Dynamo (Aluminum)

Bastl Instruments

Manufacturer Page

Dynamics and more

Dynamo is a combination of three utility modules: an envelope follower, a comparator and a voltage controlled switch. The module combines the envelope follower and the comparator to extract a gate from the envelope. On top of that, there is a full-wave rectifier output |EF IN| and a compressor CV curve generator.

When the compressor CV is plugged into the CV input of a VCA with offset and attenuator knobs, you get a compressor! The threshold knob of Dynamo sets the compressor threshold, the offset of the VCA sets the gain, and the attenuator of the CV input sets the ratio of compression (which can also go negative). This allows you creating a compressor type effect from anything: VCA, tube module, VCF or whatever is in your rack!

The other trick of Dynamo is the voltage controlled switch section in combination with the full-wave rectifier and the comparator. All pre-normalised, and for what reason? To make “fake thru-zero modulation” with anything you like! Define what should happen when a negative modulation appears, and adjust the zero crossing point by CV. The whole world of very deep modulations is waiting for you now…

… and it is totally bonkers!

Features:

5HP
Two passively connected Envelope Follower inputs (multiple)
Inverted and non-inverted Envelope Follower Output
Full-wave Rectifier Output |EF IN|
Compressor CV Output with indication LED (negative voltage only when the envelope is greater than the threshold)
THR-EF output, similar to compressor CV but can go to positive voltages – it tilts the whole compressor dynamics curve (not only the part above threshold)
selectable Envelope Follower Release time (short, mid, long)
Output of Envelope Follower is normalised to Comparator input
Comparator with Threshold knob, Threshold CV, Input and Output
Output of the comparator is normalised to the gate of VCS
Voltage Controllable Switch is a bi-directional (non-buffered) A or B switch
VCS Gate threshold is around 1.5 volts
On high gate, the B signal is connected with the "A or B" connector (otherwise it is A)
The signal at A is inverted and normalized to B (to easily achieve bi-polar VCA emulation or other waveshaping)