GAME CHANGER AUDIO MOTOR SYNTH MKI User manual

GAMECHANGER | AUDIO
MOTOR Synth MKI
USER MANUAL
FIRMWARE VERSION v.1.22
Last revised April 27, 2023

MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
OVERVIEW 7
! Interface Changes in Firmware version 1.22 9
SCREEN section 9
MODULATION section 9
TRANSPORT section 9
! PRESET FORMAT CHANGE FOR FIRMWARE V.1.22 9
MOTOR CONTROLS 10
Description 10
List of parameters 11
Instructions 12
Setting the VOLUME 12
Choosing the waveform - WAVE knob 12
Setting the SCALE 13
Using TUNE knobs 13
Setting the TONE 13
AMP ENVELOPE 14
Description 14
List of parameters 15
Instructions 17
Navigating between voices in the AMP ENV SCREEN 17
Setting the basic envelope stage parameters 18
Setting the Curve [C] and Master curve [M CRV] 18
Changing the envelope Type [TYPE] 19
Setting advanced hidden parameters of the ADSR envelope - Breakpoint [B] and Time [T] 20
Setting the ENVELOPE Reset [RST] 21
Setting the ENVELOPE Velocity [VEL] 21
ACCELERATION / BRAKE (PITCH ENVELOPE) 22
Description 22
List of parameters 23
Instructions 24
Navigating between voices in the ACCEL SCREEN 24
Setting the ACCELERATION 24
Setting the BRAKE 25
Setting the ACCELERATION / BRAKE CURVE 26
GLIDE MODE 26
AMP ENVELOPE AND ACCELERATION LINK FUNCTIONALITY 27
Description 27
List of parameters 27
Instructions 28
LINK 29
UNLINK 30
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
FILTER 31
Description 31
List of parameters 31
Instructions 33
Engaging the FILTER SCREEN 33
Setting the basic FILTER parameters [TYPE], [CUTOFF], Resonance [RES] and [DRIVE] 33
Setting the FILTER ENVELOPE and Envelope Amount [ENV AMT] 34
Using Key Tracking [KYTR] 35
MODULATION 37
Description 37
List of parameters 37
MODULATOR parameters 37
SHAPE parameters 39
Instructions 41
Navigating the MODULATION section and screens 41
MODULATOR setup 42
MOD SHAPE adjustments 43
MOD ENVELOPE 47
CROSS MOD 48
Description 48
List of parameters 48
Instructions 49
Basic CROSS MOD usage 49
Additional CROSS MOD parameters 49
DRIFT & DETUNE 51
Description 51
List of parameters 51
Instructions 52
PERFORMANCE INTERFACE 53
Description 53
List of parameters 54
KEYPAD and PITCH ENCODER parameters 54
KEYPAD SETUP parameters 55
POLY SETUP parameters 55
NOTES TO VOICES parameters 56
Instructions 57
Basic KEYPAD and PITCH ENCODERS functionality 57
ALT + PITCH ENCODER USES - SHIFT ALL, FREQ STEP, SCALE and ROOT 59
KEYPAD SETUP 60
KEYPAD LATCH 60
CLUTCH (TAP) 61
POLY SETUP 62
NOTES TO VOICES SETUP 63
MASTER TEMPO 65
Description 65
List of parameters 65
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
Instructions 66
Setting the MASTER TEMPO (BPM) 66
MIDI clock receive settings 67
MIDI clock transmit settings 67
ARPEGGIATOR 68
Description 68
List of parameters 68
Main melodic ARP parameters 68
ARP RHYTHM parameters 70
Instructions 71
Basic ARPEGGIATOR usage 71
ARP SCREEN parameter editing 72
ARP RHYTHM SCREEN step selection 73
ARP RHYTHM SCREEN step editing 75
SEQUENCER 79
Description 79
Instructions 79
Running the SEQUENCER 79
PATTERN SCREEN step selection 80
PATTERN EDIT SCREEN step editing 82
PATTERN SCREEN additional settings 87
QUEUE SCREEN overview 88
QUEUE SCREEN managing PATTERNS 90
QUEUE SCREEN chaining PATTERNS 90
QUEUE SCREEN chaining QUEUES 91
QUEUE SCREEN momentary performance tools 92
MOTION REC 93
Description 93
List of parameters 93
Instructions 94
Recording and deleting MOTION RECORD LANES 94
Recording synchronization 96
Changing LANE playback parameters 97
RANDOM GENERATOR 98
Description 98
List of parameters 98
Sound parameter RANDOMIZE SCREEN 98
SEQUENCER PATTERN step parameter RANDOMIZE SCREEN 100
Instructions 101
Randomize all sound parameters and customize the randomization amount 101
Randomize individual groups of sound parameters 102
Randomize SEQUENCER PATTERN step parameters and customize the randomization amount 103
INPUT SIGNAL PROCESSING 104
Description 104
List of parameter 104
IN ENV FOLLOW parameters 104
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ROUTE SET parameters 106
Instructions 106
INPUT ENVELOPE FOLLOWER 106
INPUT ROUTING 107
CV AND TRIGGER INPUTS 109
Description 109
Instructions 109
CV/TRIG MODES 109
CV assignment 110
CV attenuation 111
MIDI ASSIGN 112
Description 112
Instructions 112
MIDI mod wheel and channel pressure assignment 112
MIDI Velocity curve and pitch wheel 114
DELETE 115
Description 115
Instructions 115
Reset parameters to PRESET values 115
Reset parameters to INIT values 115
Clear ARPEGGIATOR RHYTHM and SEQUENCER STEPS 116
Delete MOTION RECORD lanes 116
PRESETS AND PROJECTS 118
Description 118
Instructions 118
PRESET and PROJECT comparison 118
Browsing and loading PRESETS 120
Saving PRESETS 120
PRESET loading with MIDI 121
PRESET options 122
BANK renaming 123
Browsing, saving and loading PROJECTS 123
PRESETS and PROJECTS on the SD card 125
Firmware version 1.2 PRESET converter 128
SETTINGS MENU 130
Description 130
SETTINGS MENU sections 130
INPUT ROUTING SCREEN 130
INPUT VOLUME SCREEN 130
STARTUP SCREEN 131
MIDI SCREEN 131
PARAMETER SETTINGS AND BRIGHTNESS SCREEN 132
PRESETS SETTINGS SCREEN 134
SERVICE SCREEN 134
PADLOCK SCREEN 135
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION 136
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MIDI basic information 136
CC MAP 139
NRPN MAP 143
MIDI SYSEX 152
GLOBAL PARAMETER REQUEST 153
FIRMWARE UPDATE 156
Description 156
Procedures 156
Check Firmware version 156
Update Firmware 156
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
OVERVIEW
Front Panel
1 MOTOR CONTROLS
2 AMP ENVELOPE
3 ACCELERATION / BRAKE (PITCH ENVELOPE)
4 AMP ENVELOPE AND ACCELERATION LINK FUNCTIONALITY
5 FILTER
6 MODULATION
7 CROSS MOD
8 DRIFT & DETUNE
9 PERFORMANCE INTERFACE
10 MASTER TEMPO
11 ARPEGGIATOR
12 SEQUENCER
13 MOTION REC
14 RANDOM GENERATOR
15 INPUT SIGNAL PROCESSING
16 CV AND TRIGGER INPUTS
17 MIDI ASSIGN
18 DELETE
19 PRESETS AND PROJECTS
20 SETTINGS MENU
21 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION
22 FIRMWARE UPDATE
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
Back panel
1 MIDI OUT & IN
5-pin DIN MIDI output and input
2 USB
USB type B for data transfer and MIDI output
3 DC input
Use the included power adapter connected to a power outlet
4 Power button
Turn the unit on and off
5 V1 & V2 SEND RET
Pre-filter send and return for MOTOR VOICE 1 and MOTOR VOICE 2 separately.
3.5mm / 1/8 inch unbalanced TRS (TIP – SEND, RING – RETURN)
6 PHONES
3.5mm / 1/8 inch unbalanced TRS
7 OUT
Main audio output
6.35mm / 1/4 inch unbalanced TS
8 IN
Audio input
6.35mm / 1/4 inch unbalanced TS
9 CV & TRIG IN
3.5mm / 1/8 inch CV and trigger inputs
10 FAN VENT
Variable speed fan for cooling. Do not cover the vent.
11 SD CARD
SD card slot
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
! Interface Changes in Firmware version 1.22
The firmware version 1.2 introduces extended MOTOR Synth MKI functionality taken from the development
of MOTOR Synth MKII. To implement this a few parts of the front panel now perform different functions
described below.
SCREEN section
Many screens have additional parameters that don’t have dedicated controls on the front panel. These are
controlled with PRESETS and PLAY MODE encoders. These encoders perform their original functions when
the MAIN PLAY SCREEN is active. In other screens they control additional parameters and will be referred to
as LEFT SCREEN ENCODER (PRESETS) and RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER (PLAY MODE). The functions of these
encoders are indicated in the active screen.
The POLY MODE button performs its original function when the MAIN PLAY SCREEN is active. In other
screens it acts as EXIT back to the MAIN PLAY SCREEN and will be referred to as EXIT (POLY MODE).
There is detailed information about LEFT SCREEN ENCODER (PRESETS), RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER (PLAY
MODE) and EXIT (POLY MODE) functions in all sections.
MODULATION section
The SYNC TEMPO button’s original function is replaced with additional parameters in the MOD SCREENS
and thus now performs MOD SETUP function and will be referred to as MOD SETUP (SYNC TEMPO)
The ALT + RATE / SUBDIV combination does not control MODULATION subdivision, instead it is controlled by
the RATE encoder without holding ALT.
There is detailed information about MOD SETUP (SYNC TEMPO) and RATE functions in the MODULATION
section.
TRANSPORT section
A new CLUTCH feature is implemented and controlled with the TAP button. The TAP button performs its
original function while ALT is being held pressed. This allows to avoid accidental taps and to implement the
CLUTCH function in which case it will be referred to as CLUTCH (TAP).
There is detailed information about TAP and CLUTCH (TAP) functions in the MASTER TEMPO and CLUTCH
sections.
! PRESET FORMAT CHANGE FOR FIRMWARE V.1.22
The firmware version 1.2 was implemented with many major updates to the instrument. As a result all
PRESETS created with older firmware versions need to be converted to work properly with the latest
firmware. Detailed information is available in the PRESETS and PROJECTS section.
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MOTOR SYNTH MKI USER MANUAL
MOTOR CONTROLS
Description
The MOTOR CONTROLS are comparable to the typical oscillator controls in other synthesizers. These are
often the foundational parameters for building a patch.
The eight-motor oscillator block is divided into 2 groups / voices - MOTOR VOICE 1 (V1) and MOTOR VOICE 2
(V2). Each MOTOR VOICE consists of 4 motors that can operate in polyphonic, duophonic or monophonic
modes. Each voice's 4 motors are controlled with a separate set of controls and parameters.
The first three waveforms, Optical Sine “OPT SINE”, Optical Triangle “OPT SAW” and Optical Square “OPT SQ”,
are produced by an infrared optocoupler (emitter and sensor) that reads three distinct graphical patterns
imprinted on reflective optical discs connected to motor shafts.These graphical patterns are located on the
discs’ bottom side and represent sine, saw, and square waveforms in graphical form.
❕ Note: There are inherent imperfections in this system of producing optical waveforms, resulting in a
less than precise readout of the graphical sine, saw and square patterns. The audio output produced by
the optical discs does not fully match the sound of these waveforms in typical synthesizers. However, we
view these imperfections as desirable sound characteristics because they provide a unique source of
audio for further synthesis.
The fourth waveshape, labeled “M” for Motor, is an electromagnetic inductive signal collected by eight
magnetic pickups. Each pickup is placed next to the electromotor’s rotating coils. This signal generation
system is similar to those found in other instruments with inductive pickups, such as the tonewheel organ
(which uses electromagnetic induction) and, more distantly, the electric guitar (which uses magnetic
induction).
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