Sonicsmith ConVertor E1 User manual
PITCH FM IN
GATE
SYNTH
A-GAIN
ENV GATE
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
P SHIFT
C Q
+-
+
-
1) Connecting and powering
User Guide
Firmware 1.0 / 2.0
To use the ConVertor E1 you need a 12V powered Eurorack case with 6HP (3cm)
available space, one available power connection and 150mA of current availa-
ble. Connect the power header cable, screw the panel to the rack using all 4 of
the included standard M3 screws. Avoid exposing it to sun, fulids or unchecked
physical abuse/shocks.
Please Avoid patching any audio signal stronger than +4dBu or CV signals into
the audio input.The audio & CV outputs of this device are very loud poten-
tially around 10V scale. Always test a signal’s loudness before patching it with
speakers or headphones on.
Thank you for buying a ConVertor E1.
Sonicsmith’s comitment to bridge the gap between pro-audio and
modular synths resulted in this leap-of-technology module. A
preamp and DCO working together or seperately from each other
for the ultimate playground of musical interfacing and control.
The internal DCO can be controlled from audio, CV and MIDI (with
expansion MIDVertor E1). Download the latest product documen-
taions, specs and firmware downloads (1.x series) at the product
page:www.sonicsmith.com/products/convertor-e1.
Feel free to write us with any feedback, question or concern at:
Nov 2020
PITCH FM IN
GATE
SYNTH
ENV GATE
P SHIFT
+-
+
-
3) Knobs assignments: Default
Turn the P SHIFT knob to increase/decrease
semi-tones for the DCO’s SYNTH & the PITCH CV outputs by
-2.5-+2.7 octaves. Press on the P SHIFT knob to bypass the
shi back to unison. Press it again to undo/redo. Turn the P
SHIFT knob faster than 7 steps in 0.3 sec to jump a whole
octave. The resulting pitch shi is relative to the FM IN
1V/oct CV input so try arpeggiating the pitch from external
LFO’s (see #6 ) & sequencer 1/V per octave CV patched into it.
Turn the GATE knob to increase/decrease the gate’s threshold by +/-
1dB. Default GATE threshold is -35 dBFS and will effect the ENV CV output
by shutting the ENV CV to 0V and the SYNTH OUT audio off. PRE OUT is analog
copy of the same signal going to the ADC. Connect a minijack TS to a +18dBu-ca-
pable destination like modular synths. In all other function-modes, these knobs
will be known as “Top knob & Bottom knob”
Audio Controlled Synthesizer
PITCH FM IN
GAT E
SYNTH
A-GAIN
ENV GATE
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
P SHIFT
C Q
+-
+
-
Audio Controlled Synthesizer
2) Preamp section buttons
Connect a TS or TRS Mic/Inst./Line 1/4” plug into the audio input
If you play a pickup inst. press the HI Z
Press F LT To toggle between
analog input HPF frequencies:
Press A-GAIN To activate Auto-GAIN detection, play
loudly for 3 seconds. Aer 3 seconds, the gain will be set
and the meter will go back to showing input levels. Press
A-GAIN longer than 1 second to undo/redo. The gate will
not effect the PRE OUT levels. Turn the GATE knob while in
A-Gain mode to change the gain manually and initiating
another 3 second count. The A-Gain mode will auto-exit
within 3 seconds of inactivity. The ConVertor E1 will
remember preamp settings aer a restarting.
LOW Z: 10 kOhm
25 Hz 75 Hz
RED
GREEN RED
150 Hz
HI Z: 1000 kOhm
A-GAIN
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
Mic/Inst/line input
Synth out
FM CV in
Pitch CV
ENV CV
GATE CV
Preamp out
“Sonicsmith bus” 4 pin header
to MIDVertor E1 (optional)
Balanced/unbalanced
4) Function mode: SYNTH & ENV 5) ENV to VCA, VCF & ENV CV out
SYNTH
ENV
Press the SYNTH button
TOP Knob: WAVE/ Synth Preset
Press the ENV button to change the int. VCA ENV & ENV CV out.
TOP Knob: Attack time in milli-seconds/seconds
If VCF is on (see #5) then ENV will go to VCF instead (VCA just gated).
BOTM Knob: Release time in ms/seconds.
010 30 50 100 200 500 800 1.5 sec 2.5 sec inf.(int.
VCA off
050 100 200 300 500 700 1.2 sec 1.7 sec 2.5 3.5
GRN= unchanged
Red = changed
BOTM Knob: Clip/Fold/Mod/... (firm. 2 only)
- Press SYNTH again to save / Press longer than 1 sec to undo & go home.
- Auto-save & back to home screen will accure in 7 sec of inactivity.
Press ENV again to save & home/Press longer than 1 sec to undo & home. Press ENV/FLT to save & home/Press longer than 1 sec to undo & home.
100%10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%0%
1:2
EXP Comp Comp Comp Comp Comp
1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 6:1 8:1
100%10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%Mute
ENV
+
Press the ENV + A-Gain buttons to change the
TOP Knob: Compressor/Expander to internal VCA & CV out
BOTM Knob: Digital Attenuator to int. VCA & CV out
Press and Hold all 4func. bottons in the preamp section
longer than 1 second to RESETthe firmware to the previ
ously loaded firmware (not including user presets).
To Flush the Firmware we need to insert a
micro-SD card containing the proper files for firmware flushing.
Power the device off and then power it on while holding the same
4 func. bottons to start in firmware flushing mode and select a
firmware from SD via the BTM KNOB: firmware 1-6
card:
Top knob: Firmware select 1-6
6) Quantizing the FM in & VCO mode 7) Reset / Expanding to Firm2.0 synth voice
1:2
EXP Comp Comp Comp Comp Comp
1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 6:1 8:1
1:1-80% -60% -40% -20% ENVoff 20% 40% 60% 80%-1:1
Press the ENV + FLT button to access int. LP VCF
Press top knob to engage VCF on/off, or bottom knob to bypass attv.
TOP Knob: ENV compressor/expander to the int. VCF CUTOFF.
BOTM Knob: Digital Attenuverter to VCF ENV & ENV CV out
Press the Qbutton to access quantization
TOP Knob: Musical scales, press to turn Q on/off
Press both encoders down to enter VCO, DCO mode.
The SYNTH LED will blink red/green every 0.75 sec, and the preamp and
ENV CV out will work completely independent from the oscillator pitch
and SYNTH outputs. SYNTH out will be continously full scale.
To apply the preamp’s ENV on the internal VCA press ENV+SYNTH
func. buttons together. Press both again to bypass the VCA.
BOTM Knob: FM CV in ATTNV. Press knob to bypass attnv.
- Press Q/C again to save / Press longer than 1 sec to undo & go home.
- Auto-save & back to home screen will accure in 20 sec if unchanged.
Penta.
Major Penta.
Minor
100%-80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%-100%
Oct.Semi MinorOct.+5th Major 4th+5th
ENV
FLT
+
C Q
A-GAIN
ENV
HI Z
FLT
GATE
P SHIFT
+-
+
-
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