Studio Electronics Boomstar Manual 1
LIMITED WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS This Limited Warranty applies only to ANALOGIA INC./STUDIO ELECTRONICS purchased in the United States of America. Outside the USA, warranty policy and service is determined by the laws of the country of purchase and followed by our local authorized distributor. A listing of our authorized distributors is available at http://www.studioelectronics.com/shop/distributors/ ANALOGIA INC.
CIRCUIT AND SOFTWARE DESIGN Tim Caswell USER INTERFACE AND FEATURE IRON FIST Greg St. Regis SOUND PROGRAMMING AND DEMOS Drew Neumann Greg St. Regis Marc St. Regis GRAPHIC DESIGN John Greczula ESSENTIAL FEATURE WHIP, DEBUGGING, WIT AND TEA SERVICE Drew Neumann QUICK START GUIDE MANUAL Marc St. Regis Greg St. Regis VERY SPECIAL THANKS Mary St. Regis Geoff Farr Daniel Wendell Rachael Herbison Lucy Bauer Rev. 1, 3.26.
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1 The Design Behind the ‘Stars (and a Word about the Filters) ... 7 2 Setup Essentials .............................................................. 8-13 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Warnings, Precautions and Advice .......................................... 8-10 Smart and Safe Connections ................................................. 11-12 Product Registration .................................................................. 12 Boomstar Warming and Output Warning ................
4.2.1.5 OSC Out - Oscillator Output .................................... 43 4.2.1.6 EXT IN - External Input ............................................. 43 4.2.2 VCO 1 - Voltage Controlled Oscillator 1 .................... 44-45 4.2.3 VCO 1 - Voltage Controlled Oscillator 2 .................... 45-46 4.2.4 VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter .................................. 46-48 4.2.5 ENV 1 - Envelope 1 ................................................. 48-49 4.2.6 ENV 2 - Envelope 2 .
Filter Talkers ................................................. 63-64 6.1 Bace ....................................................................... 63 6.2 Drew Neumann ....................................................... 64 7 The Ancient Chinese ............................................ 64 8 Back Panel Art ....................................................
THE DESIGN BEHIND THE ‘STARS As SE fans know, we’ve been doing the multiple filter thing for some time, and while our approach has never been one of exact emulation of the original synthesizers––that could only be accomplished if the entire signal path was cloned as well––the focus and purpose was/is to bring the main essence–-the ‘spirit” of the classic originals into our own unique, performancebased platforms, and in the case of the Boomstar, with as many hardware “handles,” i.e.
SETUP ESSENTIALS 2.1 Warnings, Precautions, and Advice WARNING - When using electric products basic precautions should always be followed to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death to you or others, or damage to the device or other property, from electrical shock, fire or other risks. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following “to do list”: • Read, save and understand all of the instructions before using product.
• All Boomstar synth models use an external power adapter. No other power supply or adapter other than the one provided by Analogia Inc./ Studio Electronics is to be used under any circumstances. Analogia Inc./ Studio Electronics accepts no responsibility for damage caused by use of an unauthorized power supply or adapter. • Mute channel volume before making audio connections to prevent malfunction and speaker damage. • Unplug power supply cord from outlet when not in use for an extended period.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS - This product must be grounded. If it should malfunction or break down, grounding provides a path of least resistance for electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This product is equipped with a cord having an equipment grounding conductor and a grounding plug, which must be plugged into an appropriate outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with all local codes and ordinances.
2.2 Smar t and Safe Connections Always power-off all audio gear before making any connections. Failing to do so may damage your speakers, or other audio equipment and possibly your Boomstar Synth. After completing all connections, set all levels to 0. Power on the various devices with audio amplifier or monitoring system last, then raise the volumes to an appropriate listening level.
IN DAMAGE TO SYNTHESIZER AND SUPPLY. THE OPERATOR OF THIS SYNTHESIZER ASSUMES ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY. ANALOGIA INC./STUDIO ELECTRONICS––OWNERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL AND PROPERTY DAMAGE INCURRED DUE TO ACCIDENT, CARELESS HANDLING, ABUSE OR MISUSE, IMPROPER CONNECTION, AND OR INSTALLATION, IMPROPER ELECTRICAL CONTACT OR GROUNDING. OWNERSHIP AND/OR USE OF BOOMSTAR SYNTHESIZER CONSTITUTES AN AGREEMENT WITH THESE TERMS. 2.
2.
PATCH RESET/TEMPLATES 3.1 Home Base We advise starting (and returning to this “home base” when puzzled or lost) with this very basic patch to begin your exploration of the Boomstar sound.
3.2 Smoother Circuit - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.3 Hardtack & Salt Pork - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.4 Chirpy 432 - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.5 Wonder In - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.6 Good Day Gone Bad - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.7 Rubbero - Bass Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.8 Pulsar 2013 - Lead Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.9 Cleveland Payers Worm Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.10 Wur tzite Boron Nitribe - Lead Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.11 Inver ted Envy in Octavo - Lead Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.12 DNA Breakage - Lead Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.13 Electrical in Nature - Lead Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.14 Drew’s Kicked Drum Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.15 Neuregis Snare Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.16 Hihat ala Noise Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.17 Aunty’s Major Distracted Toms Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.18 Lovely Triangle Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.19 Clave Mojave Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.20 432 - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.21 3000 Beats per Minute - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.22 Fibonacci Spiraling - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.23 Flighted One - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.24 Sample and Hold in the Park - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
3.25 Radiated Greedsters - FX Boomstar Manual Rev. 1.
PANELS 4.1 Front Panel 4.1.1 Adjustment Holes These unmarked holes on the front panel are motherboard access points for calibration potentiometers, set by none other than Greg St. Regis, or a trained factory tech, and tweaking them without a knowledge and familiarity of their function could result in your Boomstar sounding and playing quite poorly; that being said, some interesting drive and VCA offset settings can be tailored to one’s own preferences––proceed at own risk.
Holes from left to right - some units have removable sticker over holes. 4.1.1.1 CV 1 INPUT: Calibrates the tracking for the external CV input. 4.1.1.2 OSC 1 HIGH: For Oscillator 1 tuning calibration procedure. 4.1.1.3 OSC 1 OCTAVE: For Oscillator 1 tuning calibration procedure. 4.1.1.4 OSC 1 TUNE: For Oscillator 1 tuning calibration procedure. 4.1.1.5 OSC 1 SCALE: For Oscillator 1 tuning calibration procedure. 4.1.1.6 OSC 2 SCALE: For Oscillator 2 tuning calibration procedure. 4.1.1.
4.1.1.11 VCA OFFSET 1: Balances Waveforms––very subtle. 4.1.1.12 VCA OFFSET 2: De-pop MIDI volume or external VCA CV. A detailed calibration video will be posted at http://studioelectronics.com/ support/tutorials/#boomstar - before the end of 4-13.
4.2 Top Panel 4.2.1 Patch Points - Modular Synthesis Control - Anti-MIDI 4.2.1.1 Control Voltage Input: Feed an external, or perhaps from another Boomstar, one-volt-per-octave pitch-control voltage to determine standard note value––tells the synth which note you are (or would be) pressing. Consider using a voltage controlled step sequencer... 4.2.1.2 Gate Input: Feed a clock pulse signal to externally control or trigger note-on, note-off.
4.2.1.5 Oscillator Output: Combined direct audio output of OSC 1 and OSC 2. No gate (always sustains), filter, envelope, or any other modulation “connected”––raw and gorgeous. Send this signal to your DAW or mixer and use liberally or sparingly. The purity, clarity and transparency of all frequencies concerned is quite apparent and lovely. 4.2.1.
4.2.2 VCO 1 - Voltage Controlled Oscillator 1 A word about the Oscillators as a whole: Oscillators are the Adam (and Eve) of Analog synthesis. An oscillator produces periodic or regularly repeating waveforms, e.g., pitched sounds. The Oscillator’s tuning controls alter the frequency or pitch of the oscillators, its waveshape selectors determine the harmonic spectrum of the signal, its basic timbre, or tone coloration, and we think Voltage Controlled Oscillators still sound best.
The SYNC switch locks the pitch of Oscillator 2 to follow the pitch of Oscillator 1 in hard synchronization, so OSC 2 will tune only to the harmonic frequencies of Oscillator 1. Intermediate frequencies of Oscillator 2 will produce unusual, “metallic” wave shapes and timbres; both Oscillators sharing the same base frequency makes all of this possible.
generator... Come up with some of your own! OSC 2’s RANGE switch functions identically to OSC 1’s RANGE switch for selecting the octave: LO (Low frequency––”clicks” below the audible range for humans...), 32’, 16’, 8’, 4’, 2’...) The WAVE switch selects the Sawtooth, Triangle, or fixed Square wave.
The FREQUENCY knob sets the filter (cutoff) frequency. In simpler terms, the filter frequency is like an overall tone control: as the value is increased the higher frequencies/harmonics pass through and the sound transitions from totally muted to an incredibly rich and textured brightness. The TRACK switch selects the filter tracking (sometimes called Keyboard Follow or Keyboard Scaling) to FULL, OFF, or HALF.
as well as low frequency modulation via its LO setting, and the switch in its bottom position selects the software LFO, with its versatile, multiple waveforms and MIDI sync. 4.2.5 ENV 1 - Envelope 1 A word about the Filter Envelope: The filter envelope shapes the timbre and overtone content of the audio signal as it passes through the modifying circuitry from the mixer. This envelope or “contour” generator is used to dynamically move the cutoff frequency.
by the sustain setting; after the key has been released, the sound parameter rises from sustain amplitude back to maximum amplitude: tricky and nice. Switching LOOP on causes the attack and decay values to repeat or loop, transforming Envelope 1 into a quasi LFO, but with far more swag. The DECAY knob sets the decay time. The decay time determines the duration of the second segment of the envelope, i.e., the fall from the attack peak to the sustain level.
signal is composed of the same four segments: initial rise, decay, sustain level, and release time. The volume of the note is shaped according to the settings of the envelope controls. These four parameters are shown below. The ATTACK knob sets the attack time. The attack time determines the duration of the initial rise in volume to a peak. Notice the sound take on different qualities as you increase from a short sharp attack to a long slow crescendo.
indefinitely sustaining the last note pressed on your MIDI keyboard, or pitch triggered by your MIDI sequencer. Surrendering to the MASTER switch setting links Envelope 2’s knob controls to Envelope 1, e.g., ENV 1’s knobs are defeated and ENV 2’s knobs assume the Boomstar’s Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release values for both ENV 1 and 2: a tidy and retro sound styling that brings to mind a certain Roland Analog keyboard of the ‘80s. The RELEASE knob sets the release time.
pitch, level, or harmonic and rhythmic content changes. The shape of the Boomstar’s LFO modulation is determined by the waveform that the software LFO outputs––selected by the non-graduated WAVE knob; the waveshapes being: SINE, TRIANGLE, REVERSE SAWTOOTH, SAWTOOTH, SQUARE, 10% SQUARE, 90% SQUARE, RANDOM 1, and RANDOM 2. The amount of modulation is determined by either the MOD DEPTH control, or modwheel––its speed, or rate, by the RATE knob.
4.2.9 VCA - Voltage Controlled Amplifier A word about Voltage Controlled Amplification: The volume of the audio signal, which passes through the VCA envelope, is contoured by the envelope controls. Each time a key is pressed, the envelope or “contour” generator attached to the amplifier is actuated, and sends a control signal to the amplifier.
4.2.12 Glide Sets the exponential hardware glide value––a classic less is more in all cases unless sweeping slowly through many octaves. The Boomstar’s glide is hardware, so it is not looked at by the processor, but we have come up with a way in software using the pitch bend cv to implement a “slide” function. To engage it, it will be assigned a continuous controller number. Like the 303, it will be a fixed glide time, not dependent on the distance between notes played. [OS 2.0] 4.2.13 Dynamics Play hard.
MIDIMINI distorts in just the same gleeful way. The 4075 filter will “brown out” at a tad earlier near 65% of full, owing to its substantial head room and overall louder output––the 4075 is louder a synth than either the 5089 or 3003 models. We had considered matching it to the Moog and the 3003 but “holding it back” for the purpose of uniformity seemed like weak sauce, and restrictive of its true power and voice. 4.2.15.2 Sets the mix level of Oscillator 2.
4.2.16 Boomstar SEM Controls 4.2.16.1 Sweeps the 12dB filter setting from low-pass to high-pass. 4.2.16.2 Selects the BAND-PASS filter mode, passing frequencies within a certain range and rejecting, or attenuating frequencies outside that range. Like a bouncer at a V. I. P. entrance, but for good vibrations. 4.3 Back Panel 4.3.1 Connections and Switches and Connection Warnings 4.3.1.1 Standard high impedance output. 4.3.1.2 The MIDI OUT connection functions as a thru as well.
recycled; default is channel 1. 2.0 software (a free update) will remember all of your OVERFLOW and greatly expanded LEARN “preferences.” Rev. 1.0 OS defaults to (and cannot be changed) modwheel to filter, aftertouch to filter, and last note priority. MIDI channel defaults to channel 1 but can be changed in the aforementioned manner. 4.3.1.
IMPORTANT WARNING: DO NOT POWER ON OR OFF THE BOOMSTAR BY ANY OTHER METHOD THAN THAT SPECIFIED ABOVE TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO UNIT. BE CERTAIN TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE AFOREMENTIONED CONNECTION PROCEDURE CAREFULLY AND ACCURATELY. THE IMPROPER CONNECTION AND DISCONNECTION OF THIS POWER SUPPLY MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO SYNTHESIZER AND SUPPLY. THE OPERATOR OF THIS SYNTHESIZER ASSUMES ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY. ANALOGIA INC.
LEGAL 5.1 Liability Neither Analogia Inc./Studio Electronics nor anyone else involved in the creation, production, or delivery of this product shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages whatsoever arising out of the use of this product, or inability to use this product; including without limitation: damages for loss of business, profits, goodwill, business interruption, loss of business information, data or any other pecuniary loss, even if Analogia Inc.
requirements listed in FCC Regulations, Part 15 for Class “B” digital devices. Compliance with these requirements provides a reasonable level of assurance that your use of this product in a residential environment will not result in harmful interference with other electronic devices.
5.3 Canada NOTICE: This class B digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulation. AVIS: Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada. 5.4 Europe This product complies with the requirements of European Directive 89/336/EEC.
Glossar y of Abbreviations CV: Control Voltage VCF: Voltage Controlled Filter ENV: Envelope VCO: Voltage Controlled Oscillator EXT: External WAVE: Waveform FREQ: Frequency IN: Input LFO: Low Frequency Oscillator LO: Low MOD: Modulation MULTI: Multiple OSC: Oscillator OUT: Output PW: Pulse Width SYNC: Synchronisation TRIG: Trigger VCA: Voltage Controlled Amplifier Studio Electronics Boomstar Manual 62 Glossary
Filter Talkers 6.1 Bace (vstace @ Gearslutz.com) MOOG: creamy with great definition in the lower registers; 303: mid range pronounced with clean clear resonance, squelchy; ARP: Similar to Moog but less creamy and more grit, woolly; SEM: powerful mids, not as deep as Moog but round and punchy, sinuous, searing. 6.2 Drew Neumann (droo @ Gearslutz.
waves as it overdrives) which is why I like using the 4075 for deep drum and percussion sounds. It’s dry sounding and organic, also great for very etherial and rubbery sounds. It’s -24db, but not quite as crisp in the high end as the ladder based designs. That’s normal... The SEM filter is OTA based, and is -12db/octave. It is also a multi mode filter (highpass, lowpass, bandpass, notch, and various mixes in between).
Studio Electronics Boomstar Manual 65 Back Panel Art
Studio Electronics Boomstar Manual 66 Legal
