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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for u-he CVilization
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
16. Nov 2020 Introduction Installation Four Modes Terminology Colour Coding The Pages Performance Page Program Pages Config Pages Presets Mode I: Matrix Mixer Performance Page Mute Program Pages Mix 1 Input to 4 Outputs Mix 4 Inputs to 1 Output Config Page 1 LE1 Quantization LE2 Clock / Trigger Source... - Page 3 Originally designed to plop in and out of chronospace faster than you can say “plop?“, our team of specialists at u-he labs were not surprised to discover that the alien circuitry could also process audio at the speed of sound! So we meticulously reverse-engineered the artifact, including its ability to multiply matter or even create 4-dimensional panoramic views of the future…...
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Page 4: Introduction
INTRODUCTION Introduction CVilization is a utility module designed for mixing, routing and sequencing up to four CV or audio signals. Three of the four modes include quantization, sample & hold and glide per channel. CVilization sets a high technical standard for a digital Eurorack module: +/- 10V max. for the inputs and outputs, 24-bit / 96kHz…... -
Page 5: Installation
During the warranty period, defective units will be repaired (if possible) or replaced, with the customer paying the return postage. Heckmann Audio GmbH accepts no responsibility for harm to person or apparatus caused through operation of this product. For more information, please contact support@u-he.com. Technical Specifications • Format: 10HP Eurorack module •... -
Page 6: Four Modes
If you leave CVilization untouched for about 1 minute, the current mode and its settings will be automatically saved. The saved settings will be loaded the next time CVilization boots up, so instead of saving the current state as a preset you can simply wait a minute before switching off. ... -
Page 7: Terminology
A particular function or choice of options. Page A set of CVilization parameters controlled by the 8 encoders, a view switchable via press / long-press… Press Instruction to push the top of an encoder and quickly release. Doing this usually opens a Program Page. -
Page 8: The Pages
More presets? In addition to the 7 regular presets for each mode (4 * 7 = 28), CVilization can store up to 128 user presets in conjunction with Select Bus controllers such as the Malekko ‘Varigate’ series. For details of how to save and recall Select Bus presets, please refer to the documentation of the Select Bus controller. -
Page 9: Mode I: Matrix Mixer
A traditional ‘matrix mixer’ routes multiple input signals to multiple outputs, with level controls determining how much of each input is sent to each output. In CVilization, 4 high resolution inputs can be freely mixed to 4 outputs. The Performance Page simply lets you mute individual inputs and outputs. -
Page 10: Performance Page
MATRIX MIXER Performance Page Mute Turning an encoder up one tick mutes that input or output, and the status LED turns red. Turning a muted encoder down unmutes it again, and the LED reverts to its channel colour. Mute is the only function available in the Mode 1 Performance page. Program Pages The two methods described below control the very same parameters! Another thing to remember: You never have to go back to the performance page while mixing –... -
Page 11: Config
MATRIX MIXER Config Page 1 From the Performance Page, long-press LE1-3 for the following… Quantization Clock / Trigger Source Clock Division go to page 2 Press other LE to jump between parameters, or press the blinking encoder to exit. Quantization The quantizer forces voltages to musical scales at 1V/octave: It is meant for processing pitch CV, not audio. -
Page 12: Le3 Clock Division
MATRIX MIXER Clock Division This page sets a division factor for a Clock (see Clock / Trigger Source above), effectively slowing it down. Turn RE1-4 orange 1 x (default) green blue magenta Manual Clock Reset Depending on when you switch Clock Division, things can easily get out of phase. To reset at the next trigger or clock, press RE1-4 while LE2 or LE3 is selected. -
Page 13: Le3 Tracking Time
– not the best strategy unless you enjoy spending more time finding the optimal settings. CVilization can make its Sample & Hold quasi permeable for a few milliseconds after a trigger has occurred. With the right setting, pitches e.g. from a sequencer are only ‘frozen’ (i.e. sampled and held) after the target value is reached. -
Page 14: Mode Ii: Sequential Switch
SEQUENTIAL SWITCH Mode II: Sequential Switch Traditional ‘Sequential Switches’ route a single input to several outputs in succession, or several inputs to a single output. Most will give you some control over the playback order (forwards, backwards, random…). Mode II is based on that same principle, but allows you to set up 4 independent 8-step sequences: One for each of the 4 outputs, all clocked via CV-A or CV-B, with optional Clock Division per sequence. -
Page 15: Stop / Pause
SEQUENTIAL SWITCH Performance Page Stop / Pause Turn the lefthand encoders down one tick to stop the sequence, or up one tick to pause: Turn LE1-4 Playback Stop Pause Stop A sequence can be frozen at the current step by turning its LE down one tick: The LED switches off and the phase of the Clock Division (see below) is reset. -
Page 16: Step Type
Press other LE to jump between parameters, or press the blinking encoder to exit. Quantization CVilization’s quantizer forces voltages to certain musical scales at 1V/octave: It is meant for pitches, though especially the ‘chromatic’ option is quite useful for other purposes. Note: Setting quantization for all channels on-the-fly is easy, as they are all available on the same page. -
Page 17: Le2 Clock / Trigger Source
SEQUENTIAL SWITCH Clock / Trigger Source Press LE2 then turn RE1-4 to select the Clock / S&H input(s) for each channel: RE1-4 yellow CV-A triggers a new switch / sample purple CV-B triggers a new switch / sample orange CV-A or CV-B (logical OR) triggers a new switch / sample blue CV-A and CV-B (logical AND) triggers a new switch / sample teal... -
Page 18: Le1 Glide Time
Although this option also applies to Mode II, it can only be set in Mode I. Read about it there… The world’s least intuitive Eurorack module? We don't know whether CVilization is indeed the world's least intuitive Eurorack module, But given u-he's reputation for designing mind-bogglingly complex audio software plug-ins – such as a digital delay with 247 parameters –... -
Page 19: Mode Iii: Quad Mucorder
QUAD MUCORDER Mode III: Quad Mucorder Mode III transforms CVilization into a 4-track, 16-step ‘Mutagenic CV Recorder’. You can record more than one track (‘sequence’) at a time, and recording can be initiated manually or via external gate. If transposition is activated, individual sequences can be shifted up or down via CV (1V/octave) at the 4 inputs. -
Page 20: Performance Page
QUAD MUCORDER Random / Input Normalling For all unused inputs, a random value is generated per step, just like the classic ‘Random Sample & Hold’. The inputs themselves are normalled from left to right. For example, as soon as a cable is plugged into input 2 (only), this signal also appears at inputs 3 and 4, while the random signal still appears at input 1. -
Page 21: Mutation
You can also use Pressure Points or similar to record harmonies on several tracks at the same time. Here’s how: Patch the 3 main PP outputs with 3 of the CVilization inputs, and a gate output to CVilization’s CV1 input. The PP knobs define the chords, and tapping on the active PP channel will send a gate that will cause CVilization to record the chord. -
Page 22: Config
Press other LE to jump between parameters, or press the blinking encoder to exit. Quantization CVilization’s quantizer forces voltages to certain musical scales at 1V/octave: It is meant for pitches, though especially the ‘chromatic’ option is quite useful for other purposes. Note: Setting quantization for all channels on-the-fly is easy, as they are all available on the same page. -
Page 23: Le3 Clock Division
Step Recording The Clock Division factor also applies during step recording – CVilization cannot know whether you are recording manually or are in the middle of a live performance. Tip: Instead of repeating each note enough times to actually be recorded, temporarily set the Clock Division to 1. -
Page 24: Le2 Cv-B Function
QUAD MUCORDER CV-B Function If CV-B is not already being used as the Clock / Trigger Source, you can control the following instead: Turn RE1-4 no function salmon Reset to the first step cyan Quantization selection (0.5V steps). The colour for the selected scale flashes whenever the voltage at CV-B changes sufficiently lime green Glide on/off (+3V, 0V) orange... -
Page 25: Mode Iv: Quadraphonic Panner
Sequential Switch can already switch inputs, we decided to reverse the principle here and pan each input across the 4 outputs, automatically and/or via CV. As CVilization can also process audio signals, Mode IV can be used as a traditional quadraphonic audio mixer. -
Page 26: Performance Page
As always, pressing the breathing encoder will take you back to the Performance page. Auto-Hop Whenever CVilization recognizes a transient in the input signal, it can pan the signal to a random position. The Auto-Hop effect can be very dramatic when used with a ‘surround’ system (e.g. quadraphonic or 5.1), especially when applied to percussive sounds and with minimum smoothing (RE2 just one tick up). ... -
Page 27: Expert Features
User Scales CVilization lets you record two different kinds of user-scales: ‘Basic Scales’ and ‘Volt Map Scales’. While the former divides 1 Volt input into 12 steps and maps each to a note within an octave, the latter maps a sequence of notes (voltages) onto 1 Volt, in the order they were played. -
Page 28: Volt Map Scales
The procedure is similar to Basic Scale recording except that you long-press the encoder one more time. The outer two mode LEDs (I and IV) will light up, indicating that CVilization is ready to record a Volt Map. Remember that the last recorded note is not part of the scale, but sets the repetition interval. To keep things simple for now, your last note should be an octave i.e. -
Page 29: System Bus
Start/Stop messages. CVilization only acts as a Select Bus receiver: To use Select Bus you will need a suitable sender such as Malekko Varigate 8+, WMD Metron or ES Select Bus Breakout connected to the same Eurorack bus rails. -
Page 30: Input Calibration
GREEN (the corresponding RE will also light up red). Connect your “not quite 0V” source to a CVilization input, then press and hold the corresponding LE until all encoders flash rapidly, indicating successful calibration. Reset via long-press on the RE: If you change CV sources and/or the power supply, the stored offsets will need to be reset, otherwise the input signal will be "corrected"... -
Page 31: Microsd
The following procedures require that you gain access to CVilization’s microSD slot, which is mounted on the top of the rear circuit board. This means powering down your Eurorack case and loosening CVilization with a small crosspoint screwdriver. You will also need a means of transferring files to microSD cards, of course! Firmware Updates You will need a file called cvlizUpd.ebi, which will be available via this page: u-he.com/products/cvilization/. -
Page 32: Options In Cvz.ini
EXPERT FEATURES Options in CVZ.ini CVZ.ini is a configuration file that resides on the microSD card. CVilization loads this file whenever it is powered up. The text will look something like this, but with fewer comments: [Global] Bus Clock Source =... - Page 33 EXPERT FEATURES Sequence Length Colours Count To Colours = Repeat 4 // or Segments This option lets you replace the colour scheme used for setting the sequence length before recording: Repeat 4 = iterate orange-green-blue-magenta 4 times Segments = orange-green-blue-magenta with decreasing brightness: orange (1-4), green (5-8), blue (9-12), magenta (13-16) Matrix Rotation (Mode I) CV Rotation = yes...
- Page 34 CVilization for hours and make no music at all. Further rumors that CVilization got its name from exactly this, to "civilize" music and eradicate modular synthesis were neither confirmed nor denied. The management decided to drop that feature from the Mode I defaults, but someone in the marketing department thought it would be a funny anecdote.
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