Instruo harmonaig User Manual

harmonàig

Diatonic Harmonic Quantiser

User Manual

Contents

3

Description / Features

4

Installation / Specifications

5

Overview

6

Tuning

7

Global Modes

8

Pitch Control

9

Tranposition

15

Modal Scales

16

Programming Custom Chords

17

Patch Examples

23

Modal Music Theory
and Implementation

Chord Quality

Inversion and Voicing

Deriving Chords from a Scale

Modal Scales

Ionian Modes

11

Outputs

13

Harmony

Harmonic Minor Modes

2

Description

The harmonàig is a four voice voltage quantiser designed with
intuitive harmonic capabilities. It brings the possibility of composing
and performing chord progressions, and harmonising in a polyphonic
manner, to what is traditionally a monophonic instrument.

No deep understanding of music theory is needed!
Quickly sweep through modalities and chord voicings on-the-fly, and
explore a vast array of harmonic tones and colours. Explore practical
music theory in a familiar context and build your relationship with
tonalities that suit your own personal style.

The modal music system is used by the harmonàig to allow immediate
exploration of musical tonalities whilst keeping everything diatonically
relevant. Built in modal harmonisations give extensive foundations for a
wide spectrum of tonalities. With additional capabilities for user defined
chord voicings and note clusters, the creative options are endless.

In practice, users can experiment with chordal composition as quickly as
they would a monophonic bass or lead line. All that’s needed are a few
more oscillators!

Features

• CV input with built in attenuverter

• Individual CV outputs for up to four chord tones

• Slew controls for each CV output

• Transposition functionality

• Intuitive harmonisation and voice leading capabilities

• Modal and harmonic minor scale presets

• Four custom chord slots

• Large horizontal keyboard interface

3

Installation

1. Confirm that the Eurorack synthesizer system is powered off.

2. Locate 18 HP of space in your Eurorack synthesizer case.

3. Connect the 10 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x5 pin
header on the back of the module, confirming that the red stripe on
the power cable is connected to -12V.

4. Connect the 16 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x8 pin
header on your Eurorack power supply, confirming that the red
stripe on the power cable is connected to -12V.

5. Mount the Instruō harmonàig in your Eurorack synthesizer case.

6. Power your Eurorack synthesizer system on.

Note:

This module has reverse polarity protection.
Inverted installation of the power cable will not damage the module.

Specifications

• Width: 18 HP

• Depth: 27mm

• +12V: 120mA

• -12V: 20mA

4

harmonàig | 'hɑ:məni | noun (musical tone) an overtone

accompanying a fundamental tone at a fixed interval, the combination
of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce a pleasing effect

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#

#

D

C

F#G

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#

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A

1

A

C

D E F G

B

Key

1. Keybord Buttons

2. CV Input

3. CV Attenuverter

4. Transpose Button

5. Transpose

6. R CV Output

7. 3 CV Output

8. 5 CV Ouput

9. 7 CV Output

10. Calibration Trimmers

11 . Slew

12. Gate Output

13. Chord Quality

14. Chord Quality CV Input

15. Diatonic Button

16. Inversion CV Input

17. Inversion

18. Voicing CV Input

19. Voicing

5

Tuning

Double Tap

The harmonàig can be set Unison Mode to easily tune all of the
controlled oscillators. This disables the harmonisation functionality
so that R CV Output, 3 CV Output, 5 CV Output, and 7 CV Output
generate the same voltage.

To enter Unison Mode, press and
hold both the Diatonic Button and the

Transpose Button in that order, then

double tap the C Button. The amber

Hold

Hold

illumination of the C Button indicates
that Unison Mode is active.

To exit Unison Mode, press the
illuminated C Button.

Calibration Trimmers: The Calibration Trimmers are used to
independently scale the voltage range of each output. These are factory
calibrated with precision test equipment.

Calibrate at your own risk.

6

Global Modes

To switch between Quantiser Mode
and Performance Mode, press and
hold the Transpose Button and then
tap the Diatonic Button.

Hold

Inversion, Voicing, Chord Quality,

and Transpose controls are available
in both modes.

Tap

Quantiser Mode: The default behavior of the harmonàig is as a

harmonising quantiser. In Quantiser Mode, a single control voltage
signal present at the CV Input will be quantised and output from the

R CV Output. The control voltage is then duplicated and offset at

calibrated intervals and generated from the 3 CV Output, 5 CV Output,
and 7 CV Output. The offsets are dependent on the Chord Quality,

Inversion, Voicing, and Transpose parameters and vary on a per

output basis.

Performance Mode: The secondary behavior of the harmonàig is

as a harmonising performance keyboard. In Performance Mode,
the Keyboard Buttons become a playable interface. Each button
corresponds to a different root voltage. When a voltage is active,
the corresponding button will be illuminated. The CV Outputs are
dependent on the Chord Quality, Inversion, Voicing, and Transpose
parameters and vary on a per output basis. The gate output will be high
as long as a voltage is held.

7

Pitch Control

Keyboard Buttons: The Keyboard Buttons will enable and disable

chromatic voltages available in the desired quantised scale.

• We will refer to the Keyboard Buttons as the C, C#/D

E, F, F#/G , G, G#/A , A, A#/B , and B Buttons.

• Currently active voltages will be illuminated white.

• Enabled voltages are illuminated amber.

• Disabled voltages are unilluminated.

CV Input: The CV Input is a bipolar control voltage input for

the quantiser.

• Control voltage present at the CV Input will be quantised and
harmonised at the R CV Output, 3 CV Output, 5 CV Output, and

7 CV Output.

• Input Range: -/+10V (20 octaves).

CV Attenuverter: The CV Attenuverter scales and inverts the signal

present at the CV Input before it is quantised.

, D, D#/E ,

8

Transposition

Transpose Button: The Transpose Button will cycle through three
Transpose fader control settings.

• If the Transpose Button is unilluminated, the Transpose fader
is disabled.

• If the Transpose Button is illuminated amber, Quantised Offset

Mode is selected.

• If the Transpose Button is illuminated soft white, Global Quantised

Offset Mode is selected.

• If the Transpose Button is illuminated white, Global Fine Tune Mode
is selected.

Transpose: If the Transpose parameter is

disabled, the Transpose fader will not function.

Quantised Offset Mode: When engaged, the Transpose fader can shift

through a quantised -/+2V range (four octaves) of the
selected voltages.

• The value set by the Transpose fader sums with the signal present at
the CV Input.

Global Quantised Offset Mode: When selected, the Transpose fader

will globally offset the quantised voltages between a -/+2V range (four
octaves).

• The offset shifts in semitones and affects all four CV Outputs
simultaneously.

• This mode allows for a global re-tuning to an entirely new tonal
centre without the need of re-tuning each individual oscillator.

9

• Global Quantised Offset Mode will automatically time out to avoid

Double Tap

accidental detuning.

Global Fine Tune Mode is selected, the Transpose fader will globally

offset the quantised voltages between a -/+1V range (two octaves).

• The offset is unquantised and affects all four CV Outputs
simultaneously.

• This mode allows for a global fine tune adjustment of the voltages.

• Global Fine Tune Mode will automatically time out to avoid

accidental detuning.

Transpose Settings: The LED of the Transpose fader will illuminate when

the parameter is set above or below the 0V point found at the centre
dent of the Transpose fader.

• All Transpose settings will be retained between power cycles.

To reset the two global Transpose
offsets immediately, press and hold
the Transpose Button and double tap
the C Button.

Hold

10

Outputs

There are three ways to
change voltages:

1. A change in voltage at the CV Input.
The change in voltage must be enough
to latch to an enabled quantised note.

2. Moving the Transpose fader when set
to Quantised Offset Mode. In Quantiser

Mode this will move -/+2 octaves within

the enabled scale. In Performance

Mode, octave jumps will be applied.

3. Pressing a Keyboard Button in

Performance Mode.

R CV Output: Root chord tone output.

• Output Range: -/+10V.

3 CV Output: Third chord tone output.

• This output will generate a voltage with an interval offset defined by
the Chord Quality parameter.

• Output Range: -/+10V.

5 CV Output: Fifth chord tone output.

• This output will generate a voltage with an interval offset defined by
the Chord Quality parameter.

• Output Range: -/+10V.

7 CV Output: Seventh chord tone output.

• This output will generate a voltage with an interval offset defined by
the Chord Quality parameter.

• Output Range: -/+10V.

11

Slew: The Slew knobs set the duration of time it takes for the control

voltage signal to reach its final voltage level.

• This is also known as Portamento, Slide, or Glide.

• The Slew parameters individually affect their corresponding control

voltage outputs.

• Turning the knob anticlockwise decreases the amount of slew
applied to the control voltage. If the knob is fully anticlockwise,
control voltage will be stepped.

• Turning the knob clockwise increases the amount of slew applied to
the control voltage.

Gate Out: The Gate Out generates a pulse signal with every

new voltage.

• Trigger signals are generated in Quantiser Mode.

• Gate signals are generated in Performance Mode.

• The gate signals in Performance Mode will be held high as long as

a voltage is held.

• The Gate Out behaviour can be changed to trigger on key press
in Performance Mode by deselecting all scale tones in Quantiser

Mode before entering Performance Mode.

• Output voltage: +10V.

• Trigger duration: ~5ms.

12