Waveshapers

This is a bit of basic Synthesis... I'm writing this for a friend who is starting his journey.

All about wavefolders, wave multipliers, transfer functions etc etc.

You will see wave shapers in a lot of "west Coast" synths. Serge & Don Buchla used them extensively.

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The Serge TWS and WM are classic waveshaping modules.

Wave shaping is one of the fundamental parts of oscillator designs as well as being one way to achieve distortion and design new waveforms from existing waveforms. When building a oscillator core, often waveshapers are used to derive additional waveforms from a single saw or triangle core.
+ Oscillator cores & Exponential Converters

The timbre circuit from the Buchla 259 is another example of the early use of waveshapers.

I understand that Don's Harmonic Oscillator from the Buchla 100 series used waveshapers to add harmonics to the core oscillator. 

 There are lots of modern manufacturers of waveshaping modules in many formats.

Basically waveshapers map the input and the output of the waveform. They then apply a mathematical equation to that waveform (commonly known as the “shaping or transfer function”) that alters it's final shape.

If the original input signal is called x and the new output signal  is called y.
This function is called the transfer function.
y = f(x)

This is a really simple function but the basic idea is the same no matter how complicated things get.
 
The transfer function can be done either the old fashioned analog way with op-amps, diodes, etc or digitally where "look up tables" are implemented.

Don Buchla used both digital & analog waveshapers.
His Touche from 1978 had digital waveshaping. It had 16 digital oscillators that could be combined into eight voices.

Grant Richter used waveshapers in his Anti-osc & the Mega wave
The Malekko/Wiard Anti-osc is a triangle-core oscillator with voltage-controllable waveshaping.

The Megawave can be used as an audio wave shaper

To be continued ............

Wiard Joystick - Model GR-1209B

Some pics of the Frac format Wiard Joystick GR 1209B

 iT'S A very simple module.
The joystick features a two-axis CV output as well as a pushbutton that triggers a gate output. The joystick does not employ return springs, meaning it stays where you place it until you move it again.

Should be easy to build.

The green wire in the photo connects to GND. The red wire connects to +12V

The joysticks are easy to find on ebay,

For the record, Grant produced a few variations of this joystick over the years.
The old 300 series had the 311 with the analog voltmeter.

Then came the beautiful 311C

The two JAGs joined the 2 joysticks

In Frac this came out: The GR 1211

And there was also the joyrider which combined a borg filter with the joystick

The JAGs found their way into the eurorack format, but sadly not the joysticks
Still, there are plenty of other eurorack joystick makers

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Wiard Index
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Wiard Index

This is the main index to my Wiard Blog posts.

Grant Richter is a hero of mine. He really deserves more recogition than he currently enjoys.
To many people, Buchla and Serge are the only two manufacturers associated with the West Coast style. 

Wiard should not be left out.
 

+ Eurorack Wiard - initial system  (Malekko & Makenoise)

+ Wiard-Malekko Noisering

+ Borg Filters (I & II)

+ Wogglebug comparisons 

+ Joyrider Borg Filter (GR-1204)

+ Joystick GR 1209B 

+ Megawave - Basic patch notes

+ Envelator - quick start notes  

+ Xmix - basic notes

 

Eurorack Wiard - Grant Richter

I'm a bit of a fan of Grant Richter and have been slowly putting together a system made out of his modules.

Though there are a few modules here that aren't his design, I've tried to keep the system as true as possible.
The system isnt finished.... I'll update this with more pics and videos as it evolves.

Wiard-Malekko Noisering

Thanks to Grant Richter and Malekko for making this module available.
I was searching for another random source module to complement the Wobblebug and came across the Noisering.

I especially love the old Celtic/Gargoyle graphics of the Noisering
 So what's the difference between the two modules?

It seems like the Wogglebug evolved from the Wiard 300 series and is a staple of the DIY scene.
There are many variations. See my post on the Bug here.
It was inspired by the Buchla 265 Source of Uncertainity module and  behaves in a very non-linear way when controlling smooth and stepped random voltages. The wogglebug is a oscillator as well as a source of random voltages. ... it is super useful as it can output gates, CVs, and audio all at the same time.

The Malekko-Wiard Noisering seems to trace its lineage from the Wiard 1200 series. These modules use the Frack rack format.  It is based on comparators & analogue shift registers and it doesn't seem to behave as "crazy" as the wogglebug.:-) So I think it is really useful as a "randomish sequencer".... more than the WoggleB is (in my opinion). You can also use it as an oscillator

 I actually have a plan to use both modules in my rig. Possible patches:

Clock out from the Noisering to the Woggle . This clocks the WoggleB and gives control of the slew. Then I run the  Noisering outs into each of the WoggleB heart ins.

Another possible patch uses the WB Clock/Chaos control in instead of the external clock input.

NoiseR out (either 1 or 2) -> WoggleB Clock/Chaos control in
WoggleB Smooth CV Out -> NoiseR Ext Rate in


At the heart of the Noisering is Noise and a Tone Wheel pseudo-random shift register.
The Noisering can act as a
1  Noise source
2. Random clock
3. Random CV generator
4. VCO
5. Audio processor

In the lower left we have two random CV voltage outputs.
They can operate both in the sub-audio & audio range
1. n+1  (9 voltage levels, 0-10V)
2. Two to the exponential of n (256 voltage levels, 0-10V)

Outputs 1& 2 are normalised to the External rate pot directly above it.
The Ext Rate knob modulates the (overall frequency) Rate knob (right at the top) and effects the noise , clock out and the two CV outs

The noise out is +/- 4V
The Clock output is a +10V square wave. (1Hz-10kHz)

Chance Vs Change

Chance controls the number of 1s and zeros extracted from the internal noise source.
At 12 O'clock:  No of 1s = No of Zeros (Equal balance)
At 7 O'clock :  Mostly Zeros
At 5 O'clock : Mostly 1s


Change controls the Data Recycle through the shift register.
At 12 O'clock: Equal amount of old & new data (Equal balance)
At 7 O'clock :  Only old data is recycled through the shift register
At 5 O'clock :  Only new data is recycled through the shift register

Both Chance & Change have CV inputs above.
In the centre we have a external Chance (comparator) input. This allows you to change the signal feeding the shift register that then produces the CV & clock outputs. You can plug in either audio or control voltages

Above all this are 8 LEDS.
The centre 4 LEDs indicate the shift register state.
OFF = same
RED = greater
Green = lesser

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These particular Gargoyle Wiard modules are getting old. All through hole.
Everything these days is going SMD.

When this eventually dies (which will happen to all of us one day) I'd like to try to fix it.

Hopefully Malekko will still be making new ones and repairing these older versions.
But just in case these appear to be the parts needed to keep these alive.

IC 2 .... CD 4053 - CMOS triple 2 channel multiplexer
IC 1 - 4015 - shift register
TL 074 - op amp
NE 555 -- timer
LN 324 - quad op amp x 2

cd 4053

cd 4015 --- the shift register

The two LN 324 Quad op amps probably form the comparator circuit. and the 4015 does the shift registering.

Borg filters

These just arrived in the mail.

I love the old Gargoyles designs on Malekko/Wiard modules.
I wish there was a such a panel for the Wogglebug

There are 2 variations of Borg filter. The white knob on on the left and the black on the right.

The Borgs are described as:
"The Borg I (white knobs) has a slower response and a more mellow sound compared to the Borg II (black knobs). Thanks to its longer decay time, the Borg I is best for recreating the famous Buchla bongo patch, and the Borg II is best for a faster, more aggressive response." (Malekko)

Notice the use of vactrols:

The Borg 1 is on the left.
The Euro Borg 1 is sanctioned by Grant Richter of Wiard Synthesizer Company. This module is exactly the same as the original 1213A (Blacet Frac Rack compatible 1200 Series module), only in eurorack format. 

These filters are influenced by the Buchla 292 Low Pass Gate and the Korg MS20.
That's where the name comes from: Buchla/Korg

" In Low Pass Gate (LPG) mode, the Borg will act as a filter and a VCA simultaneously.
 When the resonance knob is turned “on” with a click, the Borg becomes a 12db filter influenced by the MS20."

"Two outputs are provided, output 2 has a slightly more aggressive resonance. Removing a jumper on the back of the Borg makes the resonance “scream” even more!"

 Thanks to Grant Richter, Thomas Holley and Paul Barker

There is also a Dual Borg module:

 Combining the best of both filters
You can link the two filters in Parallel or series with the flick of a switch.

...

The 300 series Borg is a dual filter design. It has additional LFOs with square, tri & saw outs.

You can link the two filters up to make a 4 pole.

The eurorack borg 1 is a replica of the Wiard Model GR-1213A Borg Filter (not the 300 series)
This was a Frac Rack (Paia, Blacet) rack system compatible 1200 Series module.

The 1200 Series were produced between 1999 to 2002.and in very very small numbers.  Estimates are that about 50 (possibly less) of these exist.


+ Wiard Synthesizers
+ Malekko
+ Patch examples
+ Patch ideas - muffs
+ Modular Grid

Wogglebug comparisons

The wogglebug is a great source of random voltage. Essential for all my patches.
It was inspired by the buchla 265

These 265s are very rare. I love the name ... the source of uncertainity.

Grant Richter of Wiard Synthesizers took inspiration from the "smooth" and "stepped" fluctuating random voltage sources that you can see on the 265 and came up with the wogglebug.
He expanded on this theme expanding it to such things as Woggle CVs (stepped voltages with decaying sinusoids edges).

There are many flavours of bug.

My first was the buchla version you can see on the right:

On the left is the Erica synths version in Eurorack format.
They are all slightly different.

The most common versions are from MakeNoise:

 No comparison would be complete without the orginals:

Links:
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/wiard-wogglebug-legacy
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/richter-wogglebug
https://modularaddict.com/erica-wogglebug-pcbpanel
http://www.wiard.com/modular/300series/wogglebug/index.htm

Resistance is Futile - Wiard BORG filter

Some pics of a Wiard Synthesizer Company GR-1204 Joyrider module.
 This is a 4.5" Frac module with a pair of Vactrol-based Borg 1 Filters.

When I first came across this filter I thought it was a reference to the Star Trek movie "First Contact"
Then I realised the name BORG is a cross between Buchla & Korg.
Which is what it is... a.marriage of "two divergent influences, the Buchla 292 Low Pass Gate and the Korg MS20 filter". I promptly forgot all references to that ancient race of aliens from Star Trek until today.

Designer Grant Richter settled on the FracRak format for his series 1200 series modular.... probably early 2000 ish ???
Sadly the Frac Rack format is almost dead. But I intend to install this with other Wiard modules (Euro & series 300) and anything else I feel is worthy

Apparently, there are only 11 of these in existence so I will look after it.
Lovingly  hand-built, panel silk-screened &.hand wired by I guess Grant Richter himself.

The Joystick:
"x" controls the type 1 filter, joystick "y" controls Type 2.
There is a common resonance control called Peaking.
In the new eurorack version, If you turn the control all the way off this engages a switch which changes to VCA mode. Max setting will produce self oscillation.

Individual mode controls... one for each filter.
Each filter is adjustable through Low pass, Band Pass, and High Pass modes. 
LP= 12dB/oct
BP= Resonator gain of 1 except Peaking ... controls gain at Fc
HP= 6/dB/oct


The modern Borg 1 filter looks like this:

 Sadly the new filter has lost its joystick.
It's an interesting design. Two filter inputs.. Input 1 mixes 50/50 with input 2.

The PCB appears to be only partly stuffed. There are those famous vactrols that create the famous  natural, very musical decay. In Low Pass Gate (LPG) mode, the Borg will act as a filter and a VCA simultaneously. ... just like the Buchla 292.

The rear of the PCB. I'm amazed how deep this module is.

A close up of the top of the PCB:

The Star Trek reference returns.

Wiard - Malekko - Megawave - Basic patch notes to help getting started.

This is not a oscillator on it's own.

It's a wavetable lookup device. 

There are 2,560 waveforms arranged as 10 ROMs of 16 Banks per ROM, with 16 Waves per Bank.

The module stores audio samples in the form of single cycle waveforms. 

It's the most recent incarnation of a line of modules which started with  Grant Richter's Wiard 300 Waveform City module. 

The module was born when it was realised that a rising sawtooth into an analog to digital converter could work as an address generator.

There are also "1410 Blacet" (frac rack) and ModCan versions out there in the wild. (The modcan version has it's own internal oscillator)

This is a eurorack version.

The Megawave functions in two different modes (0-10v or +/-5v) set by the “Range” selector switch on the top left. Depress for +/-5v (audio) mode.  

 

The button on the top right  is the input wave type selector for ascending & decending saw waves

So to use it as a VCO , you'll need another VCO. 

If you want the Megawave to track the input frequency of the VCO,

use a sawtooth wave. It should be usable with any VCO sawtooth except a Buchla 258 (which has a unique waveform where the sawtooth has a “divet” in it).

 

You can use other waveforms if you don't mind distortion.

It outputs waveforms from the selected internal ROM bank.

You can use a sequencer, EG, joystick, random voltages, etc to step through various waveforms.

The Megawave module has many functions.

These include:

• audio waveform bank
• complex LFO functions
• random function generator
  
• non linear waveform distortion
• audio waveshaping
  
• stage quantizing

These single cycle waveforms are stored in 10 ROMS.

Each ROM has 16 banks. Each bank has 16 waves.

You can select the ROM with the top right knob or a CV

 

1. Miniwave

2. Socket Rocket (Grant Richter)

3. PPG/VS

4. Darwin's House (Darwin Grouse)

5. Monowave (Paul Maddox)

6. Bosch Gardens (Mathew Davidson)

7. Morphine (Mathew Davidson)

8. Vector 1 (Mathew Davidson)

9. Vector 2 (Mathew Davidson)

10.  Scale Quantizer (Mathew Davidson)

 

 

The banks & waves are selected using the other pots / CV inputs.

The waves & banks are indicated with the numerical LEDs

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So to use it as a VCO patch like this.

The module must be  audio mode (ie +/- 5 volt range.)

Use the Input Offset for optimal audio input with minimal distortion. 

 To use it as a distortion device you may have to first amplify the inputed signal esp if its line level.

Euro rack audio levels are much hotter (5Vpp) than line levels (approx 1Vpp). 

I like the socket rocket banks for this.

When using the Megawave as a complex LFO you may find it doesn't go as slow as you want is you are using a standard Wiard Oscillator.

To solve this use a triangle or sawtooth LFO with a +/-5V or 0-10V swing, setting the Input Voltage Select switch accordingly.

 

The Wiard Anti-oscillator & Oscillator has a push button what turns them into LFOs.

The Wiard Envelator can also be patched to behave like a LFO

Using the Megawave as a quantizer.

Set it to the control voltage range (0-10v) .... that is the button is not depressed. 

The Input Gain adjustment ensures accurate quantizer functions tracking. Also acts as an input gain. 

0-10V gives 5 octaves.

Select the 10th & last ROM - Scale Quantizer

A 0-10V input will result in the following scales when the output is connected to a standard 1V/oct VCO.