Orgeldream COLLECTA Automatic Sampler User Manual

COLLECTA
USER MANUAL

COLLECTA

Noun Old English
A collect – a collection of prayers.

COLLECTA
AUTOMATIC SAMPLER
COLLECTA is an automatic sampler designed to interact with live musicians, recordings or any surrounding sound source you connect. It captures, collects and cycles audio segments in patterns controlled by the interface.
COLLECTA pairs especially well with other Orgel dream instruments, such as the WOAS aleatoric drum machine.
Special thanks to Anthony Rowe of Squid soup, who purchased the first prototype, contributed ideas, lent equipment, and patiently helped refine the instrument into the unit you now have.
In this manual, you’ll find all the information you need to get started, from basic setup to the intricate details of its many features.
Have fun!

Getting started

SAFETY:

• Read all instructions before using this product.
• Keep the product away from water.
• Avoid prolonged use at high volume levels.
• Ensure the product is away from heat sources.
• Unplug the power cord when the product is not in use for extended periods.
• Prevent objects from falling into the product and liquids from pouring into it.

There are no user-serviceable parts inside.
All servicing should be performed by qualified personnel only.
In your COLLECTA box, there is:

1. COLLECTA Automatic sampler
2. USB Power Supply Unit
3. USB A to C cable
4. Owner’s manual
5. Five patch cables

What you will need:

1. Headphones with a 6.35mm TRS plug, or a 6.35mm TRS instrument cable running to a stereo amplifier and speakers. You can connect a TS instrument cable but will lose any signal panned to the right.
2. A plug socket. The COLLECTA can be powered from a USB port on another device, but you may encounter noise issues if powering other devices from the same port at the same time. There is no on/off switch for the COLLECTA, once it is connected to  power via it’s USB C port it is ON until you disconnect it.

Before plugging the device in, a good place to start is:
Switch all switches to the off position, or down.
Turn VOLUME to minimum and THRESHOLD to 12 o’clock.
Once plugged in the unit will take about 30 seconds to initialize.
When it’s ready the LEDs will flash briefly once.
The device is always on, there is no off switch.
Set the level of your input audio by turning on INPUT and VOLUME all the way CCW.
This will route the audio entering the device through it so you can check it. Adjust the output of your audio source until it is clear, undistorted but loud enough to be heard.
Audio input is line level and soft clipped to prevent harsh distortion. This may colour the sound of your input signal. If you are using a variety of inputs, it’s a good idea to place a buffer with trim before the COLLECTA. This could be something like a Boss guitar pedal or the Orgel dream BOLSTER.
To get playing immediately:
– flip up the switch to CLOCK mode.
– press RESTART to begin the internal clock (flashing lights at the bottom of the unit).
– flip up INPUT to allow sound in.
– play some sound and adjust THRESHOLD until you see flashes to show it’s sampling.
– adjust VOLUME to go between input and what you have sampled.
This is not Eurorack device but it is Eurorack compatible, it can also receive MIDI clock when switched to ADVANCE.
You are not recommended to connect more than 5V to the 3.5mm jack inputs of the COLLECTA.

FEATURES

Layout
COLLECTA is divided into two independent channels:
The controls for both channels are mirrored along the centre line of the unit.    Channel Controls

INPUT
Toggles the input on or off, muting or allowing the signal to enter that channel.
CLEAR
Erases any recorded sound in the channel.
THRESHOLD
Sets the level at which the unit will automatically take a sample. COLLECTA is listening for transients, so if your input is constant volume it won’t trigger auto sampling, you should use MANUAL.
MANUAL
Bypasses THRESHOLD and takes a sample immediately when pressed. This feature is useful if you want to insert a silence into your sequence of samples turn the input off and tap the button to do so.
HOLD
Locks playback to the current or most recent sample segment.
RANDOM
Plays recorded segments in a random order.
CLOCK/ADVANCE
In CLOCK mode, the internal clock is used CLK IN will tap the tap tempo.
In ADVANCE mode, an external signal connected to ADVANCE IN will step the sequence forward on each transition from OV, allowing a variety of sources to be used.
RESOLUTION
Sets the tempo subdivision for playback of segments. It also controls the clock division of the CV at ADVANCE IN. In both cases, further clockwise is faster. The stock firmware divides at 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64.
STEPS
Defines the number of segments in a loop. You could for example use different numbers of segments per channel allow for polyrhythms.
PITCH
12 o’clock = original pitch.
Turn counter-clockwise = lower pitch. Maximum is -1 octave.
Turn clockwise = higher pitch. Maximum is +1 octave.
VOLUME
Adjusts the output level of the channel. Turning all the way CCW sets the input to ‘thru’ so you can hear what you’re sampling. This is useful for troubleshooting if a sound is too loud or distorted.
PAN
12 o’clock centre.
Turn counter-clockwise = left.
Turn clockwise right.

GLOBAL CONTROLS (CENTRE SECTION)

TEMPO
Sets the overall playback speed of sample segments.
TAP
Tap repeatedly to set tempo manually (1 pulse per quarter note).
ADVANCE IN
Steps both channel sequences forward a step every time there is a 0-5V transition.
CLK IN
Receives an external 0-5V clock signal, this is used to tap the tap tempo (TAP) automatically for looser synchronization.
CLK OUT
Outputs a 5V pulse at the fastest subdivision currently being used.
RNDM OUT
Outputs a random voltage (0-5V) at the fastest subdivision being used by either channel
 MULTIPLY
All points in this section are interconnected. Use it to distribute a single CV source to multiple destinations.
RESTART
An important multi use button!
Resets both channel sequences to the first recorded segment.
One tap starts the machine in CLOCK mode.
Double tap stops the machine in CLOCK mode.
SIZE
Sets the duration of sample segments (50 ms-1 second).

MIDI

In ADVANCE mode, tempo is set to automatically synchronize when COLLECTA is connected over USB. This connection requires power. If it doesn’t sync, check your DAW output settings.

SPECIFICATIONS

Sampling rates and bit depth:
44.1 kHz 16bit
Voltage levels:

Power:
5 Volts 2 Amperes/2000 Milliamperes via USB C connection. Underpowering your device may lead to noise issues.
Dimensions:
Enclosure 188 x 188 x 67 Total 188 x 188 x 85
Accessories:
5 patch cables USB A to C cable A power supply
Bela:
The COLLECTA is based on the Bela Cape that is available at bela.io. The version included with the device has been customised, but you could reflash it with the standard Bela image or obtain a replacement to use it with COLLECTA’s hardware to create your own device.
Any modifications are done at your own risk.

VIDEOS

With guitar and Orgel dream peripherals. https://youtu.be/w_kdnj3MyK8
Polyrhythmic generation, glitch, stutter, and re-pitched parts emerge directly from the instrument signal.

With WOAS live sampling a film. https://youtu.be/ss4k_7VNcEE
Connected to a WOAS via CLK IN and cross patched.
Using clock CV to ADVANCE IN would have provided tighter sync.            With Orgel dream HEARPE and BOLSTER https://youtu.be/sa1cTJ1nxgQ
An Orgel dream HEARPE is played into the COLLECTA via a BOLSTER buffer to even out its tone.

With Moogs/Eurorack. https://youtu.be/N0X5qKWoqs4
ADVANCE IN is used to synchronize the COLLECTA’s actions as it automatically samples simple activity from the Moogs.
VOLUME is used as a mixer.
The video shows how different clock sources can produce interesting polyesters or more regimented results.

LINKS

ORGELDREAM.COM
LINKTR.EE/ORGELDREAM

EMAIL 
orgeldreamelectronics@gmail.com