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Intellijel Cascadia Manual

Advanced, performance-oriented, semi-modular synthesizer
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Cascadia
Advanced, Performance-Oriented, Semi-Modular Synthesizer
Manual (English)
Revision: 2023.04.12

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Summary of Contents for Intellijel Cascadia

  • Page 1 Cascadia Advanced, Performance-Oriented, Semi-Modular Synthesizer Manual (English) Revision: 2023.04.12...
  • Page 2 The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Intellijel. Intellijel assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. Intellijel may also make improvements and/or changes in the products and programs described in this document at any time without notice. In no...
  • Page 3 ● To protect your speakers from damage and/or your ears from permanent hearing loss, always turn down the volume on your amplifier before connecting Cascadia’s audio output. ● Do not use headphones in areas where situational awareness is required. Do not use headphones at high volume, or for extended periods of time, and always reduce the volume level when first connecting them.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    VCO B Jacks ENVELOPE A ENVELOPE A Controls ENVELOPE A Jacks ENVELOPE B ENVELOPE B Controls ENVELOPE B Jacks LINE IN MIXER MIXER Controls MIXER Jacks VCF Controls VCF Jacks WAVE FOLDER WAVE FOLDER Controls WAVE FOLDER Jacks Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 5 INVERT BI > UNI EXP SRC RINGMOD VCA B / LPF I/O CONTROL EXTERNAL CV IN FX SEND / RETURN FX SEND / RETURN Controls FX SEND / RETURN Jacks OUTPUT CONTROL OUTPUT CONTROL Jacks OUTPUT CONTROL Controls Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 6 DETAILS: Envelope B as LFO Controls & Jacks DETAILS: Envelope B as Pulse Burst Generator Controls & Jacks INTELLIJEL CONFIG APP System Region Cascadia Config Column MIDI Voice MIDI CC Output MIDI MOD Output MIDI LFO MIDI/Tap Clock MIDI Out Config...

  • Page 7: Overview

    And because we wanted Cascadia to be as flexible as possible, we decided not to hamper it with a limited selection of on-board effects but, instead, imbue it with the capability to fully integrate and control external effects devices —...

  • Page 8: Layout

    But for those who wish to reconfigure the synth’s internal structure, or to augment its architecture with external modules, Cascadia features over 100 eurorack-compatible patch points.

  • Page 9: Graphics & Conventions

    Graphics & Conventions While Cascadia might appear complicated at first glance, it uses a number of graphical conventions that make it easy to understand exactly what’s happening with the signal flow. Specifically: ● OUTPUTS : Jacks enclosed within a block are outputs.
  • Page 10 (GREEN = positive; RED = negative). Amber LEDS indicate gates or triggers. As shown in the previous panel diagram, Cascadia’s front panel is segmented into a number of sections — each with a complement of related jacks, knobs, sliders and switches. We will discuss each section in detail, and in the numerical order indicated.

  • Page 11: Make A Sound

    If you’re playing Cascadia via a MIDI controller, connect its MIDI OUT to Cascadia’s MIDI IN jack (or to its USB MIDI input). By default, Cascadia is set to receive on MIDI Channel 1. NOTE: To receive on a different channel, press the button next to the MIDI PITCH jack in the upper left section to put Cascadia into “Channel Learn Mode”.
  • Page 12 Set the indicated switches as shown below. Not all switches will be used in this patch, so you only need to set those that are highlighted in yellow on the diagram. Play your keyboard or sequencer and you should hear a simple sound. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 13 In the VCF section, raise the FM1 slider as shown. By default, the output of ENVELOPE B is patched into FM1, so no patch cords are needed. Play your keyboard or sequencer and notice that there’s now a bit of extra thump at the beginning of the sound. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 14 Play your keyboard or sequencer. Every time you hit a note, ENVELOPE B triggers the S&H module, generating a new random voltage, which will change the amount of wave folding applied to each note — thus giving the sound some dynamic character. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 15 LFO RATE by the inverted amount of ENVELOPE B. Play your keyboard or sequencer. The sound is dirtier and wobblier courtesy of the FM applied to VCO A. Adjust VCO A’s IM MOD slider to taste, as well as the LFO X/Y/Z RATE knob. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 16 — but instead of just mixing it into the signal, we’re going to route just the ring mod through an external fuzz pedal, and then bring it back into Cascadia for mixing and filtering.

  • Page 17: Midi / Cv

    “All Notes Off” message. Should an error occur in your external MIDI controller that results in it failing to send a Notes Off message to Cascadia, long-pushing the PITCH button will silence any notes that are stuck “on.” The SYNC LED [5.9]...
  • Page 18 [1.B] output jack. Pushing the button puts Cascadia into “CC Learn Mode.” Once in CC Learn Mode, send a MIDI message to Cascadia using the MIDI CC number you want assigned to the MIDI CC jack. Alternatively, you could send MIDI Aftertouch. Cascadia will now derive a 0V - 5V unipolar voltage from the learned CC source and send it out the MIDI CC jack.
  • Page 19 ○ LONG-PUSH function : Each long-push (>1sec) of the MIDI LFO button selects a different LFO shape, cycling through Sine ; Square ; Ramp ; Saw shapes with each long-push of the button. ● INTELLIJEL CONFIG APP - You can also use the Intellijel Config App to customize the MIDI LFO jack, using its LFO Shape and LFO Division menus.
  • Page 20 The LED blinks in time with the jack’s clock output. By default, Cascadia is set to power on using Tap (Auto Detect MIDI) mode. In this mode, Cascadia uses its internal clock (set by tapping the MIDI CLK button at the desired tempo).
  • Page 21 MIDI MOD output jack. Alternatively, you could send MIDI Aftertouch. Cascadia will now derive a 0V - 5V unipolar voltage from the learned CC source and send it out the MIDI MOD jack. If you wish to map the CC value to a bipolar voltage, use the Intellijel Config App 1.G :...

  • Page 22: Vco A

    ● Lower Left: Adjusts high frequency compensation. Needed only if you have a tracking issue and are instructed to tweak this by Intellijel Tech Support. ● Lower Right: Adjusts octave tracking. Needed only if you have a tracking issue and are instructed to tweak this by Intellijel Tech Support.
  • Page 23 The effect is most clearly heard (and understood) when an audio rate signal is sent into the FM 2 [2.E] input. If nothing is patched into FM 2 , then VCO B’s SINE wave output is routed into the FM 2 input. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 24 LFO rates, one can see the individual colors, with red indicating negative voltages and green indicating positive, while the intensity of the LED indicates the absolute voltage value (the brighter the LED, the higher the voltage). Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 25: Vco A Jacks

    DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the PITCH input jack, then the signal patched into Cascadia’s EXT IN: PITCH [13.1.A] input (either MIDI or CV) is used as the pitch source for VCO A.

  • Page 26: Vco B

    ● Lower Left: Adjusts high frequency compensation. Needed only if you have a tracking issue and are instructed to tweak this by Intellijel Tech Support. ● Lower Right: Adjusts octave tracking. Needed only if you have a tracking issue and are instructed to tweak this by Intellijel Tech Support.

  • Page 27: Vco B Jacks

    3.D : VCO B TRIANGLE OUT - Triangle wave output of VCO B. 3.E : VCO B SAW OUT - Saw wave output of VCO B. 3.F : VCO B SQUARE OUT - Square wave output of VCO B. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 28: Envelope A

    0V when the GATE [4.A] voltage goes low, and is further affected by the ENVELOPE SPEED [4.7] switch. Fast releases are at the bottom of the slider; slower releases at the top. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 29 ● AHDSR (bottom) - The HOLD time is used, and is applied after the ATTACK stage. So, when triggered, the ATTACK stage will play immediately, but then the amplitude will remain at its maximum level for the duration of the HOLD stage, before entering the DECAY stage. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 30 If the HOLD [4.1] time is shorter than the length of the high gate patched into the GATE [4.A] input, then the envelope essentially functions the same as a basic ADSR. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 31 D/R : 30 ms - 60 s NOTE: The length of each envelope stage can be extended via a control voltage patched into the CTRL IN [4.B] jack, and the CTRL SOURCE [4.8] switch set to the TIME position. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 32: Envelope A Jacks

    (without the envelope completing its earlier stages). DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the GATE IN jack, then the signal patched into Cascadia’s EXT IN: GATE [13.1.B] input (either MIDI or external CV) is used to gate the envelope.
  • Page 33 DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the CTRL IN jack, Cascadia’s MIDI VELOCITY [1.E] output is used to control the envelope. 4.C : RETRIG IN - A positive voltage trigger patched into this jack resets the envelope, and re-starts the attack stage from the current envelope level.

  • Page 34: Envelope B

    Specifically: ● BURST mode is discussed in Details: Envelope B as Pulse Burst Generator ● ENVELOPE mode is discussed in Details: Envelope B as Envelope ● LFO mode is discussed in Details: Envelope B as LFO Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 35: Envelope B Controls

    MODE SELECT switch is set to LFO, the switch selects different LFO options, as indicated by the labels on the right. See the DETAILS section of the manual for a deep dive into each of the Envelope B modes, and how the TYPE SELECT switch functions. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 36 (bottom) to triangle (middle) to ramp (top). If the TYPE SELECT [5.2] switch is set to LFV, the slider slews the waveform for smoother vacillations. ● BURST mode: The slider tils the overall burst envelope plus the waveform of each pulse within that envelope. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 37 Settings below the centerline affect the SHAPE time in a negative direction. The lower the position, the greater the input voltage’s effect. When set at the center line, the voltage patched into the SHAPE MOD [5.C] jack has no effect. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 38 [1.B] button to put Cascadia into “MIDI MOD Learn Mode,” and Cascadia is waiting for you to send it a MIDI CC message. Upon learning the MIDI MOD CC, the LED will flash to confirm. ○ 3 Flashes : Indicates that you have made a configuration change in Cascadia’s MIDI / CV section.

  • Page 39: Envelope B Jacks

    [5.1] and TYPE SELECT [ 5.2] switches. DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the GATE/SYNC [5.D] jack, Cascadia’s external Gate is used (which can be derived either from the MIDI GATE [1.G] , the GATE CV [13.1.B] input, or the front panel MANUAL GATE [11.1]...

  • Page 40: Line In

    SECTION 6 LINE IN enables you to patch an external audio signal into your synthesizer and process it with Cascadia’s filter, wavefolder or envelopes; or to use it as a modulation source for Frequency Modulation, Ring Modulation, Sample & Hold, and so on.

  • Page 41: Mixer

    Cascadia’s MIXER IN 1 [7.A] jack appears at the MIXER [7.G] output. 7.2 : MIXER IN 2 amount slider - Controls how much of the signal patched into Cascadia’s MIXER IN 2 [7.B] jack appears at the MIXER [7.G] output. 7.3 :...
  • Page 42 LED to monitor the signal level coming out of the mixer. Adding together many waveforms will often overdrive the output (red LED). Engaging SOFT CLIP will soft clip the signals (reducing peak-to-peak voltage) prior to leaving the mixer (LED goes out). Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 43: Mixer Jacks

    MIXER IN 1 - Input for bringing an additional signal into the Mixer — either one generated external to Cascadia, or one created within Cascadia itself (such as the many available VCO B output waveforms). The signal patched into this input is attenuated by the MIXER IN 1 amount [7.1]...

  • Page 44: Vcf

    SECTION 8 Cascadia features a multimode, multiple out voltage controlled filter, featuring three types of Low Pass; two types of Bandpass; plus a Highpass, Notch and Phase filter. It offers three simultaneous outputs: a 4-Pole lowpass filter; a 4-Pole highpass filter; and a selectable output with eight filtering options.
  • Page 45 [8.1] [8.2] [8.3] 8.6 : Q (resonance) slider - Sets the resonance of the filter. The filter’s actual resonance is a combination of this setting and the QM [8.D] modulation input (as attenuated by the QM [8.4] slider). Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 46 24 db per octave. This is a steeper, and more pronounced rolloff than either the LP1 or LP2 filters. As [8.6] increases, the cutoff frequency becomes becomes emphasized, growing in amplitude until it self Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 47 ● HP4 - 4-pole, 24 db/oct highpass - Frequencies lower than the modulated cutoff FREQ [8.5 amount are attenuated at the rate of 24 db per octave. As Q [8.6] increases, the cutoff frequency becomes emphasized, growing in Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 48 — thus providing more ‘grit’ for the filter, which yields a different sound. The corresponding LEVEL LED begins to light red as the input clips — growing brighter as the signal gets more distorted. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 49: Vcf Jacks

    HP4 OUT - Dedicated 4-pole (24 dB / oct) high pass filter output. This output is always available regardless of the setting of the MODE [8.7] selector. 8.H : VCF OUT - Configurable filter output, as selected by the MODE [8.7] selector. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 50: Wave Folder

    (as shown in the bottom example). NOTE: The Wave Folder’s output is normalled to the VCA A IN 1 [10.A] jack. It’s also available directly via the FOLD out [13.3.A] jack in the OUTPUT CONTROL section. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 51: Wave Folder Jacks

    Wave output is used as the input waveform. NOTE: The Wave Folder’s output is normalled to the VCA A IN 1 [10.A] jack. It’s also available directly via the FOLD out [13.3.A] jack in the OUTPUT CONTROL section. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 52: Vca A

    NOTE: Although this is designed as a unity-gain VCA, it’s possible to get a bit of boost by feeding a control signal greater than 5V into the LEVEL MOD IN [10.C] jack. Such voltages can be patched in externally, or achieved by running a 5V signal run through Cascadia’s built-in MIXUVERTER with the x2 SWITCH [12.3.2]...

  • Page 53: Vca A Jacks

    AUX IN [10.1] slider. DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into AUX IN, then Cascadia’s Wave Folder output is used as the AUX input. 10.B : VCA IN - Main VCA input, which is fed into the VCA where it’s summed with the signal present at AUX IN [10.A]...

  • Page 54: Push Gate

    Envelope B if nothing is patched into either of their GATE IN jacks. 11.A : GATE OUT - Outputs a gate signal generated by the MANUAL GATE [11.1] button. NOTE: Inserting a cable into this output prevents the MANUAL GATE [11.1] button from automatically triggering the two envelopes. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 55: Utilities

    UTILITIES SECTION 12 The Utilities strip contains numerous routing and processing tools, designed to increase the sonic flexibility of Cascadia. From left-to-right, the Utilities strip contains the following elements, each of which are described in their own sections: ● S&H - sample &...

  • Page 56: S&H

    (creating stepped, clocked timbral changes), and the VCO frequency (which produces random notes at clocked intervals). In Cascadia’s default configuration, the input signal is a dedicated digital noise source, independent of the NOISE TYPE [7.8]...

  • Page 57: Slew / Env Follow

    Another common use for the Slew circuit (and the normalled operation of Cascadia’s) is to patch the output of a S&H circuit into it, then use the rate control to slur the instantaneous voltage changes to create a more meandering, slowly fluctuating voltage.
  • Page 58 DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the SLEW/FOLLOW input, then the output of Cascadia’s Sample & Hold circuit feeds into it, allowing you to use the Slew circuit to create a more subtly varying (smoother) version of the S&H.

  • Page 59: Mixuverter

    MIXUVERTER SECTION 12.3 Cascadia’s mixuverter is a deceptively powerful little tool that enables voltages to be mixed, doubled, attenuverted, and offset. 12.3.1 : ATTENUATOR - This knob linearly attenuates the voltage present at the Mixuverter’s MAIN INPUT [12.3.A] . If no voltage is present at...
  • Page 60 , and sent to the MIXUVERTER OUTPUTS [12.3.C] DEFAULT ROUTING: With no cable plugged in, Cascadia sends a 5V DC voltage to the MAIN INPUT, which you can double to 10V (5V x 2) with the x2 [12.3.2] switch on .

  • Page 61: Lfo X / Y / Z

    SECTION 12.4 These three bipolar, rate-linked, triangle-wave LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) are excellent modulation sources for many Cascadia parameters. The rate of LFO X (left-most output) is set by the RATE knob, and can be CV controlled. LFO Y and LFO Z are phase-shifted...
  • Page 62 LFO RATE CV - Control Voltage input for varying the LFO rate set by the RATE KNOB [12.4.1] . Positive voltages increase the rate as set by the knob; negative voltages decrease the rate. RATE modulation affects all three LFO outputs. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 63: Patchbay

    MULTS This section provides Cascadia with two separate (but chainable) buffered mults. A buffered mult takes an input signal and routes it to multiple outputs simultaneously. Unlike a passive mult, which merely splits the incoming signal and shares it across multiple outputs (much like a Y-cable), buffered mults make electrical copies of an input voltage and duplicate that voltage at the outputs.
  • Page 64 MULT OUTS 1 - This pair of outputs duplicate the signal at MULT IN 1 [12.5.A] 12.5.E : MULT OUTS 2 - This pair of outputs duplicate the signal at MULT IN 2 [12.5.B] 12.5.F : MULT OUTS 3 - This pair of outputs duplicate the signal at MULT IN 3 [12.5.C] Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 65: Sum

    ENV B [5.F] output is used as the inverter input. 12.5.K : INVERTER OUT - Outputs the inverted version of the signal arriving at INVERTER IN [12.5.J] . That is, positive voltages become negative; and negative become positive. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 66: Bi > Uni

    0 - 5V LFO, which it then sends to the UNI OUT jack. NOTE: The UNI OUT signal is normalled into the EXP SRC utility, as described in the next section. Cascadia’s back panel EXP OUT [14.D] jack supports pedals that operate on a typical 3.3V expression circuit.

  • Page 67: Exp Src

    EXP SRC To allow maximum flexibility and sonic variation, Cascadia features built-in integration with external stomp boxes. This lets you place your desired effects devices optimally within the signal path, while allowing any of Cascadia’s on-board modulation sources to access your stomp box’s expression pedal input.

  • Page 68: Ringmod

    (meaning it acts mostly as an output indicator). But at LFO rates, the LED provides a visual representation of the complex LFO shape being generated by the ring mod. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 69: Vca B / Lpf

    CV amount knob) that controls the amplitude of the VCA and the cutoff frequency of the LPF. The brighter the LED, the higher the absolute voltage level. Color indicates polarity, with a green LED used for positive voltages, and a red LED used for negative voltages. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 70 ) or LFOs (for generating tremolo and/or wah pedal effects). 12.7.C : VCA B OUT jack - The output of Voltage Controlled Amplifier B. 12.7.D : LPF B OUT jack - The output of the 4-pole, ladder-type, Low Pass Filter B. Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 71: I/O Control

    13.1.B : GATE CV IN - Connect this to the GATE CV output of whichever external controller, sequencer, or modular gear that you’d like to use to control Cascadia’s gating. Anything patched in here will be sent to the MIDI GATE [1.G]...

  • Page 72: Fx Send / Return

    FX SEND / RETURN SECTION 13.2 This section lets you patch external effects devices or stompboxes anywhere in the Cascadia signal chain — controlling both the send and return signal levels, the return signal phase, and the dry/wet mix.

  • Page 73: Fx Send / Return Jacks

    (send) and wet (return) signals with the DRY/WET FX [13.2.5] knob. 13.2.4 : FX RETURN LEVEL knob - Controls the level of the audio being returned to Cascadia via the back panel’s ¼” Pedal I/O RETURN [14.F] jack. The corresponding LED lights when you’re overdriving the return input.

  • Page 74: Output Control

    OUTPUT CONTROL SECTION 13.3 This section controls the final output stage of Cascadia — allowing you to access both the FOLD and VCA A outputs directly, and to mix two signals for feeding into the MAIN output. A final gain stage is provided via a DRIVE knob and a SOFT CLIP switch, and a LEVEL control governs to output level.

  • Page 75: Output Control Controls

    SOFT CLIP switch - Enables soft clipping, which rounds off (“softens”) any clipped signal, creating a ‘warmer’, less aggressive form of distortion. 13.3.3 : MAIN LEVEL knob - Controls Cascadia’s output volume, as sent to the MAIN OUT [13.3.E] jack, as well as the back panel ¼” PHONES OUT [14.A]...

  • Page 76: Back Panel

    BACK PANEL SECTION 14 The back panel contains all the jacks necessary for connecting Cascadia to other devices, including a mixer/amplifier/DAW; headphones; an external audio source; an effects pedal; MIDI (both 5-pin and USB); and a power source. POWER 14.1 : POWER JACK - Connect the supplied power transformer here.

  • Page 77: Midi

    MIDI OUT jack transmits Cascadia’s internal MIDI Tap Clock (as generated by Cascadia), meaning you can use Cascadia as a master clock in a DAW-less setup. Tap Clock output is enabled, by default, in the factory settings. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 78 USB MIDI port can transmit Cascadia’s internal MIDI Tap Clock (as generated by Cascadia), meaning you can use Cascadia as a master clock in a DAW-less setup. Tap Clock output is enabled, by default, in the factory settings.

  • Page 79: Details

    (which is called FM INDEX). Exponential vs. Linear FM In general, there are two distinct types of FM, both of which are supported by Cascadia: ● EXPONENTIAL FM is the type found in many vintage analog mono synths of the 1970’s. When you change the frequency of the modulator, you change the perceived fundamental pitch that emerges from the carrier oscillator.

  • Page 80: Thru-Zero Fm (Tzfm)

    This makes Linear FM potentially more “musical” than exponential FM, and it’s ideal for creating harmonically complex waveforms that track across a range of notes. Cascadia uses a special variant of Linear FM, called TZFM (discussed below).

  • Page 81: Details: Understanding Osc Sync

    There are various ways to define precisely when and how the child oscillator should reset itself, and as you might expect, each results in a different timbre. Cascadia’s VCO A supports two such synchronization options (HARD and SOFT) when employed as the child oscillator, while VCO B supports one sync method (HARD).

  • Page 82: Details: Envelope B As Envelope

    [5.F] jack. Additionally, an [5.E] gate or trigger signal (configured in the Intellijel Config App is output whenever the envelope reaches the end of it’s FALL stage. Specifically, when in ENVELOPE MODE (i.e. the MODE SELECT [5.1] switch is in the up position), then the ENVELOPE B controls work as follows: Controls &...
  • Page 83 The slider adjusts the RISE time from 0.2ms at the bottom, to 5 seconds at the top. You can extend the time range by patching CV into the RISE MOD [5.A] input and attenuverting it with the RISE MOD [5.6] slider. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 84 Settings below the center line affect the FALL time in a negative direction. The lower the position, the greater the input voltage’s effect. When set at the center line, the voltage patched into the FALL MOD [5.B] jack has no effect. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 85 5.9 : SYNC LED - The SYNC LED is not used by ENVELOPE mode. However, it still functions as a status display indicator when configuring Cascadia’s various MIDI functions, as described in the MIDI / CV section of this manual.
  • Page 86 (i.e. during the FALL stage). NOTE: Using the Intellijel Config App , you can globally change this (and all other envelope stage outputs) to operate as triggers, rather than gates. When configured as a trigger output, the jack stays at 0V, outputting a short +5V pulse only when reaching the end of the FALL stage.

  • Page 87: Details: Envelope B As Lfo

    SLEW MOD INPUT ; and slider [5.6] becomes a SLEW MOD ATTENUVERTER . The interplay between these controls, and the type of LFO generated, becomes quite evident when visualized graphically, as seen on the following page. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 88 Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 89: Controls & Jacks

    [5.3] slider sets the rate of vacillation. The DELTA ( [5.4] slider sets the amount of allowable random �� variance; the SLEW [5.5] slider slews the changes for a smoother modulation. The GATE/SYNC [5.D] input resets the LFV. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 90 0V. Low variance (bottom of the slider) creates a more meandering ‘drunken walk’ through the voltage range. The variation amount can be modulated by patching a control voltage into the PHASE/DELTA (∅/ ) MOD IN [5.B] jack. �� Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 91 SYNC LED - When the LFO is set to “SYNC,” the SYNC LED [5.9] will flash in time with the sync rate of the LFO. The LED also doubles as a status display when configuring the MIDI / CV options on Cascadia’s front panel. Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 92 GATE/SYNC IN - Patch a trigger or gate signal here to either reset the LFO (TYPE = FREE or LFV), or clock it (TYPE = SYNC). DEFAULT ROUTING: If nothing is patched into the GATE/SYNC [5.D] jack, Cascadia’s external Gate is used (which can be derived either from the MIDI GATE [1.G] , the GATE CV [13.1.B]...

  • Page 93: Details: Envelope B As Pulse Burst Generator

    (unless changed to a trigger output using the Intellijel Config The interplay between these controls, and the types of bursts generated, becomes quite evident when visualized graphically, as shown on the following page: Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 94 ( AD ) position: Pulse Bursts with the TYPE SELECT [5.9] switch set to the middle ( AHR ) position: Pulse Bursts with the TYPE SELECT [5.9] switch set to the bottom ( CYCLE ) position: Cascadia Manual...

  • Page 95: Controls & Jacks

    RATE slider: Sets the rate at which the individual pulses repeat. With the RATE slider at the bottom, Cascadia generates pulses at a rate of one every 20 seconds. When the slider is at the top, the pulse rate is about 1kHz. You can extend the range further by patching CV into the RATE MOD IN [5.A]...
  • Page 96 AHR or AD position, then it generates square waves at either end of the slider that morph into sine waves through the middle of the sweep. Using the Intellijel Config App, you can change this, to a tilting saw shape, which starts as a saw at the bottom of the slider, tilts to a triangle in the middle, and tilts further into a ramp at the top of the slider.
  • Page 97 5.9 : SYNC LED - The SYNC LED is not used by BURST mode. However, it still functions as a status display indicator when configuring Cascadia’s various MIDI functions, as described in MIDI / CV section of this manual.

  • Page 98: Intellijel Config App

    INTELLIJEL CONFIG APP You can customize various aspects of Cascadia’s MIDI functions using the Intellijel Config app (available for both Mac and Windows), which is available to download from the www.intellijel.com website. System Region The left column (with the red background) is the...
  • Page 99 Update from Device Click to query the device. This is handy if, for example, you configure some MIDI functions on Cascadia itself, while it’s connected to the Intellijel Config app. The Update from Device button repopulates the Intellijel Config app with the latest settings from the device.

  • Page 100: Cascadia Config Column

    Cascadia Config Column Use the Cascadia Config column on the right (white background) to configure various MIDI and synth-related parameters on the Cascadia selected in the System Region’s MIDI Input and MIDI Output menus. At the top of the column is the name of the selected device and its current firmware version.

  • Page 101: Midi Voice

    MIDI Voice Use these settings to set Cascadia’s MIDI channel, note priority. pitch bend range, tuning, and trigger length. Specifically: MIDI Channel (1-16) Sets the MIDI channel on which Cascadia both receives and transmits MIDI data. Note Priority Cascadia is a monophonic device. So if the incoming MIDI stream contains multiple sustained notes, this option determines which of those notes is actually heard.

  • Page 102: Midi Cc Output

    (0 - 127) Selects which MIDI CC# is the source of the control voltage sent out Cascadia’s MIDI CC jack. For example, if you select 5 Portamento Time , then the jack will transmit a control voltage based on CC #5 data received by Cascadia.

  • Page 103: Midi Mod Output

    (0 - 127) Selects which MIDI CC# is the source of the control voltage sent out Cascadia’s MIDI MOD jack. For example, if you select 1 Modulation Wheel , then the jack will transmit a control voltage based on CC #1 data received by Cascadia.

  • Page 104: Midi Lfo

    MIDI LFO LFO Shape (various) Sets the shape of the LFO sent out Cascadia’s MIDI LFO jack. You can select between Sine; Square; Ramp (Rising); and Saw (Falling). LFO Division (/1 - /32) Sets the MIDI LFO rate based on a sixteenth note division of the current MIDI CLK rate.

  • Page 105: Midi Out Config

    MIDI Out Config MIDI Out (DIN) If set to Tap , Cascadia sends its own internal Tap Tempo MIDI Clock to the 5-pin MIDI output on the back panel. This is useful if you want to use Cascadia as a master clock in a DAW-less setup.

  • Page 106: Synth (Advanced)

    (at the top of the slider). This is the default option, and is described for all three burst types in “DETAILS: Envelope B as Pulse Burst Generator” . As an example, here’s what the Tilt Saw option looks like when Burst = CYCLE: Cascadia Manual...
  • Page 107 Voice” discussion). This is the default operation. Alt Noise Type (various) Sets the type of noise generated when Cascadia’s NOISE TYPE selector switch (in the MIXER section) is set to ALT . Choices are Cymbal , Crunch (8-bit/8kHz) , Crackle , and Velvet , as discussed in the Mixer section, earlier in this manual.

  • Page 108: Factory Reset

    Alternatively, you can restore Factory settings using the Intellijel Config app. Launch the Intellijel Config app on your computer, and select “Cascadia” from the input and output device fields. Click the Refresh Devices option in the left column of the Intellijel Config app.

  • Page 109: Technical Specifications

    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions Max Height: 66mm (from rubber foot to top of knobs) Width: 348mm (including wood end cheeks) Depth: 246mm (front to rear jacks). Power Requirements 15V DC /1.0 A (minimum), center-pin-positive. Cascadia ships with a 15V/1.2A supply. Cascadia Manual...

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