background image

 

Summary 

You should be up and running now; for more operation information, read on. Or, 

just look up specific parameters for detailed notes. Pages 32 and 33 contain a 

handy reference for mod sources and destinations. At some point you should 

read through the manual to discover all the little features that you might not 

notice at first. 

Download the free LE version of Soundtower’s Mopho x4 editor from 

www.soundtower.com/mophox4. 

I should mention that this manual does not include explanations of basic analog 

synthesizer functions. It assumes you already know what an oscillator is, how a 

low-pass filter affects the sound, what an ADSR envelope looks like, and so on. 

Fortunately, these days it is quite easy to find such resources on the Internet. If 

you want to learn the lingo and the basics, just try a search in Google (or the 

search engine of your choice), something like “analog synthesizer tutorial.” 

You’ll find plenty of good reading material.  

Have fun! 

Dave Smith 

 

Special thanks to: 

The DSI Team: Carson Day, Chris Hector, Tony Karavidas, Mark Kono, 

Andrew McGowan, Joanne McGowan, and Tracy Wadley.  

Summary of Contents for Mopho x4

Page 1: ...Operation Manual...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...Mopho x4 Operation Manual Version 1 0 July 2012 Dave Smith Instruments 1527 Stockton Street 2 nd Floor San Francisco CA 94133 USA 2012 Dave Smith Instruments www DaveSmithInstruments com...

Page 4: ...ved including interference that may cause undesired operation This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment Regulations Cet appareil numerique de...

Page 5: ...20 Modulators 25 Miscellaneous Modulators 26 Clock 27 Miscellaneous Parameters 30 Modulation Sources 32 Modulation Destinations 33 Using USB 35 Using Poly Chain 37 Support 40 MIDI Implementation 42 M...

Page 6: ......

Page 7: ...step through the programs Use PARAM 1 to scroll quickly through the programs PARAM 2 changes banks There are eight banks of 128 programs four banks of user programs U1 through U4 and four banks of fa...

Page 8: ...that this manual does not include explanations of basic analog synthesizer functions It assumes you already know what an oscillator is how a low pass filter affects the sound what an ADSR envelope lo...

Page 9: ...ed polyphony For details see Using Poly Chain on page 37 Note When Poly Chain is turned off in the Global menu the Poly Chain output simply mirrors the MIDI Out and transmits the same data Sustain Acc...

Page 10: ...nd finally program level parameters that are not typically performance oriented are found in the Miscellaneous Parameters section The front panel is arranged so that the basic signal path components a...

Page 11: ...ut any program user or factory can be edited and saved to any location in the user banks The factory banks are read only and cannot be overwritten Note To copy the factory banks to the user banks hold...

Page 12: ...ram edit and global In program mode PARAM 1 PARAM 2 and INC DEC are used to change from one saved program to another As soon as any of the programmable parameters are edited that parameter is displaye...

Page 13: ...7...

Page 14: ...ived MIDI Out MIDI clock is sent MIDI In MIDI clock is received Midi In Out MIDI clock is received and transmitted MIDI Parameter Send NRPN CC Off Changes to the values of Mopho x4 s front panel contr...

Page 15: ...ntrols on Mopho x4 s front panel are a mixture of endless rotary encoders and potentiometers or pots The pots are identifiable by their lined knobs and the fact that they have about 300 of travel Ther...

Page 16: ...LpFilter Routed to the low pass filter LpF Half Routed to the low pass filter but with half the range The input will also accept control voltages in the range of 0 to 3 3 volts DC It is protected agai...

Page 17: ...and feedback Display MIDI Transmit Operation Current Program Dump current program Current Bank Dump all 128 programs in current bank All Banks Dump all programs in all 4 user banks Current Prog P08 D...

Page 18: ...oscillators Frequency C 0 C 10 Sets the base oscillator frequency over a 10 octave range from 8 Hz to 8KHz stepping in semitones C3 is middle C the first octave is 0 C0 C 0 etc the second octave is 1...

Page 19: ...Miscellaneous Parameters section Oscillator Sync Off On Turns oscillator hard sync on With sync on whenever oscillator 2 resets oscillator 1 is forced to restart Tip Try routing an envelope or the mo...

Page 20: ...ly occurs when playing legato Pitch Wheel Range 0 12 Sets the bend range in semitones of the pitch wheel The setting is the range in the positive or negative direction For example a setting of 7 lets...

Page 21: ...127 Increasing FEEDBACK AMOUNT causes more and more of each voice s left output signal to be fed back into the audio path pre filter As the level increases so does the effect of the feedback Feedback...

Page 22: ...off frequency In 4 pole mode high levels of resonance can cause the filter to self oscillate In 2 pole mode resonance is much more subtle and self oscillation does not occur Audio Mod 0 127 Controls t...

Page 23: ...ween the time the envelope is gated on and when the Attack portion actually begins Attack 0 127 Sets the attack time of the selected envelope s Decay 0 127 Sets the decay time of the selected envelope...

Page 24: ...d to the destination Shape Triangle Reverse Sawtooth Sawtooth Square Sample and Hold The waveshape of the LFO Sample and Hold generates a random value that changes once per cycle Frequency 0 150 Sets...

Page 25: ...eps Sequence speed divided by 6 4 Steps Sequence speed divided by 4 3 Steps Sequence speed divided by 3 2 Steps Sequence speed divided by 2 1 5 Step Sequence speed divided by 1 5 1 Step One cycle per...

Page 26: ...erms a sequence is just a series of events at timed intervals that changes the value of one of the synth s parameters in discrete steps Because the four sequences play in parallel up to four parameter...

Page 27: ...Reset is set separately for each of the four sequences so it must be set at the same step in all four sequences to shorten all the sequences equally The following illustration shows an example in whic...

Page 28: ...n the same alternating pattern Programming the Sequencer Programming the sequencer is easy but there are a few things to consider before you start Most importantly what do you want the sequence to do...

Page 29: ...ate and one common application is to create a glide aka portamento effect between notes Among the possible destinations for Mopho x4 sequences two and four is a sequence only parameter called Slew Sle...

Page 30: ...ime a new note is played Each sequence step gates the envelopes No Reset As above but the sequencer does not reset to step one for each note played The sequencer is effectively free running No Gate Th...

Page 31: ...lso additional mod sources available here such as Noise allowing a wide variety of possibilities To configure a general purpose modulation slot select MODULATORS and choose the appropriate modulator 1...

Page 32: ...n to get started Source Mod Wheel MIDI CC 1 Pressure Breath Controller MIDI CC 2 Velocity Foot Controller MIDI CC 4 Selects the modulation source The source can also be changed using the 1 4 button th...

Page 33: ...highest to lowest 2 Octaves Up Down Plays keyed notes and the same notes one octave higher from lowest to highest and back to lowest 2 Octaves Assign Plays a keyed note then the same note one octave...

Page 34: ...ge 8 for more information Sequencer Turns Mopho x4 s gated sequencer on and off See Sequencer on page 20 for more information BPM 30 250 Sets the tempo for the sequencer in BPM beats per minute The ac...

Page 35: ...29 Note BPM is based on quarter notes so clock divisions are relative to a quarter note beat For example when CLOCK DIVIDE is set to Eighth two notes or steps will play per beat...

Page 36: ...VALUE knob the PARAM 2 knob or the YES or NO switches Use the PARAM 1 knob to edit another character Oscillator Sync Keyboard Tracking Slop Glide Mode Pitch Wheel Range and Key Assign are described un...

Page 37: ...e or for latching a gated sequence on Push It Note C0 C10 Sets the note that plays when PUSH IT is pressed Push It Velocity 0 127 Sets the MIDI note on velocity Unison On Off When on Mopho x4 behaves...

Page 38: ...LFO 1 LFO 2 LFO 2 LFO 3 LFO 3 LFO 4 LFO 4 Filt Env1 Filter Envelope VCA Env 2 Amp VCA Envelope Envelope3 Envelope 3 PitchBend Pitch Bend Mod Wheel Mod Wheel Pressure Pressure Aftertouch MidBreath MIDI...

Page 39: ...equency LFOAllFreq All LFO Frequencies LFO 1 Amt LFO 1 Amount LFO 2 Amt LFO 2 Amount LFO 3 Amt LFO 3 Amount LFO 4 Amt LFO 4 Amount LFOAll Amt All LFO Amounts Env 1 Amt Envelope 1 Amount Level Env 2 Am...

Page 40: ...Amount Mod 4 Amt Modulator 4 Amount Fback Amt Feedback Amount Sub Osc 1 Sub Oscillator 1 Level Sub Osc 2 Sub Oscillator 2 Level Fback Gain Feedback Gain Slew Sequencer Slew Appears as a destination i...

Page 41: ...USB Notes Under Mac OS X Mopho x4 will appear as a MIDI port when connected via USB and can be configured using the Mac s Audio MIDI Setup application typically found in Applications Utilities Under...

Page 42: ...hile a program has the Mopho x4 port open you may have to resync That usually means going to the USB Audio Device or DSI Mopho x4 Properties as in the procedure above and clicking OK If Mopho x4 is no...

Page 43: ...hat don t use feedback sound the same on both models The Prophet does not have feedback or sub octave generators Both the Prophet and Tetra have two layers for stacked and split programs Mopho x4 does...

Page 44: ...IDI clock set MIDI Clock Global menu on the master and any intermediate units to MIDI In Out Set the last instrument in the chain to MIDI In When Poly Chain is set to Off the Poly Chain MIDI out jack...

Page 45: ...39...

Page 46: ...IDI connections MIDI and USB cables and see if the problem persists You can also monitor the MIDI traffic with MIDI Monitor Mac OS or MIDI OX Windows to see if Mopho x4 is being overrun with duplicate...

Page 47: ...r getting your Mopho x4 repaired For your own protection as well as ours please do not return any product to Dave Smith Instruments without a return authorization RA number To issue an RA number Techn...

Page 48: ...ived MIDIn Out MIDI clock is received and transmitted MIDI Parameter Send NRPN CC Off Changes to the values of Mopho x4 s front panel controls are transmitted via MIDI as Non registered Parameter Numb...

Page 49: ...Messages Status Second Third Description 1011 nnnn 1 0vvvvvvv Mod Wheel directly assignable controller 1011 nnnn 2 0vvvvvvv Breath Controller directly assignable controller 1011 nnnn 4 0vvvvvvv Foot...

Page 50: ...alue Transmitted Controller Messages Status Second Third Description 1011 nnnn 0000 0001 0vvvvvvv Mod Wheel 1011 nnnn 0000 0010 0vvvvvvv Breath Controller when assigned to Pedal CV 1011 nnnn 0000 0100...

Page 51: ...e 26 Glide 2 27 Sub Oscillator 1 30 Sub Oscillator 2 31 Osc Mix 28 Noise Level 29 Feedback Amount 52 Feedback Gain 53 Filter Frequency 102 Resonance 103 Filter Key Amt 104 Filter Audio Mod 105 Filter...

Page 52: ...parameter value LSB CC 0vvv vvvv Parameter value LSB The parameter number can be found in the two tables below one for Global parameters and the other for Program parameters The parameter numbers and...

Page 53: ...ed Global Parameter Data The following table shows the Global data that is sent and received on global parameter dumps and the corresponding NRPN number when sent received individually Param NRPN Rang...

Page 54: ...5 Pedal Destination 0 Foot Control 1 Breath Control 2 Expression 3 Volume 4 Filter Frequency 5 Filter Frequency 2 15 393 0 1 MIDI Pressure Send Receive Off On 16 399 0 3 Pressure Curve 17 398 0 3 Velo...

Page 55: ...de 4 4 0 1 Oscillator 1 Keyboard Off On 5 114 0 127 Sub Oscillator 1 Level 6 5 0 120 Oscillator 2 Frequency 0 120 in semitones 10 octave range 7 6 0 100 Oscillator 2 Fine Tune 0 50 cents 50 0 centered...

Page 56: ...29 0 127 Voice Volume 42 37 0 166 LFO 1 Frequency 0 150 un synced frequencies 151 Sequence speed divided by 32 152 Sequence speed divided by 16 153 Sequence speed divided by 8 154 Sequence speed divi...

Page 57: ...3 Delay 66 61 0 127 Envelope 3 Attack 67 62 0 127 Envelope 3 Decay 68 63 0 127 Envelope 3 Sustain 69 64 0 127 Envelope 3 Release 70 98 0 1 Envelope 3 Repeat Off On 71 65 0 22 Mod 1 Source See Modulati...

Page 58: ...e2 4 All voices detune3 94 96 0 5 Key Assign Mode 0 Low note priority 1 Low note priority with re trigger 2 High note priority 3 High note priority with re trigger 4 Last note hit priority 5 Last note...

Page 59: ...list below 108 78 0 48 Sequence 2 Destination See Modulation Destination list below 109 79 0 48 Sequence 3 Destination See Modulation Destination list below 110 80 0 48 Sequence 4 Destination See Modu...

Page 60: ...lter Frequency 9 Resonance 10 Filter Audio Mod Amt 11 VCA Level 12 Pan Spread 13 LFO 1 Freq 14 LFO 2 Freq 15 LFO 3 Freq 16 LFO 4 Freq 17 All LFO Freq 18 LFO 1 Amt 19 LFO 2 Amt 20 LFO 3 Amt 21 LFO 3 Am...

Page 61: ...s a destination in sequences 2 and 4 only Mod Sources Value Off 0 Sequence Track 1 1 Sequence Track 2 2 Sequence Track 3 3 Sequence Track 4 4 LFO 1 5 LFO 2 6 LFO 3 7 LFO 4 8 Filter Envelope 9 Amp Enve...

Page 62: ...herwise 0vvvvvvv Channel Number 0 15 0000 0110 Inquiry Message 0000 0010 Inquiry Reply 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 1001 Mopho x4 ID Family LS 0000 0001 Family MS 0000 0000 Family Member LS 0000 0000 Family...

Page 63: ...111 0000 System Exclusive SysEx 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 1001 Mopho x4 ID 0000 1110 Request Global Parameter Transmit 1111 0111 End of Exclusive EOX Mopho x4 will respond by sending out the current value...

Page 64: ...not recognized when received it is only transmitted when requested NRPN messages are used to change Globals Packed Data Format Data is packed in 8 byte packets with the MS bit stripped from 7 paramet...

Page 65: ...suspect there may be a problem with your synth try running the calibration routine It s probably one of the first things DSI technical support will ask you to do if you contact them To run the calibr...

Page 66: ...60...

Page 67: ......

Page 68: ...Dave Smith Instruments 1527 Stockton Street 2 nd Floor San Francisco CA 94133 USA www DaveSmithInstruments com...

Reviews: