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Metropolis v1.0 MANUAL

The Metropolis is a unique and powerful Eurorack format musical sequencer inspired by the Ryk

M-185 (a Roland System 100m format sequencer.) but with many additional enhancements and func-

tions.

The Metropolis comprises eight “STAGES”, each with its own assignable gate mode, pulse count and

pitch value. Each stage can also have a special slide or skip function activated too. The slide function-

ality is a constant time portamento very similar to the Roland TB303 (unlike most synths/sequencers

that use constant rate portamento) which produces a very musical and interesting result.

In addition to the base sequencer settings set with the sliders and switches there is a full menu of

controls and auxiliary modiers that allows the user to control and manipulate the sequence in many

powerful ways including sequencer direction modes, pitch quantization and scale manipulators, clock

dividers, shufe and much more.

Summary of content (17 pages)

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Metropolis v1.0 MANUAL The Metropolis is a unique and powerful Eurorack format musical sequencer inspired by the Ryk M-185 (a Roland System 100m format sequencer.) but with many additional enhancements and functions. The Metropolis comprises eight “STAGES”, each with its own assignable gate mode, pulse count and pitch value. Each stage can also have a special slide or skip function activated too.
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FRONT PANEL ELEMENTS 1 - AUX A input jack Patch a -5V to +5V source here for modulating the sequencer parameter assigned to AUX A . 2 - GATE output jack The sequencer gate signal (0V for off, 5V for on) is produced here. Typically you would patch this to the gate input of an ADSR or AHD envelope generator. 3 - PITCH output jack The pitch control voltage (CV) is produced here. This would usually be patched to the 1V/Oct or PITCH/FM inputs on a VCO. This signal is in the range of 0-5V and scaled to 1V/Oct.
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FRONT PANEL ELEMENTS (continued...) 6. RESET input jack Patch a logic level signal (0-5V) here to reset the sequencer on either the next clock pulse or instantly depending on the CONFIG menu RESET option. 7. CLK input jack Patch an external clock source signal here (ideally 0-5V logic level or from a pulse LFO). This input only works when external clock mode is active (selected in the INT/EXT menu) 8.
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FRONT PANEL ELEMENTS (continued...) 15. SLIDE/ SKIP buttons Each of these buttons has dual functionality: Single click will activate a pitch slide for the given stage. A solid green indicates slide is active. Double click will set that stage to be skipped by the sequence. A flashing green led indicates skip. 16.
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MENU FUNCTIONS TRANSPORT FUNCTIONS RUN Toggles the start/stop of the sequence RESET Resets the sequence. The behavior depends on the CONFIG-> RESET mode. If RST n then reset occurs on the next clock pulse IF RST F then reset occurs if the CLK input is high at the same time as RST jack is high.
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MENU FUNCTIONS (continued...) INT/EXT This allows you to select INT CLK mode or EXT CLK mode. The display flashes to indicate that you choice is not active until you click the encoder. DIV Here you can set the divide clock output. The range of allowable values is determined by what divider mode you are in (as set in the CONFIG menu) IF CLK DIV mode = ALL: divider range 1 to 32 (where 1 represents no division) IF CLK DIV mode = EVE: divider range [1,2,4,6,....
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MENU FUNCTIONS (continued...) CONFIG The CONFIG menu comprises five flashing submenu choices. To select a submenu item, select it with the encoder and then click to enter that submenu and set the values. 1. OCTAVES e.g. OCT_3 Sets the maximum number of octave range for the pitch sliders. Range of choices: 1 to 3 octaves 2. CLOCK DIVIDER MODE e.g.
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MENU FUNCTIONS (continued...) SEQUENCE GENERATION FUNCTIONS MODE There are 10 possible direction modes for the sequencer. These determine how the sequencer advances between stages. FRD - FORWARD MODE The sequencer advances to each new stage in the forward direction starting at stage 1. The last stage is set in the STAGES menu. REV - REVERSE MODE The sequencer advances to each new stage in the reverse direction starting at the stage of the sequence which is set in the STAGES menu.
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MENU FUNCTIONS (continued...) BRN-F - FIXED BROWNIAN MODE Same as BRN mode except that the total length of the sequence is determined by the total pulse count set in the STAGES menu. STAGES Sets the length of the sequence in terms of number of STAGES or PULSES depending on the direction MODE that is currently active. STEP/DIV The step/div value determines how many clock pulses form a single gate if the gate mode for the stage is REPEAT. The range of values is 1 to 4 pulses.
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FIRMWARE UPGRADES Firmware can easily be upgraded by replacing the socketed IC on the back of the Metropolis with a new IC obtained from Intellijel Designs Inc. or an authorized retailer. Carefully pry out the old IC. Then make sure the divet on the chip matches the divet in the socket for correct polarity and press firmly into the socket.
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WARRANTY Intellijel Designs Inc. warrants this hardware product against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Intellijel’s published guidelines for a period of TWO (2) YEARS from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser (“Warranty Period”).
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APPENDIX A - SCALES SCALE Chromatic DISPLAY INTERVAL SET 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Major 0,2,4,5,7,9,11 Minor 0,2,3,5,7,8,10 Dorian 0,2,3,5,7,9,10 Mixolydian 0,2,4,5,7,9,10 Lydian 0,2,4,6,7,9,11 Phrygian 0,1,3,5,7,8,10 Locrian 0,1,3,4,7,8,10 Diminished 0,1,3,4,6,7,9,10 Whole-half 0,2,3,5,6,8,9,11 Whole Tone 0,2,4,6,8,10 Minor Blues 0,3,5,6,7,10 Minor Penta 0,3,5,7,10 Major Penta 0,2,4,7,9 Harmonic Minor 0,2,3,5,7,8,11 Meldoic Minor 0,2,3,5,7,9,11 Super Locrian 0,
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APPENDIX A - SCALES SCALE Japanese / Iwato (continued...
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APPENDIX B - DISPLAY ABBREVIATIONS & EXAMPLES Startup display Default active display showing currently active pitch and a sequence animation. When a pitch slider is moved the slider number and new pitch are displayed. e.g.
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APPENDIX B - DISPLAY ABBREVIATIONS & EXAMPLES (continued...
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APPENDIX C - PATCH EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1: BASIC PATCH In the EXAMPLE 1 patch the Metropolis is being used in its most common configuration to control the pitch and amplitude of a VCO. The PITCH output from the Metropolis is connected to the 1V/Oct input of the VCO. One of the VCO’s output waveforms (e.g. a saw wave) is then connected to the audio input of a VCA. The GATE output is connected to the gate input of an ADSR.
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APPENDIX C - PATCH EXAMPLES (continued...) EXAMPLE 2: MODULATED SEQUENCE PATCH The patch in EXAMPLE 2 demonstrates a way to generate a sequence that is being modulated. Metropolis#1 can be in either EXT or INT CLK mode and is connected to a VCO, VCA and ENVELOPE generator similarly to EXAMPLE 1. The SYNC output jack is used to clock the CLK input of the second Metropolis (or any other CV sequencer).