GFI System SPECULAR TEMPUS User manual

1
UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
* Important - must read *
TableofContents
1.Overview2
2.Operation3‐8
3.Algorithms9‐10
4.Interconnectivity:Aux‐In,Aux‐Out,FX‐Loop,andMIDI11‐14
5UsingSpecLabsoftware(briefguide)15‐16
6MIDIImplementationChart17‐18
7.UpdatingFirmware18
IlluminatedknobsindicatethepresetBanknumber:1‐2‐3‐4
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Bank‐1Bank‐2Bank‐3Bank‐4
View/Editbutton
FootswitchALEDB LEDAFootswitchB

2
UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
Chapter1‐OVERVIEW
PresetSystem
SpecularTempushas32presetsorganizedwithin4pages,whereeachpagecontains4banks,andeachbankcontains2
patches(AandB).
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.
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SuchrestrictionisusefulifyouarenotusingMIDIcontrollerasitcouldgetunwieldytonavigatetoomanypresetloca‐
tionsinconsequentialmanner.
UsetheSpecLabeditorsoftwaretosetthemaximumnumberofbanks/pages.
A|B
Bank‐1
A|B
Bank‐2Bank‐3Bank‐4
A|B
PAGE1PAGE2PAGE4
A|BA|B
Bank‐13
A|B
Bank‐14Bank‐15Bank‐16
A|BA|B
A|B
Bank‐5
A|B
Bank‐6Bank‐7Bank‐8
A|BA|B
EffectsLoop‐1/8”audiosocket
MonoInput
Usethisifusingonly1input
2.1mm
negative‐center
Type‐B
USBSocket
SpecularTempusisacompactyetpowerfulreverbanddelayeffectprocessorinacompactpedal.Featuring36algo‐
rithms(13reverbs,17delays,and6reverb&delaycombinations),8presets.Stereoin/out,tap‐tempo,andextensive
inter‐connectivity.UsingtheSpecLabsoftware(freedownload)usersgetaccesstoanextendedsetofparametersfor
deep‐editingofthealgorithms.

2.1Bank‐Up
PressAandBsimultaneously(donothold).
UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
Chapter2‐OPERATION
3
A >> Long Tail
B >> Dark Verb
PatchAtitle
PatchBtitle
<ThedisplaywillshowthetitlesofbothpatchAandpatchB>
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Note:‐Thisoperationcanalsobedoneusinganexternalauxswitchbox(seeChapter4).
‐Thecurrentsounddoesnotyetchange,untilyouchoosethedesiredpatch(AorB).
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2.2LoadaPreset
SelectthedesiredBank.
TapAorB.
Note:Spilloverofreverbordelaytailsispresentonlyifthecalledpresetcontainsthesamealgorithmandvir‐
tualparametersettingsasthecurrentpreset.
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2.3SaveaPreset
SelectthedesiredBank.
PressandholdAorB,releaseafterthecorrespondingLEDflashes3x.
>> Angels \1
RV: Shimmer
Presettitle
Algoname
RV=Reverb
DL=Delay
Page#

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
4
2.4Bypass
TapAorB,whicheveriscurrentlyactive.
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Tips:‐Reverb/Delaytailsspilloveranddecayoutgradually.
‐InBypassconditionyoucanstilldotap‐tempoorchangebank.
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2.5AutoSwell
PressAandBsimultaneously,andhold.
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Theparametercontrolledbyoneofthefourknobs**graduallysweepsfromitscurrentvaluetothemaximumvalue
(asifsomeoneslowlyturnstheknoballthewayup).
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Tips:‐Thisoperationcanalsobedoneusinganexternalauxswitchbox(seechapter4).
**Theswelledparametercanbesettoanyoneofthefourknobs:
Blend
Decay/Time
Param
Intensity/Repeats
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Youcanchoosetheparameterthatyouwouldlikeappliedtoauto‐swellusingtheSpecLabsoftware.
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Applicationhints:
1.ShimmerBloom
1.1ActivateSHIMMERalgorithm.
1.2SettheIntensityknobtoalowsetting(about9o’clock).
1.3SetBlend,Decay,andToneasdesired.
1.4Startplaying,alowlevelshimmereffectwillbeheardontopofthereverberation.
1.5Executeauto‐swell.
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2.Delayhold
Withdelayalgorithms,applytheRepeatsparametertotheauto‐swellandyougettheholdfunction.
max value
current value Whenthefootswitchesarefinallyreleasedtheparameter
sweepsbacktoitsoriginalvalue.
max value
Thevaluewillremainatmaximumaslongasyouholdthefoot‐
switchesdown.
current value

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
5
2.6AlgorithmLibrary
Thealgorithmlibrarycontains13reverbs,13delays,and6reverb&delaycombinedalgoritms.Youcanselectany
oneofthesealgorithms,tweakit,andthensaveitaspresets.
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1.Accessthealgorithmlibrary.
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2.Selectanalgorithm.
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3.Selectanalgorithm.
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Thealgorithmisnowactivated.

Youcansavetheselectedalgorithmaspresetusingthenormalprocedureforsavingpreset.Thepreset’stitlewillbeautomati‐
callysettothenameofthealgorithm.
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^ turn knobs ^
[ ALGO LIBRARY ]
TaptheView/Editbutton
DL: TRANSPOSER
tap the button
TurntheDECAY/TIMEknobto
browsetheReverbalgorithms.
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TurnthePARAMknobtobrowse
theDelayalgorithms.
DL: TRANSPOSER
algo activated
TaptheView/Editbuttonagain
Tips:Ifyouwanttochangethetitleyoucandosousing
theSpecLabsoftware.YoucanalsousetheSpecLabto
performdeeperediting/customizationofthealgorithms.
>> TRANSPOSER
DL: TRANSPOSER
Presettitle
Algoname

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
6
2.7EditMode
Editmodeiswhereyoucanmakechangestoanumberofoperationalparameters.ToentertheEditModepress
andholdtheView/Editpushbutton,thedisplaywillread:
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youcaneithercancelandexitbyholdingthebuttonagainuntilthedisplayreturnstonormalsceneorcontinueedit‐
ingbyturninganyoneofthe4knobs.InEditmodethe4knobsfunctionasswitcheswhichyoucanusetosetthe
desiredvaluesforthe4parameterslistedinthetable.
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SavingChanges
Whenyou’redoneeditingyoucansavethechangestothecurrentpresetbyholdingdownfootswitchAorBasyou
wouldnormallysaveapreset.IfyouwouldliketoexittheEditmodewithoutsavinganychangesintothepresets
simplyholddowntheView/Editbuttonagainuntilthedisplayreturnstonormalscene.
* EDIT MODE *
hold down 2 exit
KILLDRY
On/Off
SUBDIVISION
(Triplet,1/8,Dotted8th,1/4)
TEMPOUNIT
(MS/BPM)
TEMPOSCOPE
(Local/Global)
ParameterPossibleValues
KillDryOffOn
Subdivision*1/4‐NoteTripletsDotted8th
TempoUnitMS(milliseconds)BPM(beats‐per‐minute)
TempoScopeLocalGlobal
1/8‐NoteQuarterNote

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
7
2.8TapTempo
InSpecularTempustap‐tempocanbeaccomplishedin3ways:
1.Onthepedalitself,usingfootswitchBastap‐temposwitch.
2.Usingexternalauxswitchbox(seeChapter4).
3.UsingMIDIcontroller.
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Withoption#1,footswitchBbecomestap‐temposwitchandcannolongerbeusedtocallpatchB.Therefore,under
thisschemetheavailablenumberofpresetsis16(1Athrough16A).Youcanstillsavechangestopatch1Bthrough
16B,butyouwon’tbeabletocallthem.
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Local/Globaltempo
ThetempooftheDelayalgorithmsinSpecularTempuscanbesettobeLocalorGlobal.
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Localmeansthedelaytimeissettothetempoaswassavedinthepreset.
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Globalmeansthedelaytimeissettoaglobaltemposharedbyotherdelayalgorithms.
Forexample,2differentdelayalgorithmsarestoredinpreset1Aand1B,botharesettouseglobaltempo.Thenany
tempochangesyoumakewhileusingthedelayinpreset1Awillbecomeaglobaltempowhichwillthendictatethe
tempoforthedelayalgorithminpreset1B.
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 TheLocal/Globalsettingcanbespecifiedonper‐presetbasis.
 Tempomustsetto‘Global’toacceptMIDIClock.
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Subdivision
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 SubdivisionmaybesetviasoftwareeditorSpeclaboronthepedalitself(Editmode‐seesection2.7,page.6).
 Subdivisionsettingcanbespecifiedonper‐presetbasis.
 When‘BPM’isselectedasthetempodisplayunit,thedelaytimesetviaTIMEknobwillbeautomaticallysubdi‐
videdasperselectedsubdivisionvalue.

Forexample,let’ssayyouwanttoplaydotted8thgroovetoasongofwhichyouknowtheBPMtempo.Simply
adjusttheTIMEknobtomatchtheBPMtempoofthesong,andtheresultingdelaytimewillbeautomaticallysubdi‐
videdtoDotted8thsubdivision(assumingyou’vepreviouslyselecteddotted8thasthesubdivisionvalue).
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Note:thisfeatureisonlyapplicablewhenBPMisselectedasthetempounit,itisnotapplicablewhenmillisecond
unitisselected.



UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
8
2.9GlobalConfiguration
Thepedalhasanumberconfigurationsthatareglobal(applytoallpresets),theseare:

 Aux‐Inswitchesassignment(seesection4.1,page18fordetails).
 TopPage:1,2,3,or,4.
 GlobalKill‐Dry:OnorOff
 MidiChannel:1to16
 FootswitchBfunction:PresetorTap‐Tempo.
 Tap‐TempoOutputPolarity:Normally‐OpenedorNormally‐Closed.
 TempoLedBlinkingdisable.

GlobalconfigurationcanbeaccessedusingtheSpeclabeditorsoftware,andsomecanbeconfiguredonthepedal
itself.

Thefollowingprocedureallowsyoutoaccesstheglobalconfigurationonthepedalitself:
 HolddownfootswitchBonpowerup,releasetheswitchwhenthedisplayreads:

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 Nowyoucanusetheknobs,whichatthispointfunctionasswitches,toconfiguretheglobalconfiguration.
 SavethechangesyoumadebyholdingdownfootswitchBuntilLEDBflashes3x.
Ifyoudonotwanttosaveanychangessimplyrecyclethepower.

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
^ turn knobs ^
[GLOBAL CONFIG]
Thesefourcanbeconfiguredonthe
pedalitself.

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
9
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AwordregardingSpecularReverbV2/V3
Thealgorithmsfromouraward‐winningSpecularReverbV2/V3pedalshaveallbeenportedtoSpecularTempus,
improvedandexpandedwithadditionalparametersandfeaturesfordeepertweaking.Someofthosealgorithms
appearwithdifferentnamesinSpecularTempus.
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Pleasevisitthefollowingpageforcompletereferenceandinformation(pdffileisalsoavailable)onthealgorithms:
http://www.gfisystem.com/algorithms.html
Howeverwewillnowelaborateononereverbalgorithm:INFINITY,whichusesapeculiarfootswitchoperationforit
towork.
Chapter3‐ALGORITHMS
Reverbs
Spatium
Room
Tile Room
70 ’ s Plate
Spring
Modulated
Shimmer
Swell
Vortex
Voices
Anti-Shimmer
Tremble
Infinity
+Digital
+Analog
+Echoes
Delays
Digital
Analog
Echoes
Spectral
Filter
Formant
Transposer
Ambiental
Dual Stereo
Dual Dotted
Dual Gold
MultiTap 3
MultiTap 4
Diffuse Dgtl
Diffuse Anlg
Diffuse
CLASSIC
ESOTERIC
HYBRID
CLASSIC
ATMOSPHERIC
HYBRID
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[800 ms]
[800 ms]
[800 ms]
[800 ms]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[Delay range]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
[1 sec]
Tape Echo
Dynamic Dgtl
Dynamic Anlg
Dynamic Echo
EXTRAS
Delays
addedinFirmwarev3.8
SRV2/V3SpecularTempusAddedParameters
NormalReverbSpatiumHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning,Modulation
ModulatedVortexHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning
ShimmerShimmerHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning,Perfect5thvoicing
Echo+EchoesHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning,ReverbTime
TrembleTrembleHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning
VoicesVoicesHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning,Modulation
InfinityInfinityHigh‐cut,Low‐cut,WetPanning,Unlimitedlayering

UserManual
SPECULARTEMPUS
(FirmwareV3.8)
10
INFINITY
Thismodeallowsyoutocaptureabriefsnapshotofthesoundyouareplaying,andholditindefinitely,thenyoucan
playoverit(withreverberation).Thereare2operationmodestochoosefrom:

1‐Layermode*:Youcanfadeoutthesustainedsound,andimmediatelyfadeinanewone.
N‐Layersmode**:Youcanaddinfinitenumberoflayersofsustainedsound,creatinganever‐denseambience
goodness.

Here’showyoudoit:
1.AdjustBlendandDecayknobtogetthedesiredamountofreverbmixandreverbtime.LeaveParamandInten‐
sityknobsatmidpoint.
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2.Pressandholddownbothfootswitches,whentheLEDsstartflashingthepedalbegantocontinuouslycapturea
snapshotofwhateveryouareplaying.Whenyoureleasethefootswitch,thepedalwilltakethelast0.25seconds
ofthecapturedsoundandholditindefinitely.
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3.NowadjustIntensityandParamtogetthedesiredlevelandtonalityforthesustainedsound.TheIntensityknob
runsbackward:soundgetslouderasknobisturnedcounter‐clockwise.

Nowyoucanplayoverthesustainedsound,andwhenyouwanttochangethesustainedsoundwithanewone,
simplyrepeatstep‐2;thecurrentsustainedsoundwillfadeoutandthenyoucanfadeinanewone.Thenewsound
willfadeintothelevelyou’vesetpreviously.Alternatively,usetheN‐Layersmodetoaddmore‐andmorelayerson
topofexistingones.
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Notes:
 Withthe1‐Layermodeyoucanstopthesustainedsoundbycapturingsilence:performstep‐2whileplaying
nothing.
 WiththeN‐Layersmodeyoucan’tstopthesustainedsound.Ifyouwanttoeraseeverythingandstartfrom
scratchtheonlywaytoachievethatistocallanotherpresetthencalltheInfinitypresetagain.
 AsanalternativetopressingbothfootswitchAandBtogether,useanAuxswitchinstead.
BLEND DECAY PARAM INTENSITY
controlsintensity
controlstonality
overallreverbcontrol
fortheinfinitely‐sustainedpartofthesound