Plankton Electronics ZAPS User manual

ZAPS
Digitally Controlled Percussion-line Analog Synth Voice
Operation Manual
English Version 1.0

Index:
1 -About
2 - Installation
3 - Introduction
What is zaps
Where the idea comes from
A different approach than that of a classic Drum Machine
About the synth architecture
4 - Overview / illustration + buttons
4.1 - Illustration
4.2 Panel and control glossary
VCOs Section
VCO1
VCO2
COARSE: changes the pitch of Oscillator 2 in increments of 1 semitone
Pitch Envelope Amount section
Envelopes Section
Modulation Section
Mixer Section
Random Section
Encoder
Contextual Display
Operation Buttons
Slot / Function Buttons
Trigger input
CV I/O’s Section
Audio Out
4.3 Operating Controls
5 Synth
5.1 Architecture
5.2 VCOs
5.3 Envelopes
Hold Control
5.4 Modulation
5.5 Mixer
5.6 HPF
6 Operation
6.1 Func Button
6.2 Listen
6.3 Edit All
6.4 Freeze / Revert

6.5 Sound Settings
6.6 Random
6.7 Morph
6.8 Copy / Paste
6.9 Snapshot
6.10 File System
6.11 CV Assign
Bank Change
6.12 Extra Functions
6.13 Config
7 Appendix 1: List of CV Assign destinations.
8 Warranty

1 -About
First and foremost, thank you for buying Zaps.
Development
Eloi Flores (Winter Modular ): concept, engineering, software.
Àlex Ballester (Plankton Electronics): concept, engineering, hardware/synth engine.
Miguel Eedl: concept, interaction design, user interface.
Jeremy Bernstein: engineering, software.
About this manual
Written by Àlex Ballester, Miguel Eedl, and Eloi Flores.
Illustrated by Miguel Eedl
Typography code:
●BOLD GREY CAPS: Used when referring to the first functionality layer of faders,
potentiometers, and buttons (Layer 1). These are white in the panel. Examples:
COARSE, FUNC, XFM
●BOLD ORANGE CAPS: Used when referring to the second functionality layer of
faders, potentiometers, and buttons (Layer 2). These are orange in the panel.
Examples: HOLD 1, NOISE HPF, SNAPSHOT
●Capitalization: Used when mentioning sections of the synthesizer. Examples:
Envelope1, VCO2, Functions.
●[ROUTE]: Used when indicating routes through the menus. Example: [SOUND SET
> HOLD CONTROL: INTERNAL / EXTERNAL]

2 - Installation
Before plugging or unplugging the module, turn the Eurorack case off and unplug the power
cord. By not doing so there is a risk of electrocution and/or damage to the modules.
ZAPS is a Eurorack module that needs 24HP of space in a proper Eurorack system. It
consumes 235mA at +12V and 93mA at -12V. Use a Eurorack power supply with enough
power. Be sure that the power supply is giving +12.00V and -12.00V, otherwise, some
functions may not work properly.
The provided power cable must be connected as shown in the picture. The connector is
shrouded, so there is only one possible way to connect it. In case you use another cable, be
sure that the red stripe goes to the upper side and it corresponds to the arrow marked in the
power connector.
The other side of the cable must be connected to the power bus of the Eurorack case. The
red mark corresponds to -12V.

3 - Introduction
What is zaps
Zaps is a percussion-line synth voice designed for creating organic sequences that can
mutate over time. It uses a combination of techniques like controlled randomness, morphing,
and storing (or locking) of synth-voice parameters in slots that can be externally sequenced.
The synth voice is a digitally controlled two-oscillator FM and AM analog engine with two
envelopes and cross-modulation.
Here are some of the things that can be done with it:
●Sequence Preset Slots externally for changing percussion or synth lines
●Add subtle randomness to any parameter for slightly changing sounds, or go wild for
unpredicted surprises on every trigger
●Morph sounds between slots
●Assign Accent to any parameter for added expressiveness
●Randomly generate full banks of sounds
●Capture any randomly generated sound into a preset slot for further editing
●Freeze/Revert the state of the module for careless editing during live performance
●Live editing of a single or multiple slots simultaneously for expressive tweaking
●Generate melodic percussion or synth lines with the V/O tracked oscillators
●CV-In control of any parameter
●CV-Out control for controlling external modules (control FX sends or automate
external synth parameters)
Where the idea comes from
There’s something fascinating about percussive synth lines. If we listen to these rhythmic
lines made back in the ’70s and ’80s, with instruments like the arp 2600, there is an organic
appeal in those beating pulsating sounds, as if everything is coming out of the same source
but at the same time, everything is changing and seamlessly mutating from sound to sound.
These grooves were difficult to achieve with regular samplers and drum machines. It is when
we start playing with high-end analog mono synths or modular systems that we are able to
get something close to that sound.
More recently, with the help of multitrack sequencers like the Eloquencer and newer modular
voices, sequencing multiple parameters to achieve mutating beats has been easier than
ever.
Zaps is the result of taking all these ideas to the next level.

A different approach than that of a classic Drum Machine
Although ZAPS can do many things, it does its best at creating percussive lines through a
totally different approach to classic drum sequencing.
The fact that it is a monophonic voice could seem like a limitation at first, but this rather gives
the resulting rhythmic lines their own character. It also allows us to manipulate all of the
sounds through time, and all at once.
With Zaps, we have the ability to address, control and change all of the parameters of the
analog synth through time, by saving its different states on memory slots. You can think of it
as step automation or parameter locking.
The interface also allows us to manipulate the settings stored on each slot while we move
through them by editing them all at once, this way we can shape a rhythm as a whole and
not only as individual parts.
About the synth architecture
The synth core has a classic configuration with a special attention on the details: two analog
VCOs, AM, through zero FM, a two channel mixer, a high-pass filter and two digital
envelopes . The analog generation and signal provides a sound free of aliasing and other
digital artifacts, while the through zero FM allows to produce glass, metallic and rough
sounds that keep the main VCO in tune.
The magic comes from the digital control: retriggerable envelopes, sync of the VCO waves
at each trigger, autotune of the VCOs, lock of the parameters at each SLOT, morphing
between sounds, randomization of any parameter, assignable CV inputs, a file system, edit
multiple SLOTS at once, etc. The combination of analog synth and digital control provides
large doses of flexibility with a great sound.

4 - Overview / illustration + buttons
4.1 - Illustration
4.2 Panel and control glossary
VCOs Section
There are two analog triangle core voltage controlled oscillators.

VCO1
COARSE: changes the pitch of Oscillator 1 in increments of 1 semitone
WAVE: changes the waveform of Oscillator 1
FINE: finetunes the pitch of Oscillator 1
PW: changes the pulse width of the rectangular pulse wave.
VCO2
COARSE: changes the pitch of Oscillator 2 in increments of 1 semitone
FM WAVE: changes the FM modulator waveform of Oscillator 2
FINE: finetunes the pitch of Oscillator 2
AM WAVE: changes the AM modulator waveform of Oscillator 2
Pitch Envelope Amount section
Two attenuators control the amount of signal sent from the envelopes to the pitch of
the oscillators.
ENV>P1: sets the amount of Envelope 1 that goes to the pitch control of VCO1.
ENV2>P2: sets the amount of Envelope 1 that goes to the pitch control of VCO2.
Envelopes Section
Two AHR envelopes with retrigger function.
ATTACK 1 & 2: set the Attack time.
RETRIG 1 & 2: set the time between each repetition (when retrigger is activated)
REL1 & 2: set the Release time.
HOLD 1 & 2: set the Hold time (when it is Internal)
Modulation Section
AM and FM modulations between the 2 VCOs and Morphing.
AM: sets the amount of VCO2 output (AM WAVE) that modulates the VCO1 with
amplitude modulation.
ENV1>AM: sets the amount of VCO2 output (AM WAVE) amplified with Envelope 1
that modulates the VCO1 with amplitude modulation.
FM: sets the amount of VCO2 output (FM WAVE) that modulates the VCO1 with
frequency modulation.
ENV1>FM: sets the amount of VCO2 output (FM WAVE) amplified with Envelope 1
that modulates the VCO1 with frequency modulation.
XFM: sets the amount of VCO1 output that modulates the VCO2 with frequency
modulation.

MORPH: sets the crossfade point between two Slots.
Mixer Section
Mixer for both VCOs and high pass filters.
V1 MIX: sets the amount of VCO1 output amplified with Envelope 2 that goes to the
output.
HPF1+2: sets frequency cutoff of the HPF on both VCOs.
V2 MIX: sets the amount of VCO2 output (FM WAVE) amplified with Envelope 2 that
goes to the output.
NOISE HPF: sets the HPF cutoff frequency for the White Noise.
Random Section
Control for the Random function and ALT output to a CV.
RANDOM: sets the amount of master Random.
ALT: sets a voltage that is sent to a CV output (by default it is CV6).
Encoder
Used for controlling the unit and navigating through menus. It can be turned in both
directions and pressed.
Contextual Display
Displays information about the different modes, functions, and settings. When
moving faders, potentiometers, or slot buttons, the display will change to show
contextual information for each of them, like current values and other relevant details.
Operation Buttons
There are 3 main operation buttons:
BANK: Used in combination with the slot buttons to switch between Banks.
LISTEN: function to trigger and listen to the Slots that are pressed.
LAYER: Layers switches between layers 1 and 2 in the fader and knobs sections.
Layer 1 is white and Layer 2 is orange in the panel.
FUNC: activates the different functions located in the Slot and BANK/LISTEN
buttons. The functions are orange in the panel.