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The Ekdahl FAR should come calibrated to a standard set of parameters but even so, due to its acoustic nature, minor periodic maintenance is required. Most notably the instrument will have to be regularly fine tuned in order for the bowing of specific overtones to sound good, an out of tune instrument will not resonate.
The Ekdahl FAR should come calibrated to a standard set of parameters but even so, due to its acoustic nature, minor periodic maintenance is required. Most notably the instrument will have to be regularly fine tuned in order for the bowing of specific overtones to sound good, an out of tune instrument will not resonate.


The main ways of creating sound is by using the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] to precisely bow the string with a given speed, the speed of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] determines which - if any - naturally occurring overtone(s) in the string is being emphasized. The [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] with which the bowing wheel is pressed up against the string will affect both loudness and harmonic content. One can also use the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Hammer|hammer]] to strike the string with a given force, the amount of force will affect both loudness and harmonic content. These modes can either be used separately or together.
The main ways of creating sound is by using the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|bowing wheel]] to precisely bow the string with a given speed, the speed of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|bowing wheel]] determines which - if any - naturally occurring overtone(s) in the string is being emphasized. The [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] with which the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|bowing wheel]] is pressed up against the string will affect both loudness and harmonic content. One can also use the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Hammer|hammer]] to strike the string with a given force, the amount of force will affect both loudness and harmonic content. These modes can either be used separately or together.


There is also a [[The Ekdahl FAR - Mute|mute]] that can be completely disengage from the string, used to do partial muting to suppress or exaggerate certain overtones, or to do full muting of the string.
There is also a [[The Ekdahl FAR - Mute|mute]] that can be completely disengage from the string, used to do partial muting to suppress or exaggerate certain overtones, or to do full muting of the string.


The overtone(s) to be emphasized are selected by [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]]<nowiki/>s where [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]] ''0'' is the ''fundamental frequency'' of the string and all overtones are being calculated from this fundamental using the selected [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic table|harmonic table]]. The default [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic table|harmonic table]] is using just intonation in a 12-tone scale, thus harmonic 12 will be one octave above the fundamental, harmonic -12 will be on octave below etc. The effective range available depends on the string tuning and the physical maximum and minimum speed of the bowing motor, generally a 3 to 4 octave range can be reached.[[File:Bowing jack.png|alt=The Ekdahl FAR bowing assembly, marks the bowing jack and the bowing wheel|thumb|The Ekdahl FAR bowing assembly]]
The overtone(s) to be emphasized are selected by [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]]<nowiki/>s where [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]] ''0'' is the ''fundamental frequency'' of the string. All overtones are being calculated from this fundamental using the selected [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Tuning tab#Harmonic series|harmonic table]]. The default [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Tuning tab#Harmonic series|harmonic table]] is using just intonation in a 12-tone scale, thus harmonic 12 will be one octave above the fundamental, harmonic -12 will be on octave below etc. The effective range available depends on the string tuning and the physical maximum and minimum speed of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing jack#bowing motor|bowing motor]], generally a 3 to 4 octave range can be reached.[[File:Bowing jack.png|alt=The Ekdahl FAR bowing assembly, marks the bowing jack and the bowing wheel|thumb|The Ekdahl FAR bowing assembly]]
== Terminology ==
== Terminology ==
* <span id="bowing_wheel">''Bowing wheel''</span> - the wheel attached to the bowing motor, which is actually rubbing against the string
* <span id="bowing_wheel">''[[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|Bowing wheel]]''</span> - the wheel which is actually rubbing against the string
* <span id="bowing_jack">''Bowing jack''</span> - the assembly that holds the bowing motor and [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]], this can be tilted up and down applying different [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] against the string
* <span id="bowing_jack">''[[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing jack|Bowing jack]]''</span> - the assembly that holds the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing jack#bowing motor|bowing motor]] and [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|bowing wheel]], this can be tilted up and down applying different [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Bowing wheels|bowing wheel]] against the string
* <span id="pressure">''Pressure''</span> - the positioning of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing jack|bowing jack]]. While the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is touching the string this essentially sets the amount of force with which the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is pressed against the string and affects both loudness and harmonic content.
* <span id="pressure">''Pressure''</span> - the positioning of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing jack|bowing jack]]. While the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is touching the string this essentially sets the amount of force with which the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is pressed against the string. It affects both loudness and harmonic content.
* <span id="bow_pressure_position">''Bow pressure position''</span> - sets one of the pre-defined [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing jack|bowing jack]] [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] positions ''rest'' or ''engage'' where the ''rest'' position is where the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is not touching the string at all, and ''engage'' is where it's starting to barely touch the string.
* <span id="bow_pressure_position">''Bow pressure position''</span> - sets one of the pre-defined [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing jack|bowing jack]] [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#pressure|pressure]] positions ''rest'' or ''engage''. The ''rest'' position is where the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] is not touching the string at all, and ''engage'' is where it's starting to barely touch the string.
* <span id="harmonic_table">''Harmonic table''</span> - This is a list of ratios or scales used to emphasize overtones in the string, each ratio corresponds to a MIDI or CV note in an octave. The default harmonic table contains 12 ratios per octave and are derived from just intonation.
* <span id="harmonic_table">''[[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Tuning tab#Harmonic series|Harmonic table]]''</span> - This is a list of ratios or scales used to emphasize overtones in the string, each ratio corresponds to a MIDI or CV note in an octave. The default harmonic table contains 12 ratios per octave and are derived from just intonation.
* <span id="harmonic_number">''Harmonic / Harmonic number''</span> - a single ratio and octave in the current [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic table|harmonic table]]. The ratio is used to calculate the bowing frequency from the fundamental, this frequency will emphasize a certain overtone. e.g. a harmonic number 17 in a 12-note scale refers to the 5th ratio on the second octave from the fundamental.
* <span id="harmonic_number">''Harmonic / Harmonic number''</span> - a single ratio and octave in the current [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Tuning tab#Harmonic series|harmonic table]]. The ratio is used to calculate the bowing frequency from the fundamental, this frequency will emphasize a certain overtone. e.g. a harmonic number 17 in a 12-note scale refers to the 5th ratio on the second octave from the fundamental.
* <span id="harmonic_shift">''Harmonic shift / fine tune''</span> - freely shifts the frequency of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] from the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]] set, this is analogous to a ''pitch bend''. By default, the range of the shift can be changed by editing the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Commands#harmonic shift range|harmonic shift range]] using the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration Utility|configuration utility]].
* <span id="harmonic_shift">''Harmonic shift / fine tune''</span> - freely shifts the frequency of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#bowing wheel|bowing wheel]] from the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Getting started#harmonic number|harmonic number]] set, this is analogous to a ''pitch bend''. By default, the range of the shift can be changed by editing the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Advanced tab#Misc parameters|harmonic shift range]] using the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Configuration utility - Concept and Installation|configuration utility]].
* <span id="control_method">''Control method''</span> - the method of control mechanism used. This can be CV, USB-MIDI, MIDI or USB-Serial as of the writing of this document.
* <span id="control_method">''Control method''</span> - the method of control mechanism used. This can be CV, USB-MIDI, MIDI or USB-Serial as of the writing of this document.
* <span id="command">''Command''</span> - the Ekdahl FAR is entirely controlled by ''commands'', these decide everything that the instrument is doing, whether it is playing a melody or changing an internal parameter. When a MIDI event occurs or a new CV / knob value is read, the ''commands'' associated with it will be internally sent. This can be things like "engage hammer" or "set the fundamental frequency" etc. Some of the available ''commands'' are mainly used for calibrating and setting up the instrument and are usually saved into the instruments memory, these will be executed whenever the instrument is turned on. All ''commands'' can be manually invoked via USB-Serial, in conjunction with certain softwares this presents an unprecedented level of control and sequenceability.
* <span id="command">''[[The Ekdahl FAR - Command langue|Command]]''</span> - the Ekdahl FAR is entirely controlled by [[The Ekdahl FAR - Command langue|commands]], these decide everything that the instrument is doing, whether it is playing a melody or changing an internal parameter. When a MIDI event occurs or a new CV / knob value is read, the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Command langue|commands]] associated with it will be internally sent. This can be things like "engage hammer" or "set the fundamental frequency" etc. Some of the [[The Ekdahl FAR - Command reference|available commands]] are mainly used for calibrating and setting up the instrument and are usually saved into the instruments memory, these will be executed whenever the instrument is turned on. All [[The Ekdahl FAR - Command langue|commands]] can be manually invoked via USB-Serial, in conjunction with certain softwares this presents an unprecedented level of control and sequenceability.


== The Front Panel ==
== The Front Panel ==
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The '12v dc' jack is the main power for the Ekdahl FAR, it currently requires a center-positive 12V DC supply at 2 amps.
The '12v dc' jack is the main power for the Ekdahl FAR, it currently requires a center-positive 12V DC supply at 2 amps.
See [[The Ekdahl FAR - Specifications|specifications]] for further details.


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