JUNIPER MD-001 Mnemonic Devices User Manual

JUNIPER MD-001 Mnemonic Devices

About this document

This document is a preliminary outline of the general operation of MD-001 Juniper, it is not complete and will be updated over time. It is important to understand that MD001 Juniper is in beta, meaning that further features and bugs will be fixed over time in order to constantly improve the product and end-user experience and this will cause the contents of this manual to change. For this reason, this document cannot be considered absolute and complete.

What is Juniper?
Juniper is a clocked LFO, modulator, looper, quantizer, and general CV mangler. Juniper is great for accurate clocking, generating strange and wonderful waveforms, quantizing values, acting as a CV manipulator for input signals, and for performative CV looping. All of these features exist on all 8 channels independently. Getting the balance between size, power and immediacy is always a challenge – Juniper tries to get this balance right, maximizing on all 3 of these design elements. While Juniper can do quite a number of tasks, it was not designed to be an audio rate oscillator or sampler – it can hit audio rates but the current firmware implementation does not lend well for it, perhaps in the future this could be a goal but for now, Junipers primary function is CV.

Features

• 8 high-resolution 16-bit output channels
• 3 high-resolution 16-bit CV inputs and 1 GATE (clock) input
• Per channel bipolar (-5V to +5V) and unipolar modes (0V to +5V)
• Multiple output waveforms: Sine, square, triangle, sawtooth, exponential, random, CV inputs
• Powerful modulation matrix with modulation sources including all 8 internal channels and 3 CV inputs
• All waveform parameters can be individually modulated
• 8 individual CV recorders quantized to the beat, streaming directly to the SDCard for large loop durations
• V/Oct quantization
• Highly responsive OLED display with an oscilloscope
• Low clock drift profile
• Micro SD card for firmware updates, data streaming, and feature development

Physical specifications

• Width: 8 HP (40.3mm)
• Height: 128.5mm
• Depth: 36mm
• Power: 33mA @ -12V, 160mV @ 12V

Interface

Juniper’s interface was designed for it to be placed in a controller case, with the buttons more accessible allowing for increased immediacy. The top row of input jacks are inputs and the second and third rows are output jacks. The output jacks are indexed from left to right. There are two universal buttons, the SELECT, and clickable ROTARY ENCODER buttons, and 8 channel/parameter LED buttons. The LED button’s luminosity shows that given channel instantaneous signal value, the LED illuminates from 0% to 100% for -5V to 5V and 0V to 5V for bipolar and unipolar channel modes respectively.

Controls
The following table represents controls for the primary channel screen:

The following table represents controls for general navigation:

Parameter Guide

Parameters are building blocks of the waveform generation and manipulation, they can be accessed by pressing one of the parameter buttons, e.g. “FRQ” while on the main channel screen. There are (currently) 3 “A-B” parameters that can be accessed, to adjust which “A-B” parameter is displayable hold “A” or “B” and rotate the encoder.

• Waveform
  Adjust the waveform of the given channel. Waveforms include sine, triangle, square, random, exponential, and CV. The waveform set can be modulated with both internal and external sources.

• Frequency
  Adjusts the periodic frequency of the given channel. Frequencies are relative to the global BPM of the device. The frequency setting can be modulated with both internal and external sources. When frequency modulation is active there is no guarantee that the frequency is synchronized with the BPM. When the CV waveform is selected, there is no periodic or frequency component of the waveform, as this is a representation of the input signal.

• Amplitude
  Adjusts the amplitude of a given channel. The full scale of output has an amplitude of 100%. When in Bipolar or Polar modes an amplitude of 100% represents a -5.0V to +5.0V and 0.0V to +5.0V voltage range respectively. When the Quantizer is active the representation changes from percentage to octaves, in this case, Bipolar and Polar modes represent a 0 to 10 and 0 to 5-octave range respectively. The amplitude setting can be modulated with both internal and external sources.

• Offset
  Adjusts the offset of a given channel. At a value of 50%, there is no offset being applied, e.g. the waveform is generated within the middle of the amplitude range. The offset setting can be modulated with both internal and external sources.

• Morph
  The morph function varies depending on the waveform and adjusts the waveform shape. For a triangle a ramp or sawtooth can be achieved, for a square wave, the duty cycle is adjusted. For the CV waveform, the morph parameter mixes between the 3 different input channels where 0%, 50%, and 100% represent CV inputs 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The morph set can be modulated with both internal and external sources.

• Phase
  The phase parameter allows periodic waveforms to be phase locked to varying degrees, or not locked at all. When the phase has locked any adjustment to frequency will cause the phase to be recalculated (this can cause visual discontinuities in the waveform which is normal). When the frequency is modulated the phase locking is disabled altogether. When the CV waveform is selected, there is no periodic or phase component of the waveform, as this is a representation of the input signal.

• Recorder
  A recorder is available for each channel, streaming directly to the SDCard allowing for unbound record durations. There are three states, Stop Rec and Play . Recordings are time-quantized to bar within a 4/4 time signature. The bar length is determined by the BPM at the initial moment of recording. It is possible to manually trigger the Record state or from either an internal or external source. When configuring the recorder, the following is available:

• Number of bars as given by a 4/4 time signature

• Record Gate, which can begin or stop a recording

• Reset Trigger, which will reset playback on a rising edge transient

• Record Stop Mode;

  • Manual: user must manually stop the recorder
  • NOT Record Gate: when the record gate goes low the recorder will stop

Sample and Hold
The sample and hold (S&H) allow the user to take the current value of an output channel and hold it for a desired period of time. There are two selectable values: Release where no S&H action will occur and Hold where the S&H is active. It is possible to manually trigger the S&H or trigger it from either an internal or external source.
Key
The key parameter will v/oct quantize the instantaneous value to a given note. When quantization is active, the current quantization value is displayed. Additionally, the amplitude parameter will be displayed in octaves.

Settings

There are 3 setting menus, all accessible with minimal menu diving, they are Parameter Settings, Channel Settings, and Global Settings.
Parameter Settings
Parameter settings affect the selected parameter only. Usually, these are modulation settings, trigger settings, or other related settings to how the parameter affects waveform generation. To access a parameters settings, go to the desired parameter on the desired channel and then simply press the ROTARY ENCODER.
Modulation
As the standard modulation settings are the most common, these are described below. For parameters with no modulation settings (e.g. the Recorder, or S&H) see their description directly in the Parameter Guide.

LINEAR or EXPONENTIAL

Modulation Index| A percentage value between 0 and 100, higher indicates more modulation
Modulation Source| Sets the modulation source, this can be any of the internal or external channels.

Channel Settings
Channel settings affect individual channels only. To access the channel settings, go to the desired channel and then double-tap the SELECT button. The current channel settings include:

Global Settings
Global settings affect the entire operation of the device, irrespective of channel. Global settings are accessed by holding SELECT and pressing the ROTARY ENCODER on the main channel screen. The current global settings include:

CLK Mode

| Configures the CLK input to either BPM or GATE ONLY. When configured for GATE ONLY, the CLK input has no affect on the BPM.
RUN

Trigger

| Will start the device either manually via the Run option, or externally via a trigger transient

Run Edge

| Configure if the run trigger should start on a rising, falling or rising & falling edge
Wipe Mods| Wipes all modulation settings from the device, restoring them to default
Wipe Channels|

Wipes all channels from the device, restoring them to default

LEDS| Sets the button LED brightness
OLED| Sets the OLED display brightness
Factory Reset| Wipes all state from the SD Card and reboots the device. Calibration data is still retained.

Maintenance

Firmware updates
Firmware updates will occur periodically to provide further features and bug fixes to the device. Firmware can be updated by downloading one of the release binaries found at www.mnemonicdevices.io/juniper. Firmware is upgraded by copying the binary .bin file to the FAT32 formatted MicroSD card of the device and naming the file fw.bin . On power-up hold, the PHASE/CH7 button, the boot-loader of the device will then begin the flash procedure. Release the PHASE/CH7 button and wait until the device finishes flashing the firmware. Once it completes it will reboot the device and the newly installed firmware will run. Verify the procedure worked by checking the version number on the boot-up screen.

SDCard requirements
The micro SD card must be formatted with FAT32 and use Master Boot Record (MBR).

Calibration
This device has various analog circuitry that affects the inputs and outputs of the device. Analog circuitry is susceptible to environmental factors which can cause changes in electrical properties, therefore this device requires occasional tuning. In order to calibrate the device, a multimeter of good accuracy is required. mnemonic devices recommend the Fluke 101 multimeter. It’s easiest to connect the multimeter using alligator clips directly to a 3.5mm mono patch cable. It is important to calibrate the device as accurately as possible, take your time to ensure the multimeter has stabilized the reading before moving to the next step. To begin the calibration procedure, on boot-up hold the OFFSET/CH8 button. The calibration “wizard” will begin.

1. Repeat the following steps 2-4 for all 8 output channels
2. Plug the multi-meter connected patch cable into output N
3. Calibrate output N, the -5.0V reading
4. Calibrate output N, the +5.0V reading
5. Repeat the following steps 6-8 for all 3 CV inputs
6. Plug a patch cable from output 1 into input Y
7. Begin sampling input N, the first reading
8. Begin sampling input N, the second reading

Then follow the prompts to store the calibration data and then reboot. Wait for the device to reboot.

Support

For all issues, software or hardware, or maybe you have a suggestion or a feature idea, please contact me directly at [email protected].
Software Faults
Sometimes unexpected software issues can occur – In the event of a crash or fault, a log file “dump.txt” will be written to the SD Card. This log file will have useful information for finding the problem. Please send an email to [email protected] with this log file, along with all other configuration files on the SD card and a description of what you were doing to produce the bug. If the bug persists upon reboot, its likely that the configuration files stored on the SD card are re-triggering the issue. You can safely delete the files on the SD card, this will clean the state out and the device should then be able to boot normally.

Safety

The following must be adhered to in order for the safety and compliance of operation.

1. Do not attempt to load unverified firmware or otherwise to the device.
2. This device is not intended for operation in extreme environmental conditions, the device is intended for operation between -10 and 80 degrees celsius only. Exposure to temperatures outside of this range may cause irreversible damage to the device.
3. Do not expose the device to any liquid and store it in a dry place out of direct sunlight.
4. This device is only intended for use within a compliant Eurorack housing with sufficient power supply requirements.
5. This device must only be transported with the supplied packaging, for repair or otherwise.
6. Do not use this device if it is damaged.
7. Dispose of this device only into e-waste to help protect the environment.
8. Only use a quality micro SD Card from a reliable manufacturer, ideally, the one supplied with the unit. The following SD Card manufacturers are tested and verified: Intenso and Sandisk

Reproduction, distribution, or commercial use in any form is prohibited and requires written permission from mnemonic devices. mnemonic devices reserve the right to change the contents of this document at any time.

References

• mnemonic devices

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