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Expert Sleepers FH-2 factotum, User Manual

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Expert Sleepers FH-2 factotum User Manual Download Page 20

Euclidean Patterns

Most of the Euclidean Pattern setup is in the preset – see below. The configuration only defines the 
output that each pattern generator uses.

Gate levels

Two values define the low and high output values to be used if the output in question is used as a 
gate, clock, trigger etc. These are given in terms of DAC codes for maximum control. The DACs 
are 14 bit, so the range of possible values is 0 to 16383. Note that the actual output voltage also 
depends on the output voltage range setting for the output (in the configuration for the FH-2 or 
depending on the jumper setting for an FHX-1). Some example settings are:

Level setting

Output range

Resulting voltage

0

0-10V

0V

8192

0-10V

5V

16383

0-10V

10V

0

±5V

-5V

8192

±5V

0V

16383

±5V

5V

Using the Configuration Tool

A browser-based tool is provided to edit configurations via SysEx, 

here

6

. This uses the Web MIDI 

API, which at the time of writing will work only in Google's Chrome browser.
All is well if the tool shows 

Web MIDI status: OK

If it shows 

Web MIDI status: No MIDI support in your browser 

then you need to use a different browser.

The tool needs a MIDI connection to the FH-2. It is most convenient to connect the FH-2 directly to
the computer running the tool via its USB C port, but it will work just as well connected indirectly 
via its USB A port or 5-pin DIN connection.
At the top of the tool are these controls:

The Send to/Listen on MIDI port menus should say “FH-2” if the FH-2 is connected directly, or 
whichever MIDI device leads to the FH-2 if it is connected indirectly.
The Send Msg button tests the send connection – it sends a SysEx message to the FH-2 which 
displays a friendly greeting on the FH-2's screen.
The Request FH-2 Version button sends and receives short SysEx messages to report the FH-2's 
firmware version. It is useful to quickly test the connection. It will look something like this, in the 
tool's status boxes:

6 http://expert-sleepers.co.uk/webapps/fh2_config_tool.html

Page 20

Summary of Contents for FH-2 factotum

Page 1: ...Firmware v1 1 User Manual Page 1 ...

Page 2: ...ed or copied only in accordance with the terms of such licence The content of this manual is furnished for informational use only is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Expert Sleepers Ltd Expert Sleepers Ltd assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document Page 2 ...

Page 3: ...13 Reset Settings 14 Miscellaneous 14 Resets 14 Reset LFOs 14 Reset MIDI CV 14 Configurations 15 Name 15 Globals 15 Tap Tempo 16 MIDI CV converters 16 Converter types Monophonic Polyphonic MPE 17 Mappings 18 14 bit MIDI CCs 18 Voltage range 19 Clocks 19 Triggers 19 Euclidean Patterns 20 Gate levels 20 Using the Configuration Tool 20 Presets 22 Name 22 Internal clock tempo 22 Direct output levels 2...

Page 4: ...ly generating CVs in response to MIDI messages MIDI to CV conversion is often used to mean simply generating CV gate from MIDI notes The FH 2 s capabilities go way beyond that Clocking Generating analogue clocks from MIDI clock or generating MIDI clock from analogue clocks or generating MIDI and or analogue clocks from the module s own internal clock All this and more is spelled out in detail belo...

Page 5: ... keyboard splits and more With an MPE controller Up to 16 simultaneous touches converted with full position pressure glide etc per touch With a MIDI controller Up to 64 outputs Direct control of CVs from faders flexible and syncable LFOs triggers from pads etc Page 5 CV USB MIDI Clock CV USB MIDI CV USB MIDI Clock Multiple devices via USB hub Power ...

Page 6: ... can be the clock master With a computer tablet phone All of the above plus SysEx for configuration of the FH 2 As a clock generator The FH 2 can operate as the clocking centre of your modular also generating syncable LFOs with no USB connection Page 6 CV USB MIDI Clock Clock CV USB MIDI Clock Clock SysEx CV Clock ...

Page 7: ...you connect USB devices including hubs The USB C socket the lower smaller one operates as a device using this you can connect the FH 2 directly to a USB host such as a computer There is currently no difference in behaviour depending on whether the FH 2 receives its MIDI from the host or device port both are handled in exactly the same way Connecting and powering a USB device Connect any class comp...

Page 8: ...H 1 module may also be used as an expander connected via a USB A to USB C cable to the FH 2 s USB C socket The FH 1 should be configured in its default state On the FH 2 enable the FH 1 as an expander in the Settings The FH 1 takes the place of the first FHX 1 Show FHX 1 Expander Output Configurator 1 in the config tool Inputs and Outputs The FH 2 has eight outputs numbered 1 8 and two inputs name...

Page 9: ...to the USB indicator shows that MIDI data is being sent The top right of the screen shows the current clock source The possibilities are None Int internal clock Ext external analogue clock USB A USB C or DIN Below the clock source is the current tempo in BPM At the bottom of the screen the FH 2 shows the most recently received MIDI message formatted as source A C D channel message type e g CC byte...

Page 10: ...ccept the change Auto blank To extend the display lifetime the module will automatically turn the display off after a period of inactivity the duration of which can be changed in the Settings Turning or pressing the encoder will turn it back on Key concepts Signal flow The basic signal flow in the FH 2 is CVs are generated LFOs are added smoothing is applied Generators of CVs are the MIDI CV Conve...

Page 11: ... flash memory For example you might have two configurations saved one for when you want to use the FH 2 with a MIDI keyboard which might define all 8 outputs as MIDI CV converter outputs and another for when you want to use the FH 2 with a MIDI controller which might define all 8 outputs as being directly controlled from knobs When switching between these two use cases you would simply recall the ...

Page 12: ...r Pressing the encoder again returns to the dotted cursor Presets menu Presets can be stored to flash memory There are 100 preset slots in flash In what follows the current preset means the current module state in RAM not any of the flash preset locations The Presets menu is accessed at the top menu level the submenu items are as follows Edit preset Allows you to edit the current preset directly r...

Page 13: ...s the function of pressing the left button when not in a menu The options are Off Start Stop and Tap Tempo Stop Startup preset 0 100 The preset number to load at startup or 0 for none Startup configuration 0 30 The configuration number to load at startup or 0 for none Enable MIDI clock out 0 1 Enable output of MIDI clock Enable DIN MIDI out 0 1 Enable the 5 pin DIN MIDI output Clk stop LFOs stop 0...

Page 14: ...sc menu item Function Show firmware version Displays the current firmware version Reboot Causes the module to reboot Show MIDI history Continuously shows the last four MIDI messages received Test inputs Enters a mode which displays an oscilloscope like view of the inputs Intended for factory use only Test outputs Enters a mode which generates a continuous test signal on all eight of the module s o...

Page 15: ...ll triggers in milliseconds Global transpose 48 48 Applies a transposition to all MIDI CV converters Legato velocity 0 1 When enabled playing legato in monophonic MIDI CV modes will use the note velocity only from the first note in a phrase Ext Clock Multiplier 1 96 Sets the multiplier relating the incoming external clock to the internal 24ppqn timebase Ext Clock Run Control 0 1 Sets the run contr...

Page 16: ... MIDI CV converters There are 16 MIDI CV converters available any number of which can be active in any given configuration Each converter has the following properties Name Value range Description Enable 0 1 Enable the converter Channel 1 16 MIDI channel Min Note 0 127 Lowest MIDI note inclusive to respond to Max Note 0 127 Highest MIDI note inclusive to respond to Type 0 2 Converter type Monophoni...

Page 17: ...ut Pressure out 0 1 If enabled the converter will have a per voice aftertouch output MPE type only MPE Y CC 0 127 The MIDI CC number for the MPE y control or 0 for off MPE type only The assignment of functions to outputs is as follows the first lowest numbered output used by the converter is specified by the Base output Then outputs are assigned in sequence in the order above that is CV Gate VelGa...

Page 18: ...er cases the MIDI CC range of 0 127 is scaled to map onto the range of the controlled parameter 14 bit MIDI CCs Some of the FH 2 parameters use a 14 bit representation for higher accuracy specifically the Direct levels the LFO Speed and the LFO Multiplier A convention exists for sending 14 bit values via MIDI CCs using two CCs of 7 bits each 5 The high 7 bits are sent on a CC in the range 0 31 and...

Page 19: ...put 1 64 The clock output Outputs 9 64 are expander outputs Shift 0 127 The amount by which to advance the clock in terms of 24ppqn pulses For example a half note clock advanced by a quarter note will fall on the off beats 2 4 of a 4 4 pattern Triggers There are 32 trigger generators available which take an incoming MIDI note and generate a trigger or gate signal in response These parameters defin...

Page 20: ...t the time of writing will work only in Google s Chrome browser All is well if the tool shows Web MIDI status OK If it shows Web MIDI status No MIDI support in your browser then you need to use a different browser The tool needs a MIDI connection to the FH 2 It is most convenient to connect the FH 2 directly to the computer running the tool via its USB C port but it will work just as well connecte...

Page 21: ...eferring to the relevant part of the configuration documentation above Mappings are set by UI elements like so The left drop down is the MIDI channel the right drop down is the CC number If either is the mapping is not defined Remember that the tool is editing the FH 2 s current configuration much as if you were editing it with the FH 2 s menus It does not save and recall configurations to from fl...

Page 22: ...rse value is shown as well as the actual value This makes it easier to make large changes LFOs Each output has an LFO defined by the parameters below The LFOs are added to any other CV being generated at a particular output In the absence of a MIDI CV converter clock etc this means the LFO waveforms are centred around the direct level of the output So if the voltage range of an output is 5V to get...

Page 23: ...are waveform Triangle The level of a triangle wave s contribution to the LFO shape Saw The level of a saw wave s contribution to the LFO shape The saw wave is set to zero at value 64 Values greater than 64 give a rising sawtooth shape values less than 64 give a falling shape Random The level of a random signal s contribution to the LFO shape Noise The level of a noise signal s contribution to the ...

Page 24: ... and lowest notes e g 4 notes held gives you an 8 note pattern 92 109 Random The notes held play in a random order 110 127 As Played The notes are repeated in the order in which they were played If latch is enabled notes are held until all keys are released and a new note played This makes it particularly easy to play a chord have it repeat and arpeggiate play another chord and so on If the FH 2 s...

Page 25: ...a graphical representation of the pattern and the current step Calibrations In addition to the basic calibration offered in the settings above the FH 2 can also perform an automatic calibration process much like that in the Expert Sleepers Silent Way software10 This is accessed via the top level menu item Calibrations Calibrations can be saved to and loaded from flash memory There are 70 calibrati...

Page 26: ...ch as a note number and a frequency in Hz The bar at the bottom of the screen shows how far off the displayed pitch the note is it is sharp if the bar is to the right or flat if the bar is to the left Load calibration This menu lets you browse calibrations previously stored in flash and recall them The calibration slot number and its name is shown turn the encoder to select different calibrations ...

Page 27: ...Name calibration This allows you to edit the name of the calibration you are about to save Editing the calibration name works in the same way as editing the configuration name above Page 27 ...

Page 28: ...onceived standard logic circuits ran at 5V and the initial hardware reference designs worked on this assumption However there is nothing in the MIDI standard that actually requires a specific voltage since it operates as a current loop via an opto isolator Nowadays it is much more common for logic to run at 3 3V or lower The MIDI Manufacturers Association has now released a reference hardware desi...

Page 29: ...s causes the FH 2 to respond with a SysEx message containing a capture of its screen Note that there is a web based tool to capture FH 2 screenshots here14 02H Display message F0 00 21 27 2F 02 NULL terminated ASCII string F7 Displays the enclosed string on the FH 2 s screen 10H Install configuration F0 00 21 27 2F 10 00 00 configuration data F7 Installs the enclosed data as the FH 2 s currently a...

Page 30: ...bove This message is transmitted in response to a 21H Request configuration dump message or when the Dump configuration via SysEx menu item is used 32H Message F0 00 21 27 2F 32 NULL terminated ASCII string F7 This message is transmitted in response to a 22H Request version string message 33H Screenshot F0 00 21 27 2F 33 00 00 screenshot data F7 This message is transmitted in response to a 01H Tak...

Page 31: ...owing the bootloader version number Keep the knob pressed until the message Press left button to begin flashing is shown If at this point the FH 2 shows the message Could not find the file image hex on the drive no firmware file could be found on the drive Remove the drive and check its contents and formatting If the FH 2 stalls on the message Attempting to mount drive the drive is not formatted c...

Page 32: ...Acknowledgments FH 2 logo and boot up animation by Jason Evans Page 32 ...

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