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John Bowen Solaris User Manual

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User Guide

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Summary of Contents for John Bowen Solaris

  • Page 1: User Guide

    User Guide Version 1...
  • Page 2 John Bowen Synth Design. Solaris is a trademark of John Bowen Synth Design. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their re- spective owners. All features and specifications subject to change without notice.

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Please register your purchase of the Solaris with me at info@johnbowen.com. Once I have your name and email and se- rial number, I will send you links to some video tutorials to get you started. It is my hope that Solaris will provide you with many hours of exploration and enjoyment.

  • Page 4: Dedication

    Solaris into the world. “Thank You” a million times over! As well, all of the Sonic Core team who have worked so tirelessly to bring Solaris to life - Klaus Piehl, Julian Schmidt, Ralf Dressel, Alex Zielke, Nadia Haubrich and Adriana Leonhard.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Introduction ...............3 Insert FX after the filters (Mixer → Filter → Insert FX) Welcome to the world of Solaris! ........3 Feedback loop in mixer ...........22 Dedication ..............4 Safety Precautions ............7 Processing External Signals .........23 About this Manual ............8 External Signals ............23...
  • Page 6 VCA Parameters (Main Mode) ........31 VCA Parameters (Mod Mode) ........31 LFOs ................32 LFOs 1-4 and Vibrato LFO ...........32 LFO 1-4 Parameters (Main Mode) .......32 Page 1 Parameters ..........32 Page 2 Parameters ..........32 Vibrato LFO Parameters (Main Mode) ......32 Page 1 Parameters ..........32 Page 2 Parameters ..........33 LFO Parameters (Mod Mode) ........33 Envelope Generators ..........34...

  • Page 7: Safety Precautions

    Disconnect the power whenever you are unlikely to  use the Solaris for a long period of time. Always pull on the plug itself, not on the cord. Never touch the mains plug with wet hands. The Solaris is capable of generating levels that can Â...

  • Page 8: About This Manual

    The following typographical standards are used in this manual: When referring to a physical button or other control  on the Solaris’s front panel, the name of the control is formatted like this. When referring to a parameter, the name of the param- Â...

  • Page 9: Getting Started

    1 or a 0. A value of This section is designed to get you up and running with “1” will cause Solaris to automatically load the OS file in Solaris as quickly as possible. However, Solaris is a very the same folder.

  • Page 10: There Are Several Ways To Select Presets

    (above the numeric keypad) on, so that its LED is lit. This must be on to select any presets. As soon as an edit is made anywhere on the front panel, the Solaris will automat- ically leave Preset Mode to allow for editing, so when you...

  • Page 11: About Preset Categories

    Any new SamplePool must be numbered in the next avail- As soon as you edit any parameter, the Preset LED will able ascending number, otherwise the Solaris will not go off, putting you in live edit mode. Once you have made...
  • Page 12 Subsequent SamplePools would have to be -004, -005, -006, etc. And finally, the SamplePools will not automatically load when you turn on the Solaris, or plug in the CF card! You must go to your SYSTEM soft key group (in the center...

  • Page 13: User Interface And Navigation

    Solaris. It’s well worth your time to read this chapter! The Solaris is organized so that you can get to a number of parameters rather quickly. That’s why I’ve decided to use six displays: five text displays and one Graphic Display.

  • Page 14: Function Group Shortcut

    VS oscillators, since you can see the full Solaris provides a number of performance-oriented controls wavetable or waveshape name, respectively, in the that give you tremendous control over the expressiveness graphic display.

  • Page 15: Enable Part Buttons

    Enable Part are available in most modulation source lists, so it can be buttons to alter the preset in a desirable way. When used as a real-time controller for most of Solaris’s param- creating your own presets, experiment with using eters.

  • Page 16: Knob Acceleration

    More details can be found in “Figure 61. Sequencer Menu, page 2 of 3” on page 37. Knob Acceleration Due to the enormously flexible nature of Solaris’s design, there are often times when the physical knobs will control parameters with greatly differing value ranges. For ex-...

  • Page 17: Rear Panel Connections

    Rear Panel Connections The illustrations below show the rear panel connections of the Solaris. The illustration is too long to fit on a single page of the manual, so it is represented by Figure 17, which shows the leftmost connections on the rear of the unit, and Figure 18, which shows the rightmost connections.

  • Page 18: Modulation Basics

    Ctrl In Ctrl In Ctrl In of Solaris’s oscillators is an oscillator module in a large modular system. Figure 19 depicts Solaris oscillator 1, which currently holds a Multimode Oscillator, as an imaginary oscillator module in a modular synth. The typi- cal oscillator controls, waveform, shape, coarse and fine tuning, map 1:1 Figure 19.
  • Page 19 Ctrl In Ctrl In Ctrl In Ctrl In Figure 20. Solaris oscillator mod source 1 (LFO1) controlling wave shape Figure 21. Solaris oscillator mod source 1 (LFO1) controlling wave shape, Figure 20 shows the mode display of our Solaris and Poly Aftertouch providing sidechain modulation.
  • Page 20 Ctrl In Ctrl In Ctrl In Ctrl In Figure 22. Solaris oscillator with 3 of 4 available modulation sources active Figure 23. Modulation Sources 2 and 3 modulating oscillator pitch and “wired” to the oscillator. Figure 23 shows an example of two modulation sourc- Figure 22 further expands on our example by activating es modulating the same parameter.

  • Page 21: Signal Path

    Osc 3  Mixer 1 input 3 Osc 4  Mixer 1 input 4 Because the signal path of Solaris is so modular, we’ll use Insert FX before the filters (Mixer → Insert FX this section to describe some techniques you might find →...

  • Page 22: Feedback Loop In Mixer

    Input1 Filter 6. Set InsFX 1’s The Decimation and Bit Chop effects are even more noticeable when using them after the filter. Set the Insert FX and play with the filter’s cutoff frequency. Feedback loop in mixer Mixer 1 can be routed to Mixer 1, and will have a feedback effect if there are other signals also coming into the Mixer.

  • Page 23: Processing External Signals

    Control signals from external synthesizer gear, such as a external signals routed through the synthesizer. External modular LFO module, can be passed in to Solaris via one signals can be routed in via one of the four analog inputs of the four analog inputs. This signal can then be used as a or the S-PDIF jacks on the rear panel.

  • Page 24: Oscillators

    Page 1 Parameters Figure 25. Oscillators Panel Figure 26. Oscillator Main Mode, page 1 Solaris has four oscillators, as well as several special sound sources including Rotors, AM and Vector Synthesis. Figure 26 shows page 1 of the Multimode oscillator’s parameters.

  • Page 25: Parameters

    The pitch of the slave within Solaris. Signal from the selected modulation source oscillator is locked to that of the master oscillator, and the is applied to the selected modulation destination (Dest).

  • Page 26: Rotors 1-2

    When Sync is set to Gate, the Phase parameter can be used to determine at which step in the Rotor’s cycle it will Solaris has 2 Rotor processors. There are four inputs to reset with each new note on event.

  • Page 27: Mixers

    Page 2 Parameters Figure 32. The Mixer Panel Figure 36. Mixer Mod Mode, page 2 Mixers 1-4 Solaris provides four separate mixers, each with fully user- assignable inputs and master output level. Mixer Parameters (Main Mode) Page 1 Parameters Figure 33. Mixer Main Mode, page 1 Main Page 1 in the Mixer’s...

  • Page 28: Insert Fx

    Figure 37. Insert FX Panel Insert FX 1-4 Solaris provides four Insert FXs that can be placed in the signal path between the mixers and filters, or between the filters and the VCAs. See “Signal Path” on page 21 for examples.

  • Page 29: Filters

    Cutoff knob) to make adjustments in 1/10 semitone increments. Solaris has four filters that can be routed in parallel or series. Any signal can be passed to a filter, though a typical Resonance configuration might have a mixer output routed to a filter Resonance control.

  • Page 30: Filter Parameters (Mod Mode)

    Filter Parameters (Mod Mode) Figure 43. Filter Mod Mode Cutoff Each filter has 4 modulation source slots. A filter’s Reso (cutoff frequency) or (resonance) can be modulated by any of the four modulation sources. Other modulation sources are available for some filter models, for example case Damping for the Comb filter and...

  • Page 31: Vcas

    VCAs Figure 44. VCA Panel VCAs 1-4 Solaris has four VCAs, each hardwired to accept an input signal from either its corresponding filter or Insert FX mod- ule (filter or Insert FX with the same number). VCA Parameters (Main Mode) Figure 45.

  • Page 32: Lfos

    The Vibrato LFO is hard-wired to the vibrato effect (Pitch the positive quadrant. (Useful particularly with mod) of all 4 oscillators. The Vibrato LFO in Solaris is a some Shape modulations.) multimode LFO, with the same parameters that come with...

  • Page 33: Parameters

    Page 2 Parameters Figure 51. Vibrato LFO Main Mode, page 2 LFO Parameters (Mod Mode) Figure 52. LFO Mod Mode All of the LFOs have 3 modulation source slots. An LFO’s Rate Level can be modulated by any of the three modu- lation sources.

  • Page 34: Envelope Generators

    Figure 56. Envelope Generator Mod Mode, page 1 The modulation source list for the envelope generators is Solaris has six DADSR envelope generators that are fully limited to: velocity, key tracking, modulation wheel, and as- assignable and available in the modulation source lists.

  • Page 35: Graphic Display Functions

    This allows the The soft tab menus will wrap around to the first arpeggiator to be “latched” on. When the Solaris is using its menu, if you continue to press the More button.

  • Page 36: Sequencer (Seq)

    “reset” intervals, are Octaves set on SeqA. Determines the number of octaves (1-4) over which to play Note that the sequencer in Solaris is not hardwired to the arpeggiator pattern. control the pitch of the oscillators, though that is a common Pattern use.

  • Page 37: Ribbon Controller

    1-63, and User. Like the Arp Patterns, these are stored Step9-Step16 on the CF card in the Factory/Seq folder. The Solaris only ships with one pattern. Allows steps 9-16 of the row’s pattern to be edited.

  • Page 38: Output

    Effects Channel (FXChan) Figure 64. Output Menu, page 1 of 1 The Solaris’s analog outputs are configured as 4 pairs of “stereo” outputs. Also available is the S/PDIF stereo output. For each of these stereo outputs, you can decide the source of the audio signal.

  • Page 39: Chorus/Flanger (Chorfla)

    Figure 69. Delay Menu, page 1 of 1 The amount of effect sound passed to the output. The Delay effect in Solaris is actually two different delay effects, a ‘normal’ stereo delay and a cross delay. The Phaser standard stereo delay consists of two delay circuits (left and right) that have feedback loops into their own inputs.

  • Page 40: Vector Synthesis (Vs)

    “center” of the Joystick away from 0,0. If you take a look at the factory setting (default patch when you switch on the Solaris without any CF card), you can Input1-Input4 Oscs 1-Osc 4, all at full see that are set to Level.

  • Page 41: Amplitude Modulation (Am)

    Solaris has 2 AM modules. Any source can be used as the carrier or modulator, though a classic AM synthesis tech- nique is to modulate the amplitude of one oscillator with another oscillator.

  • Page 42: Key Tables

    TimeAmt Next fields. times. Slope Adjusts the slope of each segment; 0 is linear, Example: Let’s select note 36 (lowest C on the Solaris), and 127 is exponential Interpol 5.0% change the value to (adjust the knob below...

  • Page 43: Lag Processor

    For all values in between the two fixed notes, of the pitch. Use a Lag processor to smooth these the Solaris will interpolate or calculate a value, so for note out - and you usually don’t need much; just a few 55, we are getting an output of 7.6%.

  • Page 44: System Menu

    Tune Applies +/- 100 cents tuning to the entire synthesizer. This is because you may want to play the Solaris along with an acoustic instrument that is not at concert pitch, and cannot be retuned easily (such as an old piano). You can set the Fine Tune as needed, and still select through the presets without resetting this parameter.

  • Page 45: Home Menu

    It is best to set PlayMode to Mono to hear the effect Solaris, when I turn the ‘cutoff’ knob on the box, it will send of glide settings. a value to wherever CC 1 is programmed to go. When you...
  • Page 46 . Playing Unison button is on (LED lit), any notes you play will play C4 on the Solaris keyboard will play the pat- back your stacked chord. tern in its original key. Playing any other note on the keyboard will transpose the pattern.
  • Page 47 (at larger values) to shift the zero point of the control signal from aftertouch. Figure 89. Home Menu, page 4 of 4 Serial Internal serial number of the Solaris unit. OS-Version Currently loaded operating system version. HOME MENU...
  • Page 48 Appendix 1- Oscillator Parameters MM1 Multimode Oscillator Parameter Parameter Description Values Description Main mode, page 1 parameters Type Type of oscillator Multimode oscillator Wave Waveform generated by the oscillator Sine Sine wave Triangle wave Ramp Sawtooth with upward ramp Sawtooth with downward ramp Pulse Pulse waveform, which produces a square wave when the Shape parameter is 50%.
  • Page 49 There are 64 different wavetables, each with 60+ individual waveshapes that can be swept using various modulation sources. The wavetables in Solaris are the original Waldorf Microwave wavetables, used with special permission from Waldorf. See Table 21 for the full list of waveta- Wave bles.
  • Page 50 CEM Curtis Electromusic Oscillator Parameter Parameter Description Values Description Main mode, page 1 parameters Type Type of oscillator Curtis Electromusic oscillator emulation Wave Waveform generated by the oscillator No waveform is generated Sawtooth waveform Triangle waveform Pulse Pulse waveform, which produces a square wave when the Shape parameter is 50%.
  • Page 51 Main mode, page 1 parameters Type Type of oscillator Sample playback oscillator Wave This parameter selects a sample from the sample set the user has uploaded to Solaris Shape No effect 0% to 100% Coarse Parameter controls the pitch of the oscilla-...
  • Page 52 VS Vector Synthesis Oscillator Parameter Parameter Description Values Description Main mode, page 1 parameters Type Type of oscillator Vector synthesis oscillator Wave This parameter selects among the 94 1-94 Number of the single-cycle waveform to play single-cycle waveforms to play Shape No effect 0% to 100%...
  • Page 53 Mini Oscillator Parameter Parameter Description Values Description Main mode, page 1 parameters Type Type of oscillator Mini Minimoog emulation from the Sonic Core Mini- max. Wave Waveform generated by the oscillator Triangle wave Saw+Tri The oscillator generates a sawtooth and triangle waveform simultaneously Sawtooth with downward ramp Pulse1...
  • Page 54 Appendix 2- Modulation Sources Modulation Sources List 1 Table 27 shows the modulation list we will refer to as Modulation Source List 1. This modulation source list is used by the following components: Oscillators, Mixers, Insert FX, Filters, VCAs, and LFOs. Source Name LFO1 - LFO4...
  • Page 55 Modulation Source List 2 Table 28 shows the modulation source list used by the Envelope Generator (EG) components. We will refer to this list as Modulation Source List 2. Source Name Velocity KeyTrk Key tracking ModWh Modulation wheel CC1 - CC4 Continuous controllers 1 through 4 Table 28.
  • Page 56 Appendix 3- Filter Types Table 29 shows the filter types available in Solaris. LP = Lowpass, HP = Highpass, BP = Bandpass, BR = Band Reject (Notch), AP = Allpass. The numbers describe the pole count for each, a pole providing 6 dB of filtering. There are several series filter combinations.
  • Page 57 Appendix 4- MIDI Implementation Clock Division Description 1 cycle every 8 measures 1 cycle every 6 measures 1 cycle every 4 measures 1 cycle every 3 measures 1 cycle every 2 measures Whole notes 1/2P 1.5 Half note (3 quarter notes) Half notes 1/2T Half note triplets...

  • Page 58: Sample Pools

    Sample Pools Solaris loads samples from the CompactFlash card into the RAM on its DSP chips. Solaris has a total of 32MB of sample RAM. The samples are stored as mono 16 bit signed headerless (‘raw’) audio files on the CompactFlash card. .Wav files will work as well.
  • Page 59 Access this menu by pressing 4 on the numeric keypad Analog Ctrls when you are on the main Self Test menu page. The menu allows you to re-calibrate the physical controls on Solaris. Figure 93. Self Test Menu - Analog Ctrls menu...

  • Page 60: Warranty Regulations

    Appendix 7- Warranty Warranty Regulations Warranty Regulations Zarg Music LLC warrants, that the described product has been free of failures within parts or components of the hardware and was found to be fully functional. Please carefully read the following information, which is important in the case of prob- able damages or malfunctions: If goods are being found defective, missing features described within the present documentation or becoming defective due to eventual fabrication deficiency or material defects within the first twelve months after purchase, then Zarg Music...
  • Page 61 Appendix 8- NRPN Table None0 0 - 0 Env4DMod0 - 75 Lfo2ModCMix3 - 152 Lfo5ModAmount2 - 241 None0 0 - 1 Env4SMod0 - 76 Lfo2ModAmount3 - 153 Lfo5ModCMix3 - 242 None0 0 - 2 Env4RMod0 - 77 Lfo2ModSource1 - 156 Lfo5ModAmount3 - 243 Master0PitchWheelRange1 - 5 Env4ATMSrc0 - 78...
  • Page 62 Osc2Frequency0 - 325 Rot1ModAmount3 - 421 Mix1In1GMSrc0 - 500 Fil1ModSource4 - 575 Osc2Mode0 - 326 Rot1ModCMix4 - 422 Mix1In2GMSrc0 - 501 Fil1ModControl1 - 576 Osc2WaveSel02 - 327 Rot1ModAmount4 - 423 Mix1In3GMSrc0 - 502 Fil1ModControl2 - 577 Osc2Tune0 - 333 Rot1ModSource1 - 424 Mix1In4GMSrc0 - 503 Fil1ModControl3 - 578 Osc2Shape0 - 334...
  • Page 63 Fil3ModDest3 - 652 Pan1Mod0 - 729 Vec2XOffset0 - 804 KeyboardGlide0Type0 - 879 Fil3ModDest4 - 653 Pan1MSrc0 - 730 Vec2YOffset0 - 805 KeyboardGlide0Time0 - 880 Fil3Mode0 - 654 Pan1OutSw0 - 731 Vec2XMod0 - 806 KeyboardGlide0Rate0 - 881 Fil3Sel0 - 655 Pan2Pos0 - 732 Vec2YMod0 - 807 KeyboardGlide0Range0 - 882 Fil3Vowel1 - 656...
  • Page 64 Seq0B_15 - 984 Rot1SyncRate0 - 1089 Osc4WaveSel4 - 1164 Seq0B_16 - 985 Rot2SyncRate0 - 1090 Osc4WaveSel5 - 1165 Seq0C_1 - 986 Fil1ModAmount1_Pitch0 - 1091 Fil1Sel1 - 1166 Seq0C_2 - 987 Fil2ModAmount1_Pitch0 - 1092 None0 0 - 1167 Seq0C_3 - 988 Fil3ModAmount1_Pitch0 - 1093 Fil1Sel5 - 1168 Seq0C_4 - 989...
  • Page 65 The statements above apply ONLY to products distributed in the USA. SOLARIS Version 1. 191 FCC Information (CANADA) FCC INFORMATION (CANADA) The digital section of this apparatus does not exceed the „Class B“...
  • Page 66 Index No Track 24 SysMid 14 System Menu 44 GldMode 45 GldRange 45 Obie 56 GldTime 46 Octaves 36 Tempo 15 GldType 45 Octave (Transpose) 15 Time L 40 Abs 41 Glide 25 Offset 32 Time R 40 absolute 41 GlideAll 46 Omni 45 Transp(ose) 47...

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