Eclipse User Manual Part number 141045 Manual/Software Release 4.0.1 18 September, 2009 2001-9 Eventide Inc., One Alsan Way, Little Ferry, NJ 07643 USA Harmonizer is a registered trademark of Eventide Inc. for its audio special effects devices incorporating pitch shift. Eventide, Eclipse, Orville ,and UltraShifter are trademarks of Eventide Inc. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Inc., ADAT is a trademark of Alesis Inc., CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
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Eclipse User Manual - Contents The Hows and Whys of This Manual................................................................................................... 5 Overviews, Basic Information, and Quickstart...................................................................................... 6 The Big Picture – A Must-Read .............................................................................................................. 6 Knobs, Keys, and Jacks ...............................................
Eclipse User Manual - Contents Saving Programs ............................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Updating Programs........................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Comparing the Current Program with the Saved Program..........................................
Eclipse User Manual- Contents Sample Rates ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Frequency Response .......................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Digital Inputs/Outputs ....................................................................
Eclipse User Manual - Contents This page is intentionally left blank Eclipse User Manual Page 4 of 66 Release 4.0.
Eclipse User Manual The Hows and Whys of This Manual Of course you have more exiting things to do than to read this manual. For one thing, you have Eventide’s fabulous new Eclipse Harmonizer brand processor waiting to effect all those sounds so badly in need of effecting. While the Eclipse is engineered for intuitive, user-friendly operation, reading this manual, either in part or in whole, will help clarify and illuminate its vast array of powerful features.
Eclipse User Manual Overviews, Basic Information, and Quickstart You’ve bought a serious piece of machinery, friend.
Eclipse User Manual All of the levels and signal selection outside the DSP are addressed in the LEVELS area and the SETUP area. Refer to the “Eclipse System Signal Flow” sheet provided in the pocket of this manual to “look” at the signal flow outside the DSP. You cannot save these settings as parts of programs. All of the routing and levels inside the DSP are addressed in the PARAMETER area.
Eclipse User Manual 9) Knob Turning the knob changes parameter values. 10) Meter Displays the signal level at various points throughout the signal path. It’s useful both for optimizing sound quality (you always want a high signal short of clipping) and for troubleshooting. You can alter the point in the signal flow at which the meter is “inserted” by pressing LEVELS meter (source).
Eclipse User Manual The Back Panel A) AC Port Connect an IEC standard 3-prong AC power cord here. The center post is chassis ground. B) Analog Audio Inputs The Eclipse’s analog inputs accept either unbalanced 1/4-inch connectors or balanced XLR connectors. Pin #1 is ground, pin #2 is positive phase (hot), and pin #3 is negative phase (cold). To “unbalance” the XLR jack, use both pins #1 and #3 as ground and use pin #2 as “hot.
Eclipse User Manual F) RCA Digital Interface Use these connectors to hook up the Eclipse to CD players, DAT recorders, and other audio gear using RCA connectors. The connectors are two-conductor RCA jacks. Your plug should have the shield connected to the sleeve with the single shielded conductor connected at the tip. To select the RCA input as the digital source, go to SETUP DIG-IN (DIGIN). Set SETUP DIG-IN (CLOCK) to DigIn as well.
Eclipse User Manual Eclipse by means of a single cable that supplies power as well as a communication path. A normal “5 pin” MIDI cable can be used as a standard MIDI input. Out The Eclipse sends MIDI messages to other devices via the Out port. MIDI messages are also sent out the serial port if it is “enabled.” Thru Any MIDI information received at the MIDI In port is echoed directly to the MIDI Thru port regardless of the Eclipse’s configuration (as long as the Eclipse is powered up).
Eclipse User Manual HOT KEYS A real help for speedy sessions! All of the most important parameters for factory programs are found here, and you can assign parameters from any other area here for quick access. see page 33 PARAMETER Parameter adjustments for the effects running on each of the Eclipse’s effect blocks, effect block bypassing, program loading, routing, and modulation block () controls.
Eclipse User Manual You know you’re a level down because a little triangle appears in the lower right corner of the screen. To come “back up,” press the area key for the area you’re in (in this example, we’d press LEVELS). Try this on LEVELS METER . (parentheses) are for individual parameters. Here we see LEVELS (WET/DRY). ^_BACK This special soft key sends you “up a level.” Here we see PARAMETER after the PARAMETER key has been pressed a few times.
Eclipse User Manual Quickstart Pressing keys is fine, but if that’s all you wanted to do you’d have been better off buying an infant’s “activity center”. No, the whole point is to get some of that Eventide goodness into your music, and that’s just what we’re gonna do now… Hooking Up To the Outside World The Eclipse will sum analog and digital inputs and will output both analog and digital signals at all times.
Eclipse User Manual Choosing Effects The Eclipse has a whole bunch of cool programs, and you can sort through them in a number of useful ways. Press PROGRAM CRITERIA (SORT BY) to select either Number or Name for numerical or alphabetical listings. Press PROGRAM CRITERIA (SEARCH B) to select either Source (if you’d like to sort effects based on what type of input they were designed for) or Effect (if you’d like to sort effects based on their underlying algorithms). We’ll ignore the other choices for now.
Eclipse User Manual MIDI Clock Set SETUP TEMPO (TAP SRC) to Midiclock to control the tempo from a MIDI sequencer connected to the Eclipse’s MIDI input. See page 47 for information about enabling Midi Clock output. Set SETUP TEMPO (TAP SRC) to extx (where x is a number between 1 and 16) to control the tempo from external controller inputs. Externals See page 43 for more information about Externals. When you save or update a program, the current tempo is saved along with it.
Eclipse User Manual Press the PROGRAM key again to jump “up” a level. see page 28 for more information Press the < > and < > keys until the left side of the screen reads Programs-Guitar. Now you can access programs that were designed to process guitars. Use the knob to select the program FuzzADSRPreamp. Load the program by pressing the conspicuously labeled soft key. You’re whisked away to the HOT KEYS area… Too much distortion? Select the (FUZZ) soft key and use the knob to select out.
Eclipse User Manual Finally, let’s assign the modulation block’s LFO to a parameter. Press PARAMETER page 2 LFO#1 , and set (T_RATE) to whole note. Now the modulation block’s LFO is cycling once a measure. Use the ^-BACK soft key to “jump up” a level. see page 43 for information on the modulation block LFO and all of the other wonderful modulators! All of the modulators in the modulation block exist independently of programs. To prove it, load the program CombDelays.
Eclipse User Manual Tutorial 2: Creating a Program “from Scratch” and Assigning a Hot Key A bit of background: all of the Eclipse’s programs are built on a hundred or so “algorithms.” A single program can contain one or two algorithms connected in series, parallel, or variations thereof. All of these raw algorithms are stored in factory programs 100 through 499 and are diagrammed in the separately provided “Eclipse Algorithm” document.
Eclipse User Manual Operation …don’t touch the sides! You remember “Operation” - the childhood game where you pull plastic bones and other parts out of a little cardboard man? No? Oh well… Mounting and Handling Normally, you should have the Eclipse rack mounted in a standard 19-inch rack. If you take it on the road, support it from the rear as well. Keep the Eclipse well ventilated, dust-free, dry, and, like Little Bear’s porridge, neither too hot nor too cold.
Eclipse User Manual Global Signal Flow and Levels This section discusses levels and routing of all signals before the digital signal processor (DSP) and after the DSP, i.e., everything shown on the “Eclipse System Signal Flow” sheet located in the pocket of this manual. These adjustments are global in that they do not change when you load a new program. As such, they are useful for adjusting the levels and signal flow of your Eclipse relative to the rest of your studio or rack.
Eclipse User Manual Input and Output Modes (Global Stereo or Global Mono?) As mentioned above, you select how the two channels of summed digital and analog input are fed to the input of the DSP. Press LEVELS page 2 (I/O MODE) to select from three possibilities. Stereo Here each input channel is sent to the corresponding input on the DSP. Use this mode when sending stereo signals for processing. Mono 1 Here only input 1 is sent to both channels of the DSP. Input 2 is ignored.
Eclipse User Manual We highly, highly, highly recommend that you refer to the “Eclipse System Signal Flow” sheet (after the Index) to visualize where the following adjustments are made. All references to the “meter” can be set at LEVELS METER (SOURCE). LEVELS {IN-GAIN} This is an analog voltage gain of –30dB to +10dB. It comes before the ADC (analog to digital converter) and affects signals supplied at the analog inputs only! Its effect can be monitored by setting the meter to Analog In.
Eclipse User Manual Bypassing and Muting The purpose of the BYPASS key is, as the name suggests, to remove any effects, while passing the signal through unchanged. Eclipse offers a number of options which can be selected under SETUP MODES (BYPASS). see page 47 to learn how to remotely control the bypass function Relay Byp When this is selected, the analog XLR inputs and outputs are connected by a relay (you can hear it click when you operate the switch).
Eclipse User Manual The Eclipse reads the digital input format and makes any adjustments that it needs to automatically, with the exception of slaving to the digital input’s clock. Unless the device connected to the Eclipse is slaved to the Eclipse, you will want to switch SETUP DIG-IN (CLOCK) to DigIn. If the digital input that you select is unconnected or carries a bad signal, the EXT LED will blink hypnotically.
Eclipse User Manual WClk Use WClk to use the word clock input as the clock source. If the device you are slaving to has a word clock output, you are advised to use it in preference to DigIn described above - word clock is a little more reliable. The Eclipse will read the rate (~30kHz-50kHz and ~54kHz-99kHz) of the input and will display it next to WC In. In addition, the “rate & source” indicator pictured above will reflect the fact that you have chosen an external clock source (EXT will light).
Eclipse User Manual By changing SETUP DIG-OUT FORMAT (EMPHASIS) from off to on, you can add emphasis flags to your output audio. If you’ve never heard of “emphasis,” leave it off and skip the rest of this paragraph! Emphasis is an outmoded “feature” of older A/D and D/A technology that filters the digital audio to make the best use of available headroom. However, few devices use emphasis these days, so you probably want to leave it off unless you have good reason to do otherwise.
Eclipse User Manual Program Operations - Load, Save, Remove, etc. Some care is required when saving programs to avoid overwriting precious material, but surgical correctness is not necessary … Sorting and Loading Programs The Eclipse comes with a wealth of factory programs (program numbers 100 – 499). In addition, you can save up to one hundred programs in internal memory (numbers 0 – 99), and up to five hundred programs on a memory card (numbers 500 – 999).
Eclipse User Manual During the brief period when one program is unloading and the other is loading, no effect will be heard (unless both the outgoing and the loading programs are routed for crossfade, as is often the case!). Normally, the Eclipse will simply mute the outputs during this interval so that the input to the unit is heard at its output. However, you can instead bypass the effects processor during this interval by selecting Mute All at SETUP MODES page 2 (PGMCHG).
Eclipse User Manual Using MIDI Bank Select Messages MIDI bank select messages allow random access to all presets in your Eclipse, unlike MIDI maps which limit the selection to 128 choices. Eclipse receives bank select messages on MIDI continuous controller (CC) #0. The bank number is the high digit of the program number. For example, to load preset #451, send a MIDI bank select message (continuous controller #0) with a value of 4, followed by a MIDI program change message with a value of 51.
Eclipse User Manual Updating Programs If you make changes to a program that you’ve already saved, you can store those changes without messing around with numbers, names, and flags (this is like the “save” command on a computer, as opposed to the “save as” command). Press PROGRAM page 2 . A dialog box pops up that asks if you really want to update the program. Press if you do; press if you don’t.
Eclipse User Manual Copying and Protecting Programs To copy a program, simply load it and then use PROGRAM page 2 SAVE AS to save it in a new location. To protect all your programs from fumbling hands, turn SETUP MODES (PROTECT) to On. Naming Things – The Mechanics It’s a lot easier to name something than it is to describe how to name something. Nevertheless, this manual is all about descriptions, so let’s dive in. You will often find yourself naming programs when you save them.
Eclipse User Manual Parameters Factory programs ship with their most salient parameters “linked” to the HOT KEYS area. So, if you’re only doing some “light tweaking,” stick to the HOT KEYS area - you need not venture into the PARAMETER area at all. The PARAMETER area gets you “inside” a program, so to speak. In it, you can change the underlying algorithms loaded into the effects blocks, the routing between the effects blocks, or the parameters of the underlying algorithms themselves.
Eclipse User Manual Press to actually assign it. If the hot keys “slot” you chose was unoccupied, the Eclipse will assign the hot key without hesitation. However, if the slot you chose was occupied, the Eclipse will verify that you would like to replace the old hot key with the new one. OK, while that was instructive, you probably won’t assign global parameters (such as {IN GAIN}) to the HOT KEYS area too often. Instead, you’ll usually assign program parameters.
Eclipse User Manual In cases exemplified by dual filters, a MASTER menu page exists that will alter parameters for both filters simultaneously. Its parameters are “unadorned,” for example (GAIN), (FREQ), and (Q) shown on the second screen to the right. Parameters that only pertain to filter 1 have “1” appended to their rears. For example, in the third screen to the right we see (GAIN1), (FREQ1), and (Q1).
Eclipse User Manual However, if you set (T_DELAY1) to off, then the actual delay time will be determined solely by (DELAY1) in terms of milliseconds. If you want all of the parameters in the Eclipse to ignore the tempo, set SETUP TEMPO (TAP SRC) to Off. Now that you have that straight, lets continue. The Eclipse can calculate delay times in terms of the tempo, as described above, or it can calculate them as the absolute time between two taps of the TAP key (useful for live situations).
Eclipse User Manual If the (RATE) is changed either “manually” or via a tempo update, an LFO will (of course) alter its rate. The old rate is crossfaded to the new rate. The length of the crossfade is determined by (RETRIG) as a percentage of the old rate. Thus, a value of 100% means that the crossfade will be complete in one cycle of the old rate, and 0% means a rate change will take effect immediately.
Eclipse User Manual Routing Don’t confuse the routing between effects blocks that we’re discussing here with the input mode (LEVELS page 2 {IN MODE}). The routing between effects blocks is saved with a program.
Eclipse User Manual Wet/Dry Ratio With the Wet/Dry ratio you can make an effects block pass its input signal unaltered (0% wet) or have none of the original signal present – all effect (100% wet). Or you can have half original signal, half effect (50% wet). And so on. Press PARAMETER page 2 LEVELS {FXA MIX} or {FXB MIX} to alter this parameter.
Eclipse User Manual Note that if you load an algorithm into effects block B (FXB), none of the newly loaded algorithm’s HOT KEYS will be present. In most cases, any two algorithms can be selected and loaded. However, a few algorithms are sufficiently large that they can only be paired with a small one. In such cases you may see a display like the one on the left.
Eclipse User Manual ext1 through ext16 Modules external to the Eclipse (such as MIDI controllers or foot pedals) modulate the parameter. You decide which external modules are associated with ext1, ext2, ext3, and so on at SETUP page 3 EXTERNAL . see page 45 for more on External Controllers hotkey_1 thru hotkey_16 The hot keys found under HOT KEYS can be used as a modulation source.
Eclipse User Manual bipolar bipolar uses the base value as a starting point and modulates above and below it. In the example above, the parameter value will vary between 1,500 and 2,500 (centering on the base value). Note that for bipolar, the scale setting reflects the amount the parameter will vary above and below the base value. absolute absolute ignores the base value and passes the modulation right through, going from minimum to maximum parameter for the swing of the modulation.
Eclipse User Manual Setting Up the Modulation Block The Modulation Block Let it be said: The modulation block is totally cool. It’s a collection of modules residing inside the Eclipse waiting to be patched to effects parameters. The modulation block exists at PARAMETER page 2 . Changes made to the modulation block are normally saved or loaded with programs. This can be changed by going to SETUP page 1 and changing (ModBlock) from Prog to Global.
Eclipse User Manual More on modulation On Eclipse, almost everything can be modulated, and almost everything can be a modulation source. For example, a hot key can be used to modulate other parameters, but it can itself be modulated. A powerful demonstration of this is to load or create a dual-effect program. Add a hotkey to control the Wet/Dry mix of FXA, and use this as a modulation source for the Wet/Dry mix of FxB. Set the scale of this modulation to -100%.
Eclipse User Manual External Controllers SETUP page 3 EXTERNAL “connects” external controllers to the Eclipse. You can make up to sixteeen “connections,” EXT#1 through EXT#16 . Let’s see how one of these “connections” is made. First, press SETUP page 3 EXTERNAL EXT#1 . Select the external controller you want to “connect” with (SOURCE). Monitor its value with (MONITOR). Our choices are: off No external controller will be connected.
Eclipse User Manual MIDI double Allows selection of any MIDI control number with very fine quantization. Input range is 0 to 16,383. A third parameter appears, (CNTRL), which selects the controller number to be used. Your choices for con are 0 to 31. The MIDI control number con will pass the “coarse” value for the modulation and the MIDI control number (CNTRL) + 32 will pass the “fine” value for the modulation. chan pressur MIDI channel pressure message. pitch wheel MIDI pitch bend message.
Eclipse User Manual Dedicated External Controllers As well as the sixteen general-purpose controllers described above, there are also a number of single-purpose External Controllers. (PGM +) Allows you to select a foot pedal or a MIDI source to load the next highest program. This can be useful in a live performance. Of course, this can be set to Off as well. (PGM -) Allows you to select a foot pedal or a MIDI source to load the next lowest program. Of course, this can be set to Off as well.
Eclipse User Manual MIDI Setup In the Eclipse, MIDI can be used: with programs that explicitly call for some sort of “external” controller. For example, a program called “MidiHarmony” might call for MIDI notes to adjust the amount of pitch shifting that is applied to an audio signal. to remote control almost any parameter in the Eclipse (including input and output levels) via external controllers. see page 40 to change programs via MIDI program change messages.
Eclipse User Manual (SEQ OUT) If set to On, then every time a parameter is changed or a program is loaded, a corresponding message is sent out the MIDI port as a system exclusive message. By recording parameter changes to a MIDI sequencer, you can automate your mix-downs. Simply play back the recorded MIDI sequence at the Eclipse’s MIDI input, and you will see the changes you recorded “played” by the sequencer (assuming MIDI is enabled and the Device ID matches that of the message).
Eclipse User Manual Storing and Loading Setups The Eclipse’s global configuration or “setup” can be saved internally in much the same way as a user preset. This “setup” consists of all the machine settings except for the preset, its parameters and related settings. This allows you to get back speedily to a particular past configuration without endless button pushing. To get to the Setup load and save area, press and hold the PROGRAM key for about a second.
Eclipse User Manual Utilities Transmitting and Receiving Data via the Serial Port The serial port can be used to transmit data between the Eclipse and a computer or between the Eclipse and another Eclipse. It is an IBM PC type RS232 connector, which looks like a modem to the connected computer. You can set up the serial port’s parameters under SETUP page 2 MIDI SERIAL .
Eclipse User Manual mation into the Eclipse by presenting it at the MIDI In port or the serial port (provided the device ID is the same and the MIDI receive channel is not set to Off). To dump, go to SETUP page 3 DUMP (DATATYPE). Below is a list of the types of data that you can dump. Press to actually do the deed. Current Prog Dumps the currently running program. If received at the MIDI In port or at the serial port, the Eclipse will load the received program.
Eclipse User Manual The source and destination Program ranges are not allowed to overlap. Obviously this will not be a problem when copying between the Internal and Card programs. However, care must be taken when copying within the same Program areas (Card or Internal) to insure that the Source and Destination ranges do not overlap. Empty program locations are skipped during the copy process, but the relative spacing between the programs in the source range are preserved in the destination range.
Eclipse User Manual If the Eclipse still won’t fly straight, power down and then power back up while holding down the 8 key. After a few seconds, the Eclipse will ask if you want to clear internal memory. Select , but consider yourself warned: doing so will erase every program between 0 and 99 and change all of the SETUP and LEVELS area parameters back to their factory defaults. As dramatic as this is, it will probably solve your problem.
Eclipse User Manual Word Clock Termination Any cable has a characteristic impedance that should be matched to both the signal source and destination impedances for best results with high speed sharp edged signals such as Word Clock. This becomes more important with longer cables. Most Word Clock signals are generated with 75 Ohm source impedance, whereas the BNC cables used to connect to them may have 50 or 75 Ohm impedances – clearly the latter are to be preferred.
Eclipse User Manual Updating Software The Eclipse Operating System and Factory Presets are field-upgradeable using tools available from Eventide. These updates can be done with one of two approaches: an “Upgrade Card” (a specially coded CompactFlash card) via “OUpdate” (a special Windows Application). The latest Eclipse software and the software tools described below can be obtained via the Eventide Web Site http://www.eventide.com/.
Eclipse User Manual Finding Out The Current Software Version Press SETUP page 3 UTILITY VERSION to find your current Eclipse software.version. (SERIALNO) Find out your unit’s serial number without climbing into the dark recesses of the “cable jungle.” (SYSTEM) Current operating system software version. (MODULES) Current modules version. (ALGS) Current algorithms version. (PRESETS) Current factory programs “version.” (FPGA) Current FPGA version. (HARDWARE) Current hardware version.
Eclipse User Manual Electrical Specifications Sample Rates 96kHz, 88.2kHz, 48kHz, 44.1kHz or external. Frequency Response Sample Rate 44.1kHz 48kHz 88.2kHz 96kHz +0/-0.1dB 20Hz-20kHz 20Hz-22kHz 20Hz-41kHz 20Hz-44kHz +0/-3.0dB 5Hz-21kHz 5Hz-23kHz 5Hz-42kHz 5Hz-46kHz Digital Inputs/Outputs 2 AES and 2 S/P DIF at 44.1-96kHz. AES relay bypass at power down.
Eclipse User Manual Power 25 watts 100-125V, 220-240V, AC 50/60Hz Size Inches: 1.75h x 19w x 12.5d Cm: 4.45h x 48.3w x 31.7d Weight 12 pounds (5.5 Kg) net, 17 pounds (8Kg) shipping weight All specifications are subject to change or improvement at any time without notice or obligation. Release 4.0.
Eclipse User Manual Warranty Information Eclipse LIMITED WARRANTY The above-identified Eventide unit covered by this warranty is built to exacting quality standards and should give years of trouble-free service. If you are experiencing problems which are not cleared up or explained as normal in the manual, your recourse is this warranty. What the warranty does and does not cover Eventide Inc.
Eclipse User Manual Who performs warranty work The only company authorized to perform work under this warranty is Eventide Inc., Little Ferry, New Jersey. While you are free to give personal authorization to anyone else (or to work on it yourself), we will not honor claims for payment for parts or labor from you or from third parties. However, we and our dealers do try to be helpful in various ways: 1.
Eclipse User Manual Index Numbers, 13 Dumping data, 51 Edited LED, 8 Effect blocks Loading algorithms, 39 Effects blocks, 6, 33, 34 Bypassing, 39 Routing, 38 Emphasis, 27 EXT LED blinking, 25 External Controllers, 45 MIDI capture, 46 Foot Pedal Jacks As external modulators, 45 Jacks, 11 Loading Programs with, 47 Setting up, 49 Freezing, 53 Global parameters, 6 High sampling rates, unable to load programs, 26 Hot Keys, 7, 33 Assigning, 19, 33 Deleting, 34 Input, stereo or mono?, 22 Keypad, 7, 13 Knob, 8, 13
Eclipse User Manual- Index Modulating. See Modulation block Retriggering LFO's, 37 Sends, 37 Tap to determine delay times, 36 Tempocontrolled, 16, 35 Power, 7, 9 Program key, 7 LED blinking, 50 Programs Copying.
Eclipse User Manual Ganged Parameters, 12 Understanding Different Kinds, 12 Software Updating, 56 Version, 57 Storing data externally. See Dumping data TAP. See Tempo, See Tempo Release 4.0.1 Tempo, 6, 8, 15, 16, 17 Conceptual flow chart of, 17 Disabling, 16, 17 Unbalancing analog connectors, 9 User Groups.
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