12-12-2020 Frequency Freaks 3-Module Challenge Patch Notes
OVERVIEW
This patch was theorized in a few different forms during the week of Sunday Dec 6th to Thursday Dec 10th 2020,
the date it was recorded. Taking the many channels, modes, CV routing capabilities, and Channel trigger link
routing capabilities available on the Quadrax, an initial "bed" of frequency modulation (2 x Bipolar LFO at
audio rate) was created. From there the 2 audio waveforms were sent to Disting to be quantized at a major
third interval apart from one another (most of the time, transpose function was used in performance on the
Carrier VCO) and these CV's were sent back into Quadrax and applied to LFO Rise for 1v/oct tracking. While more
detail is provided below for each module, what happens from here is the combination of the unfiltered signal
and the filtered signal from Spectravox, each sent into an input on Hexmix with some EQ and level control.
Quick note on choosing pitches and intervals:
During performance, I felt that adjusting the X and Y Attenuation on Disting's H3 Dual Quantizer algorithm
was very satisfying as it expanded and contracted the range not only of the notes themselves but also
changed the FM relationship between Carrier (Quadrax Ch. 1) and Modulator (Quadrax Ch. 2) oscillators
(Bipolar LFO algorithm at audio rate)
INTELLIJEL QUADRAX
Channel Algorithms
Channel 1: Bipolar LFO (@ audio rate)- acts as the Carrier Oscillator
Channel 2: Bipolar LFO (@ audio rate) - acts as the Modulation Oscillator, as well as a Modulation source for other destinations
Channel 3: CYCLE (cycling AHR envelope) - acts as a CV for Spectral Shift on Spectravox, in addition to being fed back into Quadrax CV C
to effect Channel 2's LFO Shape
Channel 4: BURST (Alt mode, in order to use a raw up saw shape) - many little upward saw waves that increase in amplitude until dropping back to 0, such that the
aggregate shape of the waves also forms an upward sawtooth shape - This Channel is the source of CV for Disting's Dual Quantizer (both X and Y inputs), and has
some effect on the RISE parameter (Frequency in this case) of Channel 1's Carrier VCO
CV Routings - Destination: Channel 1
i. Source: CV A (quantized pitch from Disting's A Output)
x Applied to: RISE (acts as Carrier VCO Frequency)
x Mod Depth: +100%
ii. Source: CV D (Channel 2 waveform)
x Applied to: RISE (acts as Carrier VCO Frequency)
x Mod Depth: +25% - Destination: Channel 2
i. Source: CV B (quantized pitch from Disting's B Output)
x Applied to: RISE (acts as Modulator VCO Frequency)
x Mod Depth: +100%
ii. Source: CV C (Channel 3 Cycling AHR waveform)
x Applied to: SHAPE (dynamic Timbre modulation of the Channel 2 Mod VCO)
x Mod Depth: +100% - Destination: Channel 3
(none) - Destination: Channel 4
(none)
Channel Trigger Links
- Destination: Channel 4 (Burst Trigger)
- Green EOR linked from Channel 3's looping AHR envelope
- acts as the Carrier Oscillator
EXPERT SLEEPERS DISTING MK4
Algorithm: H3 (Dual Quantizer)- Initial Transposition (S Knob parameters 2 and 3) difference between channels 1 and 2 was +3
for channel 2, then moving channel 1 around in intervals of +/- 7 and +/- 12 - Attenuation (S Knob parameters 0 and 1) for both channels was initially set around 9-12 to "contain"
it, expanding outward later on - Both channels received the same pitch information from Quadrax Channel 4 (burst generator) but
dealt with that voltage differently (as explained above) - Output of both channels was sent to CV A and CV B for routing around Quadrax and to the wider patch
- Z Mode Scale value = 3 (Triad). Best to keep a simple scale when manipulating timbre and intervals
- Initial Transposition (S Knob parameters 2 and 3) difference between channels 1 and 2 was +3
MOOG SPECTRAVOX (FILTER SECTION)
- Fixed filter bank of 10 here worked to provide great spectral shaping
- Faded in the Spectravox on Channel 2 of Hexmix, mostly panned right with EQ emphasis on mid (1kHZ) and
low (100Hz) bands
IV. MORDAX DATA (Visualization Notes)
- Uses all 4 channels @ 5.0V Scale, DC Coupled, Vis: ON, Source: CH1-CH2, Offset X: 50, Offset Y: -5
- Channel 1 Pos: +15V
- Channel 2 Pos: +5V
- Channel 3 Pos: -5V
- Channel 4 Pos: -15V
V. BEFACO HEXMIX (Simple Mixing/EQ Notes)
- Unfiltered Outputs from Quadrax into Channel 1, panned mid left
- Channel 1 EQ: high band - 12:00, mid band: - 10:00, low band: - 9:30
- Spectravox on Channel 2 of Hexmix, panned mid right with EQ emphasis on mid (1kHZ) and
low (100Hz) bands
- Channel 2 EQ: high band - 12:00, mid band: - 2:00, low band: - 2:30
VI. PERFORMANCE NOTES
10 Performance Parameters (obviously many more could be added, but this list practically restricts
things for use in a short recording)
i. Quadrax Channel 1 SHAPE parameter (will drive different timbral results both for itself and
with regard to its' relationship with the Mod oscillator at Channel 2)
ii. Disting X Transpose (S knob parameter 2)
iii. Hexmix CH. 2 volume (begin patch with level @ 0)
iv. Spectravox Spectral Shift knob
v. Quadrax CH. 4 Burst length (FALL knob)
vi. Attenuversion of CV from CV C to CH. 2 Shape (push to -100%)
vii. Quadrax CH. 4 Burst Rate (RISE knob)
viii. Attenuation of Ch. 3 Shape from CV B (-100 to -50 or -25%)
ix. Disting Input X Attenuation (increase values)
x. Disting Input Y Attenuation (increase values)
VII. COLOUR CODING
Colour coding was implemented to match the colour of the oscilloscope channels on Mordax DATA, where the
colouring of a given patch cable is indicative of the origin of that part of the signal chain.
Quadrax CH. 1 - Green
Quadrax CH. 2 - Blue
Quadrax CH. 3 - Red
Quadrax CH. 4 - Yellow
Disting - Black
Spectravox - Purple Stackcable (except at the output of Data CH. 2 where I had to use a purple
stackcable to send Quadrax CH. 2 (Blue) to both Spectravox and CV. 4 of Quadrax
Octavian