Xils lab XILS 4 User manual

XILS 4
Ultimate Matrix Modular Synthesizer
User Manual
www.xils-lab.com

Table of contents
1 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................4
2 XILS 4 FEATURES:...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 SYNTHESIZER MODULES:..................................................................................................................................5
2.2 INPUT MODULES:.............................................................................................................................................5
2.3 EFFECT MODULES:...........................................................................................................................................5
3 DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION COMPATIBILITY............................................................................5
4 INSTALLATION................................................................................................................................................6
4.1 ELICENSER DRIVERS.........................................................................................................................................6
4.2 ILOK DRIVERS..................................................................................................................................................6
4.3 WINDOWS (WINDOWS 7 8 10 11).....................................................................................................................6
4.4 MAC (OSX 10.9 AND LATER)..........................................................................................................................7
5 QUICK START...................................................................................................................................................
5.1 LAUNCH PLAY................................................................................................................................................8
5.2 TOOLBAR.........................................................................................................................................................8
5.3 ADJUSTING THE INSTRUMENTS PARAMETERS (KNOBS SWITCHES).......................................................................9
6 PRESET MANAGEMENT..............................................................................................................................10
6.1 MAIN TOOLBAR.............................................................................................................................................10
6.2 PRESET MENU.................................................................................................................................................10
6.3 SORT MENUS..................................................................................................................................................11
6.3.1 Sorting Menu: Additional Functions....................................................................................................12
6.4 ADVANCED PRESET MANAGER.......................................................................................................................13
6.5 A/B COMPARISON..........................................................................................................................................14
7 XILS 4 GUI DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................................................15
XILS 4 COMMON GUI DESCRIPTION:.....................................................................................................16
9 XILS 4 MATRIX DESCRIPTION:................................................................................................................17
10 XILS 4 TRIG CONNECTION DESCRIPTION..........................................................................................1
11 XILS 4 SYNTHESIZER ROUTING:...........................................................................................................19
12 XILS 4 MODULES DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................20
12.1 MAIN SYNTHESIZERS...................................................................................................................................20
12.1.1 Oscillators.........................................................................................................................................21
12.1.2 Filter..................................................................................................................................................22
12.1.3 Envelope Shaper................................................................................................................................23
12.1.4 Noise enerator................................................................................................................................24
12.1.5 Ring Modulator.................................................................................................................................24
12.1.6 Reverb................................................................................................................................................24
12.1.7 Output filter.......................................................................................................................................25
12.1.8 Input Level.........................................................................................................................................25
12.1.9 Joy-Stick and output levels................................................................................................................26
12.1.10 The Drop-Down Matrix Modulation...............................................................................................26
12.2 ADDITIONAL MODULES.................................................................................................................................28
12.2.1 Two additional Envelopes.................................................................................................................28

12.2.2 Tempo synced LFO............................................................................................................................29
12.2.3 Sample and Hold...............................................................................................................................29
12.2.4 Voltage Processor.............................................................................................................................30
12.3 SEQUENCER..................................................................................................................................................30
12.3.1 Front sequencer controls...................................................................................................................30
12.3.2 Connecting the Sequencer.................................................................................................................32
12.3.3 Recording a Sequence.......................................................................................................................32
12.3.4 Playing a Sequence............................................................................................................................33
12.3.5 Using the Sequencer Editor...............................................................................................................34
12.3.6 Using the Sequencer preset menu......................................................................................................34
12.4 VIRTUAL KEYBOARD AND CONTROLS............................................................................................................35
12.5 INPUT MODULES...........................................................................................................................................36
12.5.1 Transient follower.............................................................................................................................36
12.5.2 Envelope follower..............................................................................................................................37
12.5.3 Pitch Tracker.....................................................................................................................................37
12.5.4 Input ate..........................................................................................................................................38
12.6 EFFECTS MODULES.......................................................................................................................................38
12.6.1 Delay..................................................................................................................................................39
12.6.2 Chorus................................................................................................................................................39
12.6.3 Phaser.................................................................................................................................................40
13 OPTION MENU..............................................................................................................................................41
13.1 MAIN...........................................................................................................................................................41
13.2 DISPLAY......................................................................................................................................................41
13.3 MISC...........................................................................................................................................................42
14 CREDITS.........................................................................................................................................................42

1 Introduction
Thank you for choosing the XILS 4.
The XILS 4 is a virtual instrument, based on the architecture of a classic matrix modular synthesizer.
Modularity and the Modulation Matrix are the basis of these synthesizers: U to 1080 connections are
available to build any synthesizer structure, using many finely emulated synthesis modules.
The XILS 4 is based on two main Synthesizers, with hard synchronization available between the
oscillators. It also incor orates a 3-layer sequencer.
The left-hand exam le shows
the Main Matrix, with 16 in uts
and 16 out uts. The right-hand
exam le shows the Extended
Matrix, with 15 in uts and 15
out uts.
Other matrices are available
for connecting the sequencer,
and/or the various trig signals.
“like” us on Facebook htt ://www.facebook.com/XILSLabs and join in the conversation.
Note 1: We lan to release a series of tutorial videos to hel you to get the most out of XILS 4.
When available, you will be able to view these videos on our YouTube channel.
Please visit:htt ://www.youtube.lcom/user/xilslab

2 XILS 4 eatures:
2.1 Synthesizer Modules:
•12 Oscillators, grou ed in 6 airs.
•2 self-oscillating Low Pass Filters (12db, 18db, 24db) with analog-like behaviour.
•4 Am litude Envelo es (ADSR or Tra ezoid).
•1 tem o-synced LFO.
•2 Poly honic Ring Modulators.
•1 Voltage Processor.
•2 S ring Reverbs.
•1 Sam le and Hold Generator.
•2 Noise Generators.
•4 Out ut Filters.
2.2 Input Modules:
•1 Envelo e Follower.
•1 Pitch Tracker.
•1 Gate.
•1 Transient Detector
2.3 Effect Modules:
•1 Delay.
•1 Chorus.
•1 Phaser.
•1 Reverb
3 Digital Audio Workstation compatibility
XILS 4 is available in the following formats:
•Mac OSX 10.9 and later (Apple M1 compatible) 64bits: VST2.4, VST3, Audio Unit, AAX.
•Windows 7, 10, 11 (32 & 64 bits): VST, AAX.
"VST® is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH registered in Europe and other countries."
Minimum system requirements: 1 Gigabyte of RAM and a 2 GHz rocessor.
XILS 4 is a lug-in, and is not available as a standalone a lication.
Please note: The screen resolution must be set at least to 1024 ixels width.

4 Installation
XILS-Lab offers you the choice of using an eLicenser, or an iLok.
4.1 eLicenser drivers
The XILS 4 uses an eLicenser dongle. You must have this dongle connected to a USB ort on your
com uter to make the XILS 4 work.
Im ortant : Please take care of your dongle. You need it to run the XILS 4, as it carries your license!
Please Note: Even if you have already installed the eLicenser drivers for a revious roduct, lease install the
latest version of the eLicenser License Control.
To download the latest eLicenser Control Center (eLC), lease go to:
htt ://www.elicenser.net/en/latest_downloads.html
You will need a XILS 4 Activation Code, to load your license onto the dongle:
First, lug your dongle into a USB ort of your com uter, then launch the License Control Center. Launch the
Enter authorization code. Enter your Activation Code in the reserved field, and ress Next.
Wait for the license to be downloaded, and then check to see if the license is correctly loaded on to the dongle,
in the main section of the License Control Center.
4.2 iLok drivers
To use the iLok version of the XILS 4, you need to lug an iLok USB key into your com uter.
After downloading and installing the latest PACE drivers, lease login into your ilok.com account, to
download your XILS 4 license on to your iLok USB key. You may need to redeem the license, using the
license code you received. Follow the “redeem license code” link in your ilok.com account)
To download the latest PACE drivers, lease go to:
htt ://www.ilok.com/download-ilok-software.html
4.3 Windows (Windows 7,8,10,11)
To install the XILS 4 on Windows 7 and later, launch the XILS 4 installer file.
Please download the latest version from the XILS-lab website.
htt ://www.xils-lab.com/ ages/XILS 4_Download-Installer.html
Once you have acce ted the license agreement, you will be asked to select the com onents to be installed :

You can choose which format is to be installed, selecting any or all of AAX, VST3 and VST2.4 (32 and 64 bits).
You will then be asked to choose the various install directories.
A destination directory is rovided as a default. Presets and various files used by the XILS 4, such as this
manual, will be stored in this directory. Please note that this location is different from the VST install directory,
which you will need to s ecify in the next ste of the installation.
Once the installation directory is s ecified, you will be asked to select the VST lug-in directory, with a suggested
default location. Make sure that the ath for the 32 bits lug-in differs than for the 64 bits lug-in (as does the
default ath)
Important notice: Be sure to use a folder that is write-enabled, and owned by the user. (Do not use
“c:/ rogram files” for instance). Otherwise you will have to run your music a lication with “administrator
rights”.
By default, it's c:/users/Public/Documents/XILS-lab/XILS 4
4.4 Mac (OSX 10.9 and later)
To install the XILS 4 on a com uter equi ed with Mac OSX 10.9 or later, download the latest version of either
the iLok or eLicensor versions from the XILS-lab website, to make sure you have the latest version of the
software.
First, download from:
htt ://www.xils-lab.com/ ages/XILS 4_Download-Installer.html
Next, launch the install rogram XILS 4. kg, and follow the instructions.
Warning: the install rogram will ask you for your system assword.
Just after selecting the drive where the XILS 4 will be installed, you can choose which com onents are to be
co ied, by clicking on “customize” and selecting or deselecting them :
The various files of the XILS 4 will be co ied into the following directories:
Library/A lication Su ort/XILS-lab/XILS 4
Library/A lication Su ort/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins
Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Com onents
Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST
Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
Library/A lication Su ort/Documentation/XILS-lab/XILS 4
And for the User Preset and various o tion :
..users/username/Library/Preferences/XILS-lab/XILS 4

5 Quick Start
.1 Launch, Play
When you launch XILS 4 in your host, an INIT reset will be loaded.
It is a sim le filtered one-oscillator sound, which can be seen as a basis for your sound design.
You can directly use or modify this reset, or load one of the factory resets.
To browse the reset library, just select a category of instruments, using the BANK dro down menu found at
the left of XILS 4 Tool Bar. (See Picture Below)
You can then use the u and down arrows located at the right of the reset name, or o en the bank dro down
list by clicking in the PRESET NAME AREA
Note: We have also rovided different INIT Patches, which can be seen as a good basis to begin to design new
resets.
.2 Toolbar
Note: The toolbar at the to of the interface lets you load or save resets (as well as BANKS of resets), make
a com arison between two different versions of the current reset (A & B), or modify the o tions. These
functions are described in detail later in this manual.
Selecting a reset: Click on the PRESET NAME AREA to dis lay the list of the available resets in the current
sorted grou .
Warning: Please note that selecting a new reset without saving your current settings will erase any changes
you have made to those settings.
Selecting a group of presets: Click on one of the two CRITERIA buttons to change criteria, and define a grou
of resets that will match the two filtering criteria.
You can sort resets by: Author, eeling, Type, Style, Bank or Projects.
Info: Please note that XILS 4 will dis lay resets sorted by instruments Categories (Ty e = Bass, Keys, Leads
etc.) and Library Bank by default.

Please note that the XILS 4’s owerful reset management is fully detailed in cha ter 6 of this manual.
.3 Adjusting the instruments parameters (Knobs, switches)
On the XILS 4, the sound arameters are controlled using faders, knobs or switches
To use a mouse to adjust the arameters of the XILS 4 which are controlled by faders, click on the slider of the
fader and drag it u to increase the value, of drag it down to decrease it.
To use a mouse to adjust the arameters of the XILS 4 which are controlled by knobs, click inside the knob and
move the mouse u or right to increase the value, down or left to decrease it.
If you right-click on a arameter, or if you hold shift while clicking, you can adjust the arameter with fine
recision (the hel button (?) on the toolbar dis lays a anel summarizing these shortcuts).
Keyboard shortcuts:
In addition we have rovided some soft keys combination to erform several very useful tasks:
Windows:
•CTRL+left click: reset arameter to its default value.
•CTRL+right click or CTRL+Shift+left click: initialize the default value of the arameter.
•Win+Alt+CTRL + click: o en the MIDI Control anel, with the arameter already selected.
•Mouse wheel on the matrix: o en a zoom.
OSX:
•A le+left click: reset arameter to its default value.
•A le+Shift+left click: initialise the default value of the arameter.
•A le+Alt+CTRL + click: o en the MIDI Control anel, with the arameter already selected.
•Mouse wheel on the matrix: o en a zoom.
The switches are sim ler: just left click to change their state. A right click will change the state only while the
button is ressed, and return to the revious state when it is released.
When a arameter is chosen via a dro down menu, just click on the button or label and select the item.

6 Preset Management
6.1 Main Toolbar
In the toolbar you can find two buttons, dis laying the category name (Bank, Author, Ty e, Style, Feeling or
Project), which o en the sort management menus.
The first two text fields show the current sorting grou and the third shows the current reset.
Clicking the arrow on the left of the category or reset names o ens the corres onding menus.
Note: When a arameter is modified, the name of the reset is followed by a *, indicating that the current
settings of the XILS 4 no longer match the stored reset.
When you want to save a modified reset, click on the Save or Save As button.
In order to revent you from erasing them, the Factory resets cannot be modified. When you edit a Factory
reset, the Save button will be grayed, and you will have to use the Save As function to save it in another
bank.
If you edit any reset, other than a Factory one, the Save and Save As function will both be available.
The main difference is that the Save function will save the reset under its current name, and with its current
tags, overwriting the revious incarnation of the reset, while the Save As function o ens a dialog box where you
can modify the name of the reset, the bank in which it will be stored, and all its tags
The settings of KaoX are then saved in the currently dis layed reset, and the * disa ears. Click on the Save
As button to save this reset with another name and/or to other sorting grou s.
6.2 Preset menu
Click in the Preset Name Area to dis lay the reset list. Here you can choose and load another reset from
the current selected grou of resets into the XILS 4.
In this menu, other actions are also available:
Delete Preset: Use this to delete the current reset (a o -u confirmation window a ears). This o tion is
only available if the current reset is not a factory one.
Export Preset: Use this function to ex ort the current reset to an external file location. This file can be
im orted later as a new bank. It always makes sense to back u your resets on external media.
Open Preset Browser: o ens the reset Manager window in the Browser mode.