Cheat Sheet for things you might forget:

• To switch between the FX within the bank press the Type button.



• To switch FX banks short press Type + Tap buttons.



• To control the secondary FX parameter hold press the Tap button, now Cabin Fever controls this secondary parameter.



• The first FX bank Airways contains the following FX: HALL REVERB, SHIMMER REVERB, STEREO ROOM REVERB, PLATE REVERB, SPRING REVERB, PING-PONG DELAY, TAPE ECHO, CHORUS; where the first 4 are shown by the fully lit LEDs and 5-8 are shown by dimly lit LEDs.



• The second FX bank Darkwaves contains the following FX: GATED REVERB, SPRING REVERB, REVERSED REVERB, FLANGER, RING MODULATOR, OVERDRIVE, PEAK COMPRESSOR, FREEZER/LOOPER; where the first 4 are shown by the fully lit LEDs and 5-8 are shown by dimly lit LEDs.



• To enter Meta FX mode, which allows you to sequence the FX using external CV, hold press Type + Tap for 1 second. Cabin Pressure and Cabin Fever knobs still control the FX parameters, but now the CV input for Cabin Pressure will be your FX scan input, which accepts voltages in the range of -5V…+5V. Voltages in the range 0-5V sequence the FX of the current bank and voltages in the range -5V-0 scan through the FX in the other bank.



• To enter Spatial FX mode hold press the Type button for longer than 1 second. Cabin Fever control with CV will adjust crossfade (blending) between ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ as they appear in separate ‘out1’ and ‘out2’ (full CCW) or in both outputs (noon) or in reversed outputs (full CW). By default the position of the Cabin Fever knob is set to fully CCW. Cabin Pressure control with CV will adjust final panning of both ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ to the ‘out1’ and ‘out2’ after the blending stage. By default the Cabin Pressure knob is set at 12:00.

Milky Way

Milky Way is a 16 algorithm stereo fx processor in 6 hp with Meta FX Scan, Pan and Crossfade, VCA with built in saturation and external control. Available in both 3U and 1U format, the general functionality is the same, only the 1U version features additional MIX OUT pins on the back for cable free connectivity .

Links

Milky Way 3U product page
Milky Way 1U product page

Overview

Milky Way is a simple and effective stereo fx processor in 6 hp, featuring the following fx algorithms: HALL REVERB, SHIMMER REVERB, ROOM REVERB, PLATE REVERB, SPRING REVERB, PING-PONG DELAY, TAPE ECHO DELAY, CHORUS, GATED REVERB, SPRING REVERB 2, REVERSED REVERB, FLANGER, RING MOD, OVERDRIVE, COMPRESSOR, FREEZER.

The fx algorithms are allocated into 2 banks of 8 fx each, with ability to Meta sequence the fx algorithms on the fly, pan and crossfade the inputs and have additional control over the dynamics with a VCA and built in saturation at the end of the signal path.

Front panel controls

Type Button: pressing the TYPE button shortly cycles thru all the effect types. Short press TYPE+TAP changes the active bank of effects.

Tap Button: holding ‘tap’ button for longer than 1 sec. enters the secondary effect setting (depending on the effect type). Pressing ‘Tap’ + ’Type’ for longer than 1 second enables FX meta scanning.

Type + Tap Reset: the soft reset that adjusts all parameters to their default values. This also clears all the FX memories. Press both ‘type and ‘tap’ buttons simultaneously and hold for more than 5 seconds. You may hear a short blip and then you will see the effect will be set to the first one.

Volume knob: final manual volume control with extra saturation after 15:00.

VCA CV input: Unattenuated CV input for volume control with range 0….+5V.

Cabin Pressure (Dry/Wet) knob: Manual control and CV adjusts the dry (fully CCW) and wet (fully CW) level of the effect. Manual ‘cabin pressure’ and ‘fever’ knobs act as attenuators when the plugs are inserted.

Cabin Pressure CV input: 0…..+5V cv input for the Dry/Wet control of the fx, attenuated by the Cabin Pressure knob.

Cabin Fever knob: manual control and CV adjusts secondary effect parameter: decay of the reverb, feedback of the delay, etc.

Cabin Fever CV: 0…..+5V cv input for the secondary parameter of the fx, attenuated by the Cabin Fever knob.

Audio Inputs: if nothing is connected to input 2, input 1 is internally connected (normalised) to input 2. Additionally the 3U version has 2 gain trimmers on the back that boost the input signal, which can be useful when using Line level signals. By default these are turned all the way down.

LEDs: 4 white LEDs show the currently chosen fx algorithm. When the LED is fully LIT, then it shows one of I...IV chosen effect types. When the LED is semi LIT - it shows one of V...IV chosen effect types. Status LED (Red/Blue) shows bank change, update, entering secondary parameters, etc.

Audio outputs: final post FX / post VCA stereo audio outputs.

FX Types

Summary

Milky Way features a total of 16 fx types allocated to 2 banks of 8 fx each. Press the Type button to scroll through the fx in a bank, short press Type + Tap to switch the bank. Airways Bank 1 is shown by the Blue LED and Darkwaves Bank 2 is shown by the Red LED.

The first effect bank Airways contains effects tailored for tonal content. It recreates different ambient spaces. The effects are approximately arranged by size – going from bigger spaces (like halls) to smaller ones finishing with delays and chorus The second bank Darkwaves contains 8 effects suitable for percussive sounds and serves a variety of different flavours. See https://airways.endorphin.es for more details and latest updates.

Airways Bank:

HALL REVERB: Cabin fever knob defines the decay of the reverb or hall size. Holding tap for longer than 1 second enables the secondary function for cabin fever: fixed hi-pass filter to cut off low frequencies and have more ‘air’ in the final output.

SHIMMER REVERB: is a variation of the hall reverb with a pitch shifter to create choir-like, huge and unrealistic spaces. The primary cabin fever function defines the decay and the secondary function defines the amount of pitch-shifter mixed into the original reverb.

STEREO ROOM REVERB: recreates a sort of stereo room ambience. Primary cabin fever parameter defines room size and the secondary defines the stereo spread of the reverb, from mono up to a huge stereo spread.

PLATE REVERB: The primary cabin fever defines the decay of the reverb. In real life equivalent this is the distance from the pickups to the metal plate which is how long the tail of the reverb is present. Secondary parameter defines the amount of pre-delay to distant sounds in ambience.

SPRING REVERB: The primary cabin fever defines the decay of the reverb. With the tap button you can simulate a sound as if you pluck the real spring with your finger. The secondary function is tied to the tap button’s ‘pluck the spring’ feature and defines the decay of how fast the spring will calm down after manually plucking it.

PING-PONG DELAY: is a stereo clocked delay. A tap is usually three or more short clicks on the tap button. The primary cabin fever parameter defines the feedback of the delay or repeats. The secondary defines the clock division of the incoming tap/clock: 1, 3/4, 2/3, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8.

TAPE ECHO: is a delay with 3 fixed playback heads. Primary cabin fever parameter defines the delay repeat rate which is the speed of tape. The tap button works in a limited frequency range of manual tapping and defines the amount of feedback. The secondary works as a divider for the incoming clock.

CHORUS: Primary cabin fever knob defines the feedback amount. In average amounts, it creates a typical unison effect, however, in full CW it goes to an infinite feedback resulting in a surrealistic ambient. Secondary parameter defines the modulation depth, which is full on by default.

Darkwaves Bank:

GATED REVERB: is based around plate reverb with noise gate. The primary cabin fever defines the reverb decay, but the secondary defines the threshold of the noise gate. Noise gate’s attack and decay are fixed and chosen experimentally to fit most musical styles.

SPRING REVERB: The primary cabin fever defines the decay of the reverb. With the ‘tap’ button you can simulate a sound as if you pluck the real spring with your finger. The secondary function is tied to the ‘tap’ button’s ‘pluck the spring’ feature and defines the DECAY of how fast the spring will calm down after manually plucking it.

REVERSED REVERB: takes the reverb tail of the sound and reverses it. If applied on drums like snare then it creates a breathing effect. Cabin pressure knob defines the pre-delay time and acts as dry/wet control. 'Cabin fever' sets the reverb decay value. Holding tap for longer than 1 second enables the secondary function for cabin fever: damping, i.e. volume of the tail (in our case tail = 'head' as the tail is reversed).

FLANGER: The cabin pressure knob sets the amount of delay. With primary cabin fever we set the LFO speed. The secondary defines the feedback. Playing with those three parameters allows one to achieve sweeping, airplane engine-like sound with a pretty wide range.

RING MODULATOR: multiplies the signal with an internal sine wave oscillator. Cabin pressure defines the amount of modulation and ‘cabin fever’ defines the speed of the oscillator. Secret ingredient – feedback! Its amount is controlled by the secondary ‘cabin fever’ and brings special dirtiness to the sounds.

OVERDRIVE: Cabin pressure knob adjusts the drive amount with volume compensation, while ‘cabin fever’ defines the tone control as usually found in guitar pedals. The tap button makes the effect active or bypassed, like the switch on a guitar pedal – and so does ‘cabin fever’ latching trigger CV input.

PEAK COMPRESSOR: Cabin pressure knob defines the threshold from -90dB to 0dB (fully CW). Primary ‘cabin fever’ sets the amount of gain reduction (ratio) from 1 to 25. Secondary parameter defines the attack, from 1 to 200 msec. Release is always auto. Cabin fever CV input is an unattenuated side-chain input.

FREEZER/LOOPER: When tap is pressed (or cabin fever CV gate is ON), the audio is looped by the grain length defined by the cabin fever knob – and with the speed – defined by cabin pressure knob or CV – applied.

Special Operation Modes:

Summary

Apart from being a very flexible fx processor, Milky Way also has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. The 3 special modes are Meta FX, Spatial Movement and Saturation Overkill.

Meta FX:

This mode allows you to scan through the fx with an external CV, which can open up the whole world of sound design possibilities. To enter this mode hold press Type + Tap for 1 second. Cabin Pressure and Cabin Fever knobs still control the FX parameters, but now the CV input for Cabin Pressure will be your FX scan input, which accepts voltages in the range of -5V…+5V.

• 0…+5V external CV will scan through the current bank of FX.
• -5V…0 external CV will scan through the unselected bank of FX.

Every time you switch the FX algorithm, the FX parameters will be stored, this way you can fine tune the sweet spots for each algorithm and Meta Sequence the algorithms with higher precision and musicality.

Spatial FX

Pressing the ‘Type’ button for longer than 1 second will enable panning/xfade mode and the LED inside the triangle will light up fuchsia.

Brightness of LEDs 1 and 2 indicates the output level of ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ at the ‘out 1’. Brightness of LEDs 3 and 4 indicates the output level of ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ at the ‘out 2’.

Cabin Fever control with CV will adjust crossfade (blending) between ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ as they appear in separate ‘out1’ and ‘out2’ (full CCW) or in both outputs (noon) or in reversed outputs (full CW). By default the position of the Cabin Fever knob is set to fully CCW.

Cabin Pressure control with CV will adjust final panning of both ‘in1’ and ‘in2’ to the ‘out1’ and ‘out2’ after the blending stage. By default the Cabin Pressure knob is set at 12:00.

Saturation Overkill

Once the Volume knob crosses 3 o'clock position and further, the status LED blinks RED and the overall signal starts to saturate. VCA CV input works in the range from 0V (full silence) to 5V (max. volume limit set by the knob (incl. saturation). Saturation can add warmth to the sound and also compress the dynamic range, which can be especially useful for percussion.

Firmware Update:

Download the latest firmware here: https://www.endorphin.es/modules/p/milky-way

The update procedure is done via audio, either computer or phone will work, we advise you to disable all the notifications (flight mode) so that the update is not interrupted.

• Power OFF you modular system.
• Hold Tap while powering your system again, you will see the status LED blink blue.
• Connect the audio output from your computer headphones output or phone to one of the audio inputs on the module with simple mono or stereo cable.
• Press PLAY and wait 2+ minutes. Use and file player that does not apply audio compression to the file. During the update process you should observe that the BLUE light is blinking faster than usual. The module will reboot automatically after the new firmware has been installed.
• Make sure you don't input any extra sounds during the update process (reminder signals from your calendar, etc.). When the status LED flashes RED – that means the signal is too low or too high – just reset the firmware acquire process by pressing TAP once. This can also happen when you first insert the cable into the audio input.

Important Note: to prevent the errors during the audio playback of the firmware, please use any audio editor without any effects applied (EQ etc).