this amazing filter originally comes without CV control…but that’s what I didn’t like, so I grabbed a few vac paks (synthrotek) to create variable resistance via CV…I added 2 controls over different areas of the frequency of the first filter stage, which I can also put in series via a switch…then I added 1 CV control to the 2nd stage (frequency again)…works and sounds really good…especially well suited for weird percussive sounds and rhythms…
this module is simple and fun…it is basically a mic preamp but also works well with line level instruments being plugged in…if nothing is plugged in the build in contact mic comes to live and is a nice audio source that makes all kinds of clunks and plonks in your system audible (for further processing)…the surface has a ripple like structure and can be “attacked” with guitar picks, tooth picks, fingernails, etc…
this is an extremely versatile module (as most of the incredible compact NLC products are)…2 input signals (audio/CV) can be mixed in various forms to create CV patterns and frequency division…great for creating polyrhythms and in general weird rhythmic structures…works also somewhat like a mini sequencer, as well as an envelope follower and a ring modulator that provides sub-harmonics…btw, SMD soldering is NOT that scary!!!…much faster process than stuffing resistors, etc…through holes!
this little thing just didn’t work at all in its original form, so I started poking around with wires, pots and switches and…viola, it became a circuit bent distortion module…it has a bunch of different types of crunch accessible via 3 switches and a weird LFO like thing happening…no clue how this all works, but it sounds cool!
one of the dual 258s originally developed by mr. donald b……..the clone here from stroh audio just sounds great (well, not that I can compare it to the original!)…vc over pitch / waveshape / exp. and lin. …lots of wiring for this one…have a look:
and here another noisy one – DLY is a cv-controllable delay module with some twists – internal feedback, self oscillation and some insane noise on full blast (besides the classic delay effect) – lots of fun!
Finally I got the time to document all the builds from the past year – starting with my first ever DIY module – DIRT! – this is a great little cv-controllable filter module that is just properly named! – loads of screaming and squealing noise – I love it!
this is the werkstatt extension – a 2nd oscillator, 2nd LFO, 4 light sensors + a gate in
the light sensors are switchable and give control over pitch / LFO / filter and volume…most of the werkstatt on board inputs / outputs are routed to the extension + 2nd LFO out / VCO square and saw out – mixing it all up and using light to control parameters creates a whole new instrument…the exciting soundscapes of the already excellent sounding werkstatt can be delved into further …the extension also makes interfacing other gear possible…
this is lärm – a quad noise maker / weird filter / panner
lärm is based on 4 circuit bent op-amps and 4 LFOs…it can be used in a quad speaker environment or just via a stereo mix of its 4 quadrants / channels…both control and playing surface are separated this way, though the latter allows overlapping of its areas…a plethora of connections can be made via touch…some will create oscillations with various pitches, or some can mute the signal and change its timbre while the LFOs can interact with all of those…buzzing, hum, crackling from the LFO, arhythmic patterns and much more…the timbre of the internal oscillations is at times shrill and harsh…a very direct and intense sound that becomes especially interesting when blended with other sound sources via the 4 inputs…there are also a bunch of stable and unstable CV outputs from the LFOs…even patch cables inserted into one or more of the these outputs can be used to alter sound by touching the playing surface with it…its endless…
this is lärm no. 1 – a noise maker / low pass gate / 6 ch-mixer…
here the fine print: there are 5 chip oscillators on the left which can be manipulated manually or with light…another 4 in the center which can interact with each other…an “opened” preamp circuit with 6 touch pads (noizzzzze!)…and the mixer / low pass filter on the right…2 channel output on the back…that’s it!
