KR-sabers VERSO User manual

© KR-sabers
2020
User Manual
v2.0
VERSO
Entry-Level saber sound board

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Contents
Features (P – 2)
1. Helpful instructions and tutorials links
– Where to buy (P – 3)
2. Verso instructions
1) How To Use
– Buttons actions (P – 4)
– How to add sound fonts (P – 5)
– How to update board firmware (P – 6)
2) General info
– Tools and materials (P – 7)
– Board pinout (P – 8)
3) Editing parameters
– Configuration file structure (P – 9)
– Configuration file (P – 10-14)
– Sound files (P – 14)
4) Wiring diagrams
– Beginner Tri-Cree LED wiring diagram (P – 15)
– Basic Tri-Cree LED wiring diagram (P – 16)
– Beginner Neopixel/Pixelblade wiring diagram (P – 17)
– Basic Neopixel/Pixelblade wiring diagrams (P – 18-20)
– Basic Crystal Chamber LED wiring diagrams (P – 21)
3. Wire gauge and current rating tests, recommended batteries chart (P – 22-25)
4. Troubleshooting (P – 26-28)
5. About (P – 29)
updated:
02.03.2021

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Specifications and features:
– Dimensions: 18.9x29.9x4.5mm (+2.4mm longer with micro SD card)
– Power supply: 3-5 Volts, up to 10A per LED channel output; single Li-Ion 3.6-3.7V (low 2.6V, full 4.2V) battery recommended
– 0.55 mA current consumption in Deep Sleep
– 3 high power LED channels
– 1 or 2 buttons control options
– Speaker: 4 ohm or 8 ohm, 2W-5W
– up to 16 sound banks/fonts
– up to 16 blade color proles
– up to 16 blade eects
– smoothswings + accent swings
– Sound FX (WAV sound les): boot, hum, swing, clash, ingnition, retraction, lockup, blaster blocks, low battery, font name etc.
– Light FX: ramp up, ramp down, fade, blade ickering, ash on clash, re, unstable, rainbow
– Micro SD card: 4-16Gb Class 4-10 by SanDisk brand recommended
– 3 Watts 5V powered sound amplier, 16-bit digital output
– 44kHz or 22kHz WAV audio les sample rate
– “SmoothSwing”, monophonic, polyphonic sound fonts support
– APA102 (RGB), WS2812B (RGB), SK6812 (RGB, WWA) Neopixel/Pixelblade support
– 1/2/3-color LED stars (Tri-Cree LED modules) support
– Easy and free rmware updates by user via micro-SD card
Demonstration videos:
Link to the demonstration video by KR-sabers
Link to the demonstration video by ShtokCustomWorx
FEATURES
Video tutorials by KR-sabers:
Video tutorials by KR-sabers on YouTube
LED Resistor Calculator

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1HELPFUL LINKS
Parts links: VERSO sound boards vendors
– KR-sabers (TheSaberArmory)
Neopixel strips
– Individual Neopixel LEDs
– Neopixel strips/connectors/other supplies (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– Neopixel strips/connectors/other supplies (USA) – TheCustomSaberShop
LEDs and wires
– Tri-Cree high power LEDs (USA) – TheCustomSaberShop
– Tri-Cree high power LEDs (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
– Tri-Cree high power LEDs (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– Various Accent LEDs (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– PTFE Wires (UK) – TheSaberArmory
Batteries
– Various Batteries (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– Protected KeepPower 18650 15A 3120mAh battery (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
– Protected KeepPower 18650 7A 3600mAh battery
– Protected KeepPower 18650 10A 3500mAh battery
– Protected KeepPower 18650 15A 3120mAh battery
– Unprotected Vapcell 21700 15A 5000mAh battery – requires external PCM
– Unprotected KeepPower 26650 15A 6000mAh battery – requires external PCM
– 15A Protection Circuit Module (PCM) (aliexpress)
– 18650 Protected Battery holder
– 18650 Protected Battery holder (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
Recharge ports and Kill Switches
– High Power 1.3mm Recharge Port
– Recharge Ports (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– 2.1mm Recharge port (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
– High Power Kill Switch (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
– High Power Kill Switch
– Various Switches (UK) – TheSaberArmory
Blade connectors
– SCW NPXL blade connector (Russia) – ShtokCustomWorx
– SCW NPXL blade connector (USA) – SaberBay on Etsy
– SCW NPXL blade connector (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– TCSS Neopixel blade Pogo connector
– GX16 Neopixel/string blade connectors
Speakers
– Various speakers (UK) – TheSaberArmory
– Various speakers (USA) – TheCustomSaberShop
– 3W speakers
3D-printed chassis links:
– KR-sabers (TheSaberArmory) store
– ShtokCustomWorx on Shapeways
– GOTH-3Designs on Shapeways
WHERE TO BUY

04 | user manual made by KR-sabers and Dmitry Shtok Home
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1
VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO USE
How to operate the saber with 1 button:
Ignition – Short press whilst OFF
Retraction – Long hold whilst ON
Blaster FX – Short press whilst ON
Lockup FX – Clash then long hold whilst ON
Enter Sound Menu – Double press whilst ON
Conrm Menu – Long press whilst in Menu
Change Preset – Double press whilst OFF
Mute Mode – Long hold for 3 seconds whilst OFF (you will hear a sound (mute.wav) to indicate the saber is now in mute
mode. Pressing the activation button again will ignite the saber as normal but without any sound. Whilst in mute mode, with
the blade o, hold the main activation button for 3 seconds to exit mute mode. You will hear a sound (unmute.wav) to indicate
the saber has exited mute mode)
How to operate the saber with 2 buttons:
Button #1 – Activation (Act.)
Button #2 – Auxiliary (Aux.)
Ignition – Short press Button #1 whilst OFF
Retraction – Long hold Button #1 whilst ON
Blaster FX – Short press Button #2 whilst ON
Lockup FX – Hold Button #2 whilst ON
Enter Sound Menu – Short press Button #1 and #2 whilst ON
Conrm Menu – Short press Button #2 whilst in Menu
Change Preset – Short press Button #2 whilst OFF
Mute Mode – Long hold Button #1 whilst OFF (you will hear a sound (mute.wav) to indicate the saber is now in mute mode.
Pressing the activation button again will ignite the saber as normal but without any sound. Whilst in mute mode,
with the blade o, hold the main activation button for 3 seconds to exit mute mode. You will hear a sound (unmute.wav) to

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2
1
VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO USE
How to add sound fonts
1) Remove micro-SD card from the VERSO board SD socket
and insert it into micro-SD card reader connected to your PC.
2) Copy and paste the new sound font folder (which includes
all sound les formatted for VERSO board) into the micro-SD
card root directory (the rst directory where you see all other
sound font folders). Sound font folder name can be any.
3) Open cong.ini le (double-click), scroll down until you
see [font4] block, select and copy the whole [font4] block and
paste it after the [font4] block. Rename to [font5] and put the
new name here: font_name = Obi (use the exact name of your
new sound font folder). Save the cong.ini le and close it.
Now you’ve added a new sound font. You can create maximum
16 font blocks, but you can have as many sound font folders on
micro-SD card as you want.

06 | user manual made by KR-sabers and Dmitry Shtok Home
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1
VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO USE
How to update firmware
1) Download the latest rmware from
thesaberarmory.com website.
2) Remove the battery from your saber or turn the
Kill Switch OFF. Remove micro-SD card from the VERSO board
SD socket and insert it into micro-SD card reader connected to
your PC.
Copy and paste the downloaded rmware.bin le into
micro-SD card root directory (the rst directory where you see
all sound font folders).
3) Remove micro-SD card from the card reader and insert it
into the VERSO board. Reboot the board (insert the battery or
turn the Kill Switch ON), you will hear rmware update
conrmation “prog.wav” sound and then a completed update
conrmation sound: “progsuccess.wav” le or “progerror.wav” if
there was an error.
Firmware is now updated and the rmware.bin le is
automatically deleted from the micro-SD card.

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2
2
VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS
Tools and materials
– VERSO sound board
– micro SD-card
– a USB micro SD-card reader (to load sound les from PC to micro SD card)
– wires of various gauges (32-20 AWG) (PTFE coated copper stranded wires recommended), heat shrink
– ESD safe soldering station, solder wire, ux etc..
– pliers, helping hands etc..
– isopropyl alcohol to clean pads after soldering to make sure no shorts will occur and make the board clean
– Digital Multimeter (VERY USEFUL!)
– computer running Windows, Linux or Mac OS with internet access
– 3.7V Li-Ion Protected rechargeable battery, switches, recharge port, speaker, LEDs, resistors, chassis etc..
– Smart Li-Ion CC-CV (Constant Current - Constant Voltage mode) battery charger for 3.7V (4.2V) cells
GENERAL INFO

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Board pinout
Battery + – battery Positive: from 3 to 5 volt input
Battery - – battery Negative
LED 1, 2, 3 – hooks up to negative side of high power LED (positive side of LED hooks up directly to battery).
These pads can handle up to 10 amps each. LED 1 = Red, LED 2 = Green, LED 3 = Blue
Speaker +/- – hooks up to speaker (4 Ohm or 8 Ohm 2W-5W)
+3.3V pad – generated by the board for powering satellite devices like accent leds etc.
LS Data – neopixel strip/led Data signal
LS Clock / Aux. button (#2) – neopixel strip/led Clock signal if required (some neopixel strips/leds have a Clock input, see datasheets),
or a second button #2 (Auxiliary)
Button led - – Negative side for the Activation button led return (also can be used for accent led outside the button),
controls accent led eects, turns OFF in Deep Sleep
Activation button (#1) – hooks up to a momentary button #1 (polarity doesn’t matter)
Reset – used for board programming (not for user)
Prog. boot – used for board programming (not for user)
AUX +3.3V pad – used for board programming (not for user)
GND – ground for satellite devices except high power LEDs
Serial RX, TX – used for board programming (not for user)
LED 2LED 3 LED 1
Speaker +
Speaker -
Serial RX
+3.3V pad
Serial TX
LS Data
LS Clock / Aux. button (#2)
AUX +3.3V pad
micro SD card
GND
Button led -
Prog. boot
Activation button (#1)
Reset
Battery +
Battery -
GENERAL INFO
2VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS

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3
Configuration file structure
EDITING PARAMETERS
2VERSO
INSTRUCTIONS
[settings]
blade_type = pixel
strip_type = ws2812
pixel_count = 132
crossguard_pixel_count = 0
crossguard_delay = 0
stand_by_after = 30
mute_mode_after = 1000
retraction_after = 500
double_click_time = 250
blaster_after = 200
master_volume = 1.6
button_blink = 1000,1
button_count = 2
lowbatt_thrs = 3100
lowbatt_timebelow = 10
lowbatt_timeabove = 10
lowbatt_interval = 10
emergency_voltage = 3000
emergenct_timeout = 300
clash_sensitivity = 300
selection_wheel = 1,1,1
selection_axis = 1,2
[font1]
font_name = Verso_Dark
font_type = smoothswing
sampling_frequency = 44100
smoothswing_threshold = 20
smoothswing_sensitivity = 300
smoothswing_sharpness = 1.5
smoothswing_hum_ducking = 75
smoothswing_max_volume = 0.95
smoothswing_transition1 = 60
smoothswing_transition2 = 180
accentswing_high_threshold = 300
accentswing_low_threshold = 200
hum_gain = 100.0
[font2]
font_name = Verso_Default
font_type = smoothswing
sampling_frequency = 44100
smoothswing_threshold = 20
smoothswing_sensitivity = 300
smoothswing_sharpness = 1.5
smoothswing_hum_ducking = 75
smoothswing_max_volume = 0.95
smoothswing_transition1 = 60
smoothswing_transition2 = 180
accentswing_high_threshold = 300
accentswing_low_threshold = 200
hum_gain = 100.0
[font3]
font_name = Verso_Light
font_type = smoothswing
sampling_frequency = 44100
smoothswing_threshold = 20
smoothswing_sensitivity = 300
smoothswing_sharpness = 1.5
smoothswing_hum_ducking = 75
smoothswing_max_volume = 0.95
smoothswing_transition1 = 60
smoothswing_transition2 = 180
accentswing_high_threshold = 300
accentswing_low_threshold = 200
hum_gain = 100.0
[font4]
font_name = Verso_Fire
font_type = smoothswing
sampling_frequency = 44100
smoothswing_threshold = 20
smoothswing_sensitivity = 300
smoothswing_sharpness = 1.5
smoothswing_hum_ducking = 75
smoothswing_max_volume = 0.95
smoothswing_transition1 = 60
smoothswing_transition2 = 180
accentswing_high_threshold = 300
accentswing_low_threshold = 200
hum_gain = 100.0
[eects]
last_used_color = 4
last_used_prole = 4
last_used_font = 0
last_used_preset = 0
ignition_time = 250
retraction_time = 350
transition_time = 250
preset1 = 1,1,1
preset2 = 2,2,2
preset3 = 3,3,3
preset4 = 4,4,4
blade_color1 = 255,0,0
clash_color1 = 255,255,255
lockup_color1 = 255,255,255
blaster_color1 = 255,255,255
blade_color2 = 0,255,0
clash_color2 = 255,255,255
lockup_color2 = 255,255,255
blaster_color2 = 255,255,2555
blade_color3 = 0,0,255
clash_color3 = 255,255,255
lockup_color3 = 255,255,255
blaster_color3 = 255,255,255
blade_color4 = 255,20,147
clash_color4 = 255,255,255
lockup_color4 = 255,255,255
blaster_color4 = 255,255,255
blade_color5 = 255,0,255
clash_color5 = 255,255,255
lockup_color5 = 255,255,255
blaster_color5 = 255,255,255
blade_color6 = 255,69,0
clash_color6 = 255,255,255
lockup_color6 = 255,255,255
blaster_color6 = 255,255,255
blade_color7 = 0,255,255
clash_color7 = 255,255,255
lockup_color7 = 255,255,255
blaster_color7 = 255,255,255
blade_color8 = 255,255,0
clash_color8 = 255,255,255
lockup_color8 = 255,255,255
blaster_color8 = 255,255,255
blade_color9 = 255,255,255
clash_color9 = 255,255,255
lockup_color9 = 255,255,255
blaster_color9 = 255,255,255
icker_type1 = random
icker_range1 = 100,100
icker_frequency1 = 1
clash_type1 = ash
clash_duration1 = 25
clash_frequency1 = 100
lockup_type1 = ash
lockup_frequency1 = 100
lockup_percent1 = 100
lockup_centre1 = 100
blaster_type1 = ash
blaster_duration1 = 30
blaster_frequency1 = 100
blaster_percent1 = 100
blaster_centre1 = 100
blaster_delay1 = 100
icker_type2 = random
icker_range2 = 90,100
icker_frequency2 = 20
clash_type2 = ash
clash_duration2 = 25
clash_frequency2 = 100
lockup_type2 = ash
lockup_frequency2 = 100
lockup_percent2 = 100
lockup_centre2 = 100
blaster_type2 = ash
blaster_duration2 = 30
blaster_frequency2 = 100
blaster_percent2 = 100
blaster_centre2 = 100
blaster_delay2 = 75
icker_type3 = random
icker_range3 = 80,100
icker_frequency3 = 30
clash_type3 = ash
clash_duration3 = 25
clash_frequency3 = 100
lockup_type3 = ash
lockup_frequency3 = 100
lockup_percent3 = 100
lockup_centre3 = 100
blaster_type3 = ash
blaster_duration3 = 30
blaster_frequency3 = 100
blaster_percent3 = 100
blaster_centre3 = 100
blaster_delay3 = 50
icker_type4 = re
icker_range4 = 10,50
icker_frequency4 = 30
clash_type4 = ash
clash_duration4 = 400
clash_frequency4 = 10
lockup_type4 = static
lockup_frequency4 = 40
lockup_percent4 = 0
lockup_centre4 = 0
blaster_type4 = static
blaster_duration4 = 100
blaster_frequency4 = 2
blaster_percent4 = 0
blaster_centre4 = 0
blaster_delay4 = 50
User defined presets block
(can create up to 16 presets)
preset1 = ...
preset2 = ...
preset3 = ...
preset4 = ...
preset5 = ...
preset6 = ...
preset7 = ...
preset8 = ...
preset9 = ...
preset10 = ...
preset11 = ...
preset12 = ...
preset13 = ...
preset14 = ...
preset15 = ...
preset16 = ...
Eects block
Sound fonts blocks
(can create up to 16 fonts blocks)
Copy the whole block, paste after
the last one and rename it to the
next following number like [font5]
etc...
General settings block
Sound font #4
Color #9
Blade profile #4
Blade colors blocks
(can create up to 16 color blocks)
Copy the whole block, paste after
the last one and rename each line
to the next following number like:
blade_color10 = 255,255,255
clash_color10 = 255,255,255
lockup_color10 = 255,255,255
blaster_color10 = 255,255,255
etc...
Blade profile blocks
(can create up to 16 blade profiles
blocks)
Copy the whole block, paste after
the last one and rename each line
to the next following number like:
icker_type5= re
icker_range5= 10,50
icker_frequency5= 30
clash_type5= ash
clash_duration5= 400
clash_frequency5= 10
lockup_type5= static
lockup_frequency5= 40
lockup_percent5= 0
lockup_centre5= 0
blaster_type5= static
blaster_duration5= 100
blaster_frequency5= 2
blaster_percent5= 0
blaster_centre5= 0
blaster_delay5= 50
etc...