Red Sound Systems Darkstar XP2 Owner's Manual

Introduction

DARKSTAR XP2 SYNTHESIS

XP2

Thank you for purchasing the RED Sound DARKSTAR XP2 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer.

The Analogue Synthesiser, mainstay of Seventies' and Eighties' music, is back, reinvented in a new, more reliable
and flexible form. Physical modelling via powerful DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) allow all the warmth and control
of the synthesizers of yesteryear without the problems of unstable tuning and unrepeatable sounds, and with
modern benefits like realtime control and multitimbral access.

Welcome to DARKSTAR XP2, an 8-voice polyphonic synthesiser with all the highlights of the analogue tradition,
Pulse Width Modulation, Ring Mod, Resonant Filtering and ADSR Enveloping, combined with all the advantages of
modern MIDI instruments like rock-solid tuning, perfect program recall, velocity response and 5 different timbres
simultaneously available.

So whether your aim is to recreate 'classic' timbres like 70's Disco Bassline / Screaming PWM Lead, chart new
sonic territory with realtime joystick manipulation of filter frequency and resonance, or even combine both
approaches in the same MIDI sequence, DARKSTAR XP2 is the perfect tool for you.

In the future, DARKSTAR XP2's capabilities will grow thanks to the ability to install other EPROM-based DSP
algorithms. This will allow you to convert DARKSTAR XP2 into many different products such as a vocoder or mono
synth.

But DARKSTAR XP2 already offers so much with its marriage of proven synthesis techniques and state-of-the-art
control. Now it's time to unlock the potential of analogue-style synthesis with modern control techniques in your
music.

Be creative!

OWNERS MANUAL

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1

Front Panel

9

10

11

12

PORTAMENTO

TREMOLO

PANNING

LEVEL

SUB 2 PHONES

SUB 1

RIGHT

LEFT

INPUTS

EXTERNAL

2

Max

VELOCITY

RELEASE

7

Min

6

Max

+

SUSTAIN

Min

Max

DECAY

Min

Max

ATTACK

Min

5

4

3

2

1

0

VELOCITY LEVEL

Off

-

+

Off

-

SHIFT

0

Env 2

(0)

Envelopes

env 1

PART

OUTPUT

+10

-10

(+10)

(-10)

Max

Min

XP2

4

LFO2

LFO1

LFO 2 MOD

ENV MOD

RES MOD SOURCE

ENV1 ENV2

HI

RES MOD

RESONANCE

BAND

LO

FILTER TYPE

OFF

FILTER TYPE

FREQUENCY

SHIFT

Filter On

Filter

Filter Off

5

[Hold]

DEMo

[Press]

[+/up]

[-/dwn]

VOICE/

PROGRAM

MODULATION audition

MIDI

8

7

5

4

/

Sound

Red

the colour of music

EDIT

VALUE

/

PARAMETER

UTILITY

Y

X

JOYSTICK

3

PART SELECT

2

1

PORTA TRIGGER

MENUS

PART

LFO

6

osc mix

DETUNE

24

19

17

ring mod

16

PULSE WIDTH

12

7

PWM

5

OSC 2 SEMITONE OFFSET

PITCH MOD

0

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OSC 2 PITCH

WAVEFORM

1

DARKSTAR XP2 - Poly Synth

Osc 2

Osc 1

Oscillators

SHIFT

MENU

VALUE

save

MASTER

FILTER

OSCILLATORS

EDIT

VOLUME

RANDOM

SHAPE

Max

Min

Max

Min

DELAY

SPEED

MIDI CLOCK

SAMPLE

PULSE

SINE

LFO SHAPE

SQUARE

TRI

RAMP

LFO 2

LFO’s

LFO 1

COMP

VALUE

SHIFT

3

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13

Front Panel Features

FRONT PANEL FEATURES

1.

OSCILLATORS:

for each oscillator. The large [OSCILLATOR] button switches between oscillators1&2.The[SHIFT] button is used
to access the [OSC 2 PITCH], [PWM], [RING MOD] & [OSC MIX] controls in the oscillator sub-menu.

2.

ENVELOPES:

envelope. The large [ENVELOPE] button switches between envelopes1&2.The[SHIFT] button is used to access
the [VELOCITY] control in the envelope sub-menu.

3.

LFO’S:

switches between LFO1&2.The[SHIFT] button is used to access the [MIDI CLOCK] control in the LFO sub­menu.

4.

FILTER:

[FILTER] button switches the filter on and off. The [SHIFT] button is used to access the [FILTER TYPE], [RES MOD]
and [LFO 2 MOD] controls in the oscillator sub-menu.

5.

PART SELECT:

totally different sounds in each program.

This section features [SPEED], [DELAY] and [SHAPE] controls for each LFO. The large [LFO] button

This section features [FREQUENCY], [RESONANCE] and [ENV MOD] controls for the filter. The large

This section features [WAVEFORM], [PITCH MOD], [PULSE WIDTH] and [DETUNE] controls

This section features [ATTACK], [DECAY], [SUSTAIN] and [RELEASE] controls for each

These buttons are used to select the 5 Multitimbral ‘PARTS’. You can create and store five

6.

MENU:

additional parameters for editing whilst the [EDIT] keypad is used to scroll up and down the menu and change the
values.

7.

AUDITION:

menu button, the [DEMO] sequence can be accessed.

8.

VOICE/PROGRAM:

9.

PART OUTPUT:

parameters for each individual PART.

10.

information and edit values.

11.

JOYSTICK:

[FREQUENCY] + [RESONANCE] parameters can be controlled by the joystick simultaneously.

12.

menus along with various SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE parameters.

This section features 7 menu buttons and a 4-way keypad. The MENU buttons are used to select

This button can be used to trigger the selected PART. Also, in conjunction with the MODULATION

This jog dial is used to call-up the programs and voices.

This button is used to access the [LEVEL], [PANNING], [TREMOLO] and [PORTAMENTO]

PARAMETER/VALUE DISPLAY:

The joystick mixer can be assigned to a number of different parameters. For example filter

UTILITY:

This button is used to access the [JOYSTICK], [OUTPUT ASSIGN] and [MASTER MIDI CHANNEL]

This 4-digit LED display shows voice/program numbers, parameter

OWNERS MANUAL

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Rear Panel

Red

the colour of music

1.

HEADPHONES - 1/4 jack connector

Sound

RIGHT [2][2] LEFT [1] TIP[1] RING[2] THRU OUT IN[1]

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1423 5 67

XP2

CAUTION: DO NOT OPEN CASE. REFER TOQUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE

MIDIEXTIN1&2MAIN OUTPUTSSUB OUTPUTSPHONES

Red Sound Systems Ltd

ON

MADE IN ENGLAND

POWER

-

9v DCOFF

+

Use this socket to monitor the MAIN output signal from DARKSTAR XP2. Use suitable stereo headphones of
50 ohms > impedance (NOTE: the SUB outputs cannot be monitored from this connector).

2.

SUB OUTPUTS - 1/4 jack connectors

Use these sockets to feed the secondary pair of audio outputs to your mixing desk or amplification system.

3.

MAIN OUTPUTS - 1/4 jack connectors

Use these sockets to feed the main left/right audio output of DARKSTAR XP2 to your mixing desk or amplification
system.

4.

EXTERNAL INPUTS 1&2 - 1/4 jack connector

Use this socket to connect any external line level audio source to DARKSTAR XP2 for filter/envelope processing
whilst using MIDI control.

5.

MIDI IN/OUT/THRU - Connectors

MIDI data will be transmitted and received by these connectors.

6.

POWER - Switch

This turns the power on and off.

7.

DC POWER IN - Connector

Only use the 9vDC 500 mA [or greater amperage] PSU supplied with DARKSTAR XP2 to power the unit.

DARKSTAR XP2 - Poly Synth

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PSU

RED

TO

SOCKET

AC WALL

Connections

MIDI OUT

Input 1

ONE

Input 2

TWO

Ground

EXTERNAL

SOUND SOURCES

POWER

ON

IN

OUT

MIDI

THRU

TIP[1] RING[2]

EXTIN1&2

LEFT [1]

MAIN OUTPUTS

RIGHT [2]

[1]

[2]

SUB OUTPUTS

+

-

9v DC

MADE IN ENGLAND

OFF

Red Sound Systems Ltd

CAUTION: DO NOT OPEN CASE. REFER TOQUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE

or...

XP2

MIDI OUT

MIDI KEYBOARD

MIDI IN

or...

MIDI IN

MIDI SEQUENCER

MIDI IN

OTHER MIDI DEVICE

PHONES

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Sound

Red

the colour of music

STUDIO MIXING DESK

HEADPHONES

OWNERS MANUAL

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Quick Start

QUICK START

If you want to quickly try out the performance of DARKSTAR XP2, please read the following points carefully:

CONNECTIONS:

Connect the power supply (included) to the ‘power in’ socket on the rear panel of DARKSTAR XP2 and plug it into
a suitable AC outlet. Connect the audio cables for a basic system setup as shown on page 5.

TURNING ON THE POWER:

mixing desk and amplifier system are turned completely down. Press the rear panel power switch on DARKSTAR
XP2. Turn on the power of the mixing desk and then turn on the power of the amplifier system.

POWER UP INDICATIONS:

message whilst various parameters are being set internally. When this process is complete, the display will show
the PROGRAM number. If this does not happen, check the power supply is of the correct type and the unit was
switched on correctly.

PLAYING THE DEMO:

[MODULATION] menu button once to start playback. To pause the demo simply press the [AUDITION] button once.

SETTING THE MIDI RECEIVE CHANNEL:

button and use the [EDIT] keypad [VALUE +] and [VALUE -] buttons to set the channel of the active PART (as
DARKSTAR XP2 can have up to 5 different sounds/MIDI channels setup in each PROGRAM you may have to
change the MIDI transmit channel on your keyboard a few times to play all the sounds).

SELECTING PROGRAMS:

the display will start to flash the ‘P’ for program. Now simply rotate the [VOICE/PROGRAM] jog dial to scroll up and
down the 64 programs. Whilst the new program data is being loaded the display will flash ‘PL’ for program load ­wait for this to revert to ‘P’ before attempting to audition the new sound.

Before making any connections, make sure that the power on all your equipment is turned OFF.

Make sure all connections have been made correctly and the volume controls on the

When DARKSTAR XP2 is powered up, the main display will briefly show a welcome

To run the demo sequence, press and the [AUDITION] button, then press the

To select the correct MIDI receive channel, press the [MIDI] MENU

To select the factory programs, press the [VOICE/PROGRAM] jog dial knob once and

hold

To hear the sounds, use the front panel [AUDITION] button or connected MIDI keyboard. You can modify the
sounds in real-time by altering the controls in the OSCILLATOR, FILTER, ENVELOPE and LFO sections.

Please read the following “OPERATION” section carefully to fully appreciate the range of features and facilities the
DARKSTAR XP2 8-Voice Synthesizer has to offer.

GETTING STARTED

After connecting DARKSTAR XP2 to your system as detailed on page 5, press IN the rear panel power switch to
turn the power on. The main display will show a welcome message, as shown below:

Welcome message = dArk StAr

PARAMETER

VA L U E

Afterwards, the last selected program (before power was switched off at the previous session) will be recalled and
displayed as follows:

PARAMETER

VA L U E

DARKSTAR XP2 is now ready to use.

PARAMETER

VA L U E

Program 1

DARKSTAR XP2 - Poly Synth

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Operation

MASTER VOLUME CONTROL

Use this control to set the master output level of DARKSTAR XP2. The position of this rotary control will determine
the overall output level from the rear panel [MAIN] left/right, [SUB]1&2audio sockets and also the [PHONES]
monitor output. At the fully anti-clockwise position the output will be zero. As the knob is moved in a clockwise
direction the output level will gradually increase until, at the fully clockwise position the overall volume will be at its
maximum.

Rotate clockwise
to increase MASTER
VOLUME

MASTER
VOLUME

AUDITION Button

This feature allows you to trigger sounds whilst working at the front control panel. There are single note triggers,
chords and patterns to choose from enabling you to try sounds in a number of different ways. Each press of the
[AUDITION] button will trigger the sound and the [VOICE/PROGRAM] jog dial can be used to change the trigger
pattern, as shown in the following examples:

Rotate the JOG DIAL

2

to change the
AUDITION TRIGGER

[+/up][-/dwn]

1

audition audition

Playing a sound Changing the AUDITION trigger pattern

The display will indicate the selections as the jog dial is rotated. The selected trigger type can be stored with the
program.

DEMONSTRATION SEQUENCE

To play the DARKSTAR XP2 demo sequence, first press and hold down the [AUDITION] button, then press the
[MODULATION] menu button once, as shown in the following example:

To pause the demo at any time simply press the [AUDITION] button once.

Press once to
trigger sound

To play the demo...

2

Press once

DEMo

[Hold][Press]

auditionMODULATION

Press & hold

Press and hold

1

VOICE/

PROGRAM

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Operation

PROGRAMS - Selecting, editing and saving sounds

This section allows you to store all the DARKSTAR XP2 settings in memory for instant recall of your favourite
sounds. The position of every control knob, switch and even the joystick can be memorised in 64 user definable
program memory locations.

SELECTING PROGRAMS:

Use the [VOICE/PROGRAM] jog dial to select programs from memory, as shown in the

following example:

[+/up][-/dwn]

EDITING:

PARAMETER

VA L U E

Display shows current PROGRAM number

PARAMETER

VA L U E

Display flashes ‘PL’ to indicate

3

PROGRAM LOADING

...then ‘P 7’ as the new
PROGRAM is loaded in

Rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise to change PROGRAM1

2

PARAMETER

VA L U E

To edit the selected program simply adjust any of the front panel controls. When the first control or switch

VOICE/

PROGRAM

is moved, the [EDIT] indicator will start to flash to indicate ‘EDIT’ mode, as shown in the following example:

PARAMETER

VA L U E

EDIT

don’t

If you want to keep the parameter changes made during editing, simply select another program.

COMPARE:

To hear the ORIGINAL settings of the selected program (before it was edited), press the EDIT -

Flashes to indicate program EDIT mode

[COMP] button once, as shown below:

VALUE

save

MENU

EDIT

COMP

VALUE

Press the compare [COMP]
button to hear the original
sound

Display changes to ‘C’
to indicate COMPARE mode

PARAMETER

VA L U E

You can switch from ‘Edit’ to ‘Compare’ modes as often as you like, simply press the [COMP] button again to jump
from one mode to the other.

DARKSTAR XP2 - Poly Synth

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Operation

STORE IN EXISTING PROGRAM:

If you want to store the new settings, they can be saved into the current
program whereby any previous settings will be overwritten. To store the new settings simply press the EDIT [SAVE]
button once, as shown below:

VALUE

COMP

Press the save [SAVE]
button once to store the
edited sound

save

MENU

EDIT

VALUE

Display changes to confirm
SAVE operation

PARAMETER

VA L U E

The main display will show 'SAVE' whilst the store operation is carried out.

STORE IN ANOTHER PROGRAM:

If you want to keep the existing program the edited setup, you

and still save

can overwrite any of the other programs. First, activate COMPARE mode and then use the [VOICE /PROGRAM]
jog dial to select another suitable program location as shown below:

VALUE

MENU

save

EDIT

Press the COMPARE button once

1

PARAMETER

VA L U E

COMP

VALUE

Rotate to select new PROGRAM

2

VALUE

MENU

save

EDIT

[+/up][-/dwn]

VOICE/

PROGRAM

COMP

VALUE

Display ‘C’ letter now flashes to indicate

3

COMPARE SELECT mode

When you are sure you want to overwrite the

4

selected program press SAVE

The 64 factory presets can be re-loaded back into memory at any time.

RE-LOAD ALL 64 FACTORY PRESETS: Ensure power is switched OFF. hold down

Press and the
[VOICE/PROGRAM] jog dial knob and then turn power on. The main display will show ‘SURE’ to prompt
confirmation of the load. Press the top [EDIT] button marked ‘VALUE +’’ to confirm the operation (‘LOAD’ appears
briefly in display).

Loading back all 64 factory presets

PARAMETER

VA L U E

PART MENU FUNCTIONS

The [PART] menu button at the front of the main panel lets you setup parameters such as POLYPHONY, MIDI
CHANNEL, NOTE RANGE, TRANSPOSE etc for each sound. For full details on the menu list, functions and
settings please see pages 22, 23 and 24.

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Operation

OSCILLATOR SECTION

OSC 2 PITCH

SHIFT

PITCH MODWAVEFORM

PWM ring mod osc mix

OSC 2 SEMITONE OFFSET

1716 19 2412750

Oscillators

Osc 1

Osc 2

DETUNEPULSE WIDTH

This section of DARKSTAR XP2 produces the musical tones which form the basis of subtractive synthesis. There
are two oscillators per ‘voice’ (musical note), each producing audible vibrations to act as a sound source. The
timbre of each oscillator depends on its harmonic content which is determined by the waveform. There are basically
two waveforms available, SAWTOOTH and SQUARE, each with its own specific set of harmonics.

Controls for changing the amount of modulation to the pitch timbre of the oscillators are also included in this
section. These timbral and pitch modulations give the oscillator sound more depth and stimulate musical appeal to
the ear.

OSCILLATOR SELECT button

This large button switches between oscillator 1 and 2. When the indicator is OFF, oscillator 1 will be selected.
When the indicator is ON, oscillator 2 will be selected.

WAVEFORM

(OSC 2 PITCH)

This control has two functions determined by the [SHIFT] button.

When the [SHIFT] function is (SHIFT LED Off) this control sets the selected oscillator’s waveform.

NOT selected ,

At the fully anti-clockwise position ( ) the waveform will be shaped like a SAWTOOTH. This waveform contains
every harmonic in decreasing volume and produces a very rich sound. As the control is moved in a clockwise
direction the shape progressively changes, becoming more and more ‘squared-off’ until, at the fully clockwise
position ( ) the shape will be a SQUARE or ‘pulse’ waveform. As a pure square wave (max and min values equal)
the harmonic content will be all the odd-numbered harmonics in decreasing volume which gives the sound a hollow
or ‘woody’ timbre. The width of the pulse can also be altered by the [PULSE WIDTH] knob to make the sound
thinner.

When the [SHIFT] function is selected (SHIFT LED Flashing) this control sets the amount of oscillator 2 pitch

,

offset. This detune setting is calibrated in semitones with the eight indicators labelled [OSC 2 SEMITONE OFFSET]
showing the value, as in the following example:

WAVEFORM

Oscillator 2 pitch offset =

Example:

12 semitones (1 octave)

Press once
before changing
the setting

OSC 2 PITCH

SHIFT

OSC 2 SEMITONE OFFSET

1716 19 2412750

Oscillators

Osc 1

Osc 2

DARKSTAR XP2 - Poly Synth

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Operation

PITCH MOD

This control has two functions determined by the [SHIFT] button.

When the [SHIFT] function is (SHIFT LED Off) this control sets the amount of pitch modulation to
the selected oscillator. At the 12 o’clock position there will be no pitch modulation applied. As the knob is moved in
an anti-clockwise direction the pitch modulation will become negative, first falling then rising. At the fully anti­clockwise position the modulation will be at its maximum negative depth. As the knob is moved in a clockwise
direction from the centre position, the pitch modulation will become positive, first rising then falling. At the fully
clockwise position the modulation will be at its maximum positive depth. See [OSCILLATOR] menu section below
for further details on the pitch modulation source.

When the [SHIFT] function is selected (SHIFT LED Flashing) this control sets the amount of pulse width
modulation or PWM for the selected oscillator when its [WAVEFORM] is set to SQUARE ( ). The PWM
SOURCE can be set to LFO1, LFO2, ENV1 or ENV2 (see [OSCILLATOR] menu) with negative and positive
modulations available. At the 12 o’clock position there will be no PWM. As the knob is moved in an anti-clockwise
direction the variation in the pulse width will become more and more pronounced in a negative manner. As the
knob is moved in a clockwise direction the variation in the pulse width will become more and more pronounced in a
positive manner.

PULSE WIDTH

This control has two functions determined by the [SHIFT] button.

When the [SHIFT] function is (SHIFT LED Off) this control sets the actual width of the pulse. At the
fully anti-clockwise position the fundamental will be at its minimum producing an extremely thin sound. As the knob
is moved in a clockwise direction the pulse width gets wider, with progressively less high harmonics being added
giving the sound a fuller timbre. At the fully clockwise position the minimum and maximum values of the pulse width
will be equal.

(PWM)

NOT selected ,

,

[RING MOD)

NOT selected ,

When the [SHIFT] function is selected (SHIFT LED Flashing) this control sets the amount of ring modulation
applied to the sound. Ring modulation occurs when the two sound sources are multiplied together and this gives
the resultant sound a harder, over-driven edge. At the fully anti-clockwise position the ring modulation will be at its
minimum. As the knob is moved in a clockwise direction the ring modulation gradually increases until, at the fully
clockwise position the ring modulation effect will be at its maximum.

DETUNE

This control has two functions determined by the [SHIFT] button.

When the [SHIFT] function is (SHIFT LED Off) this control sets the fine tuning for each oscillator. At
the 12 o’clock position the oscillators tuning will be unaffected. As the knob is moved in an anti-clockwise direction
the oscillators tuning will become more ‘Flat’, with a total negative detune of - 2 semitones available at the fully anti­clockwise position. As the knob is moved in a clockwise direction the oscillators tuning will become more ‘Sharp’,
with a total positive detune of + 2 semitones available at the fully clockwise position. Small variations in the
oscillators relative tuning will fatten up a sound giving it a rich texture. Larger amounts of detuning create a more
extreme effect.

When the [SHIFT] function is selected (SHIFT LED Flashing) this control sets the mix level between the oscillators.
At the 12 o’clock position the level of both oscillators will be equal. As the knob is moved in an anti-clockwise
direction the level of oscillator 2 will begin to decrease until, at the fully anti-clockwise position, only oscillator 1 can
be heard. As the knob is moved in a clockwise direction the level of oscillator 1 will begin to decrease until, at the
fully clockwise position, only oscillator 2 can be heard.

OSCILLATOR MENU

This section contains the remaining functions for the oscillators. To access these settings, press the MENU button
labelled [OSCILLATORS], as shown in the following example:

[OSC MIX)

NOT selected ,

,

,

OWNERS MANUAL

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