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INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

1

OWNERS MANUAL

INSTALLATION

Before attempting to install your new VOCODA software please follow the instructions below.

Each time you install a software conversion, the internal memory that contains all

existing PROGRAM sound data will be re-initialised [erased and re-set]. Therefore, please follow the procedures in the
UTILITY section of the main manual, pages 31/32 to save all your sound data as system exclusive dumps before starting
any conversion installation work.

Your VOCODA software conversion kit should contain the following:
1. EPROM chip 2. Panel overlay 3. Chip removal device 4. VOCODA Manual [no problem if you’re reading this!]

If any part of the kit is missing please contact your local distributor/dealer or RED Sound direct.

The EPROM chip is a static sensitive device and, although quite robust, can be damaged if handled inappropriately. To
avoid accidental damage, please observe these simple anti-static precautions:

* Touch a good earth point to discharge any static build-up before commencing work [metal radiator, pipe or

earthed domestic/sound equipment]

* Avoid excessive movement after discharging [walking across man-made fibre carpets will instantly create static!]
* Avoid touching EPROM pins - handle at either end of chip casing.

Open the rear access panel as described in the main DARKSTAR manual, page 33.

Note the correct orientation of EPROM [pin 1 ‘notched’ end towards access panel screw fixing].

Use the supplied chip removal device to withdraw the EPROM [position tweezer pins under each end of the chip and pull
directly upwards]. Remove new VOCODA chip from the anti-static pack and store the removed DARKSTAR synthesizer
EPROM in its place for safe-keeping.

Check all pins on the VOCODA chip are in-line, straighten any if necessary before attempting to fit the chip. Observing the
correct polarity [as stated above], carefully place the EPROM into the chip socket, checking that all pins are located
correctly [jiggle pins into position] before pressing home firmly. Check that no foreign objects have entered the case before
closing the access panel.

This operation re-sets the on-board memory with the

specific VOCODA programs, sounds and parameters. HAVE YOU BACKED-UP YOUR PREVIOUS DATA! - if not, replace
the original EPROM and carry out a full sys-ex dump now.

Connect the power supply to DARKSTAR but,

,

. Now switch on the power. The test software should be running.

The first test checks the MIDI IN / OUT ports [main display shows ‘SE_ F’]. This test should be ignored. To bypass the MIDI
test, press the [AUDITION] button once. The re-initialisation code should now run, the display counting up the following:

display shows IP 01...64

display shows IS 01...96

display shows CP 01...64

display shows CS 01...96

This process takes approximately 1½ minutes to complete. Afterwards, the full test software will be automatically activated
[buttons, LED’s and pot tests]. Please ignore this test.

Peel-off the backing paper from the supplied panel overlay and place this onto the DARKSTAR front panel for identification
of the re-labeled vocoder controls. DARKSTAR has now been successfully converted into a VOCODA!

BACK-UP EXISTING DATA NOW! -

TURN OFF POWER AND REMOVE ALL CONNECTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING!

REMOVING/INSTALLING CHIPS -

** SEE NOTE BELOW! RE-INITIALISING THE SOFTWARE -

1. Program initialise -

2. Sequence initialise -

3. Program check -

4. Sequence check -

When you see the LED indicators tracking across the panel in

sequence it is safe to turn the power off.

NOTE: this back-up operation should be carried out each time a software conversion is made.

press and hold down the [AUDITION] &

[PART 1] buttons simultaneously - see diagram on page 2

before switching the power on

**IMPORTANT NOTE! REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE ABOVE RE-INITIALISATION PROCEDURE

TIME YOU

CHANGE APPLICATIONS I.E.
SYNTH TO VOCODA = RE- INITIALISE
VOCODA TO SYNTH = RE- INITIALISE

EVERY

Summary of Contents for DarkStar Vocoda

Page 1: ...hip Observing the correct polarity as stated above carefully place the EPROM into the chip socket checking that all pins are located correctly jiggle pins into position before pressing home firmly Check that no foreign objects have entered the case before closing the access panel This operation re sets the on board memory with the specific VOCODA programs sounds and parameters HAVE YOU BACKED UP Y...

Page 2: ...ITY Min Min www redsound com RED EDIT MODULATION MIDI LFO OUTPUT 3 6 5 4 PORTA TRIGGER VALUE OUTPUT BANK 0 0 Max 10 2 semitones 2 semitones Min 10 LFO SHAPE OSCILLATORS PROG Off Off 2 1 3 2 3 1 4 1 4 3 1 1 SYNC FREE OSC 1 2 MIX RING MODULATION Vocoda PANNING SYNTH SEQ OUT OSC VOC R FILTER SPEED GLIDE PRESET PARAMETER Vocoder Max Max Max Min Min Min Vocoder Off Vocoder On VOCODER MODE OVERLOAD VOCO...

Page 3: ...CODER button switches the vocoder on and off The SHIFT button is used to access the MIDI CLOCK GLIDE and PRESET controls in the vocoder sub menu These buttons are used to select and record vocoder sequences You can create and store 4 totally different sequences in each of the 24 programs in banks 1 2 and 3 This section features 8 menu buttons and a 4 way keypad The MENU buttons are used to select ...

Page 4: ...AR VOCODA to your mixing desk or amplification system NOTE in other modes such as FILTER mode use as LEFT channel input for stereo sound processing NOTE in other modes such as FILTER mode use as RIGHT channel input for stereo sound processing REAR PANEL REAR PANEL 4 MIDI OUT IN THRU MADE IN ENGLAND OUT EXT INPUT 1 L 2 R POWER 9v DC OFF ON CAUTION DO NOT OPEN CASE REFER TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONN...

Page 5: ...ER TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE DarkStar www redsound com RED 8 VOICE POLYPHONIC SYNTHESIZER RED Sound Systems Ltd MIDI IN MIDI IN MIDI OUT MIDI SEQUENCER MIDI KEYBOARD SOUND SOURCE MIXER PRE AMP OTHER MIDI DEVICE STUDIO MIXING DESK MIC R L TO AC WALL SOCKET RED PSU Typical setup for VOCODER mode ...

Page 6: ...llowing OPERATION section carefully to fully appreciate the range of features and facilities the DARKSTAR VOCODA conversion has to offer DARKSTAR VOCODA is more than just a standard vocoder There are five operating modes which enable you to explore many areas of creativity The built in mono synthesizer can be used as a sound source for robotic style vocoding or as a stand alone instrument Filter m...

Page 7: ...as shown in the following diagram The Y axis up and down position of the joystick controls the amount of boost to the selected frequency This works like a band pass filter boosting the frequencies about the selected frequency without affecting other frequencies above or below At the South lower position the boost will be at its minimum As the joystick is moved towards the North position the select...

Page 8: ...and the main display will now alternate between the first function and its current value as shown below The four functions in the vocoder menu are This function sets the basic operating mode of the DARKSTAR VOCODA There are five selections as follows In this mode the unit works as a traditional vocoder combining a control signal Mic and external sound source synth The pitch information comes from ...

Page 9: ...CODER CONTROL JOYSTICK can be used for filter spectrum adjustments OSCILLATORS section can be used to set the sound ENVELOPES can be used to shape the sound VOCODER MENU S DETECTOR can be used to add noise elements to the sound LFO section can be used to vary the sound OUTPUT LEVEL can be used for volume adjustments OUTPUT PANNING can be used for panning effect adjustments OUTPUT TREMOLO can be us...

Page 10: ...o create patterns SEQUENCE menu can be used to adjust trigger source OSCILLATORS section can be used to set the sound ENVELOPES can be used to shape the sound LFO section can be used to vary the sound OUTPUT LEVEL can be used for volume adjustments OUTPUT PANNING can be used for panning effect adjustments OUTPUT TREMOLO can be used for tremolo effect adjustments In this mode the unit works as a vo...

Page 11: ...d INTERNAL OSCILLATOR modes Use the menu EDIT VALUE and VALUE buttons to change the setting as follows This function sets the level of the S detector when VOCODER INTERNAL OSCILLATOR and SYNTHESIZER modes are selected not active in other modes This noise source adds definition to the vocoder oscillator sound With the third menu selected the main display will alternate as follows RANGE 0 off to 15 ...

Page 12: ...modulation This control has two functions determined by the SHIFT button When the SHIFT function is SHIFT LED Off this control sets the speed of the sequence At the fully anti clockwise position the speed will be at its slowest As the knob is moved in a clockwise direction the speed gradually increases until at the fully clockwise position the sequence rate will be at its maximum When the SHIFT fu...

Page 13: ...ette There are 15 classic vowel sounds available all of which have been setup by our engineers using the 11 band filter described previously At the fully anti clockwise position the filter will be OFF As the control is moved in a clockwise direction the first sound ALL will be selected followed by the remaining 16 sounds until at the fully clockwise position the last sound ZZ will be selected OFF ...

Page 14: ...cessed at the fully clockwise position There are five glide settings as follows The current sound will be maintained until the next sequence point at which point it changes immediately to the new sound The current sound is morphed to the new one over the first half of the sequence period The current sound is morphed to the new one over the whole of the sequence period The current sound plays for a...

Page 15: ... 4 as shown below This section contains the trigger start stop settings for the sequences To access the trigger settings press the MENU button labelled SEQUENCE as shown in the following example The indicator in the SEQUENCE button will light and the main display will now alternate between the first function and its current value as shown below NOTE sequencer modes are only available in programs 1...

Page 16: ...ally set at half the start or ON level The eight MENU SEQ button indicators will track across from left to right whenever the sequence is triggered if no MENU mode is selected The trigger selection will apply to all four sequences in the program When NOTE POLY and AUDIO trigger modes are selected you can pre select another sequence in advance cue which will be ready to play directly after the curr...

Page 17: ...n repeats until the sequence is turned off at which point it runs to the end and stops From the start point the sequence jumps to the end point and then runs backwards from the end point to the start point This repeats until the sequence is turned off at which point it runs to the end and stops The sequence runs from the start point to the end point and then reverses back to the start point This p...

Page 18: ... the PRESET OFF setting can be used to add spaces between events When the sequence is complete exit record mode by pressing the RECORD button This automatically saves the sequence into memory This feature allows you to transfer all parameter data from one sequence event to another at the press of a button As an example when you create a complex sound using the 11 band filter on one event you can e...

Page 19: ...n which coincides with the desired destination as shown below After copying the original event will still be selected You can repeat this process for any number of events in the sequence 4 3 2 1 8 7 PROG 6 5 SEQ Press hold Press EVENT 1 copied to EVENT 7 ...

Page 20: ... be gradually introduced until at the 12 o clock position both oscillator 1 and 2 will be of equal volume At the fully clockwise position only oscillator 2 will be heard This control now has two functions determined by the SHIFT button The non shift function DETUNE is unchanged When the SHIFT function is selected SHIFT LED Flashing this control now sets the level of ring modulation At the fully an...

Page 21: ...ve small changes or additional features as follows There is an expanded monophonic multi triggering mode now included in this menu There are three selections as follows In this mode only the first note played and held down will run the envelopes In this mode every new note played will run the envelopes As per AUTO GLIDE feature detailed in the main DARKSTAR manual page 24 In this mode the audio in...

Page 22: ... FILTER type in the first VOCODER menu 3 Select AUDIO trigger mode in the first PORTA TRIGGER menu 4 Select VOCODER menus 5 and 6 and adjust the modulation depth source try ENV2 source with approximately 5 modulation depth as a start Experiment with these settings 5 Select ENVELOPE 2 indicator in ENVELOPES button ON and set the controls roughly as follows This will apply a sharp wow effect each ti...

Page 23: ...en X Y Joystick X axis Spectrum Frequency Y axis Boost 2 x ADSR envelopes each of which can be set to respond to key velocity 2 x LFOs each with a separate speed and delay control Each LFO can be set to output one of the following waveforms Each can be set to key sync Each can be synced to incoming MIDI clock Note triggering can be single re trigger or auto glide Portamento has constant time two p...

Page 24: ...X O Mod Wheel Tremolo Mixer Osc 1 2 Mixer Ring Part Volume Panning Joystick X left right Joystick Y up down Vocoder Speed Vocoder Midi Envelope 1 Attack Envelope 1 Decay Envelope 1 Sustain Envelope 1 Release Envelope 2 Attack Envelope 2 Decay Envelope 2 Sustain Envelope 2 Release LFO 1 Speed LFO 1 Delay LFO 1 Shape LFO 1 Midi LFO 2 Speed LFO 2 Delay LFO 2 Shape LFO 2 Midi Sustain Oscillator 1 Detu...

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