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Jomox SUNSYN Manual

Analog synthesizer-expander
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  • Page 2 Joeri Vankeirbilck, joeri@belway.com layout, grafics, setting: Robert Siegel, r.tix@gmx.de, Berlin Copyright 2001 JoMoX GmbH. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced by any means or in any form without the express prior consent of JoMoX GmbH.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Power ..................10 1-4-2 Audio-Connections ..............10 1-4-3 Midi-Connections ..............11 1-4-4 PCMCIA-Cardslot..............11 II Quick Start Try it out ..............13 2-1-1 The first time you switch on the SUNSYN......13 2-1-2 Autotune..................13 2-1-3 Changing Midi Channels............14 Program-Section ............14 2-2-1 Single-Sounds................15 2-2-1-1 Selecting Single-Sounds ................ 15 2-2-1-2 Editing Single-Sounds ................
  • Page 4 3-6-1 Principle ..................31 3-6-1-1 Cutoff-Frequenzy ................... 32 3-6-1-2 Filter Poles ....................32 3-6-1-3 Resonance ....................33 3-6-2 SUNSYN Filter ................34 3-6-2-1 Operation of the Filter Section .............37 3-6-2-2 Lowpass ....................37 3-6-2-3 Filter slope ....................37 3-6-2-4 Highpass ....................38 3-6-2-5 Bandpass ....................38...
  • Page 5 Manual 3-10-3-3 Pulse width modulation PWM ..............58 3-10-3-4 Amplitude modulation AM ..............58 3-10-3-5 Ring modulation RM ................59 3-10-3-6 Self modulation ..................63 3-10-3-7 Doubling signal paths ................63 3-10-3-8 Previous Voice..................63 3-10-3-9 Key-Voltage....................64 3-11 Menu-Driven Features ............. 65 3-11-1 Global Menu ................

  • Page 7: What Is The Sunsyn

    Manual Introduction First of all, we’d like to thank you for purchasing a SUNSYN and we’d like to congratulate you on being intelligent enough to make this great purchase! We wish you a lot of success and a lot of joy when working with the most powerful analog synthesizer on the planet – the...

  • Page 8: About This Manual

    Therefore, you might notice that there’s a bit more noise present than a digital synth might produce. When you optimise the level of the SUNSYN and the gain of your mixing desk, these side effects will not affect your productions in a negative way. Next to that, you’ll be rewarded with an outstanding amount of power and warmth of the sounds, as well as the huge sonic possibilities that analog has to offer.

  • Page 9: Preparations

    1)Before You Start: The SUNSYN can either be used as a desktop model or it can be converted into a 19“ rack. a) Desktop Model - All you need to use it as a desktop model, is a surface that is big and solid enough (aprox.

  • Page 10: Connections-Input/Output

    If you use your SUNSYN as a rack unit, please keep at least 1U above and below the machine open. If possible, do not put it near another machine that produces a lot of heat as well.

  • Page 11: Midi-Connections

    (Phones) knob to control the output level. Midi-Connections: The SUNSYN contains a Midi IN, OUT and THRU. Connect the Midi In to the Midi Out of your master keyboard, computer, hardware sequencer etc. Connect the Midi Out or Midi Thru to the Midi In of your computer, hardware sequencer etc.

  • Page 13: Quick Start

    Check whether the Voltage Switch is in the right position!!! Please make sure both the level of the SUNSYN and your mixing desk is turned down. You could damage your ears or your speakers or both. The same thing goes for the headphone level.

  • Page 14: Changing Midi Channels

    • A Multi Program combines up to 8 different Single Sounds and stores their midi channel and output assignment. More on this subject later on. The Program Section of the SUNSYN is used to load, and store Single Sounds and Multi Programs. Additionally, this section is also used to reach the combined menu-based features.

  • Page 15: Single-Sounds

    The lower line shows the midi receive- and transmit-channel, the assigned audio output and the program level. You cannot edit these parameters from this menu. Every time the SUNSYN receives midi information, the dot in the lower right corner of the LED display (right above the word Midi) will light.

  • Page 16: Storing Single-Sounds

    • by pushing the (Exit/Cancel)-button, the sound will not be stored. Multi Programs At this point in your SUNSYN education, we will study how to change and store Sound Programs within Multi Programs. All other Multi Program settings will be explained in the Multi-Mode.
  • Page 17 Manual This page is only meant to give an overview of the selected Multi Program. Nothing can be edited here. Go into the Multi-Mode menu to edit the settings (hit Type-button). 2. Select with both (Number)-buttons or (Number)-knob the Multi Programm you want to work on.

  • Page 18: Storing Multi-Programs

    By pressing (Soft-Button) < Yes >, you can save the edited Multi Program. 3. To cancel the operation, just push the (Exit)-button. Menu-driven Features As we’ve already mentioned, the SUNSYN also has some menu-driven features. These consist of global functions, arpeggiator settings, midi parameters and midi controller assignments.
  • Page 19 Sub-menu choices are: 1. (Soft-Button) < Global >: This sub-menu contains global settings that are the same for all voices (e.g. master tuning of the SUNSYN or the LC Display contrast). 2. (Soft-Button) < Arpgi >: Let’s you edit the arpeggiator settings.

  • Page 21: Single-Mode (Sound Programming)

    Manual Single-Mode (Sound Programming) In this Chapter, we’ll take a close look at the SUNSYN’s sound programming possibilities. The features of each module and the interaction between these modules will be explained in detail. Let’s first take a look at a SUNSYN Voice:...

  • Page 22: Initial Patch

    These four Routing Elements can be used together with the hardwired signal flows of the SUNSYN. In this simple overview, we’ve only mentioned the inputs and outputs of the Routing Elements to keep it clear. Each voice has access to up to four Routing Elements, allowing you to use 1, 2, 3 or 4 per voice.

  • Page 23: Vco 1 And Vco 2

    Manual VCO 1 and VCO 2 Both Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) are the SUNSYN’s most important sound sources. They’re made up of discrete analogue circuitry. Essentially, they produce audio signals with different waveforms. The different waveforms contain different harmonics and therefore have different sonic characteristics.
  • Page 24 The (Sync)-button can be used to ”hard sync“ VCO2 to VCO1. This means VCO2 will be restarted every time VCO1 passes a zero crossing. Depending on the selected frequency, oscillator 2 will play some waves incomlpete. This will create more complex waveforms. Changing VCO2’s frequency, e.g.

  • Page 25: Rco 1 And Rco 2

    Keep in mind though that these RCO’s should not and will not make the SUNSYN a fully featured sample player. Their capabilities can’t be compared to those of digital synthesizers either. The analog VCO’s are the most important and most effective sound sources.
  • Page 26 The RCO Menu: Press the (Edit)-button in the RCO 1 section to enter the RCO 1 menu. Make sure (Page) LED <1-4> is lit. The matching Soft-Controllers now have the following functions: 1. (Soft-Controller) < R1Wav > (RCO 1 Waveform) Here you choose one of the 248 waveforms that RCO 1 plays.
  • Page 27 When VC1Sy is set to ”off,“ the waves are played in a static way, just like any sample player. Triggering a note will make the SUNSYN read the wave from memory. Pitch bend can be used to modulate the pitch in real-time.

  • Page 28: Noise Generator

    External audio signals can be filtered and/or modulated or they can serve to modulate internal signals of the SUNSYN. Control voltages can also be sent into and processed by the SUNSYN. They can even modulate internal signals. Some interesting applications possibilities are explained in Chapter Routing Elements –...

  • Page 29: Setting The Input Level

    The position of the Level knob also determines the volume of the external signal in relation to the other audio signals of the SUNSYN. In contrast to the other signal sources of the SUNSYN, the Level knob doesn’t only affect the signal level that is hardwired to the filter. It also affects the signal that is used by the Routing Elements.

  • Page 30: Envelope-Follower

    < on > The external signal is also sent to the SUNSYN’s mixer. This is in turn hardwired to the filter and the VCA. 5. To get out of the External In menu, you press the (Menu)-button or you press the (Exit/Cancel)-button several times.

  • Page 31: Glide

    Manual Glide The SUNSYN has a glide feature. What self-respecting synth would be caught without one? This changes the pitch between two successively played keys changes without steps. The duration of the pitch change depends on the distance between the two successively played keys.

  • Page 32: Cutoff-Frequenzy

    You can further change the sound by using different filter types on specific frequencies. There are more filter types, but the ones we just mentioned are the most effective ones for musical purposes. That’s why we’ve included these in the Sunsyn. The most important Parameters are: Cutoff-Frequency: This frequency determines the point where the filter starts working.

  • Page 33: Resonance

    The ”classic“ synthesizer filter is generally the 24dB Lowpass. This filter type is the most effective and has the most pronounced resonance. The other filter types also allow for interesting sounds and effects. In the SUNSYN, you can combine different filter types and you can change them in a very flexible way.

  • Page 34: Sunsyn Filter

    Therefore, the two pole filter of the SUNSYN can also self-oscillate easily. The SUNSYN filter isn’t restricted to a fixed 1, 2, 3 or 4 pole setting. You can also set anything inbetween these standard settings. To do this, just set the cutoff frequency of each pole by turning the Pole-knob.
  • Page 35 Manual equal Pole Cutoff Settings Level 1. Pole 2. Pole resulting Slope Level 24 db 3. Pole Frequenzy 4. Pole Frequenzy against each other shifted Pole Cutoff Stellung Level 1. Pole 2. Pole resulting Slope Level <24 db 3. Pole Frequenzy 4.

  • Page 36: Operation Of The Filter Section

    You’ll notice that all filter parameters influence eachother to some degree. The setting of one parameter will often determine how another parameter affects the sound. Operation of the Filter-Section: The control elements of the filter section are located in the upper middle of the SUNSYN’s frontpanel. The individual parameters are: Cutoff-knob: The (Cutoff)-knob defines the frequency where the filter starts working.

  • Page 37: Lowpass

    Manual The top level filter parameters we just described effect all active filter poles the same. They override the individual pole settings. The High- and Low-buttons and the four individual pole knobs affect each pole individually. The High/Low-buttons: By pressing the (High/Low)-button, each pole can be set to Lowpass or Highpass. The corresponding <LED>...

  • Page 38: Highpass

    Bandpass Next to a lowpass and a highpass filter, the SUNSYN also offers a bandpass filter. You can create such a bandpass filter by combining highpass and lowpass poles. High and low frequencies are filtered out of the audio signal and only one frequency band is passed on.

  • Page 39: The Morph Feature

    Manual We’ve left out the resonance parameter to keep the introduction to the SUNSYN’s filter as simple as possible. We’ve also left out the filter envelope. Tweak the resonance knob and make the sound change dynamically by using envelope1. Use the (env amount) parameter to set the intensity of the envelope on the filter.

  • Page 40: Vca

    It’s used to set the signal level by use of control voltages. That’s how dynamic level changes are created. The VCA has a control input that is hardwired to envelope 2. The envelope amount is set in the VCA section of the SUNSYN. The corresponding (Env Amt)-knob can...

  • Page 41: Lfos

    (e.g. by increasing the attack value) or by reducing the envelope amount value. Due to the fact that the SUNSYN’s envelope generators are very fast, it’s not always necessary to set the attack to zero to produce percussive sounds.
  • Page 42 The (Delay)–button is used to delay the start of the LFO’s. The delay range is between 0,015 sec and 5 sec. An example is the delayed start of a vibrato if a flute-alike sound. Use the (Rate)–knob to set the frequency of the LFO’s. This means the speed of the modulation.
  • Page 43 The corresponding Soft-Controllers and Soft-Buttons have the following features: 1. (Soft-Controller) < SynL1 > (Syncronisation) • < Intr >: Internal – The LFO1 speed is controlled by the internal SUNSYN clock and is adjusted with the (Speed)-knob in the LFO-Section of the front panel.

  • Page 44: Routing-Elements

    When we take once again take a closer look at the block diagram of a SUNSYN voice, we can see its fundamental structure: There are several sound sources, a VCF to shape the sound and a VCA for its amplitude control.

  • Page 45: Source 1 And 2

    VCO 2 PV: (Previous Voice) Audio-Saw-Signal of VCO1 of the ”neighbouring“ voice. This way, individual voices of the SUNSYN can manipulate eachother. The voices are modulated in a cyclic way, this means voice 1 is modulated by voice 8, voice 2 is modulated by voice 1 etc.
  • Page 46 2 is modulated by voice 1 etc. Ext In: The signal that’s sent into the SUNSYN’s External Input can be routed into the signal path by using this source. This signal can be an audio signal or a control voltage. When the envelope follower is active, a control voltage is extracted from the signal.

  • Page 47: Modifier

    Manual • Additionally you can select one out of seven analogue audio signals that Controller- Velocity- Amount Amount affects the modulation intensity. Their (-128)-127 (-128)-127 effect on the modulation intensity depends on the value of the Routing- Amount (to set with softcontroller- knob) and can, if desired, be controlled Control- Routing...

  • Page 48: Destination

    The signals that are added through Routing Elements are added to the fixed signal path. This was a ”short description“ of the entire Routing Elements section. Every SUNSYN voice can use 4 routing elements, which means you can use up to 4 modulation -”cables“ at the same time per voice.

  • Page 49: Operation

    Manual Operation Basic operation of the Routing-Elements is simple: Selecting a Routing-Element: Use the (Routing No)-button to select the wanted Routing Element. The corresponding < LED > will light. When no LED lights, none of the 4 Routing-Elements is active. The signals are then only treated by the fixed signal path.
  • Page 50 To insert midi controllers in the signal flow, press the (Soft-Button) < Cntrl > (Controller) In this submenu, the midi controller assignment takes place. Up to four controllers can be assigned at the same time. Thereby, you can set the midi controller, the destination parameter, the amount (intensity) and the curve.
  • Page 51 Manual The free selection of midi controllers and routing elements creates lots of assignment possibilities: • One midi controller can modulate the amount of several Routing Elements with different intensities. • Several midi controllers affect the same modulation with different intensities. Press the (Exit/Cancel)-button once: You’re now in the edit menu level again where you can select several submenus.

  • Page 52: An Example

    Finally press a button of the rounting element section to get back to the routing element menu. An example: We’ll take a closer look to a simple and relevant example: We’ll use the filter to create a tremolo (e.g. like a wind instrument). The intensity of the tremolo will be controlled by aftertouch.
  • Page 53 Manual 9. Use the (Soft-Button) < Ctrl > to select one out of the four controller paths. In this example, we’ll use the default setting < 001 >. 10.The (Soft-Controller) < Ctrl > can now be used to select the entry ‘Aftertouch’ < AFTRT >. 11.Turn (Soft-Controller) <...

  • Page 54: Multiple Routing

    18.The (Soft-Controller) < AMT > now adjusts the velocity amount. It works the same way as the controller menu. 19.The modulation now becomes even more complex: Use the (Modifier)-buttons to select the position ‘LFO 2’. The LED < LFO 2 > lights. The modifier now additionally produces an analogue signal that originates from LFO 2.

  • Page 55: Modulomania

    ”layering“ several routings to the same destination. Modulomania… In this chapter, we want to go through the fundamental modulation possibilities of the SUNSYN. We’ll explain how to build well-known modulations. The routing elements allow an endless amount of modulation possibilities. Frequenzmodulation FM VCO 1 and VCO 2 offer the possibility to let the frequencies of their output signals be controlled by control voltages.
  • Page 56 This stability is needed to create harmonic sounds instead of just noise-alikes. The FM that is offered in the SUNSYN is a complementary feature, which greatly expands the sonic possibilities, especially for creating sounds with noise-contents.

  • Page 57: Crossmodulation Xm

    It gets even more interesting when you modulate the FM Modulator (which is the signal that is created by the sources) with a modifier of the SUNSYN. Since there are four Routing Elements, you can make several modulations at teh same time – the right tools for lovers of experimental sounds.

  • Page 58: Pulse Width Modulation Pwm

    Pulse width modulation can be used to create nice pads and evolving sounds. Let’s take a look at the VCO section of the SUNSYN. As we know, you can adjust the pulse width setting by turning the (Pulsewidth)-knob. Let’s take a routing element and let’s send a control voltage (e.g.

  • Page 59: Ring Modulation Rm

    FM though. Ringmodulation in the SUNSYN happens in the routing elements when an audio signal from a source has another audio signal as modifier. E.g. select an oscillator or noise as source and a VCO signal as modifier.
  • Page 60 It can be very interesting to ringmodulate an external signal. Select ”Ext in“ as source and select a VCO or RCO as modifier. Using drumloops and vocals can create very nice results. A single routing element can also produce several modulations, depending on the destination it’s sent to.
  • Page 61 Manual This way, the FM/RM Signal is rhythmically quantized. And then you could use the third routing element to… Interesting also, is a double ringmodulation. Therefore we’ll use two routing elements in the following way: 1. Load sound program 255 ‘Initital Patch’. 2.
  • Page 62 11.Press the (Exit/Cancel)-button. 12.Press the (Soft-Button) < Cntrl > 13.Use the (Soft-Controller) < CtrNo > to select the following entry < MODWH >. 14.Use the (Soft-Controller) < Dest > to select the following entry < R1AMT > ‘Routing- Amount1’. 15.Use the (Soft-Controller) < AMT > to set the controller amount < -128 >. By turning the modulation wheel up, the modulation is weakened.

  • Page 63: Self Modulation

    PV S and VCO 2 PV R (Previous Voice saw/rectangular) already. With this setting, ”neighbouring“ SUNSYN voices can modulate eachother. In the Source 1 column, the saw wave signal of VCO1 of the neighbouring voice is inserted in the routing element of the ”active“...

  • Page 64: Key-Voltage

    There it’s available as modulation source. In the Source 2 column, the pulse signal of VCO2 of the neighbouring voice is inserted in the routing element of thr active voice. The voices modulate eachother in a cyclic way, which means that voice 1 modulates voice 2, voice 2 modulates voice 3 etc.

  • Page 65: Menu-Driven Features

    This examples are only a small selection out of an endless amount of possibilities. You’ll find many ways to explore the SUNSYN’s synth engine and we’re con- vinced this will broaden your sounddesign skills. Take your time and try out as many things as possible.

  • Page 66: Global Menu

    This is the place where you can set all PCMCIA card parameters. All of these features are only active when a card is inserted. The SUNSYN will show an error message (Card DOS error) if you try to use the features without a card being inserted. The cards that can be used in the SUNSYN are PCMCIA photo memory cards with a maximum capacity of 16 Mb.

  • Page 67: Miscellaneous

    This could be useable under some circumstances. 3. (Soft-Controller) < MemPr > (Memory Protection) < on > All SUNSYN parameters are write protected. You can not overwrite an existing sound or multi program. When you try to overwrite an existing program, the LC display will show the following error message: <...

  • Page 68: Arpeggiator Menu

    1. (Soft-Button) < VCO > After pressing this soft button, the VCO’s of all voices are tuned in all octaves. The display shows how the tuning progresses. After tuning everything succesfully, the LC-Display goes back to the top level info page. 2.

  • Page 69: Midi Menu

    In this submenu all midi channels are set. The four soft controllers/buttons offer the following functions: 1. (Soft-Controller) < TxCh > (Transmit Channel) Here you can set the midi channel < 1-16 > on which the SUNSYN sends midi data to other devices. 2. (Soft-Controller) < RxCh > (Receive Channel) Here you can set the midi channel <...

  • Page 70: Unisono Menu

    < off > All eight voices contain two VCO’s and two RCO’s each. < on > All 32 oscillators are assigned to one voice. The SUNSYN is then a monophone synth with last-note priority. This one voice is… hmmm… let’s just say ‘powerful’ is an understatement…...

  • Page 71: Sysex Menu

    Choose whether you want the SUNSYN to react to portamento data < on/off >. 3. (Soft-Controller) < Hold > (Hold-Controller/Release-Time) Choose whether you want the SUNSYN to react to hold controller data < on/off >. The release time of Envelope 1 is set to the maximum value < on/off >.

  • Page 72: Edit-Menü

    1. (Soft-Button) < SysEn > (SysEx Enable) Here you can start a transfer (dump) of SysEx data to a connected device. 2. (Soft-Button) < Bdump > (Bulk Dump) Here you can start a transfer (dump) of SysEx data to a connected device. •...

  • Page 73: Modulation Menu

    Manual Here you can name single sounds. Names can consist out of 12 characters maximum. The four soft buttons and soft controllers have the following functions: 1. (Soft-Button) < < > The cursor is moved one character to the left. 2.
  • Page 74 2. (Soft-Controller) < Dest > This selects the destination parameter. The following destination parameters can be selected for each of the controllers: < VC1PI > VCO 1 Pitch < VC2PI > VCO 2 Pitch < RC1PI > RCO 1 Pitch <...
  • Page 75 Manual 3. (Soft-Controller) < Amt > Here you can set the intensity by which the selected midi controller affects the assigned destination. Its value ranges from < -128 > to < 127 >. The higher the value, the more intense the controller will affect the destination.

  • Page 76: Out

    the velocity is turned up more, negative values will reverse its functioning. The Velocity Amount has ist limits within the value of the Routing-Amount (because it is added or subtracted from this). 4. (Soft-Controller) < Curve > (Velocity-curve) This parameter sets the attack curve. The relation between the amount increase and the velocity can be set in four steps (= four curve shapes).

  • Page 77: More Menu

    Next to the midi controllers that can be assigned in the edit/modulation menu, all sound parameters of the SUNSYN are also mapped to a fixed controller number. Their values are shown in the LED Display by turning their knob. You can switch them on/off in the midi/enable menu.

  • Page 79: Multi-Mode

    Each voice is sent to the individual outputs via a internal SUNSYN mixer. You can send each voice to a single out. Controlling the voice levels also happens here.
  • Page 80 All eight voices of the multi sound can be accesses by pressing the (Page)-button. If you are in the assignement menu you can „activate“ the front panel of the sunsyn for the corresponding single sound by pressing its (Soft-Button). The active single sound can now be edited on the front panel without leaving the multi mode.
  • Page 81 Manual 2. (Soft-Button) < Chanl > (Midi-Channel) Here you can set the midi channels for each of the eight multi instruments. Use the corresponding (Soft-Controllers) to set the midi channel < 001 - 016 >. 3. (Soft-Button) < Vol > (Volume) This parameter sets the level of each of the 8 multi instruments.
  • Page 82 RCO-Sync-Mode and single sounds without RCO-Sync-Mode at the same time, then the SUNSYN will show an error message. The RCO settings are global settings, which means they must be the same for all voices (because of technical reasons).

  • Page 83: Anhang

    Manual ADDENDUM Midi-Implementation Fixed controller assignment. Here’s a list that shows to what parameters the midi controllers are assigned: Mastervolume Pan Rate Glide Intensity External In Level Cutoff Resonance Noise Level VCO 1 Level VCO 2 Level RCO 1 Level RCO 2 Level VCO 1 Pulse width VCO 1 Pulse width...
  • Page 84 As with all of our products, we intend to continuously improve the SUNSYN as much as we can. This will not only make the SUNSYN a ‘state of the art’ device for a long period of time, but it will also make it meet your demands as a professional tool. So if you have (realistic) suggestions or comments, please share them with us! We’ll also gladly accept any sounds you...
  • Page 85 This warranty is only valid if the receipt is added to the faulty unit. JoMoX in germany or its authorized distributor will do its best to ensure that any fault is remedied as quickly as possible. This warranty is in addition to our general terms of business.

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