Gotharman SpazeDrum Blue User manual

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Gotharman’s SpazeDrum
Blue & Black
Analog Drum Synthesizers
User Manual V4.55

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Content Of This Manual
Introduction 9
Very Special Thanks To 11
In The Box 12
Getting Started 13
User Interface 19
SpazeDrum Black Touch Screen 21
Preset Select Screen 22
Selecting a preset 24
Operating SpazeDrum 25
Starting/stopping Sequencer/trigger parts manually 25
Selecting next preset 26
Selecting previous preset 27
Selecting Presets using step buttons 28
Selecting a Part 29
Note Tracks Steps view/edit 30
Selecting Track Steps 31
Setting Note Track Last Step 32
Setting Note Track Resolution 33
Mute/Unmute Note Tracks 34
Copy Morph Layer A to B 35
Preset Reload/Advance Song Step 36
Panic 37
Compare Preset 38
Shortcuts to Edit Pages 40
Quick Exit To Preset Select Page 42
Jump To Tempo Page 43
Randomize Parameters 44
SpazeDrum Structure 45

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Drum Synthesizer Parts 46
Drum Oscillator Structures 46
Modulation Sources 50
Accessing The Drum Part Pages 52
Drum Oscillator 56
Analog Percussion 57
Analog Cymbal 66
Analog Clap 77
Synthesizer Mode 87
Osc1: Type1, Type2, Reso 88
Osc1: Perc, prc2, prc3 92
Osc1: Cymb, Cym2 100
Osc1: Clap 105
Osc1: Sample Player 110
Osc2: Type 1, Type2, Reso 116
Osc2: Perc, prc2, prc3 120
Osc2: Cymb, Cym2 124
Osc2: Clap 128
Osc2: Sample Player 132
Part External MIDI mode 137
Osc 1 and 2 Xfade 139
Osc D –Digital Oscillator 140
OscD: Type 1, Type2, Reso 141
OscD: Perc, prc2, prc3 145
OscD: Cymb, Cym2 149
OscD: Clap 153
OscD: Sample Player 157
OscD Routing 162
VCF –Analog Filters 163
DGF - Digital Filters 170
VCA 182
Envelope 1 and 2 187
LFO 1 to 16 192
Random Generators 195
Zone, Preset Level and Zone Magic 196
Zone Magic 199

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Effects Processors 202
Insert Effects 205
List of Insert Effects 206
Insert Effects Select Page 209
OFF 210
Chorus 211
Distortion 216
Bit Crush 221
Pitch Shifter 226
Resonator 231
Stretcher 236
FM 241
Glitch Shifter 1, 2 and 3 246
Pitch Shaper 251
FAT 256
Filters 261
Filters 2 267
Compressor 272
Expandor 277
PitchShaper2 282
Delays 287
Variator 292
Time Stretch 297
Sample Pitch 302
Bass Enhancer 307
EQ 312
Output Effects 1 and 2 316
List of Output Effects 319
Output Effects Select Page 321
Delays 322
Granulator SQ 327
Variator 332
Reverb 337
Granulator (unsynced) 342
Xfade Granulator 347
Abstruct0 352
Time Stretch 357
Sample Pitch 362

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Favorite Sounds 366
Save a favorite sound 370
Sequencer 371
Entering The Sequencer 379
Sequencer Main 382
Clear Sequence 384
Swing All 385
Note subtrack 386
All Steps Offset Adjust 388
Gate Time subtrack 390
Velocity subtrack 392
Position subtrack 394
Sub Position subtrack 396
Note Track Mod page 398
Clear Note Track 401
Double Note Track 404
Realtime Recording of Notes 405
Step Recording of Notes 406
Knob Controller tracks 407
Knob Controller track Step Values 408
All Steps Offset Adjust 411
Knob Controller Tracks COM page 413
Clear Knob Controller Track 414
Double Knob Controller Track 417
Knob Controller Tracks Realtime recording 418
Knob Controller Tracks Step recording 419
Drum Parts and Sequencer Morphing 420
Setup 421
Common Settings 424
Common Settings 2 426
Initialize Preset 427
Parameter Snap Mode 428
FLASH 429
Delete Sample Bank 430
Delete All Presets and Songs 431
C.P. 433
Analog Tune 434

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Save Preset 435
Song Mode 439
Accessing Song Mode 440
Song Edit page 441
Song Select page 443
Song Realtime Recording 445
Save Song 448
Copy/Paste 453
Sequencer Steps Copy/Paste 456
Edit Knobs And X/Y Controller Setup 459
Sample Edit 462
Edit a Sampling 463
Sample Chops 467
Deleting a Sampling 475
Graphical Sample Editing 478
USB 495
Accessing USB pages 496
USB Sample Preview 499
Open A Directory 501
Importing Files 503
Importing Multiple Files 506
Reload Multiple Files 509
Import Samplings As Chops 512
Make a New Directory 515
Delete File From USB Drive 517
Export Samples, Presets and Songs 519
Updating SpazeDrum Firmware 522
MIDI Specs 530

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This product is produced and tested to comply with the low voltage directive (2014/35/EU) and the
electromagnetic compatibility directive (2014/30/EU).
I hope that you will deform some great beats!

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Gotharman’s 2020

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Introduction
Thank you very much for purchasing/consider to purchase a Gotharman’s SpazeDrum.
SpazeDrum are a 16 part/4 voice analog drum synthesizer with effects and sequencer.
SpazeDrum Blue is based on the SSI2144 filter chip, while SpazeDrum Black is based on the
SSI2140.
Each of the 16 parts can be set up to be analog drum + digital oscillator/sample player + 2 digital
filters + VCA + 2 insert effects, or to be 2 digital oscillators/sample players + 2 analog filters + 2
digital filters + VCA + 2 insert effects.
Every 4 parts (part 1-4, part 5-8 etc…) is one analog group. Only one part can be active in an analog
group at a time. If more parts are activated at the same time, in the same group, only the highest
numbered part will play back.
The insert effects can be set for each analog group, not for each part.
The analog drum oscillators can be set in Analog Percussion (for most drum sounds), Analog
Cymbal or Analog Clap modes.
The digital oscillators can be set to waveform (a waveform that can morph from sine to triangle to
saw to pulse to feedback wave), Resonator, percussion1-3, cymbal1-2, clap or sample player.
The sample players play back samplings stored in an internal FLASH memory (No loading times!),
which can hold up to 2047 samplings/max. 18 minutes. Samplings can be chopped by level peaks,
wave zero points, or in equally sized slices. Up to 64 chop points are possible for each sampling.
The dual analog filters operates only in lowpass mode. The analog filter in SpazeDrum blue is 24
dB, while in Black they can be set to 6, 12 or 18 dB.
The dual digital filters has 16 different filter types.
Each part can be panned and sent either to the stereo audio outputs, the optional analog outputs
(with analog VCA’s), or to the 2 output effect processors.
Many modulation sources are available, including 3 envelopes per part, 16 global LFO’s, 4 random
generators per part, 4 knobs + sequencer knob tracks per part, velocity and MIDI CC’s.

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The 16 parts can be sequenced from a build-in sequencer, that has 16 note tracks, with up to 64
steps each. Each note track has a position track, that makes it possible to alter the position of each
step, making it possible to move steps around and make the sequencer run in various direction
modes. A sub position track is also available for micro timing.
Realtime, step time and xox style recording are possible.
External MIDI devices can be controlled from the SpazeDrum sequencer as well.
Knob movements can be recorded, both in realtime and step time on the knob controller tracks.
The sound generating parts, the LFO’s, the effects processors and the sequencer has 2 layers of
parameter settings, layer A and layer B, that can be independently adjusted, and morphed
between, using the Morph and Seq Morph knobs.
All the parameter settings can be stored in any of 1024 rewritable preset locations, and recalled at
any time. 256 favorite sounds can be stored for instant recall, when selecting sounds for a part.
1024 song locations are available, for programmed playback of presets, and for tracks mute
automation.
I hope that you will enjoy your SpazeDrum for a long time, and deform a lot of great beats.

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Very special thanks to:
Trent Reznor
Weinglas
Martin Seychell
Udo Gerhards
Don Linder
Bach Pham
Christopher Rayce
Steven Sandelman
SPIKE the Percussionist
Michael Descieux
For supporting the SpazeDrum Blue project from the start. I sincerely appreciate your trust!

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In The Box
In the SpazeDrum box should be:
-SpazeDrum itself
-A power supply –Multi plug –Works in most countries.
If any of these items are missing, please get in touch with Gotharman’s.

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Getting Started
Connecting SpazeDrum:
On the back panel of your SpazeDrum, you will find the power switch, connection for power
supply, audio outputs and MIDI in and out.
Audio outputs L(hp) and R
The 2 rightmost 1/4” jack connectors are the main stereo outputs. These are line level audio
outputs, and you would probably like to connect these to a mixer or an amplifier, or anything else
that ends out in a speaker/a set of speakers. Since SpazeDrum doesn’t have built in speakers, it
just needs to be connected to something, that can transfer its amazing sound to you. These should
be connected, using ¼” mono jack cables.
The left audio output (marked “AUDIO OUT L(hp)) doubles as a stereo headphone connector.
Please make sure that nothing is connected to the right audio output, when plugging headphones
into this connector.

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Analog Audio Outputs
The next 4 1/4” jack connectors are the optional analog outputs. These are line level audio
outputs, and should be connected to a line audio input, like a mixer. Pure analog signals can be
outputted from these, with an analog VCA in the final stage.
MIDI In and Out
It is possible to connect a MIDI pad controller, a MIDI keyboard, a MIDI sequencer or any other
MIDI device, that transmits MIDI notes and CC’s, to MIDI in, to play back and control each part. It
is also possible to connect anything that transmits a MIDI clock, if you would like the sequencer of
SpazeDrum to sync to the rest of your setup.
On MIDI out, MIDI clock and MIDI CC’s from the edit knobs are transmitted. The sequencer note
tracks can also transmit MIDI notes, if a part is set to “External MIDI”. Connect any MIDI gear to
this, that you would like to control from SpazeDrum.

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On the front panel of your SpazeDrum, you will find the USB connector.
USB Connector
To the USB connector, a USB drive can be connected.
This should be:
-Maximum 32 GB
-FAT formatted
With a USB drive connected, you can:
-Import, export and back up samples as .wav files
-Import deFormer .lds samples
-Import, export and back up LD3 presets and songs
-Update LD3
-PLEASE NOTICE: The included factory samples CANNOT be exported. So if you want to keep these,
you should take care not to delete them. A USB stick with the factory samplings might be available
in the future.

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To import a .wav file from another device, it must be:
-Mono or stereo
-44.1 KHz sample rate –LD3 will import other sample rates, but they will play back in a wrong
speed
-16 bit or 24 bit native PCM
-Standard wav’s or broadcast wav’s

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Starting Up
Connect the supplied power adaptor to the Power input, and to a 100V to 240V power source –
Usually a wall socket.
It’s a 9V, minimum 2.0A type with a 2.1 mm DC plug, with positive middle. The power supply on
the picture is only for reference. The actual one might look different.

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Turn it on
Push the “I” on the power switch. Your SpazeDrum should now turn on, and show the SpazeDrum
Blue Icon on the screen:
SpazeDrum Black will show a black icon:

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The User Interface
SpazeDrum Blue has a 2,4” non-touch display, SpazeDrum Black has a 3,2” touch display.
They both have 16 step/trigger/part select/quick jump buttons, a Morph Set button, a Func/Mute
button, a Steps/Part button and a Sequencer Play button. It has 4 Edit Knobs for controlling and
editing parameters and sending MIDI CC’s, a (synth) Morph knob, a Sequencer Morph knob and a
volume knob.
Pushing the Trigger 1-16 buttons, with Func/Mute and Steps/Part unlit, will trigger the respective
SpazeDrum part. When a trigger is trigged, the button will light up.
The Play button will start and stop Sequencer playback. When the sequencer is playing back, the
Play button will light up.
The Morph Set button, will toggle the parameters on any Synth and Sequencer page, between 2
layers of parameters, A and B. The Morph knob (MIDI CC#1) will morph between the two layers of
Synth parameters, and the Seq Morph knob (MIDI CC#2) will morph between the two layers of
Sequencer parameters.
The Morph knob and the Seq Morph knob will always work globally.

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It has 4 buttons right under the display. That is used for changing preset/song, and for navigating
in the edit menus. These also have some shortcut functions, like setting the track last step and
scale (resolution).
When the Func/Mute button is held down, it is possible to mute/unmute the 16 note tracks, by
pushing any of the 16 step buttons. When it is lighting up, the 16 step buttons functions as Quick
Jump buttons, that will take you to the edit pages, which names are showed right above each step
button.
When the Steps/Part button is held down, the 16 step buttons functions as Part Select buttons.
Pushing any of these, will select part 1 to 16.
When it is lighting up, the 16 step buttons will show the steps of the selected sequencer note
track. Steps that are on will light up, steps that are off will not light.
The Volume knob always adjusts the audio output volume.
The Edit 1-4 Knobs to the left of the display, adjusts the parameters on each edit page. On the
Preset Select screen, they acts as modulation sources, that controls any parameters that has
knob1 to 4 set as modulator, and transmits MIDI CC’s. Each Edit Knob transmits its own MIDI CC
for each part. Please see the MIDI implementation pages for a complete list. Each Edit Knob has,
for each part, a sequencer knob controller track (64 tracks in total). The sequencer knob track can
control the knob. It can be programmed inputting values on the sequencer edit pages, or by
realtime recording knob movements.
The Edit knobs can also be set up to control the levels of each analog group and to morph each
analog group separately from each other.