Wiard - Malekko Envelator - quick start notes

The Envelator is a 10hp envelope generator (Function Generator).

This eurorack version was based around the Wiard 300 series of modules

developed by Grant Richter.

The version on the left is a vintage gargoyles. 

These date from around 2009/10.

I love these "Celtic" designs.

 

It offers simultaneous output of positive and negative envelopes as well as voltage control of attack and decay functions.

There are 3 types of envelopes: 

AR (attack release), AD (attack decay) &  CY (cycle).

AR mode, outputs an AR envelope, maintaining full level until GATE [in] goes “low”. 

AD mode, outputs an AD envelope, and begins decay immediately when

the attack stage is complete.  

Cycle mode, the end pulse is fed back to the envelope input, and will force the envelope to re-trigger.(triangle LFO). The SQR output functions as a square wave LFO

The GATE socket is where you plug your gate or trigger.

This input is a comparator 

The threshold is 2V so any waveform above this will work

The SQR socket is an output.

It puts out a square +10V pulse during the attack phase.

and 0V during the decay/release phase.

The END socket is an output.

It outputs a a pulse at the end of the decay phase.

 

 

This is the modern Malekko version. 

As with the vintage version, the attack & delay have two settings

They are operated with the push buttons on the modern version

and pull switches on the gargoyles version. 

Attack : has a normal & 10X setting.

Delay :When the switch is "in" the delay control does nothing.

It is only when in cycle mode that activating the delay control has an effect.

The effect is to introduce delay before the envelope re-triggers.

You have CV control of the delay time. "DEL CV" on the modern version.

"Ext" on the Gargoyles version.

Both modules have CV inputs for Attack Modulation (AMOD) & Decay Modulation (DMOD).

There are 3 envelope outputs:

-out : inverted copy of the envelope.

+out : two positive copies of the envelope.

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Using the Envelator as a clock divider:

1. Clock signal into Gate socket

2. Use the SQR socket as the output of the divided clock.

    It puts out a square +10V pulse during the attack phase

    and 0V during the decay/release phase.

3. Use the Attack pot to set the clock division. 

4.  Works in AD and AR modes

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 Using the Envelator as a LFO:

 

You have both triangle & square waveform LFOs.

Put the module into Cycle mode.

Leave the decay control at max (fastest speed).

The end pulse is fed back to the envelope input, and will force the envelope to re-trigger. creating a triangle LFO.

The SQR output functions as a square wave LFO.

 

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Using the Envelator to change gate length.

 

1. mode switch to AD.

2. end your gate to the Envelator's gate input. 

3. Leave the decay control at max (fastest speed).

4. The attack control determines the length of the gate.  

 

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ADSR Patch

 

You will need two Envelators,  a mixer and a VCA.

1. Set 1st to AD mode, and 2nd to AR mode.

2. send the same gate to each envelator .

3. take outputs of each Envelator into the inputs of the mixer.

4. take the output of the mixer and input into a VCA 

The AD one acts as the attack and decay. The AR does the sustain and release.

The Wiard Xmix can be used as a mixer & as a VCA.

I find there is a little bit of audio bleed when I use the Xmix as a VCA.

I prefer to use a dedicated VCA for this task.

 

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The -OUT is normalled to the AMOD input 

but you can  patch it to the DMOD.

 

This makes the DEcay curve bend up.