Here is my entry (entries) for the VCV 3-min Callenge, Ep. 5 – The (Ugly) Alien Ping. Info at https://community.vcvrack.com/t/vcv-3-minutes-challenge-ep-5-the-ugly-alien-ping/14017
I ended up with two versions from the same patch. Both are built around an emulator of sorts of the Future Sound Systems OSC2 Recombination Engine – a Eurorack 3 voice complex oscillator with loads of FM and unique AM opportunities, and an incredible range of sounds. DivKidVideo has a fantastic demo and tutorial on the hardware: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy23uZSsdLY. It is a great place to start if you want to understand what is happening in my patch.
My VCV patch/version has a significant difference in that the Scissor switching is implemented as amplitude modulation rather than on/off switching, which opens up the possibility of using waveforms other than square for the Scissor.
I hope to create my own demo/tutorial of the VCV patch, and “release” it as a saved Strip file.
I ended up recording 2 versions for the challenge.
The first version applies the sequence to the amplitude modulating Scissor wave form only, with 0V tuned to C4. The Positive DNA carrier wave is fixed at C5, and the Negative DNA carrier wave is fixed at C2. To my ears this creates a muted but dark and ominous vibe. This is the version I uploaded as the main preview.
The second version is identical, except it activates the CV Lock so the Pos and Neg DNA both follow the sequence. Also the PW skew is activated and the PW shifted slightly off from 50% so that the DNA are slightly out of tune from the perfect octave. This results in a much brighter and harsher tone that I associate with exciting scientific discovery. The 2nd recording is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqR56fs2nNs
Patch notes – Not a lot of complexity outside of the OSC2 “emulator” itself.
The oscilloscope shows the Positive and Negative DNA waveforms in Red and Yellow respectively. The blue shows the Scissor waveform. And the Green is the resultant final waveform produced by the Glue.
An ADSR EG controls the primary VCA and Filter drive.
The audio is passed through two delays – post VCA, but pre filter. The first delay contributes to the final audio mix, but is also used for a bit of Scissor linear FM. The 2nd delay also goes to the final mix, and is used to modulate the Scissor PW.
The final audio mix is sent through a Nysthi PlateVerb before going to the audio out. The left verb channel is also fed back into the complex oscillator Mix In.
Finally, there is an Ochd where one LFO turns the reverb Freeze on and off, another LFO is summed with the sequence V/Oct to control the filter cutoff, and a 3rd LFO self modulates the Ochd rate. Lastly some LFOs modulate some Modular Fungi Opsylloscope display parameters.
