Michigan Synth Works SY-1 (Black, MIDI ver)

MUSICAL FEATURES

The SY-1 Drum synth from Michigan Synth Works is a stand-alone dual drum synthesizer that reproduces the circuitry of the legendary Pearl SY-1 Syncussion as faithfully as possible, with the same layout as the original.The assembled version has been modernized to use current manufacturing processes, but uses the original board layout, with all parts carefully selected to closely resemble the original's operation.

The SY-1 is a 2-voice drum synthesizer, each voice has 2 oscillators, which can be modulated and pronounced differently in 6 modes. Five modes mix and modulate the oscillator and noise channels.againVelocity function that dynamically responds to the size of the triggeris also installed. The SY-1 is designed to be triggered via a drum trigger that outputs a very low pulse signal.

Each mode is as follows

• A-1 VCO mode: Sound using one VCO
• B-FM mode: A metallic sound with one VCO rapidly modulating the frequency of the other VCO
• C-2 VCO mode:Sound that mixes two VCOs
• D-sweep mode:A mode with sweep added in addition to SWEEP control
• FM mode with E-noise:FM sound mixed with noise. The sound is different from normal FM mode
• F-noise mode:Noise oscillator only sound

Each voice has controls for TUNE, DECAY, SWEEP amount, SWEEP speed, Sweep up/off/down, LFO amount, LFO speed, LFO shape (Tri or Square), and sample & hold.Each control is as follows

• Mode switch: Each press switches the oscillator mode.
• TUNE: Controls the pitch and filter cutoff of the two VCOs. CV control is possible with PITCH input
  
• DECAY: Adjusts the decay of the VCA envelope. CV control is possible from the DECAY input
• SWEEP: Modulates the pitch of the oscillator with an envelope different from the VCA.The speed and range sliders and the UP/DOWN switch allow you to change the direction of the envelope between pitch rise and fall.
• WIDTH: Controls the filter cutoff. CV control is possible from FILTER input
• LFOs: Adjust the LFO strength on the pitch with the slider, and adjust the LFO speed with the pot connected by a line. The switch on the left switches the LFO waveform between square and triangle.
• S / H ON / OFF: When the switch in the middle is turned on, a random sample and hold signal synchronized with the speed of the LFO is applied to the pitch.

MIDI function

The SY-1 has added MIDI functions that the original Syncussion did not have.Features such as the following are available:

1. 16 trigger levels controlled by MIDI velocity: MIDI velocity is also converted to trigger levels. Furthermore, the Sense potentiometer allows you to adjust the magnitude of the conversion from MIDI velocity to trigger level. When the jack is connected to the trigger input, the triggers generated by MIDI are overridden.

2. 4-Octave Pitch: Pitch CVs always represent relative pitch, not absolute pitch, as they function as an offset relative to the pitch slider. Connecting the jack to the Tune input overrides the pitch generated by MIDI.

3. MIDI pitch bend

4. Filter Frequency from Mod Wheel: As an offset to the filter frequency slider, the possible modulation range to the filter frequency is 4V (50%). This can be used to extend the filter up or down beyond the range possible with the slider alone.

5. MIDI Learn: Quickly press the Sense potentiometer twice to make the trigger LED for that channel flash, and set the MIDI channel for that voice to the channel of the next received MIDI note.

6. Firmware Update: Power on the SY-1 while holding down the CH1 Sense potentiometer. The trigger LED will blink alternately and you will hear a channel sound, indicating that the device is ready to accept the update. Send the SYSEX file using your selected MIDI utility. The trigger 1 LED will blink and a voice will play to indicate that data is being received. When complete, the trigger LED will blink alternately. Restart the device to complete the update.