Intellijel 4U Palette Case User manual
Palette Case
Palette Case
4U, 62HP Shallow Powered Eurorack Case w/MIDI, Audio & Buff Mults
Manual Revision: 2019.07.25
Palette Case
COMPLIANCE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Intellijel Designs, Inc. could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Any digital equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.
This device meets the requirements of the following standards and directives:
EMC: 2014/30/EU
EN55032:2015 ; EN55103-2:2009 (EN55024) ; EN61000-3-2 ; EN61000-3-3
Low Voltage: 2014/35/EU
EN 60065:2002+A1:2006+A11:2008+A2:2010+A12:2011
RoHS2: 2011/65/EU
WEEE: 2012/19/EU
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Palette Case
OVERVIEW
Intellijel’s Palette case is compact enough to slip into a laptop bag, and shallow enough to rest
comfortably on a desktop — yet its capabilities far exceed its size. It contains 62 HP of 3U space for
mounting eurorack standard 3U modules, plus another 62 HP of 1U space for all those necessary little
utility modules. In addition, each Palette contains:
● Two built-in 1x4 buffered mults (chainable into a 1 x 8) with input level/polarity LEDs
● Built-in MIDI Input (both USB and
⅛
” TRS MIDI via the supplied 5-pin DIN adapter)
● Two ¼” TRS jacks, which can function as either two outputs (ideal for configuring Palette as a
synthesizer), two inputs (perfect for those using Palette as an effects processor), or an
input/output combination (ideal for sending and returning signal to an external effects module
or stomp box.
● Robust power circuit with 12 shrouded power connectors, capable of supplying up to 1.2A of
both +12V and -12V to your Eurorack modules.
● Two 5V connectors, delivering up to 500mA between them.
● Access connectors for internally connecting I/O modules to the built-in MIDI and Audio Jacks
● Link connector for plugging supported products (like a Mixup module) directly into the ¼” jacks.
Palette is as stylish as it is practical, as durable as it is portable; and every bit as flexible as your
imagination allows.
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Palette Case
TOP PANEL
The following features can be found on the surface of your Palette Case:
1. Power Input Socket
Connect the included 40W, 15V center-pin-positive power adapter to this socket to provide
power to your case. To insure proper power is applied to all your modules, use only Intellijel
certified power adapters.
2. Power Switch
Switch to “I” to power up the Palette, and all its connected modules. Switch to “0” to turn it off.
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Palette Case
3. Buff Mult 1
The first of two built-in 1 x 4 buffered signal multipliers. Plug an audio or CV signal into the
left-most jack and a buffered duplicate of that signal appears at the four jacks to its right. For
more information about Buff Mults, see Understanding Buff Mults .
4. Buff Mult 2
The second of two built-in 1 x 4 buffered signal multipliers. Plug an audio or CV signal into its
left-most jack and a buffered duplicate of that signal appears at the four jacks to its right.
Buff Mult 1 is normalled to Buff Mult 2. So if nothing is plugged into Buff Mult 2’s input, then
Buff Mult 1’s input is duplicated across all 8 outputs, making the pair of Buff Mults act as a
single 1x8 buffered signal multiplier.
To the left of each Buff Mult’s input jack is an LED, whose brightness indicates the amount of
voltage appearing at the input, and whose color indicates the polarity (with green signifying
positive voltages, and red signifying negative).
For more information about Buff Mults, see Understanding Buff Mults .
5. ⅛” TRS MIDI Input
MIDI input connector on
⅛
” TRS jack socket. Use the enclosed conversion cable to connect an
industry standard 5-pin DIN connector to the case. MIDI sent into this jack is routed to the
10-pin MIDI Connector socket on the Palette’s circuit board , where it can be connected to a
MIDI input module, such as the Intellijel µMIDI 1U.
6. USB MIDI Input
MIDI input connector on USB. MIDI sent into the USB port is routed to the 10-pin MIDI
Connector socket on the Palette’s circuit board , where it can be connected to a MIDI input
module, such as the Intellijel µMIDI 1U.
7. TRS Audio Jack 1
This ¼” Neutrik TRS jack (and the one beside it) can operate as either an audio input or an
audio output depending on which modules you connect to the circuit board inside the Palette
case. This allows you maximum flexibility when configuring your case — whether you wish to
use these audio jacks as outputs for a Palette-based synthesizer; as inputs for a Palette-based
effects device; or as a send/return for plugging external pedals or effects devices into your
Palette’s signal chain.
These jacks may be used with any one of the following modules:
●Stereo Line Out 1U : This module, when connected to the Audio Jacks Connector on
the circuit board , sends balanced +4dBu audio out the two ¼” TRS jacks.
●Stereo Line In 1U : This module, when connected to the Audio Jacks Connector on the
circuit board , receives balanced +4dBu audio input from the two ¼” TRS jacks.
Note: The Stereo Line In 1U module is not yet available.
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Palette Case
●Pedal I/O 1U : This module, when connected to the Link Connector on the circuit board ,
sends an unbalanced line-level output to Jack 1, and returns an unbalanced live-level
input on Jack 2. Use this module to patch external effects or stomp boxes into your
Palette.
●Mixup 3U : This module, when connected to the Link Connector on the circuit board ,
sends the unbalanced L/R stereo mix from the rear-panel output of Mixup directly to the
two ¼” jacks on Palette.
Important : You cannot connect multiple modules to these ¼” TRS jacks. Unexpected results
may occur if you attach multiple and competing audio jacks modules to the circuit board.
8. TRS Audio Jack 2
A second configurable ¼” Neturik TRS jack, which operates in conjunction with TRS Audio
Jack1, described above.
9. 62 HP for mounting 1U modules
62 hp of mounting space for Intellijel format 1U modules.
10. 62 HP for mounting 3U modules
62 hp of mounting space for 3U modules up to a depth of 45.5mm. At each of the extreme
edges (occupying less than 1hp) there is a depth of 37.42mm.
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Palette Case
CIRCUIT BOARD
Running along the back edge of the Pallette is its built-in circuit board, which contains all of Palette’s
audio, midi, power, and module connection circuitry.
The jacks and switches that run along the top of the circuit board were discussed earlier in the Top
Panel description. Below these jacks and switches, and facing into the case, are the various headers
needed to connect your gear. These are:
A. Power Connectors (x12)
Twelve 16-pin power connectors for
powering your modules. The
connectors are shrouded to insure
that properly manufactured ribbon
cables can be connected only one
way — with the red (-12V) wire to
the right.
Make sure, if you’re using cables
from another manufacturer or
sourced elsewhere, that the red
stripe is on the right when plugged
in.
Plug the other end of the ribbon cables into the Eurorack modules you wish to power — being
careful (if the module’s power connector isn’t shrouded) to align the red stripe with the -12V
pins on the module. These pins are indicated differently by different manufacturers, but often
will say “-12V,” or “Red Stripe,” or have a visible white stripe next to the -12V side of the
connector. See your Eurorack modules for details concerning its -12V power nomenclature.
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Palette Case
B. Audio Jacks Connector
Use this 6-pin connector for attaching either a balanced audio input or balanced audio output
module to the ¼” TRS connectors on the top of the Palette. Specifically, you may connect:
●Stereo Line Out 1U : Using
the cable provided with your
Stereo Line Out1U module,
connect it to the Audio Jacks
Connector. Once connected,
Palette’s two TRS audio
jacks function as L/R audio
outputs for the Palette case.
●Stereo Line In 1U : Using the
cable provided with your
Stereo Line In1U module,
connect it to the Audio Jacks
Connector. Once connected,
Palette’s two TRS audio
jacks function as L/R audio
inputs for the Palette case.
NOTE: This module is not
yet available.
IMPORTANT : If you connect a module to the Audio Jacks Connector, you should not connect
a module to the Link Connector (described below). Since both connectors access the Audio
Jacks on your Palette case, unexpected results may occur.
C. MIDI Connector
Connect the cable included with your Intellijel µMIDI 1U module to this 10-pin connector to use
the Palette’s USB and
⅛
” TRS MIDI Jacks as MIDI inputs for the µMIDI1U.
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Palette Case
D. Link Connector
Use this 3-pin connector to attach either a Mixup module or a Pedal I/Omodule to the two ¼”
connectors on the top of the Palette.
●Mixup : Connect the 3-wire
link cable (provided with your
Mixup module), between the
Link Connector on the
Palette circuit board and the
CHAIN-OUT connector on
your Mixup.
In this scenario, unbalanced
stereo audio from Mixup’s
output is sent out Palette’s
two Audio Jacks.
●PedalI/O1U : Connect the
3-wire link cable (provided
with your Pedal I/O module),
between the Link Connector
on the Palette circuit board
and the one on your
PedalI/O.
In this scenario, unbalanced
audio is sent out Audio
Jack1 to your external signal
processor, and unbalanced
audio comes back from your
external signal processor into Audio Jack2.
IMPORTANT : If you connect a module to the Links Connector, you should not connect a
module to the Audio Jacks Connector (described previously). Since both connectors access
the Audio Jacks on your Palette case, unexpected results may occur.
E. 5V Connectors
Connect these 5V connectors to any modules that require a 5V power source. You can also
use this to power an Intellijel USBPower1U module, which (for example) is useful for
connecting a small USB gooseneck LED light.
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Palette Case
INSTALLATION TIPS
Palette was designed to provide maximum performance and compatibility in the smallest possible
space. Because of this, and in accordance with those pesky little laws of physics, it can sometimes be
a little tedious to plug and unplug the various cables into the circuit board at the rear of the case.
Fortunately, there are a couple of things you can do to make the process quicker and easier:
● With the case completely empty, connect all of your power, link, 5V, 5-pin audio, and 10-pin
MIDI cables to the Palette circuit board first. If you think you might swap out modules in the
future (and, since this is Eurorack, you probably will), then it’s a good idea to connect a few
more power cables to the circuit board than you currently need — that will make it easier to
add additional modules in the future.
● The circuit board is much more accessible if you first remove the top rail. With the rail
removed, it’s much easier to plug the various connectors into the circuit board. To do this:
1. Remove the two screws (one on each side of the case) that hold the top rail in place.
Make note of the rail’s orientation, and set it aside.
2. Connect all the necessary cables to the circuit board.
3. Slide the rail back into place, and re-insert the screws on either side.
4. Connect the cables to all your modules and screw them into the rails.
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Palette Case
UNDERSTANDING BUFF MULTS
“Buff Mult” is vernacular shorthand for “Buffered Multiplier.” A buff mult takes a single input signal and
routes it to multiple outputs simultaneously. For example, you might want to route a keyboard’s pitch
CV to three different destinations: one to govern the pitch of your main oscillator; another to govern
the pitch of a second oscillator; and the third to open and close a filter so that it tracks across the
keyboard.
Unlike a passive mult, which merely splits the incoming signal and shares it across multiple outputs
(much like a Y-cable), buffered mults make electrical copies of an input voltage and duplicate that
voltage at the outputs.
Buffered mults have a few advantages over passive mults. Because buffered mults isolate their
outputs from the input, any faults or shorts present at the input will not pass through to a connected
module. Also, in a passive mult, what you connect to an output can cause a slight variation in the
voltages that it sends. In some situations (like an LFO or envelope), this probably won’t have any
sonic effect on your patch. But for voltage-critical functions (like an oscillator, where only a slight
change in voltage is easily heard), it’s often better to use a buffered mult, since this insures that the
1V/Oct signal arriving at its input will be electrically and accurately duplicated across all its outputs.
Your Palette has two buff mults — one on the left (Buff Mult1) and another on the right (BuffMult2).
Each is a stand-alone 1INx4OUT buffered multiplier. Plug an audio or CV signal into Buff Mult1’s
input jack, and a buffered duplicate of that signal is sent out the four jacks to its right. Similarly, an
audio or CV signal patched into Buff Mult2’s input jack is duplicated at the other four jacks in the
group.
The input of Buff Mult2 is normalled to Buff Mult1. So if nothing is plugged into Buff Mult 2’s input
jack, then the input to Buff Mult 1 is multiplied and sent to all eight outputs, making it act as a single 1
x 8 buffered signal multiplier.
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Palette Case
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions
324.4 x 204.4 x 51.3 (mm)
(58.5 mm high, when including rubber feet/jacks)
12.77” x 8.05” x 2.02”
(2.3” high, when including rubber feet/jacks)
62 hp for 3U modules + 62 hp for 1U modules
Maximum Module Depth
45.5 mm for middle 60HP
37.42mm at each 1HP edge
Current Supplied
1.2A @ 12V
1.2A @ -12V
500mA @ +5V
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