Viscount DB-5 Operating Manual
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Viscount DB-5 Operating Manual

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Operating Manual- DB5

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Summary of Contents for Viscount DB-5

  • Page 1 DB-5 Operating Manual- DB5...
  • Page 2 CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING! TO REDUCE THE DANGER OF ELECTRIC SHOCK: DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK) DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL This simbol is intended to This simbol is intended to alert alert the user to the presence...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS OB•5 1. Important Notes ....................... 45 1.1 Notes on the OB5 ....................45 1.2 Notes about manual ....................46 2. Controls and connectors ..................47 2.1 The top panel ......................47 2.2 The panel on the left of the manual................. 48 2.3 The rear panel ......................
  • Page 4 7. Utility ........................70 7.1 MIDI ......................... 70 7.2 Setting the MIDI functions ..................71 7.3 Instrument tuning ....................73 7.4 Adjusting the display contrast ................. 74 7.5 Assigning specific function to the pedal ..............74 8. Using the MIDI ......................77 8.1 Parameters controllable by means Control Change ..........

  • Page 5: Important Notes

    1. IMPORTANT NOTES OB•5 1.1 NOTES ON THE OB5 LOOKING AFTER THE PRODUCT • Do not apply excessive force to the structures and controls (knobs, switches, etc.). • Protect the instrument from heavy stresses during both transport and use. The instrument should only be transported in its original packaging or an equivalent.

  • Page 6: Notes About Manual

    hazardous signal peaks. 1.2 NOTES ABOUT THE MANUAL • Take good care of this manual. • Read all the information provided in this manual carefully. You will avoid wasting time and will obtain the best performance from your instrument. • Codes or numbers in square brackets ([]) indicate the names of buttons, sliders or trimmers on the instrument panel.

  • Page 7: Controls And Connectors

    2. CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS OB•5 2.1 THE TOP PANEL 1. PRESET DRAWBARS UPPER – LOWER & BASS section. This section contains the buttons for selection of the six PRESETS relating to the timbre of the UPPER, LOWER and BASS manuals (the BASS is the section of the lower manual assigned to the bass, or to the optional pedalboard if this is connected to the rear PEDALBOARD connector), and for manual operation of the Drawbars.

  • Page 8: The Panel On The Left Of The Manual

    2.2 THE PANELS ON THE LEFT OF THE MANUALS 1. [HOLD] button. This switch enables the display HOLD function. When this function is disabled, the display continues to show a given video page for a time of about 10 seconds after the last operation carried out, after which it again displays the main video page.
  • Page 9 Vibrato effects, and display of the pages it contains. 10. [UTILITY] button. Pressing this button gives access to the menu of system utilities such as setting of the MIDI functions, instrument tuning, assignment of functions to the footswitch pedals and adjustment of the display contrast.

  • Page 10: The Rear Panel

    2.3 THE REAR PANEL 1. [PEDALBOARD] connector. This connector allows connection of the optional pedalboard. 2. PEDAL [FOOTSW. I], [FOOTSW. II] and [EXPR.] jacks. Two normally open footswitch pedals, to which a function can be assigned using the system Utilities, can be connected to the [FOOTSW. I] and [FOOTSW. II] jacks, while the [EXPR.] jack can be used to connect an expression pedal for control of the organ’s overall volume.

  • Page 12: Switch On The Ob5

    1. Before making any connection, make sure that the OB5 and the rest of the equipment are switched off. 2. Then connect the OB5 to the electricity supply socket by means of the power supply lead supplied with the instrument. 3.2 SWITCHING ON THE OB5 1.

  • Page 13: Switching Off

    When carrying out operations by means of the display, you can use the HOLD function, allowing you to “freeze” the video page displayed at that time until another page is selected, so that the display will not return to showing MAIN after a time of 7-8 sec., as already described in the “Panels on the left of the manuals - [Hold] button”...

  • Page 14: Functions Relating To The Sound

    4. FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE OB•5 SOUND 4.1 WHAT PRESETS AND MEMORIES ARE As we have already mentioned, with regard to the controls on the instrument’s panels, the OB5 has two types of memories: PRESETS and MEMORIES. We will now take a look at the differences between them.

  • Page 15: How To Select A Memory

    4.3 HOW TO SELECT A MEMORY In contrast with the Presets, a given Memory can only be recalled by means of the display. From the MAIN video page: press the [MEMORY] button; the last memory selected will be activated and the display will show: Alongside the (Volume) parameter, indicating the overall volume of the organ, the...

  • Page 16: Memory Memorisation - Factory Settings

    informing you that the OB5 is initialising the Presets. On conclusion of the operation, the display will show the MAIN video page. N.B.: When a Preset Factory Settings operation is carried out, the setups saved by the user will be lost irretrievably.
  • Page 17 If you wish to abort the Memory saving operation, press [EXIT] from the previous video page. If you wish to restore the original contents of one or all the memories, locate the cursor on field and press the [ENTER] button. The display will change to: [Memory INIT] field displays the memory location on which the Factory Settings Memory...

  • Page 18: Creating The Sound With The Drawbars

    Pressing [ENTER] again completes the procedure; pressing [EXIT] aborts it. If the initialisation procedure has been confirmed, on its completion the display will show: confirming that the Factory Settings of all the Memories have been restored. 4.6 CREATING THE SOUND WITH THE DRAWBARS The harmonic bars or Drawbars allow you to set the basic character of the sound you are going to use in your performance.

  • Page 19: Adding Character To The Sound

    The Drawbars can also be pressed in or pulled out while you are playing, giving real time control of the timbre and creation of the most widely varying sounds. To play with the real Drawbar positions (i.e. not with the Preset settings) press the [UPPER] and/or [LOWER&BASS] buttons of the PRESET DRAWBARS section.
  • Page 20 For activating the percussion, there are two buttons in the PERCUSSION section of the front panel called [2nd] and [3rd]. The [2nd] button activates the second harmonic percussion (the octave of the 8 ’ Drawbar), while the [3rd] adds the third harmonic percussion (the octave and fifth of the 8 ’...

  • Page 21: Setting Operation Of The Bass

    With the parameter you can adjust the level attenuation of the percussion, Perc. Level while sets the decay time rescaling. Perc. Length Obviusly these parameters are strictly correlated with the fuctions enabled by the buttons [SOFT] and [DECAY] located on the upper panel. parameter indicates the highest note in the keyboard range on which the TopKey percussion is to apply, while...

  • Page 22: Adding Click And Background Noise

    In this video page, you can regulate the operating mode of the bass section. The BassMode parameter allows you to play the bass, in monophonic mode, on the lower manual together with the LOWER manual Drawbars, by setting it as .
  • Page 23 The OB5 is able to provide a detailed reproduction of these features of the original organs; at the time, efforts were made to eliminate them, but today they are part of the typical sound of an electromagnetic organ. When the [SOUND] button is pressed the display will show: Now use the same key or the [ENTER] button to select the field;...

  • Page 24: The Effect Section

    5. THE EFFECTS SECTION OB•5 5.1 VIBRATO & CHORUS The VIBRATO & CHORUS section of the front panel allows Vibrato and Chorus effects to be added to the OB5’s sound. Vibrato modulates the tuning of the signal in cyclic mode, while the Chorus is the sum of the direct and modulated sound (so that the amplitude of the signal is also modulated).

  • Page 25: Reverb

    highest speed in the range available to the modulant of effect V2. 5.2 REVERB Reverb originates from the sum of the various acoustic reflections produced by a sound in a natural environment. When we clap our hands inside a large reflective building like a church, for example, we will hear a strong resonance which gradually fades.

  • Page 26: Rotary

    parameter sets the time interval between one repetition and the next, while Time (Regeneration) sets the amount of signal which will be reprocessed with the Delay algorithm, and thus the time after which the repetitions die away. 5.3 ROTARY The OB5’s ROTARY algorithm simulates the archetypal effect produced by a rotary tone cabinet connected to the organ.

  • Page 27: Overdrive

    The original electromagnetic organs were equipped with an internal spring reverb system, so the signal amplified by the rotary tone cabinet was already complete with reverb. By means of the parameter described above, the OB-5 allows emulation of this feature (if the parameter is set as ), or selection of a setup in which the signal obtains its Rev~Rot...

  • Page 28: Using A Remote Rotary Tone Cabinet

    6. USING A REMOTE ROTARY TONE OB•5 CABINET The OB5 allows you to connect a real rotary tone cabinet to the 11-pin rear jack [ROTARY TONE CABINET], as an alternative to the internal ROTARY effect. Thanks to its rotary speakers, this type of cabinet produces a very complex combination of vibrato and tremolo, which changes with every harmonic and every note of the scale.

  • Page 29: Utility

    N.B.: PIN 11 senses connection of a connector to the ROTARY TONE CABINET jack. If the voltage is not inside a range from 18 to 30 V DC, the tone cabinet might not work correctly. Moreover, sudden current surges might cause malfunctions or breakdowns of the OB5 or of the tone cabinet. You can use the [ROTARY ON/OFF] switch on the panel on the left of the manuals to switch the cabinet motor on or off, while the [ROTARY SLOW/FAST] is used to select the rotation speed (fast/slow) of the tone cabinet motor.

  • Page 30: Midi

    The same type of transfer of information is used to record MIDI sequences. A sequencer can be used to record the MIDI data transmitted by the OB5 or any other instrument. When these recorded data are sent to the OB5, it will automatically play back the recorded performance.

  • Page 31: Setting The Midi Functions

    • Control Change: these are control messages (often associated to sliders or pedals) used to add expression to the performance, by allowing definition (and real-time control) of the timbre parameters, such as the volume (CC n.7) or the amount of reverb (CC n.66), etc.
  • Page 32 which relates to the reception channels for the message arriving on the MIDI IN port. Since this video page is identical to the previous one (setting of the channels for the transmission of MIDI messages), refer to the information above for the parameters found in this video page.

  • Page 33: Instrument Tuning

    Pressing [UTILITY] again allows you to display the next MIDI function programming page: This video page allows you to set the Bulk Dump function. As we have seen in the introductory notes about the MIDI, the Bulk Dump makes it possible to send all the OB5’s internal programming to a sequencer or computer (for example, in order to save the contents of the memories, and avoid the risk of losing data).

  • Page 34: Adjusting The Display Contrast

    If for example you have set the tuning as indicated in the display shown above, the result will be as follows: This is what is played: ...this is what is heard. N.B.: when the SEMITONES parameter is altered, the result will not be audible until any keyboard key or keys pressed during the operation are released.
  • Page 35 Let us take a detailed look at how a function is assigned. Select the field and press [UTILITY]; the display will show: [PEDAL ASSIGN] The video page contains two fields, , representing the footswitch Pedal1 Pedal2 pedals connected to the [FOOTSW.1] and [FOOTSW.2] pedal jacks respectively. The functions which can be assigned are the following: •...
  • Page 36 The video page consists of two fields, which identifies the sequence of Presets Upper relating to the upper manual, and which displays the sequence of Presets for Low&Bass the lower manual and the BASS section (or the optional pedalboard). The CURSOR keys [ï] and [ð] can be used to select one of the seven steps in the sequence you wish to program, while the VALUE keys [-/NO] and [+/YES] allow you to scroll through the seven Presets and set the one you require in the step you are editing.

  • Page 37: Using The Midi

    8. USING THE MIDI OB•5 8.1 PARAMETERS CONTROLLABLE BY MEANS OF CONTROL CHANGES 1) Volume (CC 07): regulation of the general volume of the organ and of the LOWER manual volume. Control Change #07 can be used to control the general volume of the organ or of the individual sections, by means of another instrument connected by MIDI (such as a Sequencer, Master Keyboard, etc...).
  • Page 38 Depending on whether the active effect is a reverb or the Delay, Control Change #103 controls the value of the cut-off frequency of a low-pass filter capable of attenuating all frequencies above the one set (for the reverbs) or the number of repetitions (for the Delay).

  • Page 39: Parameters Controllable By Means System Exclusive

    1- Excl. Status:Indicates the beginning of transmission of an exclusive system string 2- Manufacter ID: Defines the manufacturer (31=Viscount) 3- Device ID: The first nibble indicates the type of instrument (3=Drawbar organ) The second nibble indicates the transmission channel...
  • Page 40 Parametro Stringa SysEx Parametro Stringa SysEx Volume Drawbar 16' F0 31 3n 02 01 36 xx yy F7 Percussion Off F0 31 30 02 01 16 F7 Volume Drawbar 5' 5/3 F0 31 3n 02 01 37 xx yy F7 Reverb n.1 (Hall) F0 31 30 02 01 04 01 F7 Volume Dtrawbar 8'...

  • Page 41: Technical Specifications

    9. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OB•5 Keyboards: 2 x 61 keys Sound generator: E-IS synthesis technique Parts: Upper, Lower, Bass Maximum polyphony: 120 notes, reducible to 21 notes in case of maximum use of the system resources. Effects: 3 x Vibrato, 3 x Chorus, 4 x Reverb, Delay, Rotary, Overdrive Internal memory: 14 Drawbars Presets, 50 Memories Display:...
  • Page 42 Send L – R Output L(Mono) – R Headphones Rotary Tone Cabinet Ac In Power supply: 117 V AC, 220 V AC Finish: Walnut Dimensions: 1160 (W) x 509 (D) x 197 (H) mm (not including stand) Accessories: User manual Power supply lead...
  • Page 43 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Oberheim – Viscount OB-5 Date: 22/03/2001 Version: 2.0 FUNCTION ... TRANSMITTED RECOGNIZED REMARKS 1-16 1-16 BASIC DEFAULT 1-16 1-16 CHANNEL CHANGED Mode 3 Mode 3 MODE Default Messages ********** Altered 36 - 96 0 – 127 NOTE 36 –...
  • Page 45 CAUTION! This product contains a lithium battery. There is danger of explosion if battery is incorretly replaced. Replace only with a Maxell CR2032. Replace only with the correct polarity. Discard used battery according to manufacter’s instruction’s. ADVARSEL! Lithiumbatteri – Eksplosjonsfare. Vade utksifting benyttes kun batteri som anbefalt av apparatfabrikanten.
  • Page 46 Sales Division: Via Belvedere Fogliense 8, I-47836 Mondaino (RN) Italy tel.+39-0541-981700 - fax +39-0541-869605 - e-mail: viscount@omniway.sm - Internet: www.viscount-organs.com - www.viscount.it Distribution for Italy: TITAN MUSIC S.A. Strada Genghe di Atto, 80 - 47031 Acquaviva – Repubblica di San Marino tel.0549-999164 - fax 0549-999490...

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