GFI System SPECULAR TEMPUS User manual

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User Manual
SPECULAR TEMPUS
R E V E R B - D E L A Y
* Important - must read *
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Chapter 1 - OVERVIEW
Congratulation on your purchase of Specular Tempus!
Specular Tempus is a powerful reverb and delay effect processor in a compact pedal. Featuring 32
hand-crafted algorithms (13 reverbs, 13 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.
TableofContents
1. Overview2
2. Operation3 - 13
3. Algorithms14 - 17
4. Interconnectivity:Aux‐In,Aux‐Out,FX‐Loop,andMIDI18 - 25
5 UsingSpecLabsoftware(briefguide)26 - 27
6 MIDIImplementationChart28 - 29
7. UpdatingFirmware30
Preset System
There are a total of 32 presets, organized in 16 banks, where each bank contains two patches :
A and B.
Bank : 1 2 3 4 5 16
Patch : A / B A / B A / B A / B A / B A / B
Changing banks (1 though 4) and calling the patches are accomplished using the two on-board foot-
switches (see Chapter 2 for details).
Bank 5 through 16 are accessible
Only via MIDI (PC# 8 though 31)

Effects Loop - 1/8” audio socket
2.1 mm
negative-center
Type-B
USB Socket
Mono Input
Use this if using only 1 input
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Chapter 2 - OPERATION
Illuminated knobs indicate the preset Bank number : 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
Bank-1 Bank-2 Bank-3 Bank-4
View / Edit button
 Press to access the Algorithm Library
 Hold to enter Edit Mode
>> Clear Sky
DL: Digital
Footswitch A Footswitch B
LED B LED A

2.1 Bank-Up
 Press A and B simultaneously (do not hold).
< The display will show the titles of both patch A and patch B >
Note : - This operation can also be done using an external switch box (see Chapter 4).
- The current sound does not yet change, until you choose the desired patch (A or B).
You may be wondering why the illuminated knobs which functions as bank indicator have alternat-
ing colors Blue - Orange - Blue - Orange? The reason is a practical one. If all the lights are of the
same color, on a dark stage it maybe difficult to tell whether it is Bank-1 or Bank 2 that is currently
active because the knobs are so close together (the same case applies to Bank-3 and Bank-4).
With alternating colors there would be no ambiguity.
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Patch A title
Patch B title
A >> Long Tail
B >> Dark Verb
2.2 Load a Preset
 Select the desired Bank.
 Press A or B.
Note : Spillover of reverb or delay tails is present only if the called preset contains the same algo-
rithm as the current preset.
2.3 Save a Preset
 Select the desired Bank.
 Press A or B, hold down until the corresponding LED flashes 3x.
2.4 Bypass
 Press A or B, whichever is currently active.
Tips : - Reverb / Delay tails spillover and decay out gradually.
- In Bypass condition you can still do tap-tempo.
preset title
Algo name
 RV = Reverb
 DL = Delay
>> Clear Sky
DL: Digital
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2.5 Auto Swell
 Press A and B simultaneously, and hold.
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).
Tips : - This operation can also be done using an external switch box (see chapter 4).
** The swelled parameter can be set to any one of the four knobs :
Blend
Decay / Time
Param
Intensity / Repeats
Choosing the parameter that you would like to use as the source for auto-swell can be
done using the Edit function (see section 2.7) or using the SpecLab software.
max value
The value will remain at maximum as long as you
hold the footswitches down.
current value
max value
current value When the footswitches are finally released the pa-
rameter sweeps back to its original value.
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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.
1. Access the algorithm library.
Tap the View / Edit button
2. Select an algorithm.
Turn the DECAY / TIME knob to
browse the Reverb algorithms.
Turn the PARAM knob to browse
the Delay algorithms.
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DL: TRANSPOSER
tap the button
Algorithm’s name
^ turn knobs ^
[ ALGO LIBRARY ]

3. Activate the algorithm.
Tap the View / Edit button again
The algorithm is now activated.
You can save the selected algorithm as preset using the normal procedure for saving preset (see
section 2.3). The preset’s title will be automatically set to the name of the algorithm.
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.
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DL: TRANSPOSER
algo activated
>> TRANSPOSER
DL: TRANSPOSER
Preset Title
Algo Name
2.7 Edit Mode
To enter the Edit Mode press and hold the View / Edit push button, the display will read
you can either cancel and exit by holding the button again until the display returns to normal scene
or continue editing 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.
Kill-Dry Tempo Scope Tempo Unit Auto Swell Source
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* EDIT MODE *
hold down 2 exit

Local / Global tempo
The tempo of the Delay algorithms in Specular Tempus can be set to be local or global.
Local means the delay time is set to the tempo as was saved in the preset.
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.
The Local / Global setting can be specified on per-preset basis.
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 nor-
mal scene.
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ParameterPossibleValues
KillDryOffOn
TempoScopeLocalGlobal
TempoUnitBPM(beats‐per‐minute)
SwellSourceBlendDecay/TimeParamIntensity/Repeats
MS(milliseconds)
2.8 Tap Tempo
In Specular Tempus tap-tempo can be accomplished in 2 ways :
1. From the pedal itself, using footswitch B as tap-tempo switch.
2. Using external switch box (see Chapter 4).
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 four : 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. You
can still save changes to preset 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B, but you won’t be able to call them.
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Subdivisions
A few words about subdivisions :
 Available values : Triplets, 1/8-Note, Dotted 8th, and 1/4-Note.
 Subdivision value can be uniquely specified for each individual preset.
 When you call a preset the subdivision value is updated to the value as stored in the preset.
However you may change it on the fly using the TIME knob.

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Chapter 3 - ALGORITHMS
Reverbs
Spatium
Room
Tile Room
70 ’ s Plate
Spring
Modulated
Shimmer
Swell
Vortex
Voices
Anti-Shimmer
Tremble
Infinity
+Digital Dly
+Analog Dly
+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 Echo
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
2.9 Global Configuration
The pedal has a number of features and functionalities that are global (apply to all presets), these
include :
 Aux-In switches (external switch box) assignment (see section 4.1 for details).
 Midi Channel : 1 to 16
 Footswitch B function : Preset or Tap-Tempo.
Global configuration can be edited using the editor software or on the pedal itself.
The following procedure allows you to edit the global configuration on the pedal itself :
 Power down the pedal.
 While re-applying power, press and hold down footswitch B until the end of the normal power-
up cycle where the display will read :
 Now you can use the PARAM knob to select between B = Preset or B = Tap-Tempo, and the
DECAY/TIME knob to configure the Midi channels.
 Save the changes you made by holding down footswitch B until LED B flashes 3x.
^ turn knobs ^
[GLOBAL CONFIG]
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A word regarding Specular Reverb V2
The algorithms from our award-winning Specular Reverb V2 pedal have all been ported to Specu-
lar Tempus, improved and expanded with additional parameters and features for deeper tweaking.
Some of those algorithms appear with different names in Specular Tempus.
SpecularReverbV2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
Please visit the following page for complete reference and information (pdf file is also available) on
the algorithms :
http://www.gfisystem.com/specular-tempus--algorithms.html
However we will now elaborate on one reverb algorithm : INFINITY, which uses a peculiar foot-
switch operation for it to work.
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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 Intensity knobs at midpoint.
2. Press and hold down both footswitches, when the LEDs start flashing the pedal began to continu-
ously 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.
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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BLEND DECAY PARAM INTENSITY
controls intensity
controls tonality
overall reverb control
for the infinitely-sustained part of the sound
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.
Chapter 4 - INTERCONNECTIVITY
4.1 Aux-In
The Aux-In jack can be connected to any external switch box equipped with single, dual, or triple
buttons / switches. A stereo cable with TRS plug must be used even for single button switch box.
The switches connected to this port can be assigned a variety of functions, from basic ones such
as Bank-Up, Bank-Down, and Tap-Tempo, to the more exotic ones such as Auto Swell, Favorite
preset call, and Momentary functions. We will now describe in details the six functions to which the
switches can be assigned.
Specular Tempus has been designed with the need to interconnect with the outside world in mind. It
sports no less then 4 interfaces : Aux-In, Aux-Out, MIDI In, and Effects Loop. We will now explain
what these interfaces do.
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External switch box (3-buttons)
Wiring :
Tip , Ring , Tip + Ring
Aux-In
stereo cable
stereo cable
External switch box (2-buttons)
Wiring :
Tip , Ring
stereo cable*
External switch box (1-button)
Wiring :
Tip
* Note that you still need to use a stereo cable even
when using a single-button switchbox. In the future
this requirement may change (through firmware up-
date) and you may use a mono cable instead.
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TIPTIP+RINGRING
BankDownTapTempoBankDown
BankUpAutoSwellBankUp
TapTempoFavoritePresetTapTempo
MomentaryAMomentaryB
Use the SpecLab software (Global Configuration menu) to customize what each switch should do.
Each switch must be assign a unique function. For example, you may the Tip for Bank Down,
Tip+Ring for Favorite Preset, and Ring for Bank Up.
TIPTIP+RINGRING
BankDownTapTempoBankDown
BankUpAutoSwellBankUp
TapTempoFavoritePresetTapTempo
MomentaryBMomentaryB