Operation Manual

BV512 VOCODER
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In equalizer mode, you cut or boost frequencies by clicking and dragging in the lower display - just as with a regular
graphic equalizer. The usage and results differ depending on which mode is selected:
• 4 - 32 band mode
As in vocoder mode, the number of bars in the display conforms to the number of bands selected (4, 8, 16 or 32).
With a higher number of bands you get a more detailed control over the frequency response. However:
D In these modes, the equalizer will “color” the sound even if all bands are set to ±0 dB!
This is due to phase interaction and overlap between the bandpass filters.
Therefore you probably want to use the 4 - 32 band mode for coloring and mutating sounds - not for subtle, “clean”
equalizing.
• FFT (512) mode
In FFT (512) mode you still get 32 bars in the display, but the each bar may control several frequency bands (re-
member that there are 512 bands in FFT mode). Since the frequency bands are distributed linearly in FFT mode,
bars to the left in the display control few frequency bands while bars to the right control many frequency bands.
D In FFT (512) mode, setting all bands to ±0 dB is the same as bypassing the equalizer - the sound will not be af-
fected.
This makes FFT mode suitable for “clean” equalizing, where you want to boost or cut some frequencies without
changing the basic sound character.
D However, FFT mode equalizing is not suited for very drastic frequency cuts or boosts, as this may give audio
artefacts due to the workings of FFT processing.
Still: as always, there are no hard and fast rules. Let your ears judge!
D Keep in mind that FFT mode also introduces a slight delay to the signal.
BV512 parameters
On the front panel of the BV512 Vocoder, you will find the following parameters and displays:
|
Parameter
|
Description
Bypass/On/Off switch In Bypass mode, the carrier signal passes through the device unaffected and the modulator signal is disregarded.
In On mode, the device outputs the vocoded or equalized signal. Off mode cuts the output, silencing the device.
Level meters Show the signal level of the carrier and modulator signals, respectively.
Band switch Selects the number of filter bands (4, 8, 16 or 32) or FFT (512) mode.
Equalizer/Vocoder switch Determines whether the BV512 should work as a vocoder or an equalizer. In Equalizer mode, the Modulator input
is disregarded.
Modulation level display The upper display shows the spectrum of the modulator signal.
Frequency band level adjust The lower display allows you to adjust the level of each filter frequency band, by clicking and dragging the corre-
sponding bar. In vocoder mode this affects the vocoded sound. In equalizer mode, this is where you cut or boost
frequencies. To reset a band to ±0 dB, press [Command] (Mac) or [Ctrl] (Win) and click on its bar in the display. To
reset all bands, select “Reset Band Levels” from the device context menu.
Note: when FFT (512) mode is selected, each of the 32 bars in the display corresponds to several frequency
bands, with bars to the right in the display controlling progressively more bands (due to the FFT bands being lin-
early distributed over the frequency range).
Hold button Clicking this button “freezes” the current filter settings. While the button is lit, the modulator signal doesn’t affect
the sound - the carrier signal is filtered with the settings as they were the moment you activated Hold. Click the
button again to turn off Hold. Hold is also automatically reset (turned off) when you stop sequencer playback - just
like the pitch bend and modulation wheels on synth devices.
This function can be controlled via CV or MIDI, for sample and hold-like effects.
The Hold button is not available in Equalizer mode.