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SOMA FLUX User Manual

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USER
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  • Page 1 USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    FLUX USER MANUAL CONTENTS GENERAL DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 THE MAGNETIC KEYBOARD INTERFACE .

  • Page 3: General Description

    8-bit integer-math based synthesis, and bit-bending . FLUX can work in monophonic mode, or in duophonic — when two bows play an independent note each, or in polyphonic — in which, at removing the bow from the keyboard the note continues to play decaying gradually, while another nearing of the bow triggers a new note .
  • Page 4 . User-created presets are storable to and loadable from a USB drive . FLUX can also be used as a powerful MIDI and CV controller allowing new scopes of expression for your Eurorack system, analog and digital synths . This requires a specially designed breakout box that plugs into FLUX's USB slot, and which has 11 CV outputs and one MPE MIDI output .

  • Page 5: The Magnetic Keyboard Interface

    USER MANUAL FLUX THE MAGNETIC KEYBOARD INTERFACE The interface is divided into two areas: the left for timbre, and the right for pitch . TIMBRES NOTES The Notes area's sensors are placed on the axis of the pitch marks (the dotted line) .
  • Page 6 FLUX USER MANUAL The sensors can be configured in various ways depending on the synthesis algorithms . For example, we can use all six sensors independently, registering the power and polarity of the magnetic field in each of the six spots . In that case, we can control 12 independent parameters (the positive magnetic field controls one set of 6 parameters, the negative controls another 6) .

  • Page 7: Magnetic Bows

    The standard FLUX package contains four magnetic bows . Of course, as a new instrument, FLUX hasn't yet developed its standard school of playing, and each performer is free to come up with techniques uniquely their own . However, during our development process we designed playing methods and techniques we would like to share and propose them as a basis for mastering the instrument .
  • Page 8 . If you have magnetized the bows in the course of a performance, it is recommended to manually re-calibrate the interface right after you take the bows off the stand . And if you still prefer to hold them magnetized to the stand, place them as far (as low) from FLUX as possible .

  • Page 9: Calibrating The Magnetic Interface

    . After FLUX's power on, it is recommended to not play it for 3-5 minutes and allow it to enter its stable mode . Within that period, the secondary calibration takes place to compensate for the fluctuations caused by the instrument's warming-up and entering its operational mode .

  • Page 10: Manual Calibration

    FLUX keyboard will become very disbalanced, which will lead to a constant "sticking" note the FLUX will return to whenever the bows are moved away . The upper corner dots will then be constantly lit, regardless of the bows' position . If that happens, just do a manual calibration, with bows moved 50 cm/1 .5ft or farther away .

  • Page 11: Control Sensors And Settings

    FLUX CONTROL SENSORS AND SETTINGS One of our aims designing FLUX was to use as few controls as possible, avoiding multi-layered menus and making all the functions easily accessible . To select a control parameter, eight touch sensors are used, as well as the Bow Flip . The parameter's value is set by the Notes keyboard, acting here as a big slider with minimum values on the left, maximum on the right .
  • Page 12 . The output level is indicated 0 to 99 on the screen, standard value 50 . If you use FLUX in monophonic mode, the DSP can be increased to 70 or higher . If you use the polyphonic mode with long decays and long spatial effects, it's best to lower the output level, as such signals get summed and need more headroom .
  • Page 13 . That mode is indicated by letter M . M — MONOPHONIC At values above zero, FLUX works in polyphonic mode . The number of voices is set using sensor P (POLYPHONY) and the Flipped Bow position . Another voice will become available every time the bow crosses the sensitivity threshold of the Notes keyboard .
  • Page 14 . If a selected preset is empty, there's a static "cross" on the screen and nothing loaded . To save a preset: holding down P, select a preset to save a current FLUX setting to by moving the bow to a corresponding zone on the keyboard . The selected preset will show up as a number alternating with a pictogram of the algorithm used in the preset .
  • Page 15 To save a preset including the current VOLUME value: holding down P, select a preset to save a current FLUX setting to by moving the bow to a corresponding zone on the keyboard . The selected preset will show up as number alternated by a pictogram of the algorithm used in the preset .
  • Page 16 It enables you to play sounds with sharp attack, usually heard from drums or plucked instruments . This is how it happens: over the FLUX's keyboard, at a distance from it, a virtual line appears: trigger threshold . Crossing it with a bow activates a sharp-attacked sound .

  • Page 17: Duophonic Mode

    "default/open" . So, if a pedal is connected before turning the FLUX on, it will work correctly with either closed-by-default or open-by-default pedal — FLUX will automatically identify the type . If no pedal was plugged in during power-on, FLUX sees a pedal's initial status as "open" .
  • Page 18 FLUX USER MANUAL This function may be used as follows: 1 . To memorize a timbre dialed-in on the Timbres keyboard and free up the left hand — e .g . for playing in Duophonic mode . 2 . To create complex multi-polar magnetic fields that are impossible to create with one bow .

  • Page 19: Left-Handed Mode

    To start a manual calibration, you have to first unblock the sensors . LEFT-HANDED MODE Holding both sensors under the display and P shows in which mode FLUX is . R on the display means right-handed (default), L on the display means left-handed mode . To switch between the modes, holding the sensors, press R (REVERSE) .

  • Page 20: Updating The Software

    USB drives — 1 to 32 Gb is perfect . Don't put several versions of the software into the root directory! Insert the stick drive into the USB-port of the powered-off FLUX and turn it on . FLUX will automatically go to the USB drive operation mode .
  • Page 21 If you don't want to update the software or work with presets, just remove the USB stick and FLUX goes to its standard work mode . Don't turn off FLUX during update! That can render the software loaded unworkable .

  • Page 22: Saving And Loading Presets Using A Usb Drive

    SAVING AND LOADING PRESETS USING A USB DRIVE You can save user-created presets to a USB drive and load them back into FLUX . They are saved as presets 1-37 in a single bank . You can have up to 10 preset banks on one USB drive .

  • Page 23: Battery

    . The battery is placed near the screen, on the same side as the sensors . If the battery has run down and the FLUX status data is lost, the first preset will be loaded on power-up, with the master tune set to zero . The presets, the software etc ., will not be lost .

  • Page 24: Calibrating The Optocouplers

    USB drive stick with the file and turn FLUX on . The calibration procedure will start automatically, indicated by "CL" sign on the screen . On completing the calibration, the "OK" sign will show up . Remove the USB drive, and FLUX will return to its normal mode . CONNECTIONS LEFT PANEL Right channel output.

  • Page 25: Specifications

    Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .7 kg * FLUX comes with a high-quality power supply unit . If it's lost, use a high-quality modern switching power supply unit with 100-240V input voltage and 12V output voltage, with at least 0 .5 A output power, 2 .

  • Page 26: Created By

    FLUX USER MANUAL CREATED BY: Andrzej Slovik — production organizing and control Valeriy Zaveriayev — user manual design and layout Viktor Grigoriev — mechanical assembly Vitaly Zhidikov — sales, management Vlad Kreimer — concept, interface, sonic design, visual design, schematics, construction, programming, DSP, audio, video, performance Vladimir Kornienko —...
  • Page 27 Manual version 1 .0 2024 . Designed in Russia...

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