future.retro Vectra User manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Table of Contents
2. Introduction
3. Definitions
4. Getting Started
5. Connections
6. Front Panel Controls
7. Front Panel Controls Continued
8. Memory Card and Files
9. Load, Save, Delete
10. Assign Parameters
11. Master Settings
12. Synthesizer Overview
13. Oscillators 1-4
14. Oscillator Waveform
15. Oscillator Frequency
16. Oscillator Frequency Continued
17. Oscillator Frequency Modulation
18. Oscillator LFO 1-4
19. Oscillator Envelope 1-4
20. Oscillator Envelope Time Modulation 1-4
21. Mixer
22. Automix and Mixer Modulation
23. Filter and Filter Modulation
24. Filter LFO
25. Filter Envelope
26. Filter Envelope Time Modulation
27. Amplifier Envelope
28. Amplifier Envelope Time Modulation
29. Arpeggiator and Sequencer Overview
30. Scales Keymap
31. Xpose, Xscale, and Range Keymap
32. Directions Keymap
33. Loop Point and Time Signature Keymap
34. Sequencer Parameters
35. Sequencer Show Mode
36. Sequencer Play and Arp Modes
37. Sequencer Fill Mode
38. Sequencer Edit Mode
39. Sequencer Real-time Record Mode
40. Sequencer Auto Record Mode, MIDI
41. Specifications
42. Specifications Continued
43. Specifications Continued
44. Copyright
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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the Vectra synthesizer. Please take time to read through the entire manual for a
complete understanding of the operations and procedures needed to master this instrument.
Contents
Included with your Vectra synthesizer, you should find an external power supply, micro SD card, and
owner’s manual. If any of these items are missing, please notify the dealer you purchased the unit from
or contact Future Retro directly. Please keep the original box and all packaging material your unit came
with, as they provide the best protection and will be required should you ever need to ship your unit.
Overview
The Vectra is a unique hybrid synthesizer with a flexible architecture that allows many different forms
of synthesis to be realized. It’s the best of both worlds… The Vectra utilizes digital oscillators, ring
modulators, noise sources, vector mixer, LFO’s, complex envelopes, and modulation routings providing
many capabilities that would be very difficult to produce with analog circuitry alone. This allows for
accurate tuning, repeatability of complex patches, and patch storage. The Vectra also provides a multi-
mode analog filter, VCA, and final output, as these provide the best sonic qualities.
The Vectra includes a powerful and fun sequencer and arpeggiator, with many new capabilities.
Although the Vectra is a self contained instrument, MIDI can be used to interface with other devices.
Power
If the 15V DC power supply ever becomes lost or damaged, please contact us for a replacement.
Always make sure the power supply is correct for your country’s power mains voltage.
Care
Avoid exposing the unit to smoke or damp, dusty, or extreme hot and cold environments. To clean the
unit, use a soft damp cloth. Do not use any chemical cleaners, as these may harm the surfaces and finish
of the unit.
Product Warranty and Support
The Vectra comes with a 1 year limited warranty covering mechanical or electrical manufacturing
defects. Please keep all original packaging and purchase invoice as you will need to show proof of
purchase to receive warranty coverage.
The warranty does not cover normal wear, or damage due to misuse, or abuse of the product. There are
no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Disassembly or modifications performed to the unit will auto-
matically void the warranty. Future Retro will not be held liable for any accidents or damages caused to
the user or their surroundings when using this product.
Should your unit become damaged within the warranty period, please email product support:
[e-mail]
You will need to obtain authorization to return the unit to us for repairs.
Please visit the Support and Downloads pages of our website for the latest information, sound files, and
support for this product:
www.future-retro.com
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DEFINITIONS
The following are definitions and abbreviations of modulation sources and parameters used in the Vectra
MODULATION SOURCES
Off: No modulation source.
Rnd-1: Creates a random value at the start of a single note-on.
Rnd-2: Creates a random value at the start of any new note-on.
Key-1: Covers the entire range of MIDI notes from 0-127.
Key-2: Covers the 29 note range of the internal keyboard.
Vel: The Velocity value of the keyboard, or sequencer.
Touch: The Touch value of the keyboard, or Aftertouch value of MIDI notes.
ModW: The ModW joystick axis, or the Mod Wheel MIDI message.
Bend: The Bend joystick axis, or Pitch Bend MIDI message.
Stk-X: The X-axis of the assignable Stick joystick.
Stk-Y: The Y-axis of the assignable Stick joystick.
LFO-(1-4): The Low Frequency Oscillator used to modulate Oscillators 1-4.
Env-(1-4): The Envelope used to modulate Oscillators 1-4.
LFO-F: The Low Frequency Oscillator for the Filter.
Env-F: The Envelope for the Filter.
EnvAmp: The output VCA’s amplifier envelope.
Link(1): Routes all of Oscillator 1’s modulation sources to Oscillator 2, 3, and 4.
DC-: A negative voltage potential.
DC+: A positive voltage potential.
Mix-1: Audio signal assigned to Mixer source 1.
Mix-2: Audio signal assigned to Mixer source 2.
Mix-3: Audio signal assigned to Mixer source 3.
Mix-4: Audio signal assigned to Mixer source 4.
PARAMETER ABBREVIATIONS
Mod: Modulation
Amt: Amount
Oct: Octave
Dtn: Constant Beat Detuning
FMoct: The Frequency Modulation amount in Octaves.
FMmod: The Frequency Modulation Source.
FMamt: The Frequency Modulation Amount.
Ctrl: Control, a modulation source that controls the amplitude of another modulation amount.
LFO: Low Frequency Oscillator
Env: Envelope
Dly: Delay
Atk: Attack
Hld: Hold
Dec: Decay
Sus: Sustain
Rel: Release
Rpt: Repeat
VCS: Control Voltage Slewing of filter cutoff modulation signals.
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GETTING STARTED
To play the Vectra, follow these directions in order, starting with the power turned OFF.
1. Install the micro SD card in the rear of the unit with the contact finger pointing up.
2. Connect the 1/4” unbalanced audio output to a channel input on your studio’s mixer.
3. Press the power switch of the Vectra to turn the unit ON. Avoid touching the keybed, and
pitch-bend joystick during the boot up period, as the unit is calibrating these functions.
4. To adjust the main output level of the Vectra, press the Master switch, then rotate encoder 1.
To save this setting, while in Master mode press the Save switch.
5. Adjust the input gain setting on your studio’s mixer for the best signal to noise ratio without
distortion.
6. To load different sounds and sequences, press the Load switch to enter the Load mode. Rotate
encoder 1 to select different sounds, then press the Load switch to load the current sound
selected.
7. Touch the keyboard keys to begin playing the sound. Realize that some sounds may use
velocity or aftertouch to modify the sound, so try to play the keyboard with different methods.
8. Try applying pitch-bend, mod-wheel, mixer, filter, and stick variations to see how these affect
the currently selected sound.
9. Press the power switch again to turn the power off.
Remember, we’re just getting started here. In some instances you may experience no response from the
movement of the joysticks depending on how the instrument parameters are set. For a full understanding
of this product and its features, please read through the entire manual.
We have lots to cover so let’s get started.
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CONNECTIONS
POWER
Connect the provided 15volt DC power supply to the power jack on the rear of the unit.
Always check to make sure the power supply is correct for your country’s power mains voltage.
MICRO SD CARD
Always make sure the unit is turned OFF before installing or removing the micro SD card.
Failure to do so may corrupt data stored on the card, or even cause damage to the card itself.
We recommend using a memory card with 2 gigabytes (or more) of memory. It is also advised to use
cards with a class 4, class 10 (or faster) read/write speed.
Install the card in the unit with the contact fingers facing up as indicated on the front panel.
MIDI IN
Information received at the MIDI IN jack can be used to play the internal sounds of the
Vectra, or synchronize the playback of the internal sequencer and arpeggiator.
Use a MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI OUT of an external sequencer or keyboard.
MIDI THRU
All information received at the MIDI IN jack will be sent out the MIDI THRU jack. Use a MIDI cable to
connect this output to the MIDI IN of another device for creating a daisy chain between multiple MIDI
units.
MIDI OUT
The MIDI OUT jack is used to send MIDI data from the internal keyboard, sequencer, or arpeggiator out
to other external MIDI devices.
Use a MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI IN of an external MIDI device.
AUDIO OUT
Use a 1/4” unbalanced audio cable to connect the Audio OUT to an input channel on your studio’s
mixer.
5

OVERVIEW OF FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
KEYBOARD
The Vectra provides a 29 note capacitive touch keyboard that can produce note-on/off, pitch, velocity,
and aftertouch, as well as activate gliding of oscillator pitches, and is also used for data entry for the
sequencer and arpeggiator. To produce glides, play two or more keys simultaneously, or drag your
finger across the keyboard.
Note: Avoid touching the keyboard or pitch-bend joystick when the unit is first turned On during the
boot up process, as these functions are being calibrated.
While the keyboard may have only 29 keys, most traditional instruments will have a limited number of
notes they can play. However if greater range of notes is needed, simply assign a scale to the keyboard.
The 29 keys can cover four octaves of notes in the Major scale, and six octaves for a pentatonic scale.
JOYSTICKS
The Vectra provides four joysticks for Pitch-bend and Mod-wheel, Mixing of the oscillators, control of
the Filter cutoff and resonance, and the Stick control which can be assigned to many different functions.
ENCODERS
Eight encoders are provided and their function will change depending on the mode you working in.
In this manual we will refer to these encoders as 1-8, with encoders 1-4 being the left column (top to
bottom), and encoders 5-8 being the right column (top to bottom). You will notice that each encoder
relates to a parameter shown in the display screen, as these parameters are also laid out as two columns
of (up-to) four parameters. Encoders can be rotated to change parameter values. Each encoder also has a
switch that can be activated by pressing down on the encoder knob. The function of these encoders will
be described in each mode section.
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OVERVIEW OF FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
SCOPE
The smaller display on the front panel is the Scope. This display allows you to visualize the waveforms
and modulation signals happening for the most recently selected synthesizer mode.
DISPLAY
The larger display on the front panel is the main display. This display will show main parameters to be
adjusted for all the different modes.
LOAD/SAVE
The Load and Save switches are used to load, save, and delete instruments and sequences.
ASSIGN
The Assign switch allows individual synthesizer parameters to be assigned to the 8 encoders.
ARP/SEQ
The Arp/Seq switch accesses parameters for the Arpeggiator, Sequencer, and Keyboard.
SYNTH PARAMETERS
There are eleven switches to access the different synthesizer parameter modes.
These will be discussed in detail in the synthesizer parameters section.
MASTER
The Master mode contains master settings such as volume, MIDI channel, overall tuning, and the screen
saver sleep time.
7

MEMORY CARD AND FILES
MEMORY / MICRO SD CARD
The Vectra can load up to 999 sounds and sequences stored on the external micro SD card.
Each memory location holds the parameters for an individual sound and sequence.
If no card is installed in the unit, you can still play and edit a simple default sound patch and sequence,
however you will be unable to save or load any of your work.
A 2 gigabyte (or larger) micro SD card should be used with a speed rating of Class 4, Class 10 (or
faster). Since sounds and sequences are loaded directly from the card, the speed of the memory card
used can be critical for faster loading and saving.
Always turn the unit’s power OFF before installing or removing the micro SD card. Otherwise data on
the card may become corrupt, or damage may occur to the card.
The file system used in the Vectra requires the micro SD card to be formatted to the FAT16 or FAT32
standards. If you ever lose your card and need to replace it with a new one, make sure the card is format-
ted to this file type before inserting into the unit. When a newly formatted card is installed in the Vectra,
basic files and folders will be automatically generated on the card.
BACKING UP YOUR WORK
You can back up your work by connecting the micro SD card to your computer, and either drag and drop
the files on the card to your computer, or by making a disk image of the micro SD card. The disk image
is preferred if you ever want to reload the contents back onto the card exactly as it existed before.
Otherwise, if you drag and drop files from your computer back onto the card, sound files will appear in
memory in the order that they were placed on the card.
If you ever replace or reformat your card, it is recommended that you install the freshly formatted card
into the unit first and power up the unit so the basic folders, and default patch file are automatically
placed on the card. This then will make the default file NEW_INST the first file on the card, which is
easily accessed when creating new sounds from scratch. Then if desired, you can remove the card,
connect it to your computer, and drag and drop any additional sound files you may have previously
saved on your computer back to the card. All sound files must be placed in the INSTR folder.
While it is possible to rename files on your computer, users should be aware that the Vectra file system
uses short 8.3 names for files. This means that files should be eight characters in length and use only the
following characters:
“0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ! # % & ’ ( ) — __”.
Using any other characters for a file’s name may cause errors, or the inability to load that file. Vectra
files all end in the “.txt” file format. This does not mean that you will be able to view or edit the contents
of the file with a text editor.
BAD FILES
If your card or files on the card ever become corrupt, it is recommended to back up the data on the card
to your computer immediately. Reformat the card to the FAT32 file type. Then look over the files you
saved from the card onto your computer. You can usually identify bad files by their size being different
than other files of the same type. If you see these bad files, delete them and then reload only the good
files back onto the freshly formatted card.
Note: It is not advised to store files on the micro SD card that the Vectra does not use or support.
8

LOAD / SAVE / DELETE
LOAD
Press the Load switch to enter the Load mode.
Here you can load an individual Sound, Sound and Sequence together, or an individual Sequence.
Rotate encoder 1 to select the file to load.
You can also press encoder switch 1 to quickly jump to the first or last file. How this works is, if you are
at any selection other than 000, pressing the switch will select the 000 file. Pressing this switch again
when selection is 000 will then select the last file on the card.
Rotate encoder 2 to select the file type to load.
Here you can select an individual Sound, Sound and Sequence, or an individual Sequence.
Once your selection has been made, press the Load switch to confirm and load the current selection.
Note: If keys are being played on the keyboard when a new sound is loaded, the new sound will load
once all keys on the keyboard have been released. If the sequencer or arpeggiator is playing when a
sound or sequence is loaded, the new sound or sequence will load once the current loop point is reached.
Tip: Since you can load Sounds and Sequences independently, this is a great way to copy a sequence
from one file to be used with the current sound, or copy a sound from another file to be used with the
current sequence. Once you have the desired combination of sound and sequence, save it to a new file.
SAVE
Press the Save switch to enter the Save mode.
Saving will write all the current sound and sequencer parameter data to the memory card.
If you made a few changes to an existing Sound and/or Sequence and wish to overwrite these new
changes to the same file, press the Save switch to confirm and save (overwrite) to the existing file name
on the card.
You can also rename the file before saving. This then keeps the original file on the card, and writes the
new changes you made to a file with another name on the card.
To rename a file, rotate the encoders to change the file name to something new. Then press Save to
confirm and save the new file to the card. Beware, if you rename the file to the same name of another
file already on the card, the existing file on the card will be replaced with this new file.
DELETE
To delete a Sound and Sequence file from the card, you must first load the file you want to delete.
Once loaded, press and hold the Save switch, and then press the Load switch to confirm and delete the
file. Once deleted, the switches can be released.
NOTE: When you save a file, this file will be written to the first available memory slot on the card. If no
files have been deleted, this allows new files to appear in sequential order. However, if you delete a file
and then save a new file, that new file will appear in the location as the previous file/s you deleted.
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