1. Overview

  1. Features of Exciton
  2. System Requirements
  3. About This Manual

1.1. Features of Exciton

Exciton is a software synthesizer (virtual instrument) on VST host applications (Cubase, Logic, etc.) for Macintosh and Windows.

64 voice polyphonic(max): Number of voices is variable from 1 to 64. Unison mode (triggering the all voices for one key) is available for making fat sounds. Portamento is available for both unison/polyphonic modes.

Oscillator: Two high quality oscillators are used in Exciton. High S/N ratio is achieved with the new-designed DSP algorithm. Four waveforms (sine, triangle, sawtooth and pulse with PWM) are available.

Filter: Lowpass/highpass filters with four slopes (6/12/18/24dB/Oct) can be selected. Their design is based on the properties of vintage analog synthesizers. You can also oscillate a filter like an analog synthesizer.

Envelope: Exciton has two ADSR envelope generators. An envelope also has an attack curve selector. You can use convex curve for fast-attack percussions, or use concave for slow strings.

LFO: Two LFO's can be used for modulation sources. Six waveforms (sine, triangle, sawtooth, square, sample & hold and random) are available. Polyphonic/monophonic modes can be selected for each LFO's.

Effect: Exciton has a built-in effect processor base on a stereo modulation delay. It can be used for variable purposes (ex. stereo delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, overdrive and so on).

Modulation: Two modulation sources from ENV1/ENV2/LFO1/LFO2 are assignable for oscillators and a filter. One of ENV1/ENV2 and one of LFO1/LFO2 can be used for a amplifier. All modulation can be set to both positive/negative directions and has a velocity sens control individually.

1.2. System Requirements

Exciton runs on a VST host application (Steinberg Cubase series, Emagic Logic series, etc) for Macintosh and Windows. (currently it does not support stand-alone processing). System requirements and recommended environments for working with Exciton are as follows.

A system performance varies with memory amount, a host application, other plugins, etc. But if you have an appropriate VST host application, Exciton will work fine for most cases. Please download the software and check it for your own environment. It is free to try!

Mac OS X version is also planned to be supported.

Exciton is based on VST 2.0 client interface by Steinberg. Currently, it has been checked with Steinberg Cubase series and Emagic Logic series. It has not been checked with other VST host applications yet. But it will probably work fine with another VST host application if an application has an appropriate VST host interface. If you have another VST host application and has a problem with running Exciton on your host application, please contact to the author. The author will try to fix your problem as possible.

A system performance depends on other applications and plugins and so on. Especially, if you are running a heavy plugin (ex. high quality reverb) at the same time with Exciton, it may affect a system performance.

Exciton may run on old CPU's (ex: Macintosh before G3 or Windows machine before Pentium III). But there should be some special consideration to take care for CPU (adding extra memory, prevent running other applications and plugins, etc.). You should also take care for the number of voices and refrain from using high quality oscillators.

1.3. About This Manual

1. Overview(this chapter) is a introduction of Exciton and this document.

2. Basic Operations explains how to install Exciton, panel descriptions and other basic operations.

3. Parameter Reference is the main part of this document. Detailed explanations of sound-making parameters are made for each sections.

4. Parameter Automation and External Control explains how to control Exciton parameters with sequencers and other external MIDI devices using MIDI messages.

5. MIDI Control Messages is a table of MIDI control messages for controlling Exciton parameters.

6. MIDI Implementation Chart is a chart of MIDI I/O specifications.

Paragraphs surrounded by colored boxes have special meanings.

A paragraph surrounded by a silver(light gray) box is an index. You can click each items to jump to its content.

A paragraph surrounded by a blue box explains a detailed explanation of sound parameters, systhesis processes or technical informations.

A paragraph surrounded by a red box contains an important notice.

A paragraph surrounded by a green box explains a technique for making sounds and other useful information.

This manual is written by a Japanese author. There may be plenty of errors and mistakes in this manual. If you have a advice, please report to the author to make it better. Thank you.