GFI System SYNESTHESIA User manual

1
UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
* Important - must read *
TableofContents
1.OperationsPage4
1.1PresetSystem4
1.2Navigatingthepresets5‐6
1.3Navigatingthealgorithms5
1.4MasterVolume5
1.5Parameters5
1.10ParametersRamping8
2.ExternalControlPage9
3.TapTempoPage11
4.Setups:StereoOutandPre/PostPage12‐13
5.PresetTitleEditorPage14
6.SymmLabeditorsoftware(briefguide)Page15‐16
2.1AuxSwitches10
2.2ControlVoltage9
2.3ExpressionPedal10
3.1TapDivision11
3.2TempoLED11
1.6GlobalsandOptions6
1.7X‐YSwaps6
1.8DSPRouting 7
1.9PresetModevsStompboxMode7‐8
7.FactoryReset,FirmwareUpdate,&LibraryUpdatePage17‐18

USERMANUAL

>>Melancholidy \1
TRMOLO ++ UNIVBE
Bank[1,2,3,4]indicatorLEDs
FootswitchB/XFootswitchA/Y
ParameterControls[DSP‐Y]
 Speed/SP1
 Depth/SP2
 Tweak/SP3
 Algorithm
ParameterControls[DSP‐X]
 Speed/SP1
 Depth/SP2
 Tweak/SP3
 Algorithm
LEDA/YLEDB/X
SP=SecondaryParameter
2
UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
MIDISourceMIDIDevices
StereoOut/Pre‐Post
selectorswitch
Rightoutput<StereoOutmode>/Send<Pre‐Postmode>
Left(mono)output
Multi‐purposeexternal
controlinput
USBportforconnection
tocomputer
2.1mmDCpowerinput
Negative‐center
Return<Pre‐Postmode>
TempoLED

3
UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
 Turn‐adjustprimaryparameters.
 Push‐setrampingspeed.
 Hold‐map/unmapknobtoexpressionpedal.
 Twist‐Adjustsecondaryparameters.
 Turn‐selectalgorithm.
 Push‐turnselectedalgorithmon/off.
 HoldX‐enterOptionsmenu
Y‐enterGlobalsmenu
 TwistX‐scrollthroughthepresetbanks.
InPresetMode

 PushB/X‐LoadpatchB/Bypass.
A/Y‐LoadPatchA/Bypass.
 HoldB/X>500ms‐initiatesDSP‐Xramping.
A/Y>500ms‐initiatesDSP‐Yramping.
 PushA&Btogether‐BankUp.
 HoldA&Btogether‐SwitchtoStompboxmode.
Everyknobisalsoabutton.Thefollowingoperationscanbedoneoneachknob:
TURNPUSHorTAPHOLDTWIST(turnwhileholdingdown)
InStompboxMode

 PushB/X‐turnDSP‐Xon/off.
A/Y‐turnDSP‐Yon/off.
 HoldB/X>500ms‐initiatesDSP‐Xramping.
A/Y>500ms‐initiatesDSP‐Yramping.
 PushA&Btogether‐BankUp.
 HoldA&Btogether‐SwitchtoPresetmode.
Here’sasummaryofwhateachknobandeachswitchdoes,thisisjustaquickreference,moredetailedexplaination
willbegiveninthenextchapter.

LoadapresetinanotherBank
Selectthedesiredbank.
PressfootswitchA/YtoloadpatchA,orfootswitchB/XtoloadpatchB.

Thereare2waystoscrollthroughthebanks:
Method1:PressfootswitchA/YandB/Xsimultaneously(donothold).
Method2:TwisttheXencoder(clockwiseforBank‐Uporanti‐clockwiseforBank‐Down).

AsyouscrollthroughthebanksthedisplaywillshowthetitlesofbothpatchAandpatchBthatwerestoredinthebank,
andalsothepagenumber.

4
UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
Chapter1‐OPERATIONS
1.1PRESETSYSTEM
SYNESTHESIAhas32presetsorganizedwithin4pages,whereeachpagecontains4banks,andeachbankcontains2
patches(A&B).
A|B
Bank‐1
A|B
Bank‐2Bank‐3Bank‐4
A|B
PAGE1PAGE2PAGE4
Youmaysetthemaximumnumberofbanksorpagestoaccess.Forexample,restrictingthepresetaccesstotwopages
givesyou2pagesx4banksx2patches=16presets.

SuchrestrictionisusefulifyouarenotusingMIDIcontrollerforpresetswitchingasitcouldgetunwieldytonavigatetoo
manypresetlocationsinconsequentialmanner.
PagerestrictioncanbesetinGlobalSettingsmenu.
A|BA|B
Bank‐5
A|B
Bank‐7Bank‐8
A|BA|B
Bank‐6
A|B
Bank‐13
A|B
Bank‐14Bank‐15Bank‐16
A|BA|B
>>My Preset \1
TRMOLO << PHASER
Presettitle
Algoname(DSP‐Y)
Page#
Algoname(DSP‐X)
1.2NAVIGATINGTHEPRESETS
A>>Phantoms /
B>>Vibro Lush 2
PatchAtitle
PatchBtitlePage#
LoadaPreset
PressfootswitchA/YtoloadpatchA,orfootswitchB/XtoloadpatchB.

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
5
where to save?
A <push> B
Saveapreset
HolddownXandYencodersuntilapromptappearsonthescreen.




PushfootswitchAtosavetopatchA,orpushfootswitchBtosavetopatchB




BypassthePedal
TapfootswitchA/YorB/X,whicheverpresetiscurrentlyactive(correspondingLEDison).
Afterpresetissaved,thepreset’stitlecanbechangedinOptions(Options‐>TitleEditor)
1.3NAVIGATINGTHEALGORITHMS
TurntheXEncodertoselectanalgorithmtoonDSP‐X,andturntheYEncodertoselectanalgorithmtorunonDSP‐Y.
PushtheXEncodertotoggleDSP‐Xonandoff,similiarly,pushtheYEncodertotoggleDSP‐Yonandoff.
02.Harmonic Trem
HCTREM
Algo#Algolongname
6‐letteralgoshortname
1.4MASTERVOLUME
Asinglecontrolisprovidedtosettheoverallvolumeofthepedal,from‐3dBto+3dB.

TwisttheYencoder,clockwisetoincreasevolume,anti‐clockwisetoreducevolume.
VOLUME (dB) +2
PREV:+1
<Atthispoint,Ifyou’dliketocancelsavingtoapreset:holddowntheXandYencodersagain>
Mastervolumeisspecifiedonper‐presetbasis.
1.5PARAMETERS:PrimaryandSecondary
Eachalgorithmhasupto6adjustableparameters.ThreeparametersareadjustedbyturningtheSPEED,DEPTH,or
TWEAKknobs,thesearethePrimaryparameters.Theotherthreeareadjustedbytwisting(hold‐turn)theSPEED,DEPTH,
orTWEAKknobs,thesearetheSecondaryparameters.
OnlyPrimaryparametersmayberampedorcontrolledviaexpressionpedal.
Forin‐depthinformationonthealgorithmspleaseseeaseparatedocumentthatwehaveprepared:
SynesthesiaAlgorithms.pdf

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
6
1.6GLOBALS&OPTIONS
Globals
TheGlobalSettingmenuiswhereyouconfigureoptionsthatareglobal,asopposedtoper‐presetbasis.Theseare
mostlyset‐and‐forgetstuff.ToentertheGlobalsmenu:
HolddowntheYencoderuntilthescreenreads“GLOBALSETTINGS”.
UsetheYencodertonavigatetheGlobalsmenu.
<toleavethemenuwithoutmakinganychanges:holddowntheYencoderagainuntilscreenreturnstothe
mainscene>

Globals:
‐PresetPages.‐AuxTIP.
‐InputPad.‐AuxRING.
‐MIDIChannel.‐AuxTIP+RING.
‐FootswitchB/Xalt.function.‐FavoritePreset
‐TempoLED.

Options
TheOptionsmenuiswhereyouconfigureoptionsthatarespecifiedonper‐presetbasis.
ToentertheGlobalsmenu:
 HolddowntheXencoderuntilthepedalenterstheOptionsmenu.
UsetheXencodertonavigatetheOptionsmenu.
<toleavethemenuwithoutmakinganychanges:holddowntheXencoderagainuntilscreenreturnstothe
mainscene>

Options:
‐Pre/PostConfiguration.‐UnmapExpressionPedal(oncurrentpreset).
‐DSPRouting.‐UnmapExpressionPedal(onallpresets).
‐TapDivisionforDSP‐X.‐PresetTitleEditor.
‐TapDivisionforDSP‐Y.
1.7X‐YSWAP.
Whenrunning2algorithmssimultaneously,andtweakingthemtofindthedesiredsettings,there’llbetimeswhereyou
wanttoknowwhatwoulditsoundlikeiftheeffectorderisswapped,thiscanbeveryeasilyaccomplishedusingtheX‐Y
Swapfunction:
>>My Preset \1
TRMOLO << UNIVBE
- XY swapped -
UNIVBE << TRMOLO
pushXencoderandYencodersimultaneously
BothalgorithmsandparameterssettingofeachDSPareswapped,therebypreservingthecompletestate.

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
7
>>My Preset \1
TRMOLO << UNIVBE
CASCADEMIXTURESPLIT
>>My Preset \1
TRMOLO ++ UNIVBE
>>My Preset \1
TRMOLO | | UNIVBE
DSPRoutingcanbesetinOptions(Options‐>DSPRouting),andisspecifiedonper‐presetbasis.
SplitmodeisusableonlywhenusingthebothLeftandRightoutputs,andismeaninglesswhenusingmonooutput.
Thishighlyflexiblewaysofcombiningtwomodulationprocessingenginesopensthedoorforsonicpossibilitiesthatare
limitedonlybyyourimagination.Explore!

Note:Typically,theoutputofeachDSPcompriseswet(processed)+dry(unprocessed)signal.WhenusingtheMixture
routingtheoutputsignalcompositionbecomeswet(X)+wet(Y)+2*dry.DependingofthealgorithmsrunningonXand
Ythismayleadstoanimbalanceinthewet/drycomposition.Fortunately,mostofthealgorithmshaveawet/drymix
controlthatgoesfromfulldrytofullwet,useittogetahigherwet/dryratio,compensatingfortheimbalancecausedby
blendingthetwoDSPoutputstogether.
DSP‐Y
DSP‐X
Left
Right
DSP‐Y
DSP‐X
Left
Right
DSP‐XDSP‐Y
Left
Right
1.8DSPROUTING
ThedualDSPenginesinSynesthesiacanberoutedin3differentways:
1.9PRESETMODEvsSTOMPBOXMODE.
Synesthesiahas2modesofoperation,PresetModeandStompboxmode,andasimplemechanismtoquicklyswitch
backandforthbetweenthetwo.

PresetMode
Inthismode,everythingyoudoessentiallyrevolvesaround‘callingofpresets’,favoritesettingsthathavebeenprevi‐
ouslysaved.TapfootswitchA/YtocallpatchA,andtapfootswitchB/XtocallpatchB.Thisisgreatforswitchingover
manydifferentsoundsquickly.
StompboxMode
Incontrast,Stompboxmodeallowsyoutotreatthepedalastwoindividualstompboxes.Thefootswitchesnowactas
on/offswitchesfortheXandYengines,justlikeusingseparate2pedals.Furthermore,thefootswitchescannowwork
asmomentaryswitches,i.e.youcanengagetheXorYmomentarilybypressingonthefootswitchandholditforaslong
asyouwantthealgorithmtorun.
ThismodeisindicatedbytheORANGEcolorofLEDA/YandLEDB/X.
ThismodeisindicatedbytheREDcolorofLEDA/YandLEDB/X.

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
8
TogglingbetweenPresetModeandStompboxMode:
 Pressandholdbothfootswitches,tillthebankLEDsblinks3x<thescreenwilltemporarilydisplaytheactivemode>.
TAP
‐>bypass/engageDSP‐X

HOLD(whenbypassed)formorethan500ms
‐>engagesDSP‐Xmomentarily

HOLD(whenengaged)formorethan500ms
‐>engagesDSP‐Xramping.
TAP
‐>bypass/engageDSP‐Y

HOLD(whenbypassed)formorethan500ms
‐>engagesDSP‐Ymomentarily

HOLD(whenengaged)formorethan500ms
‐>engagesDSP‐Yramping.
‐StompboxMode‐
>>Foxchaser \3
FILTER ++ s&hPHI
RampingSpeed
Therampingspeedmaybesetindependentlyforeachknob:
Ramp speed: SLOW
<Turn to change>
Ramp speed: FAST
<Tap to confirm>
pushtheknobofinterestpushagaintosavethechange
Turntheknobtoselectthespeed:SloworFast
1.10PARAMETERSRAMPING.
DotheabovestepswithfootswitchB/XtorampDSP‐Xparameter.
Theparametersthatyouwanttorampmustfirstbemappedforrampingfunction(seechapter2.3).Themap‐
pingprocedurealsosetstheendvalueoftheramping.
Rampingfeatureallowsyoutoautomaticallyrampupto3parameterssimultaneously.
HolddownfootswitchA/Y,forapproximately0.5seconds.
<theDSP‐Yparameterswillstartrampingfromthecurrentpositionoftheknobuptotheendvalue>
Releasethefootswitchtoreversetheramp,restoringtheparametertoitsstartingvalue.
Anexternalauxswitchcanbeusedtoengagerampinginstantlywithoutanyholdingperiod.
Toreturntothemainscenewithoutsavinganychanges:turnanyotherknobsorpushanybuttons/switches.

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
9
Chapter2‐EXTERNALCONTROL
Synesthesiaprovidesahighlyversatilesystemforexternalcontrol.TheACEinputjackaccepts3typesofexternalcon‐
trol:
 1,2,or3buttonsAuxswitches.
 ControlVoltage.
 Expressionpedal.
Uponpowerup,Synesthesiawillsensethepresence(orabsence)ofanyofthe3possibleinputsourcesandconfigure
theinternalprocessingaccordingly.Onceasourcetypeisdetectedthepedalwillholdthatinformationuntilthenext
powerup,thusifyouarechangingthesource(say,fromanauxswitchtoanexpressionpedal)youmustpowercycle
thepedal,andletitsenseandrecognizethenewsource.
2.1AUXSWITCHES
Externalswitchesareabsolutelywonderfulforunlockingtherichpotentialofuser’scontrolandaccesstothevarious
featuresandfunctionalities.Here’sthelistoffunctionsthatyoucanassigntotheswitches:
3‐Buttonswitchbox
2‐Buttonswitchbox
1‐Buttonswitchbox
TRScable&plug
TRScable&plug
TScable&plug
Normally‐Opened,
Momentary
SwitchfunctionassignmentcanbesetinGlobals(Globals‐>AuxTIP
Globals‐>AuxRING
Globals‐>AuxTIP+RING).
 BankUp
 BankDown
 PageUp
 LoadPatch‐A
 LoadPatch‐B
 FavoritePreset
 Bypass/Engage
 ToggleModes
 TapTempo
 InstantRamp‐Y DSP‐XOn/Off
 DSP‐YOn/Off
 InstantRamp‐X
TRS
TS
2.2CONTROLVOLTAGE(CV)
TScable&plug
CVgeneratingdevices
+2.5V
0V
Connectacontrolvoltagesource(synthesizers,sequencers,etc)fordirectcontrolofthealgorithm’sparameters.
TS
acceptablerange

UserManual
SYNESTHESIA
(FirmwareV1.0.2)
10
Unmappingaknobfromtheexpressionpedal(andrampingfunction).
Tounmapaknobfromtheexpressionpedalandramping:usethesameprocedureastheabove,butsettheToevalueidentical
totheHeelvalue,theactualvaluedoesnotmatter.
- UNMAPPED -
Heel 25 / Toe 25
Alltheknobscanbequicklyunmapped,affectingasinglepreset,intheOptionsmenu(Options‐>UnmapEP).
Alltheknobscanbequicklyunmapped,affectingALLpresets,intheOptionsmenu(Options‐>UnmapEP[All]).
SettinguptheHeelandToevaluesforexpressionpedal(andrampingfunction).
Supposeyouwanttomapaparameterknobtotheexpressionpedalortherampingfunction:
TurntheknobuntilyoufindthedesiredHeelvalue.
Holddowntheknob.After2secondsthescreenwillshowtheHeel/Toeinformation,keepholdingtheknobdown.



Nowturntheknob(whilestillholdingitdown)tofindthedesiredToevalue.Whenyoufindit,releasetheknob.

Theparameterisnowmappedtotheexpressionpedalandrampingfunction.Rockingtheexpressionpedalwillsweepthe
mappedparametertoanyvaluewithintherangespecifiedbyHeelandToevalues.
Pedal -> Knob
Heel 25 / Toe 99
TheToevaluesetusingtheaboveprocedurewillalsobethe“endvalue”fortheRampingfunction(seechapter1.10).
HeelpositionToeposition
Upto6parameterknobsmaybemapped.Thesearethe3primaryparameter(SPEED,DEPTH,andTWEAK)ofDSP‐X
andDSP‐Y.Themappedknobs’namewillbedisplayedonthescreenwhentheexpressionpedal(orramping)isactive.
ChangestotheHeelandToevaluesareautomaticallysavedintothecurrentpreset.
2.3EXPRESSIONPEDAL.
10Kto20KOhm
ExpressionPedal
wiper
Tip
Ring
Expression/rampingwillnolongeraffecttheparameter
controlledbytheknob.
Someexpressionpedalonthemarket
hasitswiperconnectedtotheRingin‐
stead,thiswillnotworkwithSynesthe‐
sia.Makesureyougetthesuitabletype:
Wiper‐to‐Tip.