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Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard Manual
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Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard Manual

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Summary of Contents for Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard

  • Page 2 KASTLE 2 FX WIZARD The Kastle 2 FX WIZARD is a compact, patchable stereo multi-effects unit that empowers you to explore the limits of sound processing through modulation and modularity. Use simple yet refined stereo effects, or go nuts with modulation and immerse in a powerful glitch and sound design heaven.
  • Page 3 Features ■ 9 FX modes - delay (max time in stereo is 1.15s) - flanger - freezer - panner - crusher - slicer - pitcher - replayer - shifter ■ Stereo audio processing at 44kHz/16-bits ■ Time parameter with attenuverting modulation (S&H or free) ■...
  • Page 4 The knobs with rabbits control the main parameters of your sound. All other knobs come alive once you start patching. The Kastle 2 FX WIZARD can be experienced in various ways. It is absolutely legit to just explore and let your ears guide you. If that’s your style, you might appreciate the Quick Start guide.
  • Page 5 SHIFT + FX MODE >5s = enter/leave ADVANCED SETTINGS (input behavior etc.) SHIFT + FX MODE >15s = MEMORY RESET Connecting KASTLE 2 SHIFT + TIME MOD knob = set input gain SHIFT + TIME knob = set output volume SHIFT + FX MODE >5s = ADVANCED SETTINGS (input behavior etc.) Power Kastle 2 can be powered by USB-C (5V) or 3x AA batteries—either...
  • Page 6 Note: Kastle 2 does not charge or draw power from your batteries when connected via the USB port. The USB port is used for power and firmware updates. Audio Connect your sound source to the AUDIO IN jack. To set the INPUT gain hold SHIFT and turn the TIME MOD knob. Input gain is the amount of amplification of your input signal.
  • Page 7 To set the output VOLUME hold SHIFT and turn the TIME knob. Dungeon map This diagram shows the building blocks of the Kastle 2 FX Wizard and where each control belongs. Each section has a dedicated chapter in the manual.
  • Page 8 Each FX MODE has a color attached and has 3 main parameters - knobs with the white rabbit - that can be modulated: TIME, FEEDBACK and AMOUNT and two more hidden parameters: FILTER and the STEREO widening. There is also TRIG input for aligning the effects with tempo or triggering them rhythmically.
  • Page 9 the right the modulation modulates in positive way and to the left it modulates in negative way. 4. The FREE TIME MOD patch point modulates the TIME parameter real time. 5. The STEP TIME MOD patch point modulates the TIME parameter only with tempo clock creating stepped modulation as if you were using sample &...

  • Page 10: Signal Flow

    In the middle the filter is open, to the left it acts as a lowpass filter and to the right it becomes a highpass filter. Signal flow Here is the block diagram of the FX Core of Kastle 2 FX WIZARD...
  • Page 11 FX MODEs To change the next FX MODE press the FX MODE button. The color on top of Kastle 2 will change to indicate the mode. To go back to the previous FX MODE hold the FX MODE button and press the SHIFT button.
  • Page 12 DELAY (GREEN) Creates classic delay effect and plenty other effects based on a delay (see patch tips). TIME knob sets the delay time from longest to the left (1.15s) to shortest (2ms) to the right AMOUNT knob controls the mix between the original and delayed signal.
  • Page 13 FLANGER (CYAN) Flanger mode animates your sound in subtle or more intense ways creating chorus effect with AMOUNT in the middle and flanger effect with FEEDBACK applier. TIME knob sets the modulating frequency AMOUNT knob sets the amount of ramp modulation of the delay time - increasing the pitch shift and controls local and global dry/wet amounts.
  • Page 14 FREEZER (BLUE) Uses the delay buffer to freeze a chunk of audio after it has been activated. With longer times it is synced to tempo creating rhythmic repeats, with faster times it becomes tonal and freezes timbral components of incoming signal. There are 3 ways of how you can freeze a new chunk of incoming audio : 1) you enter the freeze mode (either by browsing with the FX MODE button or by modulating the FX MODE input)
  • Page 15 PANNER (WHITE) Modulates amplitude of the signal in inverse phase for left and right channel therefore creates panning of the signal from left to right. TIME knob sets the panning frequency - goes up to audio rate creating stereo ring mod effect. AMOUNT knob sets the amount of the amplitude modulation - clipping the sinewave into a squarewave for more radical panning.
  • Page 16 CRUSHER (YELLOW) Introduces downsampling effect manipulates bits to achieve rich bitcrushing. TIME knob sets the downsampling frequency AMOUNT knob sets intensifying downsampling effect and adds XOR bitcrushing towards the right FEEDBACK is a global feedback adding distorted tonal backdrop STEREO - detunes the left and right channel downsampling frequency TRIG - triggers envelope that dips the downsampling frequency temporarily...
  • Page 17 SLICER (LIGHT GREEN) Slicer effect with rhythmical chops. Internal rhythm sequencer (synced to tempo) triggers slicing decay envelope modulating the amplitude of the signal. TIME knob sets the trigger pattern for the slicing envelope AMOUNT knob sets the DECAY of the envelope (long to the left, short to the right) and controls local and global dry/wet mix.
  • Page 18 PITCHER (RED) RAMP modulation or delay buffer to achieve crude pitch-up shifting effect, with rhythmical chops with slow TIME and formant shifts with faster TIME TIME knob sets the size of the shifting window. Can be seen as modulation speed or grain size. AMOUNT knob sets the amount of ramp modulation of the delay time - increasing the pitch shift and controls the dry/wet mix.
  • Page 19 REPLAYER (ORANGE) Tape looper emulation. TIME knob sets how fast and in which direction the “tape” runs. To the left it runs backwards, to the right it runs forwards. This is for both recording and playback. AMOUNT knob controls both the output and the buffer input - turn it all the way right to lock the buffer completely, going more dry allows more signal to be recorded and added to the already existing audio in the buffer.
  • Page 20 SHIFTER (PINK) Different approach to pitch shifting than the pitcher that avoids the “transient duplication”. TIME knob controls how the pitch changes, above middle is higher, below middle is lower AMOUNT knob controls the global dry wet FEEDBACK - controls the global feedback (makes cool noises when the pitch shift is just slight and the input signal goes away) STEREO - changes the pitch shift amount for each channel...
  • Page 21 Patchbay Patchbay of Kastle 2 is made of patch points which are in most cases triple patchpoints meaning the horizontal 3 points are connected together. The exceptions to that rule are the AUDIO and SYNC labeled connectivity patch points and the PATTERN GENERATOR where each of the patch points serves a different purpose.
  • Page 22 Plus (+) is a logic high output (~5V), minus (-) is a logic low output (~0V). They are resistor protected, patching them together results in half the voltage (~2.5V). Ground symbol ( ) is a direct ground reference for ⏚ interfacing multiple devices, breadboards etc.
  • Page 23 Tempo generator The tempo generator is independent from the LFO but the LFO can be synchronized to the tempo. Tempo can be either internal or external. Set the internal tempo hold SHIFT and turn the LFO knob hold SHIFT and press FX MODE multiple times to TAP the tempo Sync to external tempo Connect analog clock signal to the SYNC IN.
  • Page 24 Sync SYNC IN To sync Kastle 2 to the external clock, connect the analog clock to the SYNC IN jack. It will detect the clock on the left channel of the jack and use it as a tempo source. While holding the SHIFT button the metronome light blinks light blue (cyan) to indicate that external tempo is used.

  • Page 25: Envelope Follower

    The right channels on the SYNC IN and SYNC OUT jack are routed to the SYNC IN R and and SYNC OUT R patch points and they can be used for sending/receiving other control signals. See section Modular connections for more info. MODULATION Kastle2 has several modulation sources.
  • Page 26 LFO speed is set on the LFO knob. In the middle the LFO is the slowest and it gets faster in either direction. To the left it is synced to the tempo (cold white light) and the knob sets a tempo divider, to the right it is free running (warm white light).
  • Page 27 Patching the LFO TRI to the LFO MOD input can make the triangle shape more exponential or logarithmic when adjusting the LFO MOD. Patching the LFO PULSE to the LFO RESET will change the triangle shape to a saw wave. Patching the LFO TRI to the LFO RESET will change the triangle shape to a hybrid wave.

  • Page 28: Pattern Generator

    Pattern generator The pattern generator generates two signals GATE and CV and is always clocked by the tempo and is 8 steps. Gate is for rhythmic information and CV is varying stepped voltage. Gate length fixed at 75% of the step duration. Reset The GENERATOR RESET input (middle pin of PATTERN GENERATOR) resets both gate and cv sequences when a rising edge is detected.
  • Page 29 2) When connected to + the gate sequence current position is being randomized 3) When connected to - the gate sequence current position is being inverted The CV GENERATOR input (right pin of PATTERN GENERATOR) alters the CV sequences in three different ways: 1) When unconnected the gate sequence remains unchanged 2) When connected to + the gate sequence current position is being randomized...
  • Page 30 Advanced connectivity Modular connections Kastle2 has 3 bi-directional ports that can be used to send any signal In or Out the Kastle2 into other instruments. You might need to use a Left and Right splitter adaptor to fully utilize these. They are basically a direct connection to the TRS jacks as shown below.

  • Page 31: Advanced Settings

    Advanced settings Hold both SHIFT and FX MODE buttons for over 5 seconds to enter the Advanced Settings mode. These settings will allow you to expand the possibilities of the connectivity of your Kastle. Mono input If you are processing a mono signal and want the left channel to be processed by both left and right channels of the Kastle FX core.

  • Page 32: Memory Reset

    When in the Advanced Settings mode turn the TIME MOD knob and the light in the KASTLE logo will change colors: BLUE: mono input taking only left channel (turn knob left) WHITE: stereo input (knob at center) RED: mono input taking only right channel (turn knob right) Ignore Sync Input You can force your Kastle 2 to always use an internal clock and ignore the external connected by the SYNC IN jack and patch input.
  • Page 33 Patch Tips The printable cookbook with patchtips is here Blank template for your patches is here How to sync with Pocket operators guide is here...

  • Page 34: Test Mode

    Appendix Test Mode In order to test the HW there is a test mode integrated. Hold FX MODE and turn power ON to enter the test mode. Listen to the Audio Out and Kastle will tell you the version number. To do full test do the following: 1.
  • Page 35 Kastle 2 FX Wizard user guide version 0.9...
  • Page 36 RELEASE VIDEO: Patrik Veltruský, Václav Peloušek / music: Oliver Torr / starring: Andrew Huang, BoBeats, Midlife Synthesist, Red Means Recording, Loopop GRAPHIC DESIGN: Anymade Studio The idea turned into reality thanks to everyone at Bastl Instruments and thanks to the immense support of our fans.
  • Page 37 BASTL more info and video tutorials www.bastl-instruments.com...