Jomox ModBase 09 MkII User manual

Version OS 2.07
ModBase 09 MkII
Euro-Rack Analog Kick Drum Synthesizer Module
Operating Manual
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Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................4
1. Installation...........................................................................................5
1.1. Installation in the eurorack.............................................................
1.1. Midi In...........................................................................................8
1.2. Midi Out........................................................................................8
1.3. Akasha Module Bus........................................................................8
2. Front connections.................................................................................9
2.1. CV1-CV4........................................................................................9
2.2. LIN.FM..........................................................................................9
2.3. ACC.............................................................................................10
2.4. GATE...........................................................................................10
2.5. OUT............................................................................................10
3. General functions................................................................................11
3.1. Preset selection < P00-P99 >......................................................11
3.2. Menu control................................................................................11
3.3. Midi control..................................................................................12
3.3.1. Note trigger...........................................................................12
3.3.2. Parameter control via Midi controllers.....................................13
3.4. Triggering via CV/GATE................................................................13
3.5. Triggering via ACC input
..........................................................................................................13
4. Sound parameters (potentiometers).....................................................14
4.1. Tune < 000-252 > ...................................................................15
4.2. Pitch < 000-252>......................................................................15
4.3. Decay < 000-252 > ..................................................................15
4.4. Harmonics < 000-252>.............................................................15
4.5. Pulse < 000-252 >....................................................................15
4. . Noise < 000-252 >....................................................................1
4.7. Attack < 000-252 > .................................................................1
4.8. EQ < 000-252 > .....................................................................1
5. Sound parameters (menu orange/red)................................................17
5.1. LFO.............................................................................................17
5.1.1. LFO 1 Wave < SuP / Sdo / Sin / Si- / tri / tr- / rCt / rC- >............17
5.1.2. LFO 1 Speed < 000-252 >........................................................18
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5.1.3. LFO 1 Int(ensity) < 000-252 >..................................................18
5.1.4. LFO 1 Destination <LM1/no1>..................................................19
5.1.5. LFO 2.......................................................................................19
5.2. Gate T(ime) (page orange) < 000-255> .......................................19
5.2.1. Preset Init (page red) <in?>......................................................19
5.3. Compr(ression) (page red) < 000-255 > ......................................20
5.4. Met Nze 1 (page orange) < off/noi-499 > ...................................20
5.4.1. MetNze 2 (page red) < off-499 > ...........................................21
5.4.2. MetNze 2 bit mask (page red blinks) <M01-M1 >.......................21
5.5. CV 1-4.........................................................................................21
5.5.1. CV 1-4 Destination (page orange)...............................................22
5. . CV 1-4 Amount (page red) <-128 - 127>.......................................23
. Master parameters (menu green)........................................................24
.1. Midi Ch(annel) < 001 - 01 >.....................................................24
.2. Split Mode < SM1 / SM2 >.........................................................24
.3. Acc Sens(ivity) < t01- t99 >.....................................................24
.3.1. Acc Dynamics < d01- d 3 >...................................................25
.4. Gate Mode <PoS/neg/Str/ACC>..................................................25
.5. Volume < 000-255 > .................................................................2
. . Bus Env < 000-255 >.................................................................2
.7. Fine Tune CV (hidden) < 000-255 >............................................2
.8. Store...........................................................................................2
7. ModBase 09 MkII Midi implementation.................................................27
7.1. SysEx Dump.............................................................................27
7.1.1. Single preset dump................................................................27
7.1.2. All presets dump....................................................................27
7.1.3. Receive SysEx dump..............................................................27
7.2. Sound Parameter CC....................................................................28
7.3. Note Commands...........................................................................29
7.4. System exclusive data..................................................................29
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Introduction
Thanks for using the JoMoX ModBase 09 MkII! The ModBase 09 MkII is a
great sounding, dedicated kick drum module with a real analog sound
production made for installation in 19 inch euroracks as offered by
companies like Doepfer GmbH for instance.
Actually it is a single voice storeable analog synthesizer which is optimized to
produce professional club compatible kick drum sounds. The ModBase 09
MkII module is fully controllable by CV (control voltage) / Gate as well as via
Midi. All sound parameters can be remotely controlled by either the 4 CV
inputs or via Midi CC.
All jacks are being made as 3.5mm mini jacks which is the standard in
eurorack world. You can find suitable cables in the accessories of many
eurorack modular system producing companies.
The usage is fairly simple and self-explaining at most points. Nevertheless,
we recommend to study this manual intensively in order to explore the
manyfold musical possibilities of the ModBase 09 MkII as quickly as possible.
Before we start just some important safety instructions:
Please use the ModBase 09 MkII only in dry rooms. Please never let
fluids or humidity penetrate to the device!
The module is only made for use in so-called eurorack modular systems.
A 1 pin ribbon cable for the connection to the Doepfer system bus with
+/-12V is added. The supply voltages may not exceed +/- 15Volts.
Although there are protection diodes inside against wrong polarity we
have to warn you about wrong installation as severe damadge may
happen to the device! On a damadge caused by wrong installation or
modification of supply pins the warranty is void.
For cleansing of the ModBase 09 MkII, please use a slightly damp cloth,
never solvents or agents!
The ModBase 09 MkII is a complex electronic device and should
therefore be treated carefully!
If any damadges or malfunctions occur, please immediatly turn off the rack,
take the module out of the rack and contact your local music dealer or send
an email to [email protected].
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1. Installation
Please turn off the euro rack prior to the wiring! On the backside of the
ModBase 09 MkII module you can find these connections:
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1.1. Installation in the eurorack
Please connect the supplied ribbon cable to the eurorack system bus rails as
shown on the picture. The module needs +/-12 Volts at a supply current of
maximum 140mA on +12V and about 80mA on -12 Volts. The optional 5
Volts and the CV/Gate on the A-100 Doepfer bus are both not wired inside
the Jomox modules and not needed. Other 10 pin systems may be used as
well if only the lower part of the 1 pin connector is connected. Please pay
attention for the position of the voltages and the ground pins! There are
protection diodes inside the modules but please take extra care to protect
the rack and the module!
A-100 Doepfer bus. (The Doepfer GmbH
enterprise and all of their shown
products are registered trademarks. With
friendly approval of Doepfer
Musikelektronik GmbH)
Jomox ModBase 09 MkII euro rack
supply connector.
Please connect the power supply of
the eurorack system bus here – and
only here!
Connect the other end of the ribbon
cable to the module as shown on the
picture. The cables are fairly short
which is good in electrical means to
the relatively high power consumption
of the module.
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Don't flip the cable but connect it as shown on the picture.
Then please mount the module on the rack rails with the supplied metric M3
screws. In case you want to connect a midi cable, please do this beforehand
of mounting.
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1.1. Midi In
Here you can hook up another midi device to control the ModBase 09 MkII
by either a software sequencer, a controller box or any other hardware
device like e.g. a JoMoX XBase09, XBASE999/888. Please use a cable that is
as short as possible.
1.2. Midi Out
Sends out Midi data from the ModBase 09 MkII to a Midi capable device,
e.g. a soft- or hardware sequencer. The Midi Out jack also serves as a Midi
Thru and forwards Midi data to an eventual neighbour module by Jomox.
Please use a standard midi cable that is as short as possible.
1.3. Akasha Module Bus
This is an internal Jomox bus which can be connected to future experimental
sound modules. The bus carries power supply rails, an analog send bus and
an analog input to the kick drum VCA envelope and a fast I²C link. By use of
the digital link, the modules can be hooked up with each other and form a
whole storeable main frame system.
Similar to Midi, all functions and parameters of each module can be remotely
controlled within the rack by use of the digital link, only that it is about 10
times faster than Midi.
DO NOT CONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY RIBBON CABLE HERE!!!!
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2. Front connections
2.1. CV1-CV4
The inputs CV1-CV4 are programmable CV control inputs. In a modular
system, most functions and parameters like eg. VCO pitch or filter cutoff can
be controlled by a CV (control voltage). In the ModBase 09 MkII, practically
all internal sound parameters can be controlled (ie. modulated) by an
assignable CV. The modulation amount can be controlled by software, either
positively as negatively. More information you can find in chapter 5.5 CV
control.
These CV inputs can process 0-5Volts. Higher or negative voltages are
blocked inside and will not cause damadge, but they won't get processed
anyway.
2.2. IN.FM
Linear FM CV input. This connection serves to modulate the bass drum VCO
and works on the pitch (FM = frequency modulation). The FM CV input is
just analogue and can't be controlled by software. Therefore it works over
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the entire audio range and the frequency resolution is not limited by the
sampling rate of the CPU. Since the input has no amount knob, one should
put an attenuator (it may be passive, means a potentiometer) into the signal
chain because otherwise modulation occurs at full intensity of the
modulating signal (eg. LFO). This input processes also negative voltages.
2.3. ACC
The ACC input serves for the accent. The applied CV can control the kick
drum dynamics as well as trigger directly dynamically if the master
sequencer allows for this feature. In normal mode (Gate Mode = Pos, Neg
or S-Trig) the accent CV is taken in the moment of trigger and controls the
volume (dynamics) of the kick drum.
If, however, the Gate Mode is set to <ACC> (see .4 Gate Mode), the kick
drum can be triggered just by the accent CV. This requires that the
sequencer is capable of producing pulses with a defined accent CV that have
to go back to zero each time. The settings around accent dynamics and the
accent threshold can be found in chapter .3. Acc Sens(ivity).
2.4. GATE
The gate input of a typical modular environment is the input which is used
to trigger the tone of the ModBase 09 MkII. The typical gate high signals
used in modular world have normally 5-15 volts, which the gate input of the
ModBase 09 MkII can process without any problems – the threshold is at
about 1 volts. The gate polarity can be inverted by software too.
Furthermore, some modular systems use a special kind of triggering called
S-trig (switch trigger) which the ModBase 09 MkII can do as a software
feature too. In this case the triggering is excited if the tip (hot wire) and ring
(=ground) of the gate cable plug are shorted – be it electronical by a
transistor or mechanical by a simple switch.
2.5. OUT
Audio ouput signal of the ModBase 09 MkII. The ouput is unbalanced and
has a maximum level of about +20 dBu, so it can be very loud and may
overdrive high gain inputs. Therefore connect the audio output with an
appropriate attenuator/mixer or amplifier.
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3. General functions
3.1. Preset selection < P00-P99 >
As long none of the 8 menu LEDs is lighting, the ModBase 09 MkII is in
preset mode. Now you can choose one of 100 preprogrammed presets by
turning the value input wheel. The sounds get loaded automatically.
By hitting the play button the sounds can be manually triggered and heard.
3.2. Menu control
The ModBase 09 MkII has an up/down menu with 8 rows and 3 pages which
are shown by multi-colored LEDs.
Please use the arrow buttons to enter the menu and to select the desired
menu item and the page button to switch between the three pages green
(left printing), orange (right printing) and red (right printing).
Repeated pressing of the page button rotates first from green to orange,
then to red and then to green again.
Some pages do have 4 pages (eg. Met Nze) which is shown by blinking of
the red LED.
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If you press the page button whilst the menu is inactive you step
automatically to LFO 1 menu (menu 1 orange). This was made because the
LFO is an important function and shares the three lower potentiometers with
the other sound parameters. In order not to be forced to press two buttons
first you can enter the LFO 1 menu by just pressing the page button.
With all other menu functions the value gets edited by the value input wheel
(alpha dial).
Summary of menus
Green Orange Red Red blinks
Midi Ch LFO 1 LFO 2
Split Mode Gate Time Preset Init
Acc Sens Acc Dynamic Compression
Gate Mode Metal Noise 1 Metal Noise 2 Bit Mask 2
Volume CV 1 Dest CV 1 Amt
Bus Env CV 2 Dest CV 2 Amt
Fine Tune CV 3 Dest CV 3 Amt
Store CV 4 Dest CV 4 Amt
3.3. Midi control
3.3.1. Note trigger
The ModBase 09 MkII processes midi note commands. It can be triggered
by any midi sequencer. If the ModBase 09 MkII receives midi data on the
selected channel, the leftmost decimal point in the display lights up. Please
find the settings of the various midi functions in chapter 7 Midi
Implementation.
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3.3.2. Parameter control via Midi controllers
All sound parameters can be remotely controlled by continuous midi
controllers (CCs). The controller map can be found in the Midi
Implementation at the end of this operating manual.
3.4. Triggering via CV/GATE
This is the default trigger mode on the ModBase09 II. Please connect a
typical modular gate/trigger CV sequencer (like eg. the Doepfer A-155) to
the Gate jack. The ModBase 09 MkII processes gate signals from 0..1 volts
to 0..15 volts. To get retriggered, the signal must at least once drop below
the trigger threshold, which is a little below 1 volts. If the module is
triggered, the second decimal dot next to the second digit of the display
flashes up.
The gate input triggers with the simultanously applied accent CV and
corresponding velocity (dynamics), according to the accent sensivity settings
(see .3.1. Acc Dynamics).
3.5. Triggering via ACC input
The ACC jack is an analog input that processes the accent CV for the gate
trigger.
However, by setting Gate Mode = ACC (see .4 Gate Mode), this input can
also trigger directly. The controlling sequencer must be able to produce gate
pulses with defined acccent CV levels. These have to return to zero each
time. The accent sensivity (velocity) and the threshold for acccent triggering
is explained and controlled at menu .3 Acc Sensi(vity).
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4. Sound parameters (potentiometers)
In order to enter the edit mode, please press <Edit/Enter>. A dot right
down in the display lights up indicating that you are in edit mode. Now turn
one of the knobs and you will see a value in the display and hear the change
of sound. If you don't want sound paramers to be changed by unwanted
knob movements, press <Edit/Enter> again to leave the edit mode.
The ModBase 09 MkII has a dedicated potentiometer knob for the 8 most
important parameters. Some sound parameters are only being changed via
the LED menu and the incremental wheel though. There is a double
assignment for the three knobs in the lower row for the settings of the LFOs.
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4.1. Tune < 000-252 >
This parameter controls the intensity of the attack tune envelope. On a
synthesizer this would be the pitch envelope modulation amount (Attack=0,
Decay fixed value) of the VCO. A high value makes the typical 909 kick-in-
the-gut effect, and a low value makes softer, 808-styled kick drums and
bass tones.
4.2. Pitch < 000-252>
This parameter controls the basic pitch of the kick drum. Sub basses down
to 10 Hz or relatively high tones are possible. Don't confuse this with the
Tune parameter. With most kinds of instruments this parameter is called
"tune", but because everybody knows the TR-909 and its specific tune, we
called it pitch. The pitch is the base frequency which the VCO reaches when
the tune envelope has decayed.
4.3. Decay < 000-252 >
Controls the decay time (length) of the kick drum.
4.4. Harmonics < 000-252>
Control of harmonics of the VCO. The almost sinusoid wave form of the kick
drum oscillator can be continously shaped into a parabolic wavform. That
results in a harder, timpani-like sound that differs clearly from a simple
distortion.
4.5. Pulse < 000-252 >
Change of the pure pulse part of the attack (see also attack parameter).
Pulse is a clicking pulse-shaped waveform at the begin of the kick drum
which goes to the VCA. The sound of the pulse is strongly affected by the
gate time (see also Gate Time) which determines the “energy” of the pulse
and therefore the frequency spectrum of the first attack.
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4.6. Noise < 000-252 >
Change of the pure noise part of the attack (see also attack parameter).
Noise makes a more clap-like (or wet) sound in the attack. Please note that
either the gate width (duration of the noise part) and the EQ parameter also
affect this sound. With high EQ values you will hardly or not hear the noise
part of the kick drum, because the high frequencies of the noise are filtered
by the EQ. On the ModBase 09 MkII, the sound of the noise signal is
significantly affected by parameters 5.4 MetNze 1 + 2 because the noise can
be assembled by metallic high pitch tones.
4.7. Attack < 000-252 >
Important for the understanding of the bass drum attack section is the
following: Pulse and noise are mixed together and the mix signal is
controlled by attack intensity. If attack is cranked down, you won't notice
any change on pulse or noise.
So you can program bass drums without any attack, or only pulse or only
noise, or just with the mix of both.
4.8. EQ < 000-252 >
Smoothes the output of the kick drum sound production with a flat slope
filter. With a value of <000>, the filter is opened at maximum, at <252>
closed at maximum. The filter is optimized to achieve soft sounding 808ish
sinusoid soft klicking kick drums (high EQ) vs heavy punchy hard drums (low
EQ).
Note: changes of the noise parameter can only be heard with an opened
filter (low EQ).
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5. Sound parameters (menu orange/red)
Summary of menus
Green Orange Red Red blinks
Midi Ch LFO 1 LFO 2
Split Mode Gate Time Preset Init
Acc Sens Acc Dynamic Compression
Gate Mode Metal Noise 1 Metal Noise 2 Bit Mask 2
Volume CV 1 Dest CV 1 Amt
Bus Env CV 2 Dest CV 2 Amt
Fine Tune CV 3 Dest CV 3 Amt
Store CV 4 Dest CV 4 Amt
5.1. FO
Use the up/down buttons and go to LFO.
Choose page 2 (LED lights up orange) by pressing the Page button so that
the display shows LM1.
As long as you are in preset selection mode (no menu) you can just press
the page button and you will enter the LFO 1 menu directly. This was made
in order to quickly edit the LFO section whilst tweaking the knobs and to flip
between both areas.
5.1.1. FO 1 Wave < SuP / Sdo / Sin / Si- / tri / tr- / rCt / rC- >
Now turn potentiometer 5 (1_2 Coupl, Wave) to change the waveform of
LFO 1. The value is shown in the display. LFO 1 always works firmly on the
pitch of the kick drum.
With the LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) you can produce periodic low
frequency pitch modulations (vibrato).
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The polarity is important because the LFO phase always restarts on a note
trigger. That makes the LFO like an extra pitch envelope which gets
triggered by the note.
This parameter controls the waveform:
<SuP> Sawtooth up
<Sdo> Sawtooth down
<Sin> Sine wave rising
<Si-> Sine wave falling
<tri> Triangle with rising ramp
<tr-> Triangle with falling ramp
<rCt> Rectangular jump from minimum to maximum
<rC-> Rectangular jump from maximum to to minimum
<PL1> Pulse width 0% on / 40% off
<PL2> Pulse width 70% on / 30% off
<PL3> Pulse width 80% on / 20% off
<PL4> Pulse width 88% on / 12% off
<PL5> Pulse width 40% on / 0% off
<PL > Pulse width 30% on / 70% off
<PL7> Pulse width 20% on / 80% off
<PL8> Pulse width 12% on / 88% off
5.1.2. FO 1 Speed < 000-252 >
Turn Potentiometer (2_1 Coupl, Speed) to edit the speed of LFO 1.
The value is shown in the display. LFO 1 always works on the pitch of the
kick drum.
Speed controls the frequency of LFO modulation. Low value = slow, high
value = fast. The phase of the LFO always restarts with a gate trigger.
5.1.3. FO 1 Int(ensity) < 000-252 >
Turn Potentiometer 7 (Noise, Int) to edit the intensity of LFO 1. The value is
shown in the display. LFO 1 always works on the pitch of the kick drum.
LFO 1 Intensity controls the amount of modulation. Zero turns the
modulation off.
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5.1.4. FO 1 Destination < M1/no1>
Whilst the menu LFO is selected, dial the value with the wheel to change the
modulation target of LFO 1. Default-wise the LFO works on the pitch of the
kick drum VCO, but you can also let it modulate metallic noise 1. The result
are noise modulations in the rhythm of the LFO which can sound pretty
interesting.
5.1.5. FO 2
Go to LFO with the up/down buttons. Select page 3 (menu LED lights red)
by pressing the page button so that the the display shows LM2.
If you are still in preset mode (no menu), you can reach the LFO 2 menu by
pressing the page button twice.
The same values yield for LFO 2 as described for LFO 1. LFO 2 works on the
pitch of the kick drum too.
5.2. Gate T(ime) (page orange) < 000-255>
If you are in one of the following menus, please dial in the value with the
wheel (alpha dial).
Gate time, i.e. the impulse length of the trigger pulse for the analog kick
drum circuitry can be adjusted from 0.1ms to 15ms.
This parameter is very influent for the sound of the attack and the decaying
tone. The shorter the gate time is, the more high frequencies the spectrum
of the attack contains, but the less energy is put into the envelope.
5.2.1. Preset Init (page red) <in?>
This menu serves to initialize a preset. If you turn the data wheel to the
right, all sound parameters are changed to the default value. The display
shows “ini“ then.
Attention! If you didn't store the sound before, all settings are gone.
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5.3. Compr(ression) (page red) < 000-255 >
The compression parameter changes the loudness envelope during the
decay phase of the kick drum. So the decaying sound only can have a very
low level if this parameter is set high. This is useful for instance to adapt the
“belly” of the kick drum to the mix or the room acoustics. At very high levels
the envelope of the kick drum is cut so strong that very short and clicky kick
drums are possible.
5.4. Met Nze 1 (page orange) < off/noi-499 >
Metallic noise 1 is one of the both noise generators. The parameter changes
the noise to a metallic noise which consists of periodic asyncronous bit
patterns.
With <oFF> the noise generator is turned off, <noi> yields a static random
noise (white noise).
On values above that <2-499> a complex signal formed from digital
multitones and bit patterns is produced. Each value represents a unique
sound pattern which is not smoothly changing across the range but jumps to
various sounds one by one. They remind more of a caleidoscope rather than
a linear scale. But they give you interesting results for any adjustment, so
please play the game of trial and error.
Metallic Noise 1 yields a more aperiodic signal which results in more noise-
like sounds. Metallic Noise 2 is more periodic and has an adjustable bit
mask.
Hint: The noise signal is only audible during the gate period of the attack
and is strongly affected by the gate time and EQ filtering. By tweaking these
parameters you can modulate the attack of the kick drum very fine and
precisely.
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