disting EX

Expert Sleepers 8HP
fw 1.26.1
UTILITY OSCILLATOR SAMPLER DELAY REVERB FILTER EFFECTS QUANTIZER LFO ENVELOPE GRANULAR MIDI I/O

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8HP successor to disting mk4 with dual OLED display, 6-in/4-out, MicroSD, MIDI and I2C. Runs 80+ mk4 algorithms in dual mode or dedicated single-mode algorithms (SD Multisample, Poly Wavetable, Granulator, Augustus Loop, etc.).

Patch Ideas · 5

★ SD Multisample — 8-voice poly sampler from 3 CV/gate pairs
Single mode → 3 – SD Multisample · Input mode '3 CV/Gate pairs' → Pitch 1/2/5, Gate 4/3/6 · Output mode 'All summed 1/2' → stereo L/R on 1/2, paraphonic gate on 3, mono mix on 4. Folder parameter selects sample folder on SD.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 9 modules and 9 connections. Signals: 2 audio, 3 pitch, 4 gate.DISTING EXSequencerYXZAOutputBEnvelopeAlgorithm: 3 SD Multisample (single)Input mode: 3 CV/Gate pairsOutput mode: All summed 1/2Folder: LABS Soft Pno PegOn3 channels of pitch + gate: Pitch 11v/octGate 1gatePitch 21v/octGate 2gatePitch 31v/octGate 3gate21v/oct4gate11v/oct3gate51v/oct6gate1audio3gateLaudioRaudio2audioTriggate11. paraphonic gate = any voice activeaudiopitchgate
★ Poly Wavetable — 8-voice wavetable synth with delay/reverb
Single mode → 10 – Poly Wavetable · wavetable folder selected on SD (confirm with V push) · MIDI note input via 5-pin DIN · outputs 1/2 stereo · delay + reverb built in.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 3 connections. Modules: DISTING EX, MIDI Keyboard, A, Output, B. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv.DISTING EXMIDI KeyboardAOutputBAlgorithm: 10 Poly Wavetable (single)Wavetable: AKWF_0002Wave spread: 30MIDI channel: 1MIDI IncvOutcv1audioLaudioRaudio2audio11. 5-pin DINaudiocv
★ Augustus Loop — stereo tape delay with tap tempo and feedback
Single mode → 2 – Augustus Loop · stereo in 1/2 · delay time = Z param, feedback + filter + inertia-free mode configurable · outputs 1/2 wet+dry · effects loop via 3/4. Tap tempo from input.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 11 modules and 7 connections. Signals: 6 audio, 1 clock.DISTING EXSourceClockXYZAOutputBFX SendFX ReturnAlgorithm: 2 Augustus Loop (single)Delay time multiplier: 1/1Feedback: 70%Filter: LP 4kHzLaudioRaudioOutclk1audio3audio2audio5clk1audio3audioLaudioRaudio2audioInaudioOutaudio1231. tap tempo2. effects-loop send3. returns into feedback pathaudioclock
Dual mode — MIDI/CV (left) into VCO + Clockable AD envelope (right)
Dual mode · left-half algorithm G-7 MIDI/CV converts MIDI notes into 1V/oct + gate on A/B · right-half F-1 Clockable AD envelope on B shapes VCA driven by clock on its X input. MIDI via 5-pin DIN.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 7 connections. Modules: DISTING EX, MIDI Keyboard, VCO, VCA, Clock, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate, 1 clock.DISTING EXMIDI KeyboardVCOVCAClockOutputMode: DualLeft (mk4): G-7 MIDI/CVRight (mk4): F-1 Clockable AD EnvelopeMIDI IncvX 3gateY 4clkA 11v/octB 2gateB 4cvOutcvV/Oct1v/octOutaudioCVcvInaudioOutaudioOutclkInaudio1231. left A = pitch2. right env clock3. left gate triggers right envaudiocvpitchgateclock
Granulator — live stereo granular processor
Single mode → 11 – Granulator · stereo input 1/2 captured into buffer · Z CV on 5 scrubs position · X CV on 3 controls grain size · Spawn mode chosen from menu · outputs 1/2 stereo grains.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 10 modules and 6 connections. Signals: 4 audio, 1 cv, 1 clock.DISTING EXSourceLFOClockXYZAOutputBAlgorithm: 11 Granulator (single)Spawn mode: ClockedSize mean: 120msLaudioRaudioOutcvOutclk1audio3clk2audio5cv1audioLaudioRaudio2audio121. scrub position2. grain spawn clockaudiocvclock

Behaviors

Dual mode — two disting mk4s Menu → Algorithms → Enter dual mode

Left encoder/pot drives left mk4 (inputs 5/1/2, outputs 1/2); right encoder/pot drives right mk4 (inputs 6/3/4, outputs 3/4). Both halves run independently at 96kHz. Firmware tracks disting mk4 v4.25 feature set. Press P+V together to access main menu from dual mode.

Single mode — dedicated algorithms Menu → Algorithms → Choose single → select

One algorithm takes over the whole module with all six inputs and four outputs available. Catalogue (v1.26): Matrix Mixer, Augustus Loop, SD Multisample, SD 6 Triggers, WAV Recorder, Multi-Switch, Looper, Dream Machine, Filter Bank, Poly Wavetable, Granulator, Multi FX, Poly Exciter, Quad Envelope, Convolver, Chord Engine, Microtuner, Tracker, Macro Oscillator, Resonator, Macro Oscillator 2, MIDI Player, Poly FM, Spectral Freeze, Quad Quantizer, Quadraphonic Mixer.

Algorithm categories conceptual

Algorithms span four functional families: audio processing (filters, delays, reverbs, FX), CV processing (quantizers, switches, S&H), CV/audio generation (VCOs, LFOs, envelopes, wavetable) and sample playback/recording (SD Multisample, WAV Recorder, Looper, MIDI Player). Single mode favours depth (more parameters, more voices) while dual mode favours breadth (two mk4 algorithms running at once).

Preset system Menu → Presets

256 preset slots in flash memory store algorithm, parameters, mapping, Z function, folder/file selections. Presets saveable/loadable per-half in dual mode, or as a 'dual preset' covering both halves. Bulk ops save/load all 256 to/from SD card as .dexpresets files. Individual presets load/save to SD as .dexpreset files.

Mappings — CV/MIDI/I2C control of parameters Menu → Mappings (single mode)

Each single-mode parameter can be routed to a CV input, MIDI CC, MIDI note velocity, I2C message, or to the L/R pot and button. Independent attenuverter (-200% to +200%) per input. Mapping saved with the preset. Web-based editor on GitHub (expertsleepersltd/distingEX_tools) or community TouchOSC layouts for editing via MIDI SysEx.

Common single-mode parameters every single-mode algorithm

Parameters 1–6 are always Attenuverter 1 through Attenuverter 6 (-200% to +200%, default 100%). They attenuate/invert each input before the algorithm uses it. Effective value (after CV + attenuation) shown alongside base value on the display.

MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN breakout connect breakout to GT4/MIDI header

Many single-mode algorithms accept MIDI note, CC, velocity, pitch-bend, clock, MTS tuning and MPE (per-note pitch bend) input. MIDI channels, note ranges and MPE mode configured per algorithm. 'Low-Voltage Signaling' option switches TRS polarity. MIDI file playback algorithm can force output channel or mute MIDI output.

I2C bus + ES-5 + FHX expanders connect to JP2 (I2C) / GT3 (ES-5) / GT2 (FHX)

I2C header accepts messages from 16n Faderbank and other controllers to drive voices directly (EX.VOX) or trigger notes (EX.NOTE). ES-5 header adds 8 clock/gate outputs for sample-accurate timing and MIDI-to-gate translation. FHX-8CV / FHX-8GT extend CV/gate count. Select Bus jumper (JP1) enables Doepfer Select Bus preset recall.

Scala + MTS microtuning SCL/KBM on SD card · MTS SysEx

Pitch-generating algorithms (Multisample, Chord Engine, Poly Wavetable, Poly Exciter, Tracker, Macro Oscillator, Quad Quantizer, MIDI/CV) read Scala .scl/.kbm files from the SD card or accept MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard) dumps for non-12TET scales. Current MTS dump savable to SD.

Knob Recorder + per-algorithm help hold Z down + turn (dual) · hold P >1s (single)

Z push function is user-selectable (Function / Param / Knob Recorder) and saved per preset — knob recorder is available in any algorithm on the EX, not only those that implemented it on the mk4. Hold P/encoder for >1s to bring up per-algorithm help text paged to the display; P/V/R scroll pages.

Controls

Global · top-left P (Parameter Encoder) Rotary encoder with push. Scrolls parameter in single mode · enters left-half menu in dual mode.
single: turn = next parameter · push = enter menu · dual: acts as left-half S knob (hold+turn = param, turn = value, push = menu)
Global · top-right V (Value Encoder) Rotary encoder with push. Edits parameter value in single mode · drives right-half mk4 in dual mode.
single: turn = edit value · hold = show input/output key · push = confirm (for 'confirm' params) · dual: right-half S knob · P+V together = main menu from dual
Global · mid-left L (Left Pot) Absolute rotary pot with push-button. Left-half Z pot in dual mode · user-mappable in single mode.
dual: Z for left mk4 (summed with Input Z) · single: independent of Input Z · default push = step preset back when enabled in Settings
Global · mid-right R (Right Pot) Absolute rotary pot with push-button. Right-half Z pot in dual mode · maps to current parameter in single mode.
dual: Z for right mk4 · single default: changes current parameter value (absolute) · push default: reset parameter to default
Global · left of display MicroSD Slot Push-push MicroSD slot. Holds WAV samples, wavetables, MIDI files, presets, firmware updates.
FAT32 · MBR · 32GB SDHC recommended · SPI mode ≈3 MB/s max · High-Speed mode optional (Samsung EVO yes, SanDisk Extreme no)
Global OLED Display 128×64 OLED. Shows algorithm, parameter name/value, input-output key, menu, help text, preset list.
dual display modes: Standard (side-by-side with zoom) · Standard no-zoom · Retro (5×7 LED matrix emulation)

I/O

IN · 6

  • Z (5) ±10V · DC-coupled CV
    Left-half Z CV in dual mode · algorithm-assigned in single mode. LEDs red/blue for +/-.
  • X (1) ±10V · DC-coupled
    Input 1. Left-half X in dual mode · algorithm-assigned in single mode.
  • Y (2) ±10V · DC-coupled
    Input 2. Left-half Y in dual mode · algorithm-assigned in single mode.
  • Z (6) ±10V · DC-coupled GATE
    Right-half Z CV in dual mode · algorithm-assigned (often Pitch 3 or Gate 3) in single mode.
  • X (3) ±10V · DC-coupled GATE
    Input 3. Right-half X in dual mode · algorithm-assigned (often gate/pitch) in single mode.
  • Y (4) ±10V · DC-coupled GATE
    Input 4. Right-half Y in dual mode · algorithm-assigned (often primary gate) in single mode.

OUT · 4

  • A (1) ±10V · DC-coupled
    Output 1. Left-half A in dual mode · stereo-L in most single algorithms.
  • B (2) ±10V · DC-coupled
    Output 2. Left-half B in dual mode · stereo-R in most single algorithms.
  • A (3) ±10V · DC-coupled GATE
    Output 3. Right-half A in dual mode · aux/paraphonic-gate/mono-mix in single algorithms.
  • B (4) ±10V · DC-coupled GATE
    Output 4. Right-half B in dual mode · aux/mono-mix/EoR trigger in single algorithms.