Expert Sleepers Disting mk4 User manual

disting mk4
Firmware v4.23
User Manual
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Copyright © 2022 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
Installation...........................................................5
Power requirements........................................5
Inputs Outputs and Controls...............................5
Inserting a MicroSD card....................................5
Startup.................................................................6
The encoder & menu system...............................6
Selecting an algorithm.........................................6
Settings................................................................7
Help.....................................................................7
Parameters...........................................................8
Knob Recorder....................................................8
Tap Tempo..........................................................9
Favourites............................................................9
Presets................................................................10
Preset 0.........................................................10
Select Bus..........................................................11
SD Card Playback.............................................12
Supported MicroSD cards............................12
Supported audio files....................................12
Audio file naming & Playlists......................12
Loop markers in audio files..........................13
Supported MIDI files....................................13
MIDI file naming & Playlists.......................13
Audio Playlist Format...................................14
MIDI Playlist Format....................................16
Example Files...............................................17
MIDI/CV conversion....................................17
Scala Support.....................................................17
Organising the files on the card....................17
Example Files...............................................18
Scale Playlist Format....................................18
Possible Sources of Error.............................18
Algorithm Overview.........................................19
A-1 Precision Adder.....................................20
A-2 Four Quadrant Multiplier......................21
A-3 Full-wave Rectifier................................21
A-4 Minimum/maximum..............................21
A-5 Linear/Exponential Converter...............22
A-6 Quantizer...............................................22
A-7 Comparator............................................24
A-8 Dual Waveshaper..................................25
B-1 Sample and Hold...................................25
B-2 Slew Rate Limiter..................................27
B-3 Pitch and Envelope Tracker...................27
B-4 Clockable Delay/Echo...........................28
B-5 LFO........................................................29
B-6 Clockable LFO......................................30
B-7 VCO with linear FM..............................31
B-8 VCO with waveshaping.........................32
C-1 Counter..................................................33
C-2 Voltage Controlled Delay Line..............34
C-3 Clockable Ping Pong Delay (Z feedback)
......................................................................34
C-4 Clockable Ping Pong Delay (Z input pan)
......................................................................35
C-5 Resonator...............................................36
C-6 Vocoder.................................................36
C-7 Phaser.....................................................37
C-8 Bit Crusher.............................................38
D-1 DJ Filter.................................................39
D-2 Tape Delay............................................40
D-3 Waveform Animator..............................41
D-4 State Variable Filter...............................42
D-5 LP/HP Filter..........................................42
D-6 LP/BP Filter...........................................43
D-7 BP/HP Filter..........................................43
D-8 BP/Notch Filter......................................43
E-1 AR Envelope..........................................44
E-2 AR Envelope & VCA............................45
E-3 Dual AR Envelope.................................46
E-4 Stereo Compressor.................................47
E-5 Side-chain Compressor..........................47
E-6 Mono Compressor..................................48
E-7 Euro to Buchla Converter......................49
E-8 Buchla to Euro Converter......................50
F-1 Clockable AD Envelope (with mute).....50
F-2 Clockable AD Envelope (with gate)......51
F-3 Clockable AD Envelope (with trigger). .52
F-4 Clockable AD Envelope & VCA...........53
F-5 Shift Register Random CVs...................53
F-6 Shift Register Random Quantized CVs. 55
F-7 Shift Register Random Triggers............57
F-8 Shift Register Random Dual Triggers....58
G-1 ES-1 Emulation.....................................59
G-2 ES-2 Emulation.....................................59
G-3 Pitch Reference......................................59
G-4 Frequency Reference.............................60
G-5 Tuner.....................................................60
G-6 Clock.....................................................61
G-7 MIDI/CV...............................................63
G-8 CV/MIDI...............................................65
H-1 Crossfade/Pan........................................65
FX Loop usage.........................................66
H-2 Dual Sample and Hold..........................66
H-3 Dual Quantizer (Z scale).......................67
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H-4 Dual Quantizer......................................68
H-5 Dual Euclidean Patterns........................70
H-6 Dual Delayed Pulse Generator..............71
H-7 Noise......................................................72
H-8 Quantizer 2............................................73
I-1 Audio Playback.......................................74
I-2 Clocked Audio Playback.........................76
I-3 Audio Playback with V/Oct....................76
I-4 Audio Playback with Z Speed.................78
I-5 Audio Playback with Reverse.................78
I-6 Audio Playback with Scrub....................79
I-7 Dual Audio Playback..............................80
I-8 Dual Audio Playback with Z Speed........80
J-1 MIDI File Playback (Clocked)...............81
J-2 Multisample 2 Audio Playback..............82
J-3 MIDI File Playback (Free Running).......83
J-4 Audio Playback with End CV.................84
J-5 Audio Recorder.......................................85
J-6 Multisample Audio Playback.................85
Multisample playlists...............................86
J-7 Mono Audio Recorder............................88
J-8 Audio Playback with Crossfade..............88
K-1 Wavetable VCO....................................90
Loading wavetables.................................91
K-2 Clockable Wavetable LFO....................92
K-3 Wavetable Waveshaper.........................93
K-4 Clockable Wavetable Envelope.............93
K-5 Programmable Quantizer.......................94
K-6 Clockable SD Delay..............................96
K-7 Stereo Clockable SD Delay...................97
K-8 Stereo Clockable SD Delay (Z clock)...97
L-1 Stereo Reverb.........................................98
L-2 Mono-to-Stereo Reverb.........................99
L-3 Dual Reverb.........................................100
L-4 Dual Vowel Filter................................100
L-5 Stereo Chorus.......................................102
L-6 Mono Chorus.......................................103
L-7 Mixer....................................................104
L-8 Gate......................................................104
M-1 Delayed LFO......................................105
M-2 Scaled LFO.........................................106
M-3 Logic...................................................107
M-4 Half-wave Rectifier............................107
M-5 Stereo Filter........................................108
M-6 Stereo Tape Delay...............................109
M-7 Granular Pitch Shifter.........................109
M-8 Chaos..................................................111
N-1 Switch..................................................112
N-2 Rotary..................................................113
N-3 Attenuverter/Offset..............................113
N-4 Low Pass Gate.....................................114
N-5 Pulsar VCO..........................................114
N-6 Phase Shifter........................................116
N-7 Frequency Shifter................................116
N-8 Clockable SD Ping Pong.....................117
MIDI I/O.........................................................118
Introduction................................................118
Connections................................................118
Breakout module.........................................118
MIDI "Low-Voltage Signaling".................118
Controlling the disting mk4 via MIDI........119
MIDI Thru..................................................119
Calibration.......................................................120
Calibration Procedure.................................120
Calibration Data..........................................120
Firmware Updates...........................................122
Acknowledgments...........................................123
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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of an Expert Sleepers disting mk4. Please read this user manual
before operating your new module.
Installation
House the module in a Eurorack case of your choosing. The power connector is Doepfer standard. If
using the power cable supplied with the module the red edge of the cable is nearest the bottom 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 mk4 draws 51mA on the +12V rail and 19mA on the -12V rail.
It does not use the 5V rail.
Inputs, Outputs and Controls
From top to bottom the disting has
•A rotary encoder/push button named 'S'.
•A dot matrix display.
•A MicroSD card slot.
•A knob referred to as the 'Z' control which controls some
aspect of the algorithm. This knob also has a push button
function.
•Three input sockets.
◦The top input is the 'Z' CV input which controls the
same thing as the 'Z' knob. The two are added
together.
◦The other two inputs are 'X' and 'Y' and their function
depends on the current algorithm.
•Two output sockets named 'A' and 'B'.
The sockets are illuminated to reflect the voltage at the socket (or in the case of 'Z' the combined
voltage of the input and the knob). Red indicates a positive voltage; blue indicates a negative
voltage.
Inserting a MicroSD card
The disting's MicroSD card slot is to the left of the display.
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.
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Startup
Video
When the module powers up it first runs through some patterns on its display. The sequence is as
follows:
•Each of the seven columns in turn from left to right.
•Each of the five rows in turn from bottom to top.
It then shows the bootloader version (e.g. "b1") and the current firmware version (e.g. "v4.0").
If after the above the disting shows the message "Uncalibrated" then the calibration data in flash is
missing or corrupt. A default calibration will be used but for accurate results please recalibrate the
module (see below).
The encoder & menu system
Video
Pressing the encoder ('S') enters the disting's menu system which is indicated by the display
blinking.
At this time the menus are particularly simple there being only six menu items to choose from only
one of which you will normally need. In general the menu system works like this:
•Press the encoder to enter menu mode.
•Turn the encoder to select the menu item and press to select.
•At this point the behaviour depends on the chosen menu item.
Pressing 'Z' at any time cancels and exits the menus.
The menu items are:
•Algorithm – select algorithm
•Save – save a preset
•Load – load a preset
•Help – access help
•Settings – change settings
•Calibrate – begin calibration
◦If you accidentally enter this mode press the Z knob to cancel
Selecting an algorithm
Video
There is a single list of algorithms named A1 up to P8 (i.e. A1 A2 ... up to A8 then B1 B2 etc.).
See below for details.
The algorithm can be chosen via menu 1 "Algorithm". Press the encoder twice (to enter the menu
and to select "Algorithm"). Then turn the encoder to select the algorithm. Finally press the encoder
again to switch to the chosen algorithm.
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Settings
Video
The disting has a number of settings which are stored in flash memory. They are accessed by menu
4 "Settings". Once you've entered the Settings menu turn the encoder to select the setting to
change.
The settings are:
•Brightness – set the display brightness.
•Recall enable – enable/disable recall from the Select Bus (see below).
•In MIDI ch – the input MIDI channel.
•Out MIDI ch – the output MIDI channel.
•Thru MIDI – enables a soft MIDI thru.
•Pgm Chng Alg – controls whether MIDI program change messages load a preset (0) select
the current algorithm (1) or are ignored (2).
•Cont filenames – if set WAV and MIDI filenames scroll continuously in the display; if
unset filenames scroll once when a new file is chosen and then the display reverts to the
default algorithm name view.
•Scroll speed – the speed at which text scrolls across the display.
•WA sample rate – sample rate to use for the Audio Playback algorithms. The default (0)
uses the disting's usual sample rate of 75kHz. The alternative (1) uses a reduced rate of
46875Hz. This can help reduce the load on the SD card useful if e.g. you have a slower
card.
•SD delay max – the maximum delay time in minutes for the various Clockable SD Delay
algorithms. If the time between two taps is longer than this the second will be ignored. This
also affects how much of the delay file is wiped when the algorithm is chosen which
therefore affects how long the algorithm takes to start.
•Switch param – if set when a MIDI CC message is received to change a parameter value
that parameter becomes the current parameter (and so its value is displayed).
Once you've chosen the setting to change press the encoder to select it at which point the setting's
current value will be shown. Turn the encoder to change the value. Then press the encoder to accept
and store the value into flash or press Z to leave the menu without storing the value.
Help
Video
Accessing 'Help' from the menu displays algorithm-specific information. The help is loaded from
the MicroSD card if present (else the message "No card" is displayed) and scrolled across the
display. To exit the help function press Z.
The help text is a simple plain text file on the card so it can be freely edited (e.g. to put your own
choice of information first or to translate it into a different language).
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The default set of help files can be downloaded from the firmware update page here. Simply unzip
the file onto your MicroSD card. The file structure should look something like this:
i.e. the 'help' folder is at the root level of the card and inside is a file per algorithm named
'hXXX.txt' where XXX is the algorithm number starting from zero for algorithm A1.
Parameters
Video
In addition to the control provided on the Z knob each algorithm may have up to eight 'parameters'
offering further control over the algorithm's operation.
Unlike the Z control which is sampled at the same high rate as the X & Y inputs parameters should
be considered coarse non-real-time adjustments to the algorithm. They may cause glitching in the
outputs when changed.
Parameters are adjusted via the S knob. When changed the parameter value is displayed for a
couple of seconds.
If an algorithm has more than one parameter pressing the Z knob cycles through them (unless the
algorithm uses Z for Tap Tempo or some other purpose). The current parameter number is
displayed briefly (prefixed with 'P') followed by its name.
The current parameter can also be selected by pushing in the S knob and turning it while holding it
in. The parameter number (prefixed with 'P') is shown when you turn the knob; if you pause briefly
without turning the knob the parameter name is shown.
nob Recorder
Video
In many algorithms which do not use a Z knob press for another purpose pressing Z offers a 'knob
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recorder' function.
When this is available 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.
The maximum duration of knob recording is a little under 14 seconds.
Tap Tempo
Video
Some algorithms (notably the Clockable LFO and Clockable Delay/Echo) use a press of the Z knob
as a 'tap tempo' function. In these modes pressing Z has the same effect as sending a clock pulse
into the clock input. For example pressing Z twice will set the delay time/LFO period to the time
between the two button presses.
Note that if the algorithm is dividing down the clocked frequency pressing Z twice will not set the
output to the division of the time between the two presses; rather it will be the time between a
corresponding number of button presses. E.g. if the Clockable LFO is set to 1/4 (divide by 4) the
LFO time will be set by pressing the Z button 5 times and it will only change on the 5th press.
Favourites
You can define your own list of 16 'favourite' algorithms via a text file on the MicroSD card.
The favourites are accessed as algorithms O1-P8. If no favourites are defined or if there are empty
slots the disting runs algorithm A1 the Precision Adder.
The favourites are read from the SD card if present at power on. They are then stored in the
disting's flash memory and so persist even after the card is removed.
The favourites file is a simple text file which must be named 'favourites.txt' and placed in the root of
the SD card (not inside any folder). The contents look something like this:
disting favourites v2
B8 VCO
a1
C5 resonator
I4 SD z speed
b5 LFO
e dual AR w/ push
The first line must be "disting favourites v2". Subsequent lines specify an algorithm to add to the
list of favourites. After 16 algorithms any further lines are ignored.
Each algorithm is specified as its two character name (a letter followed by a number). Any further
text after the algorithm number is ignored so you can add a descriptive string (as in the example
above) to help you remember what's what.
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Presets
Video
The disting can store its current state to flash memory as a preset. The contents of a preset are
•the chosen algorithm.
•the parameter values.
•the current parameter number.
Anything controlled by the Z knob/CV is not stored – its value is always defined by the knob
position and CV input.
There are 64 preset slots. Presets are saved and recalled using the menu. To save a preset:
1. Press the encoder to enter menu mode.
2. Turn the encoder once (to show 'Save') and press to confirm.
3. Turn the encoder to choose the preset slot.
4. Press the encoder to complete the save.
As usual pressing Z at any point exits the menu without saving.
To load a preset:
1. Press the encoder to enter menu mode.
2. Turn the encoder twice (to show 'Load') and press to confirm.
3. Turn the encoder to choose the preset slot.
4. Press the encoder to complete the load.
If the current algorithm was selected via the Favourites the actual algorithm chosen is saved in the
preset not the favourites slot.1
Preset 0
Preset 0 the first slot is special:
•The contents of preset 0 are loaded at power-up.
•When switching algorithm the new algorithm state is saved to preset 0.2
Therefore if you want to save the disting's state so it powers up as it is currently you can manually
save to preset 0 which is “click turn click click” on the encoder.
Preset 0 is also an exception to the above comment regarding favourites. The actual favourites slot
is stored.
1 So if you change the favourites the presets are unaffected.
2 The thinking here is that if you forget to save your preset before turning off the power at least the disting will come
back up in the same algorithm next time you start.
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