EML SynKey, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...programmable synthesizer ...

Page 2: ... your controls are al ready set You just play On stage that can mean more imaginative arrangements faster changeover from sound to sound and a tremendous new potential for the synthesizer as a performance instrument SynKey is the most playable synthesizer ever built We ve simplified the synthesizer SynKey is easy to understand easy to play You can manually set the controls just like other synthesi...

Page 3: ...bove root pitch Other timbres may be selected by using other than root pitch source VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER ENVELOP CONTROLLERS Envelopes 1 for filter 1 for voltage controlled amplifier each with attack decay and sustain controls Attack 005 to 3 sec Decay 002 to 9 sec Modulation Oscillator Variable rate from 15 cycles second to 50 cycles second 5 switch selected waveshapes f y r l_J...

Page 4: ... Press harder and you get a selective modification of the basic sound You can choose wah wah predetermined by the parameters set on the filter controls Or choose selective vibrato predetermined by the parameters set on the modulation oscillator controls Or your SynKey can produce a precise one third octave bend of the basic note Press once and you get the basic note press harder and you get a sele...

Page 5: ...programmable synthesizer ...

Page 6: ...pe applied to filter Amount of modulation oscillator applied to filter Filter tune Filter resonance Filter mode low pass band pass and high pass Filter envelope attack decay and sustain Amplifier envelope attack decay and sustain Frequency range without vibrato 44Hz Hz 4186 Hz Vibrato amount adjustable up to 2 octaves Noise white selected by indicating push button MODIFIERS Voltage Controlled Filt...

Page 7: ...t sound ever in a portable synthesizer The more oscillators the richer and fuller the sound Most good synthesizers have three oscillators But to duplicate the SynKey sound you would need a synthesizer with thirteen oscillators SynKey has a unique top octave divider which creates this dramatic multiple oscillator effect You get the basic pitch plus the next twelve higher semitones in precise interv...

Page 8: ...elope 7 SynKey uses a 44 Note F C Pratt Read Keyboard with second touch capability Play with normal touch and SynKey behaves as you would expect press a little harder to introduce dynamic effects and expression The Second Touch panel switches permit the addition of pitch bend vibrato and filter sweeps from either or both the modulation oscillator or filter envelope The amount of vibrato and filter...

Page 9: ...g other than root pitch source CONTROLLERS Envelopes 1 for filter 1 for voltage controlled amplifier each with attack decay and sustain controls Attack 005 to 3 sec Decay 002 to 9 sec Modulation Oscillator Variable rate from 15 cycles second to 50 cycles second 5 switch selected waveshapes r ru plus sampled triangle and sampled sawtooth w Light emitting diode indicates rate CARD READER 40 bits wit...

Page 10: ...tion of the control panel The light may be blinking on and off this is normal The light will go on and off in synchronization with the Modulation Oscillator as long as SynKey is on 4 Set the tuning and octavation controls on the back panel straight up For tuning instructions see page 10 tuning is not necessary for the getting acquainted period This manual is designed to lead you through SynKey in ...

Page 11: ...Owner s Manual Electronic Music Laboratories Inc ...

Page 12: ...DIFIERS 6 Voltage Controlled Filter 6 Ring Modulation 7 Pulse Width Modulation 7 IV SECOND TOUCH 8 Bend 8 Modulation Oscillator 8 Filter Envelope 8 V PROGRAMMING 8 Using Program Cards 8 Programming Your Own Cards 8 9 REAR PANEL 10 Tuning 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 SAMPLE PATCHES 11 16 MAINTENANCE 17 VI VII VIII IX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 18 A Kaman Music Product P O Box 529 Bloomfield CT 06002 The first ...

Page 13: ...gth of these harmonics or overtones determines the timbre and relative brightness of the sound Strong overtones mean bright sound weak overtones mean a mellow sound A clarinet player producing an A 440 will similarly produce this overtone series but the even harmonics 2 x 440 4 x 440 6 x 440 etc will be very weak while 3 x 440 5 x 440 etc will be relatively strong This is why a violin sounds diffe...

Page 14: ...envelope 7 SynKey uses a 44 Note F C Pratt Read Keyboard with second touch capability Play with normal touch and SynKey behaves as you would expect press a little harder to introduce dynamic effects and expression The Second Touch panel switches permit the addition of pitch bend vibrato and filter sweeps from either or both the modulation oscillator or filter envelope The amount of vibrato and fil...

Page 15: ... used to control portamento See page 10 G ROOT WAVEFORM WAVESHAPE on early instruments determines the basic timbre or quality of sound on the SynKey Rotate this control fully clockwise Play a simple tune in a lower register and slowly rotate the control counterclockwise Note that the nj square waveform is rather hollow like a clarinet The AA double sawtooth is stringlike and up an octave The sawto...

Page 16: ...with moderate to high sustain An organ like sound will have fast attack and decay with maximum sustain C FILTER ENVELOPE The FILTER ENVELOPE has the same controls and works in the same way as the AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE It is however applied to the VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER More about that in Section III D VOLUME CONTROL The VOLUME CONTROL is grouped with the controllers as a matter of convenience It s...

Page 17: ... the ENVELOPE control and the ATTACK DECAY and SUSTAIN controls of the FILTER ENVELOPE 8 Reset all controls to positions shown in Figure 4 except RESONANCE at 5 Now rotate the MOD OSC control in the FILTER CONTROL section clockwise You are now using the modulation oscillator to sweep the filter The modulation oscillator is now effectively changing the filter tune 9 With MOD OSC in the FILTER CONTR...

Page 18: ...g a card for sounds you particularly like will prevent losing them too Basically what the card reader and programming cards do is preset most of the important front panel controls of your SynKey The programmable controls are ROOT WAVEFORM MOD OSC in OSCILLATOR CONTROL vibrato amount MODULATION OSCILLATOR SHAPE ENVELOPE in FILTER CONTROL amount of envelope applied to filter MOD OSC in FILTER CONTRO...

Page 19: ...tion for panel for_Jl for J for A ROOT WAVEFORM punch 0 punch 1 punch 2 punch 3 2 D for for for for ITJ punch 4 punch 5 4 1 punch 6 4 2 punch 7 4 2 1 MOD OSC SHAPE for panel punch 0 for rvrv punch 1 for punch 2 for ru punch 3 2 1 for panel for low pass for band pass for high pass FILTER MODE punch 0 punch 1 punch 2 punch 3 2 CAUTION When punching cards use care to align the punch directly over the...

Page 20: ... the TRANSPOSE control to make the C key a musical C SynKey will be in tune If you must tune to other instruments use the TRANSPOSE control Method B Tune the bottom F key to a musical F with the TRANSPOSE control Use the OCTAVATION control to adjust the top C to the correct pitch VII RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON SOUND AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC Synthesizer Primer Electronic Music Laboratories Inc P O Box H Vern...

Page 21: ...SCILLATOR OSCILLATOR CONTROL MODULATION OSCILLATOR 1 V VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER 3 5 J 5 s FILTER ENVELOPE 3 1 0 J i 6 AUACK WC At SOilAIN VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE 1 J 1 J 1 AllACK WCA1 Square HI DE HO G Goffin C King vj bistortion Play your own music VOLTAGE CONTROUED OSCILLATOR ml 1 ml J VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER 4 4 J I J 1 N IUNJ IliONAhKt wODI FILTER ENVELOPE AIIAC OK A...

Page 22: ...OR CONTROL MODULATION OSCIUATOR VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER H tfSONANCf MOOI FILTER ENVELOPE J 1 13 CAT SOilA VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE 7T 6 7 I 6 Fantasy CONCERTO for ORCHESTRA B Bartok Harpsichord MINUET in G J S Bach ...

Page 23: ...Plink PENNY LANE P McCartney J Lennon if P Tr Mr Euphorie play your own music 13 ...

Page 24: ...E CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE Clavier PIANO CONCERTO 3 L V Beethoven VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR c NOISE OSCIllATOS CONTROL 6 a V MODULATION OSCILLATOR VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER lUNi ItSONANCt MODI FILTER ENVELOPE AflACK OiCAt SOSlA VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPllFIER ENVELOPE Baroque Horns PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION M Moussorgsky ...

Page 25: ...ROLLED OSCILLATOR I 1 J J 4 4 J OSCIUATOfi CONIKX MODUIATION OSCIUATOB VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER torn iisonawci modi FILTER ENVELOPE J 1 J l AC DtCAT VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER PllflER ENVELOPE i j Soft Flute NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN J Hayward 15 ...

Page 26: ...StAlN VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER SING J J AMPllflER ENVELOPE N AtlACK QIC AT SOSIA Tommy Pinball OVERTURE from TOMMY P Townshend N B Place HORN card in the SynKey Card Reader At the engage the card reader at the disengage the card reader for the panel voice Regal play your own music r ...

Page 27: ...ANT do not apply so much pressure that the buss bends 5 Place SynKey in playing position on flat surface Plug in and check for proper operation If second touch remains erratic and busses are obviously not making contact bend U shaped buss very slightly to ensure contact 6 replace bottom panel Fuse Replacement SynKey is equipped with a fuse to protect the power supply If the fuse fails the front pa...

Page 28: ...ot pitch Other timbres may be selected by using other than root pitch source CONTROLLERS Envelopes 1 for filter 1 for voltage controlled amplifier each with attack decay and sustain controls Attack 005 to 3 sec Decay 002 to 9 sec Modulation Oscillator Variable rate from 15 cycles second to 50 cycles second 5 switch selected waveshapes m ru plus sampled triangle and sampled sawtooth Light emitting ...

Page 29: ...A Kaman Music Product P O Box 529 Bloomfield CT 06002 The first synthesizer you can program Printed i ...

Page 30: ...SHAPE 0 1 r 2 3 oj 1 ATTACK FILTER ENVELOPE OECAY 0 g 0 0 g 0 SUSTAIN VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE ATTACK OECAY SUSTAIN MANUAL SETTINGS ONLY DO NOT PUNCH OCTAVE NOISE RIN6 D D DDDDDDDDDDDDDD D 1 1 R m2 2 m3 3 4 4 5 m6 6 m7 7 Bra MOO OSC SPEED MASTER VQLUtft SECOND TOUCH D D D PROGRAM TITLE ...

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Page 34: ...nel information11 via a card punch onto a plastic com puter card When complete your sound is stored forever No more lost sounds no more jungles of patchcords To retrieve the sound simply insert the card into Syn key s card reader and engage it Also the Syn key has a semitone select feature which allows you to precisely and quickly set chords If you want a major chord just depress R 3 5 A suspended...