MFB MEGAZWERG - Synthesizer Manual

General

MEGAZWERG is a monophonic, semi-modular, analogue synthesizer. It can be used as an autonomous synthesizer, as an expansion to our MFB-KRAFTZWERG or in combination with any compatible modular synthesizer-system. It offers eleven sections that can be either used for the internal sound-generating-system or separated to be integrated into the signal-path of semi- or fully modular synthesizers.
A lot of important audio- and modulation-routings in MEGAZWERG are internally prewired, so that the synthesizer can be played immediately using a MIDI-keyboard or a cv/gate-sequencer. By using patch chords, you can split up these internal prewirings any time. All MEGAZWERG functions not prewired can be integrated into the internal signal path or to external components using patch chords.

Set-up and connections

Connect the external power-supply to the Power jack. Use VCA Out (in Loop-Envelope section) to connect MEGAZWERG to a mixing desk, an audio-interface or an amplifier. MEGAZWERG is controlled by MIDI or cv/gate. Use a MIDI-cable to connect MIDI In to the MIDI-output of a keyboard or MIDI-interface. Alternatively, inputs CV In (Dual Glide or VCO sections) and Gate In (Loop-Envelope section) can be connected to an analogue sequencer or cv/gate-keyboard. Press On/Off to switch MEGAZWERG on and off.

Dual Glide

This section contains two independent slew limiters. These can be used to delay changes of control voltages. A typical application would be the generation of portamento/glide-effects for the oscillators' pitch or the deformation of a LFO-square into a trapezoid waveform shape. Slew1 offers larger delays and is only recommended to be used with control voltages, while the shorter delay range of Slew2 makes it also applicable for audio signals.
Connect the cv-signal to be modified to input In1 or In2 and patch the outputs Out1 or Out2 to the target. Controls Slew1 or Slew2 set the amount of delay, with Slew1 being able to create longer delay settings.
Internally, In1 is prewired to the pitch of the MIDI-input while Out1 is connected to the oscillator's cv-input, resulting in a portamento-effect. Input In2 is prewired to the cv-output of the internal mod-sequencer (see below) to be able to smooth out its stepped values.

Modulation Sequencer

MEGAZWERG's mod sequencer is a simple four-step-sequencer that can be externally synchronized. When needed, the sequence length can be reduced to two or three steps using the 2 – 3 switch. Rate sets the sequence-tempo/speed, ranging from approx. 0.1 Hz to 500 Hz. Gate Out outputs a corresponding clock-gate-signal of 10 volts at the Rate setting. With the Clock input being patched, the sequence-tempo/speed will follow incoming clock-signals.
This input can also be used to advance the sequence stepwise automatically by 5-volt-gate-impulses. The sequence values are set by Step1 to Step4 controls. Depending on the position of the Range switch, the step controls will output a maximum of 2, 5 or 10 volts. The sequence is output at CV Out. CV Out is internally wired to input X-IN of the ring modulator as well as to In2 of Slew2 to be able to smooth out the sequence's stepped values. The combination of mod sequencer and slew limiter forms a LFO with a free formable waveform shape.

Oscillator/Ring modulator

The analogue, voltage-controlled oscillator is fixed to octave-register 16'. It can be tuned within a range of approx. +/- 1 octave using the Tune control. It can be played by a cv-keyboard scaled to 1 volt/octave using the CV input. CV is internally wired to Slew1 and therefore also connected to inputs CV (key) and MIDI.
The VCO offers triangle, square and saw tooth waveform shapes, switchable by the upper selector. The selected waveform is output to Out.
The ring modulator is an analogue circuit, building the sum and difference of two signals at inputs X-In and Y-In. The resulting RM-signal is send to output Out. X-In and Y-In are internally prewired to the outputs of the mod sequencer and the VCO. To use the ring modulator with external audio signals, simply patch these to inputs X-In and Y-In.

Mixer

The mixer allows mixing of up to three audio- or cv-signals. Inputs In1 and In2 offer attenuator controls, while input In3 always runs at full level. Internally, the VCO output is wired to mixer-input In1 and the ring modulator to In2.The mixer's output is prewired to the filter's audio input.

Multimode-Filter

MEGAZWERG offers a multimode-resonance-filter with a slope of 12 dB per octave. The available modes are low-pass-, band-pass-, high-pass- and notch-filtering. LP-BP-NO-HP selects between these modes. Note, although this is a continuous control, the filter modes are switched NOT cross faded. Input In feeds audio into the filter. This input is internally prewired to the mixer's output. The filter's output is available at output Out.
Cutoff allows manual setting of the filter's cutoff frequency. This parameter can be modulated using inputs CV-Cut and CV2 with corresponding attenuators. CV-Cut is internally wired to the envelope section as well as to CV2 combined with key-cv from the MIDI-input.
The filter resonance is set manually using the Resonance control. Modulation of this parameter is possible through input CV-Reso with the corresponding attenuator. Resonance can reach self-oscillation.

Loop-Envelope/VCA

MEGAZWERG's envelope section consists of five stages Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain and Release, all offering individual controls. In addition, stages 1 to 3 can be looped. The Loop switch enables/disables the loop-function. If enabled, the loop is carried out as long as there is an active gate signal. The envelope receives its gate-triggers from input Gate or any incoming MIDI-note-command.
The VCA controls MEGAZWERG's audio output which is under cv-control only. Input VCA In is internally connected to the filter's output. Control input CV In is internally patched to the gate-signal created by incoming MIDI-note-commands. It uses a minimal release time to avoid clicks at the end of sounding notes.

Inverse/Multiple

Inverse is a voltage-inverter with additional offset-function. Any control voltage sent to input In will be inverted and send to output Out. As an example, this allows to create a negative modulation using the envelope section. Offset controls the threshold value from which the signal will be inverted. 0V means "+" becomes "–" and "–" becomes "+". 5V means "0" becomes "5" and "5" becomes "0". 10V means "0" becomes "10" and "10" becomes "0".
The 1 > 3 Multiple section serves to duplicate cv- and audio-signals. An example would be to route the LFO's output to multiple destinations. Output Buf Out offers a low impedance signal. This jack cannot be used as input.

Digital Delay

The multitap-delay generates delay times between approx. 2 ms and 4 sec. Adjust the delay time using the Time control, while input CV Time allows modulation of this parameter. The Range control broadens the time range or narrows it to a ms-range. Audio signals enter this section at input In which is internally wired to the filter's output. The output is available at Out. Feedback sets the amount of signal fed back from the delay output back into its input. With FB Send and FB Return jacks you can access the delay's feedback loop and send it to any other module or effects processor and back into the feedback loop return. In addition, the feedback-signal can be set to infinite playback. To do so, enable the Freeze switch or send a positive control voltage to Freeze In.

Attenuator

MEGAZWERG offers two attenuators Att1 and Att2 that can be used to manually limit or amplify audio- und cv-signals as well as cv-sources. Attenuation is set using Att1 and Att2 controls from 0 to center-positions. Higher values result in signal amplification. With unpatched inputs, the outputs will be steady cv-signals ranging from 0 to 10 volts.

MIDI

MIDI note commands and velocity data (via gate) are received at the MIDI input. The MIDIchannel is set using the dip-switches at the unit's rear as follows:

Start/Stop and Clock jacks are interconnected to MMC-Start/Stop and MIDI-Clock. Use dip-switches 5 and 6 to set the output as follows: