Serge ÷N Comparator

Comparator, VC Pulse Divider, and VC Staircase Generator

This is an MU version of the popular Serge Divide by N Comparator module from Random Source built by Lower West Side Studio.

The following description is from the Random Source manual;

The ÷N COM is a rare, much sought-after and very essential Serge module covering a number of functions: comparator,
voltage-controlled pulse divider, and voltage-controlled staircase generator.

The ÷N COMPARATOR consists of two sections – a comparator (right side) and a voltage-controlled pulse divider (left side). The ÷N output of the pulse divider sends out a pulse on every N-th comparator pulse where N is a number from 1 to 31. N can be (pre-)set with the divider’s control knob (1 ÷N) and can by changed with a control voltage. The VC knob (attenuator)on the bottom of the left side determines how much effect the control voltage has on “N”. In addition, the divider generates a staircase waveform with N steps. This can be used to produce hole-tone steps when run into the 1V/Oct input of a VCO or as a stepped control voltage to change for instance the cutoff of a filter.

The comparator provides a number of useful “housekeeping functions”:
– Logical decisions (if the +input is greater than the -input, the output will be high, otherwise low)
– Level detection (whenever a variable waveform crosses the threshold, a pulse is generated )
– Pulse width modulation or Rectifying a waveform (e.g. a sine or triangle wave).

More uses are explained in the original 1983 Serge catalog:

For audio frequencies the divider can be set to output sub-divided frequencies with digital precision: Output frequency depends on “N”. If “N”= 2, 3, 4, etc. the output frequencies will be an octave, an octave and a fifth, or two octaves below the input, respectively. Because ‘’N’’ is voltage controllable, arpeggios and various melodies can easily be programmed. The nature of this type of division (Integer division) results in
frequencies that fall along the sub-harmonic series, a series that has great tonal charm.

For sub-audio frequencies. the divider acts like a counter. Outputting a pulse only after ‘’N’’ number of input pulses. Input pulses can be fairly random or regular. This capability is especially powerful for determining tempos and rhythmic patterns when using several sequencers (especially if the “N” VC input is taken from one of a sequencer’s rows of controls ). ln a more random situation, using a microphone preamp / detector as input, the divider might be set to count how many times a sound of a certain loudness will have occurred and be set to trigger an event upon reaching the count. Since the count can be made variable (from 1 to 31), fairly complex and subtle interactions can be generated.

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