KASTLE is a mini modular synth and as in every modular synth the sounds are
programmed by connecting outputs to inputs. Outputs are labeled by black
rectangle around the patch points. Inputs don‘t have the black rectangle. Feel
free to also connect inputs with inputs and outputs with outputs. Nothing bad
will happen. And sometimes something interesting can happen with strange
connections!
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Power up. Go to your nearest store and buy 3 AA batteries. You can catch
Pokemon on the way, but you don‘t have to, but the important thing is that by
average you will burn 50 calories and also not shipping the batteries to you
from us is environmentally friendly. Insert the batteries to the battery holder
compartment in the right order - as invdicated on the battery compartment. Flip
the power switch to the ON position. There is LED close to the LFO RATE knob which
should light up. If it doesn`t it means you connected the batteries in a wrong way
or they are fully discharged.
INSTRUCTIONS
1
Use the OUT jack to connect your headphones or audio cable to your speaker
system. The main output of the complex oscillator is routed to the OUT jack.
2
Turn the OSC PITCH knob to adjust the pitch of the main oscillator.
A modulation signal can be connected to the PITCH MOD socket and the
PITCH MOD knob controls the amount of the modulation.
3
Turn the OSC TIMBRE knob to adjust the pitch of the modulating oscillator.
A modulation signal can be connected to the TIMBRE MOD socket and the TIMBRE
MOD knob sets the amount of the modulation.
4
Turn the WAVESHAPE knob to adjust the 3rd parameter of the sound.
A modulation signal can be connected to the WAVESHAPE socket to modulate this
parameter. The WAVESHAPE also sets the pulse width of the OSC PULSE output.
5
OSC OUT This patch point on the device can be either used as another signal
for your patch or when any other output is connected to this output it will be
passively mixed with the oscillator output and will go the OUT jack. This is most
useful for adding more power by connecting the OSC PULSE.
6
OSC PULSE output provides simple pulse waveform of the main oscillator
and the pulse width is set by the WAVESHAPE parameter. It can be either used to
modulate parameters within the KASTLE or patched to the OSC OUT socket to mix
with the main waveform or it can be output separately via the I/O jack.
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The MODE socket lets you select the synthesis mode. When nothing
is connected the synthesis mode is phase modulation. When a modulation
signal plugged into this jack is high the synthesis mode becomes track & hold
modulation and when the signal connected here is low the synthesis mode
is phase distortion. See the Synthesis Types section for more information.
8
To set the MODE socket statically to specific synth mode use the low =(-) or
high=(+) patch sockets. These patch points can be also useful to set the BIT IN pin.
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The LFO RATE sets the speed of the modulation. The modulation is displayed
by an LED close to the LFO RATE knob. A modulation signal can be connected to
the RATE MOD socket and the RATE MOD knob sets the amount of the modulation.
This is especially useful when creating more complex modulation curves. See Tips
& Tricks section for more info.
10
The LFO TRIANGLE socket outputs simple triangle waveform, but it can be
altered by modulating the LFO RATE or triggering the LFO RST to get some complex
modulation shapes.
11
The LFO PULSE socket outputs PULSE wave in sync with the TRIANGLE wave.
When the TRIANGLE wave is rising the PULSE output is high and when it is falling
the output is low. This signal can be used for synchronising external equipment.
12
The LFO RST resets the phase of the LFO to the highest point of the triangle
and then the triangle begins to fall. This is very useful for creating complex
modulation curves or for synchronising with external clock.WAVESHAPE also sets
the pulse width of the OSC PULSE output.
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The STEPPED generator is inspired by the Rungler circuit by Rob Hordijk.
It can produce 8 different voltages. It generates new voltage twice per period of
the LFO (every time the direction from rising to falling changes). The voltage is
based on current state of 3 bits of internal binary 8 bit shift register. The shift
register is shifted with every new voltage generated. When this happens - based
on the signal at the BIT IN socket the new arriving bit to the shift register remains
the same (BIT IN is low) , is inverted (BIT IN is not connected) or is generated
randomly (BIT IN is high). What that means in praxis is that when BIT IN is not
connected the STEPPED output generates 16 step pattern. When it is low it
generates 8 step pattern. When it is high it keeps generating random pattern and
when it is altering it generates semi-random pattern. The STEPPED output is very
useful for modulating every parameter in the KASTLE or any external device with
the I/O port.
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The I/O CV port enables you to connect up to 2 modulation/audio/clock
signals from KASTLE to external gear or to connect any external signal to modulate
the KASTLE synth. The signals are output with a stereo jack and the patch points
L and R connect either to the left or right channel. To use both channels with
a modular synth you can use stereo to mono splitter adapter or you can just use
one channel (L) with a mono cable connected to the I/O jack. When connecting
external modulation to the Kastle please note that the signal will be rectified and
Kastle will respond only to signals 0-5V.
OSC OUT
LFO
RST
BIT IN
STEPPED
MODE
L
R
OSC PITCH
LFO RATE
RATE MOD
TIMBRE MOD
OSC TIMBRE
WAVESHAPE
PITCH MOD
ON
OUT
I / O
I / O
OFF
O
O
LFO
LFO
OSC
2
2
3
3
9
9
9
8
7
2
3
12
13
10
11
6
4
14
5
1
14
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