Panda-audio Future impact v3 User manual

Analog Modeling MIDI Synthesizer

for bass, guitar, keyboard and other instruments

User Guide Version 3.60

June 10, 2021

Written by Peter Kenney and Andras Szalay

Panda-Audio Ltd.

www.panda-audio.com

Product website: www.pandamidi.com

Table of Contents
What’s in the Box? 5
Introduction 5
Main Features 7
Recent New Features 7
Top Panel Controls and Display 8
Connections 8
Quick-Start Guide 9
Setting up the Future Impact v3 9
Operating the Future Impact v3 10
Playing the Future Impact v3 10
Tuner 10
Editing the Sounds 11
Description of the Parameters 12
Resetting the Parameters and Setting the Instrument Mode 12
A Quick Word About Firmware 13
Detailed Manual 14
The Instrument Modes 15
The Boot Menu 16
Updating the Firmware of the Future Impact v3 18
Firmware Update Failure 19
The Future Impact v3 Editor Suite 20
Installing the Future Impact v3 Editor Suite 21
Connecting to the Future Impact v3 Editor Suite 21
The Menu Bar 22
The File Menu 22
The Edit Menu 25
The View Menu 26
The Help Menu 26
The Manager 27
File Commands 28
Bank Commands 30
Program Commands 31
Go to Table of Contents
2

The Editor 33
The Program Display 34
On-Screen Keyboard 34
Block Reset & Randomize Tool 35
VCO & Flexi Copy Tool 35
Alternative Editor Skin 36
Editor Parameters 37
VCO Block 37
Foldover Distortion 40
Distortion Block 40
Envelopes Block 41
Envelope Mode Behavior 43
VCF Block 44
VCF INPUT 44
Attack/Release Distortion 45
FILTER 45
LFO Block 48
MIDI Block 49
Main Mixer Block 50
Effects Block 51
Effect 1: Overdrive 52
Effect 2: Equalizer 53
Effect 3: Chorus 54
Effect 4: Delay 56
Tap Tempo 57
Adjusting Effects on the FI with the PARAMETER and EDIT Dials 58
Flexi Controllers 58
A Flexi Controller in Action 62
More on Flexi Range Control 63
Special Flexi-Only Modulation Sources 64
Pulse Width Settings 64
MIDI Clock Sync of LFO4 65
Some Ideas for Uses of Flexi Controllers 66
MIDI Controllers as Flexi Controller Sources and Range Controls 67
Building Your First Sound 68
Synth Sounds 68
Distortion Sounds 69
Go to Table of Contents
3

Tutorials 71
FI as a Replacement for Standard Single-Effect Pedals 71
FI as Envelope Filter 71
FI as Chorus 72
FI as Flanger 72
FI as Phaser 72
FI as Tremolo 73
FI as Vibrato 73
FI as Reverb 73
FI as Delay 74
FI as Octaver 74
FI as Pedal Wah 74
MIDI 75
Setting the MIDI Channel 75
MIDI Thru 75
Program Change Out 75
MIDI-Related Performance Features 76
Expression 76
Sustain 76
MIDI Implementation 77
Compatible MIDI Interfaces 80
Specifications 81
Appendix 84
Algorithm Block Diagrams 85
VCF Frequency Lookup Table 88
LFO Frequency Lookup Tables 90
VCO1-4 Pulse Width LFO and VCO LFO3 90
VCO4 LFO 92
Warranty and Return Policy 95
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) 96
Go to Table of Contents
4

What’s in the Box?

Box contents:

● A Future Impact v3 pedal;

● A Quick-Start Guide.

Items required but not included:

● A 9V stabilized, 100mA, center-negative, Roland-Boss-type power supply;

● A compatible MIDI interface and two MIDI cables for use with either a PC

(Windows 7 and above) or MAC (OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and above).

(Minimum screen resolution - 1280x900.)

Go to Table of Contents

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing arguably the most revolutionary synthesizer effects pedal there is:

the Future Impact v3.

The Future Impact v3 harnesses all the power and versatility of some of the best (and

best-loved) keyboard synthesizers and squeezes it into a small and portable stomp-box

pedal format, making those wonderfully-inspiring and sometimes other-worldly sounds

available to all instrumentalists.

You now have in your hands the means to create and play classic synthesizer sounds like

those heard on recordings by Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Stevie Wonder, Vince Clarke,

Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, Keith Emerson and countless others.

The Future Impact v3 (FI) is an incredibly versatile pedal and the range of sounds it is

capable of producing is quite staggering. In addition to producing synthesizer sounds such

as basses, leads and pads, it can function as an octaver, chorus, flanger, phaser, distortion,

envelope filter, traditional wah-wah, tremolo, reverb, delay, etc. and even has a built-in tuner.

As such, it can potentially replace a whole pedalboard of dedicated single-effect pedals. It

has a relay-switched true bypass so your input signal is unaffected when the pedal is off.

The FI is monophonic, that is, it can only respond to input of one note at a time. It can be set

up to produce 4-note chords and pad sounds but won’t respond to chordal input. (Polyphonic

input is entirely possible when not using your instrument input to trigger the oscillators.) It

was originally designed for use with bass guitar, but in version 3 the pitch range has been

extended so that it can now also be used with higher-pitched instruments such as guitar,

clarinet, trumpet, etc. In several places in this manual the input instrument is referred to as

“bass/guitar” as these are the most typically-used instruments, however, please remember

that any pitched instrument that can be played monophonically can be used. Additi o nally the

FI can be used as a monophonic synthesizer expander by connecting a keyboard, wind

controller, computer or any other MIDI source to the MIDI input port.

There are 99 onboard sounds but via the companion Editor Suite, you have access to many

more, either by downloading and transferring them to the pedal or by creating them yourself.

In its original incarnation, the FI was already a powerfully expressive instrument. With the

addition of the new features of version 3.00 and now even more still in version 3.60, its

enhanced capabilities make it unparalleled in the field of synthesizer effects pedals.

In the next pages you will be shown the FI’s features, controls, display and connections.

Following that is a Quick-Start Guide. It explains how to use the FI with a bass guitar and

will allow you to dive right in to playing the pedal with the minimum of fuss. Below that is the

Detailed Manual, which contains a complete description of how to use all the features of the

pedal and the accompanying software Editor Suite.

Go to Table of Contents

Main Features

● 99 editable onboard sounds; many more available via the companion Editor Suite;

● Synth triggered either by an instrument’s audio signal or any MIDI-capable device;

● Super-fast and accurate pitch tracking over the full range of 6-string bass or guitar;

● Wide input and oscillator ranges - instruments of all pitches can be used;

● 4 VCOs each with saw, square (with variable pulse width) and triangle waveforms;

● Full ADSR envelopes, giving the ability of precise envelope shaping;

● Individual envelopes for the VCA, the VCF and the Noise source;

● 4 Flexi Controllers - a powerful real-time, user-controllable modulation matrix;

● 4 effects with configurable order - Chorus, Delay, EQ and Overdrive;

● Resonant 12/24 dB/oct. filter with Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass and Notch modes;

● 2nd, parallel Bandpass filter;

● Global LFO for VCOs and VCF;

● 10 additional LFOs - including saw, square, triangle and sample-and-hold types;

● Envelopes and LFOs freely assignable via Flexi Controllers;

● Expression control of most parameters via MIDI, including LFO, filter and volume;

● A 3-voice harmonizer with variable transposition on two of its voices;

● High-quality distortion for the harmonizer voices and dry input signal;

● Split Mode - only the synth signal is sent to the audio output so the input instrument

signal can be split using a Y-cable or splitter box prior to the audio input socket;

● Synth and EWI Mode - audio input signal can be decoupled from the synth triggering

circuit to allow independent triggering by MIDI whilst still playing your bass/guitar;

● Built-in tuner;

● Powered by a standard 9V, center-negative supply with current draw of only 100mA;

● Large 3-digit display - the current sound’s location number is visible at all times;

● An exciting factory default soundset created by experienced sound designers;

● All 99 sounds accessible directly from the pedal - no external equipment required;

● Ability to back up programs directly from the pedal to a computer;

● Rugged and road-worthy metal housing;

● Full-size MIDI IN and OUT ports;

● Relay-switched true bypass.

Recent New Features

●Delay & Tap Tempo - a dual-tap, tape-style delay with a generous maximum delay

time of 600ms. Tempo can be set via the Program footswitch or via a MIDI command;

●MIDI Sync - either Delay (1 or 1+2) or VCO4 LFO can sync to a MIDI clock signal;

●Sustain - via a MIDI command, the synth sound can be held at its VCA sustain level

indefinitely while allowing the ability to play the input instrument alongside it;

●Manager - a vastly improved patch management system within the Editor Suite via a

drag-and-drop interface with integration into our Online Program Database.

Go to Table of Contents

Top Panel Controls and Display

Connections

Go to Table of Contents

Quick-Start Guide

The Future Impact v3 will let you play amazing and authentic synth lines from your bass,

guitar, keyboard or practically any other instrument. You can choose from 99 onboard

sounds that you can quickly shape to your taste using the Top Panel Controls. By using the

pedal in conjunction with its companion Editor Suite software, you can branch out further

and download many more free sounds created by experienced sound designers and other

enthusiasts in the music community. You can also learn to build and share your own sounds,

unlocking your creative potential and opening the door to inspirational music-making.

This guide will show you how to set up and use the FI with your bass/guitar, including the

use of the built-in Tuner. The guide will also explain what the main sound-sculpting

parameters are and how to adjust them easily on the pedal.

If you want to delve deeper into the process of transferring new sounds to your pedal or

creating your own then you will need to consult the Detailed Manual.

There is also a very helpful FAQ section at the very end of this manual.

Setting up the Future Impact v3

Connect your bass/guitar to the INPUT socket; connect the OUTPUT socket to an amplifier.

Connect a 9V stabilized, 100mA (minimum), center-negative, Roland/Boss-type power

supply to the DC 9V socket. The power supply must match the mains voltage and connector

requirements of your country.

Upon powering on, the LCD will first show the firmware version number for one second.

Next it will show the Instrument Mode for one second - the default is bass guitar (“bSS”). (It

is very important to set the correct Instrument Mode for your instrument. See the section

below entitled Resetting the Parameters and Setting the Instrument Mode for details.)

Finally, the LCD will show the bank number, program number and parameter value. (These

terms will be discussed in the following sections of this guide.)

Press the ON/OFF footswitch (right) to turn the FI on - the ON LED will light up.

Adjust the INPUT LEVEL dial so that the red LED lights up briefly only when your bass/guitar

is played at its loudest; adjust the OUTPUT LEVEL dial to your needs.

Note: Due to the true bypass function of the FI, the level display will only work when the

effect is ON.

Go to Table of Contents

Operating the Future Impact v3

The FI has 99 sounds (programs) distributed across 10 banks: bank 0 has 9 sounds, all

other banks have 10. Step up through the banks by pressing the EDIT/BANK UP dial (by

hand only). Press and hold this dial and turn it to quickly move up or down to any bank.

Sounds are selected with the PROGRAM footswitch. Press to move up by one; double-press

to move down by one. Hold down the footswitch after pressing or double-pressing to scroll.

Moving up and down through the programs steps over the bank borders so that you can

access any of the 99 programs using just the one footswitch. The numbers wrap around.

Playing the Future Impact v3

The synthesizer module of the FI is driven by the pitch and volume information derived from

your bass/guitar and the whole range of 24-fret, 6 string bass and guitar is supported.

However, to function correctly, the FI requires an input of cleanly-played monophonic notes.

If you play chords or use slapping or tapping techniques, then this does not provide accurate

pitch information and can result in notes of unintended pitch being triggered on the

synthesizer. Due care must be given to muting between subsequent notes so that the

pitch-detection circuit can accurately “hear” a new pitch and a new note beginning.

Furthermore, if you try to use it outside of the pitch range of the selected Instrument Mode

then unpredictable results will occur. To a certain extent you must learn to play the pedal,

much like you would need to learn to play any new instrument.

Tuner

The FI includes a very high-quality, fast-response Tuner that uses the advanced pitch

detection technology of the FI.

To activate the Tuner, press and hold the ON/OFF footswitch for one second.

To deactivate the Tuner, press ON/OFF briefly and the FI will return to the ON state.

The Tuner can also be activated and deactivated by using its dedicated MIDI command. See

the MIDI Implementation section for details.

The Tuner can be activated from both the ON and OFF states and in either case the audio

output will be completely muted.

In the pedal’s LCD, the left-hand digit shows the note name and the middle digit shows (an

approximation of) the #sign. The right-hand digit shows the fine-tune value using one or

more of the three horizontal lines as follows:

Go to Table of Contents

Upper line only

Sharp by > 10 cents

Upper and middle lines

Sharp by > 3 cents

Middle line only

In tune (within ±3 cents)

Lower and middle lines

Flat by > 3 cents

Lower line only

Flat by > 10 cents

Note 1: While in Tuner mode, the display will be blank if there is no input signal.

The Tuner is calibrated to the Tune Base value. This can be adjusted in the range of

428-452 Hz. (The default value is 440 Hz). See the Boot Menu for instructions on how to set

the Tune Base.

Note 2: If the Sustain feature is active when entering the Tuner, the display will show the

value of the sustained synth pitch and won’t respond to instrument input. Disengage the

Sustain to allow the Tuner to function normally.

Note 3: When the Tuner is engaged, the Program footswitch (or its corresponding MIDI

command) can be used to set the Tap Tempo for the Delay effect.

Editing the Sounds

For each sound, you can edit up to nine different sound parameters directly on the pedal via

the Top Panel Controls and save the changes.

There are also two global parameters; editing either of these affects all programs.

All the parameters are explained in the next section.

All parameters have a range of 1-9 and a default value of 5. The value is shown by the DATA

digit in the pedal’s LCD.

Select a parameter using the PARAMETER dial and turn the EDIT dial to edit its value.

Editing a parameter causes an immediate audible change to the sound and the decimal

point starts blinking to indicate an unsaved edit.. Press the EDIT dial to save the changes.

Any unsaved changes will be lost when switching to a new program, pressing the ON/OFF

footswitch or powering off the pedal.

Note: At startup, the FI will automatically load whichever program you last saved

using the EDIT dial. You can thus use this function to choose the startup sound.

Go to Table of Contents

Description of the Parameters

NOTE OFF LEVEL (global): Sets the volume threshold of the input signal below which the

synth stops sounding. A lower value allows you to sustain notes longer. A higher value

allows better articulation of staccato notes.

NOTE ON LEVEL (global): Sets the volume threshold of the input signal above which the

synth begins sounding. If low-volume notes do not trigger the synth then decrease the value.

If multiple triggering occurs then increase the value.

ATTACK: Sets the length of the attack stage of the filter AD/ADSR envelope. Higher values

make the filter take longer to open after a note is played.

DECAY: Sets the length of the decay stage of the filter AD/ADSR envelope. Higher values

make the filter take longer to close again after it has opened.

ENVELOPE DEPTH: Sets how much the filter opens in response to the filter AD/ADSR

envelope.

DYNAMICS: Sets how much the filter opens in response to playing dynamics.

CUTOFF: Sets the cutoff frequency of the filter. Lower values yield a darker sound; higher

values yield a brighter sound. The range of this parameter can be altered in the Boot Menu.

RESONANCE: Boosts the frequencies around the filter cutoff frequency. Lower values give

a flat, wide peak; higher values give a narrow, sharp peak.

BALANCE: Sets the balance between the bass/guitar sound and the synth sound. A setting

of 9 mutes the dry bass/guitar sound entirely.

LEVEL: Sets the overall output level of the sound.

EFFECTS: Sets the amount of chorus, delay, overdrive or tilt-EQ applied to the sound. For

full details on how the effects are influenced by this parameter see the explanation at the

very end of the Effects Block section of this manual.

Resetting the Parameters and Setting the Instrument Mode

Both of these tasks are accomplished using the Boot Menu. (The Boot Menu actually

contains seven items but we’ll only deal with the aforementioned two for now.)

To enter the Boot Menu, press and hold the PROGRAM (left) footswitch before powering on

the pedal; continue to hold down the footswitch until the firmware version number has

finished being displayed. You can then release the footswitch.

Go to Table of Contents

Turn the PARAMETER dial to “Note Off Level” and you will see the name of a parameter in

the display; turn it clockwise to any other position to see that parameter’s value. Adjust the

value using the EDIT dial. (You do not need to press the dial afterwards to save it.)

Press the left footswitch again to advance to the next item in the Boot Menu and edit it as

before. When you have finished editing, turn the FI off and on again for the changes to take

effect.

The Reset All function is the first item in the menu; Instrument Mode is the sixth. Their

settings are shown below.

●RESET ALL (“rS”)

Value: 0, 1. (Default on reset is 0.)

Change to 1 to immediately reset all Boot Menu settings to their default values. All

sound para meters will be reset to their default value (5) upon power-on. The program

loaded at power-on will be reset to 1.

● INSTRUMENT MODE (“InS”)

Value: bSS (Bass), SPL (Split), Gtr (Guitar), Snt (Synth), EUI (EWI). (Default on reset

is bSS.)

Choose the option for your instrument. If your instrument is not listed above then

choose either Bass or Guitar, whichever one best fits the pitch range of your

instrument.

See the Instrument Modes section for full details of the different modes.

A Quick Word About Firmware

In order to enjoy all the latest features of your FI you should ensure you have the latest

firmware version installed.

Check the number shown in your pedal’s display when powering on. If 3.60 is shown, then

you don’t need to do anything further. If a number lower than 3.60 is shown then you will

need to update the firmware; please see the dedicated section on Updating the Firmware

of the Future Impact v3 in the Detailed Manual below to learn how to do this.

Go to Table of Contents

Detailed Manual
The opening section of this part of the User Guide will explain the FI’s different Instrument
Modes and all the other settings of the Boot Menu. It will then show you how to update your
pedal’s firmware.
The next few sections, which form the bulk of the manual, will show you everything you need
to know about the Editor Suite. They begin by showing you how to download and install the
software and connect the FI to your computer. They then go on to explain how to load, save,
transfer and rearrange programs using the Manager. The final section of that group takes
you through all of the controls and functions of the Editor in detail. Immediately after that,
there is a section on Building Your First Sound from scratch, followed by some short
Tutorials on how to configure the FI to replace single-effect stomp boxes.
Towards the end of the manual there is a section which explains the MIDI features of the FI
such as Expression control and the new Sustain feature. There is a chart showing the full
MIDI Implementation and a list of Compatible MIDI Interfaces.
The Appendix contains block diagrams of the FI’s signal path and some useful lookup
tables of the filter and LFO frequency settings.
A tremendous amount of care and effort has been put into making this manual as clear,
comprehensive and user-friendly as possible. As you will have already noticed, there are
hyperlinks throughout the document. At the bottom of each page there is a hyperlink to the
Table Of Contents (which itself comprises hyperlinks) so you can click to quickly navigate
between sections if you need to refer to relevant information discussed elsewhere. Should
you be unable to find what you are looking for in the Table Of Contents, remember that you
are most likely reading this in PDF format either online or embedded in the Editor Suite; as
such, you can press CTRL+F and type a keyword to find the information you need.
The FI is a very deep pedal and there is a lot to learn. You will probably need to refer back to
this manual several times. It really does contain a wealth of information and if you take the
time to read and digest it, you will be rewarded with the knowledge of how to create some
amazing sounds.
We hope that your Future Impact v3 brings you many years of joyful music-making!
The Panda Team
Go to Table of Contents
14

The Instrument Modes

In order to get the best performance from the FI, it is very important to set the correct

instrument mode for your instrument. If your instrument is not among those listed below then

choose either Bass or Guitar, whichever one best fits the pitch range of your instrument.

Bass is the default setting.

The Instrument Mode is set via the Boot Menu.

The various instrument modes are fully explained below.

Bass Mode

The pitch tracking is optimized and limited for the pitch range of the bass guitar. The entire

range of a 24-fret, 6-string bass is covered. The synthesizer can be triggered either by audio

or by MIDI as desired. (Note that the Distortion Block cannot be triggered by MIDI.)

Split Mode

A variation of Bass mode, designed for using the FI on stage with two separate amplifiers

(one for bass/guitar, one for synth), or for using in the studio where having separate

bass/guitar and synth channels may be desired. In this mode you must split the signal prior

to the FI’s input with a splitter box or a Y cable for the two destinations.

Everything works as in Bass mode, but with the following differences:

● The direct audio signal portion of all programs is muted so that only the synth1

signal is sent to the FI’s audio output;

● The ON/OFF footswitch will not switch to true bypass when turned off; instead the

output remains connected to the digital circuitry and all signals are muted.

Guitar Mode

The pitch tracking is optimized and limited for the pitch range of the 6-string guitar. The

synthesizer can be triggered either by audio or by MIDI as desired. (Note that the Distortion

Block cannot be triggered by MIDI.)

Synth Mode and EWI Mode

These two modes are for playing the FI solely via a MIDI controller. Both modes are identical

except for the initialization of MIDI CC values. (See the table on the next page.)

1Here by “synth” we mean the contents of the VCF output, that is, any signal routed through the filter.

Go to Table of Contents

The FI’s audio input is decoupled from the pitch-detection circuit and all envelope triggering.

Your instrument’s audio signal can still be routed through the VCF Block and the Effects

Block, but the envelopes and synthesizer notes will only be triggered via the MIDI input.

Note: The Distortion Block cannot be used.

Unlike in Bass/Split/Guitar modes, the FI will power on in the ON state.

The Tuner has no function.

MIDI CC initialization values in all Instrument Modes:

MIDI CC

Bass/Split/Guitar

127

Mode

Synth

127

EWI

127

Note: These MIDI CCs will be initialized to their default values on startup, on every program

change and whenever the Editor changes a Flexi source.

The Boot Menu

From here you can reset all hardware parameters, change how the footswitches select

programs, set the range of the filter, set the Tune Base, set the FI’s MIDI channel, set the

Instrument Mode, and turn MIDI Thru on or off.