Minimoog User’s Manual Table of Contents FOREWORD from Cyril Lance .................................. 4 THE BASICS How to use this Manual ....................................... Setup and Connections ........................................ Overview and Features ........................................ Signal Flow .................................................................... 6 7 10 12 THE COMPONENTS A. Mixer Section ........................................................ B. Oscillator Section .
Foreword In early September 2005, Ileana Grams Moog asked me to go out to Bob’s place in the country and see what the state of his workshop was. That day in North Carolina was impossibly beautiful. As we drove up a long, windy gravel driveway in Turkey Cove, we came to this idyllic spot surrounded by mountain laurels, oaks and babbling creeks. Standing there was a steel outbuilding eerily similar to my own workshop. This was the place Bob called “Big Briar”.
I am extremely excited about this instrument. It, of course, builds upon the Minimoog Voyager–Bob’s seminal synthesizer–yet adds another option to our family of synths from the small (our new SLIM Phatty) to the large (the Voyager XL). Each of these instruments have their own personality, their own voice, and excel in different ways. But they all are direct descendants of that funky little Minimoog sitting on the floor of Bob’s workshop that I stumbled upon accidentally that day.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics How to Use this Manual This User’s Manual is organized into convenient sections to assist you in setting up, playing and exploring your new Voyager XL. The Setup and Connections section explains how to unpack, setup and connect the Voyager XL, and provides a quick start to get you up and running with your new instrument. The Components section offers detailed explanations of the Voyager XL components that create and modify sound.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Setup and Connections For those of you who can’t wait to play your new Voyager XL synthesizer (completely understandable!), The following should get you set up and running quickly. We encourage you to read the entire manual at some point to learn more about the instrument and gain a better understanding of what you can do with the Voyager XL. Check the contents in the shipping carton The Voyager is shipped with the following items: 1. The Voyager XL Synthesizer 2.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Now Power up Turn the Voyager XL power ON. The LCD screen will light up and display an “XL” start-up message. After a few seconds the start-up screen will disappear and the current preset will appear in the display.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Making Your Own Sounds To create your own sound from scratch, it’s good to start from the Voyager XL default parameters. This can be done by the ‘Initializing Parameters’ command. Press the EDIT button, and press the +1 button until INIT PARAMETERS is highlighted, then press ENTER. Use the CURSOR button to select ‘Yes’ and press ENTER. This loads the default parameters temporarily into the current preset location.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Overview and Features Front Panel: Page 10
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Back Panel: Page 11
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Signal Flow To understand the Voyager XL internal signal flow, it’s helpful to consider the three types of signal routings in the system: the audio path, the control voltage path, and the modulation path. Audio Path The Voyager XL audio path includes all of the signal sources and signal modifiers that produce an audio output. These include the oscillators, mixer, filters and amplifiers (VCAs).
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Control Voltage Path When a key is pressed, or a MIDI Note On message is received, a Gate and Pitch Control Voltage (CV) are produced. The Gate signal is used to trigger both the Filter and Volume Envelope Generators (EGs). The Pitch CV is used to determine the pitch of the Oscillators and can be applied to a varying degree to the Filters through the Keyboard Control Amount knob. The basic control voltage path is illustrated below.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics The Modulation Buss Path Additional Modulation The Touch Surface controller can control three parameters simultaneously. The position of a finger on the touch pad generates a control voltage for the horizontal (X) position and a control voltage for the vertical (Y) position. Pressing on the touch surface generates a control voltage based on the area (A) of the fingertip.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Basics Digital Features (con’t) A Voyager XL preset is basically a “snapshot” of front panel settings combined with the parameters set in Edit Mode. The preset that is loaded is referred to as the “Current Panel Preset” and is stored in a memory buffer separate from the presets. This preset can be edited freely. The parameters are set by the Voyager XL preset memory until a setting is changed, at which time the current position of that control takes over.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components The Components Now let’s take a look at the individual module components that make up the Voyager XL, starting with the Mixer section. Then we’ll move on to the other panel functions (Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes, etc. ), performance controls (Keyboard, Ribbon and Left-Hand controls) the Modular Patch Panel, the Back Panel, and finally the User Interface section. A. The Mixer Section The Mixer combines the main sound sources of the Voyager XL.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components External: The EXTERNAL control allows an external monophonic audio source to be routed into the Mixer, where it can be mixed with the Oscillators and Noise source (an “Ext Audio In” jack on the Voyager XL back panel is provided for this input). The LED above the EXTERNAL control knob begins to light up as the input signal overdrives the Mixer input. When the light is faint, a small amount of soft clipping is occurring.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components B. The Oscillator Section The Oscillators are the main sound source of the Voyager XL. The oscillators are all analog Voltage Controlled Oscillators, or VCOs. They feature a temperature regulation circuit that provides them with excellent tuning stability. The VCOs can produce a total musical range of 8 1⁄2 octaves! In addition, the frequency of oscillator 3 can be set to the sub-audio range (<20Hz) for use as an auxiliary LFO.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Wave: Each oscillator features a continuously variable WAVE (waveform) control. The legend on the front panel shows the pure waveforms that are available. They are triangle, sawtooth, square, and rectangular. The waveform is morphed gradually from one to another as the waveform control is rotated. Because the waveform is voltage controlled, this parameter can be modulated; this generates some very interesting timbral changes.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Related Oscillator Controls: Two other panel controls interact with the Voyager XL oscillators: Fine Tune and Glide. These controls are located to the lower left of the Modulation Busses section Fine Tune: The FINE TUNE control is used to tune the oscillators ± 2 semitones for matching an external reference pitch. Glide Rate: Glide enables a glissando effect between notes. The GLIDE RATE control adjusts the rate of the glissando.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components C – The Filter Section Filters are used to adjust the tone color of an audio signal. Filters modify sounds by rejecting some frequencies while allowing others to pass through. To understand the operation of filters and how they process sound, there are a few important terms to know. The first term is ‘Cutoff Frequency’. The cutoff frequency is the point at which an audio signal’s frequencies begin to be rejected.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components The Voyager XL has two voltage controlled filters (VCF’s) that can be configured either as dual lowpass filters or as a combination of highpass & lowpass through a front panel switch. Additionally, the cutoff slope of each filter can be changed in software, resulting in a wide range of unique and interesting sounds.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Filter Section Controls: Cutoff: The CUTOFF knob is the main filter control. This sets the cutoff frequency of both of the filters in the both Dual Lowpass and Highpass/Lowpass mode. In Dual Lowpass mode, the frequencies to the right (CW) of the indicator on the knob are the frequencies that are filtered out. The frequencies to the left (CCW) of the indicator are the frequencies that are allowed to pass through the filter.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Filter CV Inputs on the Patch Panel: CUTOFF The CUTOFF jack allows you to connect an external CV or expression pedal to control the filter cutoff frequency. Both filters are effected by this connection, regardless of the filter mode setting. The effective input range is -5 to +5 V, where a positive CV will add to the filter cutoff knob setting, and a negative CV will subtract from the setting.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Envelope Section Controls: Attack: The ATTACK control sets the attack time of the corresponding envelope generator, from 1 msec to 10 seconds. Decay: The DECAY control sets the decay time of the corresponding envelope generator, from 1 msec to 10 seconds. Sustain: The SUSTAIN control sets the corresponding level for the sustained part of the envelope.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Related Controls: Release Switch: The release time of the envelopes is set by their respective RELEASE control knob, but this control knob can also be switched OFF using the RELEASE switch located on the left-hand control panel. NOTES: 1. The Release function is actually a divider for the release time, so if the RELEASE control knob is set to 10, the release of the envelopes will not be absolutely abrupt with the RELEASE ON/OFF function switched off. 2.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components E. The Output Section The Voyager XL has two audio outputs. There is a Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA) for each output, which allows for stereo functions such as panning or the dual lowpass filtering. The main control for the volume is the Master Volume control. The Volume Envelope modulates the output VCAs. Output Section controls: Master Volume: The MASTER VOLUME knob is the main volume control.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components F – The Modulation Buss Section Modulation is the heart of making interesting sounds with analog subtractive synthesis. The Voyager XL’s two Modulation Busses open up a world of modulation possibilities. The Modulation Busses allow you to select a variety of modulation sources, destinations, modulation shaping, and amounts. The two Mod Busses are labeled MOD WHEEL and PEDAL/ON.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Three controls modify the amount of modulation: the AMOUNT control, the SHAPING control, and the Mod Wheel (for the Mod Wheel Mod Buss) or MOD1 level (for the Pedal/On Mod Buss). The AMOUNT control sets how much both the Mod Wheel/MOD1 Input and the Shaping CV allow the mod source through to the mod destination.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Destination: The DESTINATION control selects the destination of the modulation. The modulation destination is chosen in the same manner as the source.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components G – Primary LFO/Sample and Hold Section The Primary LFO provides both Low Frequency Oscillator and Sample & Hold (S+H) modulation sources for the Voyager XL Modulation Busses. The LFO provides triangle and square waves, while the S+H produces a random voltage output. The LFO Frequency and S+H Rate are both controlled by the LFO RATE knob, which is adjustable from 0.2 to 50 Hz.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components LFO/Sample and Hold Section Controls LFO Rate: The LFO RATE control sets the frequency of the LFO. The controllable range is 0.2 to 50 Hz. LFO Sync: The LFO SYNC control selects the trigger method for starting the LFO waveform. There are four trigger modes: - OFF/SYNC: This setting allows the LFO to be free running unless there is a connection to the LFO SYNC input (see below).
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components H – Keyboard and Left-Hand Controllers The Voyager XL has a 61 note velocity sensitive keyboard (5 octaves, C to C). When combined with the ±2 octave transpose feature (accessed by double-pressing the EDIT button) the actual playable range is a full 9 octaves. Also, the Voyager’s keyboard transmits MIDI Note On and Note Off messages polyphonically, and produces velocity control and aftertouch (pressure) voltages monophonically.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components I – Ribbon Controller The 500mm Ribbon Controller is located on the middle wooden rail of the Voyager XL. The Ribbon’s center point is lined up with ‘MiddleC’ on the 61-note keyboard. The Ribbon can be used to impart complex gestures to a given sound by touching the ribbon, by moving a finger around on it or by tapping it.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components J – Touch Surface Controller The Touch Surface Controller is a real-time, three-dimensional control surface. It can be used to impart complex gestures to the sound of the Voyager by touching it, by moving a finger around on it or by tapping it. A finger movement from left to right controls the X-axis, an up and down movement controls the Y-axis, and the amount of the Touch Surface that is covered by the finger controls the Area.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components K – Modular Patch Panel Located on the far left of the Voyager XL , the Modular Patch Panel is the functional equivalent of what you might find on a modular synthesizer, with patch points conveniently grouped to keep all the related input and output functions neatly together. The upper panel features jacks for specific Voyager XL CV inputs and outputs, while the lower panel provides general CV processing functions.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Patch Panel CV Outputs - Description The following is a functional description of the Patch Panel CV Output jacks: TOUCH This group of outputs is generated from the Voyager keyboard’s Touch Surface Controller. There are three control voltages (X, Y, and A) and one gate signal. X: This is the CV generated by left to right (horizontal) position of contact with the touch surface.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components LFO This group of outputs is generated from the Voyager’s Primary LFO. There are two CV waveforms available here (triangle and square) and both can be used at the same time TRIANGLE: This is the triangle wave output of the LFO. SQUARE: This is the square wave output of the LFO. BUSSES: This group of outputs is generated by the Mod Buss signals.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components The table below shows the effective ranges of the Voyager XL CV Outputs. SECTION TOUCH KBD WHEELS PEDALS LFO BUSSES ENVS S&H Noise PARAMETER EFFECTIVE RANGE X -5 to + 5V Y -5 to + 5V A -5 to + 5V GATE +5V ON, 0V OFF PITCH (Note 1) -0.916V to 2.667V Nominal VEL -5 to + 5V PRESS -5 to + 5V GATE +5V ON, 0V OFF PITCH -5 to +5V MOD -5 to +5V MOD1 (Note 2) -5 to +5V MOD2 (Note 2) -5 to +5V TRIANGLE +/- 2.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Patch Panel CV Inputs - Description The following is a functional description of the Modular Patch Panel CV Inputs. Jacks with white rings indicate inputs that can accept either a CV or an Expression Pedal. Jacks with left/right arrows indicate inputs that can accept either a CV Gate input or a footswitch. ENV This group of inputs allows you to apply an external signal to control the Envelope parameters for Rate, Release and Gate.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components LFO This group of inputs allow you to connect an external signal to control the Voyager’s LFO Rate and Sync parameters. RATE: This input affects the LFO Rate. The LFO RATE jack accepts an expression pedal or a CV. A positive CV adds to the position of the LFO RATE control, while a negative voltage subtracts from the position of the LFO RATE control. SYNC: This input affects the synchronization of the Voyager’s LFO.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components The table below shows the effective ranges of the Voyager XL CV outputs. All non-gate inputs supply power, allowing you to connect either an Expression Pedal or a control voltage to these jacks. SECTION ENV KBD FILTER VCA LFO MOD S&H PARAMETER EFFECTIVE RANGE JACK SUPPLIES POWER RATE -5 to +5V Y RELEASE +5V ON, 0V OFF N GATE +5V ON, 0V OFF N PITCH -5 to +5V Y WAVE (Note 1) -5 to +5V Y CUTOFF -5 to +5V Y VOL 0 to +5V Y PAN (Note 2) -2.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components Patch Panel CV Processors - Description The following is a functional description of the Control Voltage Processor section. For all panel functions, jacks with white rings indicate inputs that can accept either a CV or an Expression Pedal. ATTENUATORS The Patch Panel features two active Attenuators. These work the same as the active attenuators on other Moog gear, offering normal and inverted attenuation with or without an offset.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components L – The Back Panel The back panel provides for all of the Voyager’s connectivity, including power, MIDI, audio and CV expansion connections. POWER CONNECTOR: This is a standard AC power inlet, Use only a power cord designed to mate with this receptacle. The Voyager power supply is designed to work with power inputs of 100-240 VAC; 50-60 Hz. IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE – Do not alter the power connector in any way.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - The Components M – Interface Panel The Interface Panel provides a status display and controls for all of the Voyager XL software functions and instrument settings. The status display is an LCD screen located within the Interface Panel. When the Voyager XL is first powered on, the screen will display an ‘XL’ greeting message. The message will stay on the screen for a few seconds, and then the screen will display the active preset.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - PANEL Mode Panel Mode Panel Mode is used to access presets and other performance functions. Pressing the PANEL button accesses Panel Mode. The LED above the PANEL button will be lit, and the preset name and location will be displayed. A preset consists of all the stored settings of the front panel controls (except FINE TUNE) plus the preset’s software parameters.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - PANEL Mode To select a Panel Mode menu function, use the -1/+1 buttons to highlight the desired function and then press ENTER. A description of the Panel Mode functions follows. In PANEL, EDIT or MASTER mode, when you reach the bottom of the menu pages, the next “-1” button press will wrap back to the top item on the first menu page.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - PANEL Mode HEADPHONE VOLUME: HEADPHONE VOLUME is used to determine whether the stored Headphone Volume value is loaded when a new preset becomes active. If this is off, then this value is determined by the current position of the HEADPHONE VOLUME control. To make a change in the Headphone Volume menu, use the CURSOR to highlight the desired choice and press ENTER. T.S. REDUCTION: T.S.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - PANEL Mode LCD CONTRAST The LCD CONTRAST function changes the viewable angle of the LCD display. To change this setting, use the -1/+1 buttons to adjust the contrast level. The change will immediately take effect (you’ll see the display contrast change) and the new contrast value will be stored automatically. OTHER PANEL MODE FUNCTIONS QUICK SAVE: If a preset has been edited, then pressing the MASTER switch twice saves the preset to the present location.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode Edit Mode Edit Mode is used to assign the parameters of a preset that are not accessible through the front panel controls. Edit Mode is also used to assign the preset sound category, set the MIDI clock divider, and name and save presets. Press the EDIT button to enter Edit Mode. To select an Edit Mode function, use the -1/+1 buttons to highlight the desired function and then press ENTER.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode Here are the Edit Mode functions: 1.1 COMPARE TO PRESET The COMPARE TO PRESET function is used to compare the current Panel sound to any other preset in the current Preset bank. Applications for this include comparing an edited version of a sound to its original version in memory, or to find a preset location that you do not use where you can store your current Panel Sound.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 1.4 PITCH BEND AMT. (PITCH BEND AMOUNT): The PITCH BEND AMT function allows you to set separate up and down pitch bend ranges for each preset. To adjust the ranges, use the CURSOR to toggle between the Pitch Bend UP and Pitch Bend DOWN parameters, and use the -1/+1 buttons to select the desired range.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 2.3 PGM PEDAL SOURCE (Programmable Pedal Source) PGM PEDAL SOURCE allows you to program one of 8 additional modulation sources to be used when the Pedal/ON Bus SOURCE control is set to ‘NOISE/PGM’. To select a source, use the -1/+1 buttons to highlight the desired selection and press ENTER. The available sources are: Noise (default) Filter ENV Volume ENV Smoothed Sample and Hold Oscillator 1 Oscillator 2 Touch Surface X Touch Surface Y 2.4 PGM PEDAL DEST.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode Programmable Shaping Sources are useful for creating presets that respond in complex ways. For instance, you could assign both Keyboard CV (pitch) and Velocity Release (velocity) as the Programmable Shaping Sources. With this assignment, the higher and the harder you play, more modulation source is passed to modulate the destination. Many of the shaping sources are front panel rotary controls.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 4.1 GLIDE MODES The Glide Modes menu allows you to select the glide mode for the current Preset. This setting determines how Glide behaves when the GLIDE switch is ON.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 4.2 FILTER POLE SEL. This function allows you to specify the cutoff slopes of Filter A & B. Filter A is the filter controlled only by the CUTOFF control, while Filter B is controlled by both the CUTOFF control and the SPACING control. In Dual Lowpass Mode, the output of Filter A appears on the RIGHT output jack, and Filter B appears on the LEFT output jack (when both outputs are connected).
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 5.1 T.S. DESTINATION (Touch Surface Destination): The Voyager XL Touch Surface produces four controls signals labeled X,Y, A, and Gate. The X and Y control signals are generated by touching the touch surface and reflect the left-right position and up-down position, respectively. The A control signal is generated by calculating the area of contact with the Touch Surface. The larger the area covered, the greater the control signal.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode MIDI Control Number (MIDI CTRL NO.): The Touch Surface inputs can transmit user-selected MIDI CC Messages. For each of the X, Y and A axes, the Touch Surface Inputs can be set to transmit MIDI CCs 1-31, or it can transmit no MIDI information (OFF). If you are using the Voyager with a sequencer, then you’ll want to transmit the CC numbers that corresponds to the Touch Surface Destinations.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode The Touch Surface sample is actually taken on both the rising and falling edges of the primary LFO Square Wave, which means that the actual sample rate of the TS LFO S&H is double the LFO rate. Touch Surface Gate Menu: The TS Gate menu allows you to select the gate control (T.S GATE CONTROL), the MIDI Control number (MIDI CTRL NO.), the gate polarity (POLARITY), and the LFO Restart function. The assignable options for these parameters are listed below. T.S.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode TS GATE (con’t) The LFO Restart function is the fourth option in the TS Gate Control menu. Since the TS Gate Control menu can only display three options at a time, use the CURSOR to scroll down to the bottom of the list, where the LFO Restart option will appear. Use the -1/+1 buttons to switch the LFO Restart function ON or OFF. When LFO Restart is ON, a gate generated from touching the Touch Surface will restart the LFO cycle.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode Source and Destination (SRC/DEST): The Source and Destination parameters allow you to select from the 40 assignable Pot Mapping Sources and Destination options. Eight of these are Performance Controls and 32 are Front Panel Controls. Both the Source and Destination have the same assignable options. The complete list is shown below.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode Pot Mapping is a very powerful addition to the Voyager XL front panel controls, as it creates the ability to route controls to more than one destination. A simple use is for dynamically controlling Volume with the Keyboard’s Note On Velocity, a common modulation in modern synthesizers. Here are a few more suggested mappings: 1. Keyboard Scaling: This map will adjust the Volume Decay envelope so that higher notes will decay quicker than lower notes.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode 6.2 SOUND CATEGORY SOUND CATEGORY allows you to assign the current preset to one of 32 pre-defined sound categories. This function is intended to assist in organizing presets for quick identification when auditioning sounds. This is especially useful in conjunction with the Voyager Editor/Librarian software.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - EDIT Mode MIDI Note ONs can also be used to name Presets. Forty four keys on the Voyager XL keyboard (MIDI Note numbers 53-96) address all of the available letter, number and punctuation characters as shown below. The SHIFT key toggles between uppercase and lowercase characters. 6.4 SAVE PRESET The SAVE PRESET function allows you to store all of the current front panel settings and software parameters to one of the available 896 memory locations.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Master Mode Master Mode is used to access Voyager XL global parameters and the routines sending and receiving data. Press the MASTER button to enter Master Mode. To select a Master Mode function, use the -1/+1 buttons to scroll to the desired function and then press ENTER. The Voyager XL has 21 Master Mode functions that span six pages as shown.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Here are the Master Mode functions: LOCAL CONTROL: The LOCAL CONTROL menu provides Local ON/OFF control of seven Voyager XL functions: Pitch Bend Wheel (PBwhl), Mod Wheel (Modwhl), Aftertouch (Press), Panel Knobs (Pots), Panel Switches (Swtch), and Touch Surface (T.S.). An eighth selection (All), allows you to switch the Local control of all seven functions at once.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode MIDI RUN STATUS The MIDI RUN STATUS (MIDI Running Status) function is used to reduce the MIDI data sent when a number of MIDI messages with the same Status Byte are sent. When enabled, the Running Status function eliminates the Status Byte. Some MIDI devices can handle MIDI Running Status and some can’t, so you have an option of turning this on (‘YES’) or off (‘NO’). To change the setting, use the CURSOR to highlight the desired choice and press ENTER.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode MIDI PANIC FUNC. (MIDI Panic Function) The MIDI Panic Function selects whether or not to issue a MIDI ‘All Notes Off ’ message when the MASTER switch is pressed. To change the setting, use the CURSOR to highlight the desired choice and press ENTER. MIDI EXT. GATE (MIDI External Gate) The MIDI External Gate menu allows you assign MIDI functions to a footswitch plugged into the ENV GATE jack. The menu allows you to assign a MIDI control number (MIDI CNTL No.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode SEND PRESET(S) SEND PRESET(S) is a utility to send SysEx data for archiving a single preset (‘PRESET NO. X’) or a complete bank of 128 presets (‘ALL PRESET SOUNDS’). Use the CURSOR to select either the single preset or bank option. If the single preset option is selected, the -1/+1 buttons are used to specify the preset number. Only presets from the current bank can be selected.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode TRANSPOSE IN/OUT The TRANSPOSE IN/OUT function is used for transposing MIDI Notes received and/or the notes generated by the Voyager XL keyboard. The ‘Keyboard Transpose Semitones’ parameter allows you to transpose keyboard notes up to 24 semitones up (two octaves) or 48 semitones down (four octaves).
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Factory Setups COPYRIGHT INFO/ FACTORY SETUP MENU The COPYRIGHT INFO screen shows the copyright dates, as well as the creator of the Voyager’s operating system, Rudi Linhard. This is also the entry page to the Factory Setup menus – simply press the +1 button to view the Factory Setup Menu. The Factory Setup menus are used to restore various Voyager XL parameters to factory default values. Descriptions of each Factory Setup menu follow.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Factory Setups 1.1 FACTORY RESET The FACTORY RESET function resets the Voyager PANEL and MASTER functions to the default factory state (see list of default values below). To reset the PANEL and MASTER functions select ‘YES’ and press ENTER. To escape without restoring the Factory presets, select ‘NO’ and press ENTER. REF PANEL FUNCTIONS DEFAULT REF MASTER FUNCTIONS DEFAULT 1.1 Quick Mode +/- BUTTONS = NO EXT AUDIO POT = YES 1.1 Local Control ALL ON 1.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Factory Setups 1.2 FACTORY SOUNDS The FACTORY SOUNDS function restores the Voyager XL to its default factory state. Performing this function will replace the current bank with the standard Voyager Performer Edition Preset Bank, so don’t do this unless you are sure you want to. To restore the factory presets select ‘YES’ and press ENTER. To escape without restoring the Factory presets, select ‘NO’ and press ENTER. 1.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Factory Setups 2.1 T.S. XYAG S&H (Touch Surface XYAG Sample & Hold) The T.S. XYAG S&H function sets the Touch Surface LFO Sample & Hold parameter to “OFF” for all Presets in the current bank (other banks are not affected). To reset the T.S. XYAG S&H, select ‘YES’ and press ENTER. To escape without changes, select ‘NO’ and press ENTER. 2.2 SHAPING 1&2 The SHAPING 1&2 function restores the default settings for the Programmable Mod Buss Shaping Sources.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode Factory Setups 3.1 ENV GATES F/A (Envelope Gates Filter/Volume) The ENV GATES F/A function restores the default settings for the Filter and Amplitude Envelope Gates parameters stored in the presets. The default is ENV GATE INPUT for both. To restore the default Envelope gate settings, use the CURSOR to select ‘YES’ and press ENTER. To leave this menu without changes, select ‘NO’ and press ENTER. 3.2 GLOBAL CURSOR This function is not yet implemented. 3.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode SOFTWARE VERSION The SOFTWARE VERSION screen displays the current Operating System ROM and BOOT ROM versions and date of the release. When the software version screen is displayed, pressing the CURSOR button will display the current Pitch Bend and Mod Wheel values. SEND SYSTEM ROM The SEND SYSTEM ROM utility allows you to back up your operating system via SysEx data.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MASTER Mode RECEIVE UPDATE The RECEIVE UPDATE utility allows you to upgrade the Voyager XL Operating System. Updates are available from our website (www.moogmusic.com) and are found in Minimoog Voyager ‘Software’ section.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MIDI How the Voyager XL handles MIDI When you adjust any one of the Voyager XL front panel controls, MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) messages are transmitted on the MIDI Out jack. The information contained in these MIDI CC messages depends on the parameter to which each panel control is assigned. For example, when the FILTER CUTOFF control is adjusted, MIDI CC data corresponding to the Filter Cutoff parameter (CC#19 & CC#51) is transmitted.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MIDI LFO2 LFO Performance Controls SECTION CONTROL FUNCTION CC VALUE/RANGE MOD WHEEL Modulation 1 MSB, 33 LSB - GLIDE SWITCH Turns Glide ON/OFF 65 0-63 OFF, 64-127 ON RELEASE SWITCH Turns Release ON/OFF 88 0-63 OFF, 64-127 ON MOD 1 Mod 1 Input 2 MSB, 34 LSB - MOD 2 Mod 2 Input 4 MSB, 36 LSB - LFO RATE Adjusts the LFO frequency 3 MSB, 35 LSB 0 – 127 LFO SYNC Selects the LFO Sync mode 67 0-31 = OFF 32-63 = MIDI 64-95 = KB 96-127 = Env Gate LFO2 M
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MIDI Mixer Oscillators SECTION CONTROL FUNCTION CC VALUE/RANGE OSC 1 OCTAVE Sets the octave of oscillator 1 74 0-15 = 32’ 16-31 = 16’ 32-47 = 8’ 48-63 = 4’ 64-79 = 2’ 80-127 = 1’ OSC 1 WAVE Sets the waveform of oscillator 1 9 MSB, 41 LSB - OSC 2 FREQ Adjusts the frequency of oscillator 2 10 MSB, 42 LSB - OSC 2 OCTAVE Sets the octave of oscillator 2 75 0-15 = 32’ 16-31 = 16’ 32-47 = 8’ 48-63 = 4’ 64-79 = 2’ 80-127 = 1’ OSC 2 WAVE Sets the waveform of oscill
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MIDI Envelope Generator Filter SECTION Vol CONTROL FUNCTION CC VALUE/RANGE CUTOFF Adjusts the filter cutoff frequency 19 MSB, 51 LSB - SPACING Adjusts the filter spacing parameter 20 MSB, 52 LSB - RESONANCE Adjusts the filter resonance parameter 21 MSB, 53 LSB - KB AMOUNT Adjusts the amount of pitch CV affecting the cutoff 22 MSB, 54 LSB - MODE Toggles the filter mode between LP/LP and HP/LP 86 0-63 OFF, 64-127 ON FILTER ENV ATTACK Adjusts the filter
Voyager XL User’s Manual - MIDI LFO2 CLOCK DIVIDER The LFO2 Clock Divider parameter can be set to one of 20 different values. The divisor is based on 24 clocks per quarter note (the MIDI standard). The table below shows how the number of MIDI clocks relates to musical time values, along with the MIDI CC value that selects the desired time value. The default clock divider value is 1/4 (= 24 clocks/quarter note).
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix A - Touch Surface LFO S&H: In Use The Touch Surface LFO S&H function is a recent addition to the Voyager operating system, adding Sample & Hold capabilities to the Touch Surface. To understand what this function does, try this simple example: 1. Initialize a preset using EDIT Mode Menu 1.3 (Init Parameters). 2. From EDIT Mode Menu 5.1 (T.S.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix B - MIDI Basics MIDI is an acronym for ‘Musical Instrument Digital Interface’, an industry-standard protocol for the interconnection and control of electronic musical instruments. Prior to MIDI, instrument manufacturers designed their own systems for connecting devices together (most were CV/gate based), but few of these systems were compatible, which meant that you couldn’t easily connect synthesizers from Manufacturer A with those from Manufacturer B.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices CONTINUOUS CONTROLLER: The Voyager XL is a knob-laden synth. Many of its controls provide smooth, continuous change over their parameters. Continuous Controller messages (abbreviated as ‘CCs’) are used to effect changes in a MIDI synth much as the knobs on an analog synth. A Continuous Controller message has a CC number (from 0-127), which is assigned to a synthesis parameter inside the receiving device.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix C - Initialization Parameters When you select the INIT PARAMETERS function in the Panel Mode menu, the current Preset sound defaults to a single 8’ square wave oscillator with moderate filtering and basic ON/OFF envelopes. From this starting point, you can adjust and tweak the sound to create a new preset, or just explore the various parameters to see what they do. The following tables list the complete default values of the Initialization Preset.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Initialization Parameters (con’t) Preset Software Parameters: VALUE +/- FOURTH MAP 1 SOURCE VELOCITY ATTACK KEYBOARD MODE LOWER KEY PRIORITY MAP 1 DEST. MASTER VOLUME TRIGGER MODE SINGLE TRIGGER MAP 1 DIRECTION NORMAL MAP 1 AMOUNT OFF FILTER A 4 POLE MAP 2 SOURCE KEY PITCH FILTER B 4 POLE MAP 2 DEST.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix D - Synthesis 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).
Voyager XL 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.
Voyager XL 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.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices The Filtered signal is routed to the Amplifier, which controls the gain (volume) of the signal. The Amplifier controls the dynamics of a sound, turning it on and off as you play. The Amplifier is usually paired with an Envelope Generator (described below). The gain of the amplifier follows the contours of the Envelope Generator signal, shaping the sound from start to finish.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices The last auxiliary component is the Low Frequency Oscillator, also known as the LFO. The LFO operates like the main oscillators in almost all respects, but generally at a much lower frequency. LFO’s are typically used to send modulation control signals to the main components. For example, if you route a 6Hz LFO signal to an oscillator, it will produce vibrato by varying the pitch of the oscillator.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix E - MIDI Implementation Chart Moog Music, Inc. Voyager XL Analog Synthesizer FUNCTION Date: 9/26/10 Version 3.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix F - Service and Support Information Moog Limited Warranty Moog Music warrants its products 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.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Appendices Appendix J - Specifications Type: Programmable monophonic analog synthesizer Sound Generation: 3 Oscillators with continuously variable waveform control, 1 Noise source, 5-input Mixer, 2 Filters, 2 Envelope Generators, 1 LFO, 2 Programmable Modulation Sections, Glide and Fine Tune controls Program Memory: 1024 Presets in 8 Banks; 896 locations are user rewritable Keyboard: 61 keys (C-C) Transmits polyphonic MIDI Note On/Off messages along with velocity and aftertouch P
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Glossary Glossary Here are a few key terms that cover the basics of sound generation as used in the Voyager 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.
Voyager XL 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 Voyager, the EEPROM is used to store global settings and presets, and operating system parameters. Filter – A circuit that removes some frequencies and allows other frequencies to pass through the circuit.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Glossary Mixer – A circuit for combining multiple sound sources or signals. Modulation – Modulation is the use of a control voltage to shape a tone. Modulation has a source, a destination, and an amount. This could be as simple as the filter cutoff of a VCF (a modulation destination) being changed by the front panel cutoff control (the source), or as complex as mixing multiple CVs together to modulate filter cutoff.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Glossary Timbre – Pronounced ‘tamber’, it refers to the quality of a sound by its overtones. An unprocessed sawtooth wave has a bright timbre, while a triangle wave has a mellow timbre. Tremolo – Technically a form of low frequency amplitude modulation, tremolo is a smooth audible pulsing of volume. In synthesizers, tremolo is produced when a 5-6Hz LFO triangle or sine wave signal is applied to a voltage controlled amplifier. Waveform – The shape of an oscillator’s vibration.
Voyager XL User’s Manual - Preset List Voyager Preset List The Voyager contains 8 banks of presets with 128 presets per bank (1024 presets total). The tables on the following two pages provide of list of the presets in each bank. Many of the preset names are self-explanatory, some are for fun, and all are all worth auditioning. As you listen to the presets, remember to check out the Mod Wheel, Touch Surface and Aftertouch for additional performance control.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 Tasty Moog Bass Techno Tuvans Electric Panning Keys A Minor Story Panned Solar Lead Membrane Mallet Acid Mod Grind MajorWerk Wo ist der Sinus? Lead or Follow Really Heavy PWM in the Bass Orgone Box Mellow Brass Bass Soundscape Shifter 8-Bit Video Game Sound!! Wormy Lead Clean Machine Sync or Swim Velocity Temple Bells Mod Whee
65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 The One New Sync Mod Solo Buzzed Pluck Lead Truth In You Theme Tonto Bass Tonto Lead BothHi&Lo (radioTP) Fifths of Fury BorisTheSpider Bass Lo, He plucks it well Interval Lead Wind me up please LoDownSquare Boy My Days Bass My Days Seq 2 My Days Theme 2 Press2 Glide Theremin Lip Buzz Organ
