Flame QUAD CV RECORDER User manual

QUAD CV RECORDER
MANUAL
Version 1.00
FLAME

Manual FLAME 4CVREC Version 1.00
Index
1. Short description ..................................................................... 3
2. Hardware / Connections ........................................................... 4
Connection to the modular system (Doepfer Bus) 4
Module frontpanel overview 5
3. Quick start ................................................................................ 6
First steps: Put in backup battery 6
First steps: POT-RECORDER 7
4. Operation .................................................................................. 8
Basic operations 8
Example: Source of track 1 = potentiometer 8
5. Functions .................................................................................. 9
SOURCE 9
ZOOM 9
RANGE (Offset) 10
RECORD 11
PUNCH IN/OUT RECORDING 12
PLAYMODE: LOOP, SINGLE, GATE, SCAN 13
PLAYfunktions: SPEED, START, LENGHT 14
LINK (multitrack functions) 15
CLOCK - external synchronisation via Analog Clock 16
CLOCK - external synchronisation via MIDI Clock 17
Firmware update 18
Exchange backup battery 19
List of basic settings 20
6. Appendix .................................................................................. 21
2

1. Short description
The module is a four-channel CV recorder/looper that records and plays back voltage curves
from very slow speeds to faster speeds by moving the controllers.
You can record control voltage courses from analogue sequencers, LFOs, envelope generators,
joysticks etc..
The input/output CV of each channel can range from -5v..+5v or 0..+9v.
SOURCE is the CV source of the track for the recordings. This can be the CV input, the poten-
tiometer or both.
ZOOM is a two stage fine adjust function of the control ruler.
Synchronization via clock or MIDI and "punch-in" recordings are possible.
The output is a smoothed voltage without audible increments (algorithm with 16 bit resolution).
While the Clock/MIDI Synchronisation is used, they have two different levels (HARD/SOFT) for
the CV interpolation.
Independent of selected sync mode, the recording time per channel is up to one hour (such us
MIDI clock).
Function LINK: All four channels can be used individually or in groups of two or four tracks at
any one time (for multitrack or joystick recording).
There are different playback modes and several functions for the playback controls.
The different modes include: one-shot, triggered by a gate, a push-button or by MIDI-start/stop.
The sample can be looped as well.
Using the SCAN mode, the recorded sample can be scanned via CV input or the pot of the chan-
nel. It is possible to play manually the track velocity and direction (feasible effects: reverse, ran-
domized, stuttering).
The start point, end point and the speed of playback or of the loop is set with the CVs or pot
(functions: START, LENGHT, SPEED).
The memory is non-volatile, as such the recordings and settings remain unchanged when the
modular system is powered down.
Software updates are possible via MIDI sysex dump.
MIDI adapter is included with the unit.
3

4
Connection to the modular system (Doepfer bus)
+12v ground ground ground -12v
The module is delivered with a connected ribbon cable for the Doepfer bus. The red lead marks
-12 volt. Connecting the module please note the right polarity!
If the module is poled accidentally wrong safety diodes avoid the immediate destruction of the
module but further damages cannot be excepted. So please pay attention: Check the connec-
tion various times before switching on!
Advice: Please check the correct connection several times before switching-on the module!
Attention! Please avoid doing electrostatic voltages (don’t touch the pins of the chips or the
electronic). Please touch the modul frontpanel only for installation in your rack.
2. Hardware / Connections

5
Module frontpanel overview
PLAYbutton track 1
Potentiometer tracks 1-4LINK push button
Gate/Trigger inputs
for PLAYtracks 1-4
POTENTIOMETER 1-4 Individual programable potentiometer tracks 1-4 either
as CV source during recording or
as controller pot during play back
INPUTS CV 1-4 Individual programable CV inputs tracks 1-4 with selected range: -5..+5v, 0..+9v
as CV source during recording or
as CV during play back
INPUTS PLAY1-4 Gate/Trigger inputs PLAY(playback start/stop) tracks 1-4 : 0/+5v
INPUTS REC 1-4 Trigger inputs RECORD / CLOCK tracks 1-4 : 0/+5v
Additional option: Input REC-1 = MIDI-INPUT (via MIDI adapter)
OUTPUTS CV 1-4 CV outputs tracks 1-4 with selected range: -5..+5v, 0..+9v
SHIFT BUTTONS Shift buttons (functions) in combination with Play/Record buttons
SHIFT+PLAY--> black printed functions
SHIFT+RECORD --> red printed functions
LINK BUTTON Selector switch for LINK modes
RECORD button track 1
PLAYbutton track 2
RECORD button track 2
PLAYbutton track 3
RECORD button track 3
PLAYbutton track 4
RECORD button track 4
4 SHIFT buttons
CV inputs
for tracks 1-4
CV outputs
for tracks 1-4
Gate/Trigger inputs
for RECORD or CLOCK
tracks 1-4
MIDI input

3. QUICK START
FIRST STEPS
1. Put in the backup battery before you start the module first time
Put in the memory-backup-battery! Please use the provided 3v lithium
backup battery (type CR2032) or a standard comparably battery.
Please note the correct polarity: Positive pole outwards!
After the first power-on the module starts automatically with the basic settings.
6

FIRST STEPS
POT RECORDER
After the first startup you can use the module easily like a pot-recorder. You can record and play
back the movements of the ruler separately of each track.
Example Pot Recorder track 1 for control filter frequency:
1. Connect the output CV-1 with the CV input (filter frequency) of your
external filter module.
2. Set SOURCE of track1 to POT: While hold down the button SHIFT
SOURCE press the button REC-1 (as the case may be several
times) until the REC-1 LED is red.
3. Turn the ruler 1 in order to hear the filter.
4. Push the button REC-1 for setting the track in record standby
mode (blinking REC-1 LED red).
5. Push the button PLAY-1 for starting the recording
(PLAY-1 and REC-1 are constant red).
6. Turn the ruler over a period of time.
7. Push again the button PLAY-1 for stop the recording.
Now the playback begins automatically (PLAY-1 is constant green).
8. Stop the play back with buttons SHIFT STOP + REC-1.
The output holds on the last sample voltage. If you turn the pot,
then the output voltage switches to the voltage of the pot.
7

4. OPERATION
8
How you can change and display the settings:
Make settings by means of a combination of buttons SHIFT + PLAYor REC.
While you push down a button SHIFT the LEDs of buttons PLAYand REC display the settings
via the LED colors.
You find the color codes of the functions besides the SHIFT buttons.
Change the black functions with buttons SHIFT + PLAY.
Change the red functions with buttons SHIFT + REC.
You can change the LINK modes directly with the button LINK.
Example:
Set the SOURCE of track 1 to POT :
While you hold down the button SHIFT “SOURCE/ZOOM” push the button REC-1 (as the case
may be several times) until the LED of button REC-1 is red.
1. while hold down
2. edit
LED aus
LED rot
LED grün
LED grün blinkend
ADVICE:
The memory is non-volatile, as
such, the recordings and set-
tings remain unchanged when
the modular system is powered
down (only with included backup
battery.

9
SOURCE
SOURCE is the CV source of the track for the recordings. This can be the CV input, the poten-
tiometer or both.
If the track is stopped, then the output holds on the last sample voltage. If you move the pot,
then the output voltage switches to the voltage of the pot/input (SOURCE).
The CV output has the voltage of SOURCE if the track is in record standby (REC is blinking red)
and during the recording (PLAY+REC are constant red).
SOURCE can be set seperatly for each track and each LINK mode.
ZOOM
ZOOM is a two stage fine adjust function of the control ruler. Asmall range around the current
pot position is stretched over the complete pot range.
ZOOM is available only if the pot is used as CV source.
5. FUNCTIONS
POT
CV-Input
POT
+CV-Input
CV-out

10
RANGE (OFFSET)
You can set the voltage range of each track to bipolar or unipolar:
RANGE can be:
bipolar: -5v ... +5v (calibrated)
unipolar: 0,1v ... +9v (calibrated)
Input and output of the track have the same RANGE setting.
It’s possible to reset the Range setting after recording.
Input voltages outside of the range are ignored.
RANGE +/-5v
(bipolar -5v..+5v)
RANGE +10v
(unipolar 0,1v..+9v)
POT OUT
-5v +5v
-5v...+5v
CV-IN
-5v...+5v
0...+9v
CV-IN POT OUT
0v +9v
0..+9v