Summary of Contents for Buchla Electronic 218e
- Page 1 USER’S GUIDE for the Buchla 218e Firmware card/225m and 208 Card Doubler by the staff of Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments V1.7. 7/24/17 (JD) © 2017 Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments...
- Page 2 Introduction If you have a 218e with a Music Easel or for using in a larger system, welcome to the 200e system. These notes will acquaint your 218e and other Music Easel accessories. Important Safety Precautions Do not disassemble this equipment. Refer all servicing to a qualified service engineer.
- Page 3 NOTE: Switchcraft “Tini-Jax” are the standard historical Buchla audio cable connections and are just slightly larger diameter and longer length than 3.5mm connections. Many synth manufacturers now use 3.5mm cables. 3.5mm cables often work in a Tini-Jax jack. COMMON BUCHLA SYSTEM STUFF Before getting into the details of particular modules, lets pursue some items that all 200 modules share in common.
- Page 4 See the Buchla.com support website for up-to date instructions for each module. Firmware updates: If you have a 218e and need to reprogram the 218e with a program update, the “code loader” is activated by having all knobs turned clockwise when the system is powered up.
- Page 5 A-D, as will MIDI clock/start/stop messages and vice-versa. That is, modules that generate messages on the internal bus will also produce USB-MIDI output on the 225m. That includes the 226h or 218e note messages (if enabled) or the 252e clock/start/stop.
- Page 6 Description - model 218e Touch Activated Voltage Source The 218e is capacitive keyboard modeled after the original 218 built in 1973, but adding an arpeggiator, fourth preset voltage source, and MIDI capabilities. First, the keyboard surface and its outputs: Tactile keyboard Surface The surface consists of 29 individual keys comprising 2-1/3 octaves.
- Page 7 Sustain: The Easel comes with a ¼” connection labeled “(opt. right)/sustain.” the factory jumper setting should be set for the 218e sustain pedal input since the Easel is really just a mono audio output. While it is not polyphonic, the keyboard will hold one pitch or latch arpeggiated pitches.
- Page 8 In this configuration mode, the illumination of the four preset pads indicates the internal MIDI bus assignment. The 218e boots up unassigned. Assign it to an internal bus by turning preset knob 1 through selections: none, A, B, C, D, A+B, C+D, A+B+C+D.
- Page 9 *Note: If you have an older 218 (without and “e” in the “218e” model number), you may have earlier firmware with only a basic “Adjustment Mode” for pressure sensitivity only. You cannot send MIDI over the internal bus for those.
- Page 10 Description – Easel 208 Card Doubler If you have purchased a 208 Card Doubler, Congratulations! The Easel Card Doubler allows owners of a model 208 to double the number of external program interface card slots and adds a firmware card input. Installing the Card: Cards are not reversible and not hot-swap-able! Remember, the program card slot was design in 1973.
- Page 11 J1 and J2. In the spirit of the Original “Retro” Program Cards, connections between added CV inputs through resistors to these points is possible. Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments is not responsible for any user circuit modifications.