Vermona kick lancet User manual
User Guide
Kick Lancet
1User Guide Kick Lancet
EN
Introduction
You can imagine songs without a piano, a guitar or a synthesizer but without a bass drum? At
least when it comes to modern music, this instrument is indispensable. Rock, Pop, House, Hip-
Hop, Dubstep, Reggae, Techno or Drum’n’Bass won’t work without a bass drum, will they? This
is probably one of the single most essential sounds. Therefore a dedicated sound generator is the
logical consequence.
KICK LANCET has been designed to serve exactly this purpose. Its analogue circuit creates full,
round and tight bass drums. At the same time, operation with one knob per function is as easy and
intuitive as it gets.
Thanks to MIDI-, audio- and trigger-inputs, KICK LANCET can be used standalone as well as an
additional layer to double acoustic drums or other sounds. As a solo performer or team-player, KICK
LANCET makes your bass drum kick!
Kick it! - Your VERMONA crew from the
Elektroakustischen Manufaktur, Erlbach
Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1
Important Safety information ..........................................................................................................3
Getting Started .................................................................................................................................4
Connections and Powering ........................................................................................................4
Controls and Connections ................................................................................................................6
Sound Generator Controls ..........................................................................................................6
TRIG button and OVERKILL switch ...........................................................................................8
Connections ...............................................................................................................................9
MIDI functions of KICK LANCET ....................................................................................................10
Setting the MIDI-channel and note number ............................................................................10
RESET .......................................................................................................................................10
Using the analogue trigger-inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO .....................................................11
GATE ........................................................................................................................................11
SWITCH....................................................................................................................................12
AUDIO ......................................................................................................................................12
Technical Specifications ................................................................................................................. 13
2
3User Guide Kick Lancet
EN
Important Safety information
The following safety precautions must be observed during all phases of operation, service and repair
of this equipment. Failure to comply these precautions or with specific warnings in this manual
violates safety standards of design, manufacture and intended use of this equipment.
The manufacturer assumes no liability for the customer’s failure to comply with these
requirements!
Use near explosive goods
KICK LANCET should not be used near easy flammable or explosive goods.
Dampness
KICK LANCET should not be used in damp or wet places. Make sure KICK LANCET is not used in
humid atmospheres (walls, floors, ceilings etc.) because this could cause condensation within unit.
WARNING: Risk of electrical shock!
Accessories
Do only use cables, plugs and adapters, which do not affect the normal use of KICK LANCET.
Cooling System
KICK LANCET should not be used near heating systems, warm or hot fans etc. When using KICK
LANCET in a rack, wall system or fixed installation, make sure it has enough space to let the
generated heat dissolve.
Spare parts or modications
Modification instructions and schematics information should only be used from service departments
of our officially authorized dealers. To prevent the risk of electrical shock, do not open any unit
yourself. Due to the risk of injury, the manufacturer prohibits the installation of additional
components or any modification to the existing circuits.
Always disconnect the DC adapter before opening the unit.
The manufacturer will not be liable for any clams in these cases!
4
Getting Started
To ensure top quality, we carefully inspected KICK LANCET before packaging. Nevertheless, the
unit could have been damaged during transportation. Therefore, we ask you to take a serious look
at the unit when unpacking. Do not hesitate to contact us, should there be anything unusual with
KICK LANCET or its packaging.
You should find the following items in the box:
- KICK LANCET
- a DC power adapter (DC 12 V / 1000 mA)
- this manual
- lots of punch
Connections and Powering
If you came here without any problems, you can finally start up your KICK LANCET:
1. Connect the provided power supply unit to KICK LANCET’s 12 VDC jack.
⚠ Actually, you don’t have to take care of correct polarity as KICK LANCET can
handle center-negative as well as center-positive power supply units.
Only use the included power supply! You may already own a suitable-
looking power supply that offers the same connector and even the same
voltage. However, KICK LANCET requires a DC adapter with exactly 12 V and
1000 mA. Using an unsuitable power supply may cause damage to the unit.
5User Guide Kick Lancet
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2. In case you want to trigger KICK LANCET using MIDI, connect the MIDI IN to the MIDI output
of a keyboard or a sequencer. If you prefer using an analogue trigger signal consult chapter
"Using the analogue trigger-inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO" on page 11.
3. Connect the OUTPUT jack of KICK LANCET to an appropriate audio input of a mixing
console, an audio-interface or an amplifier.
⚠ CONNECT FIRST, AND THEN SWITCH ON! To protect your speakers,
your audio-interface and, last but not least, your ears, we urgently
recommend, setting up all cable connections while the equipment is
switched off. Do not underestimate level peaks and resulting possible
damage that could occur when plugging in or remove audio cables.
4. Start KICK LANCET by switching on OVERKILL on the unit’s rear. The corresponding green
LED will be lit.
Congratulations, KICK LANCET is now ready to take off. Within the following sections we describe
how the sound generation works and the use of controls and connections.
6
Controls and Connections
Sound Generator Controls
DECAY setsthelengthofthesounduntilfadeout.Thersthalfofthecontrolallows
creating tight kick drums for dance music. From noon-setting of the control, the
kicksaresignicantlyincreasinginlength.Thesesoundsareoftenfoundingen-
res such as Hip-Hop or R’n’B. With DECAY set to maximum, long sounding bass
drums can be achieved. Use these for Jeep Beats, D’n’B and Dubstep - BOOoom.
PITCH sets the overall sound frequency. Of course the lower range of this knob is re-
levant when creating bass drums. Start from a 9 o’clock position. With PITCH
adjusted to a higher value, you may as well create tom- and percussion sounds.
PITCH interacts with the following parameters BEND and TIME.
BEND adjusts the intensity of a pitch modulation by an envelope (TIME). Higher values
will increase the amount of modulation but also increase the perceived pitch of
the sound, especially with DECAY set to shorter values. Regard PITCH, BEND
and TIME as being interactive.
Withpitchmodulationbeingcompletelyabsent,bassdrumsmaysoundatand
not distinctive; therefore we recommend at least a little dose of BEND. To create
dance kicks use higher BEND settings and lower TIME settings. For long boo-
ming kicks keep the control in the lower half.
With PITCH being set to its maximum, BEND can no longer modulate the pitch.
TIME adjusts the release time of the pitch envelope. In general, short settings are use-
fulforbassdrumswhilelongervalueswillmakethesoundloseitskickspecic
character. A long decay is useful to create percussions and effect sounds.
FM FREQ sets the modulation frequency within a range between approx. 30Hz and 3kHz.
Here, the sound is modulated in pitch using a sine wave. With values starting
from the knob’s 9 o’clock position, the modulation enters the audible range, re-
sulting in a broad frequency spectrum. This allows creating atonal and metallic
timbres. At lower values, FM FREQ will result in modulations comparable to a
typical LFO (vibrato)
FM INT denes the intensity of the frequency modulation, being specied using FM
FREQ. Set fully counterclockwise, FM is switched off.
7User Guide Kick Lancet
EN
ATTACK addsashortxedneedleimpulsetothesound’sstart.Thiswillsupportthebass
drums’ assertiveness. Set ATTACK while judging the complete mix. What might
appear too intrusive when being soloed might already sound too gentle within a
full mix. We recommend adding a little ATTACK even to soft bass drums.
NOISE addsashortxednoisetothesound’sstart.Thisimitatesthenoiseofthebea-
ter hitting an acoustic bass drum. Like ATTACK, adjust NOISE while judging the
complete mix. What might appear too intrusive when being soloed might already
sound too gentle within a full mix.
WAVE is a mix control that seamlessly blends a sine waveform into a rectangular shape.
Here,thesoundchangesfromsofttohard.Withinthersthalfofthecontrol’s
range, the sound receives additional rawness and depth. At higher values, the
sound will start to overdrive and distort.
BALLS is a sound control that enhances the bass frequencies as well as higher frequen-
cies in a certain proportion. Simply put: BALLS makes your bass drum PHAT. We
recommend using this control with caution. Te human ear easily adapts to this
sound and we might tend to turn BALLS higher and higher.
VOLUME controls the output level of KICK LANCET.
8
TRIG button and OVERKILL switch
TRIG The TRIG button primarily serves to manually trigger the sound. Here, you may
play your bass drum without any keyboard or sequencer attached. This is useful
whencreatingnewsounds.Theoutputvolumeisxedandequals3/4ofthelevel
reached at full velocity.
A small automatic function allows easier handling. Press and hold the TRIG but-
ton for three seconds and the sound will automatically be retriggered. The tempo
ofthis4-to-the-oorbeatcanbeadjustedusingtheTRIG button that will now
serve as a tap tempo function. Set the desired tempo by tapping four times.
To leave automatic mode, press and hold TRIG for another three seconds.
OVERKILL The OVERKILL switch connects KICK LANCET to the connected DC power sup-
ply unit. A green LED shows an active powered unit.
⚠ The OVERKILL switch is no power switch. It simply removes the connection of
KICK LANCET to the DC power supply. Please do always disconnect the PSU from
the socket when not using KICK LANCET for a longer period!
9User Guide Kick Lancet
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Connections
12 VDC Connect the supplied DC power supply here.
MIDI IN Connect the MIDI-output of a MIDI-sequencer, a groove box, a drum machine or
master keyboard here.
MIDI THRU This output forwards the MIDI-data from KICK LANCET’s MIDI IN and allows
connecting more MIDI devices.
OUTPUT This jack carries the audio output signal. From here, connect KICK LANCET to a
mixingdesk,andaudio-interfaceoranamplier.
The trigger inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO will be described in chapter "Using the analogue
trigger-inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO" on page 11.
10
MIDI functions of KICK LANCET
KICK LANCET receives MIDI notes including velocity data, allowing the sound to be played
dynamically. The note numbers and MIDI-channel can be set as desired. In addition, the function
of GATE and AUDIO jacks can be adapted using MIDI control commands (see "Using the analogue
trigger-inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO" on page 11).
Setting the MIDI-channel and note number
By default, KICK LANCET receives data on MIDI-channel 1 and note number 36 (C). To change the
note number and the MIDI-channel carry out the following steps:
1. Deactivate OVERKILL to switch off KICK LANCET - all LEDs are off.
2. Press and hold the TRIG button while restarting the unit by pressing OVERKILL. The LED
above the TRIG button starts blinking.
3. Send a MIDI note to KICK LANCET, e.g. by hitting a key on your master keyboard connected
to the unit. KICK LANCET stores the corresponding note number and MIDI-channel and
automatically changes to play mode.
RESET
You can reset the MIDI-channel and note number settings to factory default. Step one and two
equals the procedure above for setting the MIDI channel. Only step three differs:
3. Deactivate KICK LANCET by pressing OVERKILL again. The next time you start the unit, it
will be reset to factory defaults.
11User Guide Kick Lancet
EN
Using the analogue trigger-inputs GATE,
SWITCH and AUDIO
As an alternative to playing KICK LANCET via MIDI, the unit can also be triggered by various
analogue signals. There are three options.
GATE
This jack allows triggering KICK LANCET using a 5 volts gate signal with positive slope. A compatible
trigger signal is generated by multiple analogue sequencers, modular systems and analogue
synthesizers. Beyond that, KICK LANCET has the ability to interpret different voltages of a trigger
signal as dynamics.
The function of the GATE jack can be specified by MIDI control command #84. You need to send a
corresponding value (0, 1, 2 or 3) on the set MIDI-channel to KICK LANCET:
CC# 84 Value Description
0standard 5V (factory default)
An incoming voltage of approx. 0.5 volts will trigger KICK LANCET at a
fixed volume.
1standard 5V + accent
A voltage between approx. 0.5 and 5 volts will trigger KICK LANCET at a
fixed volume. Voltages between 5 and 10 volts will trigger a second, fixed
accent volume.
2standard 5V + dynamic
A voltage between approx. 0.5 and 5 volts will trigger KICK LANCET at a
fixed volume. Higher voltages (5-10 volts) are interpreted dynamically. At
10 volts, the full volume will be reached.
3dynamic
KICK LANCET will be dynamically triggered, depending on the trigger
voltages, ranging between 0.5 and 10 volts.
12
SWITCH
This jack allows triggering KICK LANCET with a simple switch contact with a short circuit. You may
use a common foot pedal with an A-contact. Naturally, dynamic aspects will not be reflected using
this method.
AUDIO
This input allows triggering KICK LANCET by any audio source. Naturally, the quality of this function
is highly depending upon the audio signal itself. Only clear percussive sound signals will result in
usable results. A reasonable sound source would be the individual output of a drum machine for
example. This way, an old drum machine with PCM sounds can be easily combined with the deep
and rich sound of KICK LANCET.
Because of the similarity of the signals, this input may also be used to connect a drum pad.
The input’s sensitivity can be adjusted using the submerged trim pot next to the AUDIO jack.
The function of the AUDIO jack can be specified by MIDI control command #85. You need to send a
corresponding value (0 or 1) on the set MIDI-channel to KICK LANCET:
CC# 85 Value Description
0fixed volume
The sound of KICK LANCET will be triggered with a fixed volume,
independently from intensity of the input signal.
1dynamic (factory default)
KICK LANCET will be triggered dynamically, depending on the volume of
the input signal.
13User Guide Kick Lancet
EN
Technical Specications
Sound Generator
Controls DECAY, PITCH, BEND, TIME, FM FREQ, FM INT, ATTACK,
NOISE, WAVE, BALLS, VOLUME
Button TRIG
GATE input
trigger voltage 0.5 V to 10 V
AUDIO trigger input
max. Input Level -32 dBu
Impedance 100kΩ
MIDI
Connections MIDI IN, MIDI THRU
NOTE ON envelope trigger
Velocity volume
Control Change Messages CC# 84 and CC# 85 (see section "Using the analogue
trigger-inputs GATE, SWITCH and AUDIO" on page
11)
Miscellaneous
Power Supply external DC adapter with 12 V / 1000 mA
Dimensions about 21 cm x 14,5 cm x 5,5 cm
Weight 0.5 kg
optional Accessories Wooden side panels
HDB electronic GmbH
Badesteig 20
08258 Markneukirchen
GERMANY
Fon +49 (0) 37422 4027-0
Email [email protected]om
Web vermona.com
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