Octave Kitten User manual

the kitten
is probably the most versatile, fattest sounding, and least
expensive single-oscillator keyboard synthesizer made in
America. Because of its external patching capabilities, the
KITTEN can be used as a starting point in a basic
synthesizer system geared toward future expansion or it can
be used to expand an already existing system. Its many useful
features make it a logical choice for a solo instrument,
teaching machine, or many other electronic music
applications. And, of course, KITTENS and all of the other
CAT family synthesizers can be connected in series with a
simple stereo cable and played off of one keyboard.
A full 37 note (C to C) keyboard and multiple triggered
ADSR allow super-fast, wide range keyboard technique. In
the tradition of CAT synthesizers, the KITTEN combines
both ROTARY AND SLIDE POTS for easily distinguishing
between modulations depths and other synthesizer functions.
The panel graphics reflect human-engineered functional
clarity logically outlined for ease of operation.
Among its many features, the KITTEN offers:
MIXABLE WAVEFORMS
Each of the 5 VCO waveshapes has its own volume slider.
This means that you can blend all of the waveforms in any
proportion to acheive complex timbres or to get complex
modulations when using the VCO as a modulation oscillator
or Sample or Hold source.
THE "FAT-CAT" SUBOCTAVES
The VCO has TWO SUBOCTAVES (one octave and two
octaves below the fundamemtal oscillator frequency) for
aurally simulating the sound of 3 OSCILLATORS and
providing the fatness characteristic of the CAT family of
synthesizers.
AN "8-NOTE SEQUENCER" PATCH
The two suboctaves provide more than just a fat sound- In
fact, by mixing them with the pulse wave and modulating the
VCF in the oscillation mode, you can simulate an 8 note
sequencer. The frequency spacing, rythm and tempo of the 8
note sequence are ALL VARIABLE!
AN LFO DELAY AND LFO MONITOR
The KITTEN also features an LFO DELAY. This is an
incredibly versatile performance device that allows you to
preset the time it takes for the LFO sine wave modulations to
occur after a key is depressed. This means that you can get
delayed vibratos, delayed filter sweeps, and even delayed
pulse width modulation - without touching the panel during
a performance! And air LFO MONITOR lets you "see" the
LFO speed with a solid state lamp that flashes at the LFO
frequency setting.
All of this and an ADSR repeat, automatic Sample & Hold,
"Click-stop center-zoned" pitch bend, optional glide on/off
switch, VCO sweep pedal and VCF sweep pedal, make the
KITTEN a synthesizer whose value and versatility is
unsurpassed by its competition.
The KITTEN - Once you've tried one, you'll become a
"CAT LOVER".
Electronics Inc.
7
32-73 STEINWAY STREET, LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. 11103 - [phone]
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the kitten synthestar
SPECIFICATIONS:
SOUND SOURCES:
OSCILLATOR: Waveforms-
• sawtooth, triangle, modulated pulse, sub-octave 1 (one octave
below the fundamental oscillator frequency), sub-octave 2 (two
octaves below the fundamental oscillator frequency), all simultane
ously mixable.
Control-
• Can be frequency modulated from 4 different sources with 2
modulation depth attenuators.
• In the KEYBOARD ON mode, tune control has a fine tune
range of approximately ±1 octave, while in the KEYBOARD OFF
mode the tune range extends to well over 12 octaves.
• Responds to lowest note depressed in KEYBOARD ON mode
and is unaffected by keyboard in KEYBOARD OFF mode.
• Can be controlled by optional pedal.
• Audio can be muted when using VCO as a modulation oscillator.
NOISE SOURCE:
• White noise with variable level.
FILTER:
Response-
• -24dB/octave, variable resonance, low pass filter.
Range-
• 20-20 KHz, oscillation mode produces sine wave output.
Control-
• Can be modulated from 4 different sources with 2 modulation
depth attenuators.
• Continuously VARIABLE KEYBOARD RESPONSE from 0 to
lv/octave.
• Can be swept with optional pedal.
VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER:
• Responds to ADSR or can be bypassed.
CONTROLLERS:
SAMPLE & HOLD:
• Sampling rate determined by LFO.
• Can sample noise source for random effects or can SAMPLE
ANY OF THE MIXED VCO WAVES for complex ordered
patterns.
TRANSIENT GENERATOR-
• ASDR with gated or automatic multiple repeat whose rate is
determined by the LFO.
LOW FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR (LFO)-
• Sine & square wave outputs.
• Frequency adjustable from 0.03Hz to 30Hz.
• LFO MONITOR - a solid state LED lamp flashes at the LFO rate
for visual indication of the LFO frequency setting.
• LFO DELAY - delays the sine wave output of the LFO by any
variable time between 0-5sec. after a key is depressed for delayed
modulation effects.
KEYBOARD-
• 37 notes (C to C).
• Multiple triggering system.
• Transpose switch shifts unit up or down by 2 octaves.
• Pitch bend shifts unit up or down by 1 octave and has center zone
locking position.
• Variable glide can be turned on by external pedal.
REAR PANEL PATCHING:
• All standard V4" PHONE PLUGS FOR COMPATIBILITY.
• High/low level outputs.
• TO-SLAVE; allows access to keyboard control voltage and gate
for driving slave units.
• FROM-MASTER; accepts control voltage and gate from
external sources and defeats keyboard control.
• THE TO-SLAVE/FROM-MASTER SYSTEM ALLOWS THE
CAT FAMILY SYNTHESIZERS TO CONNECT TOGETHER
IN A MASTER/SLAVE ARRANGEMENT WITH A COM
MON STEREO CABLE AND ALLOWS MULTIPLE SYN
THESIZERS TO BE PLAYED OFF OF ONE KEYBOARD.
• Glide on/off foot switch input.
• Filter pedal input for foot pedal control of filter cutoff.
• VCO pedal input for foot pedal control of VCO frequency.
• External audio input allows other high level instruments to be
processed by the VCF and VCA.
DIMENSIONS:
x 24" x 51/2" (43.8cm x 61cm x 14cm)
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KITTEN CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
*The following test equipment is required in order to perform calibration of the instrument,
1. A high input impedance digital voltmeter of at least 3\ digit accuracy.
2. A DC coupled, triggered oscilloscope.
3. A digital frequency counter, strobe tuner, or suitable Reference Frequency standard.
4. An amplifier with speaker or headphones capable of high fidelity.
Before beginning the calibration procedure, the following steps must be taken:
1. Be sure that the instrument has warmed up for at least \ hour
2. Connect the audio output to a monitor amplifier
3. Center the Octave Shift switch and Pitch Bend controls
4. Be sure that all modulation controls and glide are fully off
5. "Fc" control fully up and tfQM control fully clown
6. VCA switch is in the BYPASS position
7. All pedal inputs disconnected
NOTE: CALIBRATION MUST BE PERFORMED IN THE SEQUENCE PRESENTED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL
RESULT IN AN IMPROPERLY TUNED INSTRUMENT. «
TRIMMER
ADJUSTMENT
KEYBORAD CURRENT
VCO RANGE
VCO V/OCT
'ROCEDURE
1.Monitor the CONTROL VOLTAGE out^ut(ring of the
TO SLAVE output jack) with a digital voltmeter.
2.Adjust the KEYBOARD CURRENT TRIMMER for a difference
of exactly 3,000 volts between the hightest and
lowest keys depresses on the keyboard.
1.Place the KEYBOARD CONTROL switch in the ON position.
2.Turn up the VCO sawtooth slider* v
3.Set the VCO TUNE controls to the 12 o'clock position.
4.Pin A2 on the keyboard. j*\ J
5.Adjust the VCO RANGE TRIMMER urftil the^frequency of
VCO is approximately 440 Hz.
1.Place the KEYBOARD CONTROL in the ON position.
2.Pin high C on the keyboard. T e
3.Using the VCO FREQUENCY controls, tune^VCO to .
Reference Frequency until zero beat occurs.
4.Depress low C and adjust the VCO V/OCT. Trimmer
the frequency of VCO is exactly three'octaves
below that of Reference Frequency. At this
point, zero beat eill occur.
5.Repeat step 2,3, and 4 until no further"*"
adjustment is necessary. *'
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OCTAVE TRANSPOSE
PITCH BEND
VCO INITIAL
PULSE WIDTH
10
VCO TRIANGLE
SYMMETRY
ADSR ATTACK ADJ.
1.Leave the VCO KEYBOARD CONTROL switch in the ON
position.
2.Pin high C.
3.Tune VCO and Reference Frequency to zero beat.
4.Depress C2.
5.Place the OCTAVE switch in the + 2 position.
6.Adjust the OCTAVE TRANSPOSE TRIMMER for zero
beat between VCO 1 and Reference Frequency.
1.Repeat steps 1,2, and 3 for the OCTAVE TRANSPOSE
adjustment.
2.Depress C3
3.Place the PITCH BEND slider in the +1 position.
A.Adjust the PITCH BEND TRIMMER for zero beat%
between VCO 1 and Reference Frequency.
l.Turn up the VCO_IlJl slider and turn all other
audio sources fully off. ^
2.Check that the PULSE WIDTH control is fully off.
3.Monitor the synthesizer output with an
oscilloscope.
4.Adjust the VCO INITIAL PULSE WIDTH TRIMMER for
50% duty cycle.
l.Turn up the VCOAA slider and turn all other
audio sources fully off.
2.Monitor the output of the synthesizer with an
oscilloscope.
3.Adjust the TRIANGLE WAVE SYMMETRY TRIMMER until
the waveform is symmetrical.
1.Place the "A11 and "S: sliders of the ADSR fully up
with the "D" and "R" sliders fully down.
2.Bring up the VCO sawtooth slider and turn all other
audio sources off.
3.Check that the ADSR REPEAT switch is in the OFF
position.
4.Turn up the VCO MODULATION CONTROL corresponding
to the switch with the ADSR/""~\ position fully
clockwise. Be sure that this switch is in the
ADSRr-\ position. #
5.Place the OCTAVE switch in the -2 position and the
PITCH bend control in the -1 position. $M
6.Depress C2 and adjust the ADSR TRIMMER for a smooth
transition from the ATTACK to the SUSTAIN level.
This will be evident as a rising pitch that
smoothly levels off as a key is held down.
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10
VCF V/OCT
VGA CONTROL
REJECT
l.Turn all audio sliders fully off.
2. Bring up MQlf control so that VCF oscillates.
3.Turn up the VCF KEYBOARD CONTROL to maximum
(1V/OCT).
4.Pin A3 on keyboard.
5.Using the "Fc" control, adjust the VCF frequency
to 1729 Hz.
6.Depress A 1, and adjust the VCF V/OCT TRIMMER for
440 Hz.
7.Repeat steps r) and 6 until no further adjustment
i s necessary .
1.Connect an oscilloscope to the high audio output.
2.Turn up the VGA VOLUME to maximum.
3.Place the VCA switch in the/"V (ADSR) position.
4.Bring all audio slider, MFc", and "Q" controls
al 1 the way clown .
5.Bring the "S" slider of the ADSR up fully with all
other ADSR sliders set to minimum.
6.Place the ADSR REPEAT switch in the AUTO position.
7.Bring up the LFO FREQUENCY slider to maximum.
8.Be sure that the VCF modulation controls are fully
oft" and that no keys are pinned down.
9.Adjust the VCA CONTROL REJECT TRIMMER for manimum
output.
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TRIMMER LOCATIONS
1« Keyboard current
2. ADSR attack time
3. Ocatave transpose Cal.
k. Pitch bend Cal.
5•; VOO volts/octave
6. VCO range
7. VCO initial pulse width
6. VCO triangle symmetry
9. VCA control rejection
10. VCF volts/octave
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