Tiptop Audio Z300 MKII Smart VCO, Z3000 Smart VCO mkII User Manual

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Z3000 Smart VCOmkII

Design - Gur Milstein

Tiptop Audio 2010 All Rights Reserved

MADE IN THE USA

Special Thanks

Shawn Cleary

Matthew Davidson

Rene Schmitz

Andreas Schneider

Gene Zumchack

Bobby Voso

Mark Pulver

Surachai

Richard Devine

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This quick start guide provides an introduction to the
operation of the Z3000mkII. The Z3000mkII is an analog
voltage controlled oscillator with a built-in digital pulse
counter. It displays constant pitch data at a refresh
rate of one update per second in three different
modes. Each mode can be accessed using the Mode
Switch. This unique feature puts the Z3000mkII into
a class of its own as a VCO, bringing new capabilities
of complex sound synthesis to the analog realm. In
addition, it simplifies the setup of multi-oscillator voices
by allowing pitch intervals to be set by sight.

Mode Switch

1. Frequency Mode

2. Musical Note Mode

3. Octave Mode

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Frequency Mode.

Frequency Mode is the Z3000mkII’s first mode and is
the mode that the module starts in when powered. It
works by counting the wave cycles generated by the
VCO for one second and then shows the results on
the display with a resolution of 1Hz. The display ranges
from 1Hzup to 9999Hz. When frequencies pass above
the maximum range of 9999Hz the display shuts off,
this is normal. Similarly, when frequencies pass below
the lower limit of 1Hz the display blinks the word LFO
(Low Frequency Oscillator).

The display of the Z3000mkII is fully synchronized with
the VCO frequency and blinks accordingly at low
frequencies. Each time the display comes on, it
indicates the start of a new wave. This is especially
useful at low frequencies when the VCO is used as a
clock generator or LFO.

LFO 1Hz 9999Hz Display Off

MIN MAX

MIN MAX

LOW

HIGH

SYNC HSM

1V/Oct 1V/Oct

Linear FM

INPUT

PWM FM 1

LOW HIGH

Hz

Oct

FM 2

INPUT

CV IN INPUT

CV IN CV OUT

INPUT INPUT

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EXT IN

FREQUENCY/NOTE/OCTAVE

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Z3000

Smart VCJOscillator

FREQUENCY

FINE TUNE

PULSE WIDTH

PWM

FM

MIN MAX

MIN MAX

LOW

HIGH

SYNC HSM

1V/Oct 1V/Oct

Linear FM

INPUT

PWM FM 1

LOW HIGH

Hz

Oct

FM 2

INPUT

CV IN INPUT

CV IN CV OUT

INPUT INPUT

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+ +

+

EXT IN

FREQUENCY/NOTE/OCTAVE

Tipt p

Audi o

Z3000

Smart VCJOscillator

FREQUENCY

FINE TUNE

PULSE WIDTH

PWM

FM

SYNC HSM

1V/Oct EXTJIN

Linear FM

INPUT

PWM FM 1

FM 2

CV IN INPUT

CV IN INPUT

INPUT INPUT

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+ +

+

Tipt p

Audi o

Z3000

Hz

Oct

FREQUENCY/NOTE/OCTAVE

FM

PWM

PULSE WIDTH

FINE TUNE

MAXMIN

MIN MAX

LOW

HIGH

LOW

SHAPER

WAVE

FREQUENCY

Smart VCJOscillator

HIGH

SYNC HSM

1V/Oct EXTJIN

Linear FM

INPUT

PWM FM 1

FM 2

CV IN INPUT

CV IN INPUT

INPUT INPUT

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Tipt p

Audi o

Z3000

Hz

Oct

FREQUENCY/NOTE/OCTAVE

FM

PWM

PULSE WIDTH

FINE TUNE

MAXMIN

MIN MAX

LOW

HIGH

LOW

SHAPER

WAVE

FREQUENCY

Smart VCJOscillator

HIGH

ʨ˔ˇ˓˗ˇː˅˛ʯˑˆˇʎʐʨ˔ˇ˓˗ˇː˅˛ʴ˃˖ˋˑ˕

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ˊ˃˔ˏˑːˋ˅ʋˑ˔˃˄˔˃˕ˋ˘ˇ

ʊˋːˊ˃˔ˏˑːˋ˅ˑ˔ˆˋ˕˕ˑː˃ː˖ʋʎ

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ʕʒʒʪ˜ʏ˖ˊˇː˖ˊˇ˕ˇ˅ˑːˆʸʥʱ˕ˊˑ˗ˎˆ˄ˇ˕ˇ˖˖ˑ˃ː
ˇ˘ˇːˏ˗ˎ˖ˋ˒ˎˇˑ˔ˈ˔˃˅˖ˋˑːʜ

ʙʗˊ˜ʏʓʗʒʪ˜ʏʕʒʒʪ˜ʏʘʒʒʪ˜ʏʓʔʒʒʪ˜ʏʔʖʒʒʪ˜ʏˇ˖˅ʎ

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˕˗˄˖˔˃˅˖ˋːˉ˃˅ˑː˕˖˃ː˖ː˗ˏ˄ˇ˔ʊʙʗʏˋː˖ˊˋ˕˅˃˕ˇʋˈ˔ˑˏ
˖ˊˇˈ˗ːˆ˃ˏˇː˖˃ˎˈ˔ˇ˓˗ˇː˅˛ʜ

ʙʗʪ˜ʏʓʗʒʪ˜ʏʔʔʗʪ˜ʏʕʒʒʪ˜ʏʕʙʗʪ˜ʏˇ˖˅ʎ

ʯ˗ˎ˖ˋ˒ˊˑːˋ˅˕ˑ˗ːˆ˕˃˔ˇ˅˔ˇ˃˖ˇˆ˄˛˃ˆˆˋːˉ˃˖ˊˋ˔ˆʸʥʱ
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˖˙ˑʎʨˑ˔ˇ˚˃ˏ˒ˎˇʜ

ʫˈʸʥʱʓʟʙʗʪ˜˃ːˆʸʥʱʔʟʓʗʒʪ˜

ʵˇ˖ʸʥʱʕʟʔʔʗˊ˜ʊʓʗʒʍʙʗʋ




ʊʥˑː˖ˋː˗ˇˆʎʎʎʋ

Audio synthesis relies heavily on frequency ratios, so
using them appropriately can be very helpful no matter
what the application: modulate the pulse width of
another VCO, for frequency modulation, modulate the
cutoff of a filter or any other parameters in a given
system’s modules. The Z3000mkII’s Frequency Mode
makesit possible to quickly experiment with the
mathematical side of sound design and audio
processing.

The Music Note Mode allows for the same techniques
but from a different perspective. It allows frequency
ratios to be set easily but based on the harmonic
relationships of musical notes as defined by the
chromatic scale. This feature allows those with
extensive training in music theory to experiment with
sound design and composition on a modular
synthesizer by setting those ratios. Try experimenting
with different sounds by setting multiple Z3000mkIIs to
different musical notes and have them modulate one
another.

Frequency Ratios. 1 Continued

LOW

FREQUENCY

HIGH

The Z3000mkII has been given
an expanded frequency range
above and below its predecessor.
It now covers the range of 0.7Hz
all the way up to 30kHz. This higher
top end, for example; is especially
useful for the Clock Input of our
Z-DSP VC-Digital Signal Processor
module.

Extended Frequency Range.