Quadelectra ARKANA Operation Manual

Dual generator granular synthesizer

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Version 1.5

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Summary of Contents for Quadelectra ARKANA

Page 1 Version 1.5...
Page 2 PAGE 2...
Page 3: Introduction
We sincerely hope that you'll enjoy using Arkana, and that it will become a valuable companion, on your musical adventures. 1.a. Granular Synthesis As the name suggests Arkana uses a technique called Granular Synthesis to produce sound.
Page 4: The Sound Of Arkana
Of course Arkana, goes well beyond the above simple concept. Illustration 2: Arkana concise signal flow diagram In Arkana each sound is produced using 2 different grain generators. Each generator is capable of handling up to 5 grain emitters. And, what's more, the produced grains are stereophonic, which means that they can cycle grains independently from one another.
Page 5 Each of the generators -called oscillators for convenience- has it's own grain emission controls, a dedicated filter, as well as filter and amplitude envelopes. To further expand the sonic possibilities, Arkana has a 5 Slot Modulation Matrix, as well as a dedicated modulation envelope and 3 LFOs.
Page 6: The Front Panel
Modulation Sources plus a simple tool set of Effects. 2.a. Oscillators. Arkana has 2 Oscillators -grain generators actually- per voice. Each generator controls up to 5 grain emitters. Each emitter creates a true stereo grain, which means that the grain consists of two independent mono sub-grains. A stereo...
Page 7 Depending on the characteristic you wish to control, there can be up to 4 different kinds of parameters that you can tweak. Arkana uses a color scheme to indicate each different kind: •...
Page 8: Grain Shape
Grains: Values start from the narrowest window to the broadest. Possible values are: Illustration 5: Arkana grain shapes • Abs(sinc): A sinc window envelope with only absolute (positive) values. The negative values have been flipped, to avoid phase inversion. This provides the narrowest grain effect.
Page 9: Grain Count
To encompass this, Arkana provides a set of two selection buttons, one of each oscillator. So in order to load a sample to Oscillator A, for example, you click the “Select”...
Page 10: Offset
• Spread: Controls the position offset between each grain emitter. • Rand: Controls the randomness offset for each grain's position. 2.a.6. Offset This section inserts a delay between the execution (playback) of each grain emitter only at the first execution, when a key is pressed. The value is expressed by a percentage of the available value range.
Page 11: Length
2.a.8. Length This section controls the length (duration) that each grain will play. The length affects many other parameters such as the offset and speed. Yet, the length itself is affected by the transpose, pitch and keyboard note pitch. • Len: The knob affects the base length for all grain emitters. Length value is expressed in period (T) multiplicands.
Page 12: Formant
from the value of the pitch note, up to the maximum size of this setting. This means that if you turn the knob to the max, for a total of 2 grain counts, the second emitter will be pitched +2 octaves above the first, while for a total of 3 grain counts the second emitter will be pitch at +1 octave and the third emitter at +2.
Page 13: Gain
And in many cases these sub-grains will not act synchronized. To avoid misbehavior, confusion and inconsistencies in such cases Arkana uses the play cycle of the left channel sub-grain as a trigger for applying the pan randomization. The right channel will follow and update immediately even if it hasn't finished its cycle.
Page 14: Filter Envelope
• A (Attack): Sets the attack time of the amplitude envelope. (4ms to 10 sec). • D (Decay): Sets the decay time of the amplitude envelope. (4ms to 30 sec). • S (Sustain): A percentage of the overall amplitude of the sound that the note will retain after the decay stage is complete, and before it is released.
Page 15: Mixing
2.b. Voicing Arkana voicing section gives you control over settings related to play mode, pitch and polyphony. • PB Range: Sets the maximum range for the pitch bend wheel.
Page 16: The Modulation Matrix
Setting the knob to 0% disables the effect. 2.c. The Modulation Matrix The Modulation Matrix -we believe- is one of the features you're gonna love on your new Arkana Synthesizer. It allows you to setup internal routing, connecting various parameters as sources to destinations.
Page 17: Mod Envelope & Lfos
These are divided in two kinds: 2.d.1. Mod (Modulation) Envelope Arkana has a dedicated envelope for modulation purposes. As with the filter and amplitude envelopes the modulation envelope has four stages. However, there is no velocity sensitivity for the modulation envelope: •...
Page 18: Effects
2.e.2. Delay Arkana delay unit is a small stereo delay with channel balance and tone controls. You can adjust the following parameters: • Mix: Like in reverb, the knob controls the balance between the effect and the dry signal.
Page 19 the time it takes for the effect to fade out. Setting this to 100% will cause an eternal feedback loop. • Balance: This knob controls the stereo balance of the delays. The stereo balance changes by inserting a slight delay to either the left or the right channel.
Page 20: The Back Panel
3. The Back Panel In this chapter we take a look at the rear panel of the Arkana Granular Synthesizer. Illustration 6: Arkana rear panel The panel is divided into four sections: • Audio Out: This section provides the main audio connectivity of the device.
Page 21 Filters and effects are still processed using the host sampling rate. Also bare in mind that oversampling costs CPU power. Arkana has 3 different oversampling settings: Eco Mode (x1). Good (x2) and Best (x4). • Interpolation: Finally this option offers 2 kinds of interpolation. Normal and Best.
Page 22: Considerations
Here are some examples: Illustration 7: Two grain streams by two emitters without offset (0%) Arkana “Offset” parameter serves exactly this functionality. At maximum setting (100%) the grain coverage is up to the maximum effective size which -of course- is determined first and foremost by the grain count.
Page 23: Grain Shapes
– more harmonics are added and amplified. 4.b. Cycle Synchronization Since Arkana uses true stereophonic grains, there are some rules that apply in cases when you need to synchronize their cycles, or -since modulation matrix allows it- use their properties as sources for modulating other parameters.
Page 24: Processing Power
2 sub grains (one per channel). So basically hitting a MIDI key in Arkana can utilize up to 2 x 5 x 2 = 20 voices running independently. To this you should add the calculations needed per cycle in every grain, filtering, mod matrix calculations (these are performed per voice too) etc.
Page 25: Counting Your Grains
designing patches in regards to both sound quality and CPU efficiency. Here are some points to keep in mind: 4.d.a. Counting Your Grains Use the grain emitters wisely: You do not need to use all 5 grains in order just to amplify the level of your sample.
Page 26 sample rate- have already been subjected to the process of band limiting, which otherwise would be performed by the oversampling algorithm. On the other hand, since band limiting, filters out high content from the sound, playing back high pitch sounds on low frequencies, will produce results that sound dull. PAGE 26...
Page 27: Midi Cc Chart
5. MIDI CC Chart Parameter Volume Oscillator Mix LFO #1: Rate LFO #2: Rate LFO #1: Wave LFO #2: Wave LFO #3: Wave LFO #1: Sync LFO #2: Sync LFO #3: Sync LFO #1: Rate Synced LFO #2: Rate Synced Mod Env Release Mod Env Attrack Mod Env Decay...
Page 28 Parameter Osc B Enabled Reverb Time Reverb Damping Delay Time Delay Time Sync Switch Delay Synced Time Delay Feedback Reverb Mix Delay Balance Delay Mix Delay Tone Osc A: Length Osc A: Length Keybd Follow Osc A: Length Random Osc A: Length Stereo Link Osc A: Pitch Osc A: Pitch Spread Osc A: Pitch Random...
Page 29 Parameter Osc A: Pan Osc A: Pan Random Osc A: Pan Spread Osc A: Formant Osc A: Formant Random Osc A: Gain Osc A: Gain Random Osc A: Grain Envelope Type Osc A: Grain Count Osc A: Offset Osc A: Offset Random Osc A: Position Osc A: Position Spread Osc A: Position Random...
Page 30 Parameter Osc A: Filter Env Release Osc A: Amp Velocity Sens Osc A: Amp Env Attack Osc A: Amp Env Decay Osc A: Amp Env Sustain Osc A: Amp Env Release Osc B: Length Osc B: Length Keybd Follow Osc B: Length Random Osc B: Length Stereo Link Osc B: Pitch Osc B: Pitch Spread...
Page 31 Parameter Osc B: Gain Osc B: Gain Random Osc B: Grain Envelope Type Osc B: Grain Count Osc B: Offset Osc B: Offset Random Osc B: Position Osc B: Position Spread Osc B: Position Random Osc B: Filter Type Osc B: Cutoff Osc B: Resonance Osc B: Filter Env Amt Osc B: Filter Env Velocity Sens...
Page 32 Parameter Osc B: Amp Env Release Mod Matrix Enabled Matrix Slot #1: Amount Matrix Slot #2: Amount Matrix Slot #3: Amount Matrix Slot #4: Amount Matrix Slot #5: Amount Matrix Slot #1: Scale Matrix Slot #2: Scale Matrix Slot #3: Scale Matrix Slot #4: Scale Matrix Slot #5: Scale PAGE 32...
Page 33: Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents 1. Introduction............................. 3 1.a. Granular Synthesis........................3 1.b. The Sound Of Arkana......................... 4 2. The Front Panel............................. 6 2.a. Oscillators............................6 2.a.1. Grain Shape.......................... 8 2.a.2. Grain Count........................10 2.a.3. Sample Selection......................10 2.a.4. Transpose...........................10 2.a.5. Position..........................10 2.a.6. Offset.............................10 2.a.7.
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