO K-2 Clockable Wavetable LFO K-3 Wavetable Waveshaper K-4
Clockable Wavetable Envelope & N-5 Pulsar VCO
◦These algorithms support up to 1000 files in a wavetable folder and up to 2 million total
wave samples (100/29000 on the disting mk4).
•All Audio Playback algorithms
◦24 bit WAV files are supported.
◦Triggering latency is down from 3ms to 700µs.
•L-1 Stereo Reverb L-2 Mono-to-Stereo Reverb & L-3 Dual Reverb
◦The maximum reverb size parameter is 99 (rather than 32).
Entering dual mode
Video
From the menu choose 'Algorithms' then 'Enter dual mode'.
Accessing the main menu from dual mode
In dual mode the two encoders enter the disting mk4-style menus of their respective halves. To
access the main menu press both encoders at the same time.
Presets in dual mode
Each half can save and load presets as on the disting mk4 though there are more (256) slots
available.
Also from the main menu you can save & load a 'dual preset' which stores the parameters for both
halves and can be named. See Presets below.
Dual display modes
Video
The default display mode in dual mode presents the two halves side by side:
When a parameter is changed or a menu is used the display zooms to use the whole screen for the
half being edited. A bar is drawn at the top of the screen showing whether the left or right half is
being accessed:
The images above show a menu and a parameter being accessed for the left & right halves
respectively.
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In the main Settings menu (see below) you can choose alternative dual display modes. The options
are 'Standard' 'Standard (no zoom)' and 'Retro'. The 'no zoom' option is as above but the display
never zooms to use the entire screen for one half. The 'Retro' option recreates the actual disting mk4
display – a 5x7 LED matrix for each half:
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Presets
A preset on the disting EX stores the following information:
•The preset name.
•The current algorithm(s).
•The algorithm parameters.
•For dual algorithms:
◦The current parameter.
◦The chosen Z function.
•For single algorithms:
◦Any folder and/or file names used by the algorithm.
Presets can be stored in the module's flash memory and/or on the MicroSD card. There are 256
preset slots in flash memory. You can also save all 256 presets to/from MicroSD at once.
All preset functions are accessed via the top-level Presets menu.
Load preset
Loads a preset from flash memory. Use the 'P' knob to choose the preset slot. The preset name is
shown at the bottom of the screen or <Empty> if the slot is empty. The preset algorithm is also
displayed.
Save preset
Saves the current module state to a preset in flash memory. Use the 'P' knob to choose the preset
slot. If the slot is not empty the preset name and algorithm are shown.
Reset preset
Resets the current state to defaults (for the current algorithm).
Name preset
Allows you to edit the name of the current preset. Typically you would do this before saving it.
Use the 'P' knob to move the cursor and the 'V' or 'R' knobs to edit the character under the cursor.
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Load from SD card
Loads a preset from the MicroSD card.
Use the 'P' knob to choose the preset file to load.
Preset files may be located at the top level of the card or inside folders. If a folder contains preset
files it is included in the names you can choose with 'P' and “(folder)” is displayed. Pressing 'P'
will enter the folder and let you browse the preset files therein. Choosing the special item <..> steps
back up to the parent folder.
Save to SD card
Saves the current module state to a preset file on the SD card. The file is placed in the root folder
and the filename is automatically constructed from the preset name.
Load all from SD card
Loads an 'all presets' file from the MicroSD card.
Take care – this function replaces all the presets saved in flash memory with those loaded from the
card.
Use the 'P' knob to choose the preset file to load.
Save all to SD card
Saves all the presets in flash memory to a file on the MicroSD card. The file is placed in the root
folder and is named 'ALL<n>.dexpresets' where <n> is a number which increments to make the
filename unique.
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Mappings
A 'mapping' stores all the information about how an algorithm's parameters are controlled by CV
MIDI etc. It is dealt with separately from a preset on the rationale that you will change a mapping
less often than a preset.
Mappings can be stored in the module's flash memory and/or on the MicroSD card. There are 64
mapping slots in flash memory. You can also save all 64 mappings to/from MicroSD at once.
All mapping functions are accessed via the top-level Mappings menu.
CV Mappings
Video
CV mappings let you control algorithm parameters from the module's six CV inputs. Every
parameter can be assigned to a CV input simultaneously and each parameter's response to that CV
set independently.
The CV mappings offset the values set manually – the parameter value calculated from the CV
voltage is added to the value set via the parameter/value knobs.
When you switch to a new algorithm some CV mappings may be set up by default. Even for
parameters which do not by default have an active CV mapping the CV scalings are set
appropriately so that simply enabling a CV input will control the parameter in a sensible way
usually mapping the range ±5V to the whole parameter range.
On the mapping editing screen move the cursor (the dotted rectangle) with the 'P' knob. Turn the
'V' or 'R' knobs to adjust the value under the cursor. There are five cursor positions:
•The parameter number – choose which parameter's mapping you want to edit.
•The input – choose the CV input to use or “-” for none.
•The CV polarity – choose “Bipolar” to use both positive and negative CV voltages or
“Unipolar” to use only positive voltages.
•Whether to treat the CV as a gate – choose “Norm” for a normal CV or “Gate” for a gate. A
gate-type mapping switches between the parameter's minimum and maximum when the
input goes over 1V.
•The CV scaling – the relationship between incoming voltages and the parameter values. For
example in the screenshot above Input 4 is controlling the Input Level with a scaling of
20.0%/V – that is it will take a CV of 5V to change the input level by 100%.
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