Modern Sounds Pluto User manual

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LEVELTOUCHTEP INVERTTEP
PREAD HUFFLECLOCK
VOICE 1
EQUENCE 1
THREHOLD
TYX
CHARON
D
I
V
R
A
N
D

Contents
Introduction 5
Features 5
Overview 6
Moons 6
Sequence 1 + Voice 1 6
Sequence 2 + Voice 2 6
Effects 7
Scale 7
Back panel 7
Power 8
Basics 8
Battery 8
Getting started 9
Patching basics 9
First patch 10
Moons 11
CLOCK 11
SPREAD 11
WIDTH 12
SHUFFLE 12
Sequencers
Sequence 1 13
Sequence 2 15
Randomization 15
Voices 16
LEVEL input 16
Voice mode switch 16
VOICE knob 17
Modulation input 17
Effects 18
INTENSITY 18
3
TEP DIRECTION LEVEL
TIME
CALE
INTENITY
WIDTH
VOICE 2EQUENCE 2
KERBERO HYDRANIX

TIME 19
Analog-style delay 19
Glitch delay and reverb 19
Scales 20
SCALE knob 20
Listen mode 21
MIDI 22
MIDI in 22
MIDI out 22
Configuring MIDI channels 23
MIDI control change 23
CV out 24
Sync Pluto to other devices 25
Set CLOCK to external sync 25
MIDI clock in 25
SYNC in 25
Sync other devices to Pluto 26
MIDI clock out 26
SYNC out 26
Configuration mode 27
Access configuration mode 27
Save or cancel changes 27
Touch keypad calibration 27
MIDI channels 27
Audio output mode 28
Firmware 29
Updating firmware 29
Troubleshooting 29
Patch notes 30
4

Introduction
Pluto is a compact and portable synthesizer with abilities that belie its
small size. Five channels of modulation (named for the five moons of Pluto),
two voices, two sequencers, a mini-keyboard, and built-in effects make Pluto
its own complete sound environment, but it can happily play other devices.
The design of Pluto draws from a legacy of portable electronic instruments,
from the Buchla Music Easel to 80s Casio synthesizers. With a focused,
approachable interface, Pluto invites exploration.
Features
●Portable 2-voice, 2-sequencer patchable synthesizer
●Easily create complex, randomized sequences
●Low-aliasing digital oscillators, wavetable oscillators
●Mini touch keyboard
●Built-in delay and reverb effects
●Quantize to preset scales, MIDI input, or even audio input
●Clock range from 1 bpm to audio rates
●Audio input for audio processing (line level)
●Audio output (headphone, line out)
●Sync In & Out
●MIDI In & Out (TRS Type A, USB)
●2 channels CV Out (0-5v, 1v/oct)
●Power via USB-C cable (included)
●Rechargeable 2500mAh battery
5

Overview
Moons
(Orange knobs) The moons of Pluto the planet were an inspiration for the
main modulation sources on Pluto the instrument.
Sequence 1 + Voice 1
(Magenta knobs) The first of two Sequencer-Voice combinations can be played
with the four touch keypads or controlled with pulse signals. The sequencer
is tied to Voice 1, which has 3 distinct modes.
Sequence 2 + Voice 2
(Cyan knobs) The second Sequencer-Voice combo is controlled with pulse
signals. The sequencer is tied to Voice 2, which has 3 distinct modes.
6

Effects
(Green knobs) Both voices run through the effects section which produces
analog-style delay, glitchy delays, reverb, shimmer reverb, and loops.
Scale
(Gray knob) The SCALE knob controls which notes are played by the
sequencers. Select from unquantized, a series of built-in scales, or control
the quantization with MIDI or audio.
Back panel
VOLUME Sets the output volume
AUDIO OUT Connect to headphones or speaker
AUDIO IN Audio input
CV OUT Control voltage sequencer outputs
MIDI TRS MIDI input or output
SYNC Sync with other devices
POWER Power on/off switch
USB Power supply, USB MIDI
Program Initiate firmware updates
7

Power
Basics
Turn Pluto on by sliding the POWER switch to the ON position.
Use the provided USB cable to connect Pluto to a power source. This will
power Pluto and charge the internal battery. Use only a USB-C cable to power
Pluto.
Battery
Pluto has an internal rechargeable battery. LEDs on the back panel will
indicate the status of the battery.
Charging – A blue light above the CHARGE icon indicates that Pluto is
receiving power and the battery is charging.
Low battery – A red light will blink above the BATTERY icon when the battery
is low. If it's VERY low, the red light will be solid.
Charged –Agreen light appears above the BATTERY icon when the battery is
fully charged.
8

Getting started
Patching basics
To use Pluto’s patch interface, connect a 3.5mm patch cable from any output
jack (filled circle) to any input jack (outlined circle.)
Pluto’s interface uses pulse signals. This means the signals are either
on/high or off/low. These on/off signals are used to control the timing of
the sequencers and modulate the sound of Pluto’s voices.
9

First patch
Here’s an idea for a first patch. Use two patch cables to make connections
as shown below. This will get both sequencers and voices going.
From here, just listen and explore. Turn some knobs. Patch more cables. Have
fun.
10

Moons
Named for the five moons of Pluto (the planet), the five outputs along the
top are the main modulation sources of Pluto (the synth.) The outputs can
generate a range of clock divisions, polyrhythms, and randomly evolving
patterns.
CLOCK
The CLOCK knob sets the base tempo of the five “moons” outputs.
SPREAD
The SPREAD knob determines the timing relationship of the "moons" outputs.
As the SPREAD knob turns clockwise from noon, the
"moons" will output greater and greater clock divisions
of the main CLOCK tempo.
11

Turning SPREAD counter-clockwise from noon causes the
"moons" to generate random patterns. The further
counter-clockwise, the more quickly these patterns
evolve. Turn SPREAD back to the noon position to lock
the randomly-generated pattern.
WIDTH
The WIDTH knob. Adjusts the pulse width of the "moons" signals.
At the noon position, the pulse width of all output signals is very narrow.
Turning WIDTH clockwise (to the right) from noon will increase the pulse
width of the five moons signals from left to right.
Turning WIDTH counter-clockwise (to the left) from noon will increase the
pulse width of the five moons signals from right to left.
12

SHUFFLE
Shifts the order of output signals from left to right. CHARON’s output moves
to STYX, STYX to NIX, etc. And HYDRA’s output moved to CHARON.
13

Sequencers
Sequence 1
SEQUENCE 1 determines what frequency is played by VOICE 1.
The four steps of SEQUENCE 1 can be played manually with the four keypads or
by patching a signal to the STEP input.
This sequencer has three different modes, depending on how STEP and Voice 1
LEVEL are patched.
1. If LEVEL and STEP are unpatched
○Keypads can be played like a mini keyboard
○LEVEL input is normalled to TOUCH
○Voice 1 frequency is set to the active step
14

2. If LEVEL is patched and STEP is unpatched
○Touch a Keypad to make it the active step
○LEVEL is modulated by its input signal
○Voice 1 frequency is set to the active step
3. If STEP is patched
○A rising edge in STEP input signal advances to next step in
sequence
○Touch a keypad to toggle a step on/off
○When sequence reaches a selected step (50% LED brightness), the
sequence reverses after playing that step
○If LEVEL is unpatched
■LEVEL input is normalled to STEP input
○If LEVEL is patched
■LEVEL is modulated according to its input signal
○Voice 1 frequency is set to the active step
STEP INVERT outputs an inverted STEP signal. If STEP is high, STEP INVERT is
low and vice versa. If nothing is patched in STEP input, STEP INVERT outputs
a high signal.
THRESHOLD outputs a high signal when the knob position for the active step
is past the noon position.
TOUCH outputs a high signal when any keypad is touched.
15

Sequence 2
SEQUENCE 2 determines what frequency is played by VOICE 2.
The four steps of SEQUENCE 2 are played by patching a signal to the STEP
input.
The STEP input is normalled to Voice 2 LEVEL input.
When the DIRECTION input receives a high signal, SEQUENCE 2 will step in the
reverse direction when STEP receives a high signal.
If STEP is unpatched, SEQUENCE 2 will move to a random step when DIRECTION
receives a high signal.
Randomization
When a step knob is turned full CW, the Sequencer outputs a random
note/frequency when that step is active. The randomization is based on the
knob position when the step was last active.
16

Voices
Pluto has two multi-mode voices whose amplitude and timbre may be modulated.
LEVEL input
Each Voice has a LEVEL input that will modulate the amplitude (volume) of
the voice when a control signal is patched. The envelope of the amplitude
signal is automatically determined by the rate and pulse width of the input
signal.
The LEVEL input is normalled to the STEP input of the corresponding
sequencer.
17

Voice mode switch
Both of Pluto’s voices have three different modes. Use the toggle switch to
select a mode.
Voice 1
1. Classic – Blends from Sine to Triangle to Saw waveforms
2. Wavetable – Morphs between 32 different wavetables
3. Audio input
Voice 2
1. Classic – Blends from Sine to Triangle to Saw waveforms
2. Wavetable – Morphs between 32 different wavetables
3. Percussive – A blend of wavetable and FM oscillators. Designed to
produce a range of percussive sounds. This voice has faster attacks,
some pitch envelopes, FM modulation, and noise. Gets some growly FM
sounds with longer envelopes.
VOICE knob
Turning the VOICE knob changes the timbre of the voice, blending waveforms
and sometimes attenuating the modulation.
Modulation input
Patching a signal to the modulation input will modulate the timbre and
sometimes the frequency of the voice. Each voice mode handles modulation
differently. Like the LEVEL input, the envelope of the modulation signal is
automatically determined by the rate and pulse width of the input signal.
18

Effects
Pluto has built-in delay and reverb effects that are applied to both Voice 1
and Voice 2. The effects range from analog-style delays to shimmer reverb to
glitchy delay effects.
INTENSITY
The INTENSITY knob controls both the level of effect signal and other
variables like the amount of delay feedback. At full CCW you will hear no
effect.
When the INTENSITY knob is turned to the full CW position, delayed signals
will begin to loop. No incoming audio is added to the loop. The loop
duration is set by the TIME knob.
19

TIME
The TIME knob adjusts the delay time and blends between different delay and
reverb effects modes.
Analog-style delay
From noon to the full CW position, the TIME knob adjusts
the delay time like a traditional analog-style delay
effect. The farther CW the knob is turned, the longer
the delay time.
Glitch delay and reverb
The glitch delay and reverb modes are accessible when
the TIME knob is within the noon to full CCW range.
Clock-based delay – When the TIME knob is between about
10 and 12 o’clock, the delay time is derived from
divisions of the clock rate as well as the knob position
of the active steps of both sequencers.
Shimmer reverb – As the TIME moves from about 10 o’clock to full CCW
position, effect blends from delay into reverb. Use the INTENSITY knob to
dial in the reverb level and amount of shimmer (pitched-shifted reverb.)
20