Xaoc Devices TIRANA II User manual

TIRANA
utility micro
sequencer ii
Model of 1960
operator’s manual rev. 1960/2.2

SALUT
Thank you for purchasing this Xaoc Devices
product. Tirana is a compact, expandable volt-
age source with a wide range of uses including
classic step sequencer, modulation source, volt-
age bank, and arpeggiator. Tirana is equally
suited to small and large systems alike, either
as a single utility or chained with more Tira-
na units. This is a second, vastly improved re-
vision to the original 2014 Tirana, featuring
an updated circuit and a new, more powerful

INSTALLATION
The module requires 6hp worth of free space
in the eurorack cabinet. The ribbon type pow-
er cable must be plugged into the bus board,
paying close attention to polarity orientation.
The red stripe indicates the negative 12V rail
and is supposed to match a dot, –12V or red
stripe marks on both the unit and the bus
board. The module itself is secured against
reversed power connection, however revers-
ing the 16-pin header may cause serious
damage to other components of your system,
because it will short-circuit the +12V and +5V
power rails. The module should be fastened
by mounting the supplied screws before pow-
ering up. To better understand the device, we
strongly advise the user to read through the
entire manual before using the module.
MODULE OVERVIEW
To operate, Tirana expects an external clock
source (up to 320Hz) in the clock input sock-
et 3. Patching any stable clock generator—
such as an LFO pulse or another sequencer’s
sync output—causes the sequence steps to
play sequentially in a loop. The value for
each step is adjustable by turning knobs 1-4
1. By default, the voltage set by the knob is
unipolar and within the 0V to 10V range. The
jumper 9 on the back of the module allows
for the selection of bipolar voltages within –5
to +5V range. Another jumper 10 attenuates
the voltage range to 0V to 5V and –2.5V to
-
trol voltages and gate/trigger impulses are
available at cv out 4 and gate 5 outputs.
       
pressing the corresponding button 2 until its
light deactivates. note: Muting a step does not
remove the step from the sequence. The con-
trol voltage remains present for the selected
step, and only the gate/trigger itself is muted.
SEQUENCE PLAY CONTROL
Sequence direction can be changed by patch-
ing a trigger impulse into the directn input
socket 6. Sequence can be reset to step 1
by patching a trigger impulse into the reset
input 7. Sequence can be transposed (off-
set) by patching a control voltage into the
transp input 8.
TOGGLING GATE VS. TRIGGER
Hold step 1 and step 4 buttons simulta-
neously for 2 seconds to change whether
the gate output generates a gate or trigger
impulse. note: Dynamic gate width modula-
tion is possible because Tirana’s gate width
directly matches that of the external clock
impulse.
STEP MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
Each step can be multiplied (repeated) up to
four times (resulting in up to 16 steps in the
sequence). The note length is retained upon
repeat. Alternatively, each step can be divided
to achieve the popular ratcheting effect. The
trigger/gate impulse is generated 2, 3 or 4
times per note. To program these events on
a given step, enter the step menu as follows:
STEP REPEAT
To set a desired number of repeats for a given
step, enter the div·mlt menu by holding the
corresponding step’s button for 2 seconds. The
2
module
explained

3

controls
overview
8
4
7
6
3
5
1
2
KEEP THE
JUMPER
FOR STAND
ALONE
CHAINING HEADERS
VOLTAGE
ADJUSTMENT
UNIPOLAR HALF RANGE
BIPOLAR FULL RANGE
TIRANA
1960 UTILIT Y MICRO SEQUENCER II
REV. 05·2017
POWER
CONNECTOR
MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
XAOCDEVICES.COM
number of repeats is indicated by one blinking
button and three unlit buttons. Press step 2
for one repeat (2 total triggers), step 3 for
two repeats (3 total triggers), or step 4 for
three repeats (4 total triggers) of the given
step. To reset the desired step back to a single
trigger, press cancel (step 1 button). Tirana
automatically exits the div·mlt menu mode
once a choice is made.
RATCHETING
To set a desired number of ratchets for a given
step, enter the div·mlt menu by pressing the
corresponding step’s button for 2 seconds. The
number of divisions is indicated by one blink-
ing button and three unlit buttons. Hold step
2 for two triggers (step divided by 2), step 3
for three triggers (step divided by 3), or step 4
for four triggers (step divided by 4) within the
given step. To reset the desired step back to a
single trigger, press cancel (step 1 button).
Tirana automatically exits the div·mlt menu
mode once a choice is made.
While in div·mlt menu, a slowly-blinking
button indicates multiplication and a quick-
12
9
11
10


 
4). All settings are memorized and recalled
after power reset.
CLOCK DIVISION
Tirana can be set to internally divide the in-
coming clock by 2, 3 or 4. Division value can
be set by holding step buttons in the following
combinations: Buttons 1+2 for division by
2. Buttons 1+2+3 for division by 3. Buttons
1+2+3+4 for division by 4. note: Choosing
any of these combinations a second time sets
the module back to the default (not divided)
original clock rate. The succession is always:
orig. clock —› division —› orig. clock —› di-
       

All settings are memorized and recalled after
power reset.
RESET BEHAVIOUR ADJUSTMENT
Tirana has four user-selectable latency val-
ues which can be adjusted to accommodate
any timing inaccuracies between clock and
reset impulses.
        
module is not chained with other Tiranas and
disconnect the chaining cable (not the pow-
er cable) if necessary. Then, during system
power up, hold the step 1 button to enter
factory maintenance mode as indicated by
all buttons slowly blinking. Next, select the
step 1 button for 0.35ms of latency; step
2 button for 0.7ms; step 3 button for 1.4ms
(default); step 4 for 2.8ms. Latency choice
        
selected button.
All settings are memorized and recalled after
power reset.
4
KEEP THE
JUMPER
FOR STAND
ALONE
CHAINING HEADERS
VOLTAGE
ADJUSTMENT
UNIPOLAR HALF RANGE
BIPOLAR FULL RANGE
TIRANA
196 0 U T ILIT Y MICRO S E Q UENCE R I I
REV. 05·2017
POWER
CONNECTOR
MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
XAOCDEVICES.COM
KEEP THE
JUMPER
FOR STAND
ALONE
CHAINING HEADERS
VOLTAGE
ADJUSTMENT
UNIPOLAR HALF RANGE
BIPOLAR FULL RANGE
TIRANA
196 0 U T ILIT Y MICRO S E Q UENCE R I I
REV. 05·2017
POWER
CONNECTOR
MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
XAOCDEVICES.COM
KEEP THE
JUMPER
FOR STAND
ALONE
CHAINING HEADERS
VOLTAGE
ADJUSTMENT
UNIPOLAR HALF RANGE
BIPOLAR FULL RANGE
TIRANA
196 0 U T ILIT Y MICRO S E Q UENCE R I I
REV. 05·2017
POWER
CONNECTOR
MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
XAOCDEVICES.COM
KEEP THE
JUMPER
FOR STAND
ALONE
CHAINING HEADERS
VOLTAGE
ADJUSTMENT
UNIPOLAR HALF RANGE
BIPOLAR FULL RANGE
TIRANA
196 0 U T ILIT Y MICRO S E Q UENCE R I I
REV. 05·2017
POWER
CONNECTOR
MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
XAOCDEVICES.COM
PRIMARY SECONDARY SECONDARY SECONDARY
Stability loop cable (optional, see text)
Jumper


5
programming
combos
Hold any step
button for 2 seconds
to enter the step
editing menu. Slow-
ly blinking step but-
ton (2-4) indicates
step repeat. Fast
blinking indicates
step ratcheting.
step 1 blinking
indicates that
neither step repeat
nor ratcheting has
been set for the
currently edited
step.
Press step 1
button to cancel
multiplication/
division on a given
step. Tirana auto-
matically exits the
step editing menu
after a choice is
made.
Press any of step
2-4 buttons to set
a multiplication
(step repeat) value.
Tirana automati-
cally exits the step
editing menu
after a choice is
made.
Hold any of step
2-4 buttons for
2 seconds to set a
division (ratchet-
ing) value. Tirana
automatically
exits the step editing
menu after a choice
is made.
Simultaneously
hold step 1+2
buttons for 2
seconds to set a
clock division by
/2. The choice will

glimpse of all four
buttons.
Simultaneously
hold step 1+2+3
buttons for 2
seconds to set a
clock division per
/3. The choice will

glimpse of all four
buttons.
Simultaneously
hold step
1+2+3+4 buttons
for 2 seconds to set
a clock division per
/4. The choice will

glimpse of all four
buttons.
To c an ce l t he c lo ck
rate division, select
any of the above
combinations a sec-
ond time. To make

cancel the previous
one, then select a
new choice.
Simultaneously
hold step 1+4
buttons for 2 secs
to toggle between
trigger and gate
mode. The choice

by a glimpse of all
the buttons.

EXPANDABILITY:
CHAINING MULTIPLE UNITS
Multiple Tirana units may be chained (using
the supplied 10-pin ribbon cable) to form a
multistep sequencer. Every module ships with
one 10-pin ribbon cable. To connect multiple


therefore should have a jumper present on the
in header. Remove the in header 11 jumper
from every secondary unit and connect the
out header 12 of each preceding unit to the in
header of each subsequent unit using the sup-
plied 10-pin ribbon cable(s). note: Use only the
primary unit’s sockets for patching. Older Tira-
na revisions can be chained to newer revisions
as long as the rev. II unit is the primary unit. To

       

cable that shipped with the original Tirana.
ACCESSORY
Our Coal Mine black panels are available for
all of Xaoc Devices modules. Sold separately.
Ask your favourite retailer. •
step multiplication & division
clock division gate vs. trigger

MAIN
FEATURES
Four CV/gate
steps
Per-step repeti-
tion or ratcheting
Per-step gate
muting
Accepts clock
rates up to 320Hz
On-board clock
divider
Voltage controlled
play direction,
transposition,
and reset
Unipolar and
bipolar adjustable
voltage range
Expandable by
chaining more
Tirana units
TECHNICAL
DETAILS
Eurorack synth
compatible
6hp, skiff friendly
Current draw:
+30mA / –5mA
Reverse power
protection
EASTERN BLOC TECHNOLOGIES MADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
WARRANTY TERMS
XAOC DEVICES WARRANTS THIS PRODUCT TO BE FREE OF DEFECTS IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP,
AND TO CONFORM WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS AT THE TIME OF SHIPMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THAT PERIOD ANY MALFUNCTIONING OR DAMAGED UNITS
WILL BE REPAIRED, SERVICED, AND CALIBRATED ON A RETURN-TO-FACTORY BASIS. THIS WARRANTY
DOES NOT COVER ANY PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM DAMAGES DURING SHIPPING, INCORRECT INSTAL-
LATION OR POWER SUPPLY, IMPROPER WORKING ENVIRONMENT, ABUSIVE TREATMENT OR ANY OTHER
OBVIOUS USER-INFLICTED FAULT.
LEGACY SUPPORT
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NEED TO WORRY, AS WE’RE STILL HAPPY TO HELP! THIS APPLIES TO ANY DEVICE, WHEREVER AND
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FOR LABOR, PARTS AND TRANSIT EXPENSES WHERE APPLICABLE.
RETURN POLICY
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THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING ONLY, SO PLEASE KEEP IT JUST IN CASE. ALSO, A FILLED RMA FORM MUST
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