Summary of Contents for Artisan Electronic Instruments Ottava
- Page 1 Ottava User’s Manual Analog Hybrid Performance Synthesizer Artisan Electronic Instruments© 2016 All Rights Reserved www. ArtisanElectronicInstruments.com...
-
Page 2: Table Of Contents
Contents Your Ottava Performance Analog-Hybrid Synthesizer ..............3 Right Up Front ..........................4 Ottava’s Voice ..........................6 Sources ............................7 Oscillators............................ 8 AXoR Function ........................... 10 Noise Source ..........................12 Filter .............................. 13 VCA ..............................14 Envelope Generators ........................14 LFOs ............................... -
Page 3: Your Ottava Performance Analog-Hybrid Synthesizer
Your Ottava Performance Analog-Hybrid Synthesizer So you just un-boxed your Ottava.. nice feeling isn’t it? If you are like me, you just want to get playing... Well that’s easy, let’s do it! Plug in the adapter Turn on the switch ... -
Page 4: Right Up Front
Right Up Front Ottava has 25 knobs and 15 push buttons for direct control of most functions. Very little menu diving is required to setup a patch… wouldn’t be a performance synthesizer if it did, right? But we did need to keep this thing compact while providing so much under the hood…... - Page 5 Additionally, the LFOs have rate modulation allowing very naturally flowing vibratos to wild time-shifting modulation waveshapes. The Trigger button allows Ottava to play on its own. A simple way sample the sound or to use Ottava as a drone box.
-
Page 6: Ottava's Voice
All those knobs and buttons and LEDs on the Front Panel exist for one basic purpose, accessing the sound engine under the cover. Without this, Ottava would just be a cool looking MIDI controller. Thank goodness there is that second PCB. -
Page 7: Sources
Sources The harmonic character of a sound starts with the oscillators, so Ottava was designed to provide a wide range of control and capabilities in its stable oscillators without sacrificing the warmth and feel that can only be derived from a discrete analog design. -
Page 8: Oscillators
It’s all these sub-octave options found on both both oscillators that give rise and credence to the OTTAVA name.* The Waveshape knob morphs the core waveshape from Saw through blade through Triangle waves continuously. - Page 9 * PWM modulation can change the shape from 0% to 100% pulse width. 0% and 100% are actually useful... it is a neat trick to remove an oscillator from the mix dynamically The Wave level knob controls the mix level of the fundamental waveshape. The Sub-Oscillator shape control knob combines functions;...
-
Page 10: Axor Function
AXoR Function The AXoR function is unique (as far as I know) to Ottava. The AXor is a digiat ring modulator on steroids… and it shows. Most ring modulators take in 2 sources, the AXoR takes in 4. The PWM from each Oscillator and the two Sub-oscillators. - Page 11 The Clanks and Thrash transforms have additional sub functions 1-4 Select combinations squares waves from the sub-oscillators 5-8 Select frequency dependent combinations. For the Bells and Thrash transforms, the pulse width setting of each oscillator affects the resulting tone tremendously. Here is how the Front Panel Source Controls function when in the AXoR selection mode;...
-
Page 12: Noise Source
Noise Source The noise source on the Ottava is digitally generated. It can provide a very random white noise source (has over 10 years before the pattern repeats, this is not a 1980s noise source, no chug- chug sounds here). Being digital has its benefits. For one, it allows the noise to change “color”... -
Page 13: Filter
Keyboard tracking can be set from 2x inverted tracking to 2X positive. We know you will love sweeping this filter, so Ottava has a nice big knob right in the middle of its panel. You can thank us later… ... -
Page 14: Vca
Offset modulation source and you have a Drone box. Envelope Generators There are 4 identical Envelope Generator in Ottava.. We resist using the ADSR term because they are more than that. We could use DAHDSR as that is a more accurate abbreviation (and you will find this term used sometimes) . - Page 15 The Envelope generators have 4 triggering modes; Gated = Envelope will go through the DAHD stages and stay at the Susteian stage as long as any keys is down. It will not re-trigger n a new note. Soft = The Envelope will re-trigger on each note back to the Attack phase, starting at the present level.
-
Page 16: Lfos
LFOs Ottava also has 4 LFOs.. for the most part they are identical except LFO 1 runs 4 times faster than the other 3… It runs up to 80 Hz. The LFOs produce one of 8 waveforms; Ramp Up ... -
Page 17: Trigger
MIDI Note that will be played when the trigger is pressed. You can play Ottava and edit the sound while in the Parameter Mode, so go ahead and press the trigger, adjust the pitch, play again… who knows, you could get good at this! Try playing “Mary had a... -
Page 18: Modulation Selection And Modifiers
The key to giving “life” to a sound is the subtle and sometime wild application of modulation. In Ottava, all 21 modulation sources are available to any of the 25 destinations, but those destinations need to be set and selected. - Page 19 Here is the Modulation list controlled by the Y data knob: No Modulation Velocity Mod Wheel Pitch Bend After Touch Ext Pedal CV LFO 1 LFO 2 LFO 3 LFO 4 ...
-
Page 20: Multiplier
Modifiers have their modulation sources selected differently. This is one of those time we have to dive into the menu.. Rotate the Data Knob until it says “Modifiers” and press the data knob. At this point, the OLED will switch and display something like; Modifier being adjusted M o d i f i e r M u l t 1... -
Page 21: Adder
One major use for the Multipliers is to allow the Mod Wheel to affect the depth of an LFO or Envelope generator. By multiplying in the Mod wheel, when it is at 0%, the modulation is effectively turned off and when the wheel is at 100% the modulation depth is set by the Mod Amount knob on the front panel. -
Page 22: Min-Max
Convex MIN-MAX The Min-Max selector takes in two modulations and outputs one based on which is great (max option) or lower (min option). This can create some really great effects, such as a vibrato that is clipped by the modulation wheel (min function) or complex LFO shapes (Max of 2 LFOs). The Min option is selected when the “-“... -
Page 23: Patch Save, Recall And Assign
(like a low pass filter)… set the TC high and as the modulation rate increase, the effective modulation decreases. Patch Save, Recall and Assign Patch management is accessed under the Patched Menu. Ritate the data Knob to Patches and press the Data knob. The Data Knob will scroll through the sub-menu: ... -
Page 24: Assign Button 1-10 And Quick Patch
10 numbered buttons you have assigned a patch to... Bam, new patch in 100ms. Press one of these Hold this Note that whatever patch you assign to button 1 will be set when Ottava powers up. -
Page 25: Midi And Mode Setup
The MIDI Channel (or Omni mode) is selected by the Y/Right knob and by pressing the Data Knob. Omni mode will make Ottava respond to MIDI not and CC on any channel. The Play Mode is set by the X/Left knob and by pressing the Data Button. The Play Mode can be Monophonic or Duophonic. -
Page 26: Parameter Access And Midi Cc Assignments
Rotating the Y/Right knob or the assigned Front Panel knob or button will change the value. The values are set while high resolution/precision using Ottava’s own knobs, but Ottava will also respond to MIDI CC, albeit to a lower 0-127 resolution. - Page 27 FILTER_CUTOFF FILTER_RESONANCE FILTER_MOD1_SRC FILTER_MOD1_AMNT FILTER_MOD2_SRC FILTER_MOD2_AMNT FILTER_KEYFOLLOW VCA_AMPLITUDE VCA_MOD1_SRC VCA_MOD1_AMNT VCA_MOD2_SRC VCA_MOD2_AMNT ENVELOPE_1_ATTCK ENVELOPE_1_DECAY ENVELOPE_1_SUSTN ENVELOPE_1_RELSE ENVELOPE_1_DELAY ENVELOPE_1_HOLD ENVELOPE_1_TYPE ENVELOPE_2_ATTCK ENVELOPE_2_DECAY ENVELOPE_2_SUSTN ENVELOPE_2_RELSE ENVELOPE_2_DELAY ENVELOPE_2_HOLD ENVELOPE_2_TYPE ENVELOPE_3_ATTCK ENVELOPE_3_DECAY ENVELOPE_3_SUSTN ENVELOPE_3_RELSE ENVELOPE_3_DELAY ENVELOPE_3_HOLD ENVELOPE_3_TYPE ENVELOPE_4_ATTCK ENVELOPE_4_DECAY ENVELOPE_4_SUSTN ENVELOPE_4_RELSE ENVELOPE_4_DELAY ENVELOPE_4_HOLD ENVELOPE_4_TYPE LFO_1_RATE LFO_1_WAVEFORM LFO_1_TYPE...
- Page 28 LFO_1_MOD_AMOUNT LFO_2_RATE LFO_2_WAVEFORM LFO_2_TYPE LFO_2_MOD_SOURCE LFO_2_MOD_AMOUNT LFO_3_RATE LFO_3_WAVEFORM LFO_3_TYPE LFO_3_MOD_SOURCE LFO_3_MOD_AMOUNT LFO_4_RATE LFO_4_WAVEFORM LFO_4_TYPE LFO_4_MOD_SOURCE LFO_4_MOD_AMOUNT RESERVED_1 RESERVED_2 RESERVED_3 RESERVED_4 RESERVED_5 MULTPLY_1_X_SRC MULTPLY_1_Y_SRC MULTPLY_1_Y_INVT MULTPLY_2_X_SRC MULTPLY_2_Y_SRC MULTPLY_2_Y_INVT ADDER_X_SOURCE ADDER_Y_SOURCE ADDER_Y_INVERT MIN_MAX_X_SOURCE MIN_MAX_Y_SOURCE MIN_MAX_Y_INVERT CONTOUR_MOD_SRC CONTOUR_SHAPE BIT_CRUSHER_MOD BIT_RESOLUTION LAG_MOD_SOURCE LAG_RATE OFFSET_OUTPUT_1 PITCH RESERVED_6 RESERVED_7...
- Page 29 TRIGGER_NOTE MIDI_MODE MIDI_CHANNEL EXT_PEDAL_CV AFTER_TOUCH MODULATION_WHEEL PITCH_BEND...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Ottava and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers