Fingersonic EXP-1 User Manual

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Rev 1.0

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Summary of Contents for Fingersonic EXP-1

Page 1 Rev 1.0...
Page 2: Copyright And Legal Notices
Unplug all instruments when making connections To avoid causing damage to the EXP-1 and other devices to which is connected, such as a hifi system or midi instruments, turn off the power and unplug all related devices before connecting or disconnecting audio and midi cables.
Page 3 12 months from the date of the shipment to you, the customer. In the event of a defect covered by this limited warranty, Fingersonic will, at its option and free of charge to customer, repair, replace or refund the purchase price paid.
Page 4: Table Of Contents
Synth instrument ........................17 EXternal Sequencer........................19 Mixer section usage ........................20 Effects ............................21 USB connectivity usage ......................22 Xpansion 1 Port..........................23 Xpansion 2 port..........................25 Context and instruments patches saving/recovering..............26 Quick troubleshooting........................30 Midi implementation chart......................32 EXP-1 System Exclusive open source protocol.................33 Technical specifications......................34 Rev 1.0...
Page 5: Introduction
FaderOs interface. A digital mixer is present to set every instrument level and a special mute function is featured for easy and quick live remix stage usage. Although the EXP-1 is designed to be very intuitive to use, reading this manual will give you better understanding of all the features offered by your new instrument.
Page 6 Song mode to chain patterns together Led matrix to select voice to work into 128 * 64 Graphic LCD with FingerSonic “mixer style UI” FaderOS Built in mixer with mute function Effect section with reverb and possibility of rhythm part exclusion...
Page 7: Device Overview
Right select + Play/stop = Restore the factory patch/parameters and clears the pattern notes and events. Note2: When you press Save, EXP-1 will be busy for approximately 1 seconds saving the pattern context. The controls will not respond during this lapse time.
Page 8 Xpansion 1: If installed, gives Internal speaker standard MIDI connectivity to the device. By using 3.5mm jack to DIN cable, you can connect a synthesizer, expander or keyboard controller. 6 X AA batteries Optional Xpansion 2 module: Bass, used to Master volume, Treble, used to adjust the bass...
Page 9 EXP-1 Unit block diagram: The following charts shows the structure of the EXP-1 unit: Audio out Final stage (bass treble) master vol Delay Digital mixer 14 channels Distortion Bassline Synthesizer Piano 10 parts drums Midi in 3 x Arpeggiators Sequencer...
Page 10: Basic Operation
The corresponding fader on the display indicate the parameter current level. Note that it is possible also to play the voices of the EXP-1 through MIDI (USB or optional Xpansion1 module). To use the arpeggio feature, you need to start the sequencer to give the tempo.
Page 11 Once you like your work and the pattern is done you can save your work by pressing the save button. You will recall all the pattern note and events and also the synths patches when you recall this pattern. Once you have created some patterns you can decide to create a song. So you will use the song mode by pressing the song button.
Page 12: Drums Section
Drums section The drum section is composed of 10 tracks. Each with a different voice: -BD Bass drum -SD Snare drum -LT Low tom -HT High tom -RS Rim shot -CP Hand clap -CB Cow bell -CY Cymbal -OH Open hi hat -CH Closed hi hat Each voice allows to edit some synthesis parameters according to its type (example: Snappy for Snare, Tuning for Bass drum.
Page 13 HT screen GAI: Gain level of the HIGH TOM FXR: FX route, it is possible to exclude the drum voices of the reverb effect by activating this control. DLF: Delay feedback, adjust the feedback amount going in the delay line. DLT: Delay time, adjust the time delay.
Page 14 OH screen GAI: Gain level of the OPEN HIHAT TUN: Tuning of the OPEN HIHAT REV: it is possible to reverse the HIHAT sound with this control FXR: FX route, it is possible to exclude the drum voices of the reverb effect by activating this control.
Page 15: Bassline Instrument
Bassline instrument The following charts describes the bassline synth structure: Saw oscillator Tuning Final stage Square oscillator Resonance Accent Gain CutOff Envelope Decay Distortion The Bassline output is then routed to the FX reverb unit and to the final mixer stage. It is also possible to play the Bassline live from the internal keyboard.
Page 16: Piano Instrument
Piano instrument The Piano voice was specially designed by Fingersonic for electronic music. The piano has a single voice (mono) to allow the programming of melodies with the sequencer. It is possible to edit the envelope with two parameters: the attack and the release. By modifying the attack it is possible to make the instrument percussive (such as piano) or not (to reproduce some kind of violins for example).
Page 17: Synth Instrument
Synth instrument Your EXP-1 instrument contains a complete 3 voices (2 oscillators per voice for a total of 6 oscillators) analog modelling synthesizer. Diagram of a synth voice (3 are present) VCO1 -Square -Sawtooth -Silent -Cutoff -Reso VCO2 -Square -Sawtooth...
Page 18 It is possible to play the synthesizer live from the internal keyboard. Through midi or USB it is possible to play it by using MIDI canal 1. The synthesizer features an arpeggiator that can be triggered from the internal keyboard or through USB or midi (canal 1).
Page 19: External Sequencer
The external sequencer allows you to control an external synth, sound module or sampler easily and with the same friendly FaderOS interface as the other voices of your EXP-1. This external sequencer works by sending the midi events to the external module. This can be done through the USB port or through the physical MIDI if the Xpansion 1 module is present.
Page 20: Mixer Section Usage
The step button on the bottom left can be used for Tap tempo function when you are in mixer mode. Just press it 3 time in time with the tempo you want to synchronize to and the EXP-1 will calculate and instantly apply the tempo you tapped.
Page 21: Effects
Effects An effect section providing a reverb is available. The Reverb delay and feedback can be adjusted across a wide range so you can obtain very interesting and powerful results. It is also possible to disconnect the drum section from the effect section thanks to the FXR feature.
Page 22: Usb Connectivity Usage
For example you will find great apps that will allow you to divide the screen of your smartphone in coloured pads. Then you can use this pads to trigger sounds or note on your EXP-1 to play live. Use with PC MIDI sequencer By using a MIDI sequencer you can play MIDI files through the EXP-1 using its fantastic voices that you can then tune in realtime.
Page 23: Xpansion1 Port
MIDI devices. USB to MIDI conversion With this module, the EXP-1 can act as a an USB <-> MIDI converter. You can use it for example to connect a MIDI keyboard to a laptop which has only USB port.
Page 24 Xpansion 1 module installation Please, before installing the module, unplug your EXP-1 from USB and remove the batteries. On the kit you purchase, you will receive 2 SMD headers (1 x 6 pins and 1 x 8 pins), the Xpansion 1 module and an M3 screw with a spacer.
Page 25: Xpansion 2 Port
Xpansion2 module installation Please, before installing the module, unplug your EXP-1 from USB and remove the batteries. On the kit you purchase, you will receive 2 SMD headers (1 x 6 pins and 1 x 8 pins), the Xpansion2 module and 2 M3 screws with spacers.
Page 26: Context And Instruments Patches Saving/Recovering
EXP-1. Note that the SYSEX protocol used on EXP-1 is open source, so you will also be able to edit it by hand to duplicate some parts or to isolate only the Bassline patch for example. The possibilities are infinite.
Page 27 PC computer: Example of using SYSEX with the very good MidiOX software. Receiving SYSEX from EXP-1 1°) Connect your EXP-1 to PC USB. 2°) Launch MidiOX 3°) Select USB speakers as midi input and USB speakers as midi output. 4°) Click on view -> SYSEX 5°) Select receive manual dump...
Page 28 Watch your SYSEX bytes arriving on the PC. By using the monitor window and the information available on the last chapter you can even see the message content and study it to create your own messages to interact with the EXP-1. 7°) click on the Done button 7°) Save the file where you prefer.
Page 29 Sending SYSEX to EXP-1 Do the precedent steps until point 4°) 5°) Click on send Sysex file, then select the file you want to send back on EXP-1. File will have .syx extension. 6°) Wait for the transfer to finish. Don’t forget to save the pattern context if you want to keep it as long as Sysex file is only downloaded in ram.
Page 30: Quick Troubleshooting
Master level: check that the master level on the mixer panel of the EXP-1 is set to audible level. Individual instrument level: check that the individual instrument gain is set to audible level in the mixer panel of your EXP-1.
Page 31 Synth (sequencer mode): check that the LAS control is set in to “sequencer”. Check that the sequencer is playing and not stopped. Check that you program at least a note to play on one of the 16 step. Programming a note to play involves that you set a note to on with the corresponding fader and you also select a note to play on the keyboard by pressing the desired key.
Page 32: Midi Implementation Chart
Midi implementation chart MIDI implementation table EXP-1 FW01 X means not supported Function Received Transmitted Comment Drum channel 10 X Synth channel Bassline channel Piano channel External Sequencer 1 Keyboard can also transmit Note number 0-127 0-127 Velocity Recognized only for Note on/off...
Page 33: Exp-1 System Exclusive Open Source Protocol
EXP-1 System Exclusive open source protocol The EXP-1 features an open source System EXclusive protocol. By doing so FingerSonic strongly encourages the hobbyst and the enthusiast to program their own software to edit the internal parameters with no limits! EXP-1 Open source SYStem Exclusive protocol...
Page 34: Technical Specifications
8 ohm 1 Watt internal mini speaker 3.5mm MIDI input & output port (Only for Gold version or with Xpansion2 optional) Display 128 X 64 graphical FSTN display Firmware FingerSonic FaderOS for EXP-1 V 1.0 Audio Sample rate 44,1Khz Bit depth 16 bit Channels: 1 stereo...