Instruo arbhar User Manual

Granular audio processor

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arbhar

Granular Audio Processor

User Manual

(Firmware 1.5.4b)

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Summary of Contents for Instruo arbhar

Page 1 Granular Audio Processor User Manual (Firmware 1.5.4b)
Page 2: Table Of Contents
Contents Audio Analysis & Onset Description / Features Detection Installation / Specifications Onset Control Modes Overview Scan & Follow Mode I/O & Capture Wavetable Mode Granular Synthesis Hardware Configurations Stereo Panning Pitch Hold CV - Stereo Reverb Shift Button Feedback / Delay Erase &...
Page 3 Contents USB Flash Drive Import & Export CV Expansion Firmware Update Factory Reset Patch Examples Basic Granular Processing Feedback Capture Wavetable Synth Voice Onset Triggered Modulation Looping Granular Delay Mode Dry/Wet Mix History of The Lexer Method...
Page 4 Description arbhar heralds a new generation of granular processing in Eurorack. Sampled audio can be chopped into tiny grains, scattered, shaped, re-pitched, reversed, and layered for an endless range of audio manipulation from seamless frozen tones to mutated acousmatic madness. Each grain sounds with its defined specifications. When modulation is used, the “per-grain parameter”...
Page 5 12 pin IDC cable to both modules. Ensure that the red strip of the IDC cable matches the white stripe on each module. 7. Mount the Instruō arbhar in your Eurorack synthesizer case. 8. Power your Eurorack synthesizer system on.
Page 6 'ɑɾ·u:ɾ· | noun (agricultural) a grain, a very small amount of a particular quantity, natural patterns or lines in the surface of wood or cloth ONSET SENSE HOLD PITCH 1V/OCT INTENSITY δ ε γ LENGTH SCAN SPRAY β ζ...
Page 7 CV Expansion Module SPRAY LAYER D / W 1. Spray CV Input 2. Layer CV Input 3. Grain Direction CV Input 4. Grain Window CV Input 5. Pitch Deviation CV Input 6. Dub CV Input 7. Mod CV Input 8. Dry/Wet Mix CV Input...
Page 8: I/O & Capture
Input. This includes the level of the normalled Condenser Microphone signal. The input stage incorporates analogue limiting. This allows arbhar to saturate rather than digitally clip when high amplitude signals are used. • If the knob is at its 10:00 position, the signal present at the Input approximately at unity gain.
Page 9 Button. • Pressing the Capture Button while capture is activated will stop recording. • arbhar automatically saves recordings and will retain recordings between power cycles (See the Save & Load section for more information). Capture Gate Input: Recording and overdubbing is activated for as...
Page 10 Scan parameter. • To ensure the absence of audio drop outs at extreme Scan parameter positions, arbhar will record for an extra 2 seconds at the end of each layer. 10 SECONDS EACH Layer Indicators: Layer Indicators will illuminate around the Layer knob to indicate the currently selected layer.
Page 11 Granular Stream: The Granular Stream display will change colour to indicate the currently selected layer. The Granular Stream display will also illuminate from left to right, indicating the amplitude of the granular stream. FINISH • The alpha layer is indicated by the colour blue.
Page 12: Granular Synthesis
Granular Synthesis There are two separate granular engines within arbhar. The Continuous Granular Engine is controlled by the Intensity parameter. The Strike Granular Engine is controlled by the Strike Input Strike Button. By default, 24 grains can be generated polyphonically from the...
Page 13 • Turning the knob to either of its extreme settings will turn off the Continuous Granular Engine. In these settings, the Strike Button Strike Input can be used for time-synchronized grain generation via Strike Granular Engine. • When changing the Intensity parameter, all currently generated grains will remain uninterrupted.
Page 14 Grain Window: Grain Window parameter sets the amplitude envelope of the grains. • If the knob is in the centre position, the grain window is set to a Gaussian shape. The Gaussian shape is suitable for smooth drones and textures. •...
Page 15 • Grains from the Strike Granular Engine are indicated by amber LED illumination. • Both Grain Direction Indicators will illuminate amber when arbhar is set to Wavetable Mode (See the Wavetable Mode section for more information). Length: Length parameter sets the duration of each grain ranging from ~40ms - 3s.
Page 16 Spray: Spray parameter controls a random deviation of the grain start position. The amount and location of start position deviation is shown on the Granular Stream display. • Spray functionality will deviate from the current Scan position to the right of the layer. The Spray parameter is biased towards the current Scan...
Page 17: Pitch
Pitch values are applied at the beginning of each grain and remain unchanged for the duration of the grain. It is therefore possible that by modulating the Pitch parameter, arbhar can generate polyphonic overlapped grains. Decreased Intensity Length parameters will...
Page 18 Pitch deviation values are applied at the beginning of each grain and remain unchanged for the duration of the grain. It is therefore possible that by modulating the Pitch Deviation parameter, arbhar can generate polyphonic overlapped grains. Decreased Intensity Length parameters will result in more immediate Pitch Deviation parameter changes.
Page 19 -2 / 0 / +1 -5 / 0 / +7 -1 / 0 / +2 -9 / 0 / +8 -4 / 0 / +3 -8 / 0 / +9 -3 / 0 / +4 -11 / 0 / +10 -7 / 0 / +5 -10 / 0 / +11 -6 / 0 / +6...
Page 20: Shift Button
Shift Button • Shift Button is used for secondary features, modes, and controls (See the Erase & Undo, Layer Record Destination Lock, Onset Control Modes, Scan Mode & Follow Mode, Save & Load, and Import & Export sections for more information). •...
Page 21: Layer Record Destination Lock
Layer Record Destination Lock Audio can be captured into a layer while a different layer is being monitored. This can be done by decoupling the recording destination from the Layer parameter. Layer Record Destination Lock, press and hold the Shift Button To set a Layer Layer Record Destination Lock...
Page 22: Audio Analysis & Onset Detection
Audio Analysis & Onset Detection Onset Input: Onset Input is an AC coupled audio input for the audio analysis section of arbhar. • Onset Input is normalised to the Input. • Depending on the currently selected mode, signals present at the Onset Input will activate capture.
Page 23 • Turning the knob clockwise increases the responsiveness of the Onset Input. • Turning the knob anticlockwise decreases the responsiveness of the Onset Input. Hold: Hold parameter changes functionality based on the selected Onset Control Mode. • If capture is triggered by onset detection, the Hold parameter sets the minimum capture time when capture is activated.
Page 24: Onset Control Modes
Onset Control Modes arbhar features four different Onset Control Modes that determine how the internal audio analysis functions. Shift Button Capture Button Layer With the and the held down, turn the Onset Control Mode: knob to set the Alpha: The alpha setting will activate capture upon onset detection.
Page 25: Scan & Follow Mode
Scan Mode & Follow Mode To change between Scan Mode Follow Mode, press and hold the Shift Button and the Capture Button, then turn the Scan knob to either of the two extreme values. Double turning the Scan knob to the minimum or maximum position will toggle between Scan Mode Follow...
Page 26 If the Onset Control Mode is set to alpha or beta, onset detection will capture audio and trigger playback simultaneously. If the Onset Control Mode is set to gamma or delta, the onset detection Capture Button and Capture will only restart playback. In this case, the Gate Input are used to record audio into the layer.
Page 27: Wavetable Mode
Wavetable Mode Turning the Length knob fully anticlockwise forces arbhar to crossfade into a Wavetable Synthesis Engine. The wavetable is derived from a single-cycle loop of the captured content within the layer. • Grain Direction Indicators Both are illuminated amber when this mode is active.
Page 28: Hardware Configurations
Hardware Configurations arbhar Hardware can be set to four different configurations using the Configuration Switches, and XY, found at the right side of the back circuit board. The value of the parameters determined by the Hardware Configuration Switches are set by the...
Page 29: Hold Cv
• arbhar At 0V, distributes the grains in the default coin toss method. • With positive voltage, additional to the coin toss method, the stereo spread is reduced. At +5V, stereo spread reduces to a fully mono mix. • With negative voltage, additional to the coin toss method, a random deviation from the left and right extremes creates a more active equal power stereo distribution.
Page 30: Feedback / Delay
Feedback/Delay Configuration: Hardware Configuration Switch Position: A-Y. Two granular engines (24 grains + 20 grains) and Wavetable Mode. MOD CV Input on the CV Expansion Module controls curated parameters of the feedback/delay. • Output 1 A summed dry and wet signal will generate from if it’s the Output only...
Page 31: Save & Load
Save & Load Loading a saved recording from memory after it has been erased allows for non-destructive experimentation of recording/overdubbing source material. Save: To save a recording within the currently selected layer, press and hold the Shift Button and the Capture Button and then press the Strike...
Page 32: Usb Flash Drive
USB Flash Drive arbhar includes a 4GB USB flash drive. Three folders are automatically created when the USB flash drive is connected to arbhar: • _userfiles • _usersaved • _toConvert Upon power up, arbhar checks the _toConvert folder. The first 13...
Page 33: Import & Export
_usersaved folder of the USB flash drive. as a 48kHz / 24 Bit .wav file. Files saved to the USB flash drive are not available to load back into arbhar, unless they are moved into _toConvert _userfiles folders of the USB flash drive.
Page 34: Cv Expansion
CV Expansion Spray CV Input: The Spray CV Input is a bipolar control voltage input for Spray parameter. • Control voltage is summed with the knob position. • Input range: 10V. e.g. a voltage difference of 10V is needed to control from the minimum to maximum knob position.
Page 35 Grain Window CV Input: Grain Window CV Input is a bipolar control voltage input for the Grain Window parameter. • Control voltage is summed with the knob position. • Input range: 10V. e.g. a voltage difference of 10V is needed to control from the minimum to maximum knob position.
Page 36: Firmware Update
Update Firmware arbhar For information and assets pertaining to firmware updates, visit: www.instruomodular.com/support. Factory Reset Shift Button Capture Button Press and hold the and then press the seven times to perform a factory reset. A factory reset will clear all audio...
Page 37: Patch Examples
Patch Examples Basic Granular Processing: Summary: Audio is captured, granulated, and then monitored. Output 1 Output 2* Audio Path: • Connect any audio signal to the Input. • Set the Input Level to a desired position and set the Output Level fully clockwise.
Page 38 This effectively turns down the Condenser Microphone input signal. • Experiment with all granular and pitch knobs to find desired effects and sweet spots. Control Path: • Apply control voltage to any of the CV inputs of arbhar.
Page 39: Feedback Capture
Feedback Capture: Summary: The monitored output is fed back to the Condenser Microphone. Feedback is captured, granularised and then monitored. CAUTION: This patch could harm monitoring systems if feedback is too loud. Patch at your own risk. Output 1 Output 2* Audio Path: •...
Page 40 Once capture has deactivated, turn the Input Level fully anticlockwise. This effectively turns down the Condenser Microphone input signal. • Set all granular and pitch knobs to desired positions. Audio Path: • Apply control voltage to any of the CV inputs of arbhar.
Page 41: Wavetable Synth Voice
Wavetable Synth Voice: Summary: A wavetable is derived from captured audio. This wavetable can be triggered and pitch tracked and has a variable amplitude envelope. Output Audio Signal 1V/Oct Signal Gate Signal Gate Signal for Capture for Grain Strike Audio Path: •...
Page 42 • Press the Capture Button or connect a gate signal to the Capture Gate Input to start capturing audio. • Capture will be activated until the maximum layer duration has been met. If the Capture Button is pressed while capture is activated, or if the gate signal present at the Capture Gate Input is low, recording...
Page 43: Onset Triggered Modulation
Gate Output Gate generate from the upon each onset detection. The Output Length triggers an envelope which is used to modulate the arbhar. parameter of Output Audio Signal Gate Signal Audio Path: • Connect any audio signal to the Onset Input.
Page 44 • Set the Intensity parameter to its 10:00 position. • Length parameter to its 9:00 position. • Set the Spray parameter to its 9:00 position. • Onset Detection will trigger capture. Control Path: • Gate Output Connect the to the gate/trig input of an envelope generator.
Page 45: Looping Granular
Looping Granular: Summary: A scaled and offset sawtooth waveform is used to modulate Scan arbhar position of for looping granular playback. Scaling sets the length, inversion sets the direction and the LFO frequency sets playback speed. Audio Signal Output 1...
Page 46 • Capture will be activated until the maximum layer duration has been met. If the Capture Button is pressed while capture is activated, or if the gate signal present at the Capture Gate Input is low, recording will be stopped. •...
Page 47: Delay Mode Dry/Wet Mix
Delay Mode Dry/Wet Mix: Summary: arbhar Feedback/Delay Hardware is set to it’s Configuration Hardware Configurations (See the section for more Output 1 Output 2 Output information). When both are connected, Output 2 generates the dry signal only and generates the wet signal only.
Page 48 Control Path: • Ensure the CV Expansion Module is connected to arbhar via the 12 pin IDC ribbon cable. • Apply control voltage to the MOD CV Input to control arbhar’s curated Feedback/Delay parameter...
Page 49: History Of The Lexer Method
The fundamental approach for arbhar utilises granulation techniques on audio captured in real-time in response to the sounds produced by the acoustic instrument or sound source. Playing back multiple instances of grains which are out of phase with one another to create the illusion that the sound is continuous.
Page 50 I am now delighted to see these processes available in a Eurorack module. With Jason Lim’s technical expertise and interface design, informed by his musicality and instrumental talent, arbhar became so much more than I had initially imagined. http://research.gold.ac.uk/8005/ http://formantbros.jp/sako/download.html...