EMS iVCS3 User Manual

iVCS3 © is the official EMS emulator. You can learn all that you need to know

about the EMS VCS3™ from the original User Manual or from the many
resources now online.

Important Changes (Since Ver. 1.6)

In this version we have updated the Samplers (see back panel). This new
implementation adds many new interesting features such as Loop Crossfade,
Wave Scrubbing, Precise Zoom etc. When you save a new preset, all
sampler information (file name, loop-point, start-point) are saved. But since
this new update implements our new sampler, the presets saved with the old
sampler are no longer available for the loop-points parameter. So we suggest
you may need to resave your presets.

Almost all the build-in Preset Banks have been updated, they have more
consistent levels & panning now. Users of previous versions can restore the
Factory Presets from the Preset Manager to benefit from these new
improvements. See the Preset Manager for more details.

Also the In-App purchase ‘LALA - Sonic Pleasures library' has now been
updated. To get the new version, press ‘Restore Purchases’ under Presets
and Mod. Shop.

Important Changes (Since Ver. 1.1.3)

The Ramp wave of VCO 1 has been reversed in polarity, exactly as on the
original Putney VCS3.

The Square wave of VCO 2 and VCO 3 has been modified to recreate the
offset drift during PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), exactly as on the original
Putney VCS3.

The! Triangular/Ramp wave of VCO 3 has been redesigned to reproduce
better original PWM wave shaping and amplitude, exactly as on the original
Putney VCS3.

The changes in VCO, VCA and VCF implementations can affect the resulting
sound of some old presets. But only for the CONTROL INPUT MATRIX
marked with ‘I’, ‘J’, ‘K’, ’N’, ‘O’ and ‘P’, do we suggest updating the old
presets.

The novel glide parameter was introduced to enhance the sound quality of
the VCF and optimize the smoothing of the cutoff frequency control.!You can
adjust and trim this parameter (Settings) to get the more interesting sound.!In
particular, the lower the glide threshold, the better is the sound when the VCF
is frequency modulated by the oscillators. In other words, when high
frequency controlled voltages are applied to the filter, they are low-pass
filtered by the C31 capacitor. This means that the filter will not respond to high
frequency CVs, and respond slowly to rapid changes in incoming CVs. The
knob parameter sets the C31 cap. from the CV input circuit, so the filter will
respond to high frequency control.

Tips & Tricks

-

MAINS Toggle on/off DSP (Digital Signal Processing). iVCS3 supports
mixed audio with other applications, you can also disable DSP in order to
save battery and CPU consumption. You cannot toggle off the Audio
Engine when it’s connected to Audiobus or Inter-App Audio.

-

When the user presses the Home button, the app goes to the background
process and will store the whole status of parameters to reload when next
opening the app. See Settings for more explanations.

-

Double tap on the Knobs/Toggles to show the options. In the ‘Edit’ field
you can enter the value from the keyboard. Tap ‘Random’ to generate a
random value, ‘Default’ to reset to the factory settings and configure the
knobs dragging behavior. Step fine resolution sets how many points of
movement result in a one degree rotation in the knob's position. Only used
in the horizontal/vertical slider modes. You can set Knobs behavior from
Settings.

-

Tap over the Matrix for zooming in, this then allows new connections to be
made. Tap or drag outside the Matrix area to zoom out. Pinch for the
removal of all connections."

-

Double Tab in the Joystick handle to reset at the central position i.e. zero

-

iVCS3 can play audio in the background and/or mix it’s own audio with
other iOS apps. iVCS3 also supports Apple IAA (i.e. Inter-App Audio for iOs
7 or higher) and Audiobus, so you can send and receive audio through
applications.

-

All Signals connected to the METER in the Matrix will be shown in the
Oscilloscope and you can now feedback through to the iVCS3.

-

Swipe (right to left) on Preset, Presets Bank or Samples Manager (non
built-in file) to delete.

-

You can load Presets (current selected bank) by remotely sending a MIDI
Program Change message. The channel listening is the same for the MIDI
Note On/Off, You can configure this setting through ‘Channel’ in the MIDI
Manager (see later for further details). The available range is 0 ÷ 127. A
value of zero will select the first preset in the list, a value of 1 for the
second etc… But no bank selection is supported yet."

-

We suggest you disable the screen rotation, otherwise the accelerometer
doesn't work properly.

-

Tap over the Recovery Pins (Matrix bottom) to change pin color to white
green or red. White pins are 2.7K Ohm resistance and green ones are 68K
Ohm. For the iVCS3 this translates as: white pins no attenuation, green
pins for 0.66, red pins will allow a connection to be adjusted between the
normal signal and its inverse. See ‘Essential and Recommended EMS
Modifications’ for more details.

-

MIDI Panic sends a general Message ‘All Notes Off’, resets the DSP and
Keyboard.

-

Init will reset to default values and removes the Matrix Connections and
Sequencer Grooves, a reset message will be displayed.

-

Create Random Sound values for all of the parameters (not matrix and
Sequencer), including the Flanger and Compressor Effects. The result can
be very interesting and wayward.

!

Show the back panel of iVCS3 see Back Panel section.

"

Enable/Disable the scrolling for the Main View.

  Enable/Disable Accelerometer X/Y and LFO, see the Control
Manager for more details.

 Captures Output stereo signal (post Effects) and creates an audio file

wav format 44.1 kHz 16 bit in the Documents Folder. Files created by iVCS3
are saved with an id-name followed by a number, for example:

Output Rec 1.wav, Output Rec 2.wav etc…

Each new file will be numbered with the next consecutive number.

SYNC

 The goal of SYNC is to setup a global Metronome (MASTER BPM).
This will affect the LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) and/or the Sequencer
when it’s enabled to receive the SYNC signal - see Control Manager for more
details. The SYNC can be controlled remotely from a MIDI Clock signal or an
Ableton Link.
You can adjust the BPM (Beats Per Minute) through the minus/plus buttons
and these will replace the current value with the integer BPM (previous/next)
or you can TAP to set your own Tempo. When the MIDI Clock is activated
(see MIDI Manager), the 'MASTER BPM' slider will be disabled and the
Tempo value is controlled by the MIDI Clock. When connected to Ableton
Link, the slider is enabled.

Ableton Link description

Ableton Link is a new technology that synchronizes the beat, phase and
tempo of Ableton Live and Link-enabled iOS apps over a wireless network. It
lets you play devices together with the freedom of a live band. Anyone can
start and stop their part while others keep playing, and anyone can adjust the
tempo and the rest will follow. You can use Link to play with several copies of
Ableton Live, with Live and iOS apps, or with iOS apps together – even
without Live in your setup.

By default 120 BPM corresponds to 1 Hz.

The ‘Sync’ button waits for the next beat (Tempo Forte) from the MIDI Clock
or Ableton Link and resets all phases for LFO, Sequencer etc.

You can enable the MIDI Clock Signal by following these steps:

1 Open MIDI Manager
2 Send a MIDI Clock Signal
3 Enable the MIDI Clock for the chosen Source, see MIDI Manager for

further information

Essential and Recommended EMS Modifications

These superb extra features are available now through In-App Purchasing.
You can access the ‘In-App Shop’ simply from the menu tools.

 

 Tapping the Modification buttons will open the mod-view (and before you

ask why these buttons are so small and concealed, we didn’t want to mess
with the original interface). You will find these symbols on the following iVCS3
modules:

1)

Oscillators Synchronisation

2)

Oscillator 3 Lo/Hi Range Switchable Oscillator

3)

Oscillators 1 and 2 VC Shape

4)

Sample & Hold

5)

Filter Slew/Unslew

1

6)

Envelope Shaper Attack and Decay Time Extension

7)

Inverted/Controlled Matrix Red Pins

8)

Joystick Glide

Oscillators Synchronisation

The Sync feature provides a tonally harmonic sound, the VCO 2 is the
MASTER and you can select VCO 1 or both VCO 1 and VCO 3 as slaves.
This means every cycle of VCO 2 involves a resetting of the VCO slaves
phase.

Lo/Hi Range Switchable Oscillator

As standard, Oscillators 1 and 2 were meant to be tracking audio generators
and Oscillator 3 an LFO. As the circuitry is almost identical Oscillator 3 may

This Modification is available since ver 1.1.3 and it’s not part of the In-App Purchasing: ‘Essential

1

and Recommended EMS Modifications’.

be converted to be the same as Oscillator 2. Please note that when the VCO3
is switched in 'High Range Mode’, the Ramp Shape does not work anymore
with 'Phase Sync Oscillators’. Also we’ve noted it's a bit more CPU intensive.

Oscillators 1 and 2 VC Shape

This modification is often done with cheap Cliff 3.5mm jacks on the front
panels, but cable patching is not really in the spirit of the VCS3. The toggle
switch converts the matrix columns 'O' and 'P' (i.e. 'Output Ch. 1 and 2
Voltage Controlled') in 'Oscillator 1 Shape' and 'Oscillator 2 Shape' Voltage
Controlled. The sensitivity range is ±3V.

Sample & Hold

This modification brings a Simple Random Voltage Generator or a Sample &
Hold to the iVCS3. You can switch between S&H to generate random
numbers and hold them for a period of time and also Glide to generate a
user-controlled random number series with interpolation between each new
number. When enabled, the COLOUR parameter is the frequency with which
new random numbers are generated in the range 0.016 ÷ 10 Hz. The LEVEL
parameter is the range over which random numbers are distributed.

Filter Slew/Unslew

The novel glide parameter was introduced to enhance the sound quality of
the VCF and optimize the smoothing of the cutoff frequency control.! You can
adjust and trim this parameter to get the most concise sound.! We’ve found
that the lower the glide threshold, the better the sound when the VCF is
frequency modulated by oscillators. In other words, when high frequency
controlled voltages are applied to filter, they are low-pass filtered by the C31
capacitor. This means that the filter will not respond to high frequency CVs,
and respond slowly to rapid changes in incoming CVs. The knob parameter
sets the C31 cap from the CV input circuit, so the filter will respond to high
frequency controlled voltages.
N.B. Old parameters will set automatically to the maximum Glide amount
(left), this parameter is saved for Snapshots, HVPad and will work with
Control Manager.

Envelope Shaper Attack and Decay Time Extension

This modification will give you an attack of 5 seconds and decay of up to 3
minutes. Press the ATTACK button and play!

Inverted/Controlled Matrix Red Pins

Tap over the Recovery Pins (Matrix bottom) to change pin color: white, green
and red. White pins are 2.7K Ohm resistance and green ones are 68K Ohm.