Stage Edition Table of Contents FORWARD from Mike Adams .................................. 4 THE BASICS How to use this Manual ....................................... Setup and Connections ........................................ Overview and Features ........................................ Signal Flow .................................................................... Basic Operation ......................................................... 5 5 7 9 10 THE COMPONENTS A. Oscillator Section ...........
Forward Congratulations on your purchase of a Moog Little Phatty. We are truly humbled and thankful that you have chosen to be a Moog customer. We look forward to serving you with this product and many more Moog products for years to come. The Little Phatty Stage Edition is a great performance synth. If you read through this manual carefully and incorporate all the Little Phatty has to offer in your rig you may find that you do not need another synth for live performance.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics How to Use this Manual The Setup and Connections section below explains how to unpack, setup and connect the Little Phatty, and provides a quick start to get you up and running with your new synthesizer. The Components section offers detailed explanations of the components that create and modify sound. First time users should check out the tutorial in Appendix C, where you will find an explanation of sound and subtractive synthesis.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics Set up Before you remove the Little Phatty from the carton, make sure you have an adequate place to set it up. You will need a sturdy keyboard stand or table that will support a 22 lb. analog synthesizer and will not topple if you play hard. Use caution when lifting the Little Phatty out of the carton, and be sure to save the carton and all packing material in case you need to ship the Little Phatty for any reason.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics Overview and Features The Little Phatty (LP for short) is a monophonic analog synthesizer that is a descendant of the classic Minimoog Model D. The LP features 2 ultra-stable oscillators, a genuine Moog 24dB/Octave low pass filter, two 4-stage analog envelope generators and a flexible modulation matrix.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics Front Panel (con’t): 6. The Output section - includes controls for adjusting the Master Volume, a switch to toggle the output on and off, and a headphone jack. The Master Volume is used for setting the levels of both the output and the headphones. The Output On/Off switch affects the Audio Output, but not the headphones. Side Panel: The side panel provides connections for Power, MIDI, Control Voltage Input and Audio I/O: 1. Power Socket and Switch – provides power to the LP.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics Signal Flow To understand the operation of the Little Phatty, take a look at the diagram below. The diagram shows the flow of the audio, control voltage and modulation signals in the Little Phatty. Heavy lines are used to indicate audio signals, which flow from left to right. Lighter lines indicate the control voltages (CV’s), which flow from the top and bottom. Dotted lines indicate programmable modulation routings.
LP User’s Manual - The Basics Basic Operation The LP has two operating modes: Master and Preset. • Master mode allows you to access and change global parameters and other utility options. A complete list of the Master mode functions and parameters is shown on page 25. • Preset mode allows you to access the presets and manipulate the sound from the front panel controls. The Preset mode is the main operating mode for editing and playing the LP. Information on Preset mode is found on page 23.
LP User’s Manual - The Components The Components Now let’s take a look at the individual module components that make up the Little Phatty Synthesizer, starting with the Oscillator section and moving right across the front panel, explaining the features and functions of the Filter, Envelope Generator and Output sections. Then we’ll cover the Modulation section, the Keyboard and Left-Hand controls, the Input/Output Side Panel, and the User Interface section. A.
LP User’s Manual - The Components Waveform: Each oscillator has a switch labeled WAVE that allows the analog edit control to modify the waveform. The waveform is continuously variable from triangle, to sawtooth, to square, to rectangular. The waveform is morphed gradually from one to another as the value control is rotated. The legend around the analog edit control for the oscillator section indicates the knob positions to obtain the triangle, sawtooth, square and skinniest pulse waveforms.
LP User’s Manual - The Components B – The Filter Section Filters are used for adjusting the timbre of an audio signal. Filters modify sound by attenuating some frequencies while allowing others to pass through unaffected. An important term to understand regarding filters is “Cutoff Frequency”. This is the point at which frequencies begin to be rejected. The LP features a lowpass filter, which behaves as its name indicates: it allows low frequencies to pass and rejects high frequencies.
LP User’s Manual - The Components Finally, the OVERLOAD parameter allows you to set the amount of signal clipping from none to soft to hard clipping as the amount is increased. The results you get with OVERLOAD will depend on the settings of the oscillator waves and levels, and the filter cutoff and the filter resonance settings in addition to Overload amount. Overload is not the same distortion you’d get from a fuzz box – it must be played with to get the best results.
LP User’s Manual - The Components TECH NOTES: 1. The LP’s Overload circuit uses asymmetrical clipping, which clips each side of the waveform differently. Asymmetrical clipping circuits tend to produce tones with unique richness and character. 2. The Overload circuit has no effect on the sound when the analog edit control is set fully counterclockwise.
LP User’s Manual - The Components Envelope Generator Section Controls: Attack: When the ATTACK switch is selected, the analog edit control is used to adjust the Attack time of the corresponding envelope from 1 msec to 10 seconds. Decay: When the DECAY switch is selected, the analog edit control is used to adjust the Decay time of the corresponding envelope from 1 msec to 10 seconds.
LP User’s Manual - The Components D – The Modulation Section Modulation is the heart of making interesting sounds with analog subtractive synthesis. The LP’s Modulation section opens up a world of modulation possibilities that were not available on the original Minimoog. The Modulation section allows you to select from six modulation sources, four destinations, and set the modulation amount. The output of the Modulation section is controlled by the Modulation Wheel.
LP User’s Manual - The Components E – The Output Section The Little Phatty has a single monophonic audio output. The level of the audio output is adjusted by the Volume Control. An On/Off switch allows you to turn off the output signal while keeping the Headphone signal active. Section Controls: Volume: VOLUME is the main volume control. Rotating the control fully clockwise produces the maximum output. Rotating the control fully counterclockwise silences the Little Phatty.
LP User’s Manual - The Components F – Keyboard and Left-Hand Controllers The Little Phatty has a 37-note keyboard (3 octaves, C to C). When combined with the OCTAVE buttons, the keyboard has a playable range of 7 octaves. The keyboard produces velocity control voltages, and transmits MIDI Note On and Note Off messages polyphonically. To the left of the keyboard is the Left Hand Controller Panel, which contain the Pitch Bend and Mod Wheel controls.
LP User’s Manual - The Components G – Input/Output Panel The Side Panel provides all of the input and output connects. In addition to the Audio Output, there are CV and Gate inputs, connections for MIDI, and the power connector and power switch. Power Connector: This is a standard AC power inlet, Use only a power cord designed to mate with this receptacle. The Little Phatty’s built-in universal power supply is designed to work with power inputs of 90-250 Volts AC, 50/60 Hz.
LP User’s Manual - The Components H – Interface Panel The Interface Panel is located on a far left of the instrument. The Interface Panel provides a status display and controls for all of the Little Phatty’s software functions and instrument settings. The status display is an LCD screen located in the center of the panel above the section controls. When the LP is first powered on, the screen will display the message: Little Phatty Version X.
LP User’s Manual - The Components Fine Tune: The FINE TUNE control is used to tune the Little Phatty’s oscillators + /– 3 semitones for matching an external reference pitch. Glide On/Off: The GLIDE ON/OFF switch enables or disables the glissando effect between notes. Glide is ON when the switch LED is lit. The glide rate is set using the GLIDE RATE control in the oscillator section. Octave Up/Down: The OCTAVE UP and OCTAVE DOWN switches affect the octave selection for both oscillators.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface Preset Mode Preset mode is the default mode when the LP is powered on. Preset Mode is used to access presets and provide control for editing, naming and storing sounds. Preset sounds are selected using the VALUE knob. As the VALUE knob is advanced, the next preset appears in the display and is immediately available to be auditioned (you do not need to ‘activate’ the preset to hear it). Pressing VALUE and turning the knob will advance by increments of ten.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface When you press STORE, the LCD will display the ‘PRESET STORED’ message. Changing A Preset Name Changing a preset name is simple. Characters in a name are individually selected by moving the cursor to the desired location and scrolling through the character list. To change a preset name, press the CURSOR button until it advances to the first letter of the name. Use the VALUE knob to select the desired character or number.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface Master Mode Master mode accesses the global settings and Advanced Preset settings for the Little Phatty, and the routines for sending and receiving data. To enter master mode, press the MASTER button. By default, the first master menu entry is Performance Sets. When switching between the Master and Preset modes, the last used master menu entry appears. When the master menu is active, the VALUE knob is used to scroll through menu entries.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface ADVANCED PRESET: Advanced Presets is a set of menus that allows you to access additional parameters for each preset. These parameters are stored individually for each preset. There are ten Advanced Preset menus available: - Filter Poles (1-4) - EGR Release - Trigger Options - Keyboard Priority - Filter Sensitivity - Additional LFO Modulation Sources (2) - Pitch Bend options - Secondary Modulation destinations.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface MIDI CHANNELS IN AND OUT: This menu is used to select the LP’s MIDI In and Out channels. The LP can only send and receive on one channel at a time, but each channel can be set independently. To change the MIDI channel, use the CURSOR button to highlight the desired parameter, then use the VALUE knob to select the new parameter value.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface LOCAL CONTROL/FINE TUNE (con’t): When the Tune parameter is set to AUTO, the AutoTune function is engaged and the display changes as shown. AutoTune works to keep the LP in tune by automatically making fine adjustments to the Fine Tuning CV. When AutoTune is enabled, the display shows the actual value of the last note played (displayed as the MIDI note number, shown here as ‘60’), and the current tuning value (displayed in cents, shown here as ‘.12’).
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface PRECISION MODE: Precision Mode is a feature that allows precision editing of LP parameters using the VALUE knob. Each LP parameter stored has a value from zero to 4095. In Precision Mode that value is displayed on the second line on the screen. To edit a parameter in Precision Mode, press the corresponding parameter button on the front panel (for example, Filter Cutoff). You will see that parameter name along with its value on the display.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface B. Advanced Preset menus The Advanced Preset menu provides a set of additional programming parameters for each preset. These parameters are stored individually for each preset. FILTER POLES: This menu allows you choose the number of Filter Poles for the preset. The number of Filter Poles specifies the filter response, from a gentle 6db/octave (1 pole) to a steep 24db/octave (4 poles).
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface MOD SOURCE 5 (MOD SRC 5): This menu allows you to select one of two modulation options that will be used when the FILT ENV source is selected on the front panel (Modulation Source 5). The Filter Envelope (FILT) is the default source, but Sample & Hold (S-H) can be choosen as an alternate. To change the parameter, use the CURSOR button to highlight the parameter, then use the VALUE knob to set the new parameter value.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface POT MAPPING: The Pot Mapping menu allows you to make arbitrary MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) assignments to each of the four Analog Edit knobs on the front panel (MOD, OSC, FILT, and EGR). Additionally, the four knobs can be individually programmed to provide internal, external, or combined MIDI control. Among its many possibilities, Pot Mapping allows you to ‘reprogram’ the four panel knobs to control any of the LP functions.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface C. SYSEX (System Exclusive) menus SysEx menus are a set of commands to transmit and receive selected presets, bulk dumps and firmware dumps. To enable SysEx menus, press the CURSOR button. This will highlight the menu options shown on the second line of the display. Once highlighted, use the VALUE knob to scroll through the menus. To activate a command, press the ENTER button.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface FIRMWARE DUMP This option allows you to backup the operating system via SysEx data. To execute this command, enable the device that is to receive the SysEx data. Once you have enabled your remote SysEx device, press ENTER to start the data transfer.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface D. System Utilities menus System Utilities provides a set of useful commands, including a command to send an “All Notes Off ’ message, a command to perform an operating system reboot, and a command to restore factory default values and presets. ALL NOTES OFF: The first System Utilities option is ‘ALL NOTES OFF’. This command issues an ‘All Notes Off ’ message to the MIDI Output, shutting off all active notes and controllers.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface RESTORE FACTORY: This option allows you to restore the global default values, perfomance sets and all factory presets. When you are ready to execute this operation, press ENTER to activate. Note: You should back up any presets you wish to save prior to performing this action. You will be asked to confirm this operation (Yes/No). If you are unsure, select NO and press ENTER to return to the System Utilities menu without any action.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface CALIBRATION: In the past, calibration of analog synthesizers had to be performed manually by experienced service personel. The LP’s built-in calibration utilities now allow you to perform many of these procedures yourself, without the expense and hassle of shipping the LP back to the factory for calibration. The LP’s calibration utilities allow you to perform individual calibrations on the pitch wheel, oscillators and note range.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface CALIBRATION (con’t) PITCH WHEEL: This calibration option allows you to select Pitch Wheel calibration. This is a manual calibration that should only be performed if you are experiencing trouble with the pitch wheel and believe it needs recalibration. Press ENTER to access the Pitch Wheel calibration menu. You will be asked if you wish to proceed. Use the VALUE knob to select YES or NO.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface CALIBRATION (con’t) NOTE CALIBRATION: This calibration option allows you to select Note calibration. This calibrates individual notes exactly for each oscillator and octave setting. Press ENTER to access the Note calibration menu. The Note calibration menu will be displayed, allowing you to set the calibration range. The default note range is MIDI notes 12 - 116. For every one of these notes, the pitches are calibrated at each of the octave settings, from 16’ to 2’.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface CALIBRATION (con’t) PITCH WHEEL AMOUNT: This option allows you to select Pitch Wheel Amount calibration. This calibrates the Pitch Wheel Amount parameter to precise semitone values (+/- 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 12). Press ENTER to access the Pitch Wheel Amount calibration menu. You will be asked if you wish to proceed. Use the VALUE knob to select YES or NO, then press ENTER.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface CALIBRATION (con’t) OSCILLATOR 2 FREQUENCY (OSC2 FREQ): This option allows you to select OSC2 Frequency Calibration. This calibrates the OSC2_FREQ control so that turning the editing dial all the way CCW turns OSC2 down exactly a fifth (-7 semitones) and turning all the way CW turns OSC2 up exactly a fifth (+7 semitones). Press ENTER to access the OSC2 Frequency Calibration menu. You will be asked if you wish to proceed. Use the VALUE knob to select YES or NO.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface Performance Sets Performance Sets is a feature that allows you to customize the order of LP presets for a live performance situation or to enhance your productivity in a studio environment. Performance Sets are based on the idea that during a performance, you may need to switch between a sequence of sounds that doesn’t necessarily match up to the preset locations.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface Editing Performance Sets To edit a Performance Set, use the CURSOR key to select the Performance SET number (1-4), ENTRY location (1-8) and PRESET (00-99). For example, to select the SET number, press the CURSOR button once to highlight the SET number for editing. Press the CURSOR button a second time to advance to the ENTRY location, and a third time to advance to the PRESET. In the example show here, the SET number is ready to be changed.
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface How the LP handles MIDI When you adjust any one of the LP’s four analog edit controls, MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) messages are transmitted on the MIDI Out jack. The information contained in these MIDI messages varies according to the parameter each edit control is assigned. For example, when the panel filter CUTOFF switch is selected, the edit control in the Filter Section generates MIDI CC data corresponding to the Filter Cutoff parameter (CC#19).
LP User’s Manual - The User Interface Envelope Generator Filter Oscillators Modulation Interface Panel SECTION CONTROL FUNCTION CC VALUE/RANGE MASTER Master mode switch - - PRESET Preset mode switch - - CURSOR Navigation control - - ENTER Data entry control - - GLIDE ON/OFF Turns Glide ON/OFF 65 0-63 OFF, 64-127 ON OCTAVE UP Octave increment switch - - OCTAVE DOWN Octave decrement switch - - LFO RATE Adjusts the LFO frequency 3 0 – 127 AMOUNT Adjusts the modulatio
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix A - MASTER MODE Menus Here is a flow chart of the Master Mode Menus. With the exception of the Advanced Preset parameters, which are individually stored with each preset, all Master Mode menu parameters effect the LP globally. Advanced Presets are stored individually with each preset.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix B - The Calibration Preset The LP has a specific Calibration Preset that is stored in a non-volatile memory location labeled ‘CA’ (this preset location appears after preset 99). The Calibration Preset is a single-oscillator squarewave tone that plays Oscillator 1 at full level. This preset is used primarily for the LP’S AutoTune function, but it can also be used for tuning the LP with an external tuner.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix C - Tutorial For those who are new to the world of electronic music, let’s take a few moments to go through the basics of sound and synthesis. Sound is simply the audible change in air pressure. When we perceive sound, our ears are responding to variations in air pressure that happen to occur in our range of hearing. The rate of these variations is called the Frequency, which is measured in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz).
LP User’s Manual - Appendices The Subtractive Synthesis Model The Oscillator is the starting point of Subtractive Synthesis, for it is here that the initial sound is created. The oscillator creates electrical vibrations which function in a manner similar to the strings of a guitar; they create the signal source that the rest of the system will use to modify and shape the sound. The key oscillator parameters are pitch and waveform.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Like the square wave, the triangle wave only contains odd harmonics, but the levels of the harmonics in a triangle wave are much less. The triangle wave has a soft, slightly buzzy sound that is suitable for highpitched leads (like a flute) or adding a beefy sub-bass to bass sounds. The sine wave is the purest waveform of them all. It has no harmonics, so it produces a very pure tone.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Returning to our Subtractive Synthesis model, the first of the auxilary components is the keyboard. The keyboard provides a familiar musical instrument ‘interface’ that produces a control voltage and trigger signal whenever a key is pressed. The level of the control voltage signal is a function of which key is pressed - the higher up on the keyboard you play, the higher the level of the control voltage.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices So there you have it - the six basic components that make up a synthesizer based on the subtractive synthesis model. Keep in mind that most ‘subtractive’ synthesizers often include more than one of each component. This is especially true of the oscillators and envelope generators (the Little Phatty has two of each), but may also be true of filters, amplifiers and LFO’s.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix D - MIDI Implementation Chart Moog Music Little Phatty Analog Synthesizer FUNCTION MIDI Implementation Chart Date: 6/23/06 Version 1.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix E - Service and Support Information Moog Limited Warranty Moog Music warrants its produces to be free of defects in materials or workmanship and conforming to specifications at the time of shipment for a period of one year from the date of purchase. During the warranty period, any defective products will be repaired or replaced, at Moog Music’s option, on a return-to-factory basis. This warranty covers defects that Moog Music determines are no fault of the user.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix G - Using the CP-251 with the Little Phatty The Moogerfooger® CP-251 Control Processor makes an ideal companion to the Little Phatty synthesizer. The CP-251 provides an LFO with two waveforms (Triangle/Square), a Sample & Hold circuit with two outputs (stepped/smooth), a Lag Processor, a Noise source, a Mixer and two Attenuators. The CP-251 greatly expands the sonic palate of the LP, allowing for the creation of interesting new sonic textures.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices To set the transposition interval, press the EP-1footpedal all the way down and slowly adjust the Attenuator on the CP-251 while striking a note on the LP. The pitch will go up as you raise the Attenuator level. Rock the EP-1 pedal between full up and full down positions to hear the difference in pitch, and adjust the Attenuator until the desired interval is reached.
LP User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix F - Specifications Type: Programmable monophonic analog synthesizer w/100 presets Synth Engine: Oscillator Section: Oscillator 1: Octave: 16’, 8’, 4’, 2’ Wave: Continuously variable (triangle/sawtooth/square/pulse) Level: 0 to 100% Oscillator 2: Frequency: +/- 7 semitones Octave: 16’, 8’, 4’, 2’ Wave: Continuously variable (triangle/sawtooth/square/pulse) Level: 0 to 100% Glide Rate: 0 to 100% Oscillator Sync ON/OFF Filter Section: Cutoff: 20Hz to 16KHz Resonance: 0 t
LP User’s Manual - Glossary Glossary Here are a few key terms that cover the basics of sound generation as used in the Little Phatty synthesizer. ADSR – Abbreviation for Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release, the four stages of an envelope control voltage. Amplitude – The strength of a sound’s vibration measured in Decibels (dB). Amplitude corresponds to the musical term Loudness. Continuous Controller (CC) – A type of MIDI message used to transmit control commands.
LP User’s Manual - Glossary EEPROM – EEPROM stands for ‘Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory’. This is a type of digital memory used to store information, even after the power is turned off. In the Little Phatty, the EEPROM is used to store global settings and presets, and operating system parameters such as tuning information. Filter – A circuit that removes some frequencies and allows other frequencies to pass through the circuit.
LP User’s Manual - Glossary Low Frequency Oscillator – Also called an LFO, this is a special type of oscillator that generates signals primarily below the range of human hearing (generally below 20 Hz). LFOs are typically used as a source of modulation. For instance, an LFO with a triangle waveform, set to about 6 Hz and modulating the pitch of a VCO results in vibrato. Changing the LFO waveform to a square wave will result in a trill. An LFO modulating a VCA with a triangle wave creates tremolo.
LP User’s Manual - Glossary Sound – Audible vibrations of air pressure. For electronic sounds such as those produced by a synthesizer, loudspeakers are used translate the electrical vibrations into the changes in air pressure which we perceive as sound. Subtractive synthesis – A method of creating tones using harmonically rich (bright) source material, and then removing (or in some cases emphasizing) various frequency components to create the desired sound.
