Pittsburgh Modular lifeforms sv-1 User manual

pittsburgh
modular
synthesizers
lifeforms
sv-1
user
manual
v.1
the heart and soul of modular synthesis
The Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers Lifeforms SV-1 is a complete dual oscillator synthesizer, designed to be
the core of your eurorack modular system. Building on the sound and legacy of our celebrated Waveforms
oscillator, the SV-1 module features two full-range independent analog oscillators; sound sources that are
perfect for dynamic and inspired performances. In addition to these two high-performance oscillators, we
stuffed the SV-1 with a perfectly curated set of modular synthesis tools including dual, chained mixers, a
plucky, four stage envelope generator, and of course, our legendary analog state variable filter.

table of contents
1 important information - page 3"
2 user interface - page 4-5"
3. lifeforms sv-1 modular synthesizer overview - page 6-7
4. individual modules - page 8
5. midi module - page 9-16
6. oscillator 1 module - page 17-18
7. oscillator 2 module - page 19-20
8. modulation module - page 21
9. mixer module - page 22
10. tools module - page 23
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table of contents
11. filter module - page 24
12. adsr module - page 25"
13. voltage controlled amplifier - page 26
14. splitter module - page 27
15. outputs module - page 28
16. patch examples - page 29-37
17. resetting and calibration - page 38-41
18. eurorack specs - page 42
19. warranty - page 43
20. service and other information - page 44"

1.1 important power information
Read Instructions:"
Please read the Lifeforms SV-1 manual completely before use and retain for
future reference."
IMPORTANT Ribbon Cable Power Information:"
The Lifeforms SV-1 is a eurorack format synthesizer module. The module can be
installed, rearranged, removed, and replaced in any compatible eurorack
enclosure from Pittsburgh Modular or other manufacturers."
The Lifeforms SV-1 uses a standard 10 to 16 pin eurorack ribbon cable to
connect the module to a bipolar +/-12v power supply. Please pay very close
attention to the orientation of the ribbon cable when adding and removing
modules. The stripe on the ribbon cable marks -12v. This stripe needs to line up
with the -12v pins on the power rail and the -12v pins on the module. The
Lifeforms SV-1 includes reverse polarity protection so it will not be damaged
when plugged in incorrectly; however, as a general rule, failure to match up the
pins correctly can result in damage to one or all the modules in a case. On a
Pittsburgh Modular enclosure power rail, the -12v pins are clearly labeled. On
the Lifeforms SV-1 module, the positive side of the pin connector is on top, and
the negative sides of the pin connector is on the bottom so the red stripe should
be toward the bottom of the module. "
Do NOT remove the Lifeforms SV-1 module from any case while it is plugged in."
Do NOT unplug ribbon cables from the Lifeforms SV-1 or case while the case is
plugged in.
1. important information
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midi module
1. mode button - switch between midi responses. "
2. edit button - modify selected mode."
3. hold button - enable/disable hold mode."
4. mono led - indicates monophonic midi mode selected."
5. arp led - indicates arpeggiator midi mode selected."
6. gate led - midi note on/offgate output jack."
7. clock button - tap clock tempo button."
8. clock led - clock output indicator."
9. lfo button - switch between digital lfo waveforms."
10. glide knob - midi note portamento control."
11. lfo output jack - digital lfo output."
12. lfo output jack - digital lfo output."
13. cc output jack - assignable midi cc output."
14. velocity output jack - midi velocity output."
15. v/o output jack - midi note pitch 1 volt per octave jack."
16. gate output jack - midi note on/offgate jack."
17. midi in input jack - custom jack for included 1/8” to midi cable."
18. clock i/o input or output jack - clock input or output jack.
oscillator 1 module
19. oscillator 1 frequency knob - coarse frequency control."
20. oscillator 1 fine tune knob - fine frequency control."
21. oscillator 1 v/o input jack - 1 volt per octave pitch tracking input. "
22. oscillator 1 fm input jack - exponential fm input jack."
23. oscillator 1 fm input attenuator - fm input level control."
24. oscillator 1 width cv attenuator - blade & pulse width input level control."
25. oscillator 1 width cv input jack - blade & pulse width modulation input."
26. oscillator 1 sync input jack - oscillator sync input jack."
27. oscillator 1 blade output jack - blade wave output jack."
28. oscillator 1 pulse output jack - pulse wave output jack."
29. oscillator 1 sine output jack - sine wave output jack."
30. oscillator 1 triangle output jack - triangle wave output jack."
31. oscillator 1 saw output jack - saw wave output jack."
oscillator 2 module
32. oscillator 2 frequency knob - coarse frequency control."
33. oscillator 2 fine tune knob - fine frequency control."
34. oscillator 2 fm input attenuator - fm input level control."
35. oscillator 2 v/o input jack - 1 volt per octave pitch tracking input."
36. oscillator 2 fm input jack - exponential fm input jack."
37. oscillator 2 square output jack - square wave output jack."
38. oscillator 2 sine output jack - sine wave output jack."
39. oscillator 2 triangle output jack - triangle wave output jack."
40. oscillator 2 saw output jack - saw wave output jack."
modulation module
41. modulation lfo frequency knob - coarse frequency control."
42. modulation lfo led - lfo frequency indicator."
43. modulation lfo triangle output jack - triangle wave output jack."
44. modulation lfo square output jack - square wave output jack.
2. user interface
4

mixer module
45. channel 1 input jack - channel 1 input jack. "
46. channel 1 input attenuator - channel 1 input attenuator."
47. channel 2 input jack - channel 2 input jack."
48. channel 2 input attenuator - channel 2 input attenuator."
49. channel 1 & 2 mix output jack - channel 1 & channel 2 output mix jack."
50. channel 3 input jack - channel 3 input jack."
51. channel 3 input attenuator - channel 3 input attenuator."
52. channel 4 input jack - channel 4 input jack."
53. channel 4 input attenuator - channel 4 input attenuator."
54. mix output jack - output mix jack."
filter module
55. filter cutofffrequency knob - filter frequency control knob."
56. frequency cv input jack - frequency cv input jack."
57. frequency cv input attenuverter - frequency cv input level control."
58. resonance knob - resonance control knob."
59. highpass output jack - highpass filter response output."
60. filter input jack - filter input jack."
61. bandpass output jack - bandpass filter response output."
62. lowpass output jack - lowpass filter response output.
tools module
63. oscillator 1 sub -1 output jack - -1 octave sub-oscillator output jack. "
64. oscillator 1 sub -2 output jack - -2 octave sub-oscillator output jack."
65. noise output jack - analog noise output jack."
66. sample & hold sample input jack - sample source input jack."
67. sample & hold hold input jack - hold gate input jack."
68. sample & hold output jack - sample & hold output jack."
adsr module
69. attack knob - envelope attack control knob."
70. decay knob - envelope decay control knob."
71. sustain knob - envelope sustain control knob."
72. release knob - envelope release control knob."
73. adsr led - indicates the status of the envelope output."
74. adsr input jack - envelope input gate jack."
75. adsr output jack - envelope output jack."
voltage controlled amplifier module
76. amplifier level cv input control - amplifier level cv input control."
77. amplifier input jack - amplifier input jack."
78. amplifier level cv input jack - amplifier level cv input jack."
79. amplifier output jack - amplifier output jack."
splitter module
80. splitter input jack - splitter input jack."
81. splitter output jack - splitter output jack."
82. splitter output jack - splitter output jack."
splitter module
83. splitter input jack - splitter input jack."
84. splitter output jack - splitter output jack."
85. splitter output jack - splitter output jack."
outputs module
86. outputs level control knob - headphone and main output level knob."
87. outputs input jack - outputs input jack."
88. headphones output jack - stereo headphones output jack."
89. main output jack - mono line level output jack.
5

3.1 overview
The Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-1 combines the functionality of 12
individual modular synthesizer modules behind a single panel. Connect different
modules using patch cables to create complex sounds and textures."
The Lifeforms SV-1 signal path is divided into two types of signals: audio signals
and control voltages. The audio signal is the sound that is produced. The audio
signal path starts at an oscillator or other sound source. The audio signal is then
patched through other modules used to shape the sound such a mixer, filter, or
amplifier. "
Control voltages (cv) manipulate the audio signal in several different ways. Gates
are represented by a high or low control voltage. A gate can be generated using
a pulse or square wave from an oscillator or modulation source, or by using the
gate or clock output from the midi module. A gate can be shaped using the adsr
to control the attack, decay, sustain, and release of the gate. The modified gate
signal can then be sent to any cv input on the Lifeforms SV-1."
A second use for control voltages is as a modulation source. For example, a
control voltage from the v/o output of the midi module patched into the v/o input
on the oscillator 2 module controls the frequency of oscillator 2 based on the
midi note received. The modulation module provides a separate low frequency
oscillator that makes a perfect control voltage modulation source. Audio signals
also make a great control voltage source for oscillator FM (frequency
modulation).
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3. lifeforms sv-1 modular synthesizer overview
3.2 panel labeling conventions
The Lifeforms SV-1 uses several simple labeling conventions to make the user
interface and signal flow easy to understand."
The large gray rectangles outlined in black are used to separate individual
modules."
Output jacks are labeled using plain black lower case letters."
Input jacks are labeled using white lower case letters surrounded by a black
background."
Internally patched signals are labeled with parenthesis at their destination.
3.3 manual labeling conventions
Within the user manual, user interface buttons, knobs, and jacks are marked
with brackets. For example [clock led] refers to the led labeled clock in the midi
section.

3.3.1 internal patching
The Lifeforms SV-1 utilizes internal patching to create a single oscillator synth
voice that does does not require patch cables to play. To modify the internal
patch or to create something completely new, all of the internal routing can be
bypassed using patch cables. This allows total patching freedom without the
constrains of a fixed voice architecture."
The patch points that the SV-1 uses internally are clearly marked on the panel
with the origin of the signal written in parenthesis. Plugging a patch cable into
an internally patched input jack will override any internal patching.
3.3.2 internal patching diagram
The diagram below shows the prepatched audio and cv signals. The audio
signals are shown in purple and the cv signals are shown in green.
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4.1 panel layout
The Lifeforms SV-1 is organized into 12 independent sections. Midi, oscillator 1,
oscillator 2, lfo, mixer, tools, filter, adsr, vca, splitter, splitter, and outputs. Each
module can operate on its own and can be patched into any other module
within the Lifeforms SV-1 or other eurorack format modules.
4. individual modules
8

5.1 overview
Convert digital midi data from a midi controller or daw into the analog voltages
needed to control the Lifeforms SV-1 synthesizer using the midi module. A full
featured monophonic midi to cv converter with arpeggiator, glide, tap tempo
clock, and digital lfo.
5. midi module
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5.2 two performance modes
The midi module has two main modes, monophonic and arpeggiator.
Monophonic mode converts midi note on and note offmessages into
monophonic 1 volt per octave cv and gate signals that can be used to control
oscillator pitch and trigger the adsr. The arpeggiator mode creates a repeating
sequence of 1 volt per octave cv and gate signals based on the incoming midi
notes."
The [mode button] switches between monophonic and arpeggiator modes.
The selected mode is identified with an illuminated led."
Monophonic Mode works great when using the Lifeforms SV-1 as a single voice
monosynth. Monophonic Mode has several keyboard responses to choose
from: last note priority, low note priority, and high note priority. Each response is
available with and without gate retriggering."
Arpeggiator Mode includes multiple responses to choose from. Available
responses are notes played in order, notes played in order with a double trigger,
random, and random with a random gate. The arpeggiator can be clocked using
tap tempo, midi clock, or external gate signal.

5.2.1 monophonic mode
Monophonic Mode outputs a single cv and gate signal based on the active midi
note. The midi module features up to 10 note recall when multiple keys are
pressed at once."
Eurorack standard 1 volt per octave scaled cv is output from the [v/o output
jack]. This signal is patched into the [oscillator 1 v/o input jack] or [oscillator 2 v/
o input jack] to control the pitch of the oscillator. based on the incoming midi
note."
The [gate output jack] outputs a high signal (+5v) when the midi module when a
key is pressed. The [gate output jack] outputs a low signal (0v) when all the keys
are unpressed. This gate signal can be patched into the [adsr input jack] to
trigger the envelope generator."
Enable the hold function by pressing the [hold button]. The hold function
latches the gate output high. The [mono led] will blink while the hold function is
enabled. Disable the hold function by pressing the [hold button]. The [mono
led] will stop blinking to verify the hold function is disabled."
5.2.2 monophonic keyboard response
The [edit button] cycles between 6 different monophonic response types. The
selected type is identified by a blinking [mono led]. The number of times the
[mono led] blinks identifies the selected monophonic response type. The
selected monophonic response type is saved in memory and recalled when the
Lifeforms SV-1 module is powered on. "
When monophonic mode is active, press the [edit button] to cycle through
monophonic response types.
1. Last Note Priority with Gate Retrigger - Last note played sounds when
multiple notes are active. [Gate output jack] retriggers for every new note."
2. Last Note Priority - Last note played sounds when multiple notes are active.
[Gate output jack] triggers only when a single note is active."
3. Low Note Priority with Gate Retrigger - Lowest note played sounds when
multiple notes are active. Gate retriggers for every new note."
4. Low Note Priority - Lowest note played sounds when multiple notes are
active. [Gate output jack] triggers only when a single note is active."
5. High Note Priority with Gate Retrigger - Highest note played sounds when
multiple notes are active. [Gate output jack] retriggers for every new note."
6. High Note Priority - Highest note played sounds when multiple notes are
active. [Gate output jack] triggers only when a single note is active.
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