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2/8/2021
Quick-Start
If you are eager to start making music with Mono right now, this couple of
pages should get you started.
Panel Layout
Synthesis section
A Oscillator section :
detune and continuously variable waveform controls. Mod section with
Thru-Zero Frequency Modulation (TZFM) and hard-sync from oscillator
1 to oscillator 2.
B Mixer section :
the filter will softly saturate said oscillator, resulting in interesting
timbres.
C Filter section :
continuously variable state, and bipolar envelope amount controls, as
well as a keyboard tracking "Follow" switch. Filter is self-resonant at
maximum resonance.
D Main envelope :
meaning a new note will restart the cycle.
E Output volume :
so it can also be modulated (Audio rate amplitude modulation ? Oh
yes.)
F X-Modulator :
types - low frequency, low frequency synced, audio-rate, audio-rate
quantized -, 4 waves - sine, triangle, square, sawtooth-, rate control
and bipolar amount control.
G X-Envelope :
parameter-dedicated AD envelope with attack, decay,
and amount controls.
Each of the 20 synthesizer parameters have their own dedicated X-Mod
and X-Env (even sync and follow). To access it, just gently move the knob of
the parameter you want to select and the parameter LED will turn on.
Sequencer section
localhost:3000/manual
2 oscillators with quantized frequency, bipolar
set oscillators level. Above a certain oscillator level,
state Variable Filter with cutoff, resonance,
a classic ADSR envelope. It is rettringering,
pretty self-explanatory, although it's a digital control
parameter-dedicated modulation oscillators with 4
Norand Mono Manual
1/23

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Summary of Contents for Norand Mono

  • Page 1 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual Quick-Start If you are eager to start making music with Mono right now, this couple of pages should get you started. Panel Layout Synthesis section A Oscillator section : 2 oscillators with quantized frequency, bipolar detune and continuously variable waveform controls. Mod section with Thru-Zero Frequency Modulation (TZFM) and hard-sync from oscillator 1 to oscillator 2.
  • Page 2 Accent/Glide : Hold and press steps to add accent or glide. Hold func and press to undo/redo. Every single action on Mono can be undone. Record : enter/leave record mode. In record mode, incoming notes from external and internal keyboard will be recorded.
  • Page 3 Use a ¼” TRS phone plug (Balanced connection) Mono vocabulary Project : Top structure of mono data architecture, This holds 64 patterns, global settings 40 Mod Notes and 4 custom scales. Pattern : A sequence of steps to be played in a loop...
  • Page 4 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual Mono data architecture Randomizer Hold [FUNC] + [TEMPO] and : Press a [PAGE] key : add between 1 and 4 random notes to the page, the added note are always in scale. Press a [SEQ] key : Randomize every parameter of said step...
  • Page 5 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual Mod note mode In Mod Note mode, the keyboard no longer act as chromatic, each of the 8 bottom mini keyboard [NOTE] keys has its own set of parameters, its own timbre in a way. Each project has 5 pages of Mod notes, scroll with [UP] or [DOWN] key.
  • Page 6: Synthesis Engine

    Dump the current project as a sysex le Intro What is Norand Mono ? Well, (not so) simply put, it is an analog monophonic synthesizer with a large set of performance-oriented digital features. At the heart of this small synthesizer lies an all analog signal path, with uniquely designed circuit blocks.
  • Page 7 Indeed, one can easily make a good sounding patch using a single oscillator with Mono ! Let’s dive into each part. East coast synthesis East coast synthesis usually describe subtractive synthesis...
  • Page 8 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual integrator. In “layman” terms, it means that the triangle core waveform is not perfect, it is a bit “skewed”, which gives it and the sinus wave a slightly richer harmonic content. Each oscillator has 3 parameters. The big [FREQ] knob adjusts the pitch in semitones, from C0 to C8.
  • Page 9: Filter Block

    Filter block Mono’s lter is a resonant lter with low-pass, high-pass and band-pass output. Like the oscillator, it is a unique design : discrete integrator cells arranged in a three cell 18dB slope state-variable lter. It features a stable self oscillation at maximum resonance and it is precisely tuned like the oscillators.
  • Page 10 One of my favourite features with software synths is the fact that one can have an unlimited amount of modulators for each and every possible synthesis parameter - Mono implements this without menu-diving or 200 potentiometers.
  • Page 11 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual Every single parameter of Mono has its own envelope and modulator with their dedicated settings, there are no limitations. That’s 20 Modulators and 16 AD envelopes. the main envelope parameters don’t have an envelope, that wouldn’t make sense.
  • Page 12 The powerful clocking system makes Mono extremely versatile, whether you are in the studio, in a live situation or even in DJ sets. Mod Note mode replaces notes by user de ned timbre.
  • Page 13 Projects and basic pattern operation Projects Mono holds 32 projects in memory. Projects need to be saved to be persisted in memory, save by holding [FUNC] and hitting [SAVE]. To load a project, hold [FUNC] and hit [LOAD]. Projects are organised into pages of...
  • Page 14: Editing A Pattern

    Hold [PATTERN] and press [RECORD] to disable patchless mode. Editing a pattern There are two ways of adding notes and automations with Mono : either by inputting it manually, or by recording it live while the sequencer is running in record mode.
  • Page 15: Step Parameters

    C0 to C10. Adding notes manually Adding note trigs manually on Mono is quite simple : just hit the desired [SEQ] key, it adds a note trig on that step with the currently selected [NOTE]. An active step is indicated by a bright LED. Select the page where you want to add a note with the [PAGE] key.
  • Page 16 Parameter offsets or automations Mono's automations work a bit di erently from most of the other hardware synthesizers I know of. They are not “step-locked” with a xed value but rather an o set value from the actual position of the potentiometer. When adding a parameter o set to a step, each time said step is triggered by the sequencer the parameter will be “o seted”...
  • Page 17 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual Parameter offset visualisation By default, the [SEQ] LEDs don’t show which step holds recorded parameter o sets, and the only way to know that a parameter is automated is by using your ears, which can be very di cult on complex patterns.
  • Page 18: Pattern Settings

    2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual target parameter. To clear a whole parameter hold [DELETE] and slightly move the desired potentiometer. You can also copy, paste and clear a patch. To do so, use the [RECORD] button : To copy, hold [FUNC] + [COPY] and press [RECORD]. Navigate to the pattern where you want to paste the patch, hold [FUNC] + [PASTE] and hit [RECORD].
  • Page 19 Randomizer Mono features several randomizing features to assist the musician's creative process. They allow users to explore the depth of Mono’s synthesis engine. There are di erent randomize options : randomize page, step, parameter, accent, slide, and Mod Note.
  • Page 20: Project Settings

    Project settings First things rst, let’s be honest - editing settings on Mono is not the best user experience. There is no way to make the process easy without a display, so you either need a good memory, or you need to keep the manual close.
  • Page 21 2/8/2021 Norand Mono Manual CV [PAGE 4] : Mono uses its CV clock input as clock. In this mode, each step is triggered by an incoming pulse signal at the CV clock input, and the pattern restarts everytime a pulse is received at the reset input. Note that when using CV clock, some features of Mono can’t work : microshift,...
  • Page 22: Updating Firmware

    Update and calibration Updating firmware The rmware le is a standard .syx le. To update, connect Mono to a computer using the USB cable (MIDI won’t work). Hold [PATTERN] + [RUN] and power the unit. The [SEQ] LEDs will ash. Launch your favorite sysex program (“Sysex Librarian”...
  • Page 23: Program Change

    To dump a program, launch your Sysex software, set it in reception mode with Mono as source, hold [FUNC] and press [PGM DUMP] To load a project back to Mono, open the projects in which you want to receive the sysex le, hold [FUNC] and press [PGM RCV]. On your sysex software, send the project to Mono.

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