Killer Beta 0.566 -- April 24, 2016

Emulation of Ionic Performer Synthesizer

1. Changelog
2. History, background and use
3. Notes
4. Hardware and software differences from the original
5. Brief user manual




== 1 ==

Changes from 0.564 through 0.566: Recompiled under SynthEdit 1.1.
   64-bit version will wait for the stable version of SynthEdit.
Changes from 0.560 through 0.563: Minor fixes, and repaired the 
   missing output from the modulation of oscillator 2.
Changes from 0.558 to 0.560: Replaced UD-Reverb with latest version
   that accepts short pulses from the envelope.
Changes from 0.554 to 0.558: Removed 0.05 Hz 'kicker' for reverb.
   Effect is that ADSR set to 0,0,0,N does not trigger reverb, but it 
   also removes 0.05 Hz artifact from resulting output and files.
Changes from 0.540 to 0.554: Added vernier dials to 3 oscillators and 
   keyboard oscillator; harmonized both version number and VST number
   between large and small GUI versions; updated this documentation.
Changes from 0.461 to 0.540: Reduced UI to 800 pixels, improved control 
   "feel", and finished the UI decoration.
Changes from 0.459 to 0.461: Reduced UI size slightly, added border.
   Reduced CPU usage to 300Mhz.




== 2 ==

The original Performer was manufactured briefly in the early 1970s by 
Ionic Industries in Morristown, New Jersey. I purchased the floor model 
and fellow composer David Gunn purchased a production unit. For more 
information, including a discussion of the controversy surrounding its 
design & development: http://maltedmedia.com/people/bathory/killer.html

This VSTi is a close replica of the original Performer, including the 
deficiencies of tuning, tracking and control. Switches, sliders, buttons, 
illumated presets, indicator lights and keyboard are all made from 
photos of the original. (Although all other functions work, some of the 
lamps do not function in some VST hosts. It works perfectly in Sonar.)

The switch matrix emulates patch cords. I will scan the original manual 
for examples of what could be done with this flexible and very playable 
instrument.

To use the emulator, load it into a VST host. My favorites are Sonar 
(cakewalk.com), the live-performance marvel Audio Mulch (audiomulch.com), 
and Analog Box (andyware.com), which is a really wonderful analog synth 
modeling system. Killer (so named because the original weighed about 80 
lbs. and was a real back-killer going to shows) will run automatically. 
You can load the included presets and play with them. Please note that 
there are two keyboards -- the external Midi control and the internal 
keyboard. There is a switch to select between the two. There is also a 
trigger on/off switch, and an option to load wave files that can be 
played and modified by the synth (we used cassettes, of course!). The 
wave files are played each time a trigger signal is sent.

This device is as true to the original as I can make it, including all 
the unusual aspects and difficulties.

This emulation is shareware. If you like it, please register by sending 
$25 to me at bathory@maltedmedia.com (via PayPal) or to my address at 
176 Cox Brook Road, Northfield VT 05663 US.




== 3 ==

Note: This VSTi is CPU-hungry. Together with Sonar, a 600 MHz system 
is needed. I will make improvements on this aspect of the emulation.

Note 2: Both the DLL and the DAT files make up the VSTi for Windows98
and earlier.


== 4 ==

I made the following hardware changes on the Performer from 1973-1981:
1.  Added octave dividers to oscillators 1 and 2.
2.  Added fine-tune tracking controls to oscillators 1 and 2 to 
    compensate for temperature changes.
3.  Added an envelope quieting control to compensate for temperature 
    changes.
4.  Added a bypass switch to the noisy preset block.
5.  Added a level control to the noise generator.
6.  Added a decay control to the original ASR envelope.
7.  Added controls for individual left/right volumes for auto-pan.
8.  Built an improved wah-wah control for more effect.
9.  Built an improved fuzz control for more dirt.
10. Added a rate control to the portamento output preset.
11. Added a switch to turn off the keyboard envelope trigger.
12. Removed the unstable dynamic keyboard velocity adjustment.
13. Added an AC/DC switch for battery power, and a DC input plug on
    the back panel.

The following differences are found in the VSTi version:
1.  The power switch is only cosmetic.
2.  The fine-tune tracking controls are not needed.
3.  The preset on/off switch is not needed.
4.  The envelope quieting control is not needed.
5.  The trigger auto-rate control had a push-pull switch. I have 
    replaced it with a button on top of the control.
6.  The auto-pan control also had a push-pull switch. I have 
    replaced it with a button on top of the control.
7.  The dynamic keyboard velocity adjustment is only cosmetic.
8.  A Performer/SynthEdit keyboard button has been added to accept 
    external Midi information or use the native SynthEdit keyboard.
9.  A file load option is offered to send .wav file information 
    to external input 1.

Special notes:
1. The "Spread" control changes the relationship between adjacent notes 
   on the keyboard.
2. The "Ch 1 & Keyb Volt" control works like the Spread control when 
   the keyboard voltage is fed to the matrix.
3. The X and Y axis control are the equivalent of joysticks (before 
   the devices were commonly available).

Acknowledgments:
1. To Jeff for creating SynthEdit, so go buy it!
        http://www.synthedit.com/
2. To Richard Brooks for the vernier dials
        http://www.kdbanglia.com/synthedit/
2. To David Haupt for the reverb
        http://www.dehaupt.com/SynthEdit
3. To Ralph Gonzalez for the noise generator
        http://pwp.ibl.bm/~rgonzale
4. To the whole SynthEdit community at 
	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syntheditusers

VST and ASIO are trademarks of Steinberg Soft- und Hardware GmbH




== 5 ==

Brief User Manual

The emulation of the Ionic Performer synth is very close to the original 
hardware.

Here is a description of what's on the unit.

Sound sources are on the left:
 -- Two regular oscillators with phase ('shape') and level controls for
    sine/ramp or square/ramp outputs. When flipped right, the small switch 
    doubles the pitch an octave below.
 -- One low-frequency oscillator (LFO) with phase and level controls for 
    square/ramp outputs
 -- First external input that also sends keyboard voltage and (emulation 
    only) the left-channel playback file, with level control
 -- Second external input and (emulation only) the right-channel playback
    file, with level control
 -- Noise generator, with level control
There are other sound sources, though, that seem hidden. Later for those!

On the original Ionic, switches replaced patch cords. Because the unit 
was so colorful, it was scorned. However, the switches made it possible 
to perform the Ionic live, with quick changes.

The yellow switches are the modifications:

 -- Envelope, controlled by Attack, Duration, Sustain, Decay and auto-
    trigger controls
 -- Ring modulator. (You have to play with this, as some signals go to 
    the A channel of the modulator, others to the B channel)
 -- Filter. This Moog-style filter has frequency, response (highpass, 
    lowpass, bandpass and Q/resonance point), and level
 -- Reverb with mix control

The grey and white switches are the outputs, and the lights turn on 
when any signal is sent to an output amp (not all VST hosts support 
the blinkenlights!):

-- The white switch outputs to the left channel and (emulation only) 
   the dry side of the reverb
-- The grey switch outputs to the right channel and (emulation only) 
   the wet side of the reverb

The red switches are the cross-controls, and need some explanation:

-- OSC1 column switches send the output of Oscillator 1 to Oscillator 2, 
   Oscillator 3, Filter, and Output Amps 1 and 2. The frequency and 
   amplitude of the oscillator modify the other signals. You can change 
   the pitch of the other oscillators, the frequency of the filter, or 
   the level of the output amps.
-- OSC2 column switches send the output of Oscillator 2 to Oscillator 1, 
   Oscillator 3, etc.
-- OSC3 column switches send the output of Oscillator 3 to Oscillator 1, 
   Oscillator 2, etc. Because Oscillator 3 is a low-frequency unit, it 
   can slowly sweep pitches and levels.
-- KEYB OSC column works as the three above, modifying via pitch.
-- EXT 1 column switches send the signal from the keyboard voltage to 
   the other oscillators, filter, and output amps. These are the patches 
   to play the other oscillators with the keyboard. This is *also* the 
   left external input, so serves double duty ... and sometimes a lot 
   of confusion as the two signals mix.
-- EXT 2 column switches act the same way as EXT 1, except only the 
   outside source or (emulation only) playback file affect the sound. 
   In the original, this external input could be DC -- another control 
   voltage.
-- TRAPEZOID is the shape of the envelope. So not only can the envelope 
   control the start and stop of the sound, it can control the contour 
   of pitches and filter and output amp levels. (Great for sirens.) The 
   trapezoid level control changes the height of the shape, and thus 
   the intensity of the effect.
-- FILTER sends the filter output. The same applies, except that this 
   output is more subtle and tends to work best when the filter is 
   resonating (the Response control turned right).
-- STICK X and Y are the outputs of the control sticks (primitive 
   joysticks made up of four controls) to the right. They can change 
   pitch and volume. The emulation, with only one mouse, does not 
   reveal the full flexibility of hammering on four stick controls 
   at once!

The remaining controls, knobs and switches on the main panel, from 
left to right:

-- Flip right the yellow switch labeled "Ext 1 Input File" and the 
   file open dialog appears. This file is sent through the Ext In 1 
   and Ext In 2 level controls.
-- The SynthEdit/Performer Keyboard toggle button (emulation only) 
   allows the original keyboard to be played, or for the unit to be 
   switched so that an incoming Midi stream will be used for pitch 
   and trigger.
-- In the envelope, the Auto Rate control has a pushbutton on the top 
   which turns on the feature.
-- The trigger button lights when the keyboard is used, or when it is 
   pressed. A trigger signal is sent from the keyboard only if the 
   "KB Trig" switch is up.
-- The X and Y sticks are symmetrical. The Limit sticks control the 
   intensity of the effect produced by the X- and Y-axis sticks.
-- The Auto Pan cycles the output from left to right, controlling the 
   pan with the knob and the presence of the effect with the button. 
-- The Z1 and Z2 controls change the depth of the Auto Pan effect.
-- The power switch is cosmetic and switches on the Performer logo.

The keyboard cheekblocks are the big deal in this unit, and can be 
tricky to use.

Left Cheekblock:

-- The Freq control changes the frequency of the Keyboard Oscillator.
-- The Spread control changes the distance between the notes. This 
   was insane on the actual instrument, where temperature changes 
   required retuning on the fly every few minutes. (Use the Reset 
   preset, included in the zip file, to set these back to proper 
   tuned 12 tones per octave).
-- The Level control changes the volume of the keyboard oscillator.
-- The Dyn control was a dog. It was supposed to change the level 
   of sensitivity of the keyboard to playing pressure, based on 
   dual-rail contacts that charged a sample-and-hold circuit based 
   on the speed between contact of first and second rails. Like the 
   dynamic control itself, it easily went crazy. So in this emulation, 
   the knob is just cosmetic and does nothing when you turn it.
-- The Lower and Upper Octave switches added upper and lower octaves 
   to the keyboard oscillator.
-- The Dynamic/Keyboard switch has actually been implemented in this 
   emulation. In the Keyboard position, the keyboard voltage and 
   (emulation only) Midi velocity data control the output level.
   In the Dynamic position, the (unimplemented) keyboard velocity 
   or (emulation only) Midi velocity data are used to control other 
   parameters. In Dynamic mode, *that* is what goes through Ext 1 
   to the red control switch! Oh, baby!
-- The pan and volume control act on the output amps before they 
   pass to the right cheekblock.

Right Cheekblock:

-- Excerpt for portamento, the controls on this cheekblock affect 
   either or both channels.
-- The Wah-Wah is a trigger filter. Like the original, it's pretty 
   bogus.
-- Port is portamento, and this emulates my hardware changes. 
   Portamento affects both channels, and its intensity (the speed 
   with which keyboard notes slide from one to the other) can be 
   changed by using one button, two buttons and the unmarked 
   center control. If you like portamento and want to be able to 
   replicate it each time, be sure to save your presets (.fxp or 
   .fxp, depending on your VST host).
-- Fuzz is again an emulation of my hardware changes, as the fuzz 
   in the original wasn't very dirty. This one's very dirty, and 
   also requires a hefty output to trigger it.
-- Trem is tremolo, but a volume (not pitch) tremolo. (If you 
   need a pitch tremolo, use Oscillator 3, ramp, shape centered, 
   with the volume low). Rate is controlled *separately* for 
   each channel with the controls at the bottom.
-- Repeat pulses the output. Rate is controlled with the same 
   knobs as tremolo.

Now how do you use all this?

To create notes, you have to set up the synth from the ground up! 
Here is an example: After making sure your VST host is running 
(usually by pressing the hosts play button), press OSC 1 gray & 
white buttons A5 & A6 (sends OSC 1 to output). You should hear a 
continuous tone.

Press A11 (sends keyboard/ext 1 voltage to OSC 1). Press the 
SynthEdit/Performer keyboard switch on the left so is says 
"Performer Keyboard". Now the pitch will change as you press the 
on-screen keys.

Press A1 (sends OSC 1 through the envelope) and make sure the 
manual trigger switch is up (on). Now pressing the keys will change 
pitch and send it through the envelope. If you want your host to 
control the pitch stream, choose the "SynthEdit Keyboard" and run 
in a Midi stream.

Now that it's going through the envelope, kick on A9 (OSC 3) and 
bring up the level of one of both Oscillator 3 controls, and also 
change pitch and shape. Center the three filter knobs, and then 
kick in the filter (A3) and twiddle the Freq and Resp controls.

Having fun yet? Press A13 (trapezoid) and hit the keyboard. Add 
some wah-wah (right cheekblock).

The "birds" preset I've included uses multiple oscillators, auto-
pan, tremolo, and trapezoid to get an almost-non-cycling set of 
chirps. There are quite a few 'hidden' oscillators and controls -- 
controls with supposedly specific purposes that can do double 
duty.

At some point, download the original scanned manual and try some 
of the settings. Because of differences in the emulation, you 
will have to alter the knob settings to get the demos to work, 
but they all will!