Tiptop Audio QuantiZer User Manual

Tiptop Audio

QuantiZer manual

The QuantiZer is a digital processor driving high precision analog CV circuitry. In its input it takes
CV signals from Sequencers, LFOs, Envelopes or pretty much any other module that produces
CV signals, and, in less than half a millisecond, it outputs CV converted to western chromatic
scales to drive VCOs in a modular. Without QuantiZer conversion it is hard to dial in specific
notes in a musical scale, so the QuantiZer osets the voltage to match exact notes; therefore, the
QuantiZer could be called a CV-to-musical-note converter. The beauty of the QuantiZer comes
from the ability to add and subtract notes from the scale, transpose sequences, switch musical
scales, add portamento and much more all from the front panel, which makes for a creative tool
to control and adjust melodies as they play through the QuantiZer.

The QuantiZer can work in two dierent modes: Free Run, where CV input gets immediately con­verted to the output, or Trigger mode, where CV input only gets converted when a trigger signal
is sent to the CLOCK input. Trigger mode is very useful to synchronize the conversion process
with other events in your modular, and it is also a great mode for experimentation by sending non
repetitive trigger signals.

This manual has two parts: the first section has tutorials for using various features; the second
section has detailed information about the connections and functions of the module.

QuantiZer Basics PATCH 1:

Using the Keys or Slider to set Pitch:

- Patch the QuantiZer 1V/Oct OUT to the Z3000 1V/Oct In

- Patch one of the Z3000 waveform outputs to a sound system to hear it.

- On the QuantiZer click FORCE 0V, all lights will turn o and the QuantiZer will be forced to
output 0V

- Adjust the Z3000 to 65Hz or click the Z3000 yellow button once to turn on the tuner and
adjust it to show Note C2. The Z3000 is now tuned.

- Click on Force 0V again, and click on Keyboard until the KEYS function is on. The QuantiZer
is set to a CV keyboard, clicking on the notes on the right side will make the Z3000 play
this octave. Notice the QuantiZer will quantize the key selection to the active notes (green
lights) of that scale.

- Click on KEYBOARD again until the light of this section are o

- Click on SLIDER and set it to NOTES, play the slider, to hear the Z3000 play all 5 Octaves.

Using the Z8000 as CV source: (please see drawing in next page)

- Plug a clock signal into your Z8000 Up and Down Column Input

- plug the CV out from Z8000 Up/Down into the NOTE CV jack on the QuantiZer.

- Set the SLIDER lights to o,

- set KEYBOARD to SCALE EDIT.

- Program some notes on the knobs on the Z8000

- Start the Clock source and the notes are quantized and sent to the Z3000 according to
keys of the selected scale, the green lights are the active notes, red light is the currently
playing note.

- In SCALE EDIT mode add or remove notes by clicking on them to hear how useful it is to
adjust and play the QuantiZer that way.

- Click on KEYBOARD and change to TRANSPOSE to use the keyboard to transpose your se
quence by that amount. For example, pressing D will shift the sequence up two semitones.

- Click on KEYBOARD to turn its modes o, click on SLIDER and select TRANSPOSE, use the
slider to transpose the sequence.

- Click on SLIDER and select OCTAVE, use the slider to transpose the sequence in steps of 1
octaves.

- Click on SLIDER and select PORTAMENTO, bring the slider down and the start bring it up to
add portamento eect to the notes.

Tip: At any given time if you feel lost or wish to start over, press and hold the RESET button which
will reset the module to last saved settings.

Using dierent scales:

- Click on Major, then click on note F on the right side keyboard and the green lights will
change position to show the new selected scale, which might change in the sequence as CV
in is converted now to F Major scale.

- Click Major then Gb to hear the switch again, click on Minor then D; musical progressions
can be made by switching scales.

If the VCO tuning has gone o, click on FORCE 0V and readjust the Z3000 to read note C (65Hz)
then click FORCE 0V to get back to playing.