dreadbox DYSMETRIA Analog Groove Synthesizer Owner’s Manual

dreadbox DYSMETRIA Analog Groove Synthesizer Owner’s Manual

The Analog part

General description

Dysmetria uses a subtractive synthesis mode, where 2 VCO’s and a White Noise Generator are summed up into a 2-pole Filter (Low Pass or Band Pass). Then a simple VCA follows. Only 2 Decay envelopes are available, one for the Amp and one for the Filter or the VCOs. Also the powerful FM circuit, helps a lot with its percussive sound.

FM

Switch 1 (S1) = FM source NOISE / VCO2
Switch 2 (S2) = FM target CUT / VCO1
FM slider = FM amount
FM patch = FM amount CV IN

OSCILLATORS

TUNE= Master tune of the synth
TUNE2= Tuning only for VCO2
EG = Modulation amount coming from the Filter decay envelope
VCO1 wave = SQUARE/OFF/TRIANGLE
VCO2 wave = SQUARE (or saw selectable from the bottom PCB) /OFF/ TRIANGLE
TUNE2 patch = CV IN for vco2 pitch
CV IN patch = 1v/ocv input to control the synth
CV 1 patch = CV IN for vco1 pitch

MIXER

VCO1 = VCO1 level
VCO2 = VCO2 level
NOISE = Noise level
VCO1 patch= VCO1 level CV IN
VCO2 patch= VCO2 level CV IN
NOISE patch= Noise level CV IN

FILTER

LP/BP switch = Change filter mode
CUT = Filter cut off frequency
RES = Filter feedback amount
DECAY = Decay rate over the filter envelope
EG = Amount of envelope added to the filter CUT
CUT patch= Filter cut off CV IN
RES patch = Filter feedback amount CV IN
DECAY OUT patch = direct output of the envelope (always positive and at max level)
OUTPUT= Master output of the synth

AMP

DECAY = decay rate for the total amplitude of the synth

SEQUENCER

General description

Dysmetria is equipped with a digital step sequencer, that can have up to 32 steps. In each step 5 individual parameters can stored:

• Pitch
• Velocity
• Accent
• Gate ON/OFF (triggered or rest)
• Ratcheting (single hit, dual hit , triplet, four hits)

None of the analog controls can be stored, so one must set up the analog engine individually each time. You can have up to 16 stored sequences.

Recording a sequence is a pretty easy task. There are three ways to achieve this.

1. Step by step recording using the onboard controls
2. Step by step with the use of a keyboard
3. Live recording while a sequence is playing
   Each mode has its limitations and should be used according to one’s playing style.

SAVE AND LOAD SEQUENCES

Set the switch to the LOAD position. The REST/YES button will begin to flash. You can select 16 presets to load, which are divided into 4 banks of 4 sequences. Select a BANK by holding down the PLAY button and at the same time use the rotary switch. The 4 positions of the rotary respond to the 4 banks. Then with the PLAY button, you can select 1-4 sequences with the rotary switch. You can use LOAD while the sequencer is playing.

If you want to cancel, just do not press YES and set the switch to the middle position.

PLAY MODE

This is where you can reproduce recorded sequences, or where you can actually use Dysmetria as a synth with a midi keyboard.

PLAY/PAUSE = Start, Pause and continue playing a sequence.
Hold down PLAY/PAUSE = SHIFT
STOP = Stop the sequence
PITCH slider = Adjust the playing pitch. By default this should be at 50%, so as to play the recorded notes. This way you can transpose the pitch up and down.
VELO slider = Adjust the total velocity. By default this should be set at 0%.
ACCENT slider = Adjust the total accent. By default this should be set at 0%. Accent applies to Amp level and to Filter EG level
TEMPO = Set the tempo from 20BPM up to 240BPM.
SHIFT + TEMPO = Divisions : 4/8/16/32 – This is stored per sequence
PITCH patch = 1v/oct output of the sequencer
VELO patch = Velocity output. As velocity is not hardwired, it must be patched in order to work
MIDI patch = MIDI input jack. Requires a Type A DIN5 to 3,5mm cable adapter (included)
CLOCK patch = This can be setup as a GATE IN/OUT or CLOCK IN/OUT from the global settings. For more info, check the CLEAR MODE paragraph.

REC MODE

This is where you record sequences. There are two ways to do this. Either with your midi keyboard, or by inputing values with the onboard controls.

To start editing, set the rotary switch to REC. To start editing, press the NEXT button once. Now, the edit will forward you to the step that your sequencer was left at. If you had it on pause on the 5th step, this will allow you to edit the 5th step. If you want to make sure that you will edit the first step, go to PLAY mode and press STOP before proceeding with REC.

So, once you press NEXT, you will enter the first step (or whatever step you were at) in order to start recording. Here you can change the Pitch, Velocity, Accent, Ratcheting or set the step to a rest. Each time you make a change, the step will be triggered.

Once you are done with your current step, press NEXT and this will allow you to edit the next step. Again set this and press NEXT.

When you are done and you want to end a sequence before the 32 steps, just press NEXT+REST at the same time

PLAY/PAUSE = NEXT step, or start editing
STOP = REST On or Off
NEXT+REST = End the sequence on your current step (this step will be active)
PITCH slider = Adjust the pitch of the step.
VELO slider = Adjust the velocity of the step
ACCENT slider = Adjust the accent of the step. If you’re recording with
MIDI, then this will respond to velocity, from 64 to 127
TEMPO = Set ratcheting of the step: single hit / dual hit / triplet / quad hit
PITCH patch = 1v/oct output of the sequence
VELO patch = Velocity output. As velocity is not hardwired, it must be patched in order to work.

LIVE MODE

In this mode, you can edit a sequence while it’s playing.

• Select the LIVE mode
• Press PLAY if the sequencer was not already playing
• Moving the Pitch, Velo and Accent sliders will adjust the current playing step values. The value that will be recorded is the last one that the sequencer read right before it changed step.
• If a slider is not moved at all while a step lasts, it will not be recorded.
• To continuously record a slider through all steps, hold down PLAY/PAUSE while moving it. When you release it, it will stop recording it.
• You cannot record ratcheting or tempo values in this mode, but you can set a step into REST.
• You can also do live recording via a MIDI keyboard.

PLAY/PAUSE = Start, pause and continue a sequence.
Hold down PLAY/PAUSE = continues recording
STOP = REST on or off
PITCH slider = Adjust pitch of the step.
VELO slider = Adjust the velocity the step
ACCENT slider = Adjust the accent of the step. If recording with MIDI , then this responds to velocity , from 64 to127
TEMPO = Set ratcheting of the step: single hit / dual hit / triplet / quad hit
PITCH patch = 1v/ocv output of the sequencer
VELO patch = Velocity output. As velocity is not hardwired, it must be patched in order to work.

CLEAR MODE

Here is where you can clear a sequence in order to start a new one.
Here you can also change the MIDI channels and the Clock input mode.

• Select the CLEAR mode
• The YES button will flash. Press it to confirm.
• Once you clear the pattern, it will be set up as a 32 step sequence, with divisions at /4 and with Pitch, Velocity and Accent all the way down for all steps.
• To set up the MIDI channel: Select on your keyboard the MIDI channel you want Dysmetria to respond to. Press and hold PLAY. While you are holding it, press any key on your midi keyboard. Release the PLAY button. Now Dysmetria will respond to the last MIDI channel you’ve chosen, while the PLAY button was held down.
• To set up the Clock patch: Hold down PLAY. While you hold it down the TEMPO slider will set GATE OUT / GATE IN / CLOCK OUT / CLOCK IN.

Note that in GATE IN and CLOCK IN modes, the internal clock is dead and the sequencer will not play!!

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions

Length: 42HP (212mm)
Width: 3U (128,5mm)
Depth: 41mm (with the power board) , 33mm (without power board)
Weight: 450 gr

Current draw and power requirements

From its dedicated USB power supply: Needs a 1A USB power supply and a good shielded USB cable (not included in the KIT)
From a modular power supply: 200mA @+12V / 45mA @-12V

Input optimal values:

These are the optimal suggested values.

CLOCK/GATE IN: 5V pulse
FM IN : +/-5V
TUNE 2 IN : +/-5V
CV IN : 0- 10V – or 10 octaves into the 1v/ocv range
CV 1 IN : +/-5V
VCO1 MIX LVL IN : +/-5V
VCO2 MIX LVL IN : +/-5V
NOISE MIX LVL IN : +/-5V
CUT IN : +/-5V
RES IN : +/-5V

Input absolute max values:

Even though the following values can be tolerated, they must be avoided.

CLOCK/GATE IN: 8V
FM IN : +/-10V
TUNE 2 IN : +/-10V
CV IN : +/-10V
CV 1 IN : +/-10V
VCO1 MIX LVL IN : +/-10V
VCO2 MIX LVL IN : +/-10V
NOISE MIX LVL IN : +/-10V
CUT IN : +/-10V
RES IN : +/-10V

Output values:

PITCH OUT : 0-8V (8 octaves)
VELO OUT : 0 – 5V
DECAY OUT (envelope out) : 0 – 4V
OUTPUT (master) : 10vpp max, depending on the setting

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