Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Operation Manual
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Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Operation Manual

Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Operation Manual

Dave smith instrumentsmith instruments poly evolver keyboard operation manual
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  • Page 1 Poly Evolver Keyboard Operation Manual...
  • Page 3 Poly Evolver Keyboard Operation Manual Version 1.4 October, 2009 Dave Smith Instruments 1210 Cabrillo Hwy N Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1449 © 2005-2009 Dave Smith Instruments www.DaveSmithInstruments.com...
  • Page 4 Tested To Comply With FCC Standards FOR OFFICE USE This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Contents Quick Start Preset Notes 8 FAQs Chaining Evolvers and Polys 10 Inside Evolver Signal Flow Diagram Basic Operations Naming Programs and Combos Global Parameters Program Parameters Analog Oscillators (1 and 2) Digital Oscillators (3 and 4) Lowpass Filter Amplifier (VCA) Highpass Filter Feedback Distortion...

  • Page 6: Quick Start

    Welcome… Thanks for purchasing the Poly Evolver Keyboard! Listen to the sounds, twiddle some knobs, have some fun! Register If you purchased your Poly directly from us, there is no need to register – we already have your contact information. If you purchased it from a music dealer, please go to www.davesmithinstruments.com and register.
  • Page 7 OMBO switches select the four parts for quick editing. Your Poly Evolver also has some very cool features for use as a stereo signal processor. In Combo mode you can have one or more voices using the External Signal Input, so the external signal can be routed to all four voices, with each voice doing different processing, such as filtering, envelope following, distortion, feedback, delay, driving a sequence, and so on.
  • Page 8 About the Presets There are 512 Programs and 384 Combos in your Poly Evolver. The factory sound set is on our website if you ever need to refresh it. There are additional banks of Programs at: http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/polyevolver/sounds.html Remember to save your sounds via program dumps occasionally! The Programs are not set up in any particular order, so you might just want to listen through them to see what you like.

  • Page 9: Faqs

    Frequently Asked Questions The Poly Evolver is a very flexible instrument. While this provides a wide range of operational possibilities, it also means that you can put Evolver into a state where it doesn’t seem to work. Here are some tips: •...

  • Page 10: Chaining Evolvers And Polys

    Chaining Multiple Evolvers Together The Poly Evolver Keyboard has 4 voices that are identical to the 4 voices in a rackmount Poly Evolver, and the single voice in the original desktop Evolver. This compatibility enables you to chain multiple Evolvers together to increase polyphony, using your Poly Keyboard as a controller for all chained Evolvers.
  • Page 11 On the Keyboard MIDI clock is again set to Out, the first Rack set to In/out, and the second Rack to In. Chaining Mono Evolvers You can also use one or more mono table-top Evolvers for more voices. If using one to get 5 voices (a magic number!), set the Keyboard to MIDI clock Out, and set Poly Chain to 5.

  • Page 12: Inside Evolver

    The Poly Evolver Voice Before going through the individual parameters, following is a brief description of the architecture of a single Poly Evolver voice. The signal flow diagram on the next page is a good starting point for understanding how the Poly works.

  • Page 14: Basic Operations

    Basic Operation Program Mode When you first turn the Poly on, it is in Program Mode with the P LED lit and ROGRAM e following screen active: Program: xxx B:x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The top line shows the Program (1…128) and Bank (1…4) number of the currently selected Program, and the bottom line shows the 16-character name of the Program.
  • Page 15 Program or Combo destination, and P 2 for a different bank. ARAM If there is another Poly Evolver or Evolver Poly Chained, and they have been updated to the latest software revisions, the program/combo will be saved in the chained units also.

  • Page 16: Naming Programs And Combos

    Transposing the Keyboard Range Use the U and D Transpose switches to transpose the Poly Keyboard up or down by octaves. The LED indicates the current keyboard transposition state. The transposition changes the MIDI note number of the keys, so MIDI notes sent will also be transposed.
  • Page 17 An exception to the voice stealing rule is when Poly Chain is On. In this case rather than stealing an already-used voice, the Poly will transmit the new note over MIDI so it can be played by another linked Poly. Individual Voice Outputs The Poly has a pair of output jacks for each of the four voices on the back panel, allowing separate mixing/processing of each voice.

  • Page 18: Global Parameters

    MIDI data through to the Poly Chain MIDI out jack where it can be routed to another Evolver or Poly Evolver. Note that MIDI clocks are handled separately per the MIDI Clock parameter. Check page for more details.
  • Page 19 with Poly Chain) MIDI clock is received, but MIDI MidInNoS/S start/stop/continue messages are ignored. Prog Tempo: Off, On – When set to Off, changing a Program or Combo will not change the tempo- this is useful for keeping a constant tempo but using different sounds.
  • Page 20 MIDI Program:xxx MIDI Pressure:xx MIDI Program: Off, On – When On, the Poly will respond to MIDI program changes received, and will transmit Program changes to MIDI Out. MIDI Pressure: Off, On – When On, the Poly will respond to MIDI pressure (aftertouch) received, and will transmit Keyboard Pressure to MIDI Out.
  • Page 21 Routed to the low pass filter, but with half LpF Half the range Page 9: Velocity Curve:x Pressure Curve:x Velocity Curve: 1…4 – Sets one of the four velocity curves for the keyboard; this gives you the ability to adjust the keyboard to your playing style. –...

  • Page 22: Program Parameters

    Following are descriptions of each Poly Evolver Program Parameter. Oscillators There are four oscillators per Poly Evolver voice. To select a particular oscillator for editing, press the appropriate oscillator switch, 1–4. Turning a knob will then adjust the parameters of the selected oscillator. Holding one of the four switches will solo that oscillator (the switch will blink) by setting the levels of the other three to zero.

  • Page 23: Digital Oscillators (3 And 4)

    In the VS, the user waves were 0 - 31, and wave 127 was noise, which is not included because the Poly Evolver has a separate noise generator. Wave 96 has a Waveshape that is unique to Evolver in...
  • Page 24 VS noise. Wave 95 (126 on the VS) is a “blank” wave, which can give some options while sequencing waves. The Poly Evolver ships with waves 97 – 128 the same as 1 – 32. Level: 0…100 – Sets the volume of the selected Oscillator.

  • Page 25: Lowpass Filter

    Level: 0…100 – Controls the volume of external audio input connected to the Left and/or Right Audio Input jack on the back of the Poly Evolver Keyboard. The same signal is routed to all four voices. Note: Use the External Audio input type parameter in the Misc Parameters section to choose the input mode.

  • Page 26: Amplifier (Vca)

    Decay: 0…110 – Sets the Decay time. Sustain: 0…100 – Sets the Sustain level. Release: 0…110 – Sets the Release time. Audio Mod: 0…100 – Sets the amount of audio modulation from the analog oscillator to the filter, separate in left and right channels; i.e. Oscillator 1 modulates the left filter, and Oscillator 2 mods the right filter.

  • Page 27: Highpass Filter

    Mono – Both channels mixed to the center – also useful xMonox when only using one output Reverse Stereo 1 – Right channel panned somewhat left, xxRLxx Left somewhat to the right Reverse Stereo 2 – Right channel panned mostly left, Left xRxxLx mostly to the right Reverse Stereo 3 –...

  • Page 28: Distortion

    Note: Feedback can also be used to implement plucked string physical models. Use Envelope 3 with Noise as a destination (all oscillators off). Play around with different Feedback Levels, and adjust the filter cutoff frequency. Frequency: 0…48 – Sets the base frequency of the main feedback loop. It steps in semitones from C0 to C4 (0 –...
  • Page 29 The delay takes a mix of both channels as input, and provides up to three independent taps, each of which can be individually time or level modulated. To select a delay tap for editing, press the appropriate Delay switch, 1–3. Turning a knob will then adjust the parameters of the selected Delay tap.

  • Page 30: Output Hack

    Delay is 3 steps in length 3 Steps Delay is one and a half steps in 1.5 Step length Delay is two-thirds of a step in 2/3 Step length Delay is one-third step in length 1/3 Step Delay is one-sixth step in length 1/6 Step Amount: 0…100 –...

  • Page 31: Envelope 3

    Sustain: 0…100 – Sets the Sustain level. elease: 0…110 – Sets the Release time. The Poly Evolver has four identical Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs). To select a specific LFO for editing, press the appropriate switch, 1–4. Turning a knob will then adjust the parameters of the selected LFO.
  • Page 32 Amount: 0…100 – Sets the amount of LFO routed to the destination. ey Sync: When this s witch is enabled (lit) the Poly Evolver re-starts the LFO each me a new note is played (Key Sync). Each LFO can be set independently.

  • Page 33: Modulators

    Modulators The Modulators section lets you configure the modulation routing and amount for the oly Evolver’s four general-purpose modulation slots as well as for MIDI controllers such as the Mod Wheel, Key Pressure, Velocity, Breath Control, and more. Since each Evolver mod source has a single destination, the four general purpose Mods provide a way to send a mod source (such as a sequence or LFO) to additional destinations, with a different amount.

  • Page 34: Miscellaneous Parameters

    Destination 1: see table – Selects a modulation destination. See the Modulation Destination table on page 41 for a list of possible destinations. Misc Parameters The Misc Parameters section lets you configure a variety of parameters not found elsewhere. The parameter list is printed on the panel as seen above. Trigger Select: see table –...
  • Page 35 signal level drops below a second fixed threshold. Same as external in, but also resets the sequencer to ExtIn, ResetsSeq step 1 if it is running. External In signal will gate the sequencer. AUTO ExtIn, Gates Seq External In signal will gate the sequencer, and also ExtIn GateSeqRst resets the sequencer to step 1 on each new gate.
  • Page 36 pitch range. But, if you then try to play this Program from a keyboard, the pitches will likely be too high. Rather than lowering all the oscillator frequencies (which would mess up the sequence!) you can simply use the transpose here. Pitch Wheel Range: 0…12 –...

  • Page 37: Sequencer Operation

    Sequencer The Poly Evolver features a 4 x 16 “analog-style” step sequencer that can generate four separate sequences of up to 16 steps each. Individual sequences can be routed to any standard modulation destination (see the table on page 41). Using VCA Envelope as a destination, for example, varies the volume of each step;...

  • Page 38: Programming A Sequence

    BPM x 24 Sixty-fourth note triplets 64trip Programming a Sequence Each of the 16 steps in the sequence has its own knob, which can be set to a value from 0-100. Turning a Step knob past 100 sets the step to “Reset.” Reset is useful for creating a sequence of fewer than 16 steps.
  • Page 39 sequence switches while recording to program all of the sequences in one write session. Hit S or W when you are done recording. TART RITE When recording from the keyboard, you cannot reach the half semitone step values. You can program rests by just hitting any key above the highest D key, and you can program a reset by hitting high C.
  • Page 40 Note that overall limits of 30 to 250 BPM still apply; for example, if you have a BPM of 120, and a sequencer step of 10, it will try to go four times faster than 120, which is 480. Since it is greater than 250, it will clamp at 250. With clever choices of BPM (using Clock Divide as necessary) you can develop a pretty wide range of timing possibilities.

  • Page 41: Modulation Destination Table

    Modulation Destinations Display Destination No destination selected Oscillator 1 Frequency Osc 1 Freq Oscillator 2 Frequency Osc 2 Freq Oscillator 3 Frequency Osc 3 Freq Oscillator 4 Frequency Osc 4 Freq Oscillator All Frequency – goes to all four OscAllFreq Oscillator 1 Level Osc1 Level Oscillator 2 Level...
  • Page 42 LFO 1 Frequency LFO 1 Freq LFO 2 Frequency LFO 2 Freq LFO 3 Frequency LFO 3 Freq LFO 4 Frequency LFO 4 Freq LFO All Frequency LFOAllFreq LFO 1 Amount LFO 1 Amt LFO 2 Amount LFO 2 Amt LFO 3 Amount LFO 3 Amt LFO 4 Amount...

  • Page 43: Modulation Source Table

    Modulation Sources Display Source No Source selected Sequence 1 Sequence1 Sequence 2 Sequence2 Sequence 3 Sequence3 Sequence 4 Sequence4 LFO 1 LFO 1 LFO 2 LFO 2 LFO 3 LFO 3 LFO 4 LFO 4 Filter Envelope FilterEnv Amp (VCA) Envelope VCA Env Envelope 3 Envelope3...

  • Page 44: Combo Parameters

    Combo Parameters Combos are used to make different combinations of Programs, and use them in different ways. You can use up to four different Parts, each with its own set of 16 parameters. To edit the Combo parameters, first hit the desired C Switch.
  • Page 45 Display MIDI mode This Part will not respond to MIDI This Part only responds to MIDI notes Notes This Part only responds to MIDI controller Cntrls messages This Part responds to both MIDI notes and MIDI On All controller messages MIDI Ch: 1…16, All –...
  • Page 46 Display Envelope Trigger Selections The envelopes will be triggered by either the Sequencer or Key sequencer or the keyboard. When triggered by the sequencer, the gates are on for half the step time. Simply adjust the envelope parameters (ADSR) for the desired effect.
  • Page 47 Volume: 0…100 – Sets the Volume level for this Part. Low Key: C -2…C 8 – This parameter, along with the High Key parameter following, sets the keyboard range that this part will respond to. The frequency covers a 10 octave range, from 8 Hz to 8KHz, stepping in semitones.

  • Page 48: Midi Implementation

    MIDI Implementation The Poly Evolver receives MIDI data according to the mode controls in the Global Section. When in Combo mode, the Global parameters may be overridden by the Combo settings. In addition, there is interaction between some of the Program parameters that determine the overall response of Evolver to MIDI data.
  • Page 49 MIDI Ch: 1…16, All – Selects the MIDI channel to use for this Part. If All is selected, it responds to any MIDI channel. If MIDI Mode is set to Off, this parameter is ignored. switch: Acts as a MIDI all-notes-off, and resets all MIDI controllers when hit ESET while the sequencer is not running.

  • Page 50: Basic Midi Messages

    MIDI Messages Received Channel Messages Status Second Third Description 1000 nnnn 0kkkkkkk 0vvvvvvv Note Off. Velocity is ignored 1001 nnnn 0kkkkkkk 0vvvvvvv Note On. Note off if vvvvvvv = 0 1010 nnnn 0kkkkkkk 0vvvvvvv Polyphonic Key Pressure 1011 nnnn 0vvvvvvv 0vvvvvvv Control Change;...
  • Page 51 Oscillator 4 Level Oscillator 1 Shape Oscillator 2 Shape Oscillator 3 Shape Oscillator 4 Shape FM 4->3 FM 3->4 RM 4->3 RM 3->4 Noise Level Low Pass Filter Frequency Filter Resonance Filter Envelope Amount Filter Attack Filter Decay Filter Sustain Filter Release Filter Audio Mod Filter Split...
  • Page 52 Channel Number 0-15. 0000 0110 Inquiry Message 0000 0010 Inquiry Reply 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0001 Poly Evolver ID (Family LS) 0000 0000 Family MS 0000 0000 Family Member LS 0000 0000 Family Member MS 0jjj nnnn Main PIC Software version: jjj – Major rev; nnnn – Minor Rev 0jjj nnnn Voice PIC Software version: jjj –...
  • Page 53 0vvv vvvv DSP Software version LS 0vvv vvvv DSP MS 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX) Transmitted Channel Messages Status Second Third Description 1000 nnnn 0kkkkkkk 0000000 Note Off. 1001 nnnn 0kkkkkkk 0vvvvvvv Note On. 1011 nnnn 0vvvvvvv 0vvvvvvv Control Change; see “Received Controller Messages”...

  • Page 54: System Exclusive Messages

    System Exclusive Messages Note that all the System Exclusive messages use the Evolver ID, rather than the Poly Evolver ID. This maintains compatibility with Evolver, since the Programs are the same. Program Parameters If this message is received while in Combo mode, only the Parts with MIDI enabled will respond to the change.
  • Page 55 Combo Parameters This message is ignored if the synth is in Program mode Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0000 Evolver ID 0000 0001 File Version 0010 1010 Combo Parameter 00vv vvvv Combo Parameter number 0 – 79. See table on page 64. 0000 vvvv Parameter value, LS Nibble 0000 vvvv...
  • Page 56 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX) The Poly Evolver will respond by sending out the Program Data in the format described in the Program Data Dump on page 58. It also sends a Program Name Dump message (also on page 58) after the Program dump. This makes it a complete Program dump while maintaining compatibility with Evolvers.
  • Page 57 Request Combo Dump Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0000 Evolver ID 0000 0001 File Version 0010 0001 Request Combo Transmit 0000 00vv Bank Number, 0 - 2 0vvv vvvv Program Number, 0 - 127 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX) Evolver will respond by sending out the Combo Data in the format described in the Combo...
  • Page 58 Bank Number, 0 - 3 0vvv vvvv Program Number, 0 - 127 0vvv vvvv 16 name data bytes. Note that the Poly Evolver stores the basic 7 bit data. The assumption is that the data is ACSCII 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX)
  • Page 59 Program Edit Buffer Data Dump Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0000 Evolver ID 0000 0001 File Version 0000 0011 Edit Buffer Data 0vvv vvvv 220 bytes in “packed MS bit” format (see page Error! Bookmark not defined.).

  • Page 60: Packed Data Format

    Waveshape Data Dump Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0000 Evolver ID 0000 0001 File Version 0000 1010 Waveshape Data 0vvv vvvv Waveshape number, 0 – 127, corresponds to Waveshapes 1 – 128. Only Waveshapes 96 –...
  • Page 61 Reset Switch Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 0000 Evolver ID 0000 0001 File Version 0000 0100 Reset Switch 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX) Only sent when Poly Chain is on and MIDI clock is set to Out Select Program Mode Status Description...

  • Page 62: Global Parameter Data

    Global Parameter Data Parameter Range Description 0 - 127 Program Number 1 - 128 0 - 3 Bank Number 1 - 4 0 - 100 Master Volume 0 - 100 0 - 72 Master Transpose; 0 = -36 semitones (- 3 octaves), 36 = 0 (no transpose), and 72 = +36 semitones.
  • Page 63 Not used (zero sent in Main Dump) Not used (zero sent in Main Dump) 0 - 16 MIDI Channel; if = 0, data received on all MIDI channels. Otherwise = channel number 1 – 16. Not used (zero sent in Main Dump) 0 –...

  • Page 64: Combo Parameter Data

    Combo Parameter Data There are 4 identical parts in a Combo; they are listed below. The name of the combo follows the other parameters. Range Description 0 - 4 Mode – number of polyphonic voices Poly 4 Poly 3 Poly 2 Unison 0 - 127 Program...
  • Page 65 External Input gates the sequencer and resets the sequencer Keyboard plays sequence once Keyboard plays sequence once, resetting on mulitple notes External Trigger – the sequence plays once on an external signal Keyboard trigger – the sequence plays once when a key is hit 0 - 72 Transpose;...

  • Page 66: Program Parameter Data

    Program Parameter Data Parameter Range Description 0 - 120 Oscillator 1 Frequency, 0 – 120 in semitones (10 octave range) 0 - 100 Oscillator 1 Fine Tune; 0 = -50 cents, 50 = 0 (centered), 100 = + 50 cents 0 - 102 Oscillator 1 Shape Sawtooth...
  • Page 67 Parameter Range Description 0 - 100 VCA Level 0 - 100 VCA Envelope Amount 0 - 110 VCA Envelope Attack 0 - 110 VCA Envelope Decay 0 - 100 VCA Envelope Sustain 0 - 110 VCA Envelope Release 0 - 6 Output Pan Left channel panned fully left, Right fully to the right Left channel panned mostly left, Right mostly to the right...
  • Page 68 0 - 200 LFO 1 Amount (over 100 repeats with Key sync on) 0 - 68 LFO 1 Destination (see destination table on page 72) 0 - 160 LFO 2 Frequency (same as LFO 1) 0 - 4 LFO 2 Shape (same as LFO 1) 0 - 200 LFO 2 Amount (over 100 repeats with Key sync on) 0 - 68...
  • Page 69 Left channel audio, Right channel control 0 - 14 Input Hack Amount Parameter Range Description 0 - 200 Glide, Oscillator 1; 101 – 199 = Fingered; 200 = osc midi off 0 - 1 Sync; 0 = off, 1 = on 30 - 250 Program tempo 0 - 12...
  • Page 70 Parameter Range Description 0 - 1 Linear/Exponential envelopes 0 = Exponential, 1 = Linear 0 - 100 VCA Envelope Velocity 0 - 24 Modulation 2 Source (see Source Table on page 74) 0 - 198 Modulation 2 Amount; -99 to +99 0 - 68 Modulation 2 Destination (see destination table on page 72) 0 - 24...
  • Page 71 Parameter Range Description 0 - 198 Mod Wheel Amount; -99 to +99 0 - 68 Mod Wheel Destination (see destination table on page 72) 0 - 198 Pressure Amount; -99 to +99 0 - 68 Pressure Destination (see destination table on page 72) 0 - 198 Breath Controller Amount;...
  • Page 72 Modulation Destinations No destination selected Oscillator 1 Frequency Oscillator 2 Frequency Oscillator 3 Frequency Oscillator 4 Frequency Oscillator All Frequency – goes to all four Oscillator 1 Level Oscillator 2 Level Oscillator 3 Level Oscillator 4 Level Oscillator All Level Noise Level External In Level Oscillator 1 Pulse width...
  • Page 73 LFO 3 Amount LFO 4 Amount LFO A Amount Envelope 1 Amount Envelope 2 Amount Envelope 3 Amount Envelope A Amount Envelope 1 Attack Envelope 2 Attack Envelope 3 Attack Envelope A Attack Envelope 1 Decay Envelope 2 Decay Envelope 3 Decay Envelope A Decay Envelope 1 Release Envelope 2 Release...
  • Page 74 Modulation Sources No Source selected Sequence 1 Sequence 2 Sequence 3 Sequence 4 LFO 1 LFO 2 LFO 3 LFO 4 Filter Envelope Amp (VCA) Envelope Envelope 3 External Audio Input Peak External Audio Envelope Follower Pitch Bend Mod Wheel Pressure Midi - Breath Controller Midi - Foot Controller...
  • Page 76 1210 Cabrillo Hwy N Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1449 www.DaveSmithInstruments.com...

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