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Sonoclast Plastic Pitch Pro User Manual v0.5
(Obviously this manual is a work in progress. The Plastic Pitch Pro is a complex and unique
device with a lot of features and thus demands a lot of explanation. Please do let us know if you
have questions.)
Basic Description
The Plastic Pitch Pro (PPPro) is a high resolution MIDI microtuner with a musically intuitive real
time tuning interface. It can tune any MIDI synthesizer using MIDI Pitch Bend messages, MIDI
Tuning Standard (MTS) messages, and MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) messages.
The basic idea is that the PPPro processes incoming MIDI and generates custom tuned
outgoing MIDI. The incoming MIDI comes from one or more MIDI controllers, and the outgoing
MIDI is sent to one or more MIDI synthesizers.
Connecting Your PPPro
The PPPro can be connected to multiple controllers and multiple synthesizers. To start, below
are the minimal connections to make it work.
For Pitch Bend and MPE tuning message types:
MIDI controller output > MIDI or USB cable > PPPro input
PPPro output > MIDI or USB cable > MIDI synthesizer input
For MTS tuning message types:
PPPro output > MIDI or USB cable > MIDI synthesizer input
Note that a USB port is both an input and output, whereas a MIDI DIN port is either an input or
an output.
A powered USB hub can be used with the PPPro's USB A (host) port to add three more (four
total) USB A controller inputs.
In sum, there are up to six MIDI controller input ports:
● 1 USB B (most likely from a computer)
● 4 USB A (with a powered hub or 1 without)
● 1 DIN
And there are up to four MIDI output ports to synthesizers:
● 1 USB B (most likely to a computer)
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Summary of Contents for Sonoclast Plastic Pitch Pro
- Page 1 Sonoclast Plastic Pitch Pro User Manual v0.5 (Obviously this manual is a work in progress. The Plastic Pitch Pro is a complex and unique device with a lot of features and thus demands a lot of explanation. Please do let us know if you have questions.)
- Page 2 ● 1 USB A ● 2 DIN Hardware Description 14 high quality TT Electronics P260 potentiometers. They are not the cheapest but are very long lasting--rated at 1 million cycles (i.e., a lot more than most synths on the market)--and have a sturdy and consistently smooth feel which is especially important for tuning.
- Page 3 The fat rotary encoder knob and two buttons are used to navigate what is displayed. Generally, the encoder is used to increment or decrement values, the back button is used to go back, and the enter button is used to go forward and access the configuration menu system. On the main 12-tone tuning display (with all the real-time tuning information), the back button lets you toggle between relative and absolute cents.
- Page 4 Configuration Menu: The configuration menu gives access to settings organized by each MIDI output port, global settings, and MIDI utilities. MIDI Output Port Settings: There are four output ports labeled DIN A, DIN B, USB A (host), and USB B (device). Each has the following identical set of configuration parameters.
- Page 5 (or half the standard size). Selecting Std means the PPPro uses 16,384 steps in MTS tuning calculations, and Moog means it uses 8,192 steps. Global Settings: The maximum range of the 12 tuning knobs can be set from 100 cents to 700 cents. This is how much sharp or flat each note of an octave can be changed with a real time tuning knob.
- Page 6 All Notes Off is useful if you have MIDI message hiccups and a Note On message never gets turned off. MIDI RPN (Registered Parameter Number) 0 is used to configure the pitch bend range in a synth. The PPPro sends RPN 0 whenever pitch bend range is changed, but if your synth is not connected with a MIDI cable or turned off you might want to send the RPN again.
- Page 7 Cents and Hertz values that are displayed on the PPPro are merely calculated based on knob positions or the currently loaded preset, and they assume that your synth is tuned to 12-ET with MIDI note 69 tuned to A-440. The PPPro has no way of knowing what actual frequencies are produced when your synth receives a MIDI message that tunes.
- Page 8 Manual Revisions: v0.5 - released May 2021 LImited Warranty: Sonoclast warrants the Plastic Pitch Pro to the original owner to be free from defect or workmanship for 1 year from the date of purchase.
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