0.3 revisions: Improved distortion, filter, reverb, LFOs. Cross-FM for interval pairs. More intervals, using a 15-odd limit tonality diamond rather than the random selections previously available. Ability to randomize interval selections. Rhythmic subdivision selections for ring mod pops. Page navigation now works by holding the aux button and pressing a ‘black’ key on the organelle, corresponding to pages 1-10. Midi CC assignments for many parameters. General performance improvements.
A just intonation drone patch, capable of covering territory from Radigue / Malone / Young style drones to glitchier Ikeda-esque territory via ring modulation, distortion, and FM.
Architecture: Five sine waves. One plays the root note, selected via keyboard. The remaining four are divided into pair A and pair B. Select an interval for each voice and crossfade between each individual oscillator within A and B using the keyboard controls. This can be done as a one-time trigger or set to loop, and the crossfade fade time is set separately for A and B. When loop is set to off, both voices will be set to equal volume. This goes through an effect chain consisting of a ring modulator, bandpass filter, overdrive, and plate reverb (in that order). In addition, pair A and B can be set modulate each other’s frequencies, with modulator and index being determined by the interval settings and current crossfade position of each pair. Many of these parameters can be automated through two random walk and two sine wave LFOs.
CONTROLS: This is a crowded patch unfortunately, with extensive use of the keys. Most pages have an additional control function using the high b key, sometimes indicated on screen line 4. The layout is as follows (see main photo for additional reference):
PAGE SPECIFIC CONTROLS:
Page 1: Intervals
Knobs 1 – 4: Select intervals
Button 83 (high b): Set root octave
Page 2: Envelopes
Knobs 1-2: A / B crossfade times
Knob 3: AD envelope for volumes when turning voices on/off
Knob 4: Slew time for pitch changes
Page 3: Ring Mod
Knob 1: Mix
Knob 2: Frequency
Knob 3: Mix level for two impulse generators creating click sounds derived from divisions of ring frequency
Knob 4: time subdivision for second impulse generator
Button 83: Ring mod autopan setting
Page 4: FX
Knob 1: Distortion mix
Knob 2: BP filter mix
Knob 3: Filter frequency
Knob 4: Filter Q
Page 5: Misc.
Knob 1: Root offset (+/- 20hz)
Knob 2: Root volume
Knob 3: A volume
Knob4: B volume
Button 83: Randomize all 4 intervals
Page 6: Random Walk 1
Knob 1: Target
Knob 2: Frequency
Knob 3: Minimum Value
Knob 4: Maximum Value
Button 83: Smooth Random 1 toggle on/off
Page 7: Random Walk 2
Knob 1: Target
Knob 2: Frequency
Knob 3: Minimum Value
Knob 4: Maximum Value
Button 83: Smooth Random 2 toggle on/off
Page 8: Sine LFO 1
Knob 1: Target
Knob 2: Frequency
Knob 3: Minimum Value
Knob 4: Maximum Value
Button 83: Sine LFO 1 toggle on/off
Page 9: Sine LFO 2
Knob 1: Target
Knob 2: Frequency
Knob 3: Minimum Value
Knob 4: Maximum Value
Button 83: Sine LFO 2 toggle on/off
Page 10:
Knob 1: Plate Reverb Mix
Knob 2: Attenuation of FM applied to pair A voices
Knob 2: Attenuation of FM applied to pair B voices
Knob 4: Multiplier for FM index (the index itself is determined for each pair by the current frequency for intervals two and four)
GENERAL CONTROLS (see above photo also):
Buttons 60 – 71 (C – B): Fundamental.
Buttons 72 – 74 (high c – d): Turn on/off root / A / B voices. Current status indicated on screen line 5 across all pages.
Buttons 75 – 78 (high d# – f#): Octave select for individual A, B voices. Current status indicated by -, |, +, symbols next to respective voice on page 1.
Buttons 79 – 80 (high g – g#): Manually fade from one voice to the other within pair A / B, if looping is not on. Fade time set on Page 2.
Buttons 81 – 82 (high a – a#): Automate fade from one voice to other within pair A / B. Fade time is set by the same controls on Page 2 for both manual and looping crossfade.
MIDI CC’s:
30 – 33: Interval selections
34 – 37: Ring mod settings
38: Distortion mix
39: Filter mix
40: Filter frequency
41: Filter Q
42: Root Volume
43: A Volume
44: B Volume
45: Reverb mix
Acknowledgements: Many of the individual bits of the patch are adapted from Andy Farnell’s excellent Designing Sound book. The ring mod is adapted from andrewe’s Ring Mod organelle patch. Plate verb is from @T8R. The overall idea is influenced the Droneo app, the Disting Dream Machine, and Eliane Radigue’s method of crossfading ARP drone tape loops.
Updates:
0.2: Added modulation options, volume controls for root and A / B pairs, and a fine-tuning control for root frequency. Improved ring modulator design, with added randomized speed option for the glitchy phasor pops and crackles. Integrated a knob-catching system for switching between pages. Note that you will have to bring the knob to its last saved position before a change will register. I might continue to work on the modulation, but it is quite usable for now.
0.3: Improved distortion, filter, reverb, LFOs. Cross-FM for interval pairs. More intervals, using a 15-odd limit tonality diamond rather than the random selections previously available. Ability to randomize interval selections. Rhythmic subdivision selections for ring mod pops. Page navigation now works by holding the aux button and pressing a ‘black’ key on the organelle, corresponding to pages 1-10. Midi CC assignments for many parameters. General performance improvements.
