RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES Swarm Oscillator RT-311 User manual

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A short summary in english…
RT-311 SWARM OSCILLATOR

Table of Contents
1.) RT-311 Swarm Oscillator 03!.......................................................................................................
1.1) Basic operating modes 04...............................................................................................
1.1.1) Brief description of the operating modes 04!........................................................
1.2) General operating instructions 05!...................................................................................
1.3) Installation of the module 06!...........................................................................................
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2.) The operation in detail 08...........................................................................................................
2.1 Manual Mode 08!...............................................................................................................
2.1.1) Oscillator 1 08!.....................................................................................................
2.1.2) Oscillator 2 09.....................................................................................................
2.2) Swarm Parameters 10!.....................................................................................................
2.3) Modulation inputs and modulation depths 10!..................................................................
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3.) Interpolator Mode 12!..................................................................................................................
3.1) Preparing for snapshot automation 12!...........................................................................
3.2) Switch to interpolator mode 12!........................................................................................
3.3) Change the direction of movement 14!............................................................................
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4.) Edit Snapshot Mode 14!..............................................................................................................
4.1) Delete Snapshots 15!.......................................................................................................
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5.) Configuration Edit Mode 15........................................................................................................
5.1) Adjusting the LED brightness (red) 15!.............................................................................
5.2) Adjusting the LED color of the interpolator mode (yellow) 15!..........................................
5.3) Enable the sync trigger for the CV quantizer (dark purple) 15........................................
5.4) Master tuning of module and electronic tuning fork (bright purple) 15............................
6.) Save and load programs 16.......................................................................................................
7.) Exchange and archive programs 16!...........................................................................................
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1.) The RT-311 Swarm Oscillator
The RT-311 SWARM OSCILLATOR is a DSP-based, Eurorack-compatible
oscillator module with two groups of 8 mutually detuneable oscillators. Of course
not all 16 oscillators have to sound at the same time. Depending on the settings,
you can also use one single oscillator at each of the two outputs as a sound
source. Both oscillator banks feature smooth transitions between waveshapes
and the Spectralis known TLM modulation (a variation of the pulse width
modulation, which can be applied to all waveforms) plus exponential frequency
modulation (FM), linear FM modulation (PM ) and oscillator synchronisation.!
The sound parameters of the RT-311 can be automated. To do so, you save
several snapshots of the parameter settings and later interpolate between a
selectable number of these snapshots with an internal LFO or an external
modulation source.!
To control the pitch, the RT-311 has a control voltage input calibrated to 1V / Oct.
This input can be quantized as required. During the quantization, only pitches of
a certain tone sequence (scale) are output. In this way, you can create
inspirational melodies and sequences by applying an LFO modulation voltage.
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1.1.) Basic operating modes
The RT-311 Swarm oscillator has 6 operating modes:"
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I. Manual Mode!
II. Interpolator Mode!
III. EDIT Snapshot Mode
IV. Configuration-Edit Mode!
V. Save and load programs.!
VI. Photo-Mode
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1.1.1 Brief description of the operating modes:"
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I. Manual-Mode (default after power up or Tap the Mode-Button)!
After switching on, the oscillator is in manual mode. The LED above the manual
button lights green in this operating mode. In manual mode, the oscillator
behaves like an analog module - the sound exactly matches what you would
expect from the knob settings. In this mode, you will hear parameter changes
directly. This mode is ideal for exploring the sonic possibilities of the Swarm
oscillator. If you are in another mode, simply press the Manual-button until the
LED above the button lights green.—>page 07
II. Interpolator-Mode (Tap Mode/Shift-button )
After tapping the Manual/Shift-button, the assigned LED lights up red and the
Interpolator mode is active. In this mode, everything revolves around the cyclic
traversal of sound settings (snapshots) with or without soft interpolation.
Interpolation means that the snapshots are not switched abruptly, but are
crossfaded from one setting to the next. The transition can be performed via a
control voltage, an internal LFO or the big knob. If you want to go back to Manual
mode, tap the Mode/Shift-button again. The LED will turn green. At the moment,
the panel's sound settings are reloaded. Note that the current sound of the cycle
mode will rarely match the sound of the panel settings. If you want to edit only
one of the participating snapshots, switch to the third choice - the Edit Snapshot
mode. ->page 11!
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III. Edit-Snapshot Mode (Hold Mode/Shift-button while selecting the
desired snapshot with the Big Knob.
In this mode, you can edit, save, and delete the snapshots mentioned above. The
selection is made by selecting a snapshot while holding down the Mode/Shift-
button pressed. The LED of the Mode/Shift-button lights up blue in this mode.
The controls are used to edit the selected snapshot and store it by pressing the
Snap-button. If you want to save the snapshot to another position of the circle,
simply select it and press the Snap-button again. In the Edit-Snapshot-mode, the
controls operate in value-editing mode. You must then use the knob of the
parameter to pick up the currently set value before a change is made. —>page
16
IV. Configuration-Edit-Mode (Hold Mode/Shift-button)
If you hold the Mode/Shift-button longer, you will see an LED animation of a circle
that closes from the bottom to the top. As soon as all the LEDs of the circuit light
up and one releases the Mode/Shift-button, you have reached the Configuration-
Edit submenu. It now shines white. In configuration edit mode, you can set
various device parameters. This includes for example the general brightness of
the LEDs or the color of the snapshot animation, the modules tuning etc. —
>page 17!
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V. Memory Mode: Save and load programs (Hold the Memory/Sync-Button)"
When you press the Memory button on the left side, you will see an LED
animation that closes a circle from bottom to top. As soon as the circle is closed,
you have reached the memory mode. The Manual LED will now light purple. In
Memory mode, you can store and recall complete oscillator setups (oscillator
settings plus snapshots and animation settings). ->page 18
VI. Photo-Mode (Hold Mode/Shift-Button and tap the Sync-Button)
One of the most important activities in the modern synthesizer studio is the
creation of Selfies for the social networks. In order to display the Swarm
Oscillator in the best light, you have the possibility to choose the color of the
LEDs individually for a photo and to keep it permanently on. Hold down the
Mode-button and tap the Memory-button. Now you can select an LED with the
Big Knob and select the color with the Data/Value-knob. Pressing the Mode-
button again will exit this mode.
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1.2.) General operating instructions
I. Parameter value quantization
When setting parameters, you are likely to occasionally find a way to facilitate the
specific selection of certain parameter values. So it is not uncommon to have two
oscillators tuned to different octaves. At such moments, digital technology can
play out its advantages! Turning the Octave Tune knob while holding the Mode/
Shift-button will set the octaves on the knob without any intermediate steps. This
function also works with many other parameters. Tuning in exact half-tone steps
is just as easy as selecting the basic waveforms direct.!
II. Parameter-Visualization A
When a parameter is set, the LEDs around the Big Knob are used to visualize
parameter values. Steps up and down are visualized with a "wander" of the LED
light. Since the LEDs around the Big Knob, besides this parameter visualization,
also represent other things - such as the status and selection of a snapshot
memory - they represent the value of a parameter only for a short moment during
editing. The display then returns to the previous display back.
II. Parameter-Visualization B"
In some menus, the color or brightness of an LED is changed to indicate a status
change. As described above, snapshots are selected with the Big Knob in Edit
Snapshot mode. The eight LEDs represent the status of the snapshot slots during
the selection. Saved Snapshots appear in green color, muted snapshots in red,
empty snapshot memories without color, and the selected snapshot lightens the
LED color. The table shows the color representation of the LED circle.
Colors of the circle LEDs when selecting snapshots.
Snapshot State
Saved
Saved but muted
empty
Led colors
Before
selection
After selection
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Later, when we look at the possibilities of snapshot automation, we will look more
closely at the selection, storage, and mute of snapshots.
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1.3) Installation of the module
Before going into the detailed consideration of the RT-311 features, we first look
at the installation in the Eurorack housing.!
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Before you begin installing the module, you should disconnect the power plug or
the power supply.
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Next, you will need to measure the power requirements for all modules installed
in the enclosure plus the new RT-311 Oscillator (12V 250mA, -12V 80mA). To
estimate the current consumption, simply sum positive currents of all modules
and then all the modules negative currents. The power requirement of all
modules should be below the specifications of the housing power supply. !
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In the Eurorack world a 16-pin IDC connector system has prevailed. In the
illustration above you see a typical 16-pin box connector plug, but unfortunately it
is not used by all manufacturers. The good thing about such a plug is that you
can connect the IDC sockets of a flat ribbon cable only in one direction with the
plug. IDC sockets have a "nose", which must be inserted into the box connector
as seen above - and of course this only works with correct alignment. But even
more important - the delicate pins of this plug connection are protected against
mechanical loads with the help of the box. On "bended" follows quickly "break", if
one tries to bend the pins into shape multiple times.
The RT-311 module consists of two PCB boards that are stacked on top of each
other. The smaller board is the DSP circuit board, the larger carries the controls
and is bolted to the front plate. Before installing the module in the Eurorack
housing, you should check the correct position of the DSP board. Make sure that
all circuit board connectors are straight and have a firm hold.!
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Now take the included flat ribbon cable and plug it into the 16-pin idc box socket
of the DSP board. The 16 pin box socket is easy to recognize (CON1). Make sure
that the DSP board is not exposed to unilateral pressure while inserting the idc
socket into the box plug, and that the backplane connectors remain in place.!
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Now take a look at the power supply bus board of the modular system and the
connection cable of the new module. The first wire is marked red in the supplied
flat ribbon cable. On the bus board in a Eurorack housing, the lowest two
contacts carry -12V. Please ensure that the first wire with the red marking is
always connected to the -12 7Volt side of the base. Unfortunately, the bus system
does not have any polarity protection.
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Once you have connected the cable, you can place the module in the correct
position and install it using the enclosed screws and washers. Please use the
plastic washers - so you can largely exclude damage to the painting and
silkscreening.
If everything has worked out and you have checked the connections, you can
turn on the power. At the same time a few of the LEDs should light up. If this is
not the case, interrupt the current immediately and search for the error. In most
cases, however, the oscillator will now work and we can focus on the operation.
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2.) The operation in detail
We come to the actual operation. It is best to make three connections: !
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1.) RT-311 OUT 1 - this is the audio output of the first Oscillator bank.!
2.) RT-311 OUT 2 - this is the audio output of the second Oscillator bank.
Connect both outputs so that you can listen to both oscillators.!
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3.) 1V/Oct Input - this input connects to the CV output of a CV keyboard, a MIDI/
CV interface or or to any modulation source.!
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When you have established the connections, we start learning the module in
manual mode.!
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2.1) Manual-Mode
When testing the Manual-mode, please make sure that the Mode/Shift-button
LED is lit green. If this is not the case, tap the Mode/Shift-button until the LED
color changes to green. In most cases, this is the case after a single tap. !
2.1.1) Oscillator 1
TUNE
The Tune knob in the upper left shifts the pitch of both oscillators by
semitones. With it, the entire Swarm oscillator can be transposed. The
pitch change is smooth but if you hold down the Mode/Shift-button during
the input, the parameter locks at Halftones without intermediate stages.
The value visualization of the LED ring reminds on the arrangement of the
keys on a keyboard. White buttons are displayed with white LEDs and
black buttons with two dark blue LEDs. In the middle position "C" the LED
lights up bright in the middle. A position to the right follows on the
keyboard a C # - a black button. When you turn the Tune knob to the right,
the middle LED and the closest one are dark blue. This is followed by a
white key on the keyboard. Since it is the second white key, the second
LED lights up brightly.
OCTAVES
The Octaves knob changes the frequency of both oscillators by several
octaves infinitely. Holding down the Mode/Shift-button while setting it will
switch the frequency by whole octaves instead. The behavior then
corresponds to the rotary octave switches of vintage synthesizers.
WAVE
With the Wave-Knob, you can adjust the waveshape infinitely. By pressing
the Mode/Shift button, the selection of the oscillation shape can be
engaged at the fundamental waveforms like the sine, triangle, sawtooth
and rectangle/PWM. The LEDs then display the selected waveshape.
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TLM
TLM (Time Linearity Modulation) deforms the waveshape of the oscillator
waveform. A modulation of time linearity? You are sure to ask yourself
spontaneously whether it is possible to travel through time with the help of
TLM? But we must disappoint you. The physical phenomena involved are
not yet sufficient. At least our TLM does not prevent time travelling.!
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TLM is a modulation which splits any waveforms in the middle and
subsequently expands and compresses the first and second half waves.
Thus, while the first half is stretched, the second half is compressed by the
same amount so that the resulting pitch remains the same. They all know
this from pulse width modulation. The more universal application of the
TLM allows you to change the sound of any waveform.!
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If you press and hold the Mode/Shift-button, you can reach the center
neutral position more conveniently, because the parameter will get a catch
range at the neutral position and snap into place.
2.1.2) Oscillator 2
DETUNE
In the following description, we will assume that the octave parameter knob of
oscillator 2 is in the neutral center position. Now you can return to the Detune
knob. In the middle position the oscillators are not detuned. If the knob is turned
to the left, the two oscillators or oscillator swarms will be detuned in opposite
direction.
In doing so, oscillator 1 is pitched down and oscillator 2 is pitched high. The
tuning range to the right of the center position is designed for larger pitch
intervals. Therefore, only the tuning of oscillator 2 will change in this range when
turning the knob to the right. Pressing the Shift/Mode key will snap into semitone
steps. Above the interval range, this controller produces cluster sounds when the
swarm density is set to - a wild mix of different pitches, which is well suited for
the production of bell-like sounds.
OCTAVES
In the middle position, the second oscillator plays the same octave as
oscillator 1. Values above and below shift the pitch. Press and hold the
Mode/Shift-button to cycle through the octaves. With this control you can
create drastic sound changes, if the oscillator synchronization has been
activated (press the SYNC key). The pitch is determined exclusively by
oscillator 1 in this case. Oscillator 2 is synchronized to oscillator 1 and the
sound is dependent on the frequency ratio of the two oscillators. !
WAVE
The Waveshape knob of Oscillator 2 behaves like the Waveshape
controller of Oscillator 1.
TLM
The behavior of the TLM parameter is identical to the TLM parameter of
Oscillator 1
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2.2) Swarm Parameters
DENSITY
Density controls the number of oscillators involved in the swarm. In the 0
position, the module operates like an ordinary dual oscillator. If the control
is adjusted to the right, up to 7 additional copies of the oscillators are
added. You may wonder that adding additional oscillators will not cause a
volume change. For simpler adjustment in the modular system, we have
compensated for the change in loudness. Thus the RT-311 always
remains approximately the same regardless of the number of oscillators
used - a constant adjustment of the following modules is not necessary.!
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Mode/Shift + Density (Akkord-Auswahl)
When you turn the density parameter knob while holding down the Mode/
Shift-button, you can use the knob to select complete chords as tuning
presets for the swarm oscillator copies. In the middle position the normal
swarm sounds without chord tuning. To the right of the center you will find
major chords and left of the middle minor chords. The chords are always
composed of a maximum of 8 notes. How many notes of a selected chord
can be heard are controlled by the density control after releasing the mode
/shift-button. If the density control is set to 0, you will not hear a chord, of
course, because the swarm is not active and only the root note will sound.
If you only want to hear three-part chords, simply set the density knob to 2
swarm copies. At higher density settings you will hear greatly expanded
chords in different versions.
HINT: Keep in mind that you can store chord settings into the snapshot
memories. Via the external Pos (position) input, you can therefore call
snapshots with different chords via a sequencer line and control the pitch
via a second sequencer line. Complex chord connections are possible in
this way.
SPREAD
In Manual-Mode the spread parameter controls the detuning of the
oscillator swarm. In the Interpolator-Mode this knob has a different
meaning. We will learn the spread control later in connection with the
snapshots and their interpolation with additional functions.
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2.3) Modulation-inputs and modulation-depths."
FM01, FM02 and DEPTH-knobs
Via the FM-01 input, you can feed in an audio or modulation signal that
modulates oscillator one’s pitch. The Depth knob controls the amount of
frequency modulation. If there is no cable in the input connector, the
controller sets the internal frequency modulation (left from center) or the
linear frequency modulation (PM) through oscillator two (right from center).
Turning this FM-depth parameter knob all the way to the left, the pitch
tracking of the Oscillator 1 FM voltage input tracks with 1V/octave. This
option offers oscillator 2 at its FM-2 input as well. In this way, the RT-311
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