Xils lab XILS 4, User Manual

Page 1: ...XILS 4 Ultimate Matrix Modular Synthesizer User Manual www xils lab com...

Page 2: ...SORT MENUS 11 6 3 1 Sorting Menu Additional Functions 12 6 4 ADVANCED PRESET MANAGER 13 6 5 A B COMPARISON 14 7 XILS 4 GUI DESCRIPTION 15 8 XILS 4 COMMON GUI DESCRIPTION 16 9 XILS 4 MATRIX DESCRIPTION...

Page 3: ...aying a Sequence 33 12 3 5 Using the Sequencer Editor 34 12 3 6 Using the Sequencer preset menu 34 12 4 VIRTUAL KEYBOARD AND CONTROLS 35 12 5 INPUT MODULES 36 12 5 1 Transient follower 36 12 5 2 Envel...

Page 4: ...ilable between the oscillators It also incorporates a 3 layer sequencer The left hand example shows the Main Matrix with 16 inputs and 16 outputs The right hand example shows the Extended Matrix with...

Page 5: ...er 1 Gate 1 Transient Detector 2 3 Effect Modules 1 Delay 1 Chorus 1 Phaser 1 Reverb 3 Digital Audio Workstation compatibility XILS 4 is available in the following formats Mac OSX 10 9 and later Apple...

Page 6: ...on Code in the reserved field and press Next Wait for the license to be downloaded and then check to see if the license is correctly loaded on to the dongle in the main section of the License Control...

Page 7: ...By default it s c users Public Documents XILS lab XILS 4 4 4 Mac OSX 10 9 and later To install the XILS 4 on a computer equipped with Mac OSX 10 9 or later download the latest version of either the iL...

Page 8: ...lbar Note The toolbar at the top of the interface lets you load or save presets as well as BANKS of presets make a comparison between two different versions of the current preset A B or modify the opt...

Page 9: ...displays a panel summarizing these shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts In addition we have provided some soft keys combination to perform several very useful tasks Windows CTRL left click reset parameter to...

Page 10: ...erence is that the Save function will save the preset under its current name and with its current tags overwriting the previous incarnation of the preset while the Save As function opens a dialog box...

Page 11: ...uld become very difficult to browse the library using the Style Category sorting Use these options wisely Once you have filled out all the desired required fields SAVE AS Will save the current preset...

Page 12: ...lick by using the Sub Groups to choose a preset In the picture below the primary sort menu is used to browse through the different banks In a factory bank the author Xils Lab is selected and then the...

Page 13: ...selected bank i e the bank which contains the currently active preset will be exported to a user specified location on your hard drive Import Bank This function allows you to browse through your hard...

Page 14: ...h are not in the Factory bank corresponding to that criteria will be deleted or exported Favorite you can add each preset in your Favorite or Hidden selection In that case when clicking on the Favorit...

Page 15: ...est to think of this machine as a three panel instrument Left Synthesizer panel Right Synthesizer panel and the Sequencer Modules panel as in the following view When this view is two big for your comp...

Page 16: ...on As you have seen your XILS 4 is based on one or two main synthesizers and other possible modules The main synthesizer is a matrix based modular machine for which every connection has to be made The...

Page 17: ...this matrix Oscillator 1 saw output is connected to the filter audio input Oscillator 2 square output is connected to the filter audio input Filter audio output is connected to the VCA audio input nam...

Page 18: ...le panel under the tab seq connection A trig connection is connecting a trig or gate signal to an envelope sequencer start stop or LFO reset As shown in the picture below a trig is a one pulse informa...

Page 19: ...rameters before being sent to the effects unit delay chorus and phaser But before its level and pan are applied the left synthesizer is sent to the right synthesizer though the main matrix INPUT FROM...

Page 20: ...main 16x16 matrix the advanced 15x15 matrix with extended connection menus or both of the matrices When only one matrix is displayed the output level and pan are shown as well as a joystick The synth...

Page 21: ...r the octave range The XILS 4 also provides the ability to hard synchronize osc2 to osc1 and also osc3 to either osc2 or osc 1 Please Note The pitch control for an oscillator must be connected This co...

Page 22: ...n be modulated with control or audio signals thanks to the matrix connection for shape see the advanced matrix setting panel 12 1 2 Filter There are three modes for this low pass filter which can be s...

Page 23: ...SR and Trapeze ATTACK Sets the speed of Attack and is common to both modes ON Sets the ON or Hold duration of the Trapeze mode DECAY Sets the Decay duration and is common to both modes SUSTAIN Sets th...

Page 24: ...matrix 12 1 5 Ring Modulator LEVEL this knob sets the output level of the ring modulator RMV DC By clicking on this check box you remove any DC component of the input ring modulator signals By connec...

Page 25: ...cts the type high pass or low pass When the switch is set to the centre no filter is activated 12 1 8 Input Level The XILS 4 can also be used as a versatile audio effect processor In this case the Aud...

Page 26: ...d PAN knobs set the output level and pan of this synthesizer part There is also a SOLO button that mutes the other synthesizer 12 1 10 The Drop Down Matrix Modulation The Advanced Modulation Matrix of...

Page 27: ...cillators Filters Envelopes Modulators and Effects For the XILS 4 you will find Oscillators Filters and Envelopes for both of the synthesizers In the case of the XILS 4 having access to both synthesiz...

Page 28: ...s were added to the VCS3 core for a total of three envelope modulators These two additional envelopes are similar to the main envelope shaper apart from the fact that they are not connected to the int...

Page 29: ...ts the waveform type of the LFO DELAY Sets the delay offset between the gate and the beginning of the modulation FADE Sets the ramp rate of the modulation rise after the Delay Notice DELAY and FADE wo...

Page 30: ...Sets the attack time RELEASE Sets the release time LEVEL Sets the output level of the Voltage Processor 12 3 Sequencer The sequencer of the XILS 4 is extremely useful and can create endless sound desi...

Page 31: ...orresponding output bank and thereafter the amount of modulation Used as pitch modulator this inner ring should be set to 12 o clock to provide a normal scaled pitch modulation Switching ON the RECORD...

Page 32: ...lter cut off frequency or output level You can also trig envelopes or reset the LFO with one of the three layer trig outputs For instance you can connect layer 1 trig to the first Trapezoid envelope a...

Page 33: ...ncer Edit Tab see below To erase all of your sequence just hit the erase all button a confirmation pop up will open To erase the current step removing the trig information and setting the value a zero...

Page 34: ...erent track you will need to change the Edit check selection To remove a step just right click on it This will remove the trig information and set the value at zero for the corresponding track Clickin...

Page 35: ...free voice cutting the current release and reducing the CPU load UNI2 A monophonic mode with two active notes of the same pitch playing Thanks to the detune knob a phasing effect can be created UNI4...

Page 36: ...you will fine the GLOBAL LEVEL which is applied after all the internal treatment The GLOBAL TUNE which sets the overall tuning of the synthesizer is also found here Please note this parameter is a gl...

Page 37: ...can also be used to modulate any other modules via the connection matrix QUALITY This knob sets the smoothing of the pitch tracking Turned to the left the smoothing is minimal and the modulation is al...

Page 38: ...T Sets the level of this control signal 12 5 4 Input Gate This module is applied to the two effect inputs when the XILS 4 is used as an effect processor ATTACK This knob sets the duration the gate wil...

Page 39: ...the amount of the delayed signal which is recirculated to the input left and right TIME Sets the time of the delay DAMP Sets the amount of high frequencies that are filtered out during the feedback MI...

Page 40: ...ser DRY WET Sets the mix balance between the initial signal and the processed signal SPEED Sets the rate of the internal low frequency oscillator of the phaser AMOUNT Sets the amount of the effect Use...

Page 41: ...equency as BPM Allows displaying the low frequency LFO oscillator 2 in low mode clock rate in BPM instead of Hz GUI follows presets When checked this option allows the GUI to follow the presets This m...

Page 42: ...4 Credits Thanks to the artists and musicians who really helped us during XILS 3 and XILS 4 development Tim Blake Mathias Br ssel Paul Barret Laurent Bourgeon The presets were done by Simon Ball Sound...