MiniBrute 2S - General Questions

The Output jacks are labelled with white squares containing text or a logo.

The Input jacks are labelled with simple text.

The default Internal connections are labelled with Blue text.
Note: To disconnect the pre-wired connection, plug a cable in the concerned input.

The following parameters can drastically affect the MiniBrute sound, so if you are having a distorted or weird sound, first check those parameters:

• VCO1 FM potentiometer: Make sure it is not turned up.
  Otherwise, the VCO2 will modulate the VCO1 frequency. Which can give pretty chemical results.
  
  

• AD Envelope: Make sure it is not set to Loop with a very short Attack / Decay.
  In this case, it will create a very harsh FM style sound.
  
  

• Brute factor: Make sure it is not raised too high.
  When pushed hard, the brute factor will create an intense distortion.
  
  

• Resonance modulation: This may create agressive peaks when the envelope is trigged.
  If you are listening at high volume, pay attention to your ears when modulating the resonance.
  
  

As the Att2 > Amp potentiometer per default controls the Amplification VCA opening, make sure the Att2 > Amp button is not raised when nothing is connected to the Amp Input.
Otherwise, the oscillators along with the ext input sound will constantly be heard.

 

The division on which applies the swing is defined by the Master swing.

To be applied, the Pattern Time Division (or Arpeggio) must be equal or smaller than the Master Swing division.

Example:

• Pattern Time division 1/16 or 1/32 + Master Swing 1/16 = Swing
• Pattern Time division 1/4 or 1/8 + Master Swing 1/16 = No Swing

The AD envelope is natively connected to the AMP, but can be plugged to any other input to your convenience.
It is simpler, but way more versatile than the ADSR envelope.

Composed of two stages: Attack & Decay, it can be trigged Once or can be Looped.
Plus it has two modes, Gate and Trigger.

Switch  Combinations	Envelope  Response
Gate + Once	Envelope rises when receiving a gate signal (note on) and falls when the gate ends (note off). = Attack - Hold - Decay
Gate + Loop	Envelope rises and loops when receiving a gate signal (note on) Envelope falls from its current position when the gate stops (note off)
Trig + Once	Envelope plays an Attack-Decay cycle when it receives a trigger (note on). = Attack - Decay It’s cycle resets when receiving a new trigger.
Trig + Loop	/!\ Envelope loops indefinitely /!\ It’s cycle resets when receiving a new trigger.

Note: The AD Envelope is per default triggered when the ADSR Envelope is triggered,
However, a different trigger source can be connected into the AD Envelope via the patch bay.

Master: Allows to run the audio fed in this input directly to the output. 
The sound won’t go through any of the synth circuitry, and won’t be processed by the Filter, Amp and so on.

Ext: The audio fed through this input will go through the entire MiniBrute audio path such as it was the sound outputting from one of the oscillators.

Consequently, to hear the sound going through the Ext input, you will need to:

o   Raise the Ext slider

o   Open the MiniBrute Amp VCA by:

• Playing a note
• Sending a trigger to the envelope patched to the AMP
• Raising Att 2 > Amp knob.

You may notice that there is a slight deformation when applying a voltage to the filter FM or RM.
This is normal. These two potentiometers are bipolar attenuators.
Consequently, the center dead zone has a high resistance, which will attenuate the voltage when patched through it.

Pitch & Gate: Are dedicated to their respective function and paired together.

Hence these always share the same resolution & play direction.

• Pitch: Sends a control voltage signal to the MiniBrute 2 oscillators & though the patch bay KBD output.
  
  
• Gate: Opens & closes the MiniBrute 2 Amp and outputs a gate signal through the patch bay Gate output.

Velo/Mod 1 & Press/Mod 2: Are two tracks with configurable functions.

When set to Velocity & Pressure, the tracks are paired with the Pitch & Gate.
If set to any other function, their respective resolution & play direction can be different from any of the other tracks.

• Velo/Mod 1 is per default mapped to the Velocity.
  Patch bay output: Velo / Mod 1
  
  
• Press/Mod 2 is per default mapped to the Pressure.
  Patch bay output: Press / Mod 2

/!\ Such as in the Pitch & Gate tracks, the Mod 1 and Mod 2 steps must be ON for the modulation to be applied. 
/!\ It is not possible to do real-time recording on the Mod 1 and Mod 2 tracks if their function is set to anything else than Velocity or Pressure.

Primary Function: Step Encoder - Secondary Function: Shift + Step Encoder

Voltage: 1V, 2V, 5V, 8V
In this mode, the output of the track will be scaled appropriately as a percentage of the selected voltage.

Envelope: Env
In this mode, the CV output is an AD envelope.
When a step is active, the envelope is triggered.

LFO Type: Sin, Triangle, Saw Up, Saw Down, Square, and Sample & Hold
In this mode, the CV out provides a voltage with one of the abovementioned waveforms.

Out of the fact that these are independent, the Mod 1 and Mod 2 sequencer tracks works the same way than the Pitch and Gate tracks.
Consequently, if you want to sequence envelopes or LFOs, you must proceed as below:

• Press the record button. (Must be RED)
• Enable a step (Red)
• Set the step value to your convenience.

Note: If the step is not enabled, the value won't be sent through the output.