Snazzy FX DRONEBANK User manual

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
SNAZZY
FX
DRONEBANK MANUAL !
, 1

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
AFRICAN ELEPHANTS?
!
NO….it’s the SNAZZY FX
DroneBank
MANUAL!!!!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
congratulations on the
purchase of your new
SNAZZY FX
product!!!
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW MODULE!!!!!!
!
!
Installation:!
The Snazzy FX DroneBank requires +/-12V to operate. It is
designed for use with the euro format modular synthesizer
system (please see) http://www.doepfer.de/a100_man/
a100t_e.htm.!
, 2

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
INSTALLATION CONTINUED!
!
!
To install in your system, find space in your euro-rack
synthesizer system, plug the 16pin power cable into the
euro- rack style power distribution board, checking the
polarity so the RED STRIPE stripe on the cable is oriented to
the NEGATIVE12 volt supply line. (LOOK FOR TEXT WHICH
SAYS NEG or -v or -12)
This is USUALLY at the bottom.
Please refer to your case manufacturers' specifications for
location of the negative supply.
!
IF IN ANY DOUBT PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALER!
OR IF YOU REALLY MUST CONTACT ME AT 3AM….
CONTACT IS [email protected]
!
BUT REMEMBER..YOUR EURO DEALER IS THERE TO HELP
YOU!!
!
!
!
, 3

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MODULE
!
!
the DroneBank is really quite simple to use
!
but with lots of musical possibilities.
!
when I designed the DroneBank I had in mind the creation of
thick,
ethereal tones.
!
sounds with a real feeling of dimension,
!
sounds that could transport the listener.
!
The DroneBank can be used to make harsh sounds /beautiful sounds /humorous
sounds / creepy sounds and sad sounds.
!
and all with a minimum of effort.
!
!
FOR the creation and exploration of space, and the space in between the FIVE
PITCHES, The DroneBank pairs well with multiple speakers, or with artificial
spaces like Spring Reverb, Plate Reverb, Delay (its basically calling out for a
SNAZZY FX WOW AND FLUTTER) or DIGITAL REVERB.
!
if you \\
like me
\\ enjoy creating ambient music, techno, space rock, or experimental music
you will no doubt be pleased to find how well the DroneBank works in those
settings.
!
and if you happen to be someone who makes soundtracks or is involved in
sound design for theatre or film, the DroneBank is equally well-suited for those
applications.
!
!
SO HEY
!
WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
, 4

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
!
WHATS THE DEAL WITH THIS LITTLE MODULE?
!
!
!
well ,
maybe that is best answered by telling you— the genesis of this module
!
as a performer and producer I often use my modular synthesizer to create walls
of sound while superimposing melodic and or rhythmic structures on top —-
!
ALMOST LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE
!
So what are the walls made out of???
!
I started discovering quite a few new techniques of music creation when I dived
headlong into modular music creation.
!
!
whether that was adding consonant tones underneath a bassline or adding
swells to a film Cue, I kept finding places where multiple clean tones were
very powerful…but also a lot of work to wire up.
!
SO I decided that if i made a module that took care of all the repetitive wiring (not
to mention saving all those VCOS for other uses!) for me, I’d have a very useful
TOOL for creating VERY REPEATABLE and usable clouds of pitch. And I was
right. I have used use the DroneBank in every performance since. And its been a
super sleeper module for Snazzy FX…the more people “get it” the more that
other people “want it” in their own setups.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
, 5

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE BASIC FUNCTIONALITY?
!
!
the core of the DroneBank is
!
!
!
five triangle oscillators
!
each with
!
!
independent pitch control
!
and an
!
individual out
!
for each oscillator
!
!
as well as a
!
!
master mix out of all five oscillators
!
!
(more on possible uses for those individual outs later)
!
and that's it.
!
no bearskin rug?
!
!
, 6

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
so think of it as a drone creation module that you can reach for
!
!
anytime you need to add depth ,drama , motion, tension , beauty or space
to a track.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
NOW THIS IS SOMETHING I MUST GET OUT OF THE WAY RIGHT AWAY:
!
!
some people ask me where is the CV?!
!
my response is always the same
!
!
the DroneBank was meant to be a dead simple module
!
!
meant for instant drones and immediate usage
!
think of all the time, wiring , and modules you'll save next time you want to create
a wide ,sweeping sound to add to your composition- or how quickly you can add
a dramatic intro to your next live set!
!
The DroneBank is a tool -a musical device and as such when I thought about the
design I knew it was going to be a no-frills module where sound was the most
important feature
!
so now that we've talked about the Idea behind the DroneBank let's talk a bit
about using it!
!
!
, 7

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
!
USAGE:!!!CONTROL LAYOUT
!
!
!
!
!
on the panel
you will find
five knobs and
six Jacks .
!
!
•knobs one
through five
control the pitch
of oscillators
one through five.
•!
•knobs one
through three
have a similar
range while
oscillators 3 and
4 are designed
to hit slightly
lower pitches.
•!
•each oscillator
is routed
through its
individual Jack one through five
•!
•The mix Jack is a combination of all five oscillators nicely weighted and
summed together.
•!
•The LED is attached to this mix out. as the oscillators beat against each other
you'll see the LED turning on and off.
•you can use the LED as a rough guide to how the mix out will sound.
!
, 8

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
one way to set up the DroneBank if you're looking for
optimum beating is to set all oscillators to the same
exact pitch
!
then slowly start turning each Oscillator!a tiny bit up
or down in frequency
!
in no time at all you'll be left with a thick single
unison tone,!perfect for putting inside of an Ambient
soundscape.
!
!
but don't stop there
as the DroneBank isn't just for single note drones!!!!
(though it sure is nice to be able to do them for 25 hours straight in the middle of a field with a gigantic sound-system blaring as you
tower above in a gigantic metallic exoskeleton built before everything went dark)
!
with five oscillators it's easy to set up chords that drone or
!
!
!
OR pick a fundamental and then add harmonics in series
!
really there are so many ways to use it in A SONG
!
!
another interesting way ???
!
put the mix out through a wave folder or waveshaper!! the folder will have a heck
of a time trying to figure out which parts of the wave to effect.
!
!
you can also feed it into an octave divider or the CV in of a resonant filter
!
non Audio uses include FM modulating a VCO or a filter
!
Kurt Digiorgio uses the DroneBank as a chord machine in conjunction with
VCA's and envelopes. (PLEASE SEE THE FUTURE MUSIC MAGAZINE
, 9

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
ISSUE AND DVD WHERE HE DISCUSSED THE DroneBank IN HIS
PRODUCTION SETUP)
!
!
you can easily create stabs or long droning chords by combining the DroneBank
with a VCA, A filter, and an envelope
!
And its great being able to bring up a chord really easily in a system often
dedicated to monophonic sources
!
!
!
!
!
and don't forget about delay or reverb !!!!
!
one particularly good combination is the DroneBank patched into the wow and
flutter with the CV from the Chaos Brother modulating the delay time.
!
this has to be heard to be appreciated. and I hear it a lot. I havent gotten over the
enjoyment of hearing the Wow subtly or not so subtly messing with the very
pretty sound of the DroneBank.
!
!
!
The individual outs also provide for interesting possibilities
!
you could patch the individual outs into the 4ms VCA matrix then add filters or
effects to each individual oscillator.
!
if using a DAW or multitrack you can print multiple passages of the DroneBanks
mix output, all slightly detuned from each other from each other to create literal
walls of sound.
!
Add spatial and delay effects and in no time at all you are working with clouds of
sound.
!
!
very important:
!
, 10

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
!
because the DroneBank uses triangle waves and not
the often used square waves you can easily layer
multiple droning passages without the overall feeling
being too fuzzy or harsh.
!
!
!
!
!
!
AND DONT FORGET…
!
!
FIVE TRIANGLE OSCILLATORS ?
!
why not drive 5 clock dividers?
!
or a clock divider from one,
a telephone game from another,
FM modulate a vco from another,
another into a wavetable module,
FM modulate a VCF (tidal wave anyone?) with yet
another
!
and then maybe use the mix out with some Wow And
flutter or just spring reverb to hear the whole thing in
drone form.
!
, 11

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
really there are tons of things to try
!
!
and once you’ve convinced yourself that you really have
jumped through a black hole of sound…
!
you can sit back and just fall asleep (or into lucid dreams)
as the DroneBank hums along to the refrigerator or the
airplanes overhead
!
!
DONT FORGET…..with a good set of headphones, or
maybe near field monitors, you can easily explore the
wonderful world of BINAURAL BEATS
!
!
you can make yourself some “relaxation” or “deep
concentration” or “study power” sound files by taking
advantage of the multiple low harmonic waveforms which
can beat against each other in stereo space.
!
ALSO..got a cool patch? did you make a track with
SNAZZY FX gear? Or do you really want the world to
know about the weird Snazzy FX sound you discovered
while recording your 23 hour live set?
!
head on over to the Snazzy FX SubForum on the
MuffWiggler Euro Forum
OR FIND ME ON TWITTER!! OR ON FB.
, 12

DroneBank
manual
!
SNAZZY FX
or at [email protected]
!
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!
" !
SNAZZY FX has a one year parts and six months labor warranty. This warranty
covers defects and does not cover mis-use. If there is a problem with your SNAZZY
FX device, please contact the dealer you purchased it from to first determine if the
problem is related to control settings. Your SNAZZY FX dealer will then give you
information on how to return the product so that you can get back to making weird
sounds.
!
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WEIRD STATES OF BEING YOU MIGHT END
UP IN
!



, 13