IO Instruments HIMALAI User manual

HIMALIA MANUAL ENGLISH VERSION 1.0
22.05.2020
Penta Sound Source
Analog Noise. Digital Noise. Mono Square. Samples. Drones.

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Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. ANALOG NOISE 2
3. DIGITAL NOISE / SAMPLE & HOLD 3
4. MONO SQUARE OSCILLATOR 3
5. SAMPLES / 8BIT MELODIES 4
6. UNISON / CHORDS / DRONES 5
7. OPEN SOURCE 5
8. INSTALL NEW FIRMWARE 6
9. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 7

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1. Introduction
IO Instruments is proud to bring you Himalia Penta Sound Source (PSS) to your Eurorack.
This module was developed in close cooperation with Sven Braun (zMors Modular,
Dadamachines ‘doppler’ platform) who took care about all the digital aspects.
Being able to provide a wide range of sounds due to its multiple idendities by nature, there
is even more possible with this little fellow you might think of at first sight.
We decided to make the code of the digital section available to the public as open source
(see links & infos in according section of this manual).
So you will indeed have the possibility to define/update Himalia with ie. own samples,
different chord progressions and timbres, 8bit melodies or completely reprogram the
foundation and make it evolve into something completely different.
We are looking forward what the community is coming up with ☺
IO Instruments team will provide alternative firmwares in the future, which we will offer as
download from our website, www.io-instruments.de.
2. Analog noise
The analog noise section provides you with a variety
of 3 noise characters.
Using the noise mix potentiometer or
via the CV noise filter input, you can gradually sweep
between the different noise characters.
Pot position full left = RED noise
Pot position mid (12 o’clock) = WHITE noise
Pot position full right = BLUE noise
The comparator switch –once engaged –activates
a circuit which results in the noise signal to sound
more harsh and chaotic.
Be careful with your PA levels when using this!
If a control voltage is received via the CV input,
The noise mix potentiometer is acting as a attenuator.

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3. Digital noise / Sample & Hold
The digital noise section can provide sounds ranging
from lofi to harsh/clipping character.
The digital noise and Sample & Hold tempo is controlled
by the rate potentiometer or the CV rate input.
The rate level is indicated by a LED located right next
to the rate potentiometer.
4. Mono square oscillator
The mono square oscillator shares the rate potentiometer
and the CV rate input with the digital noise / S&H section.
By using the CV rate input or rate potentiometer,
you can adjust the pitch level of the
square oscillator output.

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5. Samples / 8bit melodies
The sample section consists of two banks (A/B)
with 16 sample slots each (total of 32 samples).
The sample can be selected by using the
Sample select potentiometer or the
CV sample select input.
By dis-/engaging the Sample bank
A/B pushbutton, you can access
the total of 32 samples.
You can adjust the pitch of the
selected sample by using the
Sample tune potentiometer or
the CV Sample tune input.
Trigger the samples by using
the manual trigger button or
the Sample trigger input.
You have also a control on how often
a sample will be triggered (once, multiple,
Infinite (loop).
We have included 16 Ratchet variations which you can either select via using the Ratchet
variation potentiometer or the CV Ratchet select input.
And there is more….
We have included a nice goodie into this section:
by engaging the 8bit sample button, you can switch from playing samples into a 8bit melody
player.
This will give you access to 16 predefined melodies by using the Sample select potentiometer
or CV sample select input.
You can pitch the melodies by using the Sample tune potentiometer or CV Sample tune in.
As with the Samples, you can trigger the melodies with the manual trigger button or the
Sample trigger input.
The Ratchet variation potentiometer and the CV Ratchet select input will have no effect on
the melodies. Also the Sample bank A/B pushbutton is currently not in use in 8bit melody
mode.

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6. Unison / Chords / Drones
The polyphonic section is inspired by the Roland TR-808
cymbal sound and is generated using six square wave voices.
Using different note spreads it is possible to achieve
very different sound flavors.
From the typical cymbal sound (using a VCA with a short
envelope) to unison sounds with different timbres to
chords and drone sounds.
Himalia provides two banks of unison and chord/drone
sounds with 16 variations each.
The pitch of the sound can be tuned via the squares
tune potentiometer or the CV tune squares input.
Further you can control the sound preset selection (1-16)
by using the preset potentiometer or the CV preset input.
Banks can be switched from unison to chord presets and
vice versa via the U / P bank button.
(disengaged: unison; engaged: chord sounds)
7. Open Source
The source code of the digital sections (digital noise, square/S&H, samples/transients/8bit
and poly/unison sounds) are freely available on GitHub.
Access the repository via this link:
https://github.com/noscene/himalia
Clone the repository, tweak and reprogram as you like & build a new firmware.

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8. Install new firmware
You can update Himalia with new firmware versions which are made available from IO
Instruments or the community.
Note:
you might want to backup the present firmware which is installed on Himalia first, before installing a new
firmware as described below.
For this just walk through the below guide until step j). Then backup the file ‘current.uf2’ from Himalia flash
drive to your computer.
How to update Himalia with new firmware:
a) Download the desired firmware file to your computer (Filename: xyz.UF2)
b) Himalia needs to be powered via the modular bus power (+/-12V)
c) The backside of the module needs to be accessable, ie the module should not be
fixed to your case
d) Power on Himalia, it works as usual / expected
e) Turn the module so you look at the back of the module (= side where the power
ribbon cable connector is located)
f) Locate the button next to the only LED
g) Double click the button
h) Himalia will reset itself and restarts in bootloader mode
i) Connect Himalia to a micro USB cable; connect the other end of the USB cable with
your computer
j) Once USB is connected, Himalia will appear as a flash drive on your computer
k) Simply drag and drop the .UF2 file from your computer to Himalia flash drive
l) Savely eject the Himalia flash drive from your computer
m) Press the button on the back of Himalia once to reset the module
n) Himalia is rebooting and will restart with the updated firmware running

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9. Technical Specifications