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Related Manuals for Expert Sleepers factotum FH-2
Summary of Contents for Expert Sleepers factotum FH-2
- Page 1 Firmware v2.0 User Manual Page 1...
- Page 2 Expert Sleepers Ltd. Expert Sleepers Ltd assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Introduction............6 Startup............20 Typical usages............7 MIDI Forwarding........20 With a MIDI keyboard........7 History Inclusion.........20 With an MPE controller........7 USB Device Name........20 With a MIDI controller.........7 USB Device Settings........21 With a 'groovebox'.........8 Reset Settings..........21 With a computer/tablet/phone.......8 Miscellaneous..........22 As a clock generator........8 Resets...............22 Installation............9... - Page 4 Internal clock tempo........39 Quantization...........66 Swing............39 Display............67 Direct output levels........39 Accessibility features........68 LFOs............40 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O........69 Smoothing...........41 Connections..........69 Arpeggiators..........41 MIDI "Low-Voltage Signaling"....69 Portamento..........43 Select Bus............70 Transpose............43 MIDI Machine Control (MMC).......70 Euclidean Patterns........43 MIDI System Exclusive (SysEx).....70 Envelopes............44 SysEx Header..........70 Random Depth..........45 Received SysEx messages......71...
- Page 5 Command Shell..........76 dac( output, value ).........76 Built-in functions........76 Firmware Updates..........77 firmware()..........76 Acknowledgments...........78 Page 5...
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Page 6: Introduction
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of an Expert Sleepers FH-2. Please read this user manual before operating your new module. The key functions of the FH-2 are • MIDI-to-CV conversion, or more generally, generating CVs in response to MIDI messages. -
Page 7: Typical Usages
Typical usages With a MIDI keyboard MIDI Clock Up to 16 note polyphonic conversion, with optional pitch/gate/velocity etc. CVs per note. Also features arpeggiation, keyboard splits and more. With an MPE controller MIDI Up to 16 simultaneous touches converted with full position/pressure/glide etc. per touch. With a MIDI controller Power MIDI... -
Page 8: With A 'Groovebox
With a 'groovebox' Clock Clock MIDI Multiple clock outs at different divisions, run/stop triggers etc. Groovebox, FH-2, or another module can be the clock master. With a computer/tablet/phone Clock Clock MIDI SysEx All of the above, plus SysEx for configuration of the FH-2. As a clock generator Clock The FH-2 can operate as the clocking centre of your modular, also generating (syncable) LFOs,... -
Page 9: Installation
Installation House the module in a Eurorack case of your choosing. The power connector is Doepfer standard If using the power cable supplied with the module, the red edge of the cable is furthest from the top edge of the PCB, and carries -12V. ("-12V" is marked on the PCB itself next to this end of the connector.) Be sure to connect the other end of the power cable correctly, again so -12V corresponds to the red stripe on the cable. -
Page 10: Usb Hubs
half that drawn by the USB device. For example, if the USB device draws 100mA, the draw on the +12V rail would be about 50mA. If you have insufficient power on your +12V rail, your options include • If possible, provide power to the USB device directly (e.g. if it has a wall-wart input). •... -
Page 11: Output Numbering
An FHX-8CV or FHX-1 output can be used for any purpose, just like the FH-2's own outputs. The FHX-8GT outputs can only be used for 'gate' type purposes e.g. gates, triggers, clocks, & Euclidean patterns. Output numbering Taking the expanders into account, there are a total of 128 possible outputs available – 64 CV outputs from the FH-2 and FHX-8CVs, and 64 gate outputs from the FHX-8GTs. -
Page 12: Menu
• 'D' (for DIN) always appears, since there's no way of telling if a 5-pin DIN MIDI device is physically connected or not. • 'S' (for Select Bus) also always appears. An 'I' next to the connection indicator shows that MIDI data is being received. An 'O' next to the connection indicator shows that MIDI data is being sent. -
Page 13: Auto-Blank
Now, turning the encoder changes the highlighted value, here the LFO Speed. Pressing the encoder again returns the cursor to a dotted line. Pressing the left button at any time goes back up one menu level, as usual. Note that all changes are immediate – you do not need to press the encoder to 'accept' the change. Auto-blank To extend the display lifetime, the module will automatically turn the display off after a period of inactivity (the duration of which can be changed in the Settings). -
Page 14: Clocking
Clocking All clocking in the FH-2 is in terms of 24ppqn (pulse-per-quarter-note) pulses. This is the rate used by MIDI clock messages, and also by the analogue DINsync standard. Thus if for example an LFO rate is given as '24' it means it will cycle at the speed of quarter notes; '12' means an eighth note etc. When using the FH-2 to bridge between analogue and MIDI devices, in either direction, if possible choose 24ppqn clocks (i.e. -
Page 15: Load Configuration
configuration. Note that you may find it more convenient to edit the configuration using the browser-based tool – see below. Load configuration The 'Load configuration' menu allows you to select one of the configuration slots, displaying its number and the name of the configuration stored in that slot. Pressing the encoder shows the message 'Are you sure?' - press the encoder again to load the configuration. -
Page 16: Edit Preset
Edit preset Allows you to edit the current preset directly (rather than in response to MIDI). See below for details of what makes up a preset. Load preset The 'Load preset' menu allows you to select one of the preset slots, displaying its number and the name of the preset stored in that slot. -
Page 17: Settings
Turns the display upside down. USB reset time 1-100 Controls how long the FH-2 holds USB devices in reset before attempting to communicate with them. You should not normally need to adjust this unless advised by Expert Sleepers. Page 17... -
Page 18: General
Setting Value range Function Tuner pitch reference 400.0-500.0 The pitch used to define the note 'A' when using the tuner. Menu wrap When set to 1, menus wrap around when you scroll past the end or beginning. Accessibility When set to 1, the module sends accessibility SysEx messages when the encoder and button are operated. -
Page 19: Calibration
Setting Value range Function Ignore clock DIN If set, ignore MIDI clocks arriving on the DIN MIDI input. Ignore clock USB A If set, ignore MIDI clocks arriving on the USB A port. Ignore clock USB C If set, ignore MIDI clocks arriving on the USB C port. -
Page 20: Startup
The top item lets you select the output you want to edit. The centre item lets you set the 'centre' CV, which will be 0V if the output range is set to ±5V. It corresponds to MIDI note 60 (C4). The lower item lets you set the '+3 octaves' CV, which should output 3V more than the centre CV, or in terms of pitch, a note 3 octaves higher. -
Page 21: Usb Device Settings
seen from the computer. This may be useful if you have more than one FH-2 and want to be able to identify them more easily. You will need to reboot the FH-2 after changing this setting. In macOS, you may also need to manually remove the device from the MIDI window of the Audio MIDI Setup utility, or macOS may continue to use the previous name. -
Page 22: Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous The top level menu item 'Misc' provides access to some miscellaneous functions that don't fit anywhere else. Misc menu item Function Show firmware version Displays the current firmware version. Reboot Causes the module to reboot. Show MIDI history Continuously shows the last four MIDI messages received. Test inputs Enters a mode which displays an oscilloscope-like view of the inputs, and shows the raw input ADC codes. -
Page 23: Configurations
Configurations A configuration consists of the following: • the configuration name • some global settings (trigger length, global transpose etc.) • setup of the MIDI/CV converters • setup of the MIDI CC assignments ('mappings') • setup of the HID gamepad and keyboard assignments •... -
Page 24: Tap Tempo
Name Value Description range Preset Program Change Ch 0-16 The MIDI channel on which to respond to Program Change messages by changing the current Preset, or '0' for Off. Soft takeover Enables the 'soft takeover' feature. When enabled, an incoming MIDI CC will not control its target parameter until the CC has passed through the value matching the last loaded preset. -
Page 25: Internal Tempo Cc
Toggle", or "Y Gate". 'Note Toggle' starts or stops the clock when a Note On message is received. Similarly 'CC Toggle' starts or stops the clock when a CC with a value of 64 or more is received. 'Y Toggle' starts or stops the clock when a trigger pulse is received. -
Page 26: Midi/Cv Converters
MIDI/CV converters There are 16 MIDI/CV converters available, any number of which can be active in any given configuration. Each converter has the following properties: Name Value Description range Enable Enable the converter Channel 1-16 MIDI channel Min Note 0-127 Lowest MIDI note (inclusive) to respond to Max Note 0-127... - Page 27 Name Value Description range Velocity out 0-2 If non-zero, the converter will have a velocity output. If set to ‘2’, the output will be inverted i.e. higher velocity means lower voltage. Rel Vel out If non-zero, the converter will have a release velocity output. If set to ‘2’, the output will be inverted i.e.
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Page 28: Converter Types: Monophonic, Polyphonic & Mpe
Converter types: Monophonic, Polyphonic & MPE The type of the converter is fundamental to how it generates output CVs from incoming MIDI notes. – Monophonic converters generate a single voice's set of CVs – one pitch, gate etc. A monophonic converter receives on one MIDI channel only. Incoming MIDI notes replace the current note. -
Page 29: All Notes Off
doesn't have separate per-voice outputs, when you want to play a sequence of chords. Note range The voice is allocated strictly by its note number. This is a somewhat experimental option that was added for a specific customer requirement. The complete MIDI note range (0-127) is divided equally amongst the voices. -
Page 30: 14 Bit Midi Ccs
This has the advantage that you never get any ugly jumps due to the controller and module being out of sync; the disadvantage is that the controller isn't aware of the actual current value, so cannot show it on any display it might have. You can choose absolute or relative mode for each CC mapping. -
Page 31: Clocks
Clocks There are 32 clock generators available. These parameters define the clock: Name Value range Description Clock Type 0-8 The type of clock output: one of None, Clock, Run/Stop, Stop/Run, Start/Cont, Stop, All Trig, Start, or Start/Stop. See below. Clock Base 1-96 The rate of the clock, in terms of 24ppqn pulses. -
Page 32: Triggers
Triggers There are 64 trigger generators available, which take an incoming MIDI note and generate a trigger or gate signal in response. These parameters define the trigger generator: Name Value range Description Trig Type 0-10 The type of trigger output: one of None, Trigger, Gate, Vel Trig, Vel Gate, Acc Trig, Acc Gate, Toggle, On/off, Envelope, Velocity Channel 1-16... -
Page 33: Gate Levels
Gate levels Two values define the low and high output values to be used if the output in question is used as a gate, clock, trigger etc. These are given in terms of DAC codes for maximum control. The DACs are 14 bit, so the range of possible values is 0 to 16383. -
Page 34: Lfo Resets
LFO Resets The FH-2 can be configured to reset/retrigger its LFOs in response to MIDI. This resets the phase of the LFO to zero, and begins a fade up from zero if the LFO fade time has been set. The various reset options are as follows: Type Available settings... -
Page 35: Arpeggiators
Type Available settings Description Note MIDI channel and note The incoming CV is converted to a MIDI note stream. number; 0V and 5V levels The other input is used as a gate to control the note on/off timing. (So if CV/MIDI X is set to 'Note', input Y is also used, as the gate.) The 0V and 5V levels specify the input codes that correspond to 0V and 5V in the real world. -
Page 36: Shift Register Random Generators
– the note numbers generated by each sequencer lane. – CC mappings for the ‘Rate’ and ‘Reset’ sequencer parameters, and also CC mappings to directly control the current sequencer position, both globally and per lane. Shift Register Random generators See below for the main documentation of this feature. The configuration sets, for each generator, –... -
Page 37: Editing The Configuration
firmware version. It is useful to quickly test the connection. It will look something like this, in the tool's status boxes: The left box is a log of messages reported by the tool. The centre box shows the last SysEx message sent by the tool. - Page 38 To save the configuration to your computer, first click “Generate config to save”. The text “Click to Save Config” will then become a link: Click or right-click the link to download and save the file (remember you're working in a browser, so the paradigm is the same as when downloading items from the web).
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Page 39: Presets
Presets A preset consists of the following: • the preset name • the internal clock tempo • swing type and amount • for every output: • the direct output levels • the LFO state • the smoothing amount • for every MIDI/CV converter: •... -
Page 40: Lfos
controller goes from 0-127 and the output goes from 0-10V. The direct level is a 14 bit quantity – see above. When edited from the menu, a 'coarse' value is shown as well as the actual value. This makes it easier to make large changes. LFOs Each output has an LFO, defined by the parameters below. -
Page 41: Smoothing
The LFO number is top left; below that is the LFO speed (in Hz or tempo-based units) and fade time (in seconds, or 'No fade' if the fade is zero). The right side of the display shows the LFO shape as a graph. - Page 42 22 - 31 Down Notes are used in order from highest to lowest. 32 - 42 Alternately up & down (e.g. 4 notes held gives you a 6 note pattern). 43 - 53 Alt2 Alternately up & down, repeating the highest and lowest notes (e.g. 4 notes held gives you an 8 note pattern).
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Page 43: Portamento
If the FH-2's display is in its default mode when a CC is received that affects an arpeggiator, the display switches to show the state of that arpeggiator: The top line, from left to right, shows: arpeggiator number; mode; rate; reset interval (if on). The bottom line shows: range;... -
Page 44: Envelopes
The controls are as follows: Name Description Pulses See above. A value of '0' effectively turns the generator off. Steps See above. The maximum number of steps is 32. Rotation See above. Rate The rate of the pattern, in terms of 24ppqn clocks. The special value '0' means that the pattern advances every time the FH-2 receives an external clock pulse. -
Page 45: Random Depth
If the FH-2's display is in its default mode when a CC is received that affects an envelope, the display switches to show the envelope shape (approximately – the FH-2's envelopes are not linear): The display shows the MIDI/CV converter number top left. Random Depth (Note that this is located under the “Envelopes”... -
Page 46: Downloading And Running The Calibrations
Calibrations In addition to the basic calibration offered in the settings, above, the FH-2 can also perform an automatic calibration process much like that in the Expert Sleepers Silent Way software . This is accessed via the top-level menu item Calibrations. -
Page 47: Tuner
This shows pitch (horizontally) versus voltage (vertically). The steepness of the curve indicates the V/octave response of the VCO; the image above shows 1V/octave (the usual standard). For comparison, an approximately 1.5V/octave response looks like this: Note that the pitch range is less, since less octaves fit into the FH-2's output range. At the left and right edges of the graph, any uncalibrated areas are filled in with copies of the nearest calibrated areas, shifted by octaves. -
Page 48: Name Calibration
Name calibration This allows you to edit the name of the calibration you are about to save. Editing the calibration name works in the same way as editing the configuration name, above. View calibration This function shows the calibration graph for an output. The output number is displayed top left. -
Page 49: Sequencers
Sequencers The FH-2 includes powerful built-in sequencers, which can be used to control the module's CV outputs, or to drive external devices via MIDI. There are four note sequencers for generating pitched sequences, and one drum sequencer, intended for triggering percussive sounds. The sequencers are designed to be used in conjunction with one of Novation's current generation Launchpad devices (a Launchpad Mini Mk3, a Launchpad X, or a Launchpad Pro Mk3) or the original Launchpad Pro. -
Page 50: Pad Naming
Pad naming Since we support three different Launchpads, which unfortunately label their pads differently, we will refer to the pads by column/row. For example – pad 1/1 is bottom left – pad 9/8 is the pad below the Novation logo –... -
Page 51: Top Level Navigation
Top level navigation The Launchpad interface has three top level modes – you are controlling either the note sequencers, the drum sequencer, or the Euclidean patterns. To switch between these, enter the 'Activate' page, by holding pads 7/9 and 8/9 at the same time. While in this page –... -
Page 52: Notes
Note sequencers – Notes To activate the Notes view, press button 9/8 (green). In this view you can work with the note pitches, within an octave. The buttons are diatonic, giving you access to the notes of the major scale. To access the semitones between whole tones, press two vertically adjacent buttons together. -
Page 53: Note Sequencers - Octaves
Holding button 9/3 (dark orange) activates 'nudge' mode, in which buttons 3/9 and 4/9 move the sequence one step to the left or right respectively. The sequence wraps around the currently active step range (see the Settings view, below). Holding buttons 9/3 and 9/2 together activate 'nudge 1' mode. Whereas 'nudge' moves the whole sequence, 'nudge 1' moves only the current view –... -
Page 54: Patterns
Note sequencers – Patterns To activate the Patterns view, press button 9/6 (blue). In Patterns view, you set the rhythm of the notes. Each step (column) can last for up to 8 step times, or can be divided into up to 8 faster steps (the effect often known as 'ratcheting'). Each step can be on, off, or a tie. -
Page 55: Resets/Skips/Mutes
Note sequencers – Resets/skips/mutes To activate the Resets/skips/mutes view, press button 9/5 (red). In this view the top row shows resets, the second row down shows skips, and the remaining rows show mutes. Mutes can be set with 6 levels of probability: row 6 gives 100% chance of the step being muted, with the probability decreasing for the rows below. -
Page 56: Note Sequencers - Settings
Note sequencers – Settings To activate the Settings view, press button 9/4 (yellow). This view lets you set the gate length, the rate, the reset rate, and the sequence length (more properly, the start and end points of the sequence). It also exposes the sequence load/save buttons. Row 8 controls the gate length, from short on the left to long on the right. -
Page 57: Load/Save
Note sequencers – Load/save These functions are accessed via buttons 1/9 and 2/9 while in the Settings view. 1/9 (green) is load and 2/9 (red) is save. There is a bank of 28 sequences, into which you can save a sequence and reload it instantly. The bank is shared between the four sequencers, so you can use it to copy sequences from one sequencer to another. -
Page 58: Note Sequencers - Direction/Permutation
Note Sequencers – Direction/Permutation Holding button 3/9 (orange) while in the Settings view exposes control over the note sequencer's direction and permutation. Row 8 shows the direction; row 7 shows the permutation. Pressing one of the buttons in the row changes to that option. -
Page 59: Drum Sequencer
Drum sequencer The drum sequencer is accessed via two views – the overview, and the lane view. Drum sequencer – Overview The drum sequencer offers 8 'lanes' of up to 32 steps each. Steps can be on, off, or accented. Steps proceed from left to right. -
Page 60: Load/Save
Rows 1-4 show all 32 steps of the lane. The current step is highlighted magenta. Steps within the start and end points are shown white (off) or green (on). As in the overview, pressing a button for a step toggles it on or off, and accents are set by holding button 7/9 and pressing the step button. Note that you can edit steps that are not within the start &... -
Page 61: Drum Sequencer - Global Settings
bank as a whole can be saved to and loaded from flash memory (see the section on the Sequencer banks menu, below). The 4x7 grid of white (load) or red (save) buttons represent the 28 sequence slots. The slot most recently accessed by the drum sequencer is indicated with a blue highlight. -
Page 62: Euclidean Patterns
Euclidean patterns While not actually part of the sequencers, the Euclidean patterns (see above for a full description) can be controlled via the same Launchpad interface, so they are included here. Rows 7 & 8 indicate the current Euclidean pattern being controlled (1 is top left, 16 is bottom right). Press one of these buttons to switch the current pattern. -
Page 63: Sequencer Banks
Holding button 3/9 switches to a different view, allowing you to edit the gate length, reset rate and accent rate. Row 7 controls the gate length, from short on the left to long on the right. Gate length is a percentage of the step time, except at value 0, where it becomes a fixed length trigger pulse. - Page 64 Naming uses the same interface as presets and configurations as does saving and loading. Page 64...
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Page 65: Shift Register Random
Shift Register Random generators These generate random CVs via the popular rotating shift register method. The joy of this method is that it generates a loop of CVs, with a controllable likelihood of change, including the possibility to lock the loop so it does not change. They can be used to control the module's CV outputs directly, or to generate MIDI notes, which can then be used to control external hardware, or to drive the FH-2’s own MIDI/CV converters. -
Page 66: Clock Source
Clock source Normally, the generators are synced to the FH-2’s global clock. If the generator’s Rate is set to zero, it will be clocked by whatever is set for its ‘Clock source’ in the Configuration. This can either be the external clock input, or one of the Euclidean pattern generators. Preset The guts of the Shift Register Random generators lie in the CC-mapped items which are part of the Preset. -
Page 67: Display
Display name Description Minor Melodic minor (ascending) scale. Triad Major triad. 3b+5 Minor triad. Fifth Root and fifth. Triad+6 Major triad plus sixth. 3b+5+6 Minor triad plus sixth. Triad+7 Major triad plus seventh. 3b+5+7 Minor triad plus seventh. Root, fifth, and sixth. Root, fifth, and seventh. -
Page 68: Features
Accessibility features The FH-2 can work in conjunction with a computer-based screen reader, both to relay the information displayed on the module's screen, and to remotely control the module from the computer. In the settings (see above), enable 'Accessibility', which causes the FH-2 to send MIDI SysEx messages whenever you operate the module's encoder and button, and at other key moments when event notification is useful. -
Page 69: I/O
5-pin DIN MIDI I/O The FH-2 has an expansion header on the PCB which can be used to add a pair of traditional 5-pin DIN MIDI ports to the module (one input/one output). This is compatible with the Expert Sleepers MIDI breakout... -
Page 70: Bus
All SysEx messages are prefixed with a manufacturer's ID, which is a unique series of hex bytes assigned by the MIDI Manufacturers Association. The Expert Sleepers ID is 00H 21H 27H, so all SysEx messages relating to Expert Sleepers hardware will begin... -
Page 71: Messages
Received SysEx messages 01H – Take screenshot F0 00 21 27 2F 01 F7 This causes the FH-2 to respond with a SysEx message containing a capture of its screen. Note that there is a web-based tool to capture FH-2 screenshots here 02H –... -
Page 72: 15H - Install Sequencer Bank
15H – Install sequencer bank F0 00 21 27 2F 15 <bank data> F7 Installs the enclosed data as the FH-2's currently active sequencer bank. 16H – Request drum sequencer bank dump F0 00 21 27 2F 16 <bank index> F7 This causes the FH-2 to respond with a SysEx message containing a drum sequencer bank. -
Page 73: 41H - Request Screen As Text
be recorded into and played back from a SysEx librarian tool (for example, this 41H – Request screen as text F0 00 21 27 2F 41 F7 This causes the FH-2 to respond with a SysEx message containing the text on the module's display, using the '42H –... -
Page 74: Name
4AH – Request preset name F0 00 21 27 2F 4A F7 This causes the FH-2 to respond with a SysEx message containing the name of the current preset, using the '4AH – Preset name' format, below. 4BH – Request clock info F0 00 21 27 2F 4B F7 This causes the FH-2 to respond with a SysEx message containing information about the current clock source and tempo, using the '4BH –... -
Page 75: Configuration Name
This message is transmitted in response to a '41H – Request screen as text' message. 45H – Parameter name F0 00 21 27 2F 45 <ASCII string> F7 This message is transmitted in response to a '43H – Request parameter name' message. 46H –... -
Page 76: Built-In Functions........................................76 Firmware Updates
Command Shell This feature should be considered a prototype. It is by no means complete or fully functional. It is included at this point to gauge interest and invite feedback. Note – this feature is currently disabled. When a HID keyboard is connected to the FH-2, it is possible to open a command shell and type commands in the programming language The shell is opened and closed by pressing the Escape key. - Page 77 The FH-2's firmware can be updated using a USB flash drive, which must be formatted as 'FAT' (variously referred to as 'MS-DOS FAT', 'FAT16', 'FAT32'). The process is as follows: • Download the firmware from the Expert Sleepers website. • Unzip the download.
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Page 78: Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments 'FH-2' logo and boot-up animation by Jason Evans. Accessibility features developed in collaboration with raisedbar.net. The FH-2 uses , the copyright notice of which is reproduced below. Copyright © 1994–2018 Lua.org, PUC-Rio. Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:...
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