Introducing a new space saving VCO!
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Introducing a new space saving VCO!
Q & A
"You've got questions, we've got answers"
(But they must pertain to the SDS_VCO!)
| Q: | How many octaves does the SDS_VCO cover? | A: | 5 octaves are covered immediately, but with
0-5 volts on the MOD CV input, and the MOD CV Root turned on (Amber LED)
another octave can be added. One more octave can be added with the +1 octave switch (Green LED #1), and yet another with the 0 volt Root key offset adjustment + 3 more notes. So effectively, the range is 5 + 1 + 1 +1 (and 3 notes) making 8 octaves. But from the panel via CV's only 6 octaves can be achieved. |
| Q: | What is the maximum modulation rate? | A: | The sample rate for modulation is about 12 KHz, but keep in mind that, like audio, you are limited to half of that for just a basic square wave. A sine wave modulating at 1200 Hz for example, will be only allow 10 samples to be taken. While this is sufficient for pretty much any modulation scenario, it's not precisely representative at those frequencies. |
| Q: | What is the maximum VCO CV sample rate? | A: | The same as above, 12 KHz. This is rare in any digital VCO as it's far higher than it needs to be, but offers up some interesting waveforms, harmonics, and phases, as with any VCO. |
| Q: | What is the current draw as I may want 2 of these? | A: | The SDS_VCO only draws 41 mA (while VU meter flashing) on the +12V side, and 15mA on the -12V side. There is not 5V PSU requirement. |
| Q: | How many waveforms are there actually? | A: | There are 16 different waveform slots, but some of them (i.e. wave # 6 noise & wave #12 sine+noise) change drastically when the + 1 octave is applied. This was a happy mistake in the noisemaking algorithm, so has remained. Shifting noise one octave just results in more noise so... |
| Q: | How many custom waveforms can be created? | A: | 3 custom waveforms can be hand-drawn and simultaneously auditioned using 2 knobs, but one of those 3 (waveform # 15) can be directly recorded into from an audio source at modular levels. The waveforms are saved to non-volatile memory. |
| Q: | Does the VCO CV change noise waveforms? | A: | Yes, the timbre of both wave # 6 and wave #12 will change in that the noise grows finer with voltage, making it sound higher pitched. |
| Q: | And does the
MOD CV change noise waveforms? |
A: | With the pure noise waveform
(wave # 6) with + 1 Octave switched off it has no effect other than to seed
the noise, which is nearly perfect so goes unnoticed. With the + 1 Octave
on, yes. The seed is changed which can fine tune or throw the sharp
waveform into a frenzy! Waveform # 12 (sine+noise) is changed in that the noise level varies with modulation voltage from -5V to + 5V so can be used to "ripple" the noise on the sine wave. When wave # 12 is used with + 1 octave switched on, and a very slow LFO, the aliasing phase is shifted in a way which gives a complex ringing undertone that also varies in level. |
| Q: | How can the MOD CV input be used for so many things at once? | A: | With the innovative MOD CV
recorder, a reasonable facsimile is recorded up to the time the MOD CV is to
be used for something else. This way, the modulation continues on all of the
waveforms, while the MOD CV is used for, say, scales root offsetting. All 4 MOD CV alternates (attack & decay offsets, root scale offset, & wave selector) can be used at once, and it's up to you how they'll be used and with what modulation source! The wave selector & Attack & Decay offsets are all immediately controllable from the panel knobs, so can be used in different combinations as shown in some of the videos. |
| Q: | What is this MIDI thing? | A: | There is a MIDI note send
option ( a small board factory installed and a patch cord to the standard
large 5 pin MIDI jack of your choice) that will send the exact quantized
notes that the VCO is playing. The T/G input becomes the MIDI note length
independent of the SDS_VCO's envelope generator. If the MOD CV Decay offset alone is active, the MOD CV can be used to control the MIDI note's velocities. Any MIDI channel from 1-16 can be selected (via LED 8+4) |
| Q: | What is the range of MIDI notes being sent? | A: | To keep within a good useable and hardware friendly range, as well as matching the tones being generated by the SDS_VCO's audio output, the MIDI notes start at MIDI A2. (Piano A1) This is note #33 if no 0V offset has been applied. The top note sent is G9 (note 127) which then wraps to note # 0, but the SDS VCO can go a bit higher than this, about 15.5 KHz, even though that's no longer musical! |
| Q: | Can Quantizing be turned off? | A: | Yes, by selection of quant. scale # 0. This is how the unit ships. |
| Q: | What's this "wiggling" I keep hearing about? | A: | "Wiggling" (outside of being on Muff's forum) is what you must do with the Attack knob to get behind the selected wave LED to access it's assigned function, be it a switch or setting. This was to keep the module in it's tiny 3HP format that forbade the addition of a button or switch. Usually wiggling 2 or 3 times around the center is enough to flash the LED's and enter the alternate. The Attack knob is then used (with switches) to turn on/off a function, or (with selectors) set a new selection. Exiting is a 6 second time-out. |
| Q: | Won't all of these settings be time consuming each power-up? | A: | No, the settings you have
made will still be there on the next power-up, including the custom
waveforms and even the last recorded modulation if is playing it at
power-down. If the VCO is used in the same way always, you may never need to change the settings again! There is also a master reset that takes a few seconds to do. This will reset everything to factory settings, except the created waveforms and any playing modulation. |
| Q: | Why is the VU meter so dim? | A: | I have tried it brighter in a dark room. Believe me you don't want to watch that for too long! |
| Q: | Can the VU meter be turned off? | A: | Yes, it's a wiggle on LRed 8+Green#2. This will constantly display the selected waveform. |
| Q: | Will there be firmware updates? If so are they hard to do? | A: | Possibly! The option has been
set in place as a "just in case" measure, but also as a "perhaps this is a
better way to do it" scenario. Firmware updating is done with an audio .mp3 file, and is very easy using any phone (iPhone/Samsung or tablet/notebook etc.) and just patching it's earbud jack to the VCO CV jack. This has been tested with tons of devices and has proven itself over the past couple of months as being solid. There is also the possibility that an "alternate" module firmware will be created in the future but I'm not promising anything! |
DIY Build Manual DIY MIDI Sheet
Firmware
Audio Firmware Update
Version 1.00 (test only) sdsvcoFWUD-V1.0.mp3
SDS_VCO Main page
Contact: freshnel@freshnelly.com
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