Iron Ether Polytope User manual

Iron Ether
Polytope
user's manual
Create massive, multi-faceted and shimmering sounds
with the Polytope four-voice detuner. The Polytope
creates up to four copies of the input signal which can
be detuned in pitch from subtle thickening to huge
multi-voice detuned synth sounds. The detuned voices
maintain the timbre of the input and respond well to
polyphonic signals. In addition to the static detune
mode, the included LFO (low frequency oscillator)
can be used to sweep the pitches of all four voices to
create wide and deep chorus ensembles when com-
bined with the clean signal.
Removing the clean signal allows for true pitch vibrato,
from slight wavering to tape-style wow and flutter,
slow seasick wobbles and high speed FM synth-style
modulation. A highpass filter allows the user to apply
the detuning only to high frequencies. The controls are
extremely wide-ranging, covering classic sounds and
extending into spaced-out madness.
Voice vol – Controls the volume of the detuned voices.
Speed – In modulation mode, this controls the speed
of the LFO which sweeps the pitch up and down.
Ranges from very slow, one cycle over many seconds,
up to low audio frequencies.
Mode – This switch chooses between static Detuner
mode or Modulation mode, which applies the LFO to
the detune amount.
Quick Start/A Tour of Sounds
Begin with Clean and Voice volumes centered, all other
knobs all the way down (counter-clockwise), with both
switches set to the left.
Slowly begin turning up Detune as you play at each stop
along the dial. In this smaller range, the max amount
of detuning is less than one semitone. Now begin add-
ing additional voices by turning up the Voices control.
Each additional voice will be gradually turned up in the
mix, so you can continuously control the level of each
new voice. Increase this all the way clockwise to hear
the full ensemble sound of 4 detuned voices plus your
original signal.
Leaving the other controls where they are, turn the
Filter knob up to increasingly cut bass from the de-
tuned signal. Note that the clean signal is not filtered
and will allow full bass through even with the Filter
knob up.
Switch the Mode over to M for modulation. The pitch
will now begin sweeping up and down at a very slow
rate, as the Speed knob is all the way down.
Detune Filter
Voices
Clean Voices Vol
Range Mode
Settings templates
use these blank templates to write down
your favorite settings
Speed
< > D M
I
II III
IV
Detune Filter
Voices
Clean Voices Vol
Range Mode
Speed
< > D M
I
II III
IV
Detune Filter
Voices
Clean Voices Vol
Range Mode
Speed
< > D M
I
II III
IV
Detune Filter
Voices
Clean Voices Vol
Range Mode
Speed
< > D M
I
II III
IV

Controls:
Detune – Controls the amount of pitch shift away from
the original note. The Range switch sets the range of
this knob; the lower setting covers under a half-step for
thick, multi-voice synth sounds. The higher setting
allows the pitch to be shifted multiple semitones up
and down (in multi-voice modes). In modulation mode,
this controls the depth of the pitch sweeping.
Voices – This knob fades up the volume of each detune
voice in sequence, starting with one voice shifting up
from the original pitch, then adding a down-shifting
voice. Voices 3 and 4 are additional upward and down-
ward voices, respectively, which are twice as far from
the original note as 1+2.
Filter – This control sets the cutoff frequency of a high-
pass filter before the detuning. This can be used to
remove beating that can happen with bass-heavy de-
tuning, or to apply the detuning only to upper harmo-
nics of a signal, as well as for creating unique special
effects.
Clean – Controls the volume of the clean signal. Adding
the clean signal in creates detune or chorus sounds –
removing it creates vibrato.
Power supply
The Polytope is powered by the industry-standard 9
volt DC center-negative power supply (2.1mm jack).
It draws 85 mA. Use a power supply that can source
at least this much current.
Finish
Each Polytope is individually machine-engraved, then
painted by hand. As a result, each one has individual
variations - no two will look identical.
Warranty
Your Polytope is warranted for materials and
manufacturing for one year from the date of purchase.
The warranty is void if you use the wrong type of
power supply, take it apart, attempt to modify it, or
use it in a way not intended.
Bypass: The Polytope features a relay-based true by-
pass system. When the pedal is bypassed, the signal is
connected directly from the input jack to the output
jack via a mechanical switch, and does not pass
through any buffers, electronic (FET) switching, or
other circuitry that could have an effect on sound
fidelity. It's different from the more common true
bypass in that instead of a 3PDT stomp switch, this
uses a mechanical relay designed specifically for low-
voltage audio-type signals. This makes for a quieter
switch, greater reliability, and the bonus of automat-
ically going into bypass if power to the pedal is lost.
Quick Start continued
Turn the Voices down to 1 and the Detune amount to
about 10 o'clock on the dial. Begin increasing Speed
to get a sense of just how fast it can go. Note that
when using more than one voice, voices 2 and 4 will
sweep up when voices 1 and 3 are sweeping down,
and vice versa. This can seem to double the rate of
modulation when extra voices are added.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The highpass filter can be set so high that it removes
the "meat" of your signal and just leaves the high freq-
uency components. The detuning function then is
only copying the high frequencies, and it will let you
add up to 4 copies of this in addition to volume boost
with the Voices Vol control. The result is that you can
set the pedal in a way that copies and boosts all the
noise and fret clank in your signal but little else,
making for a very noisy sound. The solution is simply
to be more moderate with the Filter so you're dupli-
cating your notes and not just the noise. The Polytope
itself is a low noise design, but it will boost your noise
if you ask it to. Keep this in mind when experimenting.