Dubreq Stylophone Gen X-1

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5. DELAY

A repeating, decaying echo. When switched on,

this creates a repetition of your sound.

This adds space to your sound as it mimics

dierent environments. Think of the dierence

you hear between clapping in a small room

(short delay time as the sound bounces o the

close wall and then is quiet) and clapping in a

big cave (big delay and more feedback as you

hear echo several times as it bounces around),

This is delay!

Congure your Gen X-1 to these settings and play

with the Delay. ..

4. FILTER

This is a Low Pass Filter that cuts o high

frequencies.

This does not control anything, but simply

applies a lter to the GEN X-1.

Think about how physical barriers aect

sounds in the world around us, like hearing

loud music through a wall (mued, low bass

frequencies but high notes cut out), and then

how it changes when you open the door (all

frequencies heard). This is a primitive real world

Low Pass Filter,

Congure your Gen X-1 to these settings and play

with the lter...

QUICK

START

GUIDE

DETAILED GUIDE

1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the world of

the Stylophone Gen X-1

portable analog synthesizer

2. ENVELOPE

Attack and no decay = sustain (by leaving the

lter open).

The envelope controls two parameters on the

Gen X-1, the pitch and the lter, When the

pitch dial is set to zero the attack and decay

will eect only the lter, When the pitch dial is

turned, the attack and decay will also eect the

pitch of the Gen X-1.

The attack dial is used to adjust the amount of

time it takes for either the lter/ pitch to fade

in, The decay control adjusts the amount of

time it takes for the lter/ pitch to fade out.

Think about the sound of a bell, it starts o

abruptly (low attack) and fades out slowly

(high decay),

Congure your Gen X-1 to these settings and play

with the envelope...

3. LOW FREQUENCY

OSCILLATOR

Low-Frequency Oscillator that modulates the

pitch of the sound. You can change it in the

following ways:

WAVE PATTERN Changes the shape (and so

sound) of the wave pattern,

Square (jumps between pitch levels)

Triangle (rises and falls smoothly between

pitch levels)

RATE OF WAVES Eects the number of waves

you hear per second.

DEPTH OF WAVE Changes the depth of the

wave pattern creating peaks and troughs,

The LFO is a very slow oscillator that controls

other parameters on the Gen X-1.

It can eect the pitch of the oscillator and

the frequency of the Pulse Width Modulation

(X button). The switch allows you to choose

between square and triangle wave patterns.

Congure your Gen X-1 to these settings and play

with the LFO...

PITCH ADJUST

This handy control on the underside of the

GEN X-1 allows you to ne tune the pitch

of your sound exactly.

KEYBOARD AND SOUNDSTRIP

You have two ways to make sounds with the stylus:

• The keyboard to play distinct notes

• The soundstrip above the keyboard to slide

between notes on a scale. The soundstrip can

also be played with your nger – this will override

any playing of the keyboard.

When no pitch is engaged,

the Attack and Decay

control the lter.

A Low Pass Filter that cuts

o high frequencies.

A 3.5mm mini jack socket

allows you to apply the LFO

dials, lter, cut o, resonance

and all delay dials, to incoming

audio of your choice. Why not

put your guitar or even voice

through the GEN X-1 !

This mini jack socket

is your audio out and

is also suitable for

headphones.

A repeating, decaying echo.

Three options to enrich

the sound:

Low-Frequency Oscillator

that modulates the sound.

You can change it in the

following ways:

ATTACK how quickly the

frequency fades in

CUT OFF the point to cut

o the high

frequencies

D-TIME time between

the signal and

the echo

DELAY ON activates eect

X adds Pulse Width

Modulation

WAVE select square

or triangle

PITCH controls the

oscillator pitch

RESONANCE the frequency

of the peak point

where you set

the cut o

No sound? Try turning Cut

O to the centre position.

F-BACK creates multiple

echoes

-1 adds a frequency one

octave lower

RATE the number of

waves per second

DEC AY how quickly

the frequency fades

out

ATTACK how quickly the frequency fades in

PITCH how much of the envelope is ALSO

controlling the pitch,

DEC AY how quickly the frequency fades out

CUT OFF The point to cut o the high

frequencies

RESONANCE The frequency of the peak point

to set the cut o.

NO SOUND? Try turning Cut O to the middle.

D TIME This increases the time between the

initial signal and the echo,

F-BACK This creates multiple echoes,

LEVEL This controls the amount of echo

you hear,

E-LEVEL sets how much

echo you hear

-2 adds a frequency two

octaves lower

DEPTH changes peaks

and troughs of

the wave

TUNING

As your Stylophone Gen X-1 is an analog

instrument, the tuning can sometimes drift

depending on temperature and humidity. If

this happens, please see the Users’ Guide.

Insert 4

AA batteries

Switch on

Pick up the stylus and play!

For more tips join the

GEN X-1 community online

www.stylophonegenx1.com

-1

-2

POWER

SWITCH

TRIM DIAL

(SCREWDRIVER REQUIRED)

PITCH DIAL

(REAR)

LINE-IN

LINE-OUT

ENVELOPE

DELAY

LFO

FILTER

PWM &

SUB-OCTAVE

LINE-IN

LINE-OUT

The keyboard is set out in the same way as a piano keyboard, with

the bottom row of notes representing the white keys and the top

row the black keys.

You play by touching the tip of the stylus on to a note or your

nger/stylus on the sound strip.

To remove the stylus simply press on the right end and lift gently

to release, TAKE CARE not to damage the connection wire!

The sound strip above the keyboard can be played with either the stylus

or your nger. When played, it will override any playing of the keyboard.

PLEASE NOTE: You need to press down on the sound strip for it to work.

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Dubreq Stylophone Gen X-1 and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Envelope Controls Explained

Envelope Attack

Controls how quickly the frequency fades in for pitch or filter.

Envelope Pitch Modulation

Determines how much the envelope affects the oscillator's pitch.

Envelope Decay

Controls how quickly the frequency fades out after the attack.

Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO)

Additional Controls and Features

Side Controls and Tuning

Tuning Procedure

Steps to re-tune the analog instrument using pitch and trim dials.

Pitch Adjust Control

Fine-tunes the overall pitch of the sound on the underside.

Safety and Operating Information

Battery Handling and Disposal

Guidelines for safe battery insertion, usage, and proper disposal.

General Precautions

Advice on protecting the unit from liquids, dust, and mechanical stress.

Hearing Damage Warning

Caution against listening at high volumes for extended periods.

The Stylophone Gen X-1 is a portable analog synthesizer, a modern iteration of the classic Stylophone, designed for both beginners and experienced musicians. Its compact size and battery operation (4x AA batteries) make it highly portable. The device features a unique playing interface: a metal keyboard and a soundstrip, both played with a stylus or a finger. The keyboard allows for distinct notes, similar to a piano, while the soundstrip enables smooth glissandos between notes. A fine-tuning dial on the underside of the unit allows for precise pitch adjustment, addressing the analog nature of the instrument which can be susceptible to temperature and humidity changes.

The Gen X-1 offers a rich set of sound-shaping controls, categorized into several modules:

Envelope: This module controls the amplitude and pitch evolution of the sound.

ATTACK: Determines how quickly the frequency (and optionally pitch) fades in.
PITCH: Controls how much the envelope also influences the oscillator's pitch. When set to zero, attack and decay only affect the filter.
DECAY: Determines how quickly the frequency (and optionally pitch) fades out. By manipulating these controls, users can create sounds ranging from abrupt, percussive tones to slow, evolving pads.

Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO): This module introduces modulation to the sound, affecting the pitch and other parameters.

WAVE: Selects the LFO waveform, either square (for abrupt jumps in pitch) or triangle (for smooth rises and falls in pitch).
RATE: Controls the speed of the LFO, determining how many waves are heard per second.
DEPTH: Adjusts the intensity of the LFO effect, creating more pronounced peaks and troughs in the modulated sound. The LFO can be applied to the oscillator's pitch and the frequency of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).

Filter: A Low Pass Filter (LPF) is included to shape the tonal characteristics of the sound.

CUT OFF: Determines the frequency point above which higher frequencies are attenuated.
RESONANCE: Boosts the frequencies around the cut-off point, creating a more pronounced, sometimes "wah-like" effect. This filter allows users to sculpt the timbre, from bright and open sounds to dark and muffled tones, mimicking how physical barriers affect sound in the real world. If no sound is heard, turning the Cut Off knob to the middle is recommended.

Delay: This module adds a repeating, decaying echo to the sound, creating a sense of space and atmosphere.

DELAY ON: Activates or deactivates the delay effect.
D-TIME: Controls the time interval between the initial signal and subsequent echoes.
F-BACK (Feedback): Determines the number of echoes, creating multiple repetitions.
E-LEVEL (Echo Level): Adjusts the volume of the echo relative to the dry signal. This feature can simulate various environments, from small rooms with short, quick echoes to large caves with long, reverberating tails.

PWM & Sub-Octave: These options enrich the sound by adding additional harmonic content.

X (PWM): Adds Pulse Width Modulation, creating a chorus-like effect where two oscillators appear to play together. The LFO controls the frequency of the PWM.
-1 (Sub-Octave): Adds a frequency one octave lower than the source sound.
-2 (Sub-Octave): Adds a frequency two octaves lower than the source sound. These features allow for thicker, more complex, and deeper sounds.

Connectivity:

LINE-IN (3.5mm mini jack): Allows external audio sources (e.g., guitar, voice) to be processed through the Gen X-1's LFO, filter, and delay effects.
LINE-OUT (3.5mm mini jack): Provides an audio output for connecting to headphones or external recording devices, enabling users to record their analog sounds digitally.

Maintenance and Safety:

The device requires 4x AA batteries. Proper battery handling is crucial: use only recommended battery types, observe polarity, remove exhausted batteries, and dispose of them correctly according to national and regional legislation. Do not mix old and new batteries or different types. The unit should not be exposed to liquids, excessive smoke, dust, mechanical vibration, or shock. Users are advised not to open the product beyond the battery compartment or tamper with internal components, as this will void the warranty. In case of damage, contact customer service. When using headphones, avoid high volume levels for extended periods to prevent hearing damage. The stylus cable should be handled with care to avoid damage. Cleaning should be done with a dry, soft cloth, avoiding liquids, alcohol, or solvents.

The Stylophone Gen X-1 is a versatile and fun instrument that builds on the legacy of the original Stylophone, offering a wide range of sound design possibilities in a portable package. Its intuitive controls and unique playing style make it accessible for experimentation and creative expression.