KQ Tixie Manual

Engine

KQ Tixie can emulate various synthesizers by switching between different engine modes.

Mode

DX

Uses the same parameters as Yamaha DX-series synthesizers such as the DX21.

FB01

Uses the same parameters as the Yamaha FB-01.

Raw

A mode that allows you to specify the internally calculated values almost directly.

In Raw mode, you can choose one of three parameter tables:

Func

Restricts functions that are unavailable on specific DX-series models.

HD, Rapid Attack

HD is KQ Tixie’s proprietary 24-bit FM engine.

Rapid Attack provides behavior closer to the OPZ FM chip.

Machine Preset

Select a synthesizer model to load the appropriate settings.

DX21
DX100
TX81Z
DX11
TQ5
WT11
V50
FB-01
DS-8
Full

Chip Frequency

Specifies the operating frequency of the emulated chip.

3.2 MHz

Used in EOS-series models (YS200, YS100, TQ5, B200, DS55).

3.58 MHz

Used in DX-series models (DX21, DX27, DX100, TX81Z, DX11(V2)).

4.0 MHz

Used in the FB-01.

Master Controls

The following parameters are available.

Vol

Master volume.

Pan

Stereo panning.

Key

Master transpose. Shifts pitch in semitone steps.

Br LFO

Specifies the Breath LFO mode found on the WT11.

Brt

Normal mode. Breath LFO is enabled, and pitch bend functions normally.

PB

Breath LFO becomes active when the pitch bend wheel is moved above its center position. Pitch bend messages do not alter pitch.

Off

Breath LFO is disabled. Pitch bend functions normally.

Effect

Enables the effect processor. The layer’s Effect setting must also be enabled.

Type

Selects the effect type.

Thru
Reverb Hall
Reverb Room
Reverb Plate
Delay
Delay L/R
Stereo Echo
Dist. + Reverb
Dist. + Echo
Gate Rev.
Reverse Gate
Early Ref.
Tone Control 1
Delay & Reverb
Delay L/R & Rev.
Dist. & Delay
Church
Club
Stage
Bath Room
Metal
Tunnel
Doubler 1
Doubler 2
Feedback Gate
Feedback Reverse
Feedback E/R
Delay & Tone 1
Dly L/R & Tone 1
Tone Control 2
Delay & Tone 2
Dly L/R & Tone 2
Distortion

Ef.Bal.

Balance between effected and dry signals.

Ef.Lev

Effect output level.

Param 1, Param 2, Param 3

Effect-specific parameters.

Chorus

Enables the chorus/delay effect. Chorus must also be enabled in the Global settings.

Type

Chorus/delay effect preset.

Chorus 1
Chorus 2
Chorus 3
Chorus 4
Flanger
Doubler
Shrt Dly
Long Dly

Ch.Lev

Chorus/delay effect level.

Delay

Delay time.

Rate

LFO modulation rate.

Depth

LFO modulation depth.

Feedbk

Delay feedback amount. Negative values are also supported.

Layers

KQ Tixie can stack up to eight layers simultaneously.

Each layer provides the following parameters.

Voice

Loads a voice.

LFO Sel

KQ Tixie provides two shared LFOs. Select whether the layer uses LFO 1, LFO 2, an independent pitch-only LFO, or no LFO.

When selecting 1 or 2, the settings from the lowest-numbered layer using that LFO are applied.

Engine

Selects the synthesis engine.

Vol

Layer volume.

Pan

Layer panning.

Poly

Maximum polyphony.

Chorus

Enables the chorus/delay effect. Chorus must also be enabled in the Global settings.

Effect

Enables the effect processor. Effect must also be enabled in the Global settings.

Ctrl(M), Ctrl(B), Ctrl(A), Ctrl(F)

Controller assignments. See the Controller section.

Vol

Additional volume adjustment.

Pan

Additional pan adjustment.

Unison

Stacks multiple voices for a thicker sound.

Width

Detune amount used by Unison.

Ch

MIDI channel.

Key.L, Key.H

Keyboard range that responds to incoming notes.

Trns

Transpose in semitone steps.

Fine T

Fine tuning. A value of 64 equals one semitone.

Detune

Applies subtle pitch variation. This is not a simple pitch offset.

Edit Screen

Three editor layouts are available depending on the selected engine.

DX Mode

Parameters conform to Yamaha’s 4-operator DX-series synthesizers. Refer to Yamaha documentation and online resources for details.

FB-01 Mode

Parameters conform to the Yamaha FB-01. Refer to Yamaha documentation and online resources for details.

Raw Mode

Parameters expose internal values discovered through reverse engineering and analysis.

Please infer their functions from the parameter names.

Controllers

KQ Tixie provides seven real-time controllers for modifying sounds.

There are four assignable controllers per voice, plus:

Timbre (brightness control)
EG1 (adjusts the envelope speed of OP1 and OP2)
EG2 (adjusts the envelope speed of OP3 and OP4)

Ctrl 1 MW

Modulation Wheel in DX-series terminology.

Ctrl 2 BC

Breath Controller in DX-series terminology.

Ctrl 3 AT

Aftertouch in DX-series terminology.

Ctrl 4 FT

Foot Controller in DX-series terminology.

When a voice uses Raw mode, these four controllers can be assigned to the following parameters.

Some assignments are unavailable in non-Raw modes.

Tap Ctrl/Prefs in the voice Edit screen to open the assignment editor.

LFO Pit

Depth of LFO pitch modulation.

Affected by P M Sens. No effect when P M Sens is 0.

LFO Amp

Depth of LFO amplitude modulation.

For carrier operators, this affects volume. For modulator operators, it affects timbre.

Affected by A M Sens and Amp Mod Enable. No effect when A M Sens is 0 or Amp Mod Enable is disabled.

LFO Freq

Adjusts LFO speed.

Pit Bias

Adjusts pitch.

Amp Bias

Adjusts operator amplitude level.

Affected by EG Bias S. No effect when EG Bias S is 0.

Volume

Adjusts volume.

MIDI Control

Four MIDI receive modes are available.

1 Ch

Receives messages only on the specified channel.

Layer-specific MIDI channel settings are ignored.

Omni

Receives messages on all channels.

Layer-specific MIDI channel settings are ignored.

Multi

Receives messages on the MIDI channel specified for each layer.

MPE

Receives MPE-compatible MIDI messages.

Layer-specific MIDI channel settings are ignored.

MIDI Mapping

Select Settings > MIDI Mapping to open the MIDI Mapping screen.

Filter

Select which MIDI message types should be ignored.

Messages specified in Extra MIDI Mapping are still received regardless of these settings.

Notes
Ctrl 1 MW
Ctrl 2 BC
Ctrl 3 AT
Ctrl 5 FC
Pitchbend
Program Change
RPN
Volume
Pan
Sustain Pedal
Portamento
Timbre Control
EG1 Control
EG2 Control

Parameters

Specifies the MIDI CC number to receive.

Available values:

None
CC#0–CC#95
AT

Receiving the specified message updates the corresponding parameter.

MIDI Mapping

Extra MIDI mappings.

Program Mapping

Program Change mappings.

Extra MIDI Mapping

Initially, Size: 0, meaning no mappings exist.

Press + to add a mapping.

Use Edit → Delete to remove mappings.

Parameter

Selects the target parameter.

Source

Selects the incoming MIDI message type.

None
Control Change
Aftertouch
Pitchbend
Program Change
NRPN
Note On
Note Off

Additional options such as channel and controller number become available depending on the selected source type.

Source Minimum, Maximum

Defines the input value range.

Dest. Minimum, Maximum

Defines the target parameter value range.

The value corresponding to Source Minimum maps to Dest. Minimum.

Dest. Maximum may be lower than Dest. Minimum.

Program Mapping

All entries are set to None by default.

Set the Current Patch

Assigns the current layer’s voice.

Set the Current Perf.

Assigns the current performance.

Import Patches/Performances from Set

Updates the list from saved voice sets and performance sets.

Settings

Master Tune

Sets the global tuning reference.

Default: 440 Hz

Tuning Table

Selects the tuning table.

By default, all notes use Equal Temperament, but the table can be edited.

Middle A Label

Select how middle A is labeled.

Theme

Changes the application’s color theme.

UI Style

Selects either a light or dark appearance.

Light
Dark

Zoom Scale

Adjusts the UI scaling factor.

Change App Icon

Changes the app icon to match the currently selected theme color.

Show Software Keyboard

Shows or hides the on-screen keyboard.

Key Touch

Specifies how the software keyboard responds to touch pressure.

Synchronize Patches via iCloud

Synchronizes voice sets and performance sets using iCloud.

When enabling synchronization, you can choose whether to:

Copy data from iCloud to local storage
Copy local data to iCloud

Background Audio

Keeps audio active while the app is in the background.

Prevent Sleep

Prevents the device from entering sleep mode automatically.

Use Single Mode for Edit

When enabled, entering the Edit screen automatically switches to Single Mode.

Layer functionality is disabled in Single Mode.

MIDI Source

Selects MIDI input devices.

MIDI Destination

Selects MIDI output devices.

If you own a 4-operator DX-series synthesizer or an FB-01, voice data can be transmitted directly to the hardware.

Connect the device through a MIDI interface and configure it here.

The FB-01 and TX81Z also support requesting dumps of their internal voices.

Bluetooth MIDI

Opens the Bluetooth MIDI connection screen.

Engine

HD is KQ Tixie’s proprietary 24-bit FM engine.

Rapid Attack provides behavior similar to the OPZ FM chip.

Chip Clock

Specifies the emulated chip clock frequency.

3.2 MHz

Used in later DX-series models.

3.58 MHz

Used in earlier DX-series models.

4.0 MHz

Used in the FB-01.

Interpolation

Selects the resampling interpolation algorithm.

A value of 0 disables interpolation and results in very poor audio quality.

Buffer Size

Specifies the audio buffer size.

Increase this value if audio drops out or crackles.

Smaller values provide lower latency.

Import Patches / Performances

Imports voices / performances.

Supported file formats:

.syx
.mid
.zip
KQ Tixie format

To import from files:

Select the desired options.
Tap Import Files.
Select the files.
Tap the checkmark button in the upper-right corner.

Voice / performance data can also be imported from received SysEx messages.

Keep Structure

When enabled, voices / performances are imported while preserving the original folder structure.
When disabled, imported voices / performances are sorted alphabetically by name, and duplicate data are removed.

Restore Both

Restores a backup previously created using Export.

Export Patches/Performances

Exports saved voice sets and performance sets.

Save as AUv3 Default

Saves the current state as the default configuration when KQ Tixie is opened as an Audio Unit (AUv3).