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Welcome!
Compusynth is a standalone modular synthesizer that uses a small 7 bit
computer memory inspired to the mighty Altair8800 as a sequencer.

Please note Compusynth is not a VST plugin, but it can

be connected to any DAW using a virtual audio driver such
as blackhole.

After setting up the audio options in Compusynth you can try the
factory presets to understand the vast range of sonic possibilities of
Compusynth.

Please read this manual

This will cover all the important informations that YOU WILL NEED
to use Compusynth.

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Setting up your audio interface

At the top right of the window of

Compusynth you will find a button
called Audio Settings, press it and it
will open a new window:

The blue I/O button at the left turns on

and off the audio scheduler. If you
modify some settings it’s best to
restart the audio processing by
turning off and on again this blue
button. If it is yellow it means that you
need to restart the audio process.

By default this will be ON when you

run the application.

Driver: select here the driver of your audio interface.

Output device: select your audio interface. If you want to use a virtual audio interface
select here the driver (eg. Blackhole 2ch)
If you change the Output Device you must restart the audio processing by clicking
the blue button at the top left of this window. (Blue means on)

Input Device: not important, there is no audio input in Compusynth

Sampling Rate: the software is designed to work properly at 44.100Hz3

I/O and Signal Vector Sizes: these set the number of samples calculated at the I/O of
your audio interface and inside the software (Signal Vector Size). If you hear glitches or no
sound, take a look at these numbers. Keep in mind to use a Signal Vector Size not
larger than 128 samples.

Scheduler in Overdrive is ON to give priority to timing messages.

Output CH: you can route the output 1 2 (L R) of Compusynth, to other output channels if
you have an audio interface with more than 2 outputs.

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 The Compusynth top menu

7 1 2 3 4 5 6

1) The MATRIX: use it to connect the modules! It works more or less like the good old
VCS3 pin matrix.

2) Tape Recorder: opens the tape window. Here you can record the sound of
Compusynth

3) Patterns storing, recalling, write and read patterns

4) A dropdown menu with some factory presets, explore them to understand better how
Compusynth works

5) MIDI and Keyboard mapping

6) Software authorization (red button)

7) Audio Settings window.

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How to authorise your software:

Press “Unlock Demo” at the right of the Compusynth top menu and this window will pop
up.

After purchasing the software on the website you will receive at your PayPal’s account
email the serial to unlock the software.

The process usually takes 24 to 48 hours maximum.

FIRST: Input your PayPal’s account email address

NEXT: Input the serial code you have received, as it is with spaces.
To paste the code use mouse’s right click (or CTRL + mouse click) > paste

When your software is authorised the red bar will become fully white and you will
see SOFTWARE AUTHORIZED instead of SOFTWARE IN DEMO MODE.

Troubleshooting if this does not work, check the following:

1) the serial is correctly pasted
2) the email is your PayPal’s account email
3) you have installed the software in the system HD

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The Compusynth layout

Compusynth is a modular synthesizer with 4 VCOs, 4LPVCA(lowpass gate), 4 Envelopes,

1 Resonant Lowpass Filter, 3 independent Resonators, 3 Independent random voltage
generators, a microcomputer memory Sequencer with 3 tracks, one Ring Modulator, one
Attenuverter, one Minumum function, one Tape Echo, one Spring Reverb, a 3 channel
small mixer (sum) and a 4 channels Mixer with Master Output.
The Mixer is the final stage of your signal path and feeds the Tape Recorder.
Anything you want to hear and record, must be patched to one of the four channels
of the Mixer.

Just like many of my softwares (Berna and Gleetchlab for example) the connections
between all the modules are done with a matrix, like the glorious VCS3 synthesizer.
The Matrix is the core of the software and its functions must be understood in order to
produce sounds.

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The Matrix

At the top of the Matrix you will find the modules’ outputs, and at the left the modules’
inputs. You connect modules just clicking the point that intersects an output with an input.
The red lines that follow the mouse will help you to find the modules you want to connect.

Looking at this picture from left to right we can see:

• The VCO1 out is patched to the LPVCA1 input.
• The LPVCA1 out is patched to the MIX1 (you need to patch sounds to MIX1,2,3 or 4 to
hear and record something)
• The Sequencer TRACK 1 out is patched to the VCA 1V/OCT CV input
• The ENVelope1 out is the patched to the LPVCA1 CV in
• The Sequencer TRIG out is patched to the ENVelope1 in

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• The Midi Keyboard trig out is patched to the same ENV1 in. This was done during the
MIDI recording on the sequencer, in that mode, the sequencer is not running, so it can’t
output a trig (more on this in the Sequencer section of this manual) and I needed to use
the midi keyboard.

The VCOs
Compusynth has 4 oscillators.
Oscillator 1 and 2 have sine and saw outputs (you can mix the waveforms the way you
like), while Oscillator 3 and 4 have triangle and square waves.
Frequency is controlled by the Frequency and Fine knobs.
All the oscillators can work as LFO if needed.

FM index controls the audio Frequency Modulation.

This is needed only for audio frequency modulation and not for CV (sequencers,
random or keyboards). That means that you will FM modulate an oscillator using the
AUDIO output (not the CV out) of another oscillator.

The 1V/OCT CV Input of the oscillator (for midi and sequencer signals) does not need a
knob to control the amplitude.
The sound of the oscillators is warm and rich in harmonics, simulating analog circuits.
To generate pseudo white noise just cross modulate (in audio) two sine oscillators with
both FM index at maximum and mid high frequencies on both oscillators.

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The LPVCAs
Compusynth has 4 independent LPVCA (lowpass gate) amplifiers/filters.
You can select the mode (Lowpass, VCA or both).
The mod knob is used to control the amplitude of the modulating signal.
The Level knob controls the amplitude/frequency of the LPVCA.
When using a modulating signal (ie an Envelope) usually the Level is set to zero and the
mod knob at maximum. But of course you can experiment and try different settings.

The Envelopes
Compusynth has 4 independent simple AR envelope generators.
There is no sustain, to keep a note playing just open the level of the LPVCA.
Envelopes need a TRIG (from KEYBOARD, RANDOM or SEQUENCER) in order to start
the function. Usually you will send the envelope CV to control a VCA, a filter, an oscillator
or the Echo delay time.

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The Resonant Low Pass Filter
Compusynth has one 24db/Oct Low pass filter with modulation index
The filter is modelled on the classic moog ladder filter and has a saturation control.

The Resonators
Compusynth has 3 independent Resonant BandPass Filters.
They can be controlled by CV signals (no modulation index here).
Sending the same audio signal (use signals rich in harmonics) to the resonators will help
you to create strange formant sounds.
Eventually you can send to the resonators a very very slow saw or rectangular wave, rise
the Q factor to obtain resonating sounds. Try this with random CVs that control the
frequencies to create nice bongo bleeps sounds.

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The Random CV Generators
Compusynth has 3 independent generators of random CV voltages that can be used in
different ways.

By default the a random generator will start working by rising the one of the clock knobs.
With min and max knobs you can decide the range of the random values, this is very
useful as it give some control over the randomness.
The Interp(olation) knob will transform the cv values from discrete steps to continuous
curves with a time of interpolation set by the interp knob.

Every generator has an independent CV OUT and TRIG OUT, this is very useful.

Rising this switch the clocks of the generators will be random too, with a maximum
speed set by each clock knob.

This switch instead disables the three internal clocks and get the trig for all the 3
generators, from the SEQUENCER.

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The Sequencer
This is the most peculiar and unique module of the Compusynth. It was inspired by the old
microcomputers of the 1970s such as the Altair8800.

Basically we have 3 memory slots of 128 bits that we can read in loop.

At the bottom of the sequencer you will find 7 switch and 7 LEDs that set the address of
the memory. We have 128 bits, from 0 to 127.

Over those, you will find 8 switches and 3 sets of LEDS representing the 3 tracks, i.e. the
value of that track at a specific address.

In order to understand how the sequencer work we must deal with binary numbers.
Binary numbers are position dependent numbers and can be either 1 or 0 (ON or OFF).

Let’s put some random data inside the sequencer. Select TRACK 1 with the 3 way switch
andpress RND button and the TRACK1 will be filled with random data.

Now set the switches of the address as in the picture and press the button READ
The Sequencer will read the data stored in TRACK1 at the memory location 21:

16+4+1 = 21

Now I can read the value on TRK1 (track 1) and it is 66: 64+2

Let’s try another address: 10

Set the switches as in the picture: (8+2) and press READ

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Now we read the value of TRK1 at address 10 and the result is 26 (16+8+2).

You can manually advance or reverse the address using ADV and REV buttons.
In this way you can read and eventually edit a number inside the track.

To store a number inside a track:

1) select the TRK1, 2 or 3 with the 3 position switch below the steps knob.
2) Select the address you want to edit and press READ
3) Input a number with the data input switches like in the picture, and press STORE

Another way to input data in a track is using the VALUE knob instead of the DATA INPUT
switches. Use the knob and then press STORE. The value will be stored in the track you
have selected at the address you have set.

Last but not least, you can input values using your MIDI keyboard.
1) Select your midi keyboard using the kbd IN dropdown menu at the bottom of the
sequencer.
2) Select the track you want to record to using the 3 position switch: TRK1,2 or 3
3) Set the address at 0 (all address switches off, then press READ).
4) Press REC and play some notes. The sequencer will record every note you play at
each step, one step for note.
5) Now set the REC switch to PLAY and turn the sequencer ON. The data will be read
sequentially in loop.
Remember that you must patch the matrix to send this values to any module.
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With the direction switch you can read the sequence Forward, Reverse or Palindrome.

CLEAR switch will clear the data from a track selected with the select switch.
ERASE switch will erase all the data from every track.
Because this process can’t be undo, you can use a MEMORY PROTECT switch at the
right of the address switches, to protect your data from accidental erase.

By default the Sequencer use the internal clock.

Using a 3 way switch just below the value knob, you can
• take the clock from the RANDOM generator 1 (the leftmost random cv generator), in this
case the sequencer is activated by the RANDOM generator 1 and the ON OFF button is
disabled.
• get a trig from your midi keyboard, in this case the sequencer is activated by your MIDI
keyboard and the ON OFF button is disabled.

RND is useful to store random sequences, you can use the low and high input knobs to set
the range of the random numbers. RND will write all the 128 bits of a track.

Have a look at the factory presets to explore the sequencer. Open a preset that uses the
sequencer, ERASE all the data of the 3 tracks and write your own data.

The Steps knob sets the loop length.

Sequencer data for all the tracks is saved in the presets. :)

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The Ring Modulator, Attenuverter and Minimum modules
Compusynth has 3 important modules that can help you to create
interesting sounds.

The classic ring modulator will produce the multiplication of two audio
signals, creating two frequencies which are the sum and the subtraction
of the two frequencies.
You can set the volume of the Ring output and add the original signal
with Balanced.

The Attenuverter amplify or invert the polarity of a CV signal

The Minimum module executes a calculation of the minimum between

two waveforms.
It’s something useful to create new timbres. Try with a square and a
sawtooth wave at 1 octave of difference.

The tape echo delay

Modelled after classi tape echo, this module has time, feedback, filter (of the repetitions)
and modulation. Time can be modulated from Track 3 of the sequencer or from the random
generator number 3 (rightmost random generator). Try using random3 and set some
interpolation in the output of random generator number 3.

The Spring Reverb

Modelled after the classic spring reverbs in the VCS3 and Music Easel Synths, this is a
nice artificial reverberation that you can use to create the classic sound of the 70s.
Note that to keep it as close as the originals, the output of the Reverb and the Echo is
monoaural.

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The Sum
A simple summing mixer is handy to create complex sound by mixing different audio
signals.
It can’t be used with CV signals.

The MIXER
The final step of your sounds is here. The mixer has 4 inputs and one master output.
The signal of the Master Out goes to your audio interface out (or computer audio out) and
to the Tape Recorder.

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Compusynth has an internal tape recorder with different tape and saturation
controls
BEFORE RECORDING you can select the tape style, set the specific background
noise, input level and saturation.

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Storing, recalling, writing and reading presets

Besides the factory presets you can save a bank of 10 presets and store it as a file on your
computer.

To STORE a preset select one of the 10 numbers and press STORE

To RECALL a preset select one of the 10 numbers and press RECALL
To save a bank of 10 presets as a file press SAVE
To load a file of 10 presets press LOAD

MIDI and Keyboard (computer keyboard) Mapping

You can assign MIDI CC to the dials and controls of Compusynth or assign your computer
keyboard to buttons.

On the upper window’s menu press MIDI MAP, now click on one dial and move a dial on
your controller, it will be automatically mapped.

To exit from MIDI or KEYBOARD MAPPING press ESC on your

keyboard.
Remember to SAVE the mapping before quitting the program. The MIDI
MAP is not saved in the user presets. KEYBOARD MAP works in a similar
way but with computer keyboard instead of MIDI CCs.

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Communicating with your DAW

As all my softwares Compusynth is designed to be standalone and offers you an

alternative playground to your music.
However it is easy to use Compusynth as a pseudo-plugin with these simple
steps.
You will need a virtual audio interface for the task. For MacOS you can download
Blackhole 2ch or 64ch. Windows has Virtual Audio Cable

For this example I will show you how to record Compusynth inside LogicX.
1) Open the Audio Settings and set Blackhole 2channels (Mac) as audio output
2) Restart the audio (the I/O button at the top left)

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3) Open LogicX, create a new audio track and set Blackhole 2ch as audio input
in the program’s preferences THAT’S IT!

The operation in Ableton Live is identical.

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