Beetlecrab Vector Manuale utente
Operator's Manual
CONTENTS
1 Introduction 1
2 Quick start guide 3
3 Overview 5
3.1 Frontpanel........................... 6
3.1.1 Input.......................... 7
3.1.2 Envelope ....................... 8
3.1.3 Mixer.......................... 9
3.1.4 Feed .......................... 10
3.1.5 Sync .......................... 11
4 Sound engine 13
4.1 Orbiter.............................. 13
4.1.1 Corners ........................ 15
4.1.2 Warp.......................... 16
4.2 Synthesis ............................ 18
4.2.1 Overtone Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2.2 Overtone Blend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Additivemode .................... 20
Modulated mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2.3 Corner Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Filters .......................... 25
Filtertypes................... 27
Generators....................... 28
PrimeSlot ................... 28
GenTune.................... 29
BlendMode.................. 30
Amp....................... 31
4.2.4 Randomizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3 Polyphony ........................... 33
4.3.1 PolyMode ...................... 33
4.3.2 DualMode ...................... 33
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4.3.3 MonoMode ..................... 34
4.4 Arpeggiator .......................... 35
4.4.1 StepGrid ....................... 35
4.4.2 Randomization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.5 Effects.............................. 37
4.5.1 Vibrato and Tremolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.5.2 Drive .......................... 38
4.5.3 Chorus......................... 39
4.5.4 Delay.......................... 40
4.5.5 Reverb......................... 41
5 Conguration 43
5.1 Tempo.............................. 43
5.2 Presets.............................. 44
5.2.1 Preset import and export . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Accessing individual presets . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Archiving all presets at once . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.3 Globalsettings ........................ 47
5.3.1 MIDI conguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.3.2 Miscellaneous conguration . . . . . . . . . . 49
6 Specications 51
6.1 What’s in the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6.2 Connectivity.......................... 52
6.3 Firmware updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
6.4 MIDI implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
6.5 Health and safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
6.6 Free and open-source software . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Index 59
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1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Vector, an experimental exploratory hardware syn-
thesizer combining elements of several synthesis methods into
a very special expressive blend.
The operator’s manual is organized as follows:
•Quick start guide shows how to go from zero to sound in
a short time while showing the major features.
•Overview describes the control elements of Vector.
•Sound engine contains detailed description of all Vec-
tor’s features and main concepts (such as the Orbiter or
Corners) as well as the principles of the sound synthesis
method.
•Conguration shows available settings and presets.
•Specications documents MIDI implementation or avail-
able connections.
Note:
Vector is still evolving which means this manual is being up-
dated accordingly. Please check docs.vectorsynth.com for
newer versions.
1
Vector
2 Chapter 1. Introduction
2 QUICK START GUIDE
The quick start guide will lead you from zero to sound and show
some of the most important features of Vector. For a compre-
hensive description of the machine and its sound synthesis en-
gine, see the Overview section.
1. First, make sure the hardware is set up properly:
• Connect a MIDI controller to the USB or MIDI IN jack.
• Connect headphones to the Phones jack.
• Connect the provided power supply and turn on Vec-
tor.
2. After Vector starts up, it shows the Orbiter screen – it is
called after the blue orb which moves along a certain tra-
jectory. Make sure the Control switch is in the Auto posi-
tion.
3. Hit the Focus button twice. The blue orb moves to the rst
(top left) Corner.
4. Play a note and experiment with the ve knobs just
below the display which control the Corner parameters
(Overtone Gen 1 and 2,Overtone Blend,Filter Cutoff and
Filter Resonance).
5. Hit Focus again to move to the next Corner and create a
different sound by playing a note. Each Corner has its own
set of parameters.
6. Hold the Focus button to exit the focus mode. Notice the
blue orb is moving along the trajectory again. Now, when
you play a note, all four Corners are playing simultaneously
and their mix is determined by the position of the green
orb. Explore the periodic modulation.
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Vector
7. The trajectory can be moved on the touchscreen or
warped on the Warp Pad. Try the different shapes and
speeds.
8. Next, try the Arpeggiator. Make sure the Active switch
in the Arpeggiator section is turned on and that the Feed
Direction switch is set to Arp or Both and slowly blinking.
If it isn’t, enable the Feed button.
9. Play a chord to trigger the arpeggiator. You can transpose
octaves of the individual steps in the top part of the Effects
screen . You can also use the Octave Walk to enable
octave randomization.
10. Try the Delay. Set the Feed Direction switch to Delay or
Both and the Delay knob in the Mixer section to approx-
imately 50%. Play with the Delay Time and Delay Feed-
back on the Effects screen .
11. Play with Chorus and Reverb in a similar fashion (except
the Feed Direction has no effect here).
12. Move to the Presets screen and try another preset from
the Factory presets collection to explore more sound pos-
sibilities!
4 Chapter 2. Quick start guide
3 OVERVIEW
Vector is a digital desktop synthesizer based around the Orbiter.
Four separate sound generators (Corners), each with a separate
blend and lter stages, are mixed together based on the Orbiter
position in a 2D space and the nal mix is then processed by var-
ious Effects. The Corners are triggered either by notes sent from
an external MIDI controller or from an internal Arpeggiator.
Vector’s control elements consist of a 7” capacitive touchscreen
display, 25 click-less rotary encoders, 7 toggle switches, and
4 buttons with status LEDs, all grouped into various sections
on the Front panel.
Furthermore, the display is divided into a few screens:
•Orbiter Screen, the main screen with Orbiter,
•Effects Screen, a “secondary” screen with Effects con-
trols,
•Presets Screen, which allows factory and user Presets
to be loaded and stored, and
•Settings Screen with Global settings (MIDI etc.).
Orbiter screen is the main screen which appears on power-up
and allows access to the “secondary” Effects screen. The Presets
and Settings screens are accessible from the Effects screen.
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