Professional Documents
Culture Documents
User Manual: Modal Craftsynth
User Manual: Modal Craftsynth
User Manual
OS Version - 1.00-00
1
Important Safety Information
2 3
Index
00. Introduction 6
03. MIDI 26
MIDI 27
MIDI Implementation Chart 28
04. Update 30
05. CraftApp 32
Appendix A 36
Troubleshooting
40
Appendix B
Binary LEDs
4 5
00
CRAFTsynth is a powerfully versatile monophonic synthesiser, with a unique no-soldering
assembly process. It is intended to bring the pleasure of synthesis to everybody, without
sacrificing sound quality or features.
Introduction The kit format and stripped-back design provides the opportunity for you to customise and
augment your CRAFTsynth, from making your own knobs and enclosures to interfacing with
microcontrollers and sensors.
We hope you get as much pleasure from using it as we did making it!
SPECIFICATION:
6 7
01
Parts List
Getting Started
1x 2x
1x
4x 1x
2x
1x
8x 1x 1x
Customisation ideas:
Paint a pointer:
You can use some paint or tip-ex to mark the pointer position on the pot shafts.
Simply turn the pot shaft all the way to the left, and paint on a line that lines up with the left
leg of the pot. Test it out and see if you got it in the right place before doing the others!
You can find or make your own knobs to add over the shafts provided. 6mm knobs that
attach with a worm screw work the best!
Add enclosure:
You can use 3D printing, moldable plastic, cardboard or pretty much anything to encase and
make the craft synth your own!
8 9
Assembly Connecting Hardware
The Craft has three external connections: USB, Line out and Headphones out.
1 5
USB
USB Mini B Connection for power, MIDI input and MIDI output.
To use MIDI, connect to your computer or tablet with a USB Mini cable and find ‘Craft Synth’
2 6 listed as a MIDI port on your computer.
Line Output
This output can be connected to any line level input for monitoring and recording.
3x 1x The line output is higher quality than the headphone output, so always use it when recording
or performing.
3 7
Note: In order to preserve maximum dynamic range, and therefore get the best sound quality,
there is no line output volume control on the unit. Control the volume using your interface,
mixer or amplifier.
Headphones Output
1x
8x Headphone output on 3.5mm jack.
The volume can be adjusted using the VOL function (see the Getting Started section), the
4 8
CRAFTsynth app, or through MDI CC (See the MIDI section).
2x
Troubleshooting
10 11
Basic Functions Touch Pads
CRAFTsynth can be powered either through the USB socket, or by a battery pack. The 5 touch pads allow you to play the synthesiser without sending it MIDI from another
device. The octave and scale that these 5 pads trigger can be configured, as detailed in the
To use USB power, simply connect a USB cable to a power source as described in the secondary functions below.
Connecting Hardware section.
The pads also send MIDI notes out, which you can use to control other instruments or features
To use the battery pack, simply attach the battery pack lead to the connector and ensure it is on your DAW.
turned on, with charged batteries inside.
Secondary functions
The battery pack we recommend is Adafruit Industries’ 727 3xAAA switched JST-PH, available
from many retailers. The pads all have a secondary function that can be accessed by holding only the relevant pad
and tapping the PAGE/PRESET button.
You can use double-sided sticky foam to attach the battery pack to the back to underside of
Craftsynth. All of the following parameters can be controlled fully through the Craft App and through
MIDI CCs (See the MIDI section).
Note: The JST-PH battery connector requires 100mA and 4.5v – 5v to power craft.
OCT
WARNING!! Holding just this pad whist tapping the PAGE/PRESET button will shift the octave of the
DO NOT hold the PAGE/PRESET button whilst powering on CRAFTsynth. current sound. When on page 1, the octave will shift up, when on page 2, the octave will
shift down.
Doing so and holding the button for a further 4 seconds will erase the firmware and stop
the synth from working. You can restore the firmware via the update process, but it’s best to SCALE
avoid doing this unintentionally.
Holding just this pad whist tapping the PAGE/PRESET button will change the musical scale that
Pages is assigned to the 5 pads. The LEDs indicate the current selection:
When powered on, a single LED should be lit, indicating that you are on page 1 of the
controls. On page 1, the knobs control the parameters listed directly underneath, for example LEDs Selected Scale
WAVE, MIX and DETUNE.
0 C Major
To switch to page 2, simply tap the PAGE/PRESET button, and the knobs will control the 1 C Minor
second indicated parameters, for example DISTORT, FM and FINE.
2 C Diminished
Be sure not to be touching any of the touch pads when trying to change page, as this will 3 C Major Augmented
trigger the touch pad secondary functions, as described in the following section. 4 C Blues Pentatonic
The top LED also indicates the status of the LFO, fading in and out with the level of the
oscillator. When on page 1, the scale will shift up, when on page 2, the scale will shift down.
12 13
Touch Pads Touch Pads
Holding the touch segment labeled GLIDE and tapping the PAGE/PRESET button will step Holding the touch segment labeled VOL and tapping the PAGE/PRESET button will alter the
through the portamento glide time presets. The LEDs indicate the length of the glide time headphone output volume. On Page 1, the volume will increase each step and wrap around to
from 0s, to ~2.5s. When on page 1, the glide time will shift up, when on page 2, the glide being quiet. On Page 2, the volume will decrease, but not wrap around to loud (So you don’t
time will shift down. get a shock!)
EG Be careful not to damage your ears when adjusting the headphone volume!
CRAFTsynth has two configurable envelope generators, one modulating the filter cutoff, one MIDI Panic
modulating the amplitude. 16 useful presets of these are accessible through this function. To
change the envelope preset, hold the EG pad and tap the PAGE/PRESET button. The number If the synth won’t stop making sound, it’s likely that you have a ‘hung’ MIDI note. This means
of active LEDs will indicate which EG preset you are on, between 0 and 15 (Displayed in the synth has been sent a ‘note on’ message without ever receiving a ‘note off’.
binary.)
To manually stop the sound by performing a ‘MIDI Panic’, hold just the OCT and VOL touch
pads and tap the ‘page/preset’ button.
Preset Number EG Style
0 Snappy
1 Fade In Amp
2 Fade Out Amp
3 Fade In/Out Amp
4 Fade In Filter
5 Fade Out Filter
6 Fade In/Out Filter
7 Filter Closing Quick
8 Percussive 1
9 Percussive 2
10 Percussive 3
11 Percussive 4
12 Pad 1
13 Pad 2
14 Pad 3
15 Pad 4
When on page 1, the EG preset will shift up, when on page 2, the EG preset will shift down.
Full ADSR envelope controls for both amp and filter are configurable via MIDI CCs and the
Craft App!
14 15
Sound Presets Default Presets
CRAFTsynth comes with 16 preset sounds, detailed in the table below. You can save your own Preset Number EG Style
sound over any of these, and restore all factory presets at any time.
0 Space Mission
To load or save a sound, first enter ‘Preset mode’ by holding the PAGE/PRESET button until 1 Corporation
the LEDs start spinning. Now you can scroll through the presets by tapping the PAGE/PRESET
2 Rave Keys
button. The preset number is displayed as a pattern on the LEDs (which is the patch number
in binary for those of you who like that sort of thing!). 3 Big Lead
4 Alarm
Once you reach the preset number you would like to load, simply hold the button until the
LEDs start spinning, and then let go. 5 Acid Stab
6 Spooky Organ
To save over a preset, use the same process, but hold the button a bit longer, until the LEDs 7 Metallic
Flash.
8 Distorted Bass
To exit preset mode without loading or saving, simply press nothing and wait a few seconds 9 Tinkle
until the LEDs go back to normal, indicating you are on page 1. 10 LoFi Drum
To re-load all factory-preset sounds, enter preset mode and hold all 5 touch pads. This will 11 Wobble Bass
overwrite any sounds you have made! 12 Pulsar
13 Ambient
You can send CRAFTsynth program change MIDI messages to change preset, which means you
can automate sound changes during a composition from your DAW! 14 Aliens
15 Basic Sine
16 17
02
Synthesis engine
18 19
Oscillators
The CRAFTsynth synthesis engine has two configurable oscillators referred to as OSC1 and FINE
OSC2, which can be combined in various ways to create a multitude of timbres ready to be
shaped and modulated by the filter, LFO and effects. The FINE parameter allows you to affect the detune of OSC2 more precisely. In the center
position, OSC2 has no fine-tuning applied. When turned right, the frequency of OSC2 is
This section details the relevant controls for OSC1 and OSC2: raised up to a maximum of +50 cents. When turned left, the frequency of OSC2 is lowered to
a maximum of -50 cents.
WAVE
FM
This control sets the waveform of the currently selected oscillator (See MIX parameter below
for OSC selection). The available wave shapes are: The FM control on page 2 sets the amount by which OSC1 frequency is modulated by the
level of OSC2, up to a maximum of +/- 2 octaves. Because of the wide range of OSC2 detune
OSC1 - Sine, Triangle, Saw tooth, Square and PWM and the flexibility of the LFO, this can be used to create a huge array of effects, from adding
OSC2 - Sine, Triangle Saw tooth, Square and White Noise rich harmonics to interesting low-frequency modulations.
MIX The SPREAD control allows CRAFTsynth to introduce additional oscillators to achieve unison
and chord modes.
This parameter cross-fades between OSC1 and OSC2. Set half way, each oscillator can be
heard at equal volume. In the first half of the dial, OSC1 and OSC2 are split into 8 individual oscillators and spread out
over the frequency spectrum to create a fat unison sound. This effect is increased up to the
If you are predominantly listening to OSC1, the WAVE control will set the shape for OSC1, and center position.
vice versa.
Past half way, the oscillators arrange themselves into chord shapes. A huge variation of chords
DETUNE can be created with this control in conjunction with OSC2 detune.
This dial raises or lowers the pitch of OSC2 in relation to the note being played. This can be
used to create different harmonies with OSC1 or to achieve a very low or very high-pitched Note: The average level of the sound will be lower when using the SPREAD control.
sound. This is because the combining oscillators are phasing in and out and not constantly
re-enforcing each other as they would if the spread is set to zero.
When set to the center position, OSC2 is set to the fundamental frequency of the note being
played. When turning to the left, OSC2 pitch is lowered down to a maximum of -24 cents, Returning the spread to zero and retriggering a note will bring all oscillators back to
always maintaining a ratio of a 3rd, major 5th, minor 5th or octave. their original phase and volume.
When turning to the right, OSC2 pitch is raised up to a maximum of 24 cents, always
maintaining a ratio of a 3rd, major 5th, minor 5th or octave.
When OSC2 wave shape is set to white noise, the DETUNE parameter affects the cut off
frequency of a low pass filter affecting the noise, allowing the noise to be sculpted. There are
multiple effects that can be achieved using this feature, such as having low frequency noise as
the FM modulation source, creating an ‘unstable’ frequency.
20 21
LFO
CRAFTsynth features an LFO with 8 waveforms and 6 destinations, which can be synced to SHAPE
MIDI clock. This feature can be used to create a huge array of sound modulations, including
generating extra harmonics through AM and FM. This parameter sets the shape and phase of the currently selected LFO, as indicated around
the dial. Available shapes are Sine (up first), Sine (down first), Triangle (up first), Triangle (down
DEPTH first), Ramp up, Ramp down, Square (high first) and Square (low first).
The DEPTH control affects the depth of the LFO modulation. The LFO modulation works DEST
differently for each destination to get the most versatility from the synthesis engine.
This parameter sets the LFO destination. The available destinations are:
• AMP - LFO modulates overall amplitude from full volume down to LFO depth, where
maximum depth is silence. • AMP - Overall sound amplitude
• FRQ - LFO modulates +/- LFO depth around current note frequency. • FRQ - Current note frequency
• CUT - LFO maximum depth is current filter cut off. • CUT - Filter cut off frequency
• FM - LFO maximum depth is current FM Amount. • FM - Amount of FM
• MIX - LFO modulates +/- LFO depth around current OSC Mix. • MIX - Mix between OSC1 and OSC2
• PWM - LFO modulates +/- LFO depth around current OSC1 PW. • PWM - Pulse width of OCS1 (PWM must be selected as OSC1 wave)
RATE Note: In normal operation, the top LED indicates the status of the LFO wave, to help
you keep track of how the sound is being modulated.
This control sets the rate of the LFO, and its behavior depends on the presence of MIDI clock.
In the first half of the dial, the frequency is set freely from 0.1 HZ to 20Hz.
The first half of the dial sets the LFO frequency to divisions of the host BPM.
In the second half of the dial, the LFO rate is set to a division of the main frequency of the
note being played. This allows the LFO frequency to run into the audible range and maintain
harmonious modulations. A massive array of effects can be achieved in this way, including
AM and FM.
22 23
Filter Effects
CUTOFF DISTORT
This affects the cut-off frequency of the filter, from 0Hz up to 20kHz. This control sets the amount of overdrive distortion applied to the sound.
All the way to the left, there is no distortion. All the way to the right, the sound is fully
The filter is a low-pass type by default, but is actually a state-variable filter. Through MIDI CC distorted.
or the CRAFT App, the filter type can be ‘morphed’ from low-pass, through band-pass and
into high-pass. This distortion is a wave-shaping overdrive, which can be used to add harmonics and warmth
to a sound, as well as compressing it and making it very loud and distorted.
The cut-off frequency can be modulated by the LFO and the filter envelope.
DELAY
RESO
This parameter affects the Dry/Wet mix of the of the delay audio effect at the end of the audio
The RESO parameter sets the resonance of the filter around the cutoff frequency. signal chain. When set to minimum, only the dry signal will be heard. When set to maximum,
only the delayed signal will be heard.
Note: If the audio output seems unusually quiet, check the resonance is not turned up. TIME
To compensate for feedback occurring when the filter cutoff approaches the
fundamental frequency, turning up the resonance will attenuate the level of the TIME controls the delay time of the delay effect, from 0 to 250ms.
signal and introduce gentle soft limiting. This is common practice to avoid clipping or
sudden large changes in signal level. If an incoming MIDI Clock signal is detected, the Delay time will snap to divisions of the host
clock. This feature can be disabled or enabled via midi CC (See the MIDI section).
FEEDB
This parameter sets the amount of delayed audio signal fed back into the delay input.
When at the fully position, only the first delayed signal will be heard. All the way to the right,
almost the entire level of the delayed signal is fed back into the delay.
This can be used to create a wide array of effects from an echo or reverb-type effect, to noise
and metallic sounds.
24 25
03
MIDI
MIDI CRAFTsynth is fully USB-MIDI class-compliant, meaning you can plug it into your computer, no
drivers required, and gain access to a huge array of extra features. Simply plug in CRAFTsynth
to a USB port and it will show up as a MIDI input and output device in any software that
supports external MIDI devices.
26 27
MIDI
MIDI Output
All controls on the craft output midi messages. This allows CRAFTsynth to be used as a fully
functional plug and play MIDI controller!
When a change is detected on any of the parameters, a CC message is sent out. See the MIDI
implementation chart in the MIDI section to find which parameters send which CC numbers.
The touchpads send MIDI notes for the note that they are set to trigger.
MIDI Input
CRAFTsynth can be played by sending it MIDI notes. This means you can use your DAW or any
device that can send MIDI notes over USB to sequence velocity sensitive notes for your synth.
MIDI Clock
Configure your DAW to send MIDI clock (Sync) to CRAFTsynth and it will automatically
configure itself to work in time with your track tempo. The LFO rate will snap to divisions of
the host clock (up until half way - see LFO section).
Delay time will also snap to divisions of the host clock, depending on the delay sync setting,
controlled via MIDI CC (See MIDI implementation chart above).
When no clock is detected, the synth will continue to use whatever tempo it is configured to
until a change of LFO rate or Delay time is detected by a dial turn.
Program Change
Note: Your DAW might list program changes starting from ‘1’ this will load the first preset on
CRAFTsynth, which is referred to as ‘0’ in this manual.
The following table shows which midi CC numbers control which parameters.
28 29
MIDI CC Implemention Chart MIDI CC Implemention Chart
Headphone Volume 7 Silence - full volume NO SYNC: 0-63 = 0-32Hz Free / 64-71 Root/8 / 72-79 Root/4 /
80-87 Root/2 / 88-95 Root / 96-103 Root*1.5 /104-111 Root*2 /
Distortion 12 Dry - Wet 112-119 Root*2.5 / 120-127 Root*3
Delay Amount 13 Dry - Wet LFO Rate 36 SYNC: 0-7 = 1/16 / 8-15 = 1/8 / 16-23 =1/4 / 24-31 =1/2 / 32-39
= 1 / 40-47 = 5/4 / 48-55 =2 / 56-63 = 4 (Cycles per beat), then /
Delay Time 14 No Sync: 0 - 250 milliseconds / Sync: 8 steps, division of host clock
64-71 Root/8 / 72-79 Root/4 / 80-87 Root/2 / 88-95 Root / 96-
Delay Feedback 15 0% - 90% 103 Root*1.5 /104-111 Root*2 / 112-119 Root*2.5 / 120-127
Root*3
Osc1 Shape 16 0 - 21 Sine / 22-42 Tri / 43-63 Saw / 64-127 PWM duty 50% - 5%
LFO Depth 37 0 - Full
Osc2 Shape 17 0 - 21 Sine / 22-42 Tri / 43-63 Saw / 64-85 Square / 86-127 Noise
0-21 AMP / 22-42 FRQ / 43-64 CUT / 65-85 FM / 86-106 MIX / 107-
LFO Destination 38
Osc Mix 18 OSC1 - OSC2 127 PWM
0-14 Sine / 15-31 iSine / 32-47 Tri / 48-63 iTri / 64-79 Ramp up /
FM Amount 19 No FM to +/- 2 Octave modulation LFO Shape 39
80-95 Ramp down / 96-120 Square / 121-127 iSquare
0-63 Unison Spread / 64-76 major / 77-89 minor / 90-102 7th / Octave 40 Octave shift -2 to +3 ( 0-21/22-43/44-65/66-87/88-1109/110-127)
Spread 20
103 maj 7th / 116-127 maj Octave
C Major (0-24) C Minor (25-49) C Diminished (50-74) C Major Aug-
FEG Attack 22 0 - 4 Seconds Scale 41
mented (75-99) C Blues Pentatonic (100-127)
FEG Decay 23 0 - 2 Seconds Delay MIDI Sync 42 0-63 Off, 64-127 On
FEG Sustain 24 0-1 AEG Release 72 0 - 4 Seconds
FEG Release 25 0 - 4 Seconds AEG Attack 73 0 - 4 Seconds
AEG Attack 26 0 - 2 Seconds Filter Cutoff 74 0Hz - 20kHz
AEG Decay 27 0 - 4 Seconds AEG Decay 75 0 - 2 Seconds
AEG Sustain 28 0-1 Glide 84 0 - 2.5 seconds, exponential control
AEG Release 29 0 - 4 Seconds
30 31
04
Update
Update CRAFTsynth’s firmware can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update
your CRAFTsynth to the latest version each time an update is released, introducing new
features.
CRAFT App will provide the most user-friendly way to update firmware, however it is also
possible to update the firmware using MIDI sysex messages, meaning you won’t need the app.
32 33
05
CraftApp
CraftApp The CRAFT App is not just for CRAFTsynth, but for all members of the CRAFT range.
Please see the relevant app store or www.modalelectronics.com for App availability and
documentation.
34 35
A
Troubleshooting
The pins are designed to be slightly out of line – this helps the connectors stay on nice and
tight! The connector will still slide over the pins.
Look inside the potentiometer - it actually has a shape to it, and you should be able to see
how the shaft fits in. Make sure that the orientation of the knob shaft lines up with the
rectangular slot.
When you provide power to the CRAFTsynth, you should see LEDs light up. If this isn’t the
case, please check the following:
• Check that all the connectors are attached properly (See Assembly section).
• Check that there is no damage to the synth, such as bent header pins.
If powering by USB:
36 37
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting
My synth turns on and looks like it’s working, but there’s no sound? My synth turns on, but I just get four solid LEDs lit up and nothing else?
• Check that all the connectors are attached properly (See Assembly section). If all four LEDs stay on solidly and you never get to the point where a single LED is on, it may
• Check that your headphones or line connections are connected properly and working as be that there has been an update error, or you have accidentally entered ‘update mode’.
they should (Testing with another device to provide sound is a good way to do this).
When starting the update process, the firmware on the synth is erased, ready to put the new
• Turn the synth on and wait a few seconds for it to initialise, you should see just the top
firmware on. If the update is not completed successfully, the result will be that you only ever
LED on, suggesting you are on page one.
see 4 LEDs lit solidly.
• Hold a touch pad and turn the CUTOFF control all the way to the right.
• Try turning DEPTH all the way to the left and putting MIX to the middle. Don’t worry, it’s still possible to put the firmware back on the device, just repeat the update
• Try turning up the headphone volume (See Touch Pads section). process detailed on www.modalelectronics.com
• Try sending MIDI to the synth to identify if it is an issue with the touch pads.
The synth doesn’t show up as a MIDI device?
The touch pads don’t seem to work properly or the sound keeps re-triggering?
CRAFTsynth uses a class-compliant MIDI over USB connection, which means most operating
The touch pads work though ‘capacitive sensing’, detecting the presence of your touch in a systems will recognise it as a MIDI device without the need to install additional drivers. If
similar way to your smartphone screen. If you are having difficulty using the touch pads, it’s you’re not seeing ‘Craft Synth’ listed as a MIDI device, check the following:
likely to be to do with either your skin contact, or the power source.
• Check to see if the device shows up on your computer, as described in the MIDI section
• First ensure that all connectors are attached properly and that the synth is not damaged. of this manual.
• Because of the ‘open’ circuit, there are several places on the synth other than the touch • Some systems may take some time to search for any required drivers, simply wait until
pads that will trigger sounds, ensure that you are just touching the pads and not the left your operating system has finished this process.
hand side of the synth.
• Check that your DAW or other software has enabled MIDI input and output to ‘Craft
• Ensure your hands are clean and dry and that you are not wearing any gloves. Synth’. This is usually found in Preferences > MIDI.
• Try powering the synth from an alternate power source. Powering from a battery pack • Check that the USB cable is not faulty, and that the USB socket on your computer works
and listening on headphones will isolate the synth from any other equipment that may be properly.
affecting the synth. If this fixes the issue, try unplugging any other equipment that may
• Make sure that the USB sockets are free from dust or dirt.
be affecting the power, such as your laptop charger.
• Try sending MIDI to the synth to identify if it definitely is an issue with the touch pads,
and not just an unusual sound!
38 39
B
Binary LEDs
Appendix
0 8
1 9
2 10
3 11
4 12
5 13
6 14
7 15
40 41