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µScale

Pre

Scale

Post

Scale

Chro-

matic

Scale

Root

Scale

Bank

Root

Intrvl

Save

OUT BOUT A

SHIFT

A+B

Settings

shift type shift destinationB Mode

12 x buttons + tricolor leds

µScale v1.0 MANUAL

The μScale is a 4hp CV quantizer module. 1V/Oct 0 1-10V range pitch CV signals are fed into the input marked “IN” and

0-10V unipolar or +/5V bipolar CV is fed into the “SHIFT” input to great interesting and complex melodic CV out of the two

outputs “OUT A” and “OUT B”. The buttons and tricolor LEDs allow users to easily program in scales and manipulate how

the shift values affect the generated CV voltages in a wide variety of useful combinations. With the μScale it is possible

to transform analog voltage sources from sequencers, LFO’s, controllers and CV generators into quantized musical val-

μScale I/O

Active Scale

Menus (Short Hold)

IN: This input accepts 0-10V. Connect the 1V/Oct (or equivalent) voltage source

here from things like a sequencer, keyboard/controller, offset generator etc.

SHIFT: This input accepts either 0-10V or +/-5V signals depending on the jumper

setting on the main PCB. Connect modulation sources such as secondary sequenc-

er outputs, LFO, offset generator, keyboard.

OUT A: Pitch CV voltages in the range of 0-10V and tuned to 1V/Oct CV. This

outputs is the quantized version of the signal fed to the “IN” jack.

OUT B: Pitch CV voltages in the range of 0-10V and tuned to 1V/Oct.

The B outputs voltages are intervals based on the “A” output. The amount of that

interval and its harmonic relation to the root note on “A” depends on several

congurable settings.

The μScale is real-time programmable which means you can edit the scale while it is in

the process of quantizing CV. To do this simply click any of the 12 buttons which

represent the keys of a 12tet keyboard where the top most button is C and the bottom

most button is B. Adjacent to each button is a tricolor LED. In normal operation (i.e. while

not in a submenu display) the notes of the scale are denoted by red LEDs. The currently

quantized note (from the “IN” jack) is shown as a green LED. So if you have a variable

voltage source such as a sequencer output connected to “IN” and you have more than

one note selected to be part of your scale, you should see the green LED lighting up at

different positions of the scale to indicate the changing quantized values.

This scale you are editing is volatile and will not be saved unless you save it to a bank

and preset. Furthermore if you want to make sure the scale is saved ofine you must

make sure to store the banks+presets to EEPROM (see below)

SETTINGS: This menu allows you to set three separate settings: Shift Type (Pre Scale, In Scale or Post Scale), Shift Destination

(A, B. A+B or ROOT) and B Mode (Chromatic or In Scale). The current menu settings are denoted with three separate and differ-

ent colored LEDs). To exit the menu make a selection or click the SETTINGS button again.

INTRVL: Set the interval value used by output B. The LED position and color shows the current interval value. A green LED shows

a positive value in the range of 1-12 (where position ‘C’ is 1 and ‘B’ is 12). To set a negative value in the range of -1 to -12 simply

double click the equivalent positive value. (E.g. for an interval of -3 double click the ‘D’ key). Negative interval values are displayed

as a red LED. This interval is calculated in terms of xed semi tones (chromatic) or scale degrees (in-scale/diatonic) depending on

the option set in the SETTINGS menu (MODE: Chromatic OR In-Scale)

ROOT: Here you can shift the scale forwards or backwards relative to it’s root note. The green LED indicates the current lowest

note of the programmed scale relative to ‘C’. So if I had a C# pentatonic scale programmed (all the black keys) the root note would

be the C#. If I then pressed the F key the entire scale would shift 2 semi tones upwards. This means the note A# (last note in the

scale) would be shifted off the scale but wrapped around to the bottom as C. Technically the new scale root should be F but since

the scale root is always calculated as the lowest note relative to C the new scale root will actually be indicated as C.

BANK: Select one of 12 possible banks. Selected bank is indicated as a red LED. Available non-empty banks are indicated

as green LEDs. So if you select a bank from one of the currently available non-empty banks then the LED color will be yellow

(red+green = yellow). Unlit LEDS show the empty banks.

There are seven menus accessible by pressing and holding the following buttons for approximately 1 second:

intellijel

designs

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
intellijel designs µScale v1.0 MANUAL The μScale is a 4hp CV quantizer module. 1V/Oct 0 1-10V range pitch CV signals are fed into the input marked “IN” and 0-10V unipolar or +/5V bipolar CV is fed into the “SHIFT” input to great interesting and complex melodic CV out of the two outputs “OUT A” and “OUT B”. The buttons and tricolor LEDs allow users to easily program in scales and manipulate how the shift values affect the generated CV voltages in a wide variety of useful combinations.
PAGE 2
Menus (Short Hold) Cont’d 10 SCALE: Select one of 12 possible scales from the current bank. Selected scale is indicated with a red LED. Blank scales have no LEDs lit while stored scales are indicated with green LEDs. So if you select a scale from one of the currently available nonempty banks then the LED color will be yellow (red+green = yellow). 11 SAVE: Save scales to one of 12 possible locations in the current bank.
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Shifting - Cont’d Post-Scale: Post-Scale shifting is the easiest to understand of all the shifting types. For this type, the shift value is simply added to the scaLED note. So if my scaLED note is C2 and the shift value is 4 and the destination is A (and still using CMajor scale) then the resulting note is OUTA = C2+4 = E2. OUTB would be the unshifted note (C2) plus the interval value (e.g. 5) OUTB = C2+5 = F2. If the destination was B then OUTA = C2 (no change) but OUTB = C2+interval+shift = C2+4+5 = A2.
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APPENDIX A - CALIBRATION PROCEDURE In order to accurately calibrate a µScale module you will need the following items: • • • Digital Multi Meter (DMM) accurate to approximately +/-1mV and 4 significant digit display (e.g. capable of displaying a value like ‘2.003V’) Variable voltage source preferably with an output range of 0-10V Small slotted screw driver for turning the trim pots. Step 1: Measure the output of your voltage source with your DMM and tune it so that it is exactly 10V.
PAGE 5
APPENDIX B - BANK PRESETS The µScale ships with 5 banks pre-filLED with scales. The user is free to erase, modify and program their own scales/banks instead. These can serve as a starting point or provide inspiration on how to set up ones own set of banks BANK1: MAJOR SCALES Each of the 12 Major scales is stored at its respective root note. E.g. C Major is on Button#1 (C note), F Major on Button#6 (F note) etc.
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