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Continuum Firmware 8.50 July 2017 Haken Audio is committed to delivering added value and capabilities to the Continuum, which is already the most expressive electronic device ever built. Firmware 8.50 is the next step in that evolution. This firmware is compatible with all modern Continuums produced since 2008 (Continuums with DSP), which is remarkable in the typical electronic world environment of orphaned hardware. However, certain new aspects of the firmware is only available on Continuums with the new 2X processor, or with Expanded systems (noted per item in this document). As always, there are already plans for a future release which will expand on the concepts and designs established in this and previous firmware releases for all Continuums with ANY DSP.
New System Presets
New carefully crafted Presets, each creating it’s own sonic world. Total Preset count is now approaching 350! Building Block
Stereo Noise Drones
Countdown
Hal Dreams
Roller
Rosetta Alarm
Splat
Throat Battle
Two Chords External Note
Eastern Slider EN
Heavenly Corporation EN
mBiraski EN
Mountain Slider EN
Mouth Sequence EN
Music Box Because EN
Seasons EN
Sequencer 1 EN Keyboard
Jaymar Toy Piano
Tine
Looping
Cyncro Ecro
The Long Goodbye Percussion Metal
Grandfather Clock Plucked
Northern Lights
Silver Mirror
Stellar Bowls Sound Design
Bacteria
Lisithean Motor
Mojo of FDN
Scratching FDN String Bowed
Vln Vla Cel Bass 4 String Pizzicato
Hyper Pizz
Uki Pizz 1
Uki Pizz 2 String Struck
Uki Bells
Synth
Bajaron Light Ship Synth Pads
Jupiter Mission
Shimmer
Space
Whirligigs Touche
Stretch String m1 T
Stretch String m2 T
Stretch String m3 T
FM Bell T
Touche Voice T Combination Presets
(Expanded only)
Processing
Celestial Effect
Choir Space
Double Monster Bass
DroneLayer
Harman Pitch
ModMan Live
The Satur
Touche Voix
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Video Performances that feature some of these new presets can be found here: Stretch String - (live performance at ContinuuCon 2017) Bacteria Northern Lights Jupiter Mission Silver Mirror Tine Two new recordings highlighting the new External Note Mode: Eastern Slider The Mouth Sequence It’s helpful to read the info on each of these new videos at the Vimeo sites. What’s New? Increased Computation Rate (2x only) Matrix can compute at doubled sample rate, useful in certain situations for increased computational resolution. In this release this increased rate is used in the Touche presets called Stretch String. The increased rate has a subtle timbre change suitable for the kind of spectral manipulation employed when playing these Presets. Selectable on the bottom of the Polyphony menu. New External Note Mode A new way to combine keyboard playing with Continuum . where each formula can be customized for the limited accuracy of keyboard aftertouch and pitch. External note mode is in the Note Process menu. To accommodate this feature there are now two External Midi inputs on the Midi Globals page instead of the previous one.
External Control 1 is connected to a CME Xkey37 keyboard and External Control 2 is connected to an Arturia BeatStep sequencer/controller. Using External Note Mode both of these Midi devices are now available to play notes on an EaganMatrix Preset.
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Using External Note Mode it is possible to control the EganMatrix via Continuum surface at the same time as using external Midi input. External Note Mode channelizes the incoming Midi data from an external controller, which means any single channel Midi controller will work, including sequencers. The EaganMatrix synthesizer inside the Continuum has the ability to have separate parameter controls for data from the surface and data from an external Midi device. This allows the Preset to be sculpted appropriately, given the more limited response that is available from an external input device. The relatively light touch, scissor key action and reasonable polyphonic aftertouch (compared to other Midi controllers) of the CME xkey37 makes a nice complement to the Continuum playing surface. Included in the firmware update is a setup template for the CME xkey37. With the xkey37 it’s possible to have polyphonic aftertouch translated into continuous Z values for each note, global response to pitch bend (applied to all notes), and global response to Y (by plugging in an external pedal into it’s Expression pedal input).
New Shape Generator Choices
Single-cycle Dual Shape Generators allow for a doubling in the number of possible independent shape generators, from 5 to 10. The Dual Shape generators are currently triggered only via W (initial finger contact). The new generators are labeled with a “b” suffix.
Shape Generator 1b is used in Formula A. It is triggered via finger contact and cycles once a second. New Mono Modes
Play most recent finger with max finger’s pressure – useful (in combination with Tri-Octave Pedal) for fast playing without moving hand positions at all [like Oskar Sala performances on the Trautonium]. Found at the bottom of the Mono Switch menu. On Screen Numerical Display
A new numerical display can be turned on in the Formula to see the numerical output of a formula. Useful when editing a sound in the EaganMatrix.
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Formula A’s current value for the last finger pressed is 0.4792
New Z Component Choices in Formulas
Formula Z control to allow special processing of end-of-note due to finger lift and sustain pedal over. Very useful for creating changes when a finger is lifted or a sustain pedal is is zeroed. An example usage is in the Preset Jaymar Toy Piano in the Keyboard Tine category. Look at formula G.
New Spectral Sets
New spectral sets have been added for use in the HarMan and ModMan. Three ukuleles, three toy piano, and a crystal spectral set. Example Presets using these spectral sets are Uki Pizz 1, Uki Pizz 2, Jaymar Toy Piano, and Northern Lights. DSP Maps
DSP Maps is next step in evolution of Combination Presets – a bit like Operator layouts on the Yamaha FM synths, except this is whole DSPs each with their own EaganMatrix. A preview (graphics but not functionality) is included in this release. Coming in the future as a more elegant way of creating Combination Presets.
This particular DSP Map is showing a Preset that has two DSPs below the split point, creating a single expanded polyphony tone, and a completely unique processor above the split point, with it’s own tone.
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